See No Opposition, Hear No Opposition

The Bush campaign, we've known, carefully screens all attendees at events where W speaks. He thus faces only wildly cheering crowds--the true believers--which requires him to do little but say whatever the tag line of the day or week is.

However, Totenberg's report is chilling in that both supporters who are not sufficiently enthusiastic or neutrals wanting to listen to W have not only been barred attendance, but thrown out and sometimes jailed. (I know-- this should be posted on "That's Amazing"!). What is most troubling is the use of Secret Service as the muscle at what are clearly partisan rallies of the campaign to intimidate anyone who is not a fanatic. Such use is illegal. What is scary is the fascist-like oversight of individuals in the crowd. Apparently, someone knows who we are and what our politics are and if it is not in line with the faux-con agenda, you risk being silenced or jailed. Listen to this report:

http://www.npr.org/rundowns/segment.php?wfId=4076497

PS: There is actually some hope in this: W was at sea in his first debate with Kerry. W's laziness and insulation and lack of perspective fed by the sort of micro-micro-management of his appearances has not prompted him to really think about anything he's doing or has done. It won't be easy for him to awake from this stupor. He may get his clock cleaned again tonight which would be a terrific blow for democracy, feedom of thought and speech. Go John, go!