Thursday, October 07, 2004

Campaign Terror!!

Lets recap how the "loyal opposition" (yes those are NYT sarcasm quotes) is acting during this election:

MILWAUKEE:
"More than 50 demonstrators supporting Democrat presidential candidate John Kerry stormed a Republican campaign office in West Allis at mid-day today, trespassing, creating a disturbance through the use of a bullhorn in the office and then refusing to leave when asked."

Orlando:
"A group of protestors stormed and then ransacked a Bush-Cheney headquarters building in Orlando, Fla., Tuesday, according to Local 6 News."

Knoxville, TN:
"An unknown suspect fired multiple shots into the Bearden office of the Bush/Cheney re-election campaign Tuesday morning."

Gainesville, Fla.:
"Politics in Gainesville turned rough and tumble Thursday night when, police say, a social behavior sciences instructor - a Democrat - punched the chairman of the Alachua County Republican Executive Committee in the face."

Columbus, Ohio:
"An American serviceman was ambushed last month. This ambush was especially noteworthy because it did not occur in Iraq or Afghanistan; it occurred within the borders of the United States. PFC Foster Barton, recipient of the Purple Heart, was on a two-week leave, recuperating from injuries sustained while on duty in Iraq. While leaving a concert in Columbus, Ohio, he was attacked. According to a local television report, his attacker reportedly "was screaming profanities and making crude remarks about U.S. soldiers."

MADISON, Wis.:
"Madison homeowners are livid after vandals defaced their homes.
Someone burned an 8-foot-by-8-foot Nazi swastika on a home's lawn near where Bush-Cheney signs were posted. The vandals used grass killer to spray the symbol."

SEATTLE:
"Republican officials say three laptop computers containing campaign plans have been stolen from a Bush-Cheney state headquarters office in suburban Seattle."

Huntington:
"Republican supporters in Huntington were watching their candidate accept the party's nomination when a gunshot rang out right in the middle of George W. Bush's speech."

This is not the way to hold an Election! Intimidating one party through force and violence is not the action of a civilized democracy! Yesterday, when I attended the Bush speech in Wilkes-Barre PA, I had to walk by the "free speech zone" to get to my car. While walking, I was called some of the vilest things I have ever been called. I felt more hate towards me than I EVER FELT FROM MY WORST EMEMY. After being called MANY NAMES, I laughed and repeatedly yelled out "four more years" ! Some GOP Supporters were clearly rattled by the hatred that was coming from this crowd. Last week, signed were placed In front of the Scranton B/C headquarters, and some people were there to harass those going in(I was called a Nazi bastard)

Why does one party feel compelled to intimidate the supporters of the other? My friend Jesterdel stated that civility in the campaign has gotten out of control. I now agree, but it is one sided. Jester stated that Extremists on all sided are getting nasty. Curious, I did a google search and found the only action against Kerry supporters was sign stealing.(something I do not condone) There are some Bush supporters who are rightly afraid to put Bush bumper stickers on their car in fear of it being damaged!

It is not yet the "night of broken glass" But I now have no doubt who will be instigating the violence.