HAMPDEN, Maine — For the last eight years, Lawrence Reichard said his phone has rung regularly on weekday mornings as he was called to substitute-teach at Hampden Academy and other high schools.
Over the last week and a half, the phone has been silent, and due to conversations he said he has had with at least one school administrator, he’s not expecting it to ring anytime soon.
Reichard, an Occupy Bangor member who was arrested for disrupting a speech by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair during Colby College’s commencement ceremony earlier this month, alleged in a press release Wednesday that he has been fired or blacklisted by the school as a substitute teacher because of that incident.
“I haven’t seen his press release,” said Richard Lyons, superintendent of Maine School Administrative District 22. “He is a substitute, not an employee. He hasn’t been fired. He’s still an as-needed employee.”
Reichard said he was called to substitute-teach for 12 of the previous 16 school days before his May 20 arrest but has not been called since.
“I would not assume that just on not being called over the last week,” Reichard said. “But taken in conjunction with the things said to me, that’s what makes me draw the conclusion that I’ve been fired.”
Reichard said he has had several conversations with a Hampden Academy administrator who initially told him to keep a low profile after the arrest, which he says he did. The administrator, whom Reichard declined to identify, reportedly told Reichard that his presence at the school “created a carnival-like atmosphere” there and that he should probably apply to substitute elsewhere because school officials wanted things to calm down a bit.
“I absolutely do not expect them to be calling me again,” Reichard said.
Lyons said Reichard would be called on an as-needed basis, as Hampden’s substitutes usually are.
“If we have a physics teacher out, we would look at the substitutes we have on call and then align the one with the best credentials or skills to fill that teaching vacancy,” Lyons explained. “Regarding Mr. Reichard, I would say yes, he’s on the list, and based on the teacher who happens to be out, whoever on that list best fits the needs for filling that vacancy would be called.”
Lyons also pointed out that the frequency of sick days is typically much lower this time of year than in the winter — or especially the cold and flu season earlier in the year.
“When I was called to substitute for 12 of those 16 days, it wasn’t winter,” Reichard said. “And I think the evidence is there that what has taken place is essentially my firing. I’m not surprised to hear them say this is not the case, but I don’t think they’re being candid.”
Reichard said he has been a Hampden Academy substitute for more than eight years and that he typically exceeds his personal goal of subbing 50 percent of the school year.
“Even in 2010, when there were several weeks lost via my unavailability due to vacation time, I subbed for 80 of the 189 school days,” he said.
Reichard is due to appear in Waterville District Court for a hearing on the Colby incident on Aug. 21. He hasn’t decided whether he will contest the charges.
“I think it’s ironic they are talking about this being a carnival-like atmosphere,” Reichard said. “If that’s true, I would say it’s not a bad thing that students are talking about something besides iPads, Xbox, and ‘American Idol’ for a change.”
And another thing, why the heck is the BDN even covering this?
Political affiliations.
Yes! I knew we’d see you here.
For the same reason they post a lot of the online stories that they do; to stir up the hornet’s nest otherwise known as the comment section.
You’d rather not know about things like this? It affected thousands of people. It concerned an individual known world wide. What else would you censor? He interrupted another person’s free speech in the name of free speech and spoiled what was to have been a banner day in the lives of hundreds of graduates and their parents and friends. I think that’s called “your rights end where my nose begins.” I can’t believe he didn’t know there would be repercussions. I believe he needs to take responsibility for his own actions.
Well said. Free speech does not mean “Freedom from consequences or being criticized for what you say”. That said I’m not against what he did per se, but he’s paying a price apparently.
Exactly. He had the right to say what he wanted to say. But sometimes people forget that what they say, while they are free to do so, can sometimes have a lingering affect. If an employer makes a business decision not to re-hire (or in this case, call back) someone after they have made a statement, and/or statements that they as a company (or school) find they are at odds with, they have the right to not re-hire the person.
Have you talked to a Colby grad or parent? Was the day spoiled?
Haven’t you been reading the comments with these stories from people who were there? Yikes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Spoiled? Maybe not. Rudely interrupted? Yes. Yes. Yes.
No, I could not identify anyone who said they were there as a grad or parent, but I will read back through them. Thanks for pointing that out.
Yes.
Okay, now I have my answer. Thank you.
It didn’t spoil anyone’s experience that day. His actions just added something to it.
I was the last person to look into the University President eyes before collapsed and died of a heart attach five minutes before my graduation in 2003. His death did not “spoil” my experience. It added to the memories of that day and gave me much to ponder and think about.
