Vendor Arrested For "Impeach Him" Buttons

Maryland Retiree's Anti-Bush Buttons Attract Supporters ... And Police

(CBS/AP)  A 74-year-old retired mathematician who sells anti-Bush buttons at a Maryland farmers' market has become a symbol of free speech to some people. Others say Alan McConnell is a nuisance.

McConnell was at the market in Kensington as usual yesterday, selling buttons that say "Impeach Him" He has sold the $1 buttons for months; he told The Washington Post he uses the money earned to pay for "Impeach Them Both" yard signs.

Town officials had previously warned McConnell about peddling his political wares at the market (he is accused of being "aggressive" in his pitch), and had cited him for selling merchandise without a proper permit.

McConnell was also warned that he would be arrested if he returned to the market, even though it is public property.

McConnell showed up this weekend, when police arrested him and forcibly carried him to a squad car. A crowd of about 40 McConnell supporters booed the arrest, chanting "Free speech!"

McConnell was charged with trespassing; he faces 90 days in jail and a $500 fine

Officials said kicking him out has nothing to do with politics but with
fears that the atmosphere fostered by McConnell and his supporters would create a safety hazard. (Mayor Peter Fosselman even cancelled last Saturday's market.)

But while some critics say talk of impeachment in the halls of Congress merely impedes the nation's business, some vendors at the market say the hype surrounding McConnell may have helped improve business for them.

"The excitement has certainly brought a lot more people here, but not all of them are buying," merchant Keith Voight told the Post. "Hopefully, the protesters today will come tomorrow to buy."

McConnell's buttons might have some more takers in nearby Takoma Park, Md., whose city council will vote tonight on a resolution calling for Congress to impeach both President Bush and Vice President Cheney.

Also today, activists including Cindy Sheehan, will march on Capitol Hill to the office of Rep. John Conyers, asking that articles of impeachment against the president and vice president be introduced.

Meanwhile, Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., a critic of the Iraq War, said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that he wants Congress to censure President Bush for launching a war without adequate military preparation and for lying to the public, and for what he deemed the administration's continuous assault against the rule of law.

"This administration has weakened America in a way that is frightful." said Feingold.

[fasman2]

Maryland has always been strongly Democratic, however but also somewhat conservative in nature (e.g. Southern Democrats) as evidenced by the number of Republican governors, congressmen and local officials over the years.

What suprises me about this story?

When in the history of the State of Maryland has anyone ever been arrested for taking a political stand? I believe the local leaders didn%u2019t like him taking a political stand in a public place any more than they like references to God in schools or public buildings, so they simply had him arrested for anything they could to stop him.

Kensington Maryland is generally believed to be roughly 95% liberal - most people are democrats. The capital region from Columbia,MD down to Virginia is comprised of about 91% liberals. This being the case, I can%u2019t fathom how this arrest happened unless the Neo-Left is now stronger and more radical than ever before.

I wonder if both the Left and Right haven%u2019t moved farther Left over last few years. It almost seems like the Left is now approaching a position of supporting stronger, more centralized governmental control over the citizenry, commerce, and freedom of expression (e.g. socialism), while the mainstream Right has moved more toward the former Left%u2019s position of roughly 20 or 25 years ago.

No wonder we%u2019re so screwed up %u2013 we%u2019re totally out of balance!

[paul_barbara]

The 'Smirkin Chimp' hasn't made an ececutive order against calling for a proper inquiry into the traitorous demolition of the Twin Towers and Building 7; hammer the sob's with 'Inside Job' buttons, placards, T-shirts and marches. And don't forget Double Grand Larceny - two stolen elections. Paul, London UK

[michal54-2009]

(Mayor Peter Fosselman even cancelled last Saturday's market.)

My guess is Peter Fosselman is a republican..pure and simple. When will the madness end? What has happened to this beautiful system of government? Trespassing on public property???? Can we wait until January 09? IMPEACHMENT IS THE MORALLY AND LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO. There is no other choice.
We need to look long and hard at the foolish Democrats who are not living up to their responsibility to serve the people's wishes, and give a clear message to them in the upcoming primaries. Nancy Pelosi is an incompetent fool. Impeachment MUST be "on the table", or our Democratic/Republic will be replaced by a dictatorship...if it hasn't already happened.

