Assault on fellow citizens, by what right?

July 14, 2014
Demonstrators protesting President Obama in Atascadero about an hour prior to the July 7 pepper spray incident

Demonstrators protesting President Obama in Atascadero about an hour prior to the July 7 pepper spray incident

OPINION By AARON ARMSTRONG

Are you offended by the truth? Some of us are and choose to exercise our First Amendment constitutional rights in response.

Unfortunately, another type of offense just took place in Atascadero on July 7 by another person who appears to be offended by the truth. Her response however, was quite different than ours.

The offense, a criminal act, in violation of Penal Code 242: battery, took place on Curbaril Avenue overpass at Highway 101 when a middle aged woman, obviously offended by what we consider the truth written on our signs, drove past our constitutionally protected peaceful assembly on the sidewalk, and sprayed my partner and I with suspected pepper spray. She chose to violate the law, was apprehended by the Atascadero Police Department and was cited for the violation.

CalCoastNews covered the story, contacting the offender who stated she was defending President Barack Obama from an unwarranted attack. It is interesting how the other political side of things interprets defending and attacking.

Our presence on Curbaril Avenue does not in any way present a viable threat to the president, unless of course you consider what we have written on our signs, things like: “Benghazi Matters,”  “Truth is not Hate Speech,” “Secure the Border,” “Stop Obamacare,” “Obamacare = Fraud,” “America is a Free Speech Zone,” and “Wake Up.” Quite the contrary to the real threat we believe this president represents when he willingly and knowingly violates current U.S. law.

His violations include a disregard for current immigration law, which in large part is responsible for the current crises overwhelming our southern border, the unilateral release of five high level Taliban GITMO detainees without notification to Congress, the use of numerous federal agencies like the EPA, the IRS, HHS (the Affordable Care Act), and the DOJ to inflict real injury to honest hard working Americans, his cover-up regarding the facts relative to before, during, and after the Sept 11, 2012 terrorist attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Lybia where Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other brave Americans were murdered, U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry’s death in Dec. 2010 by a weapon tied to the failed “Fast and Furious” gun running scheme orchestrated by the Obama administration and a myriad of other, as the president says, “phony scandals”.

We were attacked because of what we believe, and that is against the law. There are real threats to America’s safety and our national security, but our flags and signs are not. In fact, what we do is Constitutional and within the confines of current law.

We choose to fly our flags and hold our signs peacefully in opposition to what we consider dishonest and unlawful behavior by our federal government. We choose to defend liberty, our nation and our fellow citizens lawfully in this manner. Our choice to stand up for the U.S. Constitution and the laws of our nation is not without risk or reward and we realize not everyone agrees with us. Our peaceful assemblies, however, only threaten to expose the dishonesty and the lawlessness that President Obama chooses to engage in.

Why this woman perceives our presence as threatening to the president and in her view warrants her immediate physical assault on us is quite disturbing. Thankfully we are still a nation of laws.

In closing, I want to thank the Atascadero Police Department for their quick response, professionalism and their ability to apprehend the offender within a very short period of time and within the confines of the law. Thank you.

Aaron Armstrong is a member of Patriot Partners on the Central Coast, a non-affiliated group of people who love their country and are concerned about the behavior of the federal government and the future of the nation. The group meets on Tuesdays from 4 -6 p.m. at the Santa Rosa Street overpass in San Luis Obispo and on the first Monday of the month from 3 -5 p.m. on the Curbaril Avenue overpass in Atascadero. Armstrong can be reached at (805) 459-6743.

 


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Number of U.S. embassies and consulates attacked during george w bush’s 8 years = 10


Number of deaths resulting from those attacks = 60


Number of Republicans/Teabaggers expressing outrage and demanding investigations = 0


Watch the “Benghazi” issue dropped like a fresh turd should Hillary Clinton not run for president.


Number of embassies and consulates demanding more security under Bush = 0 Number of embassies demanding additional security under BO that did not get it and resulted in multiple death, lies and coverups = 1 If only the Democrats and the Rainbow Push Coalition could see the hypocrisy!


