FBI visits Green Party official | Billings Gazette

[Ediacara]

FBI visits Green Party official

By ALLISON FARRELL
Gazette State Bureau

GREAT FALLS - Not every protester felt welcome on the public streets of Great Falls Thursday.

Paul Stephens, the 57-year-old secretary of the Montana Green Party, stayed home during President Bush's visit here after the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service paid a visit to his house Tuesday. A newsletter he sent via e-mail piqued their interest.

"They came to my house six hours after I e-mailed the bulletin,'' Stephens said in a phone interview Thursday. "They just wanted to know if I knew something.''

The newsletter, something Stephens regularly sends out on an e-mail list, warned Bush not to come to Montana. He said the FBI must have perceived a threat in the message.

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[asjr]

1. No more waiting for the police state. It is

already here.

[Rockerdem]

38. Somebody tattled or they are monitoring everything

Probably both. A dreadful development and Ashcrofts legacy.

[Pam-Moby]

2. Freedom of speech is gone!

We now know that to speak out truthfully against this regime can land in the doghouse!!!

[sellitman]

36. Freedom of speech?

Can Pigs Fly?

[paineinthearse]

3. FBI & SS were just following orders. n/t

[paineinthearse]

4. 3000 protesters in Montana

See http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=163x219

[struggle4progress]

44. Maybe the whole country should just walk to DC and ask W to resign

[meegbear]

5. perceived a threat in the message?

I wonder if the FBI visited Helms when he warned Clinton not to go to North Carolina?

[icymist]

6. It doesn't take a whole lot of brains to figure this out.

If one sends out a newsletter that warns a sitting President not to come to his state then that person will get visited by the agencies committed to protect that high office. A better editor should be called for in future mailings of this political party.

[ynksnewyork2]

7. agree

It's a case of people doing their jobs. I was director of a psych unit hee when clinton was in office. Everytime he'd come to town, Secret Service was here checking out the local whacks and anyone who wrote any kind of warning or threatening letter. It's been going on forever. It's what the Secret service or other investigators do, thier job!

[Hoping4Change]

11. What credentials are required to be a director of a psyche unit?

[ynksnewyork2]

13. It depends on what type

of unit. Locked or not? Free standing or part of a hospital. Type of patients, full blown psychotics or the worried well? Who's funding it? Public or private? I'm an RN who went to med school and specialized in psychiatry.

[sandnsea]

14. That's different

Checking out people with known psychological disorders is different than targeting people for political beliefs. Blurring the two is even more dangerous, that's what they did in the USSR.

[ynksnewyork2]

16. kind of

But we'd get people with personality disorders who are not "crazy" that would write letters like "you beter not come to florida, we'll make sure it's your last visit anywhere" They were more people with antisocial peronality or histionic personality disorders that wanted attention, and they got it.

[sandnsea]

20. Which has nothing to do with politics

It's completely different. Did you read the article about Fargo where they targeted people for writing an LTTE or belonging to DFA or other mundane Democratic activism? During the election, they had a bit of a point. But now, this is supposed to be the people's President and they're denying people the basic right to see their President. And intimidating people who disagree with him. It has gone over the top. I guess everybody has to come to realize it in their own time, and rationalize all the bullshit until they do.

[ynksnewyork2]

22. i agree with you there

i just meant that it's not unusual for the FBI or the secret service to look into threats and warnings. But you're right. It's probably over the top.

[sandnsea]

12. "people are mad" is a threat?

"alot of people don't want you here" is a threat? I don't think so. Did you read about the list in Fargo? This has just gone over the edge. Anybody who thinks this is a SOP is probably too young to remember freedom.

[Rose Siding]

8. Which elected repub was it that told Clinton to stay out of his So state?

-said something about he'd get shot. Did he get an FBI visit?

[sarcasmo]

9. This is why my address is not registered here at DU.

I would love to donate under an alias, but no way will I donate using my real name. When Darth Chimpy becomes the King of Jesusland will the FBI come to my house and lock me up in a DU concentration camp?

[Anakin Skywalker]

27. Hey! At Least You'd Be in Good Company!

You'd be with us! :)

[oneold1-4u]

29. I'll go

For all the bad things I have and can yet say, but not gently, like death, I'll not go gently into that night.

[Carl Brennan]

10. Stephens DID call his lawyer immediately correct?

No, he didn't. He has learned NOTHING, NOTHING!!


How many fucking times do people have to see this before they KNOW that you DO NOT DISCUSS A FUCKING THING WITH THE FBI.
NOTHING!!

YOU CALL YOUR LAWYER AFTER YOU QUIETLY TELL THEM YOU WILL DISCUSS NOTHING!!

This is INTIMIDATION people and the FBI will keep doing this shit until people get their heads out of their asses.

With a lawyer present then I would present a FOIA request for all records they have on me.

[earthside]

15. His lawyer?

I met Paul Stephens last summer at the Green Party national convention.

I doubt he has a lawyer.

You're right, people should not discuss anything with the FBI without an attorney present ... but this is how the intimidation of political dissidents takes place. The power elite picks on little folks who don't ordinarily have lawyers ... and they scare them and others who might speak truth to power.

Let's just be glad that it sounds like Paul Stephens is okay.

[Carl Brennan]

21. Then he should get a lawyer if he doesn't have one.

No one should say a damn thing to the FBI without a lawyer.

[Calico Jack Rackham]

17. Not to rain in on your parade

but you do not need a lawyer unless you are under arrest. Just tell them you have no clue what they are talking about but don't lie because that is a crime. These guys are just doing their jobs. Not every govt. worker is a servent of Bush's agenda.

