Journalist arrested at Joe Miller event!

[Landslide Lyndon]

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/dispatches/news/7186-breaking-alaska-dispatch-editor-detained-at-miller-event

Alaska Dispatch founder and editor Tony Hopfinger was grabbed and handcuffed by a private security detail working for U.S. Senate candidate Joe Miller on Sunday while trying to ask the Fairbanks Republican questions following a town hall meeting at Central Middle School in Anchorage on Sunday.

Hopfinger was reportedly pressing Miller on whether the candidate had ever been reprimanded for politicking while working at the Fairbanks North Star Borough in 2008. Alaska Dispatch and other media have sued for the release of records related Miller's time at the borough. Various accounts of what happened next generally agree on this course of events:

    * Two or three bodyguards told Hopfinger to stop asking questions and to leave the building.
    * Hopfinger continued to ask questions while apparently videotaping the candidate.
    * Bodyguards told him that if he persisted they would arrest him for trespassing, but refused to identify themselves to Hopfinger.
    * Hopfinger asked why he was trespassing, as the event was at a public school. Seconds later, he was then put in arm-bar and later handcuffed and sequestered at one end of a hallway for at least 30 minutes. He was told, "You're under arrest."
    * Anchorage Police arrived on the scene shortly after.

Police were still trying to sort things out as this was written.

[Smash255]

Miller is getting desperate.....

[Eraserhead]

His campaign is really falling apart... at least it appears that way to the naked eye. The question is, if it really is, who picks up the pieces?

[Lief 🗽]

Terrifying, though expect Tea Party candidates to take the law into their hands more and more often as they cement their grip on power in this country.

Here's a picture from the front window of Mr. Miller's brownshirts' office:



And the "arrest" was made after Miller had just finished extolling the virtues of East Germany's immigration laws:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

http://theimmoralminority.blogspot.com/2010/10/joe-miller-looks-to-eastern-bloc.html

[Hash]

Joe Miller is probably the most despicable candidate this cycle.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

lol, bloggers

[Vepres]

lol, bloggers

[cinyc]

lol, bloggers

Threatening journalists is never a good idea, even if they are bloggers.

Incumbent Democrat Maurice Hinchey (NY-22) has his own journalist confrontation issue, in his case with a Kingston newspaper reporter.  Hinchey admits at least poking the probing reporter - though the reporter claims Hinchey put his hands on his neck, too.

That's the type of story that can turn a watch list race into something much closer, even an upset nobody saw coming.

[tmthforu94]

1. Lisa Murkowski
2. Scott McAdams



3. Random Moose in Upper Alaska




4. Joe Miller

[minionofmidas]

There's a major difference between touching some annoying heckler/blogger/journalist and having him kidnapped* (or not having your goons under control to prevent that).

The one is not a potential racechanger, unless really really badly spun by your own team, and does not deserve to be. The other is or certainly deserves to be.

*I would refuse to use the word "arrested" here, but am not sure what else to put.

[cinyc]

There's a major difference between touching some annoying heckler/blogger/journalist and having him kidnapped* (or not having your goons under control to prevent that).

The one is not a potential racechanger, unless really really badly spun by your own team, and does not deserve to be. The other is or certainly deserves to be.

*I would refuse to use the word "arrested" here, but am not sure what else to put.

Both are and will be.  Hinchey also came across as extremely arrogant in a debate, feigning ignorance when asked about the deficit problem.

But whatever.  As always, Democrats good, Republicans bad on this website.

[CatoMinor]

1. Joe Miller
2. Random Moose is upper Alaska


3. Scott McAdams

4. Timothy Treadwell's corpse (guy from Grizzly Man)





5. Lisa Murkowski

[Eraserhead]

lol, bloggers

Threatening journalists is never a good idea, even if they are bloggers.

Incumbent Democrat Maurice Hinchey (NY-22) has his own journalist confrontation issue, in his case with a Kingston newspaper reporter.  Hinchey admits at least poking the probing reporter - though the reporter claims Hinchey put his hands on his neck, too.

That's the type of story that can turn a watch list race into something much closer, even an upset nobody saw coming.

You're not seriously suggesting a Hinchey loss is possible are you? His opponent is a joke and an awful fit for that district ideologically.

[cinyc]

lol, bloggers

Threatening journalists is never a good idea, even if they are bloggers.