[cbs_oliver]

It seems now that the only way to protect the United States from the slow treason against the constitution currently being assembled by the Republican administration is to impeach George Bush and Dick Cheney.

The constitutional limits on the powers of the executive branch need to be asserted by congress in a definitive way.

George and Dick can live a nice life on the ranches or whatever but they should not be allowed to continue their disregard for the fundamental founding principles of the United States.

Regarding this particular case, the officials are clearly using force to suppress speach. Their arguments regarding possible disruptions of peace are rediculous. If a disruption is threatoned or occurs then they can arrest those who threaton or act violently. Pre-emptive violence (arrest) against the expected victim is twisted.

[lostcountry1]

i only hope that the end of this administrations term, that we can punish them the way they have been punishing all americans with their corrupt,in your face, your either with us or against us attitude.we need to take away all the things that they care about.

[dogband]

Does this guy think he lives in a democracy ran by the people?

[gunownerdan]

"Today we need a nation of minute men; citizens who are not only prepared to take up arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as a basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom. The cause of liberty, the cause of American, cannot succeed with any lesser effort."
-- President John F. Kennedy, January 29, 1961

"Naturally, the common people don't want war, but after all, its the leaders of a country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag people along whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. This is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifist for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every country."
-- Hermann Goering, Adolf Hitler's Reich-Marshall
at the Nuremberg Trials after WWII

[lostcountry1]

i see alot of posts that compare bush and co. to NAZI'S when you see this kind of treatment of people who are supposed to be protected by the constitution, it shows how much the NAZI'S and bush have in common. spoiled brats dont like to be told how play nice. these rats in the white house should be made to suffer long and hard for their crimes against humanity!if you cant see that then you must be one of them.

[sshard]

Muzzlebush

To boycott the market is a very good start. Economics work faster, in the short run, than the threat of the vote.

It would be great if McConnell supporters wear his buttons everywhere, all the time. At the very least it would help him pay for any fines, which resulted because of his stance on free speech.

[muzzlebush]

"The excitement has certainly brought a lot more people here, but not all of them are buying," merchant Keith Voight told the Post. "Hopefully, the protesters today will come tomorrow to buy."

On the contrary, the protesters need to avoid the farmer's market at all costs tomorrow. They should dissuade any and all of their friends and acquaintences from attending as well. The best revolutions are the ones that start quietly at the grass roots.

[twylacrat]

robertkjjj: Calm down there big fella! You sound like a raving lunatic! Why don't you take your baton and stick it where the son don't shine! That's something I could cheer about!

[sshard]

Wonder if Alan McConnell is going to run afoul with the July 17 executive order?

[dodaz-2009]

That's Nice..NOW send him to Guantanamo!! ...LOL

There is definitely , many singns that things are Crazy and out of Control in this Country... Many of the Problems(if not all of them) are from within... and like the Bumper sticker says ..."IF YOU ARE NOT OUTRAGED, YOU ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION"... All of they crazy events should be a wake-up call for All Americans--both Reps, AND DEMS...time to start playin' nice in the sandbox..and finally start enforcing the WILL of the people..Not just for the Bunch of Over-Wealthy-over fed, elite..who could care less about Humanity.. which is Unfortunate..BUT there is ALWAYS Hope..Tommorow(and TODAY, NOW) can Be NEW BEGINNINGS ! Storm the Castle ..lol

[yamuttya]

yamuttya, did you LIE in your earlier post, or are you really a Canadian? If so, WHY are you still posting political comments on CBS News? Doesn't Canada have their own version of CBS online where you can post your anti-US rhetoric? You are not a US citizen

A/It's a free country.B/I'm not anti US, I'm pro sanity.
S_T.....you're still a nut case, and YOU ARE the problem with our neighbors to the south.
Right wing wackos (you )are poisoning the well.

