Cheney doing his Hitler schtick.

But it's OK for the military to go on a college campus and shoot unarmed students? I suppose it wasnt going to make any difference anyway as Cheney would have never seen them and could care less what they have to say-it's just the civil rights thing the pisses me off.

The sad irony is that Cheney is a bigger threat to the welfare of the cadets than he is to just about anyone else in this country.

wimpy dick, psycho dick, don't go hunting with dick dick, doesn't sound like someone a westpoint cadet would find as a great icon of leadership. maybe they see him as what not to be. hang in there dick, sicky dick, leaky dick, drippy dick.

Cheney is afraid of being assassinated. There was another news item not long ago that stated that Cheney's security took away small American flags from children for fear that they could be used as weapons.

The size of a person's personal security force is almost equal to their level of fear.

Hers is another one: See Dick lie, see Dick steal, see Dick invade Iraq - don't be a dick.

[[The mere presence of the vice president does not turn West Point into a public forum.]]

In other words West Point has no freedom of information and it never was debatable by the public. Pipe in Fox News and censor Common Dreams and we have the story of a Cadet turned into an uniformed army of one.

Hello!
First: The VP's postion and authority is granted by all Americans and our constitution. That is same constitution that gives us our right to speak. The same qualifications the court uses to deflect the protests are the very ones that most give any citizen the right to attend and protest.

Second: West Point is a publicly funded institution. We Pay, We Say!

Third: The cadets at West Point were only able to go there with the endorsement of a US Representative or US Senator. Should future military officers be appointed (much like judges) by politically motivated officials and then sequestered from public scrutiny? Seems against our system of government.

Fourth: Do West Point cadets have anything like one last choice, before they become regular army, to say who they have to listen to and be inspired by at graduation? If they do, they chose poorly. If they don't, it seems less like an inspirational commencement address and more like a Stalinistic appearance for a fascist government.

But, listen, Dick, thanks for coninuing to send us the bill for you to endanger us to terrorists, send our sons to death in an immoral war, bankrupt us and our children. You need the security, Dick!

The good news is that the sordid and corrupt ways of you and your PNAC friends will die in the next election because of your greed and overreaching. Maybe you should set up a brig now at West Point, so you can spend the rest of your years without the input of the citizenry that loathe you.

Oh, don't forget the cadets at West Point were sworn to uphold the constitution right after the dick spoke. And, that they are "over there" defending us, our rights, and our freedom.

Just look at that picture. What IS that?

All those people swear an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemy's foreign and domestic. But they never do. So much for honor. It's just a mercenary factory.

See Dick, see Dick lay out the Iraqi oil fields maps before the CEO's of corp oil in early 2001.

See Dick order NORAD on 911 to "stand down" as the PNAC Pearl Harbor exploded before the worlds eyes.

See Dick use the NEO-CON hated NY times as proof that Saddam had WMD, as the Times repeated what the administration told it to say.

See Dick glorify PNAC war as his incompetent administration turned Iraq over to Jihadist's.

See Dick operate his little monkey from behind the curtain during the 04 debates.

See Dick only speak before military audiences, where questions are not asked, and answers are never offered.

See Dick use the Pentagon as a middle man for Halliburton and company, BlackWater, Triple Canopy et. all, as he borrows money from China to finance his war profiteering friends to the tune of billions.

See Dick buy thousands of acres in Paraguay along with his pet monkey so they can retire out of the reach of the American People.

See the "Christian Nation" endorse this monster and his administrations and party's actions, because they think they are saved, are a priveledged people, and deserve the right to demand first consideration.

"No other institution in our society enjoys the deference that the military establishment enjoys," Mr. Bergstein said. "There are things you can't do in our society, and protesting at a military institution is one of them."

The other institution that is allowed to completely obliterate the Constitutional right to Freedom of Speech is the Corporation.

Where I work, no one is allowed to address issues in the parking lot without prior company approval (this policy is specifically to prevent union organizers from talking to employees).

If you're on company time or are known as a 'team member' you can be terminated for expressing a controversial opinion in a public area. You can be written up for not embodying or for criticizing the company's 'Core Values' while working. You may not put up controversial postings on break room bulletin boards.

Let's see... what sort of governmental system is it that gives the military and the corporation power to override 'guaranteed' citizens' rights? Here's a hint:
'f------'

Peach McD in Durham NC

Kivals,
The sad irony is that Cheney is a bigger threat to the welfare of the cadets than he is to just about anyone else in this country.

Why are you worried about the welfare of the cadets when those same cadets are obviously in denial of their own chosen hazards in their own chosen career. These MEN and WOMEN chose to join the military elite when the occupation began and thanks to commondreams , moveon , and the international press have had ample opportunity to guess that upon graduation , the class of '07 would be the Cannon Fodder Elite , leading in occupied Iraq.

In my opinion protesters should resign themselves to inevitability that these future West Point killere and killed have chosen their paths of glory and patriotism . Unlike Ehren Watada,Mike Ergo and others,they will not be side-tracked by protesters .

