Homeland Security nabs Free Stater from home

[JohnBT]

Nope, we wouldn't. If we're paying them to work the front desk then they should be working, not wasting time on some representative of the far-out fringe.

Don't like the IRS, call your congresscritters. You can't get rid a bee nest or ant nest by harrassing a few of the drones.

John

 

[madmike]

I'm trying to figure out how he's different from the Lefty who wanted to walk into the RNC with a placard about "Bush = Hitler" or some such, who stated publicly said intent to disrupt a function held in a public building, and then whined when arrested.

I don't see a lot of difference.

Free speech ends at the door. After that, the owner or tenant gets to dictate what you do.

Should he be able to drink and smoke in the building, too? Hang flyers?

"My intent is to go inside and harass employees at work."

"If you do, we'll arrest you."

"That's my intent."

Pretty clear. Stated intent to disrupt business without any actual business of his own.

Had he just walked in unannounced, done so and left, then made a press release AFTERWARDS, he'd have a much stronger case.

As it is, he got what he wanted. Arrested. I hope he enjoys the jail his tax dollars are wasted on. It'll be his home for a few days.

 

[madmike]

Notice the links on their site? These are some of the screwballs who believe our own government faked Sept 11 and killed thousands of people to orchestrate a "takeover."

If I ever meet one face to face, I'll beat the living crap out of him. I had friends in the Pentagon.

 

[Coronach]

He wasn't charged with tresspassing, disturbing the peace, or anything weapons-related.

I assure you, if he was handcuffed, removed from the property, transported to the station and released from there, he was charged with something. He may not have been slated at jail, but he almost certainly has an arraignment date in front of the local judge, or there will be a case presented to a grand jury. This is utterly normal, especially in cases where the offender is nonviolent and unlikely to refuse to appear in court.

As far as the subsequent arrest from his house goes, I'm guessing that it was a bench warrant for failure to appar in court or, if that all happened in a very short period of time, his second trespass charge was issued as an arrest warrant. Not enough info to say.

Mike

 

[DigitalWarrior]

The police and judge were really cool to him.

I read something that really bothered me:

...I do not have a whole bunch of sympathy for people who *want* to get arrested. You can't really say that he was unjustly imprisoned when he did everything in his power to make that happen.

I cannot disagree with you more. I believe Russel is acting wrong-headedly. I further believe that the cops and everyone involved acted as reasonably as they could with a fairly peaceful but still criminal behavior.

But if I believed that the nation was where Russel thinks it is, I would believe his actions to be entirely appropriate. You say you have no sympathy for those arrested, when it was their plan.

Do you have sympathy for The Freedom Riders who protested segregation? Do you have sympathy for Ghandi who petitioned for home rule, and was arrested? Arrest like this is a well used non-violent political protest, and is a great tool in a country with a conscience, and the practice is worthy of respect.

Note that I do not agree with the following quote, just that it is not unreasonable to contemplate.

How does it become a man to behave toward this American government today? I answer, that he cannot without disgrace be associated with it.... Under a government which imprsons any injustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison." Henry David Thoreau

 

[ArmedBear]

if I believed that the nation was where Russel thinks it is

Wait 'til next April 15th and get back to us...

Still I think that we had someone who knew what he was doing, but also an overreaction by DHS.

Clearly, he didn't pose a real, physical threat. He could have been arrested if he showed up again. A restraining order could have been issued to make that really easy, quick, and legal.

So DHS gave him exactly what he wanted.

I have nothing against the guy; I just think he's not the best at picking battles. Some more strategizing might be in order.

The objective of raising public awareness about our being overtaxed and overpoliced can be better accomplished, I think.

 

[JohnBT]

"Do you have sympathy for The Freedom Riders who protested segregation? Do you have sympathy for Ghandi who petitioned for home rule, and was arrested?"

Sympathy, no. They knew what the deal was. Admiration, yes.

John

 

[gc70]

Mr. Kenning seems to have a penchant for getting arrested.

Actually, engineering acts of civil disobedience to get arrested is a time-honored means of protest. Whining about it afterwards shows a distinct lack of class.