If I can say that my graduation wasn’t spoiled after experiencing that trauma, I think the people who had to hear a protester will survive.
You seem to miss the point entirely………..
No I think you have missed the point.
I’m happy for you.
Someone dying and someone shooting their mouths off, how is there any comparison?
That’s quite a stretch.
Once again, I support his right to speak his mind but I also support the idea that there will be consequences.
TrueNative is talking about drama making a day more memorable. Simply that. And I do agree that there will be consequences.
Colby is a major employer and contributor to Maine life.This commencement would be news anyway.
It’s pretty obvious. they support the teacher and are more then happy to give him publicity.
Far left-wing (or right-wing) zealots have no business teaching our kids. Indoctrinating them young is NOT what’s right for kids.
Who is to say he was indoctrinating the students? He was subbing, but if you have evidence to speaks otherwise, then by all means, share it with us.
God forbid that our kids be exposed to different opinions. You’re right about “indoctrinating” them though. That right belongs strictly to the state and their gov’t approved indoctrination programs.
I have absolutely no problem with students receiving differing opinions on current events. Somehow however, I doubt this individual will present both sides in a fair manner. Just going out on a limb….
What I doubt is that you recognize the incredible horror and evil of George W Bush and Tony Blair lying to instigate a war that was supposed to last months but lasted around nine years–NINE YEARS–resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths, millions of people thrown into misery, and a legacy of injustice and cruelty that will stain the US forever. If you listen to our soliders, you will see how scarred and broken they are, both physically and mentally. Currently, half of all veterans coming out of the military are seeking disability:
http://news.yahoo.com/ap-impact-almost-half-vets-seek-disability-160656481.html
Do you understand how this crime is one of the few great crimes of our time? We need to own up to it, and stop hiding from our culpability in inflicting atrocity.
How’s the moral compass holding up this morning? True North?
Yea, just look what your buddy in the White House has done in Pakistan and other places, maybe he should be held accountable too?
Assassination with disregard for civilians is ……oh sooooo moral!!
Wedding crashing anyone?
He didnt answer you did he…LOL… They crack me up.
I crack you up? Does it crack you up that good marines died so that Halliburton/KBR could make hundreds of millions off the Iraq War–and still not build anything it promised to build? Does it crack you up that Bush lied and so marines died for his politics?
Take the blinders off.
Odd, we burned (and boiled) hundreds of thousands of people alive in Europe and Asia in WWII and decided that it was a good thing. We’re now long overdue from leaving Afghanistan and the legacy of countless civilian deaths there and in Iraq. Are you willing to hold Roosevelt, Truman and now The Chosen One (Obama) to the same standards you purport to hold Bush and Blair too? Please advise. How does one stop evil? Negotiate with it? What’s your position on Iran?
I agree with you for a change.
I wouldn’t allow either Bush or Blair to substitute teach for my children either.
Oh, have either of them been arrested lately?
Talk about “indoctrinated”
“Hundreds of thousand”?? Where are you getting your information? Try a little over one hundred thousand and many of those were killed by fellow countrymen, not the U.S..
I’m curious, what do you think should be done in Syria?
In my opinion, we look cowardly. It’s obvious we’ve wasted lives on the current wars and yet we allow Assad to MURDER CIVILIANS OPENLY and all we do is tell our ambassador to leave. WOW.
What do think is a greater horror? All the liberals that forced the banning of DDT that sentenced untold millions to starvation. Are you libs guilty of a genocide of huge proportions and even worse than Bush. Why don’t you guys protest the evils of a president who killed a citizen without trial? Do you also hold accountable all the Dems who voted in favor of the war or only republicans?
And when you find that saintly person who does present both sides in a fair manner, you just let me know.
Your wish is my command. I think anyone still obsessing over abortion and gay rights has got to go. (They will in another generation or two with any luck) many would mark me as a liberal for that opinion.
I think the idea of spending and spending without any direction, (which we are doing now) is absurd. The attacks on Republican’s have been so over the top (throw gram off the cliff,Republicans only care about the wealthy) I can’t believe how willing the left are to embrace anything they’re told. That may lead some to believe that I support the Republican party.
I represent me. I wish other’s were capable of the same.
Isn’t it great to not be pigeonholed to one political viewpoint. Polarization is really killing our country more than ever before. People thinking for themselves. A novel idea. Teaching kids should be presenting BOTH sides of an issue and let the students form their own opinions. That’s how we were taught. It’s not being done like that anymore.