On the other hand thousands of malleable middle-school,high school and college STUDENTS NOT GRADUATES across America are being bombarded by the propaganda touted by recruitment offices and kiosks.

If you are protesting for self-glory and the warm-'n- fuzzies then by all means choose a brand-name college and a brand-name villain.

If you are protesting , altruisticly for results then choose a hole-in-the-wall RC somewhere in Smalltown , USA

widmax3, I believe he is afraid too. He has a good reason to be afraid. Being afraid all the time is very uncomfortable. No wonder the dick is drunk at every opportunity. I am glad he is afraid.

Ronald White,

As someone well into middle age, I see the cadets as fairly innocent and confused kids. They have begun a journey that will take them to dark places that will inevitably twist and scar their minds, and Cheney will do his best to darken their paths even further.

I am no Christian or believer of any kind, but I do see some value in the approach that all human beings should be accepted if they repent their sins against human society and sincerely ask for forgiveness. The cadets for now are just kids and not hardened killers, though Mr. Cheney will do his best to make sure they soon will be.

sLiMsHaDy,

"What IS that?" Why that was Uncle Dick's endearing snarl. You would snarl too if you were married to Lynne Cheney, especially if you hadn't had your daily ration of human blood with your breakfast. Have you ever tried to wash down your early morning scrambled eggs with anything other than a glass of warm human blood?

Just one sentence:

Welcome to the Fourth Reich

Cheer the man who sends you off to die to protect chimpy's ego. The man who had other priorities when it was his turn. He should have been ripped to pieces on that podium. Where'd he say Osama was again??

QUOTE: The protesters' lawyer, Stephen Bergstein, said the military was given too much respect. "No other institution in our society enjoys the deference that the military establishment enjoys," Mr. Bergstein said. "There are things you can't do in our society, and protesting at a military institution is one of them. It's a shame because they invite Cheney and he can say whatever he wants."

Besides the constitutional issue, the court agreed with the Army that it had legitimate security concerns.UNQUOTE

Rather ironic that our military feels it can't protect itself against 1,000 anti-war protesters -- presumably peaceful.

The Court may be reflecting the disdain for protest that we see in the Bush administration.

Keep in mind that everything that Hitler and the Nazis did was LEGAL.

Thanks to the corrupt Judges they put in place who rubber stamped the Nuremberg Laws for them.

West Point? Wasn't that the same place that turned out the '90 Day Wonders' that got fragged so much in Nam? Yeah, that was it, I'm sure.
Look, Dick, you can hide behind security all you want to, bubba. But your going down, pal. Count on it.

It's too bad the soldiers are so full of lies and deception, that they can't recognize the lunatic nature of their so called commander in chief and his so called "war on terror". Apparently most of them have the dreadful delusion that they're keeping us free and fighing terrorists. The real heroes in the military are the ones who are saying to hell with Bush, his occupation, and the military.

We can rest assured that Bush's regime and his supporters are sure to be situated right next to the Hiter regime in the history books of the future.

One's heart bleeds for the West ,led as they are by such unregenerate ,born-again Nazis, puts so many at risk . Of being transformed into dyed-in-the-wool Nazis themselves . Much as moderate , substantially Christian Germans were ,in the 1930s .

Whats wrong with these cadets? Why don't they stand up for justice and Boo these lieing war mongers out? Or are they looking for that gravy train life in the millitary or would they rather murder innocent children, women and men? Of course if you are a hired gunslinger you kill what you are told to kill.

I hope Dick handed each of those West Point grads a target to wear under their shirts after graduation. A true symbol of their future role in the Iraq conflict.

Anybody who can swear an oath to defend the US Constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic and then bear the living precence of Dick Cheney is a traitor.

If there is a hell Cheney gets his own level. Maybe wired to a chain link fence and left to the tender mercies of the souls of dead Iraqi children.

Another scum bag from the right wing neo-fascist American international terrorist government

Dick Cheney at West Point? This is the same person that got multible deferments to stay out of the draft during the VietNam era.

Yet he was invited to this place where many an officer lost their lives?

How can he talk about something he ran away from in his youth?

Heck Dick Cheney has shown he still doesn't know how to shoot a gun.

Why wasn't someone like Colin Powell invited instead. Or how about John Kerry who went into the service voluntarily.

So on the one hand Cheney gets a bye thus practices Freedom Of Speech. Which a thousand protestors many of them with military experience have to stay silent.
And This is what Our Soldiers In Iraq are Fighting For?

lordi lordi mis torti we need a rope..

Unfortunately, I am with the court on this one. While we think of West Point as college with a goal to training military officers, its still an official US Army base. In fact, I believe that its the oldest, continually operating army base in the country. Regardless of their choice of commencement speaker, West Point is under no obligation to open the gates to unrestricted civilian access.

If the resident cadets wish to express their displeasure with the choice of commencement speaker, that is their choice.

Genaman said, "Dick Cheney at West Point? This is the same person that got multible deferments to stay out of the draft during the VietNam era."

