Only in Kalifornia Could Something Like This Happen [Archive] - SOCNET: The Special Operations Community Network

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RGR.Montcalm

30 March 2010, 11:03

This an absolute travesty and mis-carriage of justice.

Another reason to leave the land of Hollyweird for all of you that gluttons for punishment....

Los Angeles Times
March 30, 2010
Pg. AA2

Court Costs For Late Marine's Dad

By Associated Press

The father of a Marine killed in Iraq has been ordered to pay court costs for anti-gay protesters who picketed his son's funeral, his lawyers said.

The U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ordered Albert Snyder of York, Pa., to pay $16,510 to Fred Phelps, leader of the Westboro Baptist Church, which picketed Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder's funeral in 2006.

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether the protesters' message is protected by the 1st Amendment or limited by the privacy and religious rights of the mourners.

Snyder's attorneys said he is struggling to pay his own legal fees.

karlm

30 March 2010, 11:07

grog18b

30 March 2010, 11:22

I know what I'd tell them.

Amarillo

30 March 2010, 11:22

Agreed that it is a travesty, but it didn't happen in Calif.
(The 4th Circuit includes Maryland, Virginia, and the Carolinas, IIRC)

USArmyTC

30 March 2010, 11:24

I am curious to what happend and why there are court costs. I have been hoping and dreaming of one day running into to him and his family during one of their so-called protests. I will gladly take whatever they throw at me for kicking his fucking ass. Fuck him.

pirana

30 March 2010, 11:26

Actually, it's our country that allows this shit to happen. And it's up to us, not our legislators (surounded by their marble columns) to change it.

All of the Mikulskis have to go, immediately. I say all of this, because this stupid, ostensible "church" of fucking Phelps' is just plowing along with donations from who the fuck knows, with a tax shelter. The poor guy with a dead hero son gets fucked by our system.

Fuck Phelps, his little club, and his stupid worthless disciples. Just more zealots claiming to speak for God, like we find in every sewer the world over.

Avandir

30 March 2010, 11:45

I'd be down for helping this guy pay his court bills. Anyone know if anyone has set something up like this?

chip8541

30 March 2010, 12:03

Id be willing to donate for his court costs.

pollux23

30 March 2010, 12:10

I'd be willing to donate funds to support this guy. Phelps just pisses me off to no end. Didn't some one win a lawsuit against him a few years ago??

txb&b

30 March 2010, 12:19

I'd be willing to donate funds to support this guy. Phelps just pisses me off to no end. Didn't some one win a lawsuit against him a few years ago??

Yes....this Marine's father won a $10+ million (almost 11 mil) lawsuit that was later reduced to $5 mil; then the 4th Circuit threw the judgement out and is now saying that he must pay the appeals cost. :mad:

Let's just hope the SCOTUS isn't as stupid as the 4th Circuit.

ComputerForensicGuy

30 March 2010, 12:21

There is a website set up for Lance Corporal Snyder that contains a significant amount of information regarding this case at http://www.matthewsnyder.org/index.html

I just got off the phone with the secretary at Barley Snider LLC and she said they are still needing the donations in support of the civil suit/damages award. The information needed to donate is located at http://www.matthewsnyder.org/help.html .

Dark Helmet

30 March 2010, 12:29

I will gladly take whatever they throw at me for kicking his fucking ass. Fuck him.

I have often thought the same thing. It would be worth it.

kpmurphy66

30 March 2010, 12:31

If I were that soldier's father I would have to pay the guys hospital bills as well as his court costs.

18Dwife

30 March 2010, 12:45

:( DISGUSTING

bobofthedesert

30 March 2010, 12:48

I'd be down for helping this guy pay his court bills.

I'd be down for organizing a SOCNET flash mob to beat Phelps like a drum. It's not like there's a lack of experience here to take that concept to a much higher level.....:rolleyes:

Of course, that might be misconstrued as conspiracy to violate Phelps' civil rights, so we probably won't do it. Better stick with the lone wolf thing. :D

RhodieBKK

30 March 2010, 14:37

There is something very wrong with a "system of justice",
when a parent cannot grieve the life of his son given for the nation,
when pond-life like Phelps & co's freedoms are protected and given precedence over the Snyder family's.

Thanks for the link - a donation is on its way.
May I suggest that the thread title be changed to reflect the substance of this important matter?

RIP Marine - your sacrifice is truly respected.

Phelps your time will come when there is no appeal.

specialist_engr

30 March 2010, 19:59

Wow. I hadn't heard any news that messed up for a while now.

That's just fucked up.

