Watching The Defectives
By Mitch Berg
I got this email from a local “Peace” activist on Wednesday. I may have to give this a shot after the show on Saturday:
The event to organize protests to the Republican agenda during the
September 2008 convention is still taking place this Saturday, but the
location has changed from St Paul Trades to the Student Center of the U of
M St Paul campus. The full announcement is listed as follows:Sat. 6/9 @ 2-5pm, NEW LOCATION (sorry for confusion) @ U of M – St.
Paul Student Center, 2017 Buford Ave, St. Paul, MN (Directions and parking
info: http://www.spsc.umn.edu/about/directions.php)The Republican National Convention (RNC) is coming to our backyard.
Feeling angry? Want to do something? You and your organization are
invited to join us for a gathering of those who have already started
organizing to resist the RNC in 2008 and those looking for a place to start.
This will be a space for people to come together and share ideas and
energy. The afternoon will be broken into 3 parts. We’ll start with a
“clearinghouse” where organizations can table and have an opportunity to
chat with attendees one-on-one. This will be followed by a facilitated
“open mic” discussion period. Discussion will start with explanations
about what is already underway, and continue with attendees sharing
their hopes, dreams, and visions with each other. The day will conclude
with “break out” sessions where participants gather around specific
topics of interest and
decide on “next steps.” Let’s meet each other, get to know each other,
and start to work together! Child Care and Snacks Provided. Co-hosted
by: Protest RNC 2008 and the RNC “Welcoming” Committee.To increase your participation level please contact Karen R at:
[redacted]. Increased participation could include: having
an information table, presenting your “already underway” plans, and/or
volunteering to help with the event.
It’ll be interesting seeing what respect for “democracy” is brewing in these meetings.
June 8th, 2007 at 6:41 am
I would love to attend that meeting. That would be a real hoot. It won’t be peaceful at all. The bitter bile will be flowing.
I can’t wait until the convention next summer! I want to hand out flyers to all Republicans coming in from out of state with directions to Garrison Keillor’s bookstore and have them all go and ask for books from Ann Coulter, Michael Savage, Rush Limbaugh, etc. Then hang out at the local leftist coffee shops in St. Paul and wear their GOP clothing and NRA hats! I want to expose the local agnst and dispair that the local media will have for all the Republicans in town. I want to expose all the kooks that will be protesting the Republicans.
June 8th, 2007 at 8:03 am
Damn, I’m going to miss this. I love watching ignorant bigots in action.
Good idea FF. I like the shirt that says “celebrate diversity” and has pictures of several different kinds of handguns on the front.
Don’t we have a local chapter of Protest Warrior? I may join them.
June 8th, 2007 at 10:30 am
Feeling angry?? You know, you could just do what the rest of us do, and vote for the other guy. Frankly I think the democrats are a bunch of boneheads, but if they wanted to hold their convention downtown here, I would be all for it. Lots of cash dropped in our local bars and restaurants and hotels. I am all for that. I would probably get into a discussion with some of them in said bars and restaurants (bars with food), but as far as putting on my ninja mask and screaming at people going in and out of the convention or breaking windows and flipping off cops?? Hey, I have a job. And a clean record. I want to keep both of them.
June 8th, 2007 at 10:33 am
I’m hoping that the Democrats will be so violent that it will turn the election. Normie may be in for a tought election, but who wants to vote for the party of violence.
When leading Democrats are inviting and organizing the assualt, it will make people realize what the DFL party really stands for.
June 8th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
FF & Chuckie, you guys may want to wipe that “bitter bile” off the corners of your mouth, it is very unbecoming.
June 8th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Well, ‘crum, to be fair – it’s not Republicans who are vowing to “shut down” their opponents’ participation in the democratic process.
June 8th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Fulcrum, the DFL says they are bringing in any where from 50,000 to 100,000 idiots to scream at me and tell me how much they hate me. Looks like you haven’t progressed much since the days of Bull Conner.
June 8th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Mitch, I haven’t read anything to that affect and wouldn’t agree with trying to “shut down” ANY participation in the democratic process.
I don’t recall seeing that the DFL is going to bring in 50,000-100,00 people. I do recall reading that they are expecting that many people to protest. Jeez the nerve of those “idiots” to think they should be allowed to exercise their 1st amendment rights.
I’ll admit there will probably be some unruly/violent participants, but to paint all Democrats as such is intellectually dishonest.
I just had to point out how ironic FF’s statement was about “The bitter bile will be flowing,” then to end his diatribe with, “I want to expose all the kooks that will be protesting the Republicans.”
June 8th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
Mitch: “Well, ‘crum, to be fair – it’s not Republicans who are vowing to “shut down” their opponents’ participation in the democratic process. ”
Right. That was 2000 in Florida.
Bull Connor? Chuck, you are delusional.
June 8th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
“Right. That was 2000 in Florida.”
Just a wee bit inaccurate. The democrats were all about participation in the democratic process. Except for voters in Republican counties. And the military. And wanted super-duper participation for some voters in a particular county, those who didnt read the ballot and wanted do-overs. But other than that, dead on.
“Bull Connor? Chuck, you are delusional.” Eh…I don’t know. On one hand, anyone who has seen the footage of the fire hoses and police dogs would have issues with the comparison. On the other hand, anyone who has seen past G-8 protesters could see a bit of the Bull Conner attitude, just on the other side. Tough call. I would hope the protesters know that the 1st amendment doesn’t include the right to bust windows and torch police cars. Some of the them are still working on the concept of “soap” so I don’t know.
June 8th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Fulcrum said:
“I’ll admit there will probably be some unruly/violent participants, but to paint all Democrats as such is intellectually dishonest.”
I don’t think anyone said “all Democrats are unruly and/or violent”.
A certain group of folks is bending over backwards to make sure all of the protesters are welcomed and respected and honored. Certainly not “spied upon” / “made to endure any scrutiny”. Held in equal regard to those bringing the convention here.
One might not call that certain group unruly or violent themselves, but they do seem perfectly willing to enable people who are, as you admit, “unruly/violent” and by their words seem to be against any precaution concerning them.
I wonder, with what brush should we paint them? My choice is irresponsible. *shrug*
June 8th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Guess you forgot the Republican riot that shut down the Dade County recount, buzzkill. But it’s not like Angryclown respects your opinion in any case.
June 8th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Guess you forgot the Republican riot that shut down the Dade County recount,
I remember that. Four guys in Dockers, knocking on a door. Good times…..good times
June 8th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Two consecutive posts with song title parodies?
How about old commercial jingles? Like, for instance, Kenl-Ration?
Angryclown whimpered “Right. That was 2000 in Florida.”
Our Court’s better than your court. Our Court’s better than your’s. Our Court’s better ’cause it reads Constitution, our Court’s better than yours.
June 9th, 2007 at 3:29 pm
Spewing about potential spewing. Makes a ton of sense. Who wants a fight. This reminds me of the block wars when I was a kid. Sheesh!