CALLING AARON ARMSTRONG, CALLING AARON ARMSTRONG, YOU ARE WANTED ON OTHER PICKET LINES POST HASTE!


Hey, Aaron Armstrong, I have some great places for your group to picket next time. Okay? Now, to be true to form by using actual FACTS this time instead of FAUX NEWS misguided notions that are used for their ratings and to stir up the faithful to their needed delusional state, try the following picket areas!


ONE: Take your pickets about the refugee border children that are running from unsurmountable horror to the STATUE OF LIBERTY! There you can stand under the iconic lady with your pickets depicting no more immigrants, especially innocent children having the audacity to seek a safe haven in the United States! Won’t that be fun? Huh? But, before doing so, expect some real discomfort from citizens that may not be using pepper spray, but their words of history and what this country stands for at this monument, okay?


If you can, try and stand in front of the pedestal where the Lady of Liberty sits so no one can see these words of mention, to wit:: “…”Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”


Isn’t this a great concept for you and your brethren to follow? But, be prepared to stand up to the term “hypocrite” when performing your picketing about immigration of homeless children at our dear Lady, okay?


TWO: Why aren’t you picketing in front of Christian churches? You have to make it known to Christians that what Jesus stated about taking care of the poor does not stand anymore at our borders with these refugee children, okay? Tell them that what Jesus stated below is to be sidetracked for the time being until the GOP can get around that damn William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 that President Bush had signed INTO LAW!


Here is what Jesus says to do with the poor that you run blatantly against with your insidious picket line, ready? ( In other words, you can’t have your cake and eat it too, get it?)


“Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” (Proverbs 14:31)


“Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.” (Psalm 82:3)


“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” (Proverbs 19:17)


“But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” ( Luke 14:13-14)


“If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you. Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you.” ( Leviticus 25:35-36)


Jesus said: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Protect the rights of all who are helpless.” ( Proverbs 31:8)


“For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’ (Deuteronomy 15:11)


“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” (Matthew 25:45)


Aaron, don’t forget to tell your fellow picketers that the position you take in picketing against the innocent children refugees lets you know more than Jesus the Christ of the Christian faith as explicitly shown above! “Laughing Out Loud.”


Sure the woman broke the law….and she will be dealing with the consequences. But it is

understandable one might lose it seeing a gaggle of mindless morons posting meaningless

platitudes about an American president…..mostly because he is a Democrat (with a subtext

of being a black guy). I can truly say I have never heard an Obama opponent cite one

specific about how he has done wrong or how he has adversely affected him or her.

Only that they “disagree with his policies”. Glittering nonsensical generalities.

What a bunch of right-wing b.s.


Jamming through health-care reform

Failing to stop Iran

Ballooning the deficit

Failing to fix the housing market

Overpromising on the economic recovery

Failing the people of America, Iraq, and Afghanistan and On the horizon, the people from south America.


zap,


I love this response to your link; “Time to invade another country. It is the best way to postpone deficit reduction and inject more money into the military-industrial complex.”


Ram,


In your rant above, why are you going against your GOP and disparaging former President George W. Bushes lack of leadership to the entities mentioned therein? You obviously talking about “W” because that is certainly his past mentioned by you! Thanks for pointing out “W’s” misdeeds again!


Ram, if you are a part of Obamacare in any way whatsoever, and for you to NOT be an outright hypocrite, DO NOT, and I repeat, DO NOT accept the protocol of Obamacare which stipulates that there is no more “pre-conditions!”


You, family, and friends, should state that you don’t want to follow that part of Obamaare in any way whatsoever, and if need be, you should go without Health Insurance if you do have a “pre-condition.” Tell the insurance company that you want to go back to the Bush era regarding the horrific healthcare that he presented to the nation. Remember those draconian days? You can’t have your cake and eat it too! Get it? Huh?