Thanks for the link.

valhallabound

30 March 2010, 20:07

I was just watching O'Reilly and he said he would pay Mr. Synder's financial obligation in this. He is also supporting the Snyder family's goal to take this to the Supreme Court.

8Ball

30 March 2010, 20:28

I have often thought the same thing. It would be worth it.

You have no idea...
Well, actually, I guess you do.
I would love to make him my personal project.
Die a gruesome fucking death, already!:mad:

Longrifle

30 March 2010, 20:39

Matthew 7:21-23...
"21 Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will go into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the pleasure of my Father in heaven. 22 A great number will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, were we not prophets in your name, and did we not by your name send out evil spirits, and by your name do works of power? 23 And then will I say to them, I never had knowledge of you: go from me, you workers of evil."

There will be a Judgment Day, and on that day there will be no appeal. When The Man says he doesn't know you, you are beyond screwed!

Until then, this preacher and his flock of filth need Hell to pay an early visit.:mad:

Baildog

30 March 2010, 20:50

How is what they do not "Hate Speech?" It shouldn't be protected under the First Amendment.

Amarillo

30 March 2010, 22:01

How is what they do not "Hate Speech?" It shouldn't be protected under the First Amendment.
Probably because, as in discrimination, those being targeted are not a protected class per the laws regarding hate speech.
Although, certain laws do make discrimination against vets unlawful - I wonder if some slick lawyer could make a hate speech or hate crime lawsuit stick?

Bravo Five Romeo

30 March 2010, 22:16

Only in Kalifornia Could Something Like This Happen

This an absolute travesty and mis-carriage of justice.

Another reason to leave the land of Hollyweird for all of you that gluttons for punishment....

Los Angeles Times
March 30, 2010
Pg. AA2

Court Costs For Late Marine's Dad

By Associated Press

The father of a Marine killed in Iraq has been ordered to pay court costs for anti-gay protesters who picketed his son's funeral, his lawyers said.

The U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ordered Albert Snyder of York, Pa., to pay $16,510 to Fred Phelps, leader of the Westboro Baptist Church, which picketed Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder's funeral in 2006.

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether the protesters' message is protected by the 1st Amendment or limited by the privacy and religious rights of the mourners.

Snyder's attorneys said he is struggling to pay his own legal fees.Fred Phelps is a scumbag who deserves many horrible things.

But you might want to change the title of this thread as this did not happen in California
...or Kalifornia.

The article you are quoting is from a California newspaper... but the court case was tried in Maryland.
None of this happened in California.

Ozymandias

30 March 2010, 22:27

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/03/30/marines-father-ordered-pay-protesters-court-fees/?test=latestnews

Marine's Father Will Not Pay Court-Ordered Funeral Protesters' Fees

The father of a Marine killed in Iraq whose funeral was picketed by anti-gay protesters told Fox News he will defy a court order and not pay the protesters' appeal costs.

Albert Snyder, of York, Pa., told Fox News he does not intend to pay $16,510 to Fred Phelps, the leader of Kansas' Westboro Baptist Church, which held protests at Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder's funeral in 2006.

"I don't think I'm going to be writing a check until I hear from the Supreme Court," Snyder told Fox News on Tuesday. "I'm not about to pay them anything."

The Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ordered Snyder on Friday to pay Phelps. A two-page decision supplied by his attorneys offered no details on how the court came to its decision.

The decision adds "insult to injury," said Sean Summers, one of Snyder's attorneys.

Typhoon

30 March 2010, 22:33

This evening Bill O'Reilly came forward with the $16K in court fees pending appeal of the case...

EchoFiveMike

31 March 2010, 00:14

The court costs seem to be taken care of, but what about these assclown judges? How do we get them impeached or removed? That's the real issue. Instead of dealing with the symptoms, unfuck the actual problem. S/F.....Ken M

Doink

31 March 2010, 00:26

The Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ordered Snyder on Friday to pay Phelps. A two-page decision supplied by his attorneys offered no details on how the court came to its decision.
I think that there's something wrong with that, isn't a decision supposed to explain the reasoning behind the decision?

Bravo Five Romeo

31 March 2010, 00:30

valhallabound

31 March 2010, 08:06

random

31 March 2010, 08:37

I saw this on the early bird yesterday. I express to you how much I hate these people. I would absolutely love it if every hotel, supermarket, restaurant, gas station, etc, refused to give them service anytime they left their own property.

Hopefully the SCOTUS makes a rational decision. The 4th Circuit Court is worthless if they can't recognize that harassing a soldier's father during a funeral is a violation of his rights. Idiots.

RGR.Montcalm

31 March 2010, 10:00

Fred Phelps is a scumbag who deserves many horrible things.