Remember the Fairness Doctrine?R’s couldn’t wait to get rid of that.That’s why we’re in the mess we’re in now.
And the church.Nobody does indoctrination better.Stalin and Mao would be proud.
Someone this passionate cannot keep their opinions to them selves while teaching MATH, ENGLISH, SCIENCE. Areas in which political discussions are not part of the curriculum and have no business being a topic of discussion. I suspect you’d have a different opinion if that person were a member of the tea party. And no I don’t support the Tea party, that isn’t the point.
I am sorry but that is just a ridiculous statement and 21 like-minded people seem to fail to grasp what the word education means. On top of that, substitutes use the approved curriculum just like teachers. A curriculum is in itself an indoctrination. I think it would benefit the students at HA to have the opportunity to discuss every aspect of this event and decide for themselves what they think about it and Mr. Reichard.
My dad is a retired principal. When I was growing up my folks wouldn’t go to a PG rated movie because of the stigma they thought it would create. Now we have people that are teaching our kids being arrested for their extremist views? I’m sorry but I’ll take my dad’s view any day over this man’s. He may be a great teacher, but his judgement leaves something to be desired.
There is rarely a political event or an event attended by a politician that is not protested. Few protesters end up being arrested. You have to do a lot to get yourself evicted, and more to get arrested. If the man’s actions cause him to be the center of attention at school, he does not belong there. Kids get all the message they need about protesting and disruption. Protesting is fine. Disrupting someone else’s events is not. Shouting down your opponent is not discourse.
Well stated. But I am not sure how you can protest without disrupting. Well behaved protestors……. Gandhi was arrested, Mandela was arrested, Martin Luther King was arrested. I do agree that shouting down your opponent is not discourse. But then would you approve of those who disrupt the Occupy events by shouting expletives at protestors?
Where either of your parents arrested at some point?
Today, that appears to be some perverse badge of “courage”…
Oops. Now it’s 30 “like minded” people who disagree….with you. Ridiculous statement by Steve? Nope. You continue to demand an apology for Mr. Larry when it is he that owes an apology to the Colby community. That would be a good start toward putting this behind him. Until then? If the phone don’t ring…………
Where do you see that I am demanding an apology? That exists somewhere in your mind, not mine. I do not think apologies are needed anywhere. Hampden Academy has the absolute right to decide how to handle this. Colby College has the right to deal with unwelcome guests in any way they see fit. I imagine Lawrence was fully aware of the consequences, but felt so strongly about what Mr. Blair represented that he was willing to ‘suffer the consequences’. It is what most who want to crack the hegemony have to do….. suffer the consequences.
Substitutes use the lesson plans left for them by the regular teacher; please learn how a classroom runs before making one of your pronouncements how things are done in schools because you have no clue obviously.
So you think someone so passionate about politics can keep his opinions to himself??? If so great, but I doubt it. THAT, is the point.
Not what I said don’t put words in my mouth – there are appropriate places and times to make political statements, at a graduation it is simply rude, impolite, and frankly, stupid.
Actually that might be the best time. Many speakers do just that. Challenge the graduates to think for themselves and challenge those in power who are only interested in maintaining their positions of power. At least the good speakers do. And, it is only those kinds of graduates that topple corrupt, self-serving governments. But, if you have a speaker that represents a military-industrial complex you won’t hear much of that. Would take a protestor to point that out.
You didn’t answer my question. Do you believe someone so openly political is capable of keeping his opinions yo himself?
Once again, LEFT or RIGHT. No teacher shouldn’t be attempting to sway KIDS one way or the other. You give them ALL OF THE INFORMATION and let them decide for themselves. That doesn’t mean you just toss out the stuff that makes the other guy look bad.
Um, maybe you better check a bit further. Those lesson plans are based on the ‘approved’ curriculum. No teacher can randomly decide not to teach quadratic equations. Seeing as I spent my career in education, even doing my doctoral studies in the field I do know something about how things are done in schools.
Ah what a surprise. Are you telling me that every teacher stays within the guidelines??? If you were teacher then YOU KNOW BETTER then that.
Stay within what guidelines? So, they can skip the lesson on quadratic equations?
I can never tell whether some people really don’t get it or just pretend to appear that ignorant.
Anyway, i’m soooo over this pointless discussion.
Might l suggest you find a bouncy house and let your aggression out in a more satisfactory manner then your current, (ahem) situation. Hey one out of every two fails right? It’s not him, it’s you.
