Commercial Ad In Wisconsin Relating Railroads and Terrorism

[wcfan4ever]

While watching TV today, a commercial appeared on the screen that made me very mad. It was for a campaign for someone for state senate. Something ... Micheals. They showed a photographer atop a bride with a camera and a case with many cameras in it. Then they showed him taking a photo...OF A TRAIN! Then they guy says "Lets Put A Stop To Terrorisim" Now what is up with that? Does photographing trains make you a terrorist??? I hope that guy doesnt get elected for the commercial he made.

[Anonymous]

Tim Michels, candidate in the Wisconsin Republican Primary for US Senate. You can see his ad by going to his website.
http://www.michelsforsenate.com/
Click on Media Center (on the left side) then click on the top photo on the page, the one with the shadowy guy with the camera on the bridge.

You'll need QuickTime or something similar to play the ad. It was strange though, I had to right click and select "Open in new window" to make it play.

Wayne

[jeaton]

Mark- I haven't seen the ad. (Cincinnati for the holiday) He is running in the Republican Primary against Russ (could you really trust a car dealer?) Darrow for the US Senate seat now held by Russ Fiengold.
This link will give you some background.
http://www.wisinfo.com/postcrescent/news/archive/local_17631982.shtml

Jay

[RudyRockvilleMD]

I clicked on both links in the replies to your posting, and I didn't see the ad about stopping terrorism that you mentioned. Even though I didn't see the ad I wouldn't get too concerned railroad photography will be curtailed because there are no laws against photographing anything except military facilities.

[Anonymous]

Thi link I posted still works for me.
http://www.michelsforsenate.com/
-Click on The Media Center (on the left side)
- then click on the top photo on the page,

I tried posting a direct link to the video but the Javascript URL won't post on this forum.

I agree that is is all smoke and mirrors. It is an ad claiming his support for renewing the so-called Patriot act, I guess infering that it bans photographing trains from bridges. Toss a shadowy character with a Saddam Hussein moustache and an ominous voice-over and you have the typical fear-monger ad.

Wayne

[Overmod]

Strange that what the guy is photographing is an early Japanese ShinKansen, too... I didn't realize the Patriot Act extended to terrorism in other countries <BG>

If you have trouble viewing the ad in question, click on "View all the ads" (in print on the right side, about halfway down) which lets you select either Windows Media or QuickTime versions of the ad to watch.

Seems to be inferring that it's great to be able to listen in on terrorists' phone calls even before you know what they're planning to terrorize. That basic premise made me a bit uneasy when the Act was debated, and makes me no less uneasy now.

[MP57313]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Muddy Creek
[so-called Patriot act
Wayne

[:(!]Read some of the Patriot Act after getting flamed by someone in another forum. Didn't see anything on photos of trains; it was mostly info gathering from banks and financial institutions

[Anonymous]

That's like calling all of us railfans STUPID!
Hell why don't they put all of us railfans on a leash for god sake!
Where being treated like $hit anyway so........[:(]

[Anonymous]

Hey theres no Bullet Trains in the USA!

[Anonymous]

He's got a good point on trade w/ China, but a pretty weak ad showing this rail photog as a terrorist.

If you want to give him some feedback on this ad, here's the e-mail address.

[e-mail]

[rich747us]

This crap needs to stop. Is it too late to move to Wisconsin so I can vote against him?

[Anonymous]

Funny, didn't Model Railroader or Trains have a poll showing that there were more railfans in Wisconsin than any other state???

[wcfan4ever]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dougal

Funny, didn't Model Railroader or Trains have a poll showing that there were more railfans in Wisconsin than any other state???

I believe that! When the Illinois Central E-Units came through little ole Manitowoc, WI, there were 20 or so vehicles chasing it. They were all chasing it for over 30 miles too! There is no shortage of railfans in Wisconsin. Every good spot to watch trains always has someone there.

[wcfan4ever]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dblstack

He's got a good point on trade w/ China, but a pretty weak ad showing this rail photog as a terrorist.

If you want to give him some feedback on this ad, here's the e-mail address.

[e-mail]

Thank you very much for the email address. I will be dropping him an email on this subject.

[Anonymous]

The character running these ads is one of 4 candidates competing for the Republican nomination to run for U. S. Senate. None of the 4 got close to a majority in voting in the state party convention, so they approach the primary election without endorsement from their own party. The other 3 candidates are: a Hick Town lawyer; a redneck career state legislator; and a car dealer. The Bozo with the ads is a construction contractor. He's spending plenty on advertising, and might just win. If he does win the primary, he'll run against the incumbent Democrat in the November elections.

I'll be voting against him, as will the many Wisconsin railfans who are waging a vigorous e-mail campaign calling attention to the "rail photographer/terrorist" ads. Railfans aren't overreacting to the ads, either. They clearly imply that photographing trains from public property is a suspicious activity.

[wcfan4ever]

I am going to utilize my chance to vote being im 18 and I'm sure everyone knows who i'm not going to vote for.

[dknelson]

Not only are there a lot of railfans in Wisconsin/Milwaukee but also a pretty nice amount of rail related employment as well as railfan/model train employment: Kalmbach, Walthers, Maerklin, Brio, and a book publisher or two, not to mention NMRA divisions and NRHS chapters. This guy failed to ask question #1 for a proposed political ad: will this tick off anybody who might otherwise vote for me?
Dave Nelson

[fuzzybroken]

Yeah, I "saw" this ad too (sound wasn't on), and it certainly didn't improve Michels on my list of who to vote for. Maybe he should ask a few "people who know" before he runs any more stupid ads.