But you might want to change the title of this thread as this did not happen in California
...or Kalifornia.

The article you are quoting is from a California newspaper... but the court case was tried in Maryland.
None of this happened in California.

I found that out after fact- not sure how to change the thread title though...

MODS?

MandMmom

31 March 2010, 10:03

What O'Reilly did was great. I hope Snyder's dad can get his attorney to take this puppy up pro bono or with greatly reduced rates, because several of the Phelps kids are attorneys and so they aren't paying legal fees to go to court. If not, I think this cause worthy of a donation.

I used to see the girls (his daughters, female attorneys) at Family Court in Topeka--long hair, long skirts, unfriendly and self righteous would be the best descriptors. I never could figure out how it was OK for children (as young six, I would guess) to hold the picket signs that depicted stick figures in pornographic poses. I really wondered if the child and family service folks were afraid of drawing his wrath, because it just seemed wrong--they were little kids, smiling and waving. I wonder how old they were when they really understood what their sign that read "Bert and Ernie are F A G S" meant--with the stick figure of one man behind the other -- 'nuff said.

In all my time in that neck of the woods, I saw the crazies a lot (even once when we were in Hawaii!), but I never once saw Fred. I'm sure some of our guys that are in the area have seen them as well. Fred is 80 now, and may be further evidence that only the good die young :rolleyes: It also may reflect his awareness that there are lots of hunters in that area with good scopes . . . Something like that happened over in Skidmore, MO . . . never solved.

I would feel sorry for him if he wasn't so hell bent on harming others. Can't believe he was headed for West Point when he got "the call" to preach . . . at least then there would have been the possiblity of a friendly fire accident. These folks are so brainwashed, no chance of that now.

UGAfan

31 March 2010, 14:52

How is what they do not "Hate Speech?" It shouldn't be protected under the First Amendment.

I think that's a fine line to flirt with there, though.

My right to free speech does not hinge on how offensive or inoffensive you find what I'm saying.

The KKK can do their thing. Let the WBC do their thing.

I might be in the minority here, but I do not believe that the "legal ought" in this situation is the same as the "moral ought." Morally, these people are reprehensible and deserve to have the shit kicked out of them. Legally, when we start regulating speech based on how offensive said speech is, then I believe we've crossed a line and we need to self correct.

However, while I agree with the WBC's right to make jackasses out of themselves, I think the law needs to relax a bit and let the Patriot Guard kick the shit out of them. ;)

What they are doing is digusting and pisses me off, but what the WBC doesn't realize is by being as offensive as they are, they're glorifying the memory of these soldiers who so valiantly gave their lives in the protection of the WBC's right to be offensive.

Polypro

31 March 2010, 18:23

You know, somebody's got a sig line on here that says something like "you have the right to do that, may that knowledge comfort you as you heal from an ass beating". I can't believe none of these scumbags have been beaten or killed. There are a lot of pro Military people, that are, let's just say, less than savory characters. I would imagine that some 1%er MC members also served. Now, *I* would never wish harm on another human being, but those guys ^....maybe some day.

P

grog18b

31 March 2010, 18:27

From the VFW, for donations:
A fund has been set up to help Mr. Snyder pay the court costs. None of the money will be for attorneys, who are graciously representing him pro bono. Donate online at www.matthewsnyder.org or send a check payable to "Al Snyder Fund" to: Barley Snyder LLC, 100 East Market Street, York, PA 17401.

GROG

ZAT

31 March 2010, 18:46

As much as I hate these POS and wouldn't piss on them if they were aflame; freedom is a bitch sometimes. People are free to live decent, productive lives or they are free to make jackasses of themselves. Obviously these phucks choose the latter. Not that I wouldnt enjoy seeing them run over with a cement truck and have to taste their own excrement before dying.

hawkdrver

31 March 2010, 19:38

free speech is a bitch.
Westboro baptist, code pink, campus hippies, Tea Party folks... they all have their say.

I had read once that the Westboro baptists make a lucrative living on all their lawsuits.
They say some horrible things and deserve to suffer... but they know the laws and push against the line... deliberately, to cash in on lawsuits.

Last time I checked, freedom of speech meant that you couldn't be arrested or otherwise censured by the government for expressing your opinion, no matter how fucked up it might be. Nothing in there guarantees that I as a private citizen won't kick your fucking ass if you show up with protest signs at my son's funeral.

Of course that's how these assholes make their living, by goading someone into throwing a punch and then suing their ass off in court. I tend to think it would be worth the assault charge and the time in court to administer some direct feedback every single time they show at a soldier's funeral.