 

[American By Blood]

In the immortal words of Ronwell Quincy Dobbs...



"Y'all are brutalizing me"

 

[Zrex]

If I ever meet one face to face, I'll beat the living crap out of him. I had friends in the Pentagon.

Aren't you the same guy that was getting agitated because someone said they would beat the crap out of you for burning a flag? I guess freedom of speech is a one way street, eh?

 

[madmike]

Aren't you the same guy that was getting agitated because someone said they would beat the crap out of you for burning a flag? I guess freedom of speech is a one way street, eh?

Those jerks said they had a RIGHT to beat someone and walk away free.

I'm willing to go to jail for it.

 

[GigaBuist]

While I agree that citizens don't have the right to walk into government offices at will to dispense material I do sympathize with those that make the point that we the citizenry owns them.

How about a compromise?

We get to pester the IRS just 10% of the amount of time that we spend attempting to comply with their regulations.

That seems like a reasonable level of customer support if you ask me.

 

[wingnutx]

This guy's stunt reminds me of the 'peace grannies' that got arrested in an Army recruiting office in Tucson, "trying to enlist".

What they actualy did was storm into the office, read prepared statements, sing songs, and generally make it difficult to get any work done.

I have no sympathy for them, and none for this guy.

 

[LAK]

JohnBT

Don't like the IRS, call your congresscritters. You can't get rid a bee nest or ant nest by harrassing a few of the drones

I am sure this gentleman has already tried appealing to his representative geldings performing at the DC showjumping stable - as have a great many people for a great number of years.

------------------------------

http://ussliberty.org
http://ssunitedstates.org

 

[JohnBT]

Did he? Then the next step is to hire a few lawyers and prepare to pursue his issues through the courts for the next few decades. Or he could organize a sit-in with a few thousand of his closest friends and get his picture in the paper again. Which method is most likely to get him some results?

John

 

[ScottsGT]

Unacceptable. The People OWN the government. Those are OUR buildings. The government has been allowed to give itself far too much power...now it protects itself from its owners?!

Yea, I agree. Oh, and my car broke down this morning, so I hotwired the neighbors police cruiser to get to work. My tax dollars, right? And my family is planning on flying across country, so I'm stopping by the local USAF base and hop a ride on a C-17 with all my kids and wife in tow. My tax dollars, right? Cannot afford a real M-16, so I'm going to go over to Ft. Jackson on the way home and get in some range time. I'll bring my own ammo, of course. My tax dollars, right?
Just like all the above listed have a specific purpose and use in the governmental system, so do public buildings that are a place of business for the Government. He was not conducting business.

 

[hammer4nc]

Then the next step is to hire a few lawyers and prepare to pursue his issues through the courts for the next few decades.

Spoken like a true bureaucrat! Smugly confident that his little empire is impervious to anything so outrageous as dissident protest. Why not say, "let them eat cake".

Really, I'm amazed at the comments here...

Most are silent at the hideous monstrosity that the IRS has become, instead taking cheap shots at the little wrong-headed, whining, lefty trespasser. We must not interfere, even for one minute, with the valuable time of the Keene, NH IRS agents, eh? Shameful.

As I understand it, this guy appeared in "court", was convicted by a judge of some misdemeanors (others dropped). When asked about a sentencing date, he openly said he had no intention of showing up...and is now being jailed with some talk of a hunger strike. If anyone is backing up his rhetoric with actions here, Russ Kanning is.

Frequently in these political discussions, someone says hey, if 10% of gun owners voted a certain way, it would move mountains. Well, if only 1% had the cojones to do what Kanning is attempting, it would bring the system to a halt, for serious reexamination.

How about a discussion of out of control federal spending? This time, let's skip the part about taxes being a necessary evil, we need roads, services, infrastructure, yada yada. Its gone lightyears beyond the necessities. Now, .gov resembles a crackhead, doing whatever is necessary to get the next fix; it is that bad.

Some of you really ought to reevaluate.:banghead:

 

[Robert Hairless]

Phetro:

Unacceptable. The People OWN the government. Those are OUR buildings. The government has been allowed to give itself far too much power...now it protects itself from its owners?!

