Ted Cruz forced from restaurant amid Kavanaugh drama

[Alsharad]

I read this in another forum, but thought it might be appropriate here:

Dear Protestors,

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
When you act like fascists,
The only fascists are you.

[Cow Poke]

A one-off, non-violent, free speech, protest, of a democratic politician, by the people, in a public venue,...

What is it about you that makes you seem to prefer chaos to order?

[Starlight]

What is it about you that makes you seem to prefer chaos to order?

I believe in freedom and democracy and not in fascism.

[Cow Poke]

I believe in freedom and democracy and not in fascism.

So, if people came in a restaurant while you and your significant other are having a quiet dinner, and they were getting in your face and screaming at you that you are not safe, you would simply breathe a sigh of relief and bask in the fact that you "live in freedom"?

See, this is the kind of thing that makes me think you're either a really bad troll, or a genuine nutter.

[Starlight]

So, if people came in a restaurant while you and your significant other are having a quiet dinner, and they were getting in your face

If I were a politician I would expect that when I was in public I might be protested occasionally. I don't think I'd at all enjoy it, but I'd understand that's what I'd signed up for and comes with the job.

It would be a reasonable question to ask "how often can a politician be protested in person before it goes from being reasonable public protest to being unreasonable persecution and stalking?" I guess I'd say maybe once a week or less for <30 mins is definitely fine. If it's reaching once per day for periods >30mins per day it's too much. And I'd view it as a gray area in between those rates. But since politicians have resources they can employ to avoid going our in public (government cars etc) they can usually avoid protests without much difficulty if they wish to, so I'm not familiar with any cases of an individual politician being 'over-protested'.

But since this incident with Cruz happened only once and lasted about 5 minutes, there isn't even an issue of "happening too much" to consider here. So I find the right-wing reaction to it to be utterly bonkers: Some people protested a politician... ~shrug~ ...but you guys can't cope with that? Wow, that's the story here: You guys taking such offense at a totally run of the mill protest just because you're such snowflakes you can't even tolerate having your politicians challenged in any way, shape, or form.

I think it's absolutely wonderful that the sleepy masses in America are getting inspired by the current terribleness of the Republicans to hit the streets and become more politically active and to go out and protest. I think long term it will do the world of good to awaken political activism within what has for too long been an apathetic nation. It makes me happy to see people like this getting engaged and taking politics seriously and getting out there and protesting.

and screaming at you that you are not safe

They were chanting "we believe the survivors [of sexual assault]".

[Cow Poke]

If I were a politician I would expect that when I was in public I might be protested occasionally.

Absolutely, but a bunch of anarchists screaming in a restaurant is acceptable to you? And it wasn't just at Ted - it was at his wife, as well.

I don't think I'd at all enjoy it, but I'd understand that's what I'd signed up for and comes with the job.

I would understand that these are a bunch of disrespectful anarchist looney-tunes who represent the Democrats at their finest.

They were chanting "we believe the survivors [of sexual assault]".

That you defend this kind of crap shows, once more, what a sick puppy you are, Star.

[Bill the Cat]

Starfruit must have missed the last part of my cite where the DEMOCRAT challenger even sais it was uncalled for.

[lilpixieofterror]

If I were a politician I would expect that when I was in public I might be protested occasionally. I don't think I'd at all enjoy it, but I'd understand that's what I'd signed up for and comes with the job.

It would be a reasonable question to ask "how often can a politician be protested in person before it goes from being reasonable public protest to being unreasonable persecution and stalking?" I guess I'd say maybe once a week or less for <30 mins is definitely fine. If it's reaching once per day for periods >30mins per day it's too much. And I'd view it as a gray area in between those rates. But since politicians have resources they can employ to avoid going our in public (government cars etc) they can usually avoid protests without much difficulty if they wish to, so I'm not familiar with any cases of an individual politician being 'over-protested'.

But since this incident with Cruz happened only once and lasted about 5 minutes, there isn't even an issue of "happening too much" to consider here. So I find the right-wing reaction to it to be utterly bonkers: Some people protested a politician... ~shrug~ ...but you guys can't cope with that? Wow, that's the story here: You guys taking such offense at a totally run of the mill protest just because you're such snowflakes you can't even tolerate having your politicians challenged in any way, shape, or form.

I think it's absolutely wonderful that the sleepy masses in America are getting inspired by the current terribleness of the Republicans to hit the streets and become more politically active and to go out and protest. I think long term it will do the world of good to awaken political activism within what has for too long been an apathetic nation. It makes me happy to see people like this getting engaged and taking politics seriously and getting out there and protesting.

They were chanting "we believe the survivors [of sexual assault]".

And thus you show yet again that you’re a nut job.

[Sparko]

So are you guys against the First Amendment now?

A one-off, non-violent, free speech, protest, of a democratic politician, by the people, in a public venue, upsets you? That's pretty pathetic snowflakism.

What could possibly be more foundationally democratic and in line with American values, than a public protest against a politician? This is what your country is supposed to be all about.

Our country is about harassing people out in public? Harassment isn't free speech. If cops were there, they would have been arrested for disturbing the peace.

[Sparko]

The First Amendment states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." In other words, it applies only to the government, and is not a prohibition on any kind of censorship or speech restriction that is not from the government. As no one in this topic so far has advocated that congress pass some law making their actions illegal, this question of yours makes absolutely no sense.

It also says "Peaceably assemble" - and interrupting someone's private time in a public place by screaming at them is not a peaceable assembly

[Bill the Cat]

Our country is about harassing people out in public? Harassment isn't free speech. If cops were there, they would have been arrested for disturbing the peace.

He's a snipe. He has no clue what our country is about.

[Cow Poke]

He's a snipe. He has no clue what our country is about.

This is a grossly unfair insult to innocent snipes everywhere.

[Leonhard]

This is a grossly unfair insult to innocent snipes everywhere.

Moi?

[JonathanL]

Moi?

Terve.

[KingsGambit]

Almost nobody actually consistently supports freedom of speech in all circumstances (and that's a good thing), but personally criticizing a specific form of speech doesn't mean you're anti free speech.