QandO

June 11, 2004

Dems saved by the courts
Posted by McQ

I've always heard that if you look hard enough, you can find an 'expert witness' to say exactly what you want said.

My guess is that about the same premise holds with judges and finding one to do whatever you want. Seems the Democrats may not have to face the labor unrest in Boston after all thanks to federal judge Joseph L. Tauro.

A federal judge ordered union pickets at the FleetCenter to clear the way yesterday for construction workers and supply trucks attempting to enter the arena and dispatched US marshals to the scene, warning that those who violate his order could face criminal charges.

How convenient for the Democrat Convention and John Kerry. Now they can blast the judge, the city and anyone else "opposed" to labor without any political penalty. Its a win-win for them. Blast the Mayor of Boston, the judge who ordered the picket lines crossed and anti-labor union Republicans without a single inconvenience on their part.

In court yesterday morning, Alan H. Shapiro, one of the attorneys for the police union, told the judge that some courts have allowed demonstrators three to five minutes to clear access to a site.

But Tauro shot back, "Not in this case."

"You can be on the side and be visible," Tauro said. "You don't have to be on a front bumper waving a flag. I expect my orders to be obeyed unless they're modified or revisited. If you don't obey them, I'll hold you in contempt. "

Of course Thomas Nee, Police Union president, has a different take:

Police union president Thomas J. Nee summoned pickets to gather around him and told them the union would not quit and that the fight had not ended. The pickets shouted, "No contracts, no convention," as they headed back to the line. [...] Nee said he was "insulted" that his members were accused of criminal conduct by Tauro. He blamed [Boston Mayor] Menino for failing to resolve the contract dispute.

"He has no exit strategy," Nee said. "He's like Bush in Iraq, I don't mean to sound cavalier. I don't know how to get him off the field. Tommy Nee isn't in this business to play a game. I'm an advocate of people's rights. I'm not looking for a fight."

Yeah, right Tommy.

But regardless, it'll be interesting how this plays out. Look for the DNC and Kerry to now try a little riskless advocacy of the Police Union for some cheap political points.

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