Good one, hit the nail on the head…..
More venom. No substance. Certainly no informed dialogue. Actually makes no sense. Have any idea how silly this sounds?
And Im #35……You lose.
Only in your mind. You missed my point about failing to to grasp what the word education means. So that makes 35 of you?
Not really…….Think outside the box for once please and quit wasting our time with the same ole poo poo..
Um, who is boxed in? For some repetition is what is required to become educated.
A teacher is an ADULT, students are not. By all means have an open discussion. But a teacher should not be attempting to form opinions for students on CURRENT political issues.
Is that what he was doing? Did not read that in the article. It did not really say what the carnival-like atmosphere included. Were the students interested? I bet they were. And, well they should be. An excellent teachable moment. Too bad Hampden Academy did not see it that way. They have done some excellent work with their mock trial program…. taking national titles year after year. This would have been a great ‘case’ to argue.
Ya know what? I’m tired of people like you. I want every student to be “Interested”. I also expect they be given the whole story, not just a slanted position LEFT or RIGHT. Someone involved with occupy certainly isn’t apt to give the entire story.
By all means attack me. I’m pro gay marriage and pro-choice I am not however someone who tows a party line. This man obviously does. AS do you.
Did you even read my response? I suggested that it was a teachable moment. One to be examined from all sides as they do with mock trials. A critique…. No one is attacking you. Just responding to comments you make. You yourself said have an open discussion, but it cannot be open if you exclude anyone.
“By all means attack me. I’m pro gay marriage and pro-choice I am not however someone who tows a party line. This man obviously does. AS do you.”
My point was not that you had attacked me. I was inviting you to attack me with the understanding that I didn’t fall into simplistic categories, that someone may be VERY LIBERAL socially and yet have no respect for the boorish left that has nothing but disdain for anyone associating themselves with the Republican party and yet allows themselves to be led by the likes of the Pelosi’s and Wassermann-Schultz’s.
Pay attention there will be a quiz later.
Nah, that’s not my style. And I do not make sweeping generalizations. You must be confusing me with someone else. I don’t think I have used the word Republican once. And I recently withdrew from the Dems. Disgusted with both. I do have several Republican….. there I did use that term….. friends that I often have very interesting conversations with and sometimes they even change the way I think on an issue. So you are wrong in your assessment. I will accept your apology. I am just that kind of person.
Oh yea, Our teacher’s are doing a great job “Indoctrinating”our kids in the ways of math and science. That’s why we’re on the verge of being overtaken in those areas by third world countries. DOING A GREAT JOB TEACHERS Our kids are losing ground by the moment. But boy ask a teacher what they think of Republicans, LOOK OUT!!. And yet the idea of trying to figure out who the Good teachers ARE is something the union avoids at every turn. Good thing the Democratic party is there to CYA. Keep the populace ignorant, GREAT IDEA, they’re easier to control.
Contrary to UNION belief, more money will not solve the problem. We are in the top three in the world in spending per child.
Do not know about your children but mine got a very good education at Hampden Academy. They have both used that education to make their way in the world. Not sure what is going on in schools now. I did see squelching of innovative teachers when I was last there. I don’t think it is unions. They are all about pay and working conditions and fair evaluation. The problem is there really is no way to evaluate a teacher that is why they went to the failing schools assessments. How would you do it? Scores on tests? That won’t be fair because students come to each teacher at different skill levels from the get-go. Rating scales? Very few of them have held up to reliability measures. Peer review? Maybe that would work. There is no simple answer to the problem you have raised. And it certainly is not the union. I am not a union sympathizer unless workers are being used and abused by their employers. But when protections are needed to insure that workers have a say then I can support a union presence. Oh, and that control thing? I agree that is what the master manipulators are doing. But until more of us start saying the emperor has no clothes, which is what I think Lawrence was trying to say by shouting down Blair, then the controls will work.
Don’t recall asking about your children.
Look miss, I’m happy for you, your husband has put you in a position to play the pretentious little social justice games. Amazing, so much empathy for one with absolutely nothing to relate to. “Let them eat cake.” Sound familiar?
You don’t need to justify your life to me.
No, but you were complaining that our children were not getting a good education. My children did. And once again your assumptions are making….. well, you know. Made my way on my own. Still do. Can you engage in a dialogue at all? Or do you just spew venom?
i hope they allow this guy back to sub there, someone with a backbone is always an asset
Not always an asset when there is a dearth of “common sense” involved.
