The (Bushy) Emperor's Visit to Jacksonville, Oregon
Correspondent:: hellpopehuey@subgenius.com (HellPopeHuey)
Date: 23 Oct 2004 17:59:13 -0700
--------
Here are two URLS in support of the following story, of which I had
previously heard only scant details, seemingly by DESIGN. However, as
with the recent story of the soldiers in Iraq who refused a needlessly
dangerous, ill-equipped mission, this one is getting around. NASTY
business.
BAD President, NO reelection, I hope.
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/08/23/elec02.bush.protests/
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2004/10/299967.shtml
The Emperor's Visit to Jacksonville, Oregon
Silenced by the President
By Trish Bowcock
Oct. 16, 2004
"A few weeks before my father died, he woke me in the wee hours
of the morning. He needed to talk. He was worried about Attorney
General John Ashcroft and the destruction of American civil liberties.
I
comforted my father, believing he was delusional from medications. I
was
wrong. I write this from my home in Jacksonville Oregon (population
2,226).
President George W. Bush came here this week. The purpose of
his visit was political. Southern Oregon has been deemed a "battle
ground" area in the presidential race. John Kerry has made incredible
inroads
in this traditionally Republican stronghold. President Bush's
campaign stop was an attempt to staunch the slide.
Jacksonville is an old gold mining town. Our main street is only
five blocks long, lined with restored storefronts. The sidewalks are
narrow. We are a peaceful community. The prospect of an overnight
presidential visit was exciting, even to me, a lifelong Democrat. My
excitement turned to horror as I watched events unfold during
President
Bush's visit. In the mid-1800s, when Indians invaded Jacksonville,
citizens clambered upon the roof of the old library. It was the one
building that would not catch fire when flaming arrows were shot. This
week it was a different scene.
Police armed with high powered rifles perched upon our
rooftops as the presidential motorcade approached. Helicopters flew
low,
overhead. A cadre of motorcycle police zoomed into town. Black SUVs
followed, sandwiching several black limousines carrying the president,
his wife and their entourage as they sped to the local inn where they
would eat and sleep. The main street was lined with people gathered to
witness the event. Many supported the president. Many did not. Some
came because they were simply curious. There were men, women,
young and old.
The mood was somewhat festive. Supporters of John Kerry
sported signs, as did supporters of George Bush. Individuals,
exercising their
rights of free speech began chanting. On one side of the street,
shouts
of "four more years" echoed in the night air. On the other side of
the street, chants of "three more weeks" responded. The chants
were loud and apparently could be heard by President Bush. An order
was
issued that the anti-Bush rhetoric be quieted. The local SWAT team
leapt to action.
It happened fast. Clad in full riot gear, at least 50 officers moved
in. Shouting indecipherable commands from a bullhorn, they
formed a chain and bore down upon the people, only working to clear
the
side of the street appearing to be occupied by Kerry supporters.
People
tried to get out of their way. It was very crowded. There was nowhere
to move. People were being crushed. They started flowing into the
streets. Pleas to the officers, asking, "where to go" fell upon deaf
ears.
Instead, riot police fired pellets of cayenne pepper spray into the
crowd. An old man fell and couldn't get up. When a young man
stopped to help, he was shot in the back with hard pepper spray balls.
Children were hit with pepper spray. Deemed "Protesters" people were
shoved and herded down the street by the menacing line of armed riot
police,
until out of the President's ear-shot.
There the "Protesters" were held at bay. Anyone vocalizing
anti-Bush or pro-Kerry sentiments were prohibited from venturing
forward.
Loud anti-Bush chants were responded to by the commanding officer
stating: "FORWARD," to which the entire line of armed police would
move, lock-step, toward the "Protesters," forcing backward movement.
Police officers circulated filming the crowd of "Protesters." Some
were
people like me, quiet middle-aged women. Some sported anti-Bush
signs, peace signs, or Kerry signs. A small group of youth, clad in
black with
kerchiefs wrapping their heads chanted slogans. A young
woman in her underwear, sporting a peace sign sang a lyrical Kumbaya.
Mixed among the "Protesters" were supporters of the President. One 19
year-
old man shouted obscenities at anyone expressing dissatisfaction with
the president, encouraging the police to "tazar" the "Stinking
Protesters." Neither the "Protestors," nor the police harassed this
vocal
young man. Across the street, individuals shouting support for the
president
were allowed to continue. Officers monitored this group but allowed
them to shout words of support or hurl derisions toward Kerry
supporters, undisturbed. Honking cars filled with Bush supporters were
left
alone. A honking car full of Kerry supporters was stopped by police on
its way out of town.
