Applause amid protest (Ashcroft in Mke)

[Bushfire]

The act has met with widespread criticism from some who believe it tramples on civil rights. About 30 protesters holding flags emblazoned with peace signs and posters that read: "Patriot Act - No!" gathered outside the War Memorial before Ashcroft's speech began Monday morning. When media representatives tried to photograph them through a window, officials promptly closed the blinds.

U.S. Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner Jr. (R-Menomonee Falls) who in the past has criticized some aspects of the act and President Bush's efforts to expand it, introduced Ashcroft, referring to his "undying efforts to protect Americans."

"Though I understand its reaction to growing public concerns about the Patriot Act, I regret that the administration has decided to continue what is essentially a PR campaign instead of fixing the very real flaws in that law," Feingold said in a statement. "People have become increasingly troubled by certain provisions in the Patriot Act that may infringe on the rights of law-abiding citizens while doing little to protect our country against terrorists."

more...

http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/sep03/171762.asp

plus over at http://mke.indymedia.org/ could this be an evil DUer? if you know the identity, don't let Asscrack know...

[eyesroll]

1. Hmm...who could this be?

Good job!
Unfortunately, we both had to work and couldn't go. I think Vince would have enjoyed confronting Sensenbrenner and Ashcroft (even if he didn't get actual access).

Using Ashcroft as PR. Sensenbrenner is beatable, folks!
(Click any of the links in my .sig to find out how to help.)

[salin]

2. er... this cracked me up

"undying efforts to protect Americans"

Is this a way of saying zombie like efforts?

[fknobbit]

3. Closing the blinds!

"When media representatives tried to photograph them through a window, officials promptly closed the blinds."

Gotta wonder how much more "blind closing" the press will tolerate. They should have went outside and took pictures while Ashcroft was speaking, in protest. "blind closing" was Ashcrofts message.

[eyesroll]

5. Once, when I was at a union meeting

(I was a teacher for a little bit), we locked the press out. The next morning, there was a picture taken through a window -- you could actually see the panes in the picture.

It was, to be fair, a closed meeting.

[malachi]

4. I took it to mean that

ashcroft wasn't going to go so far as to die in his efforts to protect America; that's a task best left to the great unwashed. needed