So what you're saying is, these people who are committing assaults on LaRouchies are being arrested and charged with assault? How scandalous.

LaRouchies are idiots. But they have the freedom to speak their nonsense.

yeah, i was about to say that too, fnarf.

Civil disobedience does have it's consequences. Although I appreciate Ms. Miller and Mr. Brads actions, thanks for doing what many only wish we could do!

He probably would've gotten away with it if he hadn't returned to the scene. Isn't that in the get away with it 101 handbook?

WTF Sarah? This is not news unless they get more than a fine and some community service.

yeah, um, dumping flower on people's tables and pelting them with water baloons is, um... illegal.

I was a Manager at the University of Iowa's Student Union back in the 80's, where we had all kinds of civil disobedience because of the situation in Central America and the university's investments in South Africa (they evenutally divested).

Part of the activist's way of doing things was to take responsibility for their actions: After they threw fake blood, or chained the doors of the theatre shut, or any of that sort of thing, they would wait quietly for campus security to come and arrest them. Interestingly enough, the only people who didn't work this way were the College Republicans. They were assholes.

Well, you shouldn't torture them.

Instead, eavesdrop on them, have them stand for 72 hours in 50 F rooms, and near-drown them for weeks at a time.

That's ok, according to Herr Bush.

I can't stand the frigging LaRouchies, but thankfully, the law applies to them, too - you are not allowed to assault people simply because they are annoying. If you were, there'd be others on my (very long) list with the LaRouchies. Just because it's tourist season doesn't mean you're allowed to hunt them...

C'mon, there has to be more clever, less illegal ways to vent on/about these LaRouchiites. I've never taken the time to stop and be bothered by them, but you'd think there'd be a Kirk-ian logical statement that would end up shutting their brains down.

Those LaRouche freaks are off their meds. They chased me for a block just because I ignored them as I walked by their table (I was wearing earphones)

Those LaRouche freaks are off their meds. They chased me for a block just because I ignored them as I walked by their table (I was wearing earphones)

I sold all my stocks back in 1999 because they told me the economic collapse was coming. Son of a bitch! Back then their enemy was Al Gore - isn't that kinda funny?

Most of you are too young to have caught the absolutely brilliant half-hour paid political ad that LaRouche bought back in, let me see, 1988? It came on when Letterman was supposed to be on, delayed him for half and hour. Man, if you think Tricky Dick Nixon was a sweaty paranoid wreck on his last TV appearances, you haven't seen nuthin'. Lydon was amazing, sweating, twitching, orange: rattling on about the Queen (runs the global heroin trade, dontcha know), the Trilaterals, Bohemian Grove, the Masons, all the usual. Great stuff.

If you sold all your stocks back in 1999, you did very well - most US stocks since 2000 have done poorly - my best holding have been Japanese and European stocks, with much much higher returns.

At least they got that one right.

If it had been rocks dropped on them and anthrax dumped on their table, assault charges would have been justified. With water baloons, which are harmless, and flour, also harmless, unless all LaRouchies have celiac disease, assault isn't appropriate. Is malicious mischief a less charge? If so, it would be the appropriate charge.

exactly - a better thing to do is give them the name, address and phone number of your favorite GOP friend.

I'm sure they'll appreciate the endless phone calls.

Hitting someone with a water balloon or a bag of flour is not "harmless". A person has the right and expectation of being in a public place without being hit by ANYTHING. All you need to do to be guilty of assault is THREATEN to clobber someone.

Sure, fnarf, I'll agree it's clearly not legal to randomly hit someone with a water balloon in public, and the flour stunt is different as it could plausibly destroy some lit they have their right to, but if you're going to PRESS CHARGES because you've been HIT WITH A WATER BALLOON, you're a total fucking douche.

My new response to asking if I hate Cheney? "About as much as you hate water balloons, you crybaby fucking pansy." They *hate* that shit.

Destruction of property?! Flour wipes off!

Fuck these bastards. Ban them from harrassing civilians, because that's what they do, shoving fliers in your face and trying to corner you when you walk past. Fuck them fuck them fuck them times ten.

And the judge should throw out both cases. Assault for water balloons? What a crock of shit that an officer, let alone TWO, even took that seriously. Fire these assholes.