BSDCA

31 March 2010, 21:52

I didn't know him personally, but I know people that did. He was in my Batallion. Words cannot describe how I feel about Fred Phelps and his followers...

RIP Lance Cpl. Snyder

MandMmom

31 March 2010, 22:34

Highspeed160th

31 March 2010, 22:40

The protested my nephews funeral out side Fort Knox (bad Idea). Several thousand locals lined the streets. Along with 300+ Patriot Guard riders, which I was one.

hawkdrver

31 March 2010, 22:46

The protested my nephews funeral out side Fort Knox (bad Idea). Several thousand locals lined the streets. Along with 300+ Patriot Guard riders, which I was one.

Sorry about your nephew, brother.

If you don't mind, how did that go? The restraint shown by decent people when these shitheads show up is mind boggling, frankly.

ktek01

31 March 2010, 23:00

Phelps is the leader of a hate group, not a church, and they are from Kansas. WBC is mostly made up of his relatives. They supposedly protest the funerals because the wars are Gods punishment for the US being gay tolerant. They also hate Jews, Catholics, Sweden, the Irish, Canada, the UK, Mr Rodgers, and pretty much anybody else whos last name isnt Phelps.

He is 80, been fighting it a long time, but it will be hilarious when he finally comes out of the closet.

Aussie Gunner

1 April 2010, 06:37

This Phelps shit bag applauded the recent Victorian bush fires in my country where over 170 Aussies were killed, he called it a punishment from God, if he ever sets foot in Australia he will know the meaning of punishment. We have an Imam here who sends letters to the parents of soldiers killed in Iraq/A-Stan telling them their sons deserved to die, I'm all for freedom of speech, but the problem with western society is we are our own worst enemies, if you draw a cartoon of a particular deity you have a price put on your head, but in the west its OK to do this crap?

Sapper-RAE

1 April 2010, 06:54

Yeah Mate and I'll be right there beside you ready to dish it out with you.

As for that spineless raghead bastard that freeloads here, he sent one of his bitches to JTs (SGT Brett Till) funeral last year with a letter from him and handed it to Bree. Didn't have the balls to show up himself. Too many Sappers there that would have knocked his block off and kicked it down the street.

UGAfan

1 April 2010, 08:04

As this guy shows: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT7xQJrqUQ8 the best offense against these guys is to refuse to take them seriously.

When they get their asses kicked, they feel it legitimates their cause. Nothing could be further from the truth. The real danger here is if people actually took them seriously, which they don't. They're an offensive sideshow.

I can't imagine the anger I'd feel were I a family member of one of these soldiers, but to me, they want people to swing. Why give them what they want?

colmurph

1 April 2010, 08:18

This didn't happen in Kalifornia. The 4th Circut sits in Baltimore, Maryland. The Westboro Bptist Church ought to be shut down or at least lose their tax exempt status. The ACLU who defended them should be tarred and feathered and run out of the United States on a rail.

Highspeed160th

1 April 2010, 09:06

Sorry about your nephew, brother.

If you don't mind, how did that go? The restraint shown by decent people when these shitheads show up is mind boggling, frankly.

There were about 15 of them and about 10 Kentucky State Police and local PD. They were on the other side of the street but you could not hear them for the most part. They were shouted down by the locals.

You could also hardly see them also due to the constant circling the block by jacked up 4x4's on parade.

When we left the church there was a 4 mile route to the cemetary lined with people on both sides of the road. Made you forget about the asshats.

grog18b

1 April 2010, 11:55

Why give them what they want?

Because it would make me feel all happy inside?

8Ball

1 April 2010, 12:00

Because it would make me feel all happy inside?

+1
And if for only that reason.

UGAfan

1 April 2010, 12:38

Because it would make me feel all happy inside?

That's a good enough reason if there ever were any.

:biggrin:

Matchanu

1 April 2010, 12:53

Because it would make me feel all happy inside?

Just make sure to stomp on them before or after their "protected protest".

If they are in the middle of doing this, you will go to jail and they will sue the city and familiy, and likely win.

I don't take them seriously, a noisy shitbird.

One day, however, they will be in the wrong place at the wrong time and we'll never hear from them again.

MandMmom

1 April 2010, 15:16

One day, however, they will be in the wrong place at the wrong time and we'll never hear from them again.

That remains my hope and prayer . . .

PS: Knew a guy who "infiltrated" the church to write a paper . . .

random

1 April 2010, 15:52

PS: Knew a guy who "infiltrated" the church to write a paper . . .

Did he publish it? I'd love to read it.

grog18b

1 April 2010, 17:39

Just make sure to stomp on them before or after their "protected protest".

