In Reply: "It wouldn’t surprise me if some of the commenters wrote stuff that could be interpreted as threats, but jailing someone for speech is deeply problematic." (Mahablog, Kimberlin-Walker, Free Speech)

In Reply to the following comment at The Mahablog ~ Brett Whozits Update: Rightie Blogger Arrested:

To outsiders–and probably to this judge–this “let’s all gang up on Kimberlin” coordinated attack made it look like THEY were the aggressors.

It was all speech, though. It wouldn’t surprise me if some of the commenters wrote stuff that could be interpreted as threats, but jailing someone for speech is deeply problematic. - jpe - May 29, 2012 @3:23 pm

I absolutely agree, which is one of the reasons I said I wasn’t sure justice was served, here…

Like others, I have a feeling there are two separate issues though; the peace order, which, if I’m understanding it right, had been in place short-term already, but was made long-term today, and Aaron Walker (Worthing)’s arrest, which may or may not have anything to do with violating the temporary peace order that was already in place, and which, if it does, may include his instigation and participation in the blogburst as a means of harassment. (Other theories / rumors include contempt of court for behavior in the courtroom today, assault, stemming from a previous physical altercation between Walker and Kimberlin (he hit him, or not; he took his iPad and refused to return it until officers showed up;…) There are also questions as to whether Walker’s continued participation in posting about Kimberlin would be a violation of the peace order.

The closest thing I’ve found to anyone speaking for the other side of this thing is the blog and twitter stream of BreitbartUnmasked. I don’t know who it is, though the righties all seem to believe it’s one of the principle players–either Ron Brynaert or Neal Rauhauser--though some even think it’s Brett Kimberlin, himself. Check it out, but since the guy’s anon, take what he offers with as much or little salt or other spices as your taste dictates…

I think at this point just about everyone left and right whose interested in the saga wants mainstream / lamestream media coverage, and law enforcement / legal system action where necessary. (Though, it is a little scary how many rightwing commenters I’ve seen at various blogs today taking about “street justice,” or similar terms… Thankfully, they’re getting slapped down by others at the blogs (mostly), but still…) If Kimberlin, etc. are guilty, I want them to face justice. But if there’s no evidence that they are, or that one or more of their accusers are stretching the truth, I want to know that — and perhaps for them to face justice.

Lastly… Anyone else have an issue viewing The Mahablog on an iPad? When I read the comments, it defaults to–and snaps back to–the top of the comment stream. I finally figured out that I could keep it scrolled to where I wanted by hitting the comment permalink that was as close to where i wanted to be as possible–for example, to write this comment in the box, i hit the permalink of the last comment submitted, and even now keep snapping back to that comment (which luckily, was short, so I can still see the comment box–but it’s something I’d never experienced on another blog…
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Posted May 29, 2012 @9:10 pm

In Reply: With Friends Like These... (The Mahablog, Kimberlin-Walker)

In reply to The Mahablog ~ Brett Whozits Update: Rightie Blogger Arrested

I don’t know whether or not justice was served, but it is kinda–well, let’s just say ironic–that the judge cited elements of the Rightwing shit-storm against Kimberlin (threats of violence in blog posts and comments in a whole lot of the “blogburst” posts, according to rw theorists) in granting the peace order.

Like I said… To outsiders–and probably to this judge–this “let’s all gang up on Kimberlin” coordinated attack made it look like THEY were the aggressors, not their target(s). They came off looking like a lynch mob out for frontier justice, trying to do the job that law enforcers and the courts refused to do.

And it bit ‘em in the ass.

Kimberlin / Walker Peace Order

“With friends like these,…”
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May 29, 2012 @1:53 pm

In Reply: Sycophants and Slugs

In reply to: The Mahablog � Lies, Damn Lies, and Donald Douglas:

Dr Douglas lies from the first capital letter to the final period. All one can do is patiently correct his intentionally slanderous verbiage with more of your own.

I've always believed that the intelligent ones come to see for themselves, and when they do, they learn the truth. The sycophants and slugs who just take his word for everything are far too stupid worry about... which is good, because there is nothing anyone can do to educate them, anyway. For them, it's all about faith, not fact. Dr Douglas is a conservative, and conservatives never lie (or cheat, or steal, or do anything else that most other folks--and all liberals, of course--tend to do. Folks like Donald (& John Hawkins, and Jim Hoff, & ...) would be nothing without their true believers, lapping up whatever lies they tell and repeating them to all their friends...

It's kinda pathetic, actually. Scary, but pathetic.
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Submitted Posted Jan 21, 2011 @8:40 am

In Reply: "Moving the Cultural Center Will Only Embolden the Bigots..."

In reply to: The Mahablog - More on the 9/11 Families, and in particular the update indicating that Haaretz is reporting that the folks who intend to build the cultural center in lower Manhattan intend to back down. (It sounds like planted propaganda to me--why would an Israeli paper have inside info on this?--but one never knows...)
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I too, hope Haaretz is wrong.

Moving the cultural center at this stage would only embolden the bigots--both the terrorists who hate us for our freedoms, when they see how easily we're willing to give them up, and the ones here in America who are opposing muslim mosques and community centers--not to mention muslims themselves--all throughout America.

I don't care what the polls supposedly say. We don't vote on civil rights or Constitutional protections here in America, no matter how unpopular the exercise of those rights and protections may be.
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Submitted for moderator approval Aug 16, 2010 @6:58 pm