Should the Press be held accountable?

[Abracadabra]

Originally posted by Fizban257
I'm sorry Abracadabra, but you can't seriously think that a terrorist attack that took out Madison Square Gardens, thousands of delegates, a large portion of Congress, and a sizeable chunk of the press corps woudln't rise to the level of 9/11, can you? I'm sure you're having lots of fun ridiculing Republicans and belittleing their status, but your comments are simply foolish. You've definitely gone too far when you manage to get WVRevy agreeing with Dawn (or me for that matter).

Oh phuleeze ... now we are really going off the deep end on this one. When we start envisioning and contemplating terrorist attacks, we play right into the hands of the terrorists. Next step... stop all public gatherings completely because they might be a target. Live in fear, cower in corners.

I am not belittling the Republicans or their status. It is simply an observation of the obvious. Political conventions are no longer a major event in American life or politics. They are simply a party/vacation for political loyalists. While inflating their egos may make party supporters feel good, it doesn't recognize the reality.

And if I've helped some people find agreement or common ground, well, I don't see anything wrong with that.

 

[gometros]

I did a search and have yet to find one story that says that Thomas Frampton was at the convention courtesy of press passes. Every story I've come across says that he gained access posing as a volunteer and had gone through the whole process to gain that access:

"A prosecutor says Frampton went through training sessions as a convention volunteer, while posing as a Bush-Cheney supporter."

 

[Chicago526]

I normally don't agree with the Reps on anything, but I can see being upset that two passes given to press with credentials and a security background check, were then givento two unknown people. They turned out just to be protesters, inocent enough, but it could have easily been worse. And not all protesters are peaceful!

I'm all for freedom of speach, but this is a private event, not open to the general public, and the Reps have the absolute right not to allow just anyone to waltz right in. There are plenty of ways to protest the Reps, the best of which is to vote them out of office in Nov.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Originally posted by Abracadabra
.....I find it laughable that anyone would seriously think that a political convention of all places would qualify as a major terrorist target.....

**THUD**

You don't live near me in Chicago area, do ya, Abs?? I hope not, LOL. Well, actually, I know Carol Stream is not all that close, thankfully.

 

[Abracadabra]

Originally posted by Dan Murphy
**THUD**

You don't live near me in Chicago area, do ya, Abs?? I hope not, LOL. Well, actually, I know Carol Stream is not all that close, thankfully.

Sorry, but you have me mistaken for someone else ... for example, someone who cares what you think you know.

 

[DawnCt1]

Originally posted by Abracadabra
Oh phuleeze ... now we are really going off the deep end on this one. When we start envisioning and contemplating terrorist attacks, we play right into the hands of the terrorists. Next step... stop all public gatherings completely because they might be a target. Live in fear, cower in corners.

.

And you would be the first to scream if an attack took place that the "authorities" were unprepared for.

 

[Elwood Blues]

Originally posted by Fizban257
Abracadabra's bitter tirades aside, and back to original question at hand, should the press be held accountable? I think yes. Al Queda has announced their intention to hit the U.S. again before the election and security at both conventions has been very tight because of this threat. Members of the press are issued credentials after careful screening and to pass credentials along to anyone who has not be subjected to similar screening is just plain dangerous. These may have been two-bit protesters, but most of the 19 hi-jackers on 9/11 were not on the watch lists. What these reporters did was wrong and a violation of public's trust in a responsible press--not to mention the amunition it gives to those arguing the press's liberal bias.

I agree.


I heard someone on the news reference a poll that said there is a percentage of Americans that don't think the terrorist threat is all that serious.

 

[Elwood Blues]

Originally posted by Abracadabra
If it gives you some comfort in thinking that these conventions are some major terrorist target, then so be it. That is a remote possibility, just like the Sears Tower in downtown Chicago is a remote possibility as a terrorist target. There are lots and lots of possibilities. That's the whole point of terrorism.

And when we play into those fears by elevating a college prank into a terrorist threat, we play right into the real terrorists hands.

Let's see....

Potential terrorist targets....


Abracadabra's back yard?

Or

The GOP convention at MSG?

Touch choice. Anyone? Buehler?

 

[Abracadabra]

Originally posted by DawnCt1
And you would be the first to scream if an attack took place that the "authorities" were unprepared for.

I wasn't screaming about "authorities" being unprepared for 9/11 and given the way security has been handled for both the DNC and RNC, I would have nothing to complain about in that case either.

But thanks for playing "Make That Wrong Assumption." Your consolation prize is in the mail.

 

[Abracadabra]

Originally posted by Elwood Blues
Let's see....

Potential terrorist targets....


Abracadabra's back yard?

Or

The GOP convention at MSG?

Touch choice. Anyone? Buehler?

Oh, please, please, please, PLEASE!!!! ... if you know of or have contact with any terrorist group of any kind, I would GLADLY have them target my back yard. Three Mile Island and Chernobyl are practically Gardens of Eden compared to my disaster. When you make contact, let me know and I'll PM you the longitude and latitude so they can target it properly. In fact, my next door neighbor might also want in on this deal. Hey, a two-fer!!!

 

[Fizban257]

Originally posted by Abracadabra
I am not belittling the Republicans or their status. It is simply an observation of the obvious. Political conventions are no longer a major event in American life or politics. They are simply a party/vacation for political loyalists. While inflating their egos may make party supporters feel good, it doesn't recognize the reality.