:smile:

"So Mr. Phelps, what exactly did your attacker look like?"
"Well officer, he was wearing a boonie hat, jungle boots, and green face paint... and nothing else..."
"Hell... that could be anyone..."
:biggrin:

wolff12

3 April 2010, 13:42

I've been following this for awhile, as I have several friends and family in the Corps. I thought Id update it a bit if that's okay with you gentlemen.

http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/oreilly-marine-funeral-protesters/2010/03/30/id/354287

No. 1 cable news host Bill O'Reilly said Tuesday that he will personally write a check to cover $16,500 in legal costs for the father of a fallen U.S. Marine who sued the members of a church who picketed his son's funeral.

According to news reports, the members of the Westboro Baptist Church, located in Topeka, Kan., believe that God is punishing the United States because of its acceptance of gay people. The church garners attention for its views by protesting high-profile funerals.

On March 3, 2006, Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder died in a non-combat related vehicle accident in Al Anbar province in Iraq.

"He was a hero and he was the love of my life," said Albert Snyder, Matthew's grieving father.

During the wake that was held after his son's funeral, family members turned on the television to view coverage of the massive procession involving over 1,500 persons. They saw the church members waving signs and protesting the funeral.

"I just stood there in shock," Albert Snyder told O'Reilly in November 2007.

"I couldn't believe that somebody would do that to somebody else. I mean, I didn't know what to say.

"Finally, somebody yelled, 'Turn off the television.' But I just stood there in shock. I can't believe there's somebody that would actually do that to soldiers."

Albert Snyder filed a federal lawsuit against the church, and a jury awarded him nearly $11 million dollars for invasion of privacy and intentional infliction of emotional distress. But the U.S. Court of Appeals overturned the verdict on the grounds that the church's First Amendment right to free expression must be protected.

Adding insult to injury, the court also ruled that Snyder would have to pay $16,500 to church members, to defray what they spent to defend themselves in court.

It was a tough blow for the father, who was already trying to raise the funds needed to appeal the Court of Appeals verdict to the U.S. Supreme Court.
On Tuesday's The O'Reilly Factor, however, the host stepped forward.

"That is an outrage," he said. "I will pay Mr. Snyder's obligation. I am not going to let this injustice stand."

O'Reilly added, "It's obvious they were disturbing the peace by disrupting the funeral. They should have been arrested, but our system is so screwed up, so screwed up, that loons are allowed to run wild. Snyder is fighting the good fight, and he is taking his case to the Supreme Court as he should. We are behind him 100 percent."

Snyder's attorney, Sean Summers, says people can contribute to a legal fund established at MatthewSnyder.org. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear Snyder's appeal during its October term, with a verdict likely to be announced in mid-2011.

DrlSgt

3 April 2010, 14:22

Where does the hate come from? IGNORANCE and INTOLERANCE.

I used to be stationed at Ft. Reilly and I pulled a few funeral details out there in western KS, and we were always briefed about these assclowns. We did a funeral for a young Marine coming home for his final rest about 3 hours west of Topeka. You can guess who showed up at the funeral.

Happy ending was that, that young Marine had many admirers, friends and family in that community. We were told not to worry about driving and getting to the church and cemetary it would be "taken cared of". Turns out, the local LEO and about 100 veterans and bikers were there to "shut" them down. They never got within 20 miles of that little town. The service carried on without incident.

Everytime I hear about these wack-ass clowns I just think of all of the patriotic Americans who supported and continuing supporting our troops. That made me feel better about the whole thing. Just gotta look at the brighter side of what we have as a country instead of this embarassing of a family. And yes, I drove to Topeka one day to see where this place is at, and yes the only one that has anything to do with them is just their family. They got their 15 minutes when HBO did a special on them. Its a travesty of justice when the courts continue to allow them to operate as they have been doing for years now.

Sniper111

4 April 2010, 13:20

Fuck Westboro and anyone who associates with them. They are a disease that needs to be gotten rid of in an orderly and efficient manner. I spend at least one day a month praying that they'll come home one day and find half their sons bleeding from the asshole and the other half picking corn out of their piss holes.

On a side note I got on the air with Shirley Phelps on one of her Howard Stern appearances.

After getting some abuse from Stern, Geroge Takei, Artie Lange and a few callers I was picked to be the last caller. She got both barrels and thank God it was Sirius otherwise it'd have been one long bleep.

Doink

4 April 2010, 14:09

Sniper111

5 April 2010, 10:15

Do you know if that's online?

http://www.mediafire.com/file/jm23ujnnzmk/Howard Stern me at 47 min.mp3

As the title suggests I start in on her around 47:00 but that link is the full 3 hour show.