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Massive police presence??? You come down from the Western Isles? ("ooh look a hoose wi wheeuls!")

I've seen more vans on Sauchiehall St on a Saturday night. Go find the pictures of the NeoLabour Conference in Glasgow for a comparison.

In your photos MOST of the police have their epaulettes badges on over the high vis jackets. There may be operational reasons why certain officers from certain divisions are not advertising themselves.

Perhaps if your demos didn't attract so may anti-social twats you'd hardly see a copper? Try talking to someone who grew up in the Eastern Bloc before you start being so flippant with phrases like "police state"...

Sure Blair's government is undemocratic, draconian etc etc etc but get SOME perspective and stop sounding like the script editor for Eastenders!

No wonder no-one takes you seriously!!!

In response to the spirit of your presence and the leaflet passed out: Thanks. Continue to reach in and speak out as those without legitamacy find every opportunity to usurp ours. Just wanted you to know the above post sounds like a cop and dosn't represent people like me who come across this post. Also Peace be with you all with consciences and to those without as well. Read up on state use of terror ASAP.

yeah I bet your right marvin i'm sure that you could find rakes of old bill vans out on saturday night in many
of the UK's big city centres dealing up with the lager louts or binge drinkers or what ever you's want to call them. But that don't justify a dozen vans for any half a dozen dudes who want to hang a banner on some down town ralings. Unless of course the banner is saying shit that is not what our masonic masters want to be seen.
oh yeah i bet your dead hard and loads of street creds so why waste your time putting down such a pathetic manitestation. Unless of course your paid to do so .

Can someone please give us the full story about the 'massive' police state response to these dimwits?

Like:

Did anyone actually get arrested?
Was anyone injured?
Are there any complaints of excessive use of force by the police?

If the answer to all of these questions is 'no' (which I am reliably informed is the case), please excuse yourself now and get yourself some perspective before the shops close.

As a previous writer alluded, the use of the term police state in these circumstances is an insult to the millions around the world who do in fact live under totalitarian regimes.

You reckon the military junta in Burma allows dissidents half an hour to hand out leaflets before moving them on? You think Robert Mugabe's thugs in Zimbabwe tolerate opposition banners for a second? You remember Tiannemen Square in Beijing?

Get real, dick wad.

Long Jock Silver (a reference to your car perhaps?): blimey, you have me bang to rights there... well perhaps if I new what a "pathetic manitestation" meant... sorry, I'm just not as erudite as your good self.

Hard??? What's that all about??? You not think you are bit old for playground politics? You think this is all about having the biggest stick, or mates etc etc???

If you do you may as well pack up, you are already martially outgunned. Perhaps you should think about education and persuasion as a tactic?

Ask yourself an HONEST question. Are you REALLY surprised that Lothian & Borders turn up prepared for a battle? That *is* their job after all! It's not like "Oh look theres a few hundred Young Conservatives waiting to kick our heads in!"

And I reckon the community of EH felt better to see the police presence. Unlike the eejits who almost invariably cause trouble.

Be realistic, because you just sound silly to reasonable people... and probably like you think it's all a great laugh too!

Why do you call someone who disagrees and add’s his own opinion a cop? To quote you “sounds like a cop and dosn't represent people like me”

Your American mate, no-one wants to represent you! Certainly not a Scotsman. Keep protesting at the Ducks Vs. Beavers games!

Cheers whoever u r in EH. I reckon the closest they been to Portland was watching Blue Peter (Think about it... but not TOO much!)

People like that are either so up or full of themselves to think the plods would take them seriously enough to be contributing to this site. My semi-educated guess is that they'll ("cops") have a look when a demo is coming up, or when responding to a complaint or when following up some mindless act of vandalism (see: political direct action)

I think I was advised to read up on "state terror[ism]"... I read my first book on state torture at the age of 16. Unlike most people on this site, I do actually read Amnesty International reports and HRW reports from time to time... hence I feel I have to tell drama queens here to get a fuckin grip. I have friends who grew up in the Middle East and the Eastern Bloc and I have read more Chomsky than should be allowed- and nowhere did I read that telephone boxes, litter bins and flowers were the "enemy"..

I am certainly no expert despite all that. But, if I do need futher schooling it isn't from shitarsed yob that thinks listening RATM and owning a neglected dog makes him a prophet. When I see anyone breaking someone elses property I just think "whit'n arse!" and when you've lived on any scheme you can spot the tadgers a mile off. The harsh realities of Young Offenders would probably be enough to turn them all Tory.

People like him do not speak for people like me. So he's right: I don't speak for his ilk either.

I have a sad, sick laugh when I read all this crap about "smashing the state" (see "trashing the flower bed") because if these people turn me off from listening to them, what do they look like to people who aren't remotely sympathetic to their politics.

I have asked several people what they hope to achieve by destruction and assault and I'm still waiting for an answer. Again:

What's the big smashy punchy game plan for the "revolution"? How's it all going to happen? What are you going to do about the vast majority of people who think you are just dicks?

Christ, they can't even persuade their own!