[Carl Brennan]

23. NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER

talk to them about SHIT!!!

When are people going to learn that these fascist swill are out to STOP political opposition to Bush. This is intimidation.

[Calico Jack Rackham]

28. Give me a damn break

not every agent is a fascist trying to stop political opposition to Bush. Get real and start living in reality.

[Carl Brennan]

31. You just do not get it.

Who in the hell ever suggested that ALL are fascists?

I didn't.

How, pray tell, would you distinguish between the non-fascist and fascist ones? By how pleasant and mannerly they are?

These people are trained to glean info from people.

You haven't a clue.

[Calico Jack Rackham]

35. OK Carl.

Who in the hell ever suggested that ALL are fascists?
I didn't.

Actually you did. You said these fascists are trying to stop political opposition to Bush. Since the thread pertains to SS and FBI agents, then a reasonable person would surmize that you are saying all of the FBI and SS are fascists.


How, pray tell, would you distinguish between the non-fascist and fascist ones? By how pleasant and mannerly they are?

Probably the same way that you distinguished the whole FBI to be fascist.


These people are trained to glean info from people.

Thats their JOB!! Let me help you out. Federal Bureau of INVESTIGATION<<<<<<< This word means to obeserve or study through examination or inquiry(ie to glean information).

You haven't a clue.

Calm down friend no need to get so uppity, besides by the looks of things it is yourself who should be searching for a clue. Perhaps the Feds can help you out.

[Carl Brennan]

40. You again miss the most important point. How do you

or, more generally anybody being interviewed/intimidated by the FBI distinguish the good guys from the bad?

Answer: You can't. Therefore you call your lawyer to cover your ass. It is very simple. It doesn't hurt anybody to be safe.

Heck, you could be an FBI agent or a Psy-ops dude for all I know. You did kind of take my loudness personally and seem bent on missing the point.

[Calico Jack Rackham]

43. LOL ,Now that was funny

Relax dude. The point you miss is that you don't have to talk to them if you don't want to. If they have probable cause of a crime being commited then the gentleman would have been arrested. he could have just as easily told them that he does not wish to speak with the agents.


The reason you think I took your loudness personally is because the FBI and SS have a job to do and they should not all be characterized as fascists or servants to Bush's agenda.

[Carl Brennan]

45. But you still avoided my question: How do you tell the difference

between the fascist and non-fascist?

[Rockerdem]

39. You are 100% correct

The FBI keeps track of every word said. If there should happen to be an unguarded moment on ones part, or something said in anger after a provocation, big trouble could ensue. And one fib will send you to jail.

Call a lawyer, pronto. If for no other reason than to show them that you cant be pushed around. Also for the peace of mind during what could be an otherwise stressful encounter.

[Carl Brennan]

41. You raise an important point too. "Show them you can't be pushed around".

This is very important and also will allow you to proceed with your FOIA on a more firm footing.

:toast:

[Ian David]

18. What if EVERYONE "warned" the pResident EVERY time he went ANYWHERE?

Purely a hypothetical:

What if thousands of people sent out emails the day before the pResident was supposed to go somewhere-- Every time he was going somewhere?

The FBI couldn't possibly visit EVERYONE.

Well, they could EVENTUALLY, I suppose.

But if 5,000 people in Ratchetville, Arkansas all sent letters to the prez. the day before his visit, could they really visit all 5,000 people?

And then, the next day, before his visit to Spread Cheeks, Virginia, could they also visit 5,000 people THERE?

What kind of resources would they need to visit 5,000 or even 500 citizens per city every time Fearless Leader wants to play a round of golf?

Once everyone is wearing the yellow armbands, it makes the intimidation a lot harder.

[VirginiaDem]

30. Spread Cheeks Virginia's just up the road from me! n/t

[KissMeKate]

19. he planned to protest- they stopped him.

thats what that visit was about.

[RockStar]

24. They were looking for Doughnuts!!

[deacon2]

25. The point was intimidation

Doing their job takes the form of surveillance and securing the perimeter among other things. Visiting people because they e-mail a political newsletter is the same as showing up at the editorial offices of your local newspaper to "have a chat" with the editor-in-chief. The message is clear and outside the bounds of protecting the president - which they might do more effectively if they didn't waste their time on bullshit tactics like this.

[Itsthetruth]

26. Tell Them To Contact Your Lawyer!

If the FBI calls you or knocks on your door here is what you should do. Give them the name and phone number of your attorney and tell them to arrange a meeting via your lawyer if they wish to discuss anything with you.

Nothing more, and nothing less. Just don't talk to them about anything. They will back off.

If you don't have an attorney, find out the name and phone number of a local ACLU or other civil liberties attorney that you can have handy.

[Carl Brennan]

33. I'm glad other people here see that this is important. nt

[Carl Brennan]

32. You got it. That is why I sounded the alarm.

Better safe than sorry. I agree it is intimidation. Suprise visits by the FBI give them a big advantage and NOONE should talk to them without a lawyer.

[Carl Brennan]

34. Key paragraph

in this article:

Stephens had planned to protest as President Bush spoke at the fairgrounds, but said he feared repercussion from the federal government. Two FBI agents, two Secret Service agents and a local police officer showed up on his doorstep.


There is only one word for what the FBI did: intimidation.

[Freedomist]

37. No Big Deal

The guy said Bush "better not come to Montana", that was also intimidation and the FBI were acting properly to check out the guy. Ever since they let the 9/11 plot get by them they have check into every possibility to protect their own butts.

[Carl Brennan]

42. A citizen intimidated from exercising his rights and its no big deal?

It is a very big deal.


"Let the 9/11 plot get by them"? zzzzzzzzz

The operative word there is "let".