Yes, odd how those characters who now feel such an affinity with the military and always show up to use them for backdrop had such a hard time showing up when it may have counted as an expression of character.

pascal1947-Under normal conditions, Going on campus to protest, should not be allowed, but as stated by everybody above, we pay the bills; why are we silenced and chicken hawks allowed?

So the judge followed the rule of law and the protesters made a statement in the news. The issue was brought to light.

Let me add another institution in our society which enjoys incredible deference.
Religion, as well as corporations and military get away with lies and immorality.

Cheney should be hounded wherever he goes until he's brought to justice.

West Point is an army base as one other poster mentioned. But should any of the grads speak out against the warmongers they'd be headed for an army prison faster than deadeye dick could shoot his hunting buddy...

Protest outside the base, make the chickenhawk fly there. Maybe we'll be lucky and they'll use a Canadian 'copter...

I may be mistaken, but the picture of Cheney at the top of the page seems to show him giving the Nazi high hand salute. Oh, it just my be my reading into thing... nevermind. ;-)

TO ALL PROTESTERS: Your effort,dedication,boldness did not go in vain.I am so happy that you stood up to Cheney's presence at West Point. You are in the newspaper,and everyone knows that you were there.That you were barred from entering gives you even MORE of a presence then if you had a front seat position. THANK YOU to all of you for standing up and being there as true Americans. (from too far to have joined you. Sonoma,Ca.)

When the people are not permitted to refute or even observe the speech of an official of the US government, all I ask is that the official swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth etc. before he speaks. Then at least we, the people, would have some recourse when he lies. Lying under oath, not to mention killing hundreds of thousands for profit, is an impeachable offense.

Sieg Heil!! This man frightens me beyond belief. Howthehell did the American people allow this to happen (again)? \

One of the most appropriate bumper stickers ever was "VOTE FOR BUSH AND GET DICK", and man did we ever get Dicked, right?

Sheer lunacy is what it is. Who was the lame-brain who picked a cowardly, lying, draft dodger to speak at our most notable military educational institution?

The only other worst person they could have chosen would be that playboy flyboy who bought his way out of serving in Viet Nam. Here are a few other facts about our LOL 'Commander-in Chief' in regard to his military service:

1) He never attended ANY of the service academies;
2) He was never in ROTC;
3) He never attended OCS;
4) He never came up through the ranks as an enlisted man.

The outstanding question here is HOW THE HELL DID HE EVER BECOME AN OFFICER???

Kind of makes one suspect Bush gained officer status the same way an imbecile like him gained college degrees...he bought his way there.

The argument that West Point is a military base, and not subject to any scrutiny, input, or oversight by the citizens who pay the bills is a dangerous concept. What's to prevent the military from turning on the very citizens they swear to protect? How would we even become aware a coup was in the works?

Dear participants on the CommonDreams blogsite I hope everyone here understands the difference between paranoia (an obsessive illness), and caution (a healthy skepticism). With all the nasty tricks Cheney has pulled it would be expected he would be paranoid about being fragged, blown up, or even poisoned by an insider. The next time any of you go to the pump just remind yourselves who brought us to $3+ gas (and kept even a list of who were in the meetings of the 'Energy Task Force' secret).

Should this criminal be giving the graduation speech to even a kindergarten class? Whomever selected him to speak at West Point has done a great diservice to the honor of the American people at large, and specifically the members of our military. Disgracefull!!!

Did the cadets choose this speaker? Or was he foist upon them?

Yann123 almost had it right...
to ask permission to protest is an oxymoron.
Ask anyone from Shay's rebellion (put down by German mercenaries hired by G. Washington) to the Bonus Marchers and on to the present.
I am sure that Blackwater has infiltrated groups planning peaceful, permitted anti-war demonstrations.
The established order will not grant you permission to effectively confront it.
All successful revolutionary movements understood this.
Until the anti-war movement decides not to ask permission, the bombs will continue to fly with our names on them.

As a former GI (Army) I cannot understand how any member of the U.S. Military Academy could tolerate listening to "The Dick" speak about serving ones country without wanting to hurl. What would this draft dodging bastard know about serving ones country? He (along with George Bush) has done more to destroy America than any man in my lifetime.

The poor US Military now provides the only venue, and captive audiences,for the likes of Dick Cheney(and I do mean "Dick")to spew his venom.

We can only hope that our graduates are impervious to such poison.

Couldnt serve in the military but to make up for it he hunts unarmed wildlife--or--better yet, animals raised specifically to be released and shot--canned hunts. True poster boy of the cowardly hunter.

There is a place across the river from West Point that used to be a farm that provided refuge to escapted slaves. Until just last year it had a peace sign on the roof of the farm house that could be seen from the parade grounds. Too bad the protesters don't make a stand there.

While the military oath is indeed to defend the CONSTITUTION of the United States, Cheney left that now minor detail out when addressing his cadets:

"On your first day of Army life, each one of you raised your right hand and took an oath. And you will swear again today to defend the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That is your vow, that is the business you're in."

http://www.antiwar.com/henderson/?articleid=11047