# Repugs insist on oath for demos to hear Cheney speech. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 1, 2004, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repugs-insist-on-oath-for-demos-to-hear-cheney-speech/257795 "2004-08-01T01:23:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repugs-insist-on-oath-for-demos-to-hear-cheney-speech/257795/1 "2004-08-01T01:23:37Z")
> [@](#): > > RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) – Some Democrats who signed up to hear Vice President Dick Cheney speak here Saturday were refused tickets unless they signed a pledge to endorse President Bush. > > The measure was a security step designed to avoid a disruption, which Bush campaign spokesman Dan Foley alleged Democrats were planning. Democratic Party officials denied it. > **[Some Democrats seeking Cheney tickets had to sign oath](https://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/some-democrats-seeking-cheney-tickets-had-to-sign-oath/article_5113bba2-bb5b-5dbb-be7d-f0d2e5946a32.html)** > > RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) - Some Democrats who signed up to hear Vice President Dick Cheney speak here Saturday were refused tickets unless they signed a pledge to endorse President So they thought some people might protest. Well whoop dee doo. If you can’t take the heat…get out of the race. The politics of exclusion. Works well I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repugs-insist-on-oath-for-demos-to-hear-cheney-speech/257795/2 "2004-08-01T01:41:04Z")
I defy anyone to argue with a straight face to argue that getting people to sign some bullshit pledge is going to keep the terrorists out. It’s a totally chickenshit move, to be sure, but why not just sign it any way? Sign it “Dick Hertz” or “Harry Ass” or something. It’s not like they can enforce the fucking thing, even if you sign your real name. It’s just a really, REALLY punk-ass attempt at intimidation and mind control. There is zero legal significance to signing that thing. Anyone fucking stupid enough to think it was legally binding would already be a Bush voter anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repugs-insist-on-oath-for-demos-to-hear-cheney-speech/257795/3 "2004-08-01T01:51:56Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > I defy anyone to argue with a straight face to argue that getting people to sign some bullshit pledge is going to keep the terrorists out. > > It’s a totally chickenshit move, to be sure, but why not just sign it any way? Sign it “Dick Hertz” or “Harry Ass” or something. It’s not like they can enforce the fucking thing, even if you sign your real name. It’s just a really, REALLY punk-ass attempt at intimidation and mind control. There is zero legal significance to signing that thing. Anyone fucking stupid enough to think it was legally binding would already be a Bush voter anyway. Yeah, but that would chap my semi-liberal ass so hard the middle finger would just FLY up in that person’s face… ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repugs-insist-on-oath-for-demos-to-hear-cheney-speech/257795/4 "2004-08-01T02:10:12Z")
This is pretty much an invitation for rabid anti-Bush/Cheney folks to sign the pledge to get in and protest up close, isn’t it? It’s another “bring it on”. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repugs-insist-on-oath-for-demos-to-hear-cheney-speech/257795/5 "2004-08-01T02:25:00Z")
This was not aimed at the people who would refuse, or even wish to refuse to sign. This was aimed at the drones that would be happy to sign, and view it as a sign of solidarity. They don’t want to keep the disruption away; they want to fan the fears of the loyal Republican zombies. A real disruption can then be branded as terrorism, and a violation of a holy oath. Eventually, Republicans will be unable to address any difference of opinion with their leaders. The party line will be distributed, as a fixed political view, and anyone who wants on board will sing with the choir. Controlling the minds of the folks on your side is the entire point of this type of group think exercise. This kind of behavior is a very large part of the nazi method. Failing to call it nazi method is simply stupid. These people (The leaders of the extreme right) are actively following the same strategies as the nazi party. Of course, noticing that is alarmist extremism. “:rolleyes” Tris ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repugs-insist-on-oath-for-demos-to-hear-cheney-speech/257795/6 "2004-08-01T02:37:23Z")
