Ask a Saint Paul DFLer about the potential for violent demonstrations at the Convention this fall, and most of them will say “oh, they’re just a lunatic fringe. Mainstream Tics won’t stand for that kind of thing” (not to mention “the rioters are just a strawman”).
If only it were true. I got this from a Saint Paul politics discussion forum:
When considering the feasibility and likelihood of unlawfulness and
property destruction at the RNC this summer, a number of posters here have
presumed that riots are counter-productive to the interests of
protesters, and that the Seattle experience was a failure for those protesting
the WTO. Let’s look at the these presumptions again.Since the WTO debacle in Seattle, there has not been single new
multilateral trade agreement signed between North American or European powers and the Third World, and several attempts of advancing the WTO agenda through the Doha round of talks has failed. In view of this, the
Seattle protests, including the “brick-throwing” tactics, should be seen as
an unqualified success for the organizers of the protests, both lawful
and unlawful, not a failure.Likewise, the civil rights riots following the death of Martin Luther
King are largely credited with providing Washington with a sense of
urgency for reforming and funding the urban renewal and anti-poverty
programs of the 1970’s, such as the Community Development Block Grants
(CDBG), a federal form of Minnesota’s LGA.Brick-throwing, under certain circumstances, does work, particularly
when employed by groups who have few other options for exercising
political power over a given policy question. In light of this, and the
unpopularity and powerlessness many feel regarding the war in Iraq, it seems
pretty reasonable to expect that more radical forms of action will
occur than merely exercising one’s right to free expression.
In other words, “they may be thugs, but they’re our thugs”.
I don’t know how representative the writer is of Tic opinion in Saint Paul – you be the judge, but he appears to be a garden-variety lefty rather than a spittle-flecked radical.
I think – and this is just my opinion – that the majority of DFLers are opposed to the brick-throwers. But I think there are a few, like the writer, who can think of all sorts of obtuse rationalizations – and a bigger minority who’ll look at the convention like a hockey game or a NASCAR race or a Britney Spears appearance, looking for the spectacle. Perhaps they’re wistful for their lost youth forty years ago; perhaps they’re teenagers (literally or emotionally) who love drama. Whatever. A riot, to these people, might be counteproductive – but it’d sure be fun, woonit?
Yep, there are some dumb ass liberals. Urban renewal as a good thing? Has he lived in any of those cities that were thusly “renewed”?
Mitch rationalized: “In other words, “they may be thugs, but they’re our thugs”.
You must be thinking of the Miami riot by those “grass-roots” Repubic staffers to stop the 2000 vote count.
By the way, “Repubic” – perfectly normal usage. Just a shortened version of “Republican.” A big time-saver!
“You must be thinking of the Miami riot by those “grass-roots” Repubic staffers to stop the 2000 vote count.”
Five guys in dockers knocking on a door is now called a riot? Get out the water canons!
I guess the clown is talking about the “Brook Bros Riot” of nov 22, 2000.
The GOP ‘rioted’ (meaning they shouted and pushed people) because one group of recounters decided to void due process and only recount so-called ‘under-votes’.
Due process really annoys democrats because it means democrat and republican votes are equally valued.
Yeah, you Repubics are big fans of due process.
Hey Mitch, I just saw a couple guys playing hackey sack outside the state capitol. Call out the riot police!
“it means democratic and republican votes are equally valued.”
Rather than the added value of the GOP vote, under the auspice of the then Sec of State now Party pariah Kate Harris. Those GOoPers take such good care of their own after they aren’t needed anymore. Good on you!
Flash
he Miami riot by those “grass-roots” Repubic staffers
You people are still whinging about that? Maybe a dozen guys who – the horror – got about as loud as Paul Begala and James Carville on a sunday morning methaneapalooza?
If a conservative orders a pizza in the woods, and no Democrat is there to hear it, is he still creating a climate of hate?
“is he still creating a climate of hate?”
They don’t need to be in the woods or ordering pizza, simply breathing is generally enough
Hey Flash — In 1998 in my state Republican Linda Lingle lost to Democrat governor Ben Cayetano by less than 1%. Mazie Hirono, now Dem congressman from my district but then Ben Cayetano’s Lt. Governor, was the supervisor of elections. Hirono oversaw a recount that — surprise — found that she and her boss had been re-elected.
Centrisity, my ass. Flash, you are a partisan democrat. You see dishonesty only in the GOP.
Republicans in FL ‘riot’ (maybe someone’s glasses got smudged) to stop a dishonest vote recount.
Lefties ‘riot’ to break things, hurt people, and stop the GOP from selecting their candidate.
Fascist bastards. There is no comparison.
“I think – and this is just my opinion – that the majority of DFLers are opposed to the brick-throwers. ”
I have to disagree. I have never seen hate so intense before as that of the Democrats hold against Republicans right now. I heard on hard core Democrat (still has Kerry bumper sticker on his car) say recently that he hopes there is a terroist attack at the Excel center during the convention so we can kill all of them (meaning Republican leaders) at once.
A much higher percentage of Republicans are happy than Democrats, almost 50% more, and have been that way for as long as the surveys go back, even under Demoncratic administrations. It’s true even when you control for income, marital status, and most other variables. It shows here, too. We all see how happy the clown, rickdfl, and peeve are!
“Centrisity, my ass. Flash”
Did you read my header at the site, or are you, as is usually the case with Icans, just making assumptions and/or jumping to conclusions.
Poking monsters, my favorite past time. Their reaction is so predictable.
nerdbert. I think it’s because we take politics seriously, but for the most part just live our lives. If Obama or Hillary win, it will be tragic, but then I will go back to work, hanging out with my friends, etc. I’m not going ot put a dozen anti-Democrat bumper stickers on my car and do weekly protests somewhere.