Ted,

So if one day my only option for a health care plan is to join Covered California that would somehow make me a hypocrite??? Your logic once again escapes me. We will all be living under the health care dictates of the federal government one day…including you. When some bureaucrat denies you coverage you think about my rant and your response to it…Okay?


We will all be living under the health care dictates of the federal government one day…including you

we have social security since 1935 where have you been? also insurance for your car you must have it the law dictates amirite?


The social security trust fund is empty. Come on…you know that. Car insurance? Where did I argue against Insurance? But as long as you have brought it up. Can you imagine all car insurance being handled by the IRS?


“The bonds in the Social Security trust fund are counted both as an asset of the trust fund and as a liability, since they are part of the total federal debt. Basically, one hand of the government owes the other hand, and the investments in the “trust fund” are not separate from the entity that sponsors the trust fund.”

NO WORRY


Mumbo Jumbo…


No point in doing these things one by one.

again, glittering generalities with no back-up at all.


Talk about “mindless morons.”


LIBERAL White Guilt…is destroying America…


I remember White Liberal’s hanging President Bush in effigy

most Thursday nights at the SLO Farmers Market and nothing was ever done about it…

Now LooK what the Liberals are doing…White’s DESTROYING White America!


Yeah, pitiful…isn’t it ?

The Aryans are just as good with genocide as they are with, well…pretty much everything else.


Old Salt says:”I remember White Liberal’s hanging President Bush in effigy

most Thursday nights at the SLO Farmers Market ”


Really? Please post a link for this important historical event or stop posting it.


“Old Salt says:”I remember White Liberal’s hanging President Bush in effigy

most Thursday nights at the SLO Farmers Market ” “.


I, too, remember plenty of SLO Farmers Markets and other anti-bush/anti-war rallies and there were never any hanging bush effigies.


BUT, since this was brought up …Did you know that George W bush can no longer travel to foreign lands, i.e. leave the United States ?

He, along with Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and underlings Alberto Gonzales, David Addington, William Haynes, Jay Bybee, and John Yoo were all tried in absentia for War Crimes; held in Malaysia 2012.

The five-panel tribunal unanimously delivered guilty verdicts and all were convicted. The judged were also entered and included in the Commission’s Register of War Criminals.

The tribunal was conducted under, and followed the Nuremberg Charter.

Under the guidelines that first established the Nuremberg Charter, and commenced at the Nuremberg Trials / International Military Tribunals of 1945-46 . More than a few of those tried and convicted were indeed, hung…. and not by effigy.


It may be some solace to the civilized of this world that these known and convicted War Criminals have to live out their lives in private prisons and dragon lairs in increasingly contracting circles where justice cannot reach them.

I wouldn’t ask any of their victims and expect a polite response, though.


NO, it is NOT understandable how anyone can “lose it” over a guaranteed right of the constitution of the United States…period.


@Ironman2000 says: “…seeing a gaggle of mindless morons ” Tells me he is a liberal. The fact it took until the second sentence to go on a personal attack, tells me he is not a very good one. Most hardcore liberals lead with their strongest suit, which in this case is a personal attack.


“I can truly say I have never heard an Obama opponent cite one specific about how he has done wrong or how he has adversely affected him or her”. BO told me If I liked my doctor, I could keep my doctor. I was not allowed to do so. Now, that is the last time you can honestly make that statement! Simple, huh?


Aaron Armstrong,


BENGHAZI AGAIN?!


The irony is that the GOP House, once again, in yet ANOTHER INVESTIGATION, will spend more on investigating Benghazi’s rabbit hole than on Ethics, Unemployment benefits, Minimum Wage, Highway reconstruction, Veterans, The Budget, or Science. How many witch hunts have been done thus far looking for that elusive lie? Its as insidious as the GOP voting to eliminate Obamacare 54 TIMES when they should be using that time to help the middle class! Now, they’re going to spend more tax money to sue the President for doing his job while the GOP sits on their dead asses and chastises from the sidelines without any action of their own! Laughing Out Loud!


