Brattleboro Controversy Grows
BRATTLEBORO, Vt. (AP) - A town petition making President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney subject to arrest for crimes against the Constitution has triggered a barrage of criticism from people who say residents are “wackjobs” and “nuts.”
In e-mail messages, voicemail messages and telephone calls, outraged people are calling the measure the equivalent of treason and vowing never to visit Vermont.
“Has everyone up there been out in the cold too long?” said one.
“I would like to know how I could get some water from your town,” said another. “It’s obvious that there is something special in it.”
The petition—with more than 436 signatures, or at least the 5 percent of voters necessary to be considered—was submitted Thursday and the town Select Board voted 3-2 Friday to put it on the ballot. It goes to a town-wide vote March 4.
It reads: “Shall the Selectboard instruct the Town Attorney to draft indictments against President Bush and Vice President Cheney for crimes against our Constitution, and publish said indictments for consideration by other authorities and shall it be the law of the Town of Brattleboro that the Brattleboro Police, pursuant to the above- mentioned indictments, arrest and detain George Bush and Richard Cheney in Brattleboro if they are not duly impeached, and prosecute or extradite them to other authorities that may reasonably contend to prosecute them?”
News of the measure made the rounds on the Internet, and soon people started calling and writing. The Brattleboro Area Chamber of Commerce got about 60 e-mails Monday, all of them negative, said Executive Director Jerry Goldberg.
A day later, he said, “we had three or four calls in a row that were very positive. One even volunteered to help.”
The petition has no legal standing, since the town attorney has no authority to write an indictment and the police have no authority to arrest Bush or Cheney if either visits Brattleboro.
Anger at the Bush administration is hardly new in Vermont. The state Senate voted last year to support impeaching the president. Anti-war rallies are regular occurrences, and “Impeach Bush” bumper stickers are common.
The petition prompted Brent Caflisch to go to his computer in Rosemount, Minn. “Maybe the terrorists will do us all a favor and attack your town next, our country would be much safer with several thousand dead wackjobs in Vermont,” he wrote.
It went on to say terrorists could kidnap the three Select Board members who voted in favor, “cut their heads off, video tape it and put it on the internet.”
Caflisch, who confirmed sending the e-mail, said Tuesday he did it out of disgust after reading about the measure on The Drudge Report.
A few messages were positive (”Arrest Bush and Cheney? You go, Brattleboro!” wrote one man) but most were critical.
“Be American, not a sniffeling liberal town that sleeps under the shield of safety provided to you by your President,” said another e- mail. “Vacation to VT CANCELLED!”
The reaction caught town officials off guard, and left some workers on edge.
“We have some concerns about safety,” said Town Clerk Annette Cappy. “After reading some of these e-mails, you can’t help it.”
Acting Police Chief Eugene Wrinn said any threats would be taken seriously and possibly prosecuted. So far, no threats have been made, he said.
“If someone is concerned for their safety, if there’s a threat of harm, we will look at that seriously,” he said.
Resident Kurt Daims, who submitted the petition, said late Tuesday he was chagrined that the town and its employees were subject to ridicule.
“I feel bad for people who are loyal to Bush who have lost a son or had one in the service and it’s hard for them to admit the utter waste of it, and that it was caused by this man in the White House,” he said.
Be respectful of others and their opinions. Inflammatory remarks and inane leftist drivel will be deleted. It ain’t about free speech, remember you’re in a private domain. My website, my prerogative.
If you can't handle using your real email address, don't bother posting a comment.
I e-mailed the town the day before yesterday telling them they’re a bunch of Ben & Jerry ice cream eating re-tards. Strangely enough, haven’t gotten a “thank you for your comments” e-mail.
January 30th, 2008 at 4:14 amThe nutty opinions of some residents in a small town is one thing. But this…
“I feel bad for people who are loyal to Bush who have lost a son or had one in the service and it’s hard for them to admit the utter waste of it, and that it was caused by this man in the White House,” he said.
The sheer hubris required to seriously utter that statement is staggering. He deserves to have his citizenship revoked and his ass air-dropped into the middle of Iran.
January 30th, 2008 at 4:14 am“The reaction caught town officials off guard, and left some workers on edge.”
Me: Well that’s too fucking bad.
“We have some concerns about safety,” said Town Clerk Annette Cappy. “After reading some of these e-mails, you can’t help it.”
Me: Ya think? Best thing that can happen to a bunch a traitors is to start being scared.
“Acting Police Chief Eugene Wrinn said any threats would be taken seriously and possibly prosecuted. So far, no threats have been made, he said.
Me: Seriously? You mean like that fucking petition your traitor fellows wrote and approved?
R”esident Kurt Daims, who submitted the petition, said late Tuesday he was chagrined that the town and its employees were subject to ridicule.”
Me: That’s what happens to stupid fucks like you. Expect more of it dickhead.
“I feel bad for people who are loyal to Bush who have lost a son or had one in the service and it’s hard for them to admit the utter waste of it, and that it was caused by this man in the White House…”
me: I bet he wears pink?
January 30th, 2008 at 4:22 amI tried leaving them a comment but the page wouldn’t publish it. Boooo.
January 30th, 2008 at 4:31 amRe kurt daims
“I feel bad for people who are loyal to Bush who have lost a son or had one in the service and it’s hard for them to admit the utter waste of it, and that it was caused by this man in the White House,” he said.
Daims, a retired prototype machinist and stay-at-home dad of three daughters
I hope your daughters end up dying before you, it would be justice if they marry some muslim who will end up beheading them for their slutty ways
I can’t pull his address up on the web, does anyone have it?
January 30th, 2008 at 4:32 ameveryone else in the country should have their own vote, we should kick this town out of the US (maybe all of Vermont)then declare them a threat, then bomb them into the stone age
January 30th, 2008 at 4:33 am@ John Cunningham,
“…ice cream eating retards”?! That’s pretty subtle. Maybe you should have sent an email with stronger wording.
P.S. Don’t forget to mention the hot maple syrup enemas.
January 30th, 2008 at 4:37 amDirect lift from the front page of the city web page:
Welcome to Brattleboro.community
Brattleboro is a vibrant and thriving community that hosts a wide range of artistic venues and educational opportunities. Yet, Brattleboro sits in the shadow of a nuclear power plant. While this might never pose a problem to you, should there be an accident, all of Brattleboro would likely not be inhabitable for thousands of years. I kinda like Brattleboro, and the sumptious Connecticut River water shed.
http://www.brattleboro.com/
January 30th, 2008 at 4:43 amThat state has done a lot of things to compromise our nation. Protect child predators, cheer for the enemy, etc. I will not take my vacations there until they get their act cleaned up. It appears that will not be in the near future.
January 30th, 2008 at 4:57 amKBar, I never mastered “subtle”. I don’t know if you know this but Ben&Jerry’s is made in Vermont. Ben or Jerry is a rabid liberal that about ten years ago said something, I can’t remember what, but that prompted me to boycott Ben & Jerry’s. It was a difficult withdrawal. It’s good I did, my brain could be addled with vermontism if I’d have gone on for another ten years. But, now I’m back in Philadelphia where Dolly Madison invented ice cream. Ever have Bassett’s, to die for. But, you can only get it if you’re within 50 miles. They never went commercial.
January 30th, 2008 at 5:57 amBJ ice cream founders are hard left 60’s hippy asses.
Haven’t bought that stuff for over a decade now.
January 30th, 2008 at 6:01 amHere is my email just sent to the Brattleboro Chamber of Commerce…..
I just vacationed in West Dover, VT 4 weeks ago. I drove through Brattleboro. Have been telling everyone how nice VT is. Your towns petition making President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney subject to arrest for crimes against the Constitution is a outrage to me and many other fellow Americans. Your antics are shameful. My endorsement of VT is now null and void thanks to Brattleboro, a town full of sick wackos! What a shame!
January 30th, 2008 at 6:09 amDuring the civil war Lincoln had people like Kurt Daims removed to the brig. It’s curious that they feel threatened now. What the hell was 9-11?
January 30th, 2008 at 6:12 am“If someone is concerned for their safety, if there’s a threat of harm, we will look at that seriously,” he said.
With what weapons? I doubt a single one of them own anything more than a .22 hunting rifle, because, of course, guns are bad.
They should be ashamed of themselves. My brothers are proud to serve!
And — what’s more is that the average US citizen doesn’t have the … what have you, to defend the Constitution. How are they going to arrest GWB and Dick Cheney? Over my dead body! They’d have to get through me first — and that goes without saying, well it should. The President and his office deserve more respect than what this town is giving it… And — have they forgotten that a LARGE majority of our legislature voted to go to war in Iraq?
Let’s arrest them, too — starting with Hillary Clinton.
January 30th, 2008 at 6:28 am“Anger at the Bush administration is hardly new in Vermont.”
“Kurt Daims…who submitted the petition, said…he was chagrined that the town and its employees were subject to ridicule.”
Ahhh, the irony.
January 30th, 2008 at 6:52 amI would love to see and hear them on Youtube yelling….. INCOMING! While diving for cover….boom, crash booom,
January 30th, 2008 at 7:32 amThese people should be punished somehow. Personally i would break the whole state of vermont off of the US and let them fend for themselves if they want to act like this. See how many Americans visit their little backward ass town now. Fuckin traitors!
January 30th, 2008 at 7:52 amBJ ice cream founders are hard left 60’s hippy asses.
———————————————————–
“BJ” ice cream, huh? … That explains alot about the town for me.
Bitterbutter dolt: A day later, he said, “we had three or four calls in a row that were very positive. One even volunteered to help.”
Me: Oh, bullshit! You did not … and town residents who signed the petition don’t count, you turd.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:55 amin other news, the DOD has decided to conduct testing of nuclear weapons in downtown brattleboro
hey, we can hope right?
January 30th, 2008 at 8:14 amThese clowns make my head hurt. Are they so enraptured with themselves that they are deluded into thinking anyone gives a crap about what they feel about anything??!!
I am happy to hear there are other Ben and Jerry’s boycotters. My husband thinks I am a total wacko for my various boycotts…hey, it make me feel better. My kids feel somewhat deprived at never having tasted Chubby Hubby…
January 30th, 2008 at 9:46 amMy sister lives about 15 minutes from Brattleboro. Just so you get some perspective on Vermont. There are two Vermont’s: the trust fund hippy asshole out of stators and the family oriented, self reliant, hardworking locals. My sister and her family are in the latter group. My nephew, born and raised just 15 minutes from that liberal shithole, just returned from 15 months in Iraq. Unfortunately the liberal trust fund assholes have no need to work so therefore infest the town governments and get this type of seditious shit going. They are giving all Vermonters a bad name. The “Green Mountain Boys” have done duty in Iraq and Afghanistan with distinction. So slap the morons in Brattleboro around all you want, just remember they DO NOT represent all of the state.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:38 pmJohn Cunningham,
I did indeed know that Ben & Jerry’s was made in Vermont, and that it was created by filthy hippies. That’s why I never purchased their product. I vaguely remember the flap over the “something” one of them said, but like you, I can’t remember what it was either. Most of what dirty hippies and their ilk have to say is usually irrelevant and forgettable anyway.
Some of the toughest Marines I know are from either Philly or South Boston.
January 30th, 2008 at 4:16 pm