Rule Changes Allow Police To Arrest War Protestors Near Crawford

By Judd Legum on Nov 23, 2005 at 8:01 pm

This August, pesky war protestors hounded Bush during his month-long vacation at his ranch in Crawford. What’s the solution? Change the law:

In August, hundreds of demonstrators camped off the road during a 26-day protest led by Sheehan, whose 24-year-old soldier son Casey was killed in Iraq last year. But a month later, county commissioners banned camping in any county ditch and parking within 7 miles of the ranch, citing safety and traffic congestion issues.

Earlier this week, three demonstrators filed a federal lawsuit against McLennan County over the two local bans.

Now, as Bush hunkers down in Crawford for an extended Thanksgiving vacation, protestors can be hauled off by the police:

A dozen war protesters were arrested Wednesday for setting up camp near President Bush’s ranch in defiance of new local bans on roadside camping and parking.

As Vice President Cheney reminded us this week “disagreement, argument, and debate are the essence of democracy.” Just don’t let your disagreement get too close to the ranch.

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Security

Kristol: “The Administration Looks Weak Right Now”

By Faiz Shakir on Nov 23, 2005 at 1:17 pm

In recent days, the Bush administration has tried to have it both ways on Iraq. On the one hand, the White House has said those who advocate a drawdown of troops are calling for “surrender to the terrorists.” On the other hand, the adminstration — in the face of polls showing the American people favor a drawdown — has repeatedly sent signals that it too wants to pull out troops. Yesterday, Secretary Rice became the latest member of the administration to send mixed signals.

On Fox News this morning, conservative editor of the Weekly Standard Bill Kristol called out the administration for this game they’re playing:

What message does this send here at home? Here in Washington, policymakers, congressional staff, opinion leaders pick up the two Washington papers this morning and there in the Washington Times, ‘General Calls Iraqi Pullout Destabilizing.’ So you think, well, that’s good, that’s the administration’s line. You can’t pull out too fast. Then you pick up the Washington Post. ‘Three Brigades May Be Cut In Iraq Early In 2006′ based on a Pentagon briefing by a different general. It looks confusing, it looks weak in my opinion. Dick Cheney just gave a major speech warning against this kind of talk. Everyone knows that we want to pull out troops when we can, but to sort of go out on a P.R. offensive, I think, on the part of the administration looks weak right now.

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Politics

The Independent,

By ThinkProgress on Nov 23, 2005 at 12:18 pm

one of England’s leading newspapers, picks up the story of the declassified Pentagon document that describes white phosphorous as a “chemical weapons.” The story was first reported Monday on ThinkProgress.

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Politics

Wall Street Journal Editors: Public Schools In New Orleans Should Never Reopen

By Judd Legum on Nov 23, 2005 at 11:52 am

Today’s Thanksgiving-themed Wall Street Journal editorial promised to “take a respite from major policy combat and consider instead a few of the many things we’re grateful for.” It didn’t live up to its billing:

That damaged city’s public schools remain closed, but at least eight of its 35 private Catholic schools are already back teaching, less than three months after Katrina. Here’s a modest proposal to help that city’s poorest kids: Don’t reopen any of the old public schools, 102 of 117 of which were performing below the state average in any case.

There are some conservatives who honestly want to improve public schools by focusing on accountability. Others are just interested in destroying the public school system. We can safely put the editors of the Wall Street Journal in the later category.