Is the RNC in New York City a setup?

[mediaman007]

After reading some posts on another thread, it crossed my mind that KKKarl Rove is probably using New York City as a trap. Even if all of the protesters are peaceful, would it be beyond Rove to "plant" groups of protesters that will create chaos and encourage violence.

Consider Chicago in 1968. What better for the Republicans to have war in the streets and to be able to have the evenings to criticize the activists on national television.

Remember Florida 2000? The group that stormed election offices were not Floridians, but rather Republican Congressional staffers.

I'm worried that the streets of New York will be spun against Kerry.

[benburch]

1. But '68 caused the Democratic Party to lose!

And I'm sure the GOP is aware of this.

[deutsey]

16. It strengthened the authoritarian "law and order" types, too

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. I'm worried, too.

It is important to have discipline and disavow ANY violent protests. Hope the Dems have people ready to investigate any "agitators" who are out in the street to see where they are coming from.

[rfranklin]

3. It would be better if no one showed up and the Republicans...

ended up with an embarassing, half-assed attempt to use 9/11(once again) for political purposes. The chronically gullible who buy that transparent exploitation will never be swayed by a bunch of loony protesters creating a ruckus. But, without the counterpoint, the Republicans would smell like week-old fish to many middle-of-the-roaders.

[homegrownLeaf]

4. Do you know any protesters that are going to NYC

Myself and others don't have the time off to go.

[DODI]

9. I am going to NYC on the 29th. United for Peace & Justice is

suing NYC for the right to use Central Park for their rally and I think they will win. I have been to NYC twice for protests -- once in Central Park (Oct. 2002) and once at the Sheraton (June 2003). The October one was pretty big, no problems. June was a bit smaller -- protesting * at a dinner. That one was very well run. I am not afraid of going, I am more afraid of how it will be covered. Even with 1,000,000 well behaved protesters if a small group gets out of hand, they will get the coverage. Nothing could keep me away from this! I can't wait.

[napi21]

5. Protesters have every right to be in NYC, but no violence!

Is there a risk of Rove sending plants to make the Dems look bad? Of course! The Dems are going to have to police themselves, so that would include any intruders.

It's actually a catch 22 situation. If there are no protests, the media will spin it as, all the stories about people being upset with the RNC must have been unfounded, because no-one showed up to protest. If protesters do show up, I'm sure the media will hunt for any scuffles that might occurr just to fill airtime.

[Junkdrawer]

6. Central Park screams "SETUP"...

I'll bet Republican speech writers have been working for weeks on this:

"What we have seen from our opponents is encouragement of this kind of over-the-top hatred of our President and everything America stands for"....

I can just smell it coming. Keeping protesters out of Central Park is like saying: "You can fly all you want, you just can't use the airports".

[Disturbed]

7. Boycotting the stupid show would be best.

"If there are no protests, the media will spin it as, all the stories about people being upset with the RNC must have been unfounded, because no-one showed up to protest."

So what! What counts is the votes. Giving the Rethugs cause to sway people that usually don't vote or those mystery swing voters isn't wise. Ignoring the Rethugs would send a better msg.

[G_j]

8. you honestly think

people who don't usually vote are going to get off their duffs and vote because of one protest? :shrug:

[Junkdrawer]

10. We are given a Hobson's Choice...

The best alternative I've heard would be for the organizers to find another venue for the protest - perhaps off Manhattan. But time is running short for that kind of alternative.

[annabanana]

15. THE good alternative

Is for many, many, many people to show up, clog everything quietly.... Let the police know that we're on THEIR side in their protest against Bloomberg and let the cameras roll.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

12. The Great Lawn in Central Park

Is 33 acres and it could easily accomodate 300,000 people.
Too bad it is fenced off after grass restoration which was privately paid for.
The lines have been drawn and New Yorkers are divided over against using it for the protest or not.

[AmerDem]

11. Nah, I don't agree

When the RNC decided to use NYC for it's convention times were alot different. They miscalculated it in the same exact way they miscalculated the "Mission Accomplished" sign. Many repukes have come out against the NYC choice. There will be large crowds of protesters and the best the repukes can do now ( and are doing everything they can ) is keep a hid on the pot.

[Kinkistyle]

13. No. RNC wanted to exploit 9/11.

Did protests by freepers in Boston change anyone's mind toward supporting Kerry?

The Bush campaign wants to exploit New York and 9/11for their campaign. To somehow show that even the liberal haven of New York is behind Bush. It most certainly is not, and that needs to be shown loud anc clearly because the media will not.

[deutsey]

14. Todd Gitlin is also concerned that "provocateurs "

may try to turn this into Chicago '68. I just read this last night in the new issue of The Nation (and found it reprinted here on Indymedia):

http://www.indybay.org/news/2004/08/1692234.php

Snip

It is, or ought to be, so obvious that violence and chaos in the streets works to Bush's advantage that not a few oppositionists worry about the Republicans planting their own provocateurs in the protest. Such a scenario is not farfetched. Provocateurs know some history, too. They know that disciplined handfuls can start riots amid turmoil. In 1968 a substantial number of the toughs who surged through the Chicago streets, inciting the police to riot, were later revealed to be police and intelligence agents. They urged violent actions, pulled down American flags, led taunts and otherwise triggered police attacks. Afterward, demonstrators exulted, equating their seduction of the cameras with victory. But most spectators who watched the clashes on TV sided with the police. Richard Nixon's people knew what use to make of the footage. They strengthened their hold over the law-and-order vote.

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