I bet if he was a anti abortion zealot that got arrested no school would have them as a sub. When you put yourself out there you may have to live with the consequences of your action.
He’s doing an awful lot of whining for someone with a “backbone.”
As well he should be!
I feel another endless mural story coming on.
LOL, literally. You have given me a few chuckles lately. Thanks.
Yes the Mural, ZZZZZZZZ ,,,,LOL……..
http://news.sky.com/home/politics/article/16236904
Blair at Leveson inquiry is startled by protestor.
Cheer up Lawrence, someone else sees what you do, the truth.
Consequences for your actions. It’s a teachable moment. If the phone don’t ring…………..
It’s funny, the way some people think rights only apply to themselves, and not to others. He had the right to make a spectacle in public, and the schools have the right to hire whom they wish. It seems he supports his own rights, but not the schools’ rights.
What right’s belonging to the school did he say he didn’t support?
The right to choose not to hire him.
He didn’t say that in the article.
Agreed
He is simply raising an important question. One I am glad has been asked. But, you are right Hampden Academy can ban him. Although they seemed to think he was an asset before this event.
But let’s turn the tables.If someone you saw as left wing was speaking, you interrupted and were detained you’d be the first one screaming about your rights being violated.You’d also be really happy the ACLU worked on your behalf.
Heck, we’re lucky this guy didn’t have tenure. The school probably would have given up because bitter teachers have a propensity for litigation. We all know who loses then. The town, due to the money wasted.
There is no evidence he is bringing his protest to the students in the classroom.
Oh, you mean he should shut up and not stand up for something he believes in. If we all followed your line of thinking, we would be bowing to the Queen, women wouldn’t be voting, and blacks would be sitting in the back of the bus.
Don’t give the R’s any more ideas.They’re doing the best they can to make all of those happen.
I’t not the R’s..
That’s right, he has the right to say whatever he wants and the school has the right to stop employing him.
The students for which the comencement was being held worked hard for this moment. It was neither the time nor the place for this “teacher” to express his views and disrupt their moment of celebration. If this is the way in which he shows his concern for his students, then perhaps he shouldnt be teaching.
I will ask you also. Have you talked with a Colby grad or parent. Did this disruption spoil the day for them, or add to it?
Actually the one’s I heard from were ticked off royally; but you’re an anarchist who doesn’t care about anything but your own agenda so you’ll just ramble on on how he was “so justified”.
Thank you for answering my question. But your rather unreasonable commentary that follows makes your assertion somewhat suspect. Especially since you put in quotes something I did not say.
The article fails to mention that he substituted as a PE teacher the Monday after he was arrested. Conveniently left out?
Can we smell a lawsuit coming???
Based on the tenor of today’s responses, he wouldn’t look forward to these posters for his “jury”.
I can’t believe the BN is inserting this article in the news. Must be short on reading material. I can think of far more important topics to cover than this story.
You’re here, you read it, and you commented on it. Sounds like the BDN accomplished their mission.
Larry, you are too much into you, you need to get over yourself and lose the ego.
Why is there no more room for anymore ego’s in the box.
No need to get personal with me, I didn’t say a thing to you. And I didn’t interrupt a graduation ceremony on private property and get arrested because I wanted to shoot my mouth off, Larry did. Translation, Larry cares about Larry, the cause is a tool of that caring. If you agree with him, fine, I don’t.
Depressing but not surprising.I hope he wins.He’s a hero for standing up to Bush’s poodle.
That is a good one, an original? Bush’s poodle. I laughed right out loud. Thank you for that.
That’s actually from the UK newspapers in 2007.Glad I made you smile.Have a great day!
He made his bed, now he has to sleep in it.
This is true. But it does not prevent him from calling attention to the fallout. The response of HA says about as much as the acceptance of the current hegemony of the military-industrial complex. Do not challenge what we have built. There will be consequences.
Consequences are the results of what one say’s or does.
I guess being accountable for your actions (ie being arrested) doesn’t sit well with him. If this was a full time teacher wouldn’t they have been put on administrative leave pending the outcome of the court hearing? Why is he so special?
You hit the nail on the head totallyoverit!
I am not sure which was less surprising, that he was a teacher or that he was a substitute teacher. What have we done to our children?
I hope Lawrence fairs well.. It is rare that someone is honest about what is going on in the world. Unlike politicans who don’t want their comfort level messed with..
So honesty is a punishable crime.