So the vice president is a coward. What else is new. He’s been hiding in his taxpayer-built bunker under the national observatory for three years now. No spider hole for Dick! I look forward to seeing video of the Cheney-cave once we get a _real_ man elected VP. Course they’ll probably seal off the torture chambers before handing over the keys. It wouldn’t do to have anyone think that anything unseemly happened down there. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repugs-insist-on-oath-for-demos-to-hear-cheney-speech/257795/7 "2004-08-01T03:07:49Z")
The frustrating thing is, the Kerry campaign won’t use this against him. They could make so much mileage out of this if they announced an invitation to a John Edwards speech regardless of party affiliation or preferred candidate, \*without \* signing loyalty oaths. Why won’t my candidates take off the gloves!!! ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repugs-insist-on-oath-for-demos-to-hear-cheney-speech/257795/8 "2004-08-01T04:30:10Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > The frustrating thing is, the Kerry campaign won’t use this against him. But they might use this “race card” bit from the Arizona Daily Star: [Bush camp solicits race of Star staffer](http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/dailystar/32301.php) > [@](#): > > President Bush’s re-election campaign insisted on knowing the race of an Arizona Daily Star journalist assigned to photograph Vice President Dick Cheney. > The Star refused to provide the information. > Cheney is scheduled to appear at a rally this afternoon at the Pima County Fairgrounds. Cheney’s doing a bangup job of winning friends in AZ. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repugs-insist-on-oath-for-demos-to-hear-cheney-speech/257795/9 "2004-08-01T04:36:01Z")
Hey now, they wanted her race to distinguish her from somebody else with the same name. I guess Momta Popat is the indian Jane Smith :rolleyes: Boy, this and the loyalty oath…it’s just so damn funny. 😃 They probably left out the part about signing in blood to avoid grossing people out. I also wonder if “Our Dark Lord Satan” was anywhere in that pledge. 😃 Seriously, this is the funniest thing I’ve read all day. ---
**Author:** ![syncrolecyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f08c70/32.png) [@syncrolecyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/syncrolecyne)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repugs-insist-on-oath-for-demos-to-hear-cheney-speech/257795/10 "2004-08-01T04:57:28Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > But they might use this “race card” bit from the Arizona Daily Star: > [Bush camp solicits race of Star staffer](http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/dailystar/32301.php) > Cheney’s doing a bangup job of winning friends in AZ. :dubious: This could start a real shitstorm…especially considering how hard the GOP tries to make their convention look like an “In Living Color” reunion these days. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repugs-insist-on-oath-for-demos-to-hear-cheney-speech/257795/11 "2004-08-01T05:39:44Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > Hey now, they wanted her race to distinguish her from somebody else with the same name. I guess Momta Popat is the indian Jane Smith :rolleyes: > > Boy, this and the loyalty oath…it’s just so damn funny. 😃 They probably left out the part about signing in blood to avoid grossing people out. I also wonder if “Our Dark Lord Satan” was anywhere in that pledge. 😃 Satan has a court order enjoining them from being able to associate his name with their projects. In court documents, Satan was crying and said that they made him feel dirty. the **bad** kind of dirty. ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repugs-insist-on-oath-for-demos-to-hear-cheney-speech/257795/12 "2004-08-01T05:54:43Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > I defy anyone to argue with a straight face to argue that getting people to sign some bullshit pledge is going to keep the terrorists out. > > It’s a totally chickenshit move, to be sure, but why not just sign it any way? Sign it “Dick Hertz” or “Harry Ass” or something. It’s not like they can enforce the fucking thing, even if you sign your real name. It’s just a really, REALLY punk-ass attempt at intimidation and mind control. There is zero legal significance to signing that thing. Anyone fucking stupid enough to think it was legally binding would already be a Bush voter anyway. It is not designed to keep terrorists out. It is designed (pretty stupidly I might add, but that is besides the point) to keep out the large ammount of jack-asses who think that there freedom speech includes the freedom to disrupt the freedom of speech of anyone they disagree with. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repugs-insist-on-oath-for-demos-to-hear-cheney-speech/257795/13 "2004-08-01T05:58:51Z")
[O’Reilly mode on…] Shutup! Just shutup! Shutup! Gimme that goddam keyboard! [/O’Reilly mode off] ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repugs-insist-on-oath-for-demos-to-hear-cheney-speech/257795/14 "2004-08-01T06:26:03Z")
