WP: The Tenacious Trio (3 who got kicked out of * Town Hall)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/21/AR2005062101583_pf.html

The door to Rep. Mark Udall's office opens at lunchtime yesterday, and 13 chattering reporters and cameramen stream in.

The Colorado Democrat gawks. "I wish I could get this kind of coverage on my own," he says.

Indeed, the journalistic pack -- from CNN, the New York Times, The Washington Post, the Associated Press and elsewhere -- is interested not in the congressman but in the three people sitting demurely in armchairs in his office: a computer worker, a temp and a non-practicing lawyer.

Individually, they are ordinary citizens and political unknowns. But collectively, they are the Denver Three -- a political sensation in Colorado that is causing agita to a White House that has bested far more sophisticated foes.

The Denver Three's quest: to learn the identity of the "Mystery Man" who, impersonating a Secret Service agent, forcibly removed them from a taxpayer-funded Social Security event with President Bush three months ago because of a "No More Blood for Oil" bumper sticker on one of their cars.

[CottonBear]

1. Good for them. They're "pitbulls on the pantleg of opportunity" as * says

I hope that they can get some answers. * and the gang have committed yet another criminal act and are trying to get away with it. :grr:

[uppityperson]

2. It's OK to impersonate SS agent and wear flag, but don't burn flag.

OK. I'm trying to get the rules straight here. Keep pushing it guys, thanks for continuing with this issue.

[LiberalEsto]

3. FYI: This item was written by Dana Milbank

whose column last week on the Conyers DSM hearing was so outrageously rude and biased.

Looks like the bombardment of angry calls and e-mails we sent him quieted him down a bit, at leat for this article.

[ailsagirl]

4. I was wondering about this issue... glad it's still alive n/t

[Up2Late]

5. White House Letter: Bumped at Bush event, Denver Three hit back (IHT)

White House Letter: Bumped at Bush event, Denver Three hit back

Elisabeth Bumiller International Herald Tribune

MONDAY, JUNE 27, 2005

WASHINGTON For President George W. Bush, it's bad enough that his campaign to sell Americans on his overhaul of Social Security is not considered a brilliant success. But now a flap over who got to go to one of the president's Social Security events has erupted in a swing state, showing the power of a dogged little anti-Bush group called the Denver Three to irritate the Goliath of the White House.

Three months ago, the three were thrown out of a taxpayer-funded Bush Social Security event in Denver by a person they thought was a Secret Service agent, because of a "No More Blood for Oil" bumper sticker on one of their cars. Similar incidents have occurred at other presidential events around the country, and the three have not been silent since.

Last week they were in Washington demanding to know the identity of the "Mystery Man" who ejected them, and they got some unlikely support from Republicans in the Colorado congressional delegation. One of them was Representative Marilyn Musgrave, a reliable Bush ally. "I really do believe in free speech, and if you try to quell people it just makes them more determined," Musgrave said in an interview after meeting with the trio. "So they just want to get to the bottom of this, and I think that's fair."

(clip)

The White House was having none of it. "It's clear that these three protesters are trying to advance their own political agenda," Scott McClellan, the White House press secretary, said in an interview on Friday. Asked who the "Mystery Man" was, McClellan did not respond and then said that he had no interest in going over yet again the events in Denver on March 21.

<http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/06/26/news/letter.php>
(more at link above)

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. and Bush never tries to get over a political agenda?

That's what he was trying to do with these 'meetings' where any would-be dissenters were booted out. What these three folks want to do is to point this out. I don't call that having a political agenda. I call that demanding that Bushco follow the mandates set forth in the Constitution.

[fudge stripe cookays]

7. Musgrave?

Holy crap. The earth must be shifting on its axis!

FSC

[notadmblnd]

8. everyone but them have a hidden agenda or ulterior motives

only bush is pure an honest. :sarcasm:

[Rose Siding]

9. Could Bubu BE any more condescending?

"dogged little anti-Bush group"?

Maybe it's a *good* thing that being pro-participatory democracy is construed as being anti-bush, but this reporter is even more cynical than Miller!

[DS1]

10. Well Scott, you're both trying to advance your own political agenda

That's called politics, unfortunately there are some rules *or should be* that you have to follow if you're using tax payer dollars to do it.

Oh, and Scott, your mother's a whore :D

[Trajan]

11. Our RIGHTS are our agenda ...

OUR agenda is freedom of speech ...

OUR agenda is freedom of thought ...

OUR agenda is the right to assemble and petition the government for redress of our grievances ....

OUR agenda is to exercise OUR RIGHTS; GRANTED UNDER THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION !

Karl ? ... George ? ... Scotty ? ...

One day: you will have our agenda stuffed up your metaphorical assholes .....

Your damned right we have an agenda ....

[brentspeak]

13. Scottie "has no interest in going over yet again the events..."

Yeah, well Scottie, apparently the reporters asking you the question DO have a continuing interest in the events, got it?

The sole, singular reason that allows you to stand in front of TV cameras and receive a taxpayer-funded paycheck in the first place is to answer questions, ALL questions, even the ones you find "uninteresting".

Mike Malloy: "Have I told you just how much I hate these people?"

[tanyev]

18. I'm sorry Scottie finds this so boring.

If they would just TELL THE TRUTH right away, no one would ask them to go over these "unpleasant" things over and over again.

[Up2Late]

12. A new International Herald Tribune (NYT affiliated) article below

I another new and active thread combined with a Old Dead Tread.

[zippy890]

14. How can we show support for these 3

Is there any way to assist them in pursuing this? Puffy Mclellan wishes they would go away, but I for one would like to help these courageous freedom fighters get answers to their questions.

any ideas?

[jpak]

15. If there are SS impersonators at ChimpCo events

why doesn't the real SS arrest them?????

THEY pose a REAL security threat to the president - not Patriots who oppose the Chimp's illegal war...

[napi21]

16. I'm sure the SS hates these impersonators.

The SS folks have to take all the heat for shit they aren't doing! I'm not positive, but I think all the SS can do is recommend specific actions, or stop actions to the Pres. He's still the boss, and if he says I have my own people to get rid of possible protestors, I think they have to back down.

I actually know 2 SS agents. Haven't talked to them in a long time, but I think I'm going to have to gie 'em a call...just to check out the internal scuttlebutt.

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

17. Wouldn't be strange if this news event does more damage than DSM?

Maybe the loss of assembly rights by US citizens carries more resonance with the public than starting a war under false pretenses? In any event, I'll take all the sunshine on Shrub's criminal regime no matter what the story!

JB