While conventions no longer garner gavel-to-gavel coverage and have lost some of their past importance, that has absolutely nothing to do with their attractiveness as a target. 15-18k people in a landmark building in a major U.S. city, with a healthy chunk of them politicians or press corps is simply a prime target. If Al Queda could find a way to crack security at either convention you bet it would get major press coverage.

And yes, you were belittling Republicans. This one isn't a major figure, that one's not really important, etc., etc. I'm sure it's great fun for you, but it ignores the real issue we're discussing here. The relative importnace of conventions, or of particular politicians is irrlevant. If they could hit that target, they would, and it would be a major blow.

 

[Abracadabra]

Originally posted by Fizban257
While conventions no longer garner gavel-to-gavel coverage and have lost some of their past importance, that has absolutely nothing to do with their attractiveness as a target. 15-18k people in a landmark building in a major U.S. city, with a healthy chunk of them politicians or press corps is simply a prime target. If Al Queda could find a way to crack security at either convention you bet it would get major press coverage.

And yes, you were belittling Republicans. This one isn't a major figure, that one's not really important, etc., etc. I'm sure it's great fun for you, but it ignores the real issue we're discussing here. The relative importnace of conventions, or of particular politicians is irrlevant. If they could hit that target, they would, and it would be a major blow.

Hmm... IF they could crack security...

IF they could hit that target...

A couple of really BIG if's there...

 

[MICKEY88]

Originally posted by Abracadabra
Hmm... IF they could crack security...

IF they could hit that target...

A couple of really BIG if's there...

if they hijack airplanes..

if they fly them into office buildings in a suicide mission..

these were big ifs also, that no one ever thought would happen...

either convention would have been a good target, since one of the goals of the terrorists is to disrupt our political process and the election...

put politics aside and deal with the facts




to answer the original question..if these people gained access with press passes that belonged to someone else..the press should be held accountable,,,

I've used press credentials in the past,

any venue I'm aware of has strict rules regarding the use of such credentials, the misuse of them results in loss of clearance at that venue for further events...so even if this wasn't a political event, the members of the press responsible, would be banned,,so why should this situation be any different

 

[Abracadabra]

Originally posted by MICKEY88
if they hijack airplanes..

if they fly them into office buildings in a suicide mission..

these were big ifs also, that no one ever thought would happen...

either convention would have been a good target, since one of the goals of the terrorists is to disrupt our political process and the election...

put politics aside and deal with the facts




to answer the original question..if these people gained access with press passes that belonged to someone else..the press should be held accountable,,,

I've used press credentials in the past,

any venue I'm aware of has strict rules regarding the use of such credentials, the misuse of them results in loss of clearance at that venue for further events...so even if this wasn't a political event, the members of the press responsible, would be banned,,so why should this situation be any different

Yes, let's deal with the FACTS as opposed to the OP's assumptions. This comes from CNN, however, I'm not sure if everyone considers it a reliable source.

The Secret Service, which has jurisdiction within Madison Square Garden during the convention, said the screening process is working and no one who has demonstrated inside the convention has had a weapon or posed a threat to anyone. All of the hecklers had valid floor passes.

Hmm.. all the hecklers had valid floor passes.. Not press passes, but floor passes. And so much for these fantasies about terrorist attacks.

 

[spearenb]

Aba, you should have enough responses for your class now. Thanks for using us as test subjects!

Goodbye.

 

[Saffron]

spearanb: Huh?

Anyway, yes, if any members of the press gave their passes to the ANYONE to enter the Convention, they should be held accountable for their actions. What should happen to them, to what degree of accountability? I don't know, I guess it just depends. What if a media member gave their pass to their mom or dad, long time admirers of Bush, just so they could have a bit of excitement in their golden years? I think that's different than giving their pass to an Act Up member, which is different than giving their pass to an Al Quida member.

And yes, the article states that the protesters had valid floor passes, but it doesn't state how the protesters got those passes.

 

[Abracadabra]

Originally posted by spearenb
Aba, you should have enough responses for your class now. Thanks for using us as test subjects!

Goodbye.

Not that it matters to me one whit, but it sounds like you'd have a less stressful time on this board if you used the Ignore feature more.

 

[Abracadabra]

Originally posted by Saffron
And yes, the article states that the protesters had valid floor passes, but it doesn't state how the protesters got those passes.

This is very true, and this statement from CNN is a far cry from the OP's assertion that they obtained press corp passes. I could be mistaken, but I believe press corps passes are specifically identified as such, to distringuish them from delegate, VIP, speaker or visitor passes. I think that if the protesters had actually obtained PRESS credentials/passes, the story would have indicated that.

But then again, there's probably some big media conspiracy to hide the truth.

 

[shortbun]

NO.
Should the President be blamed because he hasn't let ANY non registered citizens in to his campaign speeches. Nice job if you can get it-or have it bought for you- sheilded from your opponents and allowed to travel all over the place saying how great you are.

Not since the early 70's have
Americans been so organized in their purpose to stop something destryoing our country. W and his aXXes of evil are horrifyingly
in it for their own gain.
We were right then, Vietnam-history proves it AND we are right now. I hope we can give another person this job so W's write up in the History books has something positive to say AND Americans
quit dying for his personal agenda.


BTW: X=S

 

[disney4us2002]

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