[Fargo City Commissioner] Coates on [Bush] do-not-admit list

[markus]

Fargo City Commissioner Linda Coates is among more than 40 area residents included on a list of people barred from attending President Bush's speech today in Fargo.

Among the 42 area people on the do-not-admit list: two high school students, a librarian, a Democratic campaign manager and several university professors.

http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=82266

And the related story (or Roll of Honor, as I think of it);

HED: 33 on list connected to F-M democracy group

The following are names of area people included on a list of those not to be admitted into the Bison Sports Arena for today's visit by President Bush, according to two unnamed officials close to the visit.

http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=82288

Ok, if I'm No. 12, does that make this a vanity post and not a Late Breaking New items?

I am pissed that this list of basically 1) People on the post-Dean DFA meetup, 2) write nasty, anti-Bush letters to the editor and 3) involved in the new Prairie Progressives group in town, get listed in the paper as potential threats to the Presidnet?

Who are these idiots compiling dossiers on us, anyway?

Has this happened today in any other Bush-stop locations? This has the smell of a Rovian distraction from anything we might have to say about the Bush visit.

According to a poster on the newspaper's "dicuss this story" forum, the school where one listed person teaches is getting calls from concerned parents.

[Newsjock]

1. If the paper is identifying you as a threat to the president

based on your inclusion on this list, *and* if they do not contact you in advance of publication to seek your comment, then call an attorney tomorrow morning and have them contact the newspaper on your behalf.

This type of crap has to stop NOW.

On edit: As I go read that list in The Forum, I'm seething from every bone in my body. This is EXACTLY like publishing a list of "suspected communists" back in the 1950s. We must stop this right here, right now, in Fargo, today, with extreme, absolute force of law.

[markus]

3. Well, given that it's a family owned newspaper

and the publisher is the Textbook Example of a deep pocket (I used to work for the same company in a printing shop in a nearby town), I'm thinking about it

But my wife is totaly creeped out, since she does nothing overtly political (except rant at the TV when we watch cable news.) Well, she came out and made calls for Kerry a couple of afternoons. Pretty scarcy stuff.

She got on the list *because she is married to me*.

Forget the tin foil hats. This is the real world, kids. And it's ugly.

[Gman]

8. You and your beautiful family

are the all American family. This is a crime, whether or not there is an actual statute that rules or not. You have had a crime against the American people committed against you.

[TahitiNut]

6. Amen. It makes Nixon's "Enemies List" (of public figures) pale i...

... in comparison. Fascism has pulled on the jackboots and is on the march in Fargo.

[pacalo]

13. Same here! It's outrageous that this publication included the list of

names! The McCarthy era has risen from the dead.

[merwin]

2. Wouldn't that be illegal to deny access to a public speech by the Pres?

Especially if they aren't protesting and aren't threatening?

[SmileyBoy]

4. I was halfway expecting my name to be on there.

I'm a member of the NDSU College Democrats, after all.

One of my architecture professors seemed very pissed today that this list was published. I heard a little something about it on Ed Schultz today, too.

[mrbassman03]

14. Well, since you are allowed to go...

Better make a scene to get you on that list!

[TahitiNut]

5. It's alphabetical. You're #1 on DU. ;-)

Obviously, it's a list of people able to write letters. :shrug:

(Actually, you're #106033 on DU.) :silly:

[Oilwellian]

7. I would definitely contact an attorney immediately

Who knows what repercussions you may face in the future if you don't have this smear reversed. And who knows how many other "lists" you're on. I've had 5 different LTTE's published all lamb-basting Bush so it sure makes me wonder if I'm not on a "list" as well.

Congratulations though on being considered an enemy of these fascists.

[markus]

10. I've probably been on someone's list since 9th grade

when I decided to represent "Red China" instead of Taiwain in the model U.N., and starting writing letters (this is 1970) to the Albanian mission to the U.N asking for information on the Communist China position on world issues. Strangely enough, none were answered.

Then there was my brief time in the Young Socialist Alliance.

I know that, when I worked for the Dukkakis campaign and Benson came to Shreveport, the SS wouldn't pin me (give me immediate access).

But in a way it's still a badge of honor.

It's also creep, because I know this isn't just a list or letter writers, DFA members or other progressives. Because someone put my wife down on the list, under my last name. She doens't use my last name. Ever. Anywhere. The only way she got on there was because someone was compiling a dossier of some sort, and decided to add her on there. The same is probably true of Linda Coates' (the city commissioner) husband.

[kimchi]

9. Un-freaking real.

There is no way this is legal. Please take action if you are on the list. The fascists must be stopped.

[bloom]

11. The people at TPM are offering free t-shirts

to people on the list.

If you're in Little Rock or Tampa, you're up. Today's your day. TheBamboozlebooza Tour is coming to town. If you're going to be on hand for the festivities do let us know and let us know what you hear and see. If you've got a blog, even better. There may even be a "Privatize This" T-Shirt in it for you.

Even better, are you on the black-list for today's events in either town? If so and you can prove it, there's a definite shirt in it for you. At the moment, the White House isclaiming that the Fargo black-list was the work of an "overzealous volunteer" whose identity they and the local Republican party claim they are nevertheless unable to discover.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/

[sarcasmo]

12. Fascism has pulled on the jackboots , LMFAO may I use that what a line.

Although it is sad but true.

[me b zola]

15. Another sign of the type of political system we REALLY have

This is scary stuff & we need to shout from the roof tops that this is going on. There is safety in numbers. The more of us who make the list for writing to editors or speaking out, the more we will overwhelm their little black book.

[Duncan Grant]

16. My first "nominate this topic for homepage"

Was this the next logical step after 'free speech zones'? This is intimidation of the ugliest kind.

I guess they aren't just coming after us homosexuals afterall... :nuke:

[progressoid]

17. Repression helped them win in 04 and virtually nobody said a word

Hell, the press seems to think this is just dandy. Why would * stop now?