The standoff with "Protesters" continued until the President
finished his dinner and was secured in his hotel cottage for the
night.
Only then were the riot police ordered to "mount-up," leaping upon
the sideboard of a huge SUV, pulling out of town, and allowing "free
speech" to resume. In small town America I witnessed true
repression and intimidation by law enforcement. I saw small children
suffering from the effects of being fired upon by pepper bullets. I
felt
legitimate fear of expressing my political opinions: a brand new
feeling. Newspaper accounts state the chaos started when a
violent "Protester" shoved a police officer. No one I talked to
witnessed
this account.
It is reputed that President Bush and his staff will not allow any
opposition activity to occur within his ear or eye sight. I can
confirm, that in tiny Jacksonville, Oregon, this was true.
Physically violent means were taken to protect the president from
verbal
insults. Freedom of speech was stolen.
My father was not paranoid as he lay dying. He was expressing
great insight into the dangers of our current presidential
administration and its willingness to repress personal freedoms. If I
could talk to
my father today, I would say, "I am sorry Daddy for doubting you."
And, no matter what, I will continue to exercise my individual right
to
freely express my opinions. Americans cannot take four more years."
--
HellPope Huey
Welcome to "Dog Bitch-Ass Theatre."
Its 2 straight hours of dogs sniffing other dogs' butts.
Quick, call Fox. It can run right after "The Simple Life."
When I'm feeling down, I like to whistle.
It makes the neighbor's dog run to the end of his chain
and gag himself.
- Joe Cosby
Life is a series of dogs.
- George Carlin
http://www.jibjab.com/
Correspondent:: "forkfail"
Date: Sun, 24 Oct 2004 02:58:17 GMT
--------
Send it to The Oregonian.
"HellPopeHuey" wrote in message
news:8cc8cffc.0410231659.455f7c92@posting.google.com...
> Here are two URLS in support of the following story, of which I
> had
> previously heard only scant details, seemingly by DESIGN. However,
> as
> with the recent story of the soldiers in Iraq who refused a
> needlessly
> dangerous, ill-equipped mission, this one is getting around. NASTY
> business.
> BAD President, NO reelection, I hope.
>
> http://archives.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/08/23/elec02.bush.protests/
> http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2004/10/299967.shtml
>
> The Emperor's Visit to Jacksonville, Oregon
>
> Silenced by the President
> By Trish Bowcock
> Oct. 16, 2004
>
> "A few weeks before my father died, he woke me in the wee hours
> of the morning. He needed to talk. He was worried about Attorney
> General John Ashcroft and the destruction of American civil
> liberties.
> I
> comforted my father, believing he was delusional from medications.
> I
> was
> wrong. I write this from my home in Jacksonville Oregon
> (population
> 2,226).
>
> President George W. Bush came here this week. The purpose of
> his visit was political. Southern Oregon has been deemed a "battle
> ground" area in the presidential race. John Kerry has made
> incredible
> inroads
> in this traditionally Republican stronghold. President Bush's
> campaign stop was an attempt to staunch the slide.
>
> Jacksonville is an old gold mining town. Our main street is only
> five blocks long, lined with restored storefronts. The sidewalks
> are
> narrow. We are a peaceful community. The prospect of an overnight
> presidential visit was exciting, even to me, a lifelong Democrat.
> My
> excitement turned to horror as I watched events unfold during
> President
> Bush's visit. In the mid-1800s, when Indians invaded Jacksonville,
> citizens clambered upon the roof of the old library. It was the
> one
> building that would not catch fire when flaming arrows were shot.
> This
> week it was a different scene.
>
> Police armed with high powered rifles perched upon our
> rooftops as the presidential motorcade approached. Helicopters
> flew
> low,
> overhead. A cadre of motorcycle police zoomed into town. Black
> SUVs
> followed, sandwiching several black limousines carrying the
> president,
> his wife and their entourage as they sped to the local inn where
> they
> would eat and sleep. The main street was lined with people
> gathered to
> witness the event. Many supported the president. Many did not.
> Some
> came because they were simply curious. There were men, women,
> young and old.
