Police Taser Florida Student After He Asks John Kerry Why No One Has Tried To Impeach Bush

AP :

A university student with a history of taping his own practical jokes was Tasered by campus police and arrested after loudly and repeatedly trying to ask U.S. Senator John Kerry questions during a campus forum.

Andrew Meyer, 21, spent a night in jail before his release Tuesday morning. His attorney, Robert Griscti, did not return messages seeking comment.

Read the whole story: AP

Comments

[hydenorhare]

Fight for the right of Ann Coulter or David Horowitz to make an appearance without having a pie thrown at them.

Fight for the right of a Minuteman to make an appearance without being physically attacked by the audience.

Did you? Would you? Ever?

[starwheel]

You're comparing pies to being corralled, pinned and tazered by campus police?

You're comparing Anne Coulter and David Horowitz to this college student who simply asked a legitimate, albeit long-winded, question?

And, yes, as a member of the ACLU, I would defend the rights of Anne Coulter, David Horowitz and a "Minuteman" to make appearances.

The political persuasion of this student means nothing. In fact, when I heard the kid was challenging John Kerry, I assumed he was a wingnut, not a moonbat.

Either way, the reaction of the police was way over the top and way out of line. And I'd say the same damned thing if he was neocon nutball with racist tendencies who simply asked the Senator a tough, albeit long-winded, question.

[Shadow51]

OK. Can we then tazor the shit out of Ann Coulter and David Horowitz?

Oh come on, how about the Minuteman?

PS - can someone post any footage of Ann and David getting pied?

Please?

[ownsthepodium]

The guy is becoming an icon, certainly a laughingstock, a representation of what the sane world would like to figuratively do to moonbats like the huffkids and Taser 'Bro; give 'em a tazer shock sample of the real world and just maybe it'll clear up the moonbattery a tinge.
The only thing funnier than drama boy is the huffkids using even this for their hatefest.

[bar1ed]

the world has gone mad, and fla. is leading the pack !!!!!!!!

[hydenorhare]

You people still defending this snot-nosed punk?

It's not a free speech issue.

You're really fighting for his right to make a name for himself at the expense of everyone else in that room.

You need to better judge for whom to man the battlements.

[Doug]

His moron is a journalism major!!!!

[Democratdoc]

This is unbelievable. I could understand this happening if it were Bush or Cheney being asked some tough questions, being the thugs they are, but Kerry? Hell, I voted for him in '04, but obviously, he has no balls, and sure as hell I'd never vote for him again either. Standing there like a big, dumb, mummy while this poor kid gets jackbooted by the campus Storm Troopers....disgusting. Free Speech, First Amendment...gone the way of the hoola hoop. I hope this kid lawyers up and sues the shit out of those cop-thugs and the U of F. Guess old Kerry didn't want to answer the question of the Skull and Bones society at Yale, where he and the chimp were members of this cult of the rich and pampered. Maybe that's why Kerry rolled over like a dead dog when Bush stole the election from him in '04?

[TNFarmer]

Please tell me what you would have done in Kerry's situation. He was a speaker, for pete's sake. I hope he sues, too - and loses his posterior. Send him some money for attorney's fees - do your part for free speech. BTW, this wasn't in any way the kind of free speech covered in that old document called the Constitution. As I recall, the Supreme Court did rule in Dubya's favor on the election recount - guess that was Kerry's fault too - what a weenie.

[Democratdoc]

What would I have done? I would have manned up, stepped down from that stage and stopped those thugs from trying to drag this kid away. Oh, gee, didn't know you were a Constitutional scholar there, TN Redneck, but that's OK. Your kind think of our Constitution as "just a GD piece of paper" anyway, right? Yeah, the supremes did select the Tard for the Oafel Office position, one of their worst decisions in modern times, with all of us having to pay for that rancid decision for years to come. Congrats on being a complete moron and voting for this disaster, dumbass.

[LibsRHilarious]

Wait untill the Clinton Gang gets into power- dissenters will simply dissapear.

[kardwell]

Welcome to the New World Order...and have a nice day ! :-)

[TNFarmer]

On this subject I disagree with the vast majority of posters here. Obviously, none or not many of those saying the campus officers should not have tasered him have ever tried to move someone his size who was actively resisting. This guy wasn't abiding by forum rules - should everyone just let him take over and keep the floor? "...after loudly and repeatedly...." His mike was turned off and the officers were talking to him, when he began passively resisting (moving away from the officers). He then began actively resisting the officers as they continued to try and get him out of the room. He was yelling. He was much larger than the first officers trying to remove him. He continued to disobey the officers' verbal instructions and physically resisted them. He deserved the tazer. He deserved the night in jail. He deserves to be suspended.

Obviously, most of you people have never tried to control someone this man's size and emotional state. The taser was a heck of a lot less risky on the jerk and the officers than batons, pepper spray, or some other more physical action.

All he had to do was: abide by the forum's rules; move away from the microphone when asked; waited for another turn to speak; and obeyed the officers' verbal instructions. But no, he continued to escalate the situation. Now, he's a "hero" to many of you - what's sad here is the fact someone can act like this and get so much support.

Other than letting the guy monopolize the floor, just how would you have managed him? I don't agree with how the campus officers handled him, but bashing them in defense of this jerk is just plain wrong.

[Canukistani]

I've seen the video a number of times now and I must say that, as unpopular as it may be, I agree with you at leat up to a point. Further it even looks contrived. As I said in a much earlier post. I think this fellow accomplished his goal and succeeded beyond anything he could have hoped for. He set out to provoke an over-reaction and he was ready to push until he got it. He won, the cops lost for not finding a less extreme solution.

