The Stupid Party’s 2008 Convention
Idiot, n. A member of a large and powerful tribe whose influence in human affairs has always been dominant and controlling. The Idiot’s activity is not confined to any special field of thought or action, but “pervades and regulates the whole.” He has the last word in everything; his decision is unappealable. He sets the fashions of opinion and taste, dictates the limitations of speech and circumscribes conduct with a dead-line.
— Ambrose Bierce, The Devil’s Dictionary
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Tell me again why the Stupid Party decided to have their 2008 convention in the People’s Republic of MN ??
Who do suppose will be picking up the tab to pay for babysitting 100,000 children ?? I mean it’s not like the police have anything better to do with their time and resources (such as prevent the chance of a terrorist attack).
If these children are REALLY interested in improving this country, is there any chance that at least some of them could instead go out and get a job or start a business, get off the dole ?? Instead of mindless chanting and protesting, that would be something that would REALLY improve their lives (and the country).
Source: http://www.twincities.com/ci_6220493
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Activists hope for 100,000 to march on GOP convention
It could be a wild weekend in fall 2008, with protests starting as the State Fair wraps up
BY JASON HOPPIN
Pioneer Press
TwinCities.com-Pioneer Press
ROSEMONT, Ill. - Leslie Cagan, co-founder of the nation’s largest anti-war coalition, thinks the Republican Party chose St. Paul for its 2008 convention in part to reduce the number of expected protesters.
The protesters say it doesn’t matter.
Attendees at United for Peace and Justice’s Third National Assembly over the weekend near Chicago, as well as those who will attend another massive meeting of left-leaning groups this week in Atlanta, say the number of demonstrators in St. Paul next year will be at least double the 45,000 delegates, volunteers and media members expected to descend on the convention, scheduled for Sept. 1-4.
“We’re thinking 50,000 to 100,000,” said Jess Sundin, of the Minneapolis-based Anti-War Committee.
Sundin will travel this week to Atlanta for the U.S. Social Forum, which bills itself as a coalition of community organizers, union representatives, students and others to “unite the struggle of oppressed people,” according to its Web site.
The group will hold a conference this week, which, coupled with the United for Peace and Justice assembly, demonstrates that planning for protesting at the 2008 Republican and Democratic national conventions is getting under way in earnest.
“We’re going to do a workshop on the RNC while we’re there. It should be a good opportunity to meet people and get them to Minnesota next year,” said Sundin, whose group already has applied for permits to protest the St. Paul convention.
Those applications were returned, with St. Paul officials explaining they won’t consider protest permits until six months before the event.
An unprecedented weekend in Minnesota’s capital city could be in order, with tens of thousands of convention attendees, possibly an equal number of protesters - at least - and the tail end of the Minnesota State Fair, which drew more than 160,000 people on its final day in 2006.
Since Cagan’s group was founded in 2002, it has demonstrated an ability to turn out hundreds of thousands of people, including half a million on the eve of the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City and 300,000 in January for an anti-war rally in Washington, D.C.
Cagan said the nominating conventions are a prime-time opportunity for her group.
“We want to get in on the media attention. We want to put our agenda out, also,” Cagan said. “It’s an opportunity to put pressure on the people who want to be the leadership of this country. I can’t predict numbers, but we’re going to do our best to turn out large numbers of people.”
That could strain St. Paul’s resources, which will be bolstered by a $50 million federal grant earmarked for convention security.
Dave Titus, head of the St. Paul Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said he is concerned about staffing during that weekend. Titus will meet with members of the New York City Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association this week to research the 2004 Republican National Convention.
“Tens of thousands of peaceful protesters, that’s fine. They’re not going to cause major issues,” Titus said, pointing out that the department still needs to patrol the rest of the city. “St. Paul cops are going to treat people fairly and professionally.”
But, he added, “How many are going to show up that want to cause chaos and commit crimes just to make a statement?”
Jason Hoppin can be reached at jhoppin@pioneerpress.com or 651-292-1892
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– Smitty, 6-26-07
June 26th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
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