>
> The mood was somewhat festive. Supporters of John Kerry
> sported signs, as did supporters of George Bush. Individuals,
> exercising their
> rights of free speech began chanting. On one side of the street,
> shouts
> of "four more years" echoed in the night air. On the other side of
> the street, chants of "three more weeks" responded. The chants
> were loud and apparently could be heard by President Bush. An
> order
> was
> issued that the anti-Bush rhetoric be quieted. The local SWAT team
> leapt to action.
>
> It happened fast. Clad in full riot gear, at least 50 officers
> moved
> in. Shouting indecipherable commands from a bullhorn, they
> formed a chain and bore down upon the people, only working to
> clear
> the
> side of the street appearing to be occupied by Kerry supporters.
> People
> tried to get out of their way. It was very crowded. There was
> nowhere
> to move. People were being crushed. They started flowing into the
> streets. Pleas to the officers, asking, "where to go" fell upon
> deaf
> ears.
> Instead, riot police fired pellets of cayenne pepper spray into
> the
> crowd. An old man fell and couldn't get up. When a young man
> stopped to help, he was shot in the back with hard pepper spray
> balls.
> Children were hit with pepper spray. Deemed "Protesters" people
> were
> shoved and herded down the street by the menacing line of armed
> riot
> police,
> until out of the President's ear-shot.
>
> There the "Protesters" were held at bay. Anyone vocalizing
> anti-Bush or pro-Kerry sentiments were prohibited from venturing
> forward.
> Loud anti-Bush chants were responded to by the commanding officer
> stating: "FORWARD," to which the entire line of armed police would
> move, lock-step, toward the "Protesters," forcing backward
> movement.
> Police officers circulated filming the crowd of "Protesters." Some
> were
> people like me, quiet middle-aged women. Some sported anti-Bush
> signs, peace signs, or Kerry signs. A small group of youth, clad
> in
> black with
> kerchiefs wrapping their heads chanted slogans. A young
> woman in her underwear, sporting a peace sign sang a lyrical
> Kumbaya.
>
> Mixed among the "Protesters" were supporters of the President. One
> 19
> year-
> old man shouted obscenities at anyone expressing dissatisfaction
> with
> the president, encouraging the police to "tazar" the "Stinking
> Protesters." Neither the "Protestors," nor the police harassed
> this
> vocal
> young man. Across the street, individuals shouting support for the
> president
> were allowed to continue. Officers monitored this group but
> allowed
> them to shout words of support or hurl derisions toward Kerry
> supporters, undisturbed. Honking cars filled with Bush supporters
> were
> left
> alone. A honking car full of Kerry supporters was stopped by
> police on
> its way out of town.
>
> The standoff with "Protesters" continued until the President
> finished his dinner and was secured in his hotel cottage for the
> night.
> Only then were the riot police ordered to "mount-up," leaping upon
> the sideboard of a huge SUV, pulling out of town, and allowing
> "free
> speech" to resume. In small town America I witnessed true
> repression and intimidation by law enforcement. I saw small
> children
> suffering from the effects of being fired upon by pepper bullets.
> I
> felt
> legitimate fear of expressing my political opinions: a brand new
> feeling. Newspaper accounts state the chaos started when a
> violent "Protester" shoved a police officer. No one I talked to
> witnessed
> this account.
>
> It is reputed that President Bush and his staff will not allow any
> opposition activity to occur within his ear or eye sight. I can
> confirm, that in tiny Jacksonville, Oregon, this was true.
> Physically violent means were taken to protect the president from
> verbal
> insults. Freedom of speech was stolen.
>
> My father was not paranoid as he lay dying. He was expressing
> great insight into the dangers of our current presidential
> administration and its willingness to repress personal freedoms.
> If I
> could talk to
> my father today, I would say, "I am sorry Daddy for doubting you."
> And, no matter what, I will continue to exercise my individual
> right
> to
> freely express my opinions. Americans cannot take four more
> years."
>
> --
>
> HellPope Huey
> Welcome to "Dog Bitch-Ass Theatre."
> Its 2 straight hours of dogs sniffing other dogs' butts.
> Quick, call Fox. It can run right after "The Simple Life."
>
> When I'm feeling down, I like to whistle.
> It makes the neighbor's dog run to the end of his chain
> and gag himself.
> - Joe Cosby
>
> Life is a series of dogs.
> - George Carlin
>
> http://www.jibjab.com/