To this date, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAS BEEN FOUND TO QUENCH THE THIRST OF THE GOP REGARDING BENGHAZI! So, they keep looking in the hopes that they might find a microcosm of something that they could use to involve Obama, or Mrs. Clinton. In this way, if they find at least a crumb, then they won’t make themselves the fools once again that they are by continually being embarrassed from having so many investigations with absolutely no results!


PHONY SCANDALS


Please, for the sake of further entertainment, list some of those alleged scandals. Were they equal to the former scandals of President George W. Bush? Oh, and again, where were you then for “W’s” scandals? Can you spell H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E?


In closing, I am going to save you even more embarrassment of not easily taking you on if you, friends, or family are Christians, in that you are not following the words of Jesus’ teachings relative to the innocent children coming across our borders. Ever hear of the acronym of WWJD? Biblically speaking, you’re out to lunch in this respect, and “if” you have the nerve to bring it up, I’ll easily bury you with your own bible’s axioms, therefore, making you yet another HYPOCRITE!


Like one of your signs state, and in your behalf, take heed of the sign that says “WAKE UP! Take the time to learn ALL of those FACTS that get in the way of you and your cohorts assuming as a premise, the conclusion in which you wish to reach to support your otherwise weak and disingenuous assertions!


Yeah you’re right…lets just allow the executive branch do whatever they want. No scrutiny and no prosecutions and for heaven sake…(the heaven reference is for you Ted) no law is above them. Does the phrase check and balance mean anything to you? One must guard against allowing one’s grievances with a particular religious or political organization to shade their ability to see the truth.


Ram,


The executive branch is having to do something because the GOP lead House isn’t doing a damn thing, except to cloture bills, not bring them up for a vote, or just sit there until their next break! They’re at a 13% approval rating, and I would love to see the mental state of that percentage!


You have the “check” in Obama because to get something done, he has had to take over in a smaller vein, but you don’t have the “balance” because of the GOP Congress has remained asleep at our expense, and you damn well know this to be fact!


The Republicans are running out of cogent excuses in why they’re not doing anything to help its citizens, and only the inept of their party will continue to swallow the tripe that is feed to them on a daily basis by FAUX NEWS.


” ….and only the inept of their party will continue to swallow the tripe that is feed to them on a daily basis by FAUX NEWS.”


Well, yes Ted …. But THAT’S ALL OF THEM !


Yeah you’re right the House republicans should be passing bills and moving legislation up to the Senate…Oh wait…they are. And when Harry gets a hold of them and he sticks them in a drawer never to be seen again. Come on! the old lies from the progressives are waning thin. The light of day is winning the day. A little at a time.


Interesting responses here. Very revealing.


First, let me say, there is a big difference between Fact and Emotion.


Fact: Peaceful protesters have a Constitutionally protected right to assemble and speak freely in public.


Fact: If they violate the law, they are subject to law enforcement and our criminal justice system.


Fact: The woman we speak of here, apparently was unable to control her emotions, and based upon her actions violated the law.


Some of the responses here appear to disregard current facts and instead show the writers emotional state and sometimes, a very clear partisan view that is not related at all to the story at issue.


I personally think informed debate is good, as long as it is respectful and factual. Opposing points of view, if we really listen can help bring us together. That is of course, if that is the goal. On the other hand, if your emotions are what drive you, the facts may not matter much at all, and continued division or winning the argument may be the main focus. To that, I say how sad.


Do we really want our nation divided as it appears to be? Do we really want our government, regardless if it is Bush or Obama to act lawlessly as it appears to be? Do we really want American citizens to disregard the law, the facts, and instead act on emotion against other American citizens just because we have an opposing point of view?


Try and step away from your emotions for a moment and consider what facts we really know here. If you are confused, just refer back to the three facts noted above.


And for future reference, here is a fact specifically for Ted Slander. Fact: FOX News is spelled F O X. A very simple three letter word you probably learned in the first grade. For some reason, you appear very willing to disregard facts and instead let your emotions and partisanship get the best of you, much like the woman with the pepper spray did in the story that has instigated this whole debate.