[michellem99-2009]

We have the right to our say as every American does.I did not vote for him. I am from Maine and the Bush family have a home there. GW Bush at 40 when in Maine got a DUI while there. I lived in Portland when he got the ticket. Yep The Bush Family has a colourful history. There are fools that voted his arse in. I am 52. I don't care for the Bushes and don't trust them. When he opens his muuth he can't talk properly. Money will buy anything and that being that s'poselly be oval office. He whined to get in there. Made a big fuss. I felt sorry for the people of TX when he gov. there .That fool was born in CT and is not Taxan by birth, Nosah. Don't anyone 'member the Bush brothers banking mess. That man has blood on his hands. Comgress has only declared wars 2 times ladies/gents and that being ww1 and ww2. The rest illgal wars that the people paid for. They paid dearly at that. Bush is a control bas***** and I have met lots of them. Fisrt in foster care years ago. I have pitied us as Americans since Bush took office that he stole. Yep stole. He is a skull and bones member..as was the other male Bushes in his line. They are tight like a brotherhood. I am 52.

[r9119111]

Nice try, S_Temper. You are certainly entitled to your opinion. I give you that.

Now I'll give you mine, that is if you don't mind. If this president and the party he represents hadn't been so secretive and corrupt in all of their dealings, the American people he is supposed to be representing might be much more tolerant. We need more honesty from the top down.

[cbsreader4]

Why should this elderly gentleman be in the position he's in now anyway? The reason is that we, the American people, have allowed our President to run slipshod over our constitution, pick and choose which laws he wants to enforce and which he wishes to ignore, surround himself with corrupt yes men and women, bankrupt our country, kill and torture without regard to international treaty or consequence and to erode our civil liberties to the point where they no longer exist but in our minds. And the list goes on and on and on.

Further, our President acts like a spoiled little school boy each and every time he's contradicted. He has his spin doctors work against his detractors to shut them up. If that doesn't work he rolls out the old stand-by: "you're just not a patriot" speech.

I could go on but what's the use, you know the story as well as I.

In the past, any President that tried to pull the same boloney that this guy has would have been hoist out of office so fast his wife wouldn't have been able to pack his bags fast enough. The American people wouldn't have stood for it.

Now, though, we sit back, drink our highly inflated StarBucks coffee and watch our HD TVs in the comfort of our air conditioned homes and wait for a 74 year old man to have the guts and gumption to go out and do what we should have already done; and then we criticize and jail him for it. Shame on us.

[lastdance2]

It was :
Sen. Prescott Bush and friends who :
Manufactured war materials in the United States.
Then shipped them off to : "Nazi" Germany.
To kill American and allied soldiers in Europe.

The same process was repeated during the :
"Vietnam War"
War materials - were manufactured, in the United States.
Then shipped to Hypong.
To kill American and allied soldiers in Vietnam.

Since these incidents, occurred prior and during WW II
Then again during the Vietnam War.
It would be obvious that : It is happening again - Today.

Profound - Act - of : "Republican Patriotism"
To the American people.
To the Solider in the field.
_____________

Research :
Sen. Prescott Bush (Guardian Unlimited)
(copy and paste - Google)

Research :
The Bush family and the S&L Scandal
(copy and paste - Google)


Lastdance

[johnpatrick9]

DEAR under my boot: Must be tough be a loser bushie supporter and knowing that you and your fellow cretins are going down in the history books as fascist retards. You really don't have a clue as to what America is about do you? You were born about 150 years to late as the Confederacy would have welcomed dare I say "citizens" like yourself full of hatred and fear and so intent on denying freedom and equality and new ideas. Your a sad case right now but you can be redeemed. Stop making a fool of yourself by supporting war and death and a dope called bush.

[knyghtwolf]

Hmmmm, still wondering why the bush administration/regime is against the video Loose Change? I know there are a million conspiricy theories out there but isn't the the very one that our "federal" government is feeding us about 9/11 & bin Laden just a "theory"? With no proof of any groups involvement, and 9/11 has what to do with the "war in Iraq"? Seems to me our government's policy is more like "scrap a new car because it got a flat tire & make someone else pay for it" type strategy. Another thing that kind of disturbs me, IF there is NO EVIDENCE of WRONGDOING on mr. bush's part, why are they considering articles of Impeachment? If you believe it's because of people here posting and expressing their ideas under the First Amendment saying they hate bush, you are very wrong, here it seems either think as I think, believe as I believe, do as I do or get the *** out. Freedom is a great concept until you start practicing it, then you are in REAL trouble. I have met the man, had dinner with him in our college when he was govnor of texas, and thought he was an idiot then, and an even bigger fool now. After listening to him talk, I thought people had to be smarter than this to actually put this mockery of humanity in the white house, wrong there too, people are that STUPID.