According to the CNN story re: Sheehan, it is against House rules to have demonstrations in the galleries.

I guess that makes sense because otherwise, they could have lobbyists constantly demonstrating inside there. Kind of like not being able to campaign within so many feet of a voting booth.

Dee

Years ago, some Puerto Rican demonstrators shot up the House from the gallery. I think they wanted PR to regress from Territory status (where they get everything, pay nothing) to Statehood.

And don't forget Kerry's response:

"The Drudge Report also notes that Kerry claimed "53 percent of our children don't graduate from high school." In fact, according to the Census Bureau, 85.9% of 20- to 24-year-olds are high school graduates. In June 2004, while campaigning for president, Kerry did something similar, with a racial edge: He falsely stated that more black Americans were in prison than in college."

That si your poinion but like I said, she shouldn't have to project an image of agreement if she doesn't agree.

My comment regarding Bush's smirks wasn't directed at your original post, I simply stated it for posterity and nothing more.

We have differing opinions for sure. But I don't really think this is an issue of the right thing to do as opposed to simple likes and dislikes of certain body/facial movements.

I HATE THE SMIRK!!! I think that may annoy me more then anything else he does.

Now I need to go read the rest of the thread.

I have some issues regarding his approaches to the math and science teaching in high school. Bush says he wants train 70,000 teachers to teach AP science and math and to bring 30,000 math and science professionals into the classroom. Great idea in theory. #1- how? #2- Not all "professionals" can be teachers. You can be a highly intelligent, great person in the business world but not be able to teach. I had some very intelligent professors(even a high school teacher) who couldn't teach because they were too far above us and weren't able to bring it down to our level. One of the most difficult things I've had to do this year is try and bring my level of biology knowledge down to a 7th grade level.

I noticed the smirk, but I'm not really bothered by it. I actually giggled whenever he did it because I had this voice in my head while he would do it saying "you were right, karl, that WOULD sound good" or something like that.

The Puerto Ricans in question actually wanted independence from the U.S. NOT to become a state.

And what exactly does the Kerry "response" have to do with ANY of this?!?

Police Apologize, Drop Charge Vs. Sheehan
 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060201/..._union_sheehan

Capitol Police dropped a charge of unlawful conduct against anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan on Wednesday and apologized for ejecting her and a congressman's wife from President Bush's State of the Union address for wearing T-shirts with war messages.

"The officers made a good faith, but mistaken effort to enforce an old unwritten interpretation of the prohibitions about demonstrating in the Capitol," Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer said in a statement late Wednesday...

The extraordinary statement came a day after police removed Sheehan and Beverly Young, wife of Rep. C.W. "Bill" Young, R-Fla., from the visitors gallery Tuesday night. Sheehan was taken away in handcuffs before Bush's arrival at the Capitol and charged with a misdemeanor, while Young left the gallery and therefore was not arrested, Gainer said.

"Neither guest should have been confronted about the expressive T-shirts," Gainer's statement said...

The two women appeared to have offended tradition if not the law, according to several law enforcement and congressional officials. By custom, the annual address is to be a dignified affair in which the president reports on the state of the nation. Guests in the gallery who wear shirts deemed political in nature have, in past years, been asked to change or cover them up.

The above negates my explanation of my earlier post, but I wanted to check this out with at least one person I know in DC law enforcement.

I said aiding & abetting because it would be akin to driving the getaway car - she wasn't guilty of the commission of the crime, but if she knew about it, she'd be part of the crime.

But since we now know that it wasn't a crime that was committed (other than maybe the Fashion Police's!) so it's all a moot point.

Thanks for the info - I'm on their side, I guess. I'll label them "freedom fighters" in all future posts.

Kerry? This is the SOTU thread, so someone's response to the SOTU is allowed. We can never have enough quotes from Kerry.

Re: Police Apologize, Drop Charge Vs. Sheehan
 

I was just about to post this story. This is such a shame. I'm willing to bet that, as I said before, "someone" just wanted Sheehan out of the building, period and instructed the police to make it happen. I hope she does sue the crap out of the police for violation of her 1st and 4th Amendment rights and whomever was behind that is exposed.

How funny that you mention that!! My husband and I have been noticing that for YEARS...we call it the GWB smug smirk. And here I was thinking we were crazy for always noticing that. :) I agree though, not much new was said. Though he needs to keep his gob out of education and let people who actually know what they are talking about and doing take care of that.

Reagarding the being removed for wearing a t-shirt thing...I guess it's just my upbringing, but unless I was just a tourist getting a walk around view of the capitol, I would not be wearing a t-shirt to the SOTU. It seems...tacky. Just my opinion.

Bush reminds me a bit of the guy from Mad magazine.

And I agree with tshirt wearing on the House Floor or even in the Gallery is beyond tacky, it's disrespectful. Remember where you are and show some dignity, people. That goes for that Congressman's wife as well as Sheehan.

======

okay, so, since when is solar engery part of reporklican agenda?

Alfred E Newman? Because of his big donkey ears probably.

I can't believe anyone would advocate some nutjob (Sheehan) who is ignorant and so insulting be allowed wear this tshirt. On top of that they ejected a woman who wore a patriotic tshirt, but of course these opportunists will call it some Republican conspiracy.

-Rudey

Reporklican? Well, OK then.