Incumbent Democrat Maurice Hinchey (NY-22) has his own journalist confrontation issue, in his case with a Kingston newspaper reporter.  Hinchey admits at least poking the probing reporter - though the reporter claims Hinchey put his hands on his neck, too.

That's the type of story that can turn a watch list race into something much closer, even an upset nobody saw coming.

You're not seriously suggesting a Hinchey loss is possible are you? His opponent is a joke and an awful fit for that district ideologically.

As a matter of fact, I am.  Possible - but somewhat unlikely - maybe 20%. 

Hinchey was down 7 in the most recent Republican internal from last month.  He's the type of out-of-the-blue incumbent that would never be expected to lose - his district is largely exurban with some blue-collar towns and he seems to be somewhat unaware that he may lose.  It's a D+6 district.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Here is a video from the "arrest".

http://www.polising.com/2010/10/arresting-reporters-probably-isnt-good.html#update2

[Capitan Zapp Brannigan]

lol, bloggers

Threatening journalists is never a good idea, even if they are bloggers.

Incumbent Democrat Maurice Hinchey (NY-22) has his own journalist confrontation issue, in his case with a Kingston newspaper reporter.  Hinchey admits at least poking the probing reporter - though the reporter claims Hinchey put his hands on his neck, too.

That's the type of story that can turn a watch list race into something much closer, even an upset nobody saw coming.

You're not seriously suggesting a Hinchey loss is possible are you? His opponent is a joke and an awful fit for that district ideologically.

As a matter of fact, I am.  Possible - but somewhat unlikely - maybe 20%. 

Hinchey was down 7 in the most recent Republican internal from last month.  He's the type of out-of-the-blue incumbent that would never be expected to lose - his district is largely exurban with some blue-collar towns and he seems to be somewhat unaware that he may lose.  It's a D+6 district.

Actually, I agree with this. If it is a huge wave he would be one of the surprise ones going down. I go to college in his district and Ed Koch recently endorsed his opponent, plus Rove's group(I think its them at least) are putting in money for ads against him.

It isn't likely of course, but I could see it happening.

[hawkeye59]

1(tie). Scott McAdams
1(tie).. Random moose in Upper Alaska
3. Lisa Murkowski

























49999. Joe Miller

[Vepres]

lol, bloggers

Okay, I just thought it was typical internet hyperbole, but after seeing a video on TV of it, I've changed my mind.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Terrifying, though expect Tea Party candidates to take the law into their hands more and more often as they cement their grip on power in this country.

Here's a picture from the front window of Mr. Miller's brownshirts' office:

A poster from Infowars, a central source of "information" for 9/11 conspiracists.... nice.


Oh, and:

1. Any Ice Road Trucker
2. Random moose
3. Lisa Murkowski
4. Scott McAdams
5-698,470 - All other citizens of Alaska
698,471.  Joe Miller

[Badger]

Most angering thing about this is where does this private security guard have the right to "arrest" and handcuff someone? Some mall cop vigilante provision in AK law? Any half-sensible security guard should try keeping things as peaceful as possible and call police to actually arrest the guy, and only get physical as necessary if the other guy turns violent.

Wait a minute. There was a cop right there! They apparently later told these thugs to release the reporter. The security company is called "Drop Zone". Much of a Rambo wannabe mentality there y'think? Just the kind of even-tempered, levelheaded, not-the -east-bit-an-adrenaline-junkie you want working as private security.

In fairness, Miller isn't directly responsible for "overzealous" meatheads working his security detail. Though the amount of security makes it pretty clear his campaign buys fully into the Palinesque "the media, with all their asking questions and printing things I say, is the arch-enemy" meme.

With rare exceptions like Hinchey's douchey antics, why do conservatives seem to act so much more paranoid when campaigning? The Bush Administration had protesters rounded up and penned into "free speech zones" blocks from any GOP rally or arrested for wearing anti-Bush t-shirts, while right wing protesters show up at Obama rallies openly brandishing firearms for Pete's sake! Now Miller needs some special forces wannabes to lockdown elementary schools he comes to and manhandle reporters?

[Torie]

Most politicians are paranoid about campaigning, and only do it in carefully controlled environments now. It will only get worse, until the voters demand that the candidates expose themselves to some risk, and if they don't - punish them.