We may disagree on this, but I think that smarter or more experienced cops might have found a way to defuse this situation without the taser. I am not a cop, so I don't know this, I just believe it seems to make sense. Kerry was also a loser for not finding a way to calm things down. I would have expected he would be smart enough to deal with it more adroitly. The student is a big winner. He's gotten all that he could want from this situation without getting seriously hurt.

[TNFarmer]

I don't disagree with you on more capable officers being able to defuse the situation. However, it certainly appears to me from watching several videos of the incident that Mr. Meyer intentionally precipitated the confrontation - using the taser was questionable. However, the officers were not capable of removing him from the room while he continued to disrupt the forum with his screaming, and to continue wrestling with someone that big had a high probability of someone getting seriously injured. He KNEW he was going to be tasered, yet he continued resisting - I don't feel sorry for him one bit.

Thanks for your support of my unpopular position. Guess being even a moderate isn't too popular on this site!

[planetfotheApes]

Why can't people like you just move to a totalitarian society and leave the rest of us free?

You stab the Constitution in the heart and are an enemy of the sate.

[TNFarmer]

You don't know "people like" me; you just think you do, and you're wrong. I have defended the Constitution. This was NOT free speech that in any way applies to our Constitution. As far as being "an enemy of the state," I voluntarily served in combat, even though I strongly believed my Nation was wrong. So, how does that fit your profile?

[Democratdoc]

Actually, what's really sad is you've got the brain of a sheep, and can be easily led and controlled by the fascist mindset. That's OK. Like Bill Maher said, people like you need to stay in the box. Only smart people think outside the box.

[TMAN]

Now, he's a "hero" to many of you - what's sad here is the fact someone can act like this and get so much support.

Maybe having lived through "Kent State" in a prior fascist republican administration is causing a little too much dejavu.

[Atombstoner]

Everyone felt the shock, because they permitted injustice, we are all threatened. Because they failed to defend the constitution and free speech, everyone's free speech and rights are jeopardized. This example is why the violent revolution in Amerika has already started, and the bloodbath the whole world has wished for us is underway. This revolution is getting uglier by the day, but it is welcome compared to the fascist police state we HAVE. WE dare call it treason in the higest office, and this is the local expression of it: DOMESTIC TERRORISM at the hands of the "authorities" who answer to no one, cannot be controlled, and have callous disregard for the consequences of their actions: such as controlling the Kerry Hall, but causing a violent civil war everywhere else: multiply by more incidents, is it any wonder veterans are calling for revolution, for citizens to take up arms?

[TimN]

"This example is why the violent revolution in Amerika has already started..."

This buffoon is crying for his mommy after being tasered and you call it the beginning of "violent revolution"?

Bwahahahaha...woheeheehee...whewewewew

[postedby]

This was Kerry's "reading My Pet Goat" moment.

[Spiritdancer]

Welcome, welcome TO 1984!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's too sad that this nation has no freedom, no democracy, to tell how they feel about this administration. What has happened to the Bill of Rights?! What has happened to Constitution?
I believe Bush & Cheney have absolutely earned impeachment.

[TimN]

We should be free free FREE...just like they are in Western Europe

Britain
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/398266/london_racist_police_brutality/

Germany
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo8UJOfisbg

Italy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3rnhDdG96c

France
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/326771/police_vs_students_riot_france/

[Maxx61]

He had plenty of opportunity to ask Kerry questions but chose instead to read from his laundry list of points, stopping only to change questions without giving Kerry time to answer. This was not about free speech, it was about a prankster who has done this in the past, creating his youtube moment so the fish can chime in about how "fascist" America has become.

Sorry....I'm not buying his shtick.

[TNFarmer]

Correct. Meyer was there to make statements and to grab attention to himself, IMO.

[factotem]

He ran through the Qs, because it was a miracle in this day and age that he made it to the 2nd question. We all know that. All political events are now completely screened to prevent an actual issue from being raised, and continue the echo-chamber.

I'd hate to come to your Thanksgiving where people are deemed worthy of tazing for impoliteness. Terrific criteria!

[gakabani]

Shall we agree that talking to politicians is a danger to your health.

This time Mr. Kerry went to far.

'You do not become a ''dissident'' just because you decide one day to take up this most unusual career. You are thrown into it by your personal sense of responsibility, combined with a complex set of external circumstances. You are cast out of the existing structures and placed in a position of conflict with them. It begins as an attempt to do your work well, and ends with being branded an enemy of society.'
Vaclav Havel, Czech Playwright, President

[TimN]

Damn good thing that fascist didn't win in 2004, wouldn't you say?

[Shadow51]

Who, Vaclav Havel? Didn't know he was running.

Kerry? He did win. But like Gore, he didn't get to serve, so we don't really know if it was a good thing.

On the other hand, we know for sure George Bush is a total fuck up.

Phew, I'm glad that's all settled.

[TimN]

And, sometimes they become "dissidents" when they forget to take their meds.

[Hirnlego]

The Tasering Will Continue Until You All Submit!

http://onemansblog.com/2007/09/17/the-tasering-will-continue-until-you-all-submit/

Tasers were developed as a non-lethal option to bring dangerous situations under control. But law enforcement officials are now using them with wild abandon in cases where simple diplomacy or a little hard work would otherwise suffice...

EXCELLENT videoclips inside.