As one of the owners of those buildings I've decided to convert the part I own into condiminiums. Please get your part of the government out of my part of the buildings.

 

[madmike]

When asked about a sentencing date, he openly said he had no intention of showing up...and is now being jailed with some talk of a hunger strike.

Oh, yes, that will be very effective. The government ALWAYS bows to hunger strikers, especially over such evil political issues as trespassing.

If anyone is backing up his rhetoric with actions here, Russ Kanning is.

So does my 5 year old when he throws himself on the ground and cries. So far, it hasn't gotten him what he wants or made any changes to the social contract of our family.

We want nothing to do with this whiny little ingrate. He has the right to make a fool of himself. No need for us to "me too."

I don't like the IRS any more than anyone else. But the employees are not going to quit, and we aren't going to get rid of it. Because it is 100% constitutional.

This is a fact. You can not like it all you want. I don't like it myself. But it is never going away.

Is this man trying to reign in abuses? Protest a seizure? No, he's trying to get employees to quit working for Teh Evul Chimpy McShrubya Bu$hitler, or whatever the lefties are calling him now.

Right. Obviously, EVERY IRS employee is just WAITING to make himself unemployed out of hatred for Bush, and thus we declare ze RevoloooooSHUN!

Yeah, that'll work.

I'm glad he's choosing not to eat. That'll save a few of my taxpayer dollars he's wasting with this tantrum. I hope he notes in his will to be cremated, to save us some more money when he starves to death.

Bet: as soon as the headlines stop he'll plea-bargain to a small fine paid by "Supporters" and then find some other stunt.

 

[ArmedBear]

So does my 5 year old when he throws himself on the ground and cries. So far, it hasn't gotten him what he wants or made any changes to the social contract of our family.

We want nothing to do with this whiny little ingrate.

Well, all I can say is that I'm glad YOU'RE not my Dad.

 

[madmike]

"ingrate" refers to Kanning, not my son.

Number 1 Son has mostly learned.

"Do you feel better?"
"No."
"Did you get what you wanted?"
"No."
"Was it a useful thing to do?"
"No."

So he does it less as time goes on.

Kanning's parents clearly failed in this.

 

[ArmedBear]

"Do you feel better?"
"No."
"Did you get what you wanted?"
"No."
"Was it a useful thing to do?"
"No."

Not, "Do you feel lucky, punk?!?"

See, my wife is pregnant. And I've been wondering how in hell I'm going to raise a kid. My parents were, well, a bit odd. Off, even. Hers, too. So we're going to have to figure it all on our own.

I'm older, for a first-time dad, and fairly confident in my ability to "wing it" when I need to in life, but this is a new challenge, to be sure!

But anyway, that's why I found humor in this. Sounds like you're doing a great job on your son; I only hope I can, too.

 

[hammer4nc]

I don't like the IRS any more than anyone else. But the employees are not going to quit, and we aren't going to get rid of it. Because it is 100% constitutional.

This is a fact. You can not like it all you want. I don't like it myself. But it is never going away.

As you've repeated, you're not going to join in any battle, even one which you may agree with, unless you think you're going to win upfront. Thats real nice and safe. No cause worth fighting for was ever a sure thing going in.

So far, the only solutions from the peanut gallery have been to write a nice letter to your congresscritters, hire a lawyer for a couple of decades, or just bend over and take it (meanwhile criticizing anyone who'll stand up for his beliefs).

 

[STAGE 2]

He wanted to get arrested and make the news. Even if that was not the case, there is nothing that grants people the right to interfere with governmental operations. Freedom of speech and peaceable assembly do not mean obstruct or throw a wrench in the works.

 

[JohnBT]

"Spoken like a true bureaucrat! Smugly confident that his little empire is impervious to anything so outrageous as dissident protest. Why not say, "let them eat cake".

Really, I'm amazed at the comments here..."

"Some of you really ought to reevaluate."


As soon as you finish your petty insults.

Finished yet? Just let me know, I have some free time today if you care to converse like an adult.

John