You wouldn’t like tanks and planes from a different country flying into the USA killing Women and children because 20 americans blew up a building in their country, would you?
It was 19 and they were mostly Saudis at that, but we know the story is a fairy tale, so let’s stop repeating it and bring the traitors who did do it to justice as soon as possible.
HONESTY and OPINION are two different things.
Once again I shall bring up the fact that we are ALLOWING Syrians to die and yet don’t want to get involved. We are not impressing other country’s around the world. They may not have liked us when Bush was in office but at least they respected us. But hey, it’s all about being the cool politician. Friend to all late nite talk hosts. Oh yea, that’s giving us all kinds a’ credibility.
So you would send more of our 19 and 20 years olds to their death? And, I don’t think respect was what the world had for us. It was a lightly feigned vendetta AND driven by corporate interests and a good number saw it as that. As far as I am concerned these issues are issues that need to be addressed at the United Nations. I am wearied by those who think America needs to the world’s savior. So many rage about individuals not taking responsibility for their own lives and depending on rescue. The same can be said about countries. We had our own civil war and decided collectively that it would end there. It is a global responsibility to end atrocities and we need to bring our concerns for action to the United Nations and stop taking unilateral action. It is disrespectful to all of the other countries to act like we can decide without them what needs to happen. It seems to me that America only gets involved when it will benefit corporate interests. Now, that said I have had heard it from one young Guard member that he was thanked for being there. So there are benefits, but I am not convinced the causalities on both sides justify them.
I think our time in Afgani and Iraq was wasted. Nothing will change once we leave. I’m terribly sorry if you think the Syrian people aren’t worth fighting for but I DO.
David, your last comment stunned me. I had never quite framed things that way. We do blow up buildings in other countries, all the time. Men, women and children are killed. Why is it okay for us to do that, but not okay for someone from somewhere else to do that? I am ashamed that I had never quite put the two together in quite that way. Thank you for the new perspective. I guess you could call America a terrorist superpower.
I’m pretty sure after this fiasco… he won’t be getting any calls from anyone at all.
Oh, perhaps the Bangor Public Library will miss his camping out on their lawn and “give him a call”.
This is the man who organized and carried out the reseeding of the library and park lawns a weekend or so ago. Promises kept.
Get a life Lawrence Reichard.
This guy is a DORK! He’s had his five minutes…time to move on.
He can take his misinformed, factually incorrect drivel elsewhere than the public schools.
And so- here you are,calling attention to yourself…maybe you shouldn’t have disrupted the gradation,huh?? Hindsight and all that good stuff…
Whether it be occupy or tea party, I don’t believe I want extremists teaching our children. I guarantee this man cannot keep his political leanings out of the classroom.
Oh, I would much rather have such a teacher in my classroom. Ever see Dead Poet’s Society? Such teachers actually make a difference in students lives. Help them see things that just beyond the pale. But it always makes those who are afraid to look there a bit skittish.
Being involved and impressing your OWN OPINION on politics to children , are two entirely different things.
Looks like he has a big mouth…..too bad his brain can’t control it better
He was a distraction to the school environment. He is not bound by a contract, simply on a as needed basis. We can all choose to be bold at any time we choose. Discretion also needs to be utilized. If it were my kid’s graduation interrupted by this rude gesture, I would be upset. Some folks need to get over themselves and find other means of being “productive” citizens.
This guy must be a glutten for punishment! He is so convinced that his view is not only correct, but is the only correct one. And he, like so many uninformed, think that their views, obtained without the benefit of the best intelligence available at the time, are the only valid ones.
I wouldn’t want him anywhere near my grandkids!
He is correct..
Best intel can and is bought all the time. Intel can be created to look like anything because nobody who questions it, is allowed to see it. they can’t even let congress look at the intel because it’s a matter of national security.. what a joke… Of course they lead our men and women to believe what they want because they will give up their lives for this country. This country is in a sad state of affairs
Freedom of speech doesn’t come with freedom from consequences. That this excuse for a teacher dare compares himself to those who were blacklisted is an egregious misrepresentation. People who were blacklisted *hadn’t done anything*!! They were blacklisted by gossip, innuendo, and bigotry. I wouldn’t be calling Reichard to substitute in a garden club meeting, as he can’t seem to even get what it means to be blacklisted. There’s a more appropriate term for himself:
Persona Non Grata
Apparently my link to another story involving Blair and a confrontation about war crimes has been removed. Go look for it and you will find it. Key words Leveson hearing Blair
Great the administration is during what is necessity.