And this is a surprise how?

Oh. It matters now, when it's bicycle locks and bikes, but not guns, because other, nasty people have those? I make the leap here because Federal, state and city police have abused people before, and they will again. Just Google for "BATF abuses", or "police misconduct".

Now, watch the apologists.

If you take a length of water pipe, screw caps onto both ends and leave it in the middle of the sidewalk, the police will approach it with a robot and dump it into a very strong container so that if it blows up, no harm will come to anyone.

That's because there is a reasonable suspicion that the object in question is in fact, a bomb.

So, if they have a reasonable suspicion that a bicycle is actually a bomb, were they wearing their bomb suits? Did they get the robot out? Did they bring the big strong container along?

Or instead, were they protected by a nylon jacket that said NYPD on the back, and did they toss the bikes into the back of a panel van. I have to wonder what the NYPD has against bicycle riders.

1. If the president didn't ram down our throats, unpopular things that 60% or more of the people detest, maybe they wouldn't have to worry so much about pipe bombs in bikes.

2. If the president spent more time in his office in the White House doing his job, and less time out like a traveling snake-oil salesman trying to sell unpopular, unconstitutional legislation, maybe there wouldn't be such a need to disrupt ordinary people's lives.

3. If we developed a serious attitude about terrorism instead of frisking Granny at the airport, and actually started to systematically remove the real terrorists from our society, maybe there wouldn't be such need to be paranoid about pipe bombs under every rug and around every corner.

4. What Rad said, too.

+1 on Rad from this end.

I may have to start a rumor that fire hydrants can be converted into splodies. Think of how much work would have to go into these stupid visits if that were th case.

I agree with cpabroker, and BlogDog has a great idea!

I think the orders for removing the bikes came from the Secret Service and late enough to preclude warning the bike owners.

The silver lining is the possible anger generated toward Obama from bike-owning Obama voters. Maybe enough to refuse to vote when he's up for re-election.

Raddy's right, ya know.

Think of how much work would have to go into these stupid visits if that were th case.

And why wouldn't it be the case? Think about it - what about all those fake hydrants that are made for dogs? Some of them are pretty real-looking. Why couldn't someone put one of those with a bomb in it on any street corner? Shit, I'm taking the train into the city in a coupla hours. If something happens and the president blows up, it wasn't me!

o.O

Did they protect against car bombs?

What a fucking self-important asshat. Because yes, the police did it, but you can bet your sweet butt the orders came from the Obama camp or the secret service.

ah, all in service of PPP. You remember PPP, it's a TLA that means "Piss Poor Planning"... If the 7th knows that His worshipfullness is coming to town, they can put up the warnings not to use the bike racks on that day, because they are being inspected or painted or whatevs. Then you have no question about removing a scofflaw's bike. You can clear tyhe streets no prob, and even the Police can get on with doing that policing stuff.

But that would meant that the lives of the regular Joe's that you distrupt with one of these junkets matter to you.

Time and Time again, we know that they don't and his worshipfulness regards us as 'his' people.

Today (while, ehrm, biking with a friend) we saw the biggest aircraft come in to Des Moines airport I have ever seen. Guess Obama must be giving a speech here soon. (I said he must have room for the servants on that plane.) Glad I got my bike out while I still could!

I was passing through Ashville Yesterday when "Teh Won" was coming in to stump for his socialist agenda. Streets were blocked for HOURS ahead of time and traffic on THE INTERSTATE was backed up for MILES.

THOUSANDS of people were displaced.

Lamont

All this to protect a man that nobody wants to kill. Think about it - Obama dies, he's a martyr. The last thing anyone who hates him wants is for him to go all Obi-Wan on us.

Don't forget, brian: Obama dies, Biden becomes president.

I meant that as a "furthermore," not an "on the other hand."

This happened today? I was on the lower East side today as well as down in Little Italy. There was no disruption of traffic and I saw bikes all over the place. Are you sure about this info?

Disregard my last post. It was yesterday. Sorry, I'm a little behind on the blog!

By what right does any public offical remove private property in that manner? Oh I could see putting up a notice that parking is unavailable at a given day or time due to the visit, but that is a long way from toting off private property in such a haphazard fashion.

Our ancestors would have thrown a FIT over such collossal government arrogance.

Robert, they did throw a fit - I seem to recall something about dumping some sort of beverage related cargo in Boston Harbour!

When there are so many laws covering so many different aspects of our lives, it is becoming impossible to know for sure your not breaking some law. You can only be sure you are not breaking a major law. When everyone begins to be afraid they might be breaking some law, respect between law officials and the public breaks down. It is becoming almost impossible to go about your business and not have police still have "cause" to stop you and detain you even when you are doing nothing wrong.

All I can say is know your rights. Everyone should know what to do when stopped by the police and what rights they have and how to avoid waiving them as you interact with a polic officer.

Watch the tv show COPS and what do you hear almost every episode?

"Do you know why I stopped you?"
"Do you mind if I look inside your vehicle?"
"Cooperate with me and it will go much easier for you."

Each of these questions is designed to get you to waive away your rights as defined within the Bill of Rights. We are slowly being trained that the needs of the state are more important than the Bill of Rights. Not so.

If you are stopped by the the police remember that officer is not your friend or your enemy. That officer is a trained professional who will determine if you broke any law. In this day and age, with so many laws covering so many aspects of our lives, who can say we are not breaking some law? Your only defense? KNOW YOUR RIGHTS and what to do when stopped by the police. Don't waive them. Be polite but stand on your rights.

For those who haven't seen it, this is a really great video about interacting with the police. Note that the second half of the talk is given by a police officer, who essentially agrees with the first half: Even if you are entirely innocent of any wrongdoing, you have nothing to gain and lots to lose by opening your mouth.

You guys are leaving an important thing out: KNOW YOUR COPS.

If they know that you are habitually on the side of keeping order and not either wasting their time or getting in their way, you have more influence.

You can also find out some things about policy, which you can then warn your friends and family about, such as "If you are at a party, and drugs are found, the drugs belong to you no matter who else is there until you can be cleared, and you'll spend time in jail," and "If you do something to be put in the back of the police car, you are in jail already and someone must post real money to get you out".

This is when you'll notice somthing else sad. When police find out there are no parents to administer discipline, or the parent is known not to do such a thing, they will charge a minor in cases where they would not if a responsible parent could be called.

Brad,

Thanks for the reminder of what I heard from a JAG lawyer years ago. When talking to cops, answer yes or no. If they don't give you a question that can be answered yes or no (i.e. leading) ask for a rephrase or ask for a lawyer. Even before Miranda rights.

That is the best answer.

Every time you vote for an incumbent, you are authorizing what is being done to you.

Every time you vote for an incumbent, you are authorizing what is being done to you.

BS. Even voting for the non-incumbent can screw you. (i.e. The current congress and health care.)

The Secret Service are nuts. Several years ago AF1 landed at Ellington Field so that then-President Clinton could attend a fundraiser in downtown Houston, and the police closed I-45 in both directions. At 5 o'clock on Friday afternoon. They probably disrupted a million people just so he could ride fifteen miles without having to suffer the sight of the peasantry.

I hope every single bike owner that had one disappear called the police department to report it stolen.

Then, I hope when they discovered that it was stolen by the police department, that they consulted an attorney to sue.