"How the Secret Service protects Bush from free speech&

h0rus · Post by **h0rus** » 2004-01-05 03:56pm

"When President Bush travels around the United States, the Secret Service visits the location ahead of time and orders local police to set up "free speech zones" or "protest zones," where people opposed to Bush policies (and sometimes sign-carrying supporters) are quarantined. These zones routinely succeed in keeping protesters out of presidential sight and outside the view of media covering the event."

Link

Iceberg · Post by **Iceberg** » 2004-01-05 04:04pm

h0rus wrote:"When President Bush travels around the United States, the Secret Service visits the location ahead of time and orders local police to set up "free speech zones" or "protest zones," where people opposed to Bush policies (and sometimes sign-carrying supporters) are quarantined. These zones routinely succeed in keeping protesters out of presidential sight and outside the view of media covering the event."

Link

Sadly, this is old news. More sadly, this thread will probably be swarmed within minutes by people making excuses for Dubya.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2004-01-05 04:50pm

Old news. When Bush visited Pittsburgh, Bush supporters were allowed to line the streets to cheer on his parade route, but people who were there to protest were sent to a "free speech area" on Neville Island, which is effectively kicking them out of the city, since Neville Island is the furthest part of the city that you can get without being outside the city. In fact, half of Neville Island is outside of the city. The reason for all of this is because pictures of Bush with protestors in the background do not make good photo ops.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2004-01-05 04:57pm

I believe what was claimed the 'valid reasoning' behind this move was 'There might be a danger to the President'. Apparently the 'If you don't support Bush 100%, you're a Terrorist!' gag isn't a joke anymore.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2004-01-05 05:18pm

I don't know. Wouldn't someone who intended to do harm to the President pretend to be a supporter or not even go to the street, rather than show up and be obviously an anti-Bush supporter? I don't think the "danger to the President" stuff makes much sense if they let just anyone go to the streets.

Patrick Degan · Post by **Patrick Degan** » 2004-01-05 05:23pm

Essentially, it's all about protecting the Dauphin from the boy who'll point at him and shout out before the world that the Clothes have no Emperor.

Stuart Mackey · Post by **Stuart Mackey** » 2004-01-05 05:26pm

I remember this topic..but for what its worth..you gotta love the language they use. 'Free Speech Area' or 'Protest Zone'. Does much more need to be said?
How thoughtfull of them to set up seprate areas to cater for all tastes

.

Gunshy · Post by **Gunshy** » 2004-01-05 05:33pm

Were these Free Speech Zones created solely during the time of the Bush administration, or have other Presidents had them?

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2004-01-05 06:08pm

"Can't we move the free speech zone?"
"No."
"Well, its not very free then, is it?"
"Its not supposed to be free, that's why it's a specific zone."
"But then why do you call it a 'free speech zone'?"
"Bloody peasant!"
"Help, help, I'm being oppressed!"

Andrew J. · Post by **Andrew J.** » 2004-01-05 08:16pm

Stuart Mackey wrote:I remember this topic..but for what its worth..you gotta love the language they use. 'Free Speech Area' or 'Protest Zone'.

It's doubleplusgood!

Solid Snake · Post by **Solid Snake** » 2004-01-05 08:28pm

Andrew J. wrote:
Stuart Mackey wrote:I remember this topic..but for what its worth..you gotta love the language they use. 'Free Speech Area' or 'Protest Zone'.
It's doubleplusgood!

FACECRIME!!!!

Glocksman · Post by **Glocksman** » 2004-01-05 08:38pm

Gunshy wrote:Were these Free Speech Zones created solely during the time of the Bush administration, or have other Presidents had them?

IIRC, Clinton had them as well.

I'm not totally sure, but I think it goes back as far as Nixon.

Stuart Mackey · Post by **Stuart Mackey** » 2004-01-05 08:51pm

Glocksman wrote:
Gunshy wrote:Were these Free Speech Zones created solely during the time of the Bush administration, or have other Presidents had them?
IIRC, Clinton had them as well.

I'm not totally sure, but I think it goes back as far as Nixon.

