tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5256317.post6724434573077396450..comments2023-09-07T22:24:51.654-05:00Comments on League of Melbotis: Press arrests at ConventionThe Leaguehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04836241071795980225noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5256317.post-57747653423615022242008-09-08T13:15:00.000-05:002008-09-08T13:15:00.000-05:00Yeah, there's something about the cops clamping do...Yeah, there's something about the cops clamping down on the press in a situation like this for "security reasons" which just seems to ring pretty hollowly- especially when we see the press given much more unrestricted access on their movements in war zones like Iraq. I would bet that the GOP had a long, involved talk with the St. Paul city manager's office and the St. Paul police (to make sure that there would be an absolutely zero tolerance policy for the protesters) before they even finalized St. Paul as the location for the convention. The city wants the tourist revenue from hosting a convention, so whatever the GOP wants, the GOP gets.J.S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03903186469796595837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5256317.post-61405939821907943512008-09-07T22:50:00.000-05:002008-09-07T22:50:00.000-05:00I guess I am more bothered by what it says about t...I guess I am more bothered by what it says about the balance of power when the press is arrested while performing their job in a capacity that in no way presents a physical threat to the police. That's simply not how the public should expect the relationship to work with civil servants in possession of firepower and the public trust. <BR/><BR/>Your suggested method of dealing with police puts cops in the position to be the final word, and that's just not something anyone should buy into at all. <BR/><BR/>A) both producer and reporter were in possession of VISIBLE press credentials, which should grant them 1st Amendment ability to cover the riot without fear of arrest or reprisal from a government agency. That's the point of the accredited press pass. Even had the crew been initially taken into custody initially, there was no need whatsoever for them to be processed.<BR/><BR/>B) Neither were doing anything illegal to begin with. There is not, I would argue, any arrestable offense shown on either tape. Other than being a press person covering a difficult scenario for the police. <BR/><BR/>I would buy, by the way, that the cops were in a tough situation and being expeditious. However, this doesn't appear to be the case, especially in the Amy Goodman situation where her request to see a superior officer was the only offense and was occurring AFTER the dust settled. <BR/><BR/>I would also point out that Goodman had all of, about one second between the cop pointing a direction for her to go, and she has not even completed her sentence when the cop begins making a move to arrest her. The cop was in no danger, and the reporter was not making an unreasonable request.<BR/><BR/>The producer, if you listen to the audio, is specifically asking for directions how she can assist (how she can get out of the way... she was apparently pinned between cars when the cop pinned her). <BR/><BR/>Cops have a really, really tough job. You will never hear me argue that point. But their job is not to kill 'em all and let God sort it out. And, honestly, I expect better than a lowest common denominator method for our police in complex situations.<BR/><BR/>Sure, its one way to stay out of jail and stay safe to roll over for anyone with a gun and a badge, and I do think 99.9% percent of the time, cops are doing the right thing. <BR/><BR/>I just don't happen to agree that the fact that police have a tough job justifies suspending 1st Amendment rights, excessive force, and creating an undue legal situation of "guilty until proven innocent" for Goodman's team. <BR/><BR/>Now, if none of the above bothers you, we just happen to have wildly differing opinions on the powers of law enforcement, the potential for abuse, and the importance of freedom of press.The Leaguehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04836241071795980225noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5256317.post-19092565872529392632008-09-07T20:31:00.000-05:002008-09-07T20:31:00.000-05:00I have learned that the best course of action in a...I have learned that the best course of action in all cases is to kiss cop ass and call it ice cream. You can call it me being successfully indoctrinated into the new world order of police state thuggery. . .I call it smart.<BR/><BR/>In this case, anybody that doesn't kiss cop ass and call it ice cream is either dumber than me (not too likely) or willfully testing the cops with full knowledge that you're OK with the relatively mild consequences of noncompliance. Guess which one I'm going with here?<BR/><BR/>The cops asked for compliance, she didn't give it, she got arrested. This isn't teh Bu$hitler's fascist Amerikkka, this is some goofy bint getting arrested for an arrestable offense. What am I supposed to see here that I'm not seeing?tachyonshuggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13733014096001153802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5256317.post-3607806764990207062008-09-07T19:41:00.000-05:002008-09-07T19:41:00.000-05:00I know our country is a bit effed up, but this is ...I know our country is a bit effed up, but this is shocking. A few well tweaked edits in my life and I could have been one of those journalists.Michael Corleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01441107947600810769noreply@blogger.com