But the best eveidence of that….I think we all know comfortably well-off Democrats (or is it “Democratics”) who hate the US. They have these incredibly soft lives, yet bitch and bitch and bitch about America and ask why we can’t be more like France. Think about your average college professor. Someone who makes big buckos for doing not a lot of work, thanks to the American system, yet are always angry.
Flash-
You do not ‘lean left’. You are a left wing ideologue. This is shown by your taking the side of only the left.
I am not a Republican. I am a conservative, registered to vote as an independent.
I just ‘lean’ right.
“You are a left wing ideologue.”
Yeap, this War supportin’, 2nd amendment protectin’, Private school fundin’ person called Flash is nothing but a Left Wing Ideologue. Youbetchya!
Terry, you don’t read Centrisity do you. While I come over here to poke the monsters of the Right, Back at Centrisity I am fending off the Left who say the exact opposite of what you just did.
Don’t you understand, it is sport over here at the new satirical SitD. I could never do this a few years ago. You are so wrapped up in the meme you don’t realize that this is nothing more than a humor blog these days. Purely entertainment.
Flash
“Being Right – Even tho you lean Left…and lock-step defending the Left even when it’s wrong. Because I’m an ideologue who likes to hide behind the word Centrist. Because then I don’t look as bad as the Wingnuts.”
Flash is one of the only left-leaning commenters I take the time to read here. Strikes me as a decent enough guy.
Peev, on the other hand, is the Adrian Monk of SitD comment threads, except he’s rarely correct about anything and not nearly as likable.
I’ll read Clown comments, too, but mostly for their bigoted hypocrisy.
Mitch whined: “You people are still whinging about that?”
You are already whining about riots that haven’t occurred, big fella. Repeatedly.
Oh no! Sky is falling!
Haha! Get’s ’em every time.
What?
I though “just making assumptions and/or jumping to conclusions” was your favorite pastime, flash.
And I’m not sure I want to know what you mean by “poking monsters”.
And I’m not sure I want to know what you mean by “poking monsters”.
what ac does to his SO
Not bad, kel. You show potential.
“Back at Centrisity I am fending off the Left who say the exact opposite of what you just did.”
Gosh! That must mean that you “lean right”.
“Peev, on the other hand, is the Adrian Monk of SitD comment threads, except he’s rarely correct about anything and not nearly as likable.”
Take that back, Yossarian! That was mean-spirited, uncalled for, and agressively inaccurate.
Tony Sholoub and his brilliant character Adrian Monk are nothing like Peev. Sholoub’s talented and funny, and Monk is brilliant and insiteful.
😀
“Gosh! That must mean that you “lean right”.”
When I’m not leaning left. You should see me wobble on the way IN to a bar, rather than just out of it
You’re right, Badda, I was pretty insulting to Adrian Monk. Peev is a whole other classification level of OCD. I take it back.
Flash-
The David Broder school of centrism: The Jihadists want to kill all the Jews. Let’s compromise & let them kill half the Jews!
e Adrian Monk of SitD comment threads
Which, if he left Bitty Schram here, would be a cool thing.
Heh. Or Traylor Howard, for that matter. I’d take either.
Ever since I was charged at/nearly assaulted at the MN State Fair GOP booth last summer, I’ve been a bit worried about my personal safety around Lefty protesters – especially when I think back to the Hoffa-thug attack on the College Republicans at the Fair in 2004 (about 2 and a half months before I myself became a Republican).
I do keep a crowbar in my car in case I run into Critical Mass- anyone have some ideas on how to deal with International A.N.S.W.E.R. in St. Paul this year?
What happened at the Fair in 2004?!?!?!
(And while I’m typing… Bitty, Bitty, Bitty!)
“I do keep a crowbar in my car in case I run into Critical Mass”
I keep a front bumper on my car in case I RUN INTO Critical Mass.
BuddhaP: I remember that union thug attack of the CRs (they stood near the DFL booth dressed as flip flops, and one was sucker-punched if I remember right). The best thing you can do is carry a camera, some mace (a taser would also be a hoot – j/k). Moonbats don’t want their mugs splashed all over new media (or sent to the police).
Master’s advice is event better! BTW: Trials for the Critical (m)Ass freaks arrested last August are beginning Feb. 19, and protesters are gearing up to support them at court.
mmmmmm…sucker punching union thugs
Have these thugs ever assaulted an actual boss on union orders? They seem love beating on scabs, security guards, and other working stiffs.
What a union will do to you…
Green Bay Wisc, an employee narc’d on another employee who was stealing from a paper mill. The head the union went to the police to find out who told. The police gave the union boss a copy of the tape. Union boss brought two enforces with him and threw the informant into a giant vat of paper sludge. Death was painful.
Duluth Minn. During labor problems, union boys went to the house of the Pepsi general manager and killed the family dog. Left it in the yard for his kids to find.
International Falls. Contractor for Boise Cascade expansion wasn’t 100% union, so thugs went up there and trashed the place. Very violent.
You are a non-union electrical contractor in Duluth? Good luck getting the city inspector to approve any of your work.
I used to booze it up with the union boys up there. Great guys to party with. I stayed in the closet as a right-to-work advocate.
Both sides have fringes with salty histories, are you sure you want to go there. And when you come back with ‘We condemn ours’ both sides do, you just refuse to acknowledge or spin away when it happens. So while you whine about a bloody nose show me where they are killing people with bombs and other more fatal methods as your fringe does.