Anne Coulter comes to Canada

[nicky10013]

Nope, he's the hatemonger. And you hate free speech, unless it's speech you agree with.

Thanks for proving you don't know what a hate monger is.

[Shady]

Thanks for proving you don't know what a hate monger is.

One person's hatemonger is another persons truth teller. That's why free speech is so important. Why aer you anti-free speech?

[nicky10013]

You hate free speech.

Didn't you just accuse me of hating free speech because I only like speech that I agree with? That's the quickest case of a pot calling the kettle black in recorded history.

[nicky10013]

One person's hatemonger is another persons truth teller. That's why free speech is so important. Why aer you anti-free speech?

No, no it really isn't. Keep trying, though. You'll get it eventually. Well, maybe not. Worth the effort, though, right?

[Shady]

No, no it really isn't. Keep trying, though. You'll get it eventually. Well, maybe not. Worth the effort, though, right?

Yes, yes, it really is. Being crude or even vulgar isn't tantamount to hate speech. Again, why do you hate free speech?

[Argus]

correct the venue does not pay for security...they can supply it for an additional fee...

That should be to secure the premises, not defend against rioters.

[nicky10013]

That should be to secure the premises, not defend against rioters.

Doing the least little bit of research, found Kady O'Malley's column. There were no "rioters." Just 20-50 "loud protesters"

http://www.cbc.ca/politics/insidepolitics/2010/03/ann-coulters-adventures-in-ottawa-so-what-really-happened-last-night.html

Here are some nice snippets.

First, contrary to what Coulter seems to suggest in a brief phone interview with Macleans.ca scribe Colby Cosh, it was not the police who "shut it down." I spoke with Ottawa Police Services media relations officer Alain Boucher this morning, and he told me, in no uncertain terms, that it was her security team that made the decision to call off the event. "We gave her options" -- including, he said, to "find a bigger venue" -- but "they opted to cancel ... It's not up to the Ottawa police to make that decision."

As for Coulter's claim that the police "had been warning my bodyguard all day that they were putting up [messages] on Facebook: 'Bring rocks, bring sticks, you gotta hurt Ann Coulter tonight, don't let her speak,'" Boucher confirmed that the police were monitoring the situation - although how, exactly, he didn't specify - but was unable to provide any example of such a threat, as he did not have that information, although he assured me that if a complaint were lodged, the police would "surely" investigate, but he didn't know whether or not that had occurred. I haven't been able to turn up any of those alleged threats -- not on Facebook, and not on the unspecified "liberal blogs" that she has since cited as the source

And now, the numbers. While there is pretty much universal agreement that event organizer Ashley Scorpio's initial claim of "2,000 violent protesters" is just plain wrong; she seems to have inadvertently mistaken the total number of people waiting outside, many of whom were there to attend the Coulter event, with the number of protesters, which have been variously estimated between a few dozen to 200.

Finally, an observation from a CBC reporter who was in the Foyer while Coulter was being interviewed by CTV's Power Play: At approximately 5:15pm, he overheard a member of her security team tell a Conservative MP that her event "may be cancelled," which would suggest that the decision to do so was already being considered before more than half the crowd had assembled outside the venue -- hopeful speech-goers and protesters alike. Coulter herself, meanwhile, told Cosh that she never actually left the Rideau Club -- where she was the guest of honour at a $250 per head private reception -- for the university. Given the travel times involved, and the 7:30 pm start time, she would likely have had to do so by 7pm at the latest in order to make it in time.

So, what does it all mean? Was the cancellation motivated by genuine concern over "violent protesters" or Facebook threats -- or something else? I can't say I've come to any firm conclusion, but given reports that she plans to file a human rights complaint, it seems like it's worth it to keep digging away at the seemingly contradictory accounts of last night's events. I'll update this post with any additional information. I've also sent an email to both Levant and Scorpio asking for more details.

Here is a twitter account of one of her colleagues.

6:30: About 400 people in line, which probably grew to about 600+ by 7:00

7:00: Doors still not open, people getting really antsy given poor logistics (more on this later)

7:10 or so: Started letting people in one by one, checking them off on a list

7:30ish: Fire alarm goes off, organizers stop allowing people in. Auditorium was 1/2 full = 200 people, but entire upper part was empty. 200+ seats open

7:45ish - Fire alarm stops, but still no more people get in

8:08 - Ezra comes out and comments about censorship, etc.