Do yourself a favor and consider the opposing point of view for a change. You may actually learn something.


What overhyped drivel of concern with phony angst !


Your signs say nothing, but are slogans of emotional buzzwords intended to inflame the ill-informed.

You then go on to state: “Quite the contrary to the real threat we believe this president represents when he willingly and knowingly violates current U.S. law “.


What ‘law’ or ‘laws’ is or has President Obama violated ? Name them. Put up or shut up !


Don’t you imagine that if there were genuine ‘high crimes and misdemeanors’ perpetrated by President Obama that the foaming troglodytes in the Republican caucus would have already initiated impeachment procedures ?

Are BOehNER, McCarthy, Ryan, McConnell, et al all COWARDS ?

They’ve shown no disinclination for innuendo, insults, and bombast so far.


Oh, maybe…just maybe, they are playing their ‘base’ for fools.


aj5775,


In turn, for your future reference, when I use the term FAUX, it is in jest if you actually understood that I am being facetious, something that you obviously never learned in any grade in school.


FAUX: artificial or imitation; fake: a brooch with faux pearls. Hence the use of my term FAUX NEWS, do you get it now? Huh?


I for one have considered the opposing point of view, and it falls flat on it’s proverbial ass to the actual truth, logic, and reason. Hence, by refutations of said opposing point of view.


Aaron Armstrong,


First thing, I suggest that to save yourself from further embarrassment by simply jettisoning FAUX NEWS quickly for actual FACTS on the following entities that you’ve brought forth, okay? We thank you in advance.


BORDER CRISIS:


Obama has sent back more illegals than Bush ever did in the same time frame of him being in office. Barring this fact, read and learn about what the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, THAT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW BY THEN PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH!


This law in large part is responsible for the current crises of “refugees” overwhelming our Southern border. The Obama Administration under said law is doing what the law requires for better or for worse. Far be it from the clueless Republicans that have chosen to troll Obama’s security successes until the press is embroiled in discussing their “accusations” rather than the “success.” Pitiful.


The GOP in Congress would rather demagogue the issue of immigration than deal with it since there is already an Immigration Bill that was passed by Congress, the Senate, and now SITS in the House where Boener won’t even allow a vote for an up or down passage! This is a dereliction of duty, pure and simple—and should be a firing offense for this manipulated by the Tea Party fool Boener in not looking out for the USA’s interests!


Republican members of Congress need to stop acting like outraged bystanders to the problem they have the power to fix. If they’d rather act like pundits than problem-solvers, then they should resign their office and put in a bid to be “Faux News” cable news commentators where the existing pseudo-journalists and them would fit right in!


“Obama has sent back more illegals than Bush ever did in the same time frame of him being in office.” Not true at all. BO has “deported” more than Bush. Bush “Returned” up to 10 times more than BO. However, given the fact that 10 times as many entered US illegally since BO has become dictator than in prior years, the same number of deportees represents a smaller fraction of the number that actually entered USA. More were released back into our society, including those convicted of rape, burglar and other felonies.


IMO neither has a good record when it comes to border security. IF the borders were secure, we would not be addressing the issues of “deportation”.


We live in a society of the ‘blame game’. It is always the other guys fault. Regardless of party affiliation. I do know that NO ONE, not even the hardest left wing progressive-socialists actually believe that ALL of IRS’s hard drives crashed and their emails are unrecoverable. Heck we all know that NSA has their backup copies.

I guess what I am trying to say is that until those guilty of criminal conduct are held accountable, nothing this administration says will be taken seriously, not even a smidgen serious. (Period)


topper01,


“IMO neither has a good record when it comes to border security. IF the borders were secure, we would not be addressing the issues of “deportation”.”


Okay, George W Bush had eight years to accomplish the act of border security. He failed.


Obama, and WITHOUT the help of the GOP lead House, has three years left to do something about the border. Lets count the times the GOP from this time hence will throw road blocks in front of him in trying to do something! But, when he is blocked, then you can disparage again in an erroneous manner, which is the GOP modus operandi!