Thanks for the e-mail addy, dblstack, I'll have to shoot him an e-mail later... [V][:(!]

-Mark
http://www.geocities.com/fuzzybroken

[rtstasiak]

This ad is really bad news. In truth, the presence of railfans and gawkers makes it more difficult for thieves, vandals, and terrorists to interfere with railroad operations. The same guy or gal with the Kodak, Canon, or Bushnells also has a cell phone ready to go if there is any monkey business.

[wcfan4ever]

Bad News! Tim Michels won the primary! He won by a landslide. Someone like this is not going to be good for office of any type. I was reading the newspaper today and all the things he wants to do in my opinion are not going to get us anywhere. Especially his ad, he might try to do something about railfanning, or at least make it harder to take photos.

[Hugh Jampton]

That is bad news,, I suppose if I ever go to Wisconsin I'll hve to leave the Nikon at home and take the Minox instead!!!

[Junctionfan]

Thease people are really rediculous and quick to name terrorist. I haven't heard of such a farce and gross-mismanagement of facts since the McCarthey days against communism. All that thease people are doing is more fear tactics than actual fighting against terrorism. It sounds like a really inappropriate and scummy political manuver for votes.

[Anonymous]

[:(!][:(!][:(!][:(!]
the patriot act never said anything about not taking pictures of trains [:(!]!!!!!
too bad for them, IM DOING IT

[soapbox]

i know who railfans arent voting for... and that was japan that had the bullet train

[wcfan4ever]

It sure hasn't stopped me from railfanning with a camera. I plan on doing it this weekend as well!

[wcfan4ever]

Good news, you now can continue to photograph trains in Wisconsin(I hope no one stopped to begin with). Tim Michels has lost the election! Russ Feingold took it again. Glad to see this guy not win cause who knows what would have happened to railfanning with his crazy talk.

[Gluefinger]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Hugh Jampton

That is bad news,, I suppose if I ever go to Wisconsin I'll hve to leave the Nikon at home and take the Minox instead!!!

they have those on ebay right? [:D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by wcfan4ever

Good news, you now can continue to photograph trains in Wisconsin(I hope no one stopped to begin with). Tim Michels has lost the election! Russ Feingold took it again. Glad to see this guy not win cause who knows what would have happened to railfanning with his crazy talk.

Yes it is GREAT news,considering that I didnt vote for that [censored] ! Tim Michels had alot a nerve for putting that kind of ad on tv and in the paper. The one important item about him is that he owns ands operates a construction company (Michels Construction ),and he has gotten himself and his company in alot of hot water for making alot of short cuts when it comes to road construction projects,here in Wisconsin. His last legal tangle was reported in a road construction trade magazine that I get. Seems a road that he built is now in bad condition and the damn thing isnt even a year old.How the hell a jerk like him can run for a poliical office,when he cant even run his company right,is beyond me. I'm glad Senator Feingold won.who needs someone who claims that people who take pictures are terrorists.This guy (Michels ) needs to get his head out of the sand.Its too bad for him.I sure would've like to have seen him and told him where to get off.[2c]

[zardoz]

The good news for railfans/photographers is that Fiengold won; the bad news is that Bush won.

Now I'm not trying to get a political thing going, I'm just pointing out what is already well known. Fiengold has opposed the Patriot Act because of it's intrusions into personal privacy that have nothing to do with "National Security". Bushco is not only for the Patriot Act, the Administration is constantly trying to make it a permanent part of our government. Remember, the Patriot Act was rushed into law in the heat of the aftermath of the World Trade Center destruction. It was (supposedly) a temporary legislation to help us find those responsible for the terrorist acts; at least that's how it was sold to Congress. And while most people (unfortunately) do not understand how intrusive the Act is, as railfans/photographers, many of us have experienced the effects.

What is lacking in the Patriot Act is 'common' sense. What is needed is a clear strategy to stop terrorism, not some knee-jerk, feel-good legislation that turns every citizen guilty unless they can prove themselves innocent. Security measures are becoming so Draconian, that the distinctions between our country and those we are 'protecting' ourselves from are beginning to blur. We are terrorized!

I want the terrorists reduced to their component atoms as much as the next person, I just do not want it done at the cost of Life, Liberty, and the Persuit of Happiness that we are guaranteed by the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

[wcfan4ever]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cnwfan11

QUOTE: Originally posted by wcfan4ever

Good news, you now can continue to photograph trains in Wisconsin(I hope no one stopped to begin with). Tim Michels has lost the election! Russ Feingold took it again. Glad to see this guy not win cause who knows what would have happened to railfanning with his crazy talk.

Yes it is GREAT news,considering that I didnt vote for that [censored] ! Tim Michels had alot a nerve for putting that kind of ad on tv and in the paper. The one important item about him is that he owns ands operates a construction company (Michels Construction ),and he has gotten himself and his company in alot of hot water for making alot of short cuts when it comes to road construction projects,here in Wisconsin.

Yeah, he even has railcars that used to sit on the WC/CN at Byron until a few years ago. Then again, I'm not so sure this is the Michels in charge of the construction. He might be part but I think his brother is the owner. Regaurdless, he is not in office!

Hot water ain't the word for construction companies in my area. Two of them last year were caught for rigging bids and both construction companies are still under investagation and cannot bid on state projects for 5 years. Kinda wish Michels name was in it but it wasn't.

[Anonymous]

There IS still sitting in a siding in Byron a red boxcar that says Michels on it.