Dont ya just hate it how and when such things are reported? {and I vote Labour!}

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2004-01-05 09:15pm

The first time I heard the term was after a Bush trip to Martha's Vinyard where a peace officer coined the term.

Iceberg · Post by **Iceberg** » 2004-01-05 09:23pm

Glocksman wrote:
Gunshy wrote:Were these Free Speech Zones created solely during the time of the Bush administration, or have other Presidents had them?
IIRC, Clinton had them as well.

I'm not totally sure, but I think it goes back as far as Nixon.

Are you sure? I'd never heard of "Free Speech Zones" until the Bush Administration.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-01-05 09:27pm

Iceberg wrote:
Glocksman wrote:
Gunshy wrote:Were these Free Speech Zones created solely during the time of the Bush administration, or have other Presidents had them?
IIRC, Clinton had them as well.

I'm not totally sure, but I think it goes back as far as Nixon.
Are you sure? I'd never heard of "Free Speech Zones" until the Bush Administration.

How often did you see Clinton getting booed during public speaking events? There was certainly no shortage of people with strong opinions about him.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-01-05 09:32pm

Also a lot of colleges set up "free speech zones" on their own (UGA has them, I think) to prevent things from getting out of hand.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2004-01-05 09:45pm

Joe wrote:Also a lot of colleges set up "free speech zones" on their own (UGA has them, I think) to prevent things from getting out of hand.

Before or after the Secret Service set the first one in motion?

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-01-05 10:14pm

SirNitram wrote:
Joe wrote:Also a lot of colleges set up "free speech zones" on their own (UGA has them, I think) to prevent things from getting out of hand.
Before or after the Secret Service set the first one in motion?

As early as 2000, probably earlier.

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2004-01-05 10:27pm

Joe wrote:
SirNitram wrote:
Joe wrote:Also a lot of colleges set up "free speech zones" on their own (UGA has them, I think) to prevent things from getting out of hand.
Before or after the Secret Service set the first one in motion?
As early as 2000, probably earlier.

Don't really answer the question. If it's after the SS creates the first one, it's more likely compliance than thinking 'maybe these protestors could be dangerous'.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-01-05 10:30pm

I just said that many free speech zones on college campuses have predated the Bush administration, am I not being clear?

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2004-01-05 10:37pm

Joe wrote:I just said that many free speech zones on college campuses have predated the Bush administration, am I not being clear?

Am I not being clear, Joe? Others indicate the practice predates Bush. So, if you know, kindly indicate if this is before or after the first use of it by the SS. If you don't, be quiet and let someone who does know answer. Not a hard concept.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-01-05 11:00pm

The free speech zones in question are completely unrelated to the secret service, most likely. They were instated for a number of issues, including the abortion debate.

Glocksman · Post by **Glocksman** » 2004-01-06 12:12am

The two times I know for sure that Clinton had protesters removed from view was once during his second inauguration when a group of anti abortion protesters were denied permits by the park service to demonstrate along Pennsylvania avenue.

The other was during a 1996 visit to Paducah, KY.
Anyone with a sign other than the 'official' party issued signs had to give them up if they wanted to be in the speech audience area.

There were also zones set up during the 2000 party conventions as well.

Bush and Cheney are just taking this to a new level.

I guess all of the sonsofbitches have forgotten that they are elected, not anointed.

Stuart Mackey · Post by **Stuart Mackey** » 2004-01-06 02:37am

Glocksman wrote:The two times I know for sure that Clinton had protesters removed from view was once during his second inauguration when a group of anti abortion protesters were denied permits by the park service to demonstrate along Pennsylvania avenue.

The other was during a 1996 visit to Paducah, KY.
Anyone with a sign other than the 'official' party issued signs had to give them up if they wanted to be in the speech audience area.

There were also zones set up during the 2000 party conventions as well.

Bush and Cheney are just taking this to a new level.

I guess all of the sonsofbitches have forgotten that they are elected, not anointed.

All very interesting. A NZ PM can expect to be booed, heckeled and have their parentage called into question..and that just other politicians not to mention the public.

StarDestroyer.Net BBS

"How the Secret Service protects Bush from free speech&

"How the Secret Service protects Bush from free speech&

Re: "How the Secret Service protects Bush from free spe