Ted….H.L.Mencken: “Demagogue: One who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots”.


Reuters has the president at a 36% job approval rating and 60% disagree with his handling of immigration and the border. The global community is anything but tranquil and I would guess there ain’t much tranquility in the white house today either. All these people are doing is what is called for. If the majority of the mainstream media is going to continue to be reluctant to tell the whole truth then it’s up to the people to stand up for what they believe to be right. And they should be able to do so without some nut spraying them with pepper spray.


The GOP lead Congress is now rated at 13 percent. I would love to meet the inept percentage that say Congress is doing even a half way decent job!


Stats state that this Republican Congress is the worst since the Civil War Wait, give the Republicans just a little more time to do NOTHING, and it will be the worst on record!


Oh teddy as usual painting it to your vision. Rep. House+ Dem Senate, divide by Dem Prez= Gridlock. Nice way, as you usually do, to blame one party. When is this Prez going to stop blaming everyone else and take some responsibility?


BTDT,


Use your own talking points next time, okay?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BtT2JDSGeE


Ted, …Actually the latest polls have Congress at 7% approval rating. My question…Who is that 7% ? Proctologists, prostitutes, and used car salesmen have better favoribility.


Back to the real issue…


The key is that folks were assaulted while exercising their free speech.


Political Violence is like any other hate crime… random people attacking other random people based on their point of view.


There are those that would like to place a caveat on free speech if it is ‘detrimental to others’… I guess that means if it makes you mad or if you disagree. You may have the right to be offended… but your violent actions must sop there.


Random people ?


Another interpretation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z75DN5r_6H4


So, the reason I disagree with the Obama is that I’m a racist? Wow, and I thought it was because of Benghazi, and the IRS scandal, and lying about Obamacare, and enforcing only the laws he likes, and his hatred of Israel, and don’t forget the VA crap. Go figure.


It’s not new, but still applies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqTYd7K9hCY


The limbic brains of 2008-2009 have gone from making vapid accusations that Obama was a nobody, a muslim, a foreigner not from America…born in Hawaii, Oh wait…Kenya ! Yeah, THAT’s the ticket !

That and a cornucopia of other cockamamy claims that the rest of America is all too familiar and tired of.

So now, they just supplant the spoon fed inventions and ginned up delusions from Roger Ailes, Karl Rove and the right-wing echo chamber.


Does that make you or them racist ?

I don’t know about you in particular, but some sure are. Most are racist friendly, but will never admit it.

I know what I observe and hear, and if the shoe fits…wear it.


Offended by the ‘truth’ …. Hmmm, intriguing phrasing there.

What ‘truth’ ? WHOSE ‘truth’ ? The sound-bite signs are supposedly evidence from this “band of blathers” point of view.


They can believe what they want to believe, and hell or high water or any amount of reason and logic is doubtful to change that.

Despite that, Right-wing tropes and memes from the bizarro science fiction universe of visionaries like Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh are only the ‘truth’ when observed thru the lens of a hallucinogenic fantasy miasma and diaspora.


Now, I fully support their ‘right’ to spew whatever nonsense their opinions entail …as long as they do not advocate violence or create conditions that are detrimental to others unparticipatory with those opinions.

I reserve the ‘right’ to express my opinion that they’re nuts.


If you would be so kind, please point out each and every protestor who was “unruly.” Which ones were advocating “violence?”

Now, of course you have the right to express your opinion, that’s guaranteed by the First Amendment of our treasured Constitution, but so do those who chose to protest peacefully.

There are no guarantees for those who choose to become violent in order to make a point.

I am afraid your “LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT” thinking rode off into the sunset decades ago.


For Teb Slanders


WH: We’ve ‘Substantially Improved the Tranquility of the Global Community’

July 14, 2014 – 9:22 PM


I guess President Obama is finally owning his Presidency…?


http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/patrick-goodenough/wh-weve-substantially-improved-tranquility-global-community