> [@Muad'Dib](#): > > It is not designed to keep terrorists out. It is designed (pretty stupidly I might add, but that is besides the point) to keep out the large ammount of jack-asses who think that there freedom speech includes the freedom to disrupt the freedom of speech of anyone they disagree with. This is a fucking retarded post for two reasons, first because the pledge will not keep out protestors and secondly because freedom of speech damn well does include the right to heckle politicians on the stump…even to _interrupt_ the evil fuckers if they want to. You might want to read the first amendment again and contemplate the meaning of the words “no law.” ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repugs-insist-on-oath-for-demos-to-hear-cheney-speech/257795/15 "2004-08-01T06:36:13Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > This is a fucking retarded post for two reasons, first because the pledge will not keep out protestors and secondly because freedom of speech damn well does include the right to heckle politicians on the stump…even to _interrupt_ the evil fuckers if they want to. > > You might want to read the first amendment again and contemplate the meaning of the words “no law.” 1. I said that the pledge was stupid. 2. There are many who would not simply heckle, but actively try to stop him from speaking like the little left-wing brownshirt they are. Now, especialy in a private event, they do not have the right to do this. ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repugs-insist-on-oath-for-demos-to-hear-cheney-speech/257795/16 "2004-08-01T06:37:16Z")
Aww crap. A legitimate moment to use “Hi Opal” and I forgot. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repugs-insist-on-oath-for-demos-to-hear-cheney-speech/257795/17 "2004-08-01T06:38:10Z")
So the only way that Bush and the Crypt Keeper(I mean Cheney) can handle dissent is to try and bully it into silence with unconstitutional means? Are’t they supposed to _uphold_ Constitution, not attempt to subvert and pervert it? ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repugs-insist-on-oath-for-demos-to-hear-cheney-speech/257795/18 "2004-08-01T06:39:52Z")
> [@Muad'Dib](#): > > Aww crap. A legitimate moment to use “Hi Opal” and I forgot. I know, that ball of crumpled tinfoil I threw out there distracted you. ---
**Author:** ![Nightime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Nightime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightime)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repugs-insist-on-oath-for-demos-to-hear-cheney-speech/257795/19 "2004-08-01T07:07:15Z")
I agree with Triskadecamus. This oath does not make sense as a way to keep disruptions away, since the oath requirement itself could be viewed as an invitation for disruptions. What it does make sense as is yet another way to manipulate fellow republicans. Actually, I’ll just quote Trisk since he said it better: > [@](#): > > They don’t want to keep the disruption away; they want to fan the fears of the loyal Republican zombies. A real disruption can then be branded as terrorism, and a violation of a holy oath. Eventually, Republicans will be unable to address any difference of opinion with their leaders. The party line will be distributed, as a fixed political view, and anyone who wants on board will sing with the choir. Definitely nazi type strategy. But saying so doesn’t help, because it just gives them another excuse to enforce unthinking solidarity in the face of “false accusations against the party”. ---
**Author:** ![DadWagonDriver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@DadWagonDriver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DadWagonDriver)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2004, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repugs-insist-on-oath-for-demos-to-hear-cheney-speech/257795/20 "2004-08-01T13:21:46Z")
Re: the OP. Thanks, I needed the laugh. That’s all I can do any more, because every day, it looks more and more like Joseph Heller was a psychic. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/repugs-insist-on-oath-for-demos-to-hear-cheney-speech/257795.md?page=2)