[Friend] was outside the entire time until they said they weren't letting anyone else in, and said there were about 300-400 people waiting to get in and maybe 20-50 loud protestors.

Inside - there were maybe 8 anti-Coulter types, and their big impact was to chant 'Ann go home' for about 45 seconds, which inspired two women in front to start yelling back and challenge them to a slap off.

They added: "At no time was there any evidence of physical threat. To the extent that there were safety issues, it was because you had 600 people coming out for a talk and the organizers had absolutely no logistical plan to handle it. People annoyed like they get annoyed waiting to get into a jammed hockey game. But no 'threat' environment.

If this wasn't a completely organized publicity stunt, then I don't know what is.

Edited March 25, 2010 by nicky10013

[Shady]

This is the new end-around by the left to skirt free speech laws and silence dissenting voices. What they attempt to do is make it either too expensive to provide proper security, or make it too intimidating to school officials to host conservative speakers.

That way, if they receive any criticism for their actions, they can just deflect the eventual cancelling of the event on the organizers and/or people in charge. It's quite a nice setup.

[GostHacked]

And if hundreds of people hostile to you show up trying to force their way in the police will tell you to close down? Or will they tell the non-ticket holders to get lost and arrest them if they refuse?

Never experienced it, because as a DJ I personally provided a good safe environment. My goal(as was my Dj partner) was to make money off the gigs, so it was in my best interest to provide quality security (which I did) and provide a good environment so people can have fun. Unlike inflammatory guest speakers, popular DJs don't meet the same resistance as someone like Coulter.

99% of incidents at bars are caused by the drunk/drugged patrons inside the bar.

We did a guest spot at another organized party and the cops showed up and end up closing it down. The organizers were running an illegal bar in the place. I was told it was legal, but I failed to see where the temp liquor license was openly displayed. That was more than enough to have the cops knock on the door. The responsibility lies in the organizers.

Oh wait, the police will not even come without being paid, right? So if there is a disturbance outside they'll just say "Sorry, we're not doing anything unless you hire more of our off duty guys."

We also DJ'd here in Ottawa when we moved. We did a gig at a bar in Aylmer. Decent size bar, we packed the place to the owners content and consent. There was a small brawl that started inside and the bouncers quickly took control and took the people and the fight outside. Once it got out there it got way nasty. It was a damn scary sight. The cops were called and a few minutes later about 4 cruisers showed up. One person was severely beaten, but end up going home and dying overnight because of a sever concussion he got from the fight. He was never brought to a hospital. It was in the news, trying to find an article on it.

But this all happened inside the bar. No one was fighting to get in the bar to fight someone else.

[M.Dancer]

We gave her options

I wonder what the options were.

1) Doing the impossible and find a new venue

2) Hold it here despite our warning and we will shut you down and fine you.

3) Shut it down yourself.

Edited March 25, 2010 by M.Dancer

[GostHacked]

Whoaaaa there Nicky... we have to take Shady's word for it cause he was THERE you know.

[Alta4ever]

Doing the least little bit of research, found Kady O'Malley's column. There were no "rioters." Just 20-50 "loud protesters"

http://www.cbc.ca/politics/insidepolitics/2010/03/ann-coulters-adventures-in-ottawa-so-what-really-happened-last-night.html

Here are some nice snippets.

Here is a twitter account of one of her colleagues.

If this wasn't a completely organized publicity stunt, then I don't know what is.

Obviously you were blind (just like that pathetic shill Kady) to the pictures posted on fliker that Shady linked too. You Professors did a good job on you at indoctrinate U.

[nicky10013]

It's sad that Coulter and Ezra Levant will go around trumpeting this as some free speech disaster when the truth is that this event was cancelled due to extremely poor planning by the organizers, some idiotic decisions by the SFUO and some prankster pulling a fire alarm.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/Idiotic+decisions/2723141/story.html

[nicky10013]

Whoaaaa there Nicky... we have to take Shady's word for it cause he was THERE you know.

Ahaha he was there in Ottawa. Here I thought he went to the appearance in London.

