Hrmmm... I never figured it as being Kerry's fault at all. In fact, I felt (based solely on the article I linked) that he handled it about as well as anyone could have expected him to. I don't think he (Kerry) would have expected the taser.

I probably should have made less focus on it being a Kerry rally and more on how it seems the taser is coming out with greater frequency.

I don't know how to answer that question, ISM.

I suppose I believe the police overstepping reasonable force limits as the responsibility of the police, not the person on stage speaking. Of course there will come a point when any responsible person in the crowd as well as on the stage or in Kerry's personal entourage should step forward. The fact that it was Kerry speaking does not makle him any more responsible then anyone else, though I do admit he probably had more ability (thought not authority) to have them stop.

In other tasing news: OC Sharrifs taser 15 year old autistic kid (how's that for a sensationalist headline)

Per Kerry's statement (no idea if it is true) he was unaware that a taser had been used until later and that while he had started to address the student's questions he also had no idea at the time what other confrontations the student may have had with police prior to making the ruckus.

If true, then all Kerry was aware of was the police forcibly removing someone trying to disrupt things and he had no idea what the situation was.

In Kerry's defense I doubt if any other politician would have acted much differently in this situation.

btw: Kerry already made many good men vote Republican;)

WTF is up with that? Either part of the story is missing or the police are just totally bonkers. Someone runs through traffic - so when they catch up to him they tase him. You mean they couldn't subdue a 15 year old any other way? Sheesh - I've seen old man cops on "Cops" tackle a guy and bring him down - why the need for a taser at all? Even if the guy wasn't Autistic. You think he was exceptionally large and strong or something?

The whole thing just makes me mad! Should be out trying the find the kid.

As a plus - I liked the note about him trying to find his way home by reading the bus stops.

Wonder how he slipped away... was it on purpose? Did someone accidently release him? Or purposely?

Wow, how does a chicken taser work?

Forget about how a chicken taser works -- how does it taste?

Like bacon.