Jesus. Via Instapundit.
Anti-war protesters were allowed to spray paint on part of the west front steps of the United States Capitol building after police were ordered to break their security line by their leadership, two sources told The Hill.Allowed? Allowed? If this is accurate, it is outrageous that pissant vandals were allowed to deface government property.
"While there were minor instances of spray painting of pavement by a splinter group of Anarchists who were seeking a confrontation with the police, their attempts to breach into secure areas and rush the doors of the Capitol were thwarted," Morse said."Seeking a confrontation." Well, give them what they want. That's why God invented nightsticks.
He added, "It is the USCP's duty and responsibility to protect the Capitol complex, staff and public while allowing the public to exercise their First Amendment rights … at the end of the day, both occurred without injury to protestors or officers."Without injury to the
"...I'm reasonably certain that vandalism is not a First Amendment right."
Apparently, it is now, thanks to some idiots. Wait for the graffitti to show up on Mount Rushmore.
Posted by: The_Real_JeffS, Subject Matter Expert on Polygamy at January 29, 2007 06:48 AMConfronted by anarchists, their superiors order the police to retreat. Then they order them to stand by while the anarchists vandalize the steps to one of the most important symbols of our democracy. Then they make someone else clean up the mess.
Retreat. Do nothing. Leave it to someone else to clean up the mess. Sounds like Congress to me.
Posted by: Dave E. at January 29, 2007 07:14 AMIt's probably easier and cheaper to just clean up after the slobs than to arrest them.
Posted by: aaron at January 29, 2007 08:00 AMIt's probably easier and cheaper to just clean up after the slobs than to arrest them.
But nowhere near as much fun.
Posted by: Cullen at January 29, 2007 08:48 AMAnd that's why God invented nightsticks.
Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at January 29, 2007 08:56 AMI know some people on RTG's blog were (verbally) rolling their eyes and going, Geez, it's JUST a protest, I still persist in being sickened by the whole idea.
Yes, I believe there are still some things that should be held with respect and dignity - even if YOU do not respect them or feel they are dignified.
It's not that far of a step from the police standing back as they spit on or otherwise assault people. I suppose that is next - "They're just spitting on you, what's the harm? You can always go home and take a shower." Ugh.
If I ruled the world? I'd make those anarchists clean the graffiti off - with their tongues. And they'd have to stay there until every scrap of it was gone.
Posted by: ricki at January 29, 2007 09:57 AM"Just a protest"? No. "Just a protest" means no vandalism of any kind.
It also means no spitting, no violence, no rocks, no bricks, no blocking traffic.
Posted by: Ken S, Fifth String on the Banjo of Life at January 29, 2007 10:10 AMIn the old days, if one was civilly disobedient, one could expect to be civilly arrested and pay one's due to society. It came with the territory. It worked precisely because of the price paid by those brave enough to sacrifice their freedom for their cause.
Insisting to be let off for the proper punishment shows that they aren't brave or principled no matter what their college professors say about it. This is just a huge case of Mad at Daddy looking for an outlet.
They ought to be jailed; failing that, they ought to be paddled and sat in the corner without their Wii-Boxes, or whatever the hell they wasted fifty hours on line for.
Posted by: Nightfly at January 29, 2007 10:45 AMThat's the ticket, NF. They want the power to effect change, but with that power goes responsibility, and they're not willing to take any of that.
Posted by: Joel, president of Catholics for Xenu at January 29, 2007 02:04 PM