[nicky10013]

This is the new end-around by the left to skirt free speech laws and silence dissenting voices. What they attempt to do is make it either too expensive to provide proper security, or make it too intimidating to school officials to host conservative speakers.

That way, if they receive any criticism for their actions, they can just deflect the eventual cancelling of the event on the organizers and/or people in charge. It's quite a nice setup.

The cost is the same for everyone regardless. The process is quite transparent. You're just desperately looking for ways to make this a story about a witch hunt against conservatives, which now that the real story is coming out, is completley contrary to what actually happened.

[Shakeyhands]

You know, all of us who think this was a manufactured incident by the Coulter team are wrong... My apologies to all the free speech advocates..I've found pictures of the "protestors" and indeed it looks like they were gearing up for causing problems. It's probably a good thing the event was canceled.

Protestor rally before Coulter event

[Alta4ever]

You know, all of us who think this was a manufactured incident by the Coulter team are wrong... My apologies to all the free speech advocates..I've found pictures of the "protestors" and indeed it looks like they were gearing up for causing problems. It's probably a good thing the event was canceled.

Protestor rally before Coulter event

You are pathetic loser.

[nicky10013]

Obviously you were blind (just like that pathetic shill Kady) to the pictures posted on fliker that Shady linked too. You Professors did a good job on you at indoctrinate U.

So he was in Ottawa? As I said before, I realized he went to the one in London, but I didn't know that he was so in love with this lunatic for him to drive across the province to see her twice. I want to see some of his personal pictures from Ottawa to prove he was there.

Furthermore, why would my professors have anything to do with the events I organized and ran? Surely, if anyone knows how to party down, it's an 80 year old Ph.D. I'd shut er down before you give yourself a headache by trying (and failing) to think of a way to discredit what I've said. Knowing how events are run doesn't make it partisan. You're just upset that it exposes the people you support for the liars that they are.

[Shady]

The cost is the same for everyone regardless. The process is quite transparent. You're just desperately looking for ways to make this a story about a witch hunt against conservatives, which now that the real story is coming out, is completley contrary to what actually happened.

We have pictures of what really happened. The group. The protestors. Their strategy. Their intent, etc. You're a denier.

[GostHacked]

We have pictures of what really happened. The group. The protestors. Their strategy. Their intent, etc. You're a denier.

Show me.

[nicky10013]

We have pictures of what really happened. The group. The protestors. Their strategy. Their intent, etc. You're a denier.

Yep. Lets see em.

[Sir Bandelot]

Are you so blindly ignorant you're comparing this second rate political pundit to the president of Iran? Americans have many, many reasons to hate him, starting with the fact his country has been aiding extremists in Iraq and Afghanistan to kill Americans. He is virtually the head of an enemy state. Of course they despise him. But would there be a huge national fuss if some political commentator from Iran spoke at Columbia? Of course not!

But we are just talking about speaking now, right? Not dropping bombs or anything like that. Ahmadinejad was only speaking.

[nicky10013]

You are pathetic loser.

I actually found it kind of funny. Not that channeling Hitler is funny, I just took it as a jab at the fact that you and your conservative buddies regularly call "lefties" nazis which is in itself hilarious. This is just icing on the cake.

[nicky10013]

But we are just talking about speaking now, right? Not dropping bombs or anything like that. Ahmadinejad was only speaking.

Not to mention that Coulter tried to organize the same protests against health care supporting democrats that she claims to have faced in Ottawa. Some whacko following the advice cut the gas line in an office of one of congressmen who voted for it. Let's bring her up on charges of organizing terrorism.

Edited March 25, 2010 by nicky10013

[Alta4ever]

So he was in Ottawa? As I said before, I realized he went to the one in London, but I didn't know that he was so in love with this lunatic for him to drive across the province to see her twice. I want to see some of his personal pictures from Ottawa to prove he was there.

Furthermore, why would my professors have anything to do with the events I organized and ran? Surely, if anyone knows how to party down, it's an 80 year old Ph.D. I'd shut er down before you give yourself a headache by trying (and failing) to think of a way to discredit what I've said. Knowing how events are run doesn't make it partisan. You're just upset that it exposes the people you support for the liars that they are.

Did you even click through the link you putz. I know you didn't. You conveniently ignore all kinds of links you don't like. I remember a few months ago refusing to read articles because you did not think they fit your view point.