Will protests in New York