For the past year or so, we’ve been noting the plans of some on the radical fringe left to not only disrupt the Republican National Convention, but to disrupt life in the Twin Cities itself.

Most troubling were the threats in some quarters to actually harass convention delegates, not merely in downtown Saint Paul in and around the convention itself, but back at their hotels.

I’m willing to write 90-99% of these sorts of things off to arrested-adolescent posturing by the sort of narcissistic, self-adulating fops that are drawn to this sort of fringe politics (every “anarchist” I’ve ever known in my life, and I’ve known quite a few, hailed from an upper-middle-class background; most were, at the end of the day, trying to get back at Mumsy and Dadders for being successful bourgeoisie.  I know there must be exceptions – but damned if I can say I’ve met any).

Who’s left?

I dunno – but someone’s looking out for ’em:

The imminent arrival of the Republican National Convention sent Minnesota’s three biggest metro-area cities scrambling to pass new regulations concerning the unprecedented number of street protests they’re anticipating. St. Paul’s existing ordinance requiring permits for public assemblies provided a model for the language approved May 19 by City Council members in Bloomington (PDF, see 5.4C), home to the Mall of America and oodles of hotel rooms where many convention-goers will stay.

Look – if you want to protest the RNC, or the party, or what it stands for, go for it.  And we’ll be watching.

But I have to ask – why the targeting of delegates at their hotels?

Hey, Chris Steller/Andy Birkey/Paul Schmelzer; if this were a Planned Parenthood convention, and pro-lifers were planning to harass conventioneers at their hotels outside of convention hours, are you trying to tell me you’d not be demanding the National Guard be called in?