Bikewer
20th February 2008, 08:34 AM
I've put this in Social Issues rather than politics, as it's more a comment about how Gonzales is perceived....
Mr. Gonzales was invited to speak at the university yesterday, an affair paid for out of Student Union funds to the tune of 30,000 dollars. That was Gonzales' honarium alone, likely the total bill (for security and all) would be considerably higher.
There were 500 student-only tickets given out, and to my eyeball-count that was probably the attendance. We (for those who don't know I'm with the university police) provided considerable security, since Gonzales' speaking tour has drawn protests.
Indeed, our department even met with the prospective protesters, discussing their plans and setting limits. Our students have not been known for much in the way of activism since the 60s.
The event went off without any problems. A number of protesters showed up in orange jumpsuits, sang songs and chanted, and even brought a band along. The orange-jumpsuited students filed in without any problem when the doors opened, and briefly stood and turned their backs when Gonzales started his presentation. They then sat back down and listened. A couple of students walked out, and there were a few boos.
A brief question-and-answer period (questions on cards from the audience) resulted in the only laugh of the evening, when the Campus Republican representative who was asking the questions fumbled through the cards and said, "a lot of these are not really questions..."
Gonzales is a poor public speaker; his voice often breaking and his manner stiff. He rarely looked up from his notes. If you listened to his Congressional grilling, you pretty much got it.
So much for all that....
More striking, I thought, was the reaction of many of the folks I talked to who who seemed absolutely clueless as to who the man was and what the protest was all about. "Who is this guy?" I heard one police officer ask. Another did not have any idea as to why he was controversial or why anyone would be protesting.
It's said that the basis of democracy is a well-informed public......
Mr. Gonzales was invited to speak at the university yesterday, an affair paid for out of Student Union funds to the tune of 30,000 dollars. That was Gonzales' honarium alone, likely the total bill (for security and all) would be considerably higher.
There were 500 student-only tickets given out, and to my eyeball-count that was probably the attendance. We (for those who don't know I'm with the university police) provided considerable security, since Gonzales' speaking tour has drawn protests.
Indeed, our department even met with the prospective protesters, discussing their plans and setting limits. Our students have not been known for much in the way of activism since the 60s.
The event went off without any problems. A number of protesters showed up in orange jumpsuits, sang songs and chanted, and even brought a band along. The orange-jumpsuited students filed in without any problem when the doors opened, and briefly stood and turned their backs when Gonzales started his presentation. They then sat back down and listened. A couple of students walked out, and there were a few boos.
A brief question-and-answer period (questions on cards from the audience) resulted in the only laugh of the evening, when the Campus Republican representative who was asking the questions fumbled through the cards and said, "a lot of these are not really questions..."
Gonzales is a poor public speaker; his voice often breaking and his manner stiff. He rarely looked up from his notes. If you listened to his Congressional grilling, you pretty much got it.
So much for all that....
More striking, I thought, was the reaction of many of the folks I talked to who who seemed absolutely clueless as to who the man was and what the protest was all about. "Who is this guy?" I heard one police officer ask. Another did not have any idea as to why he was controversial or why anyone would be protesting.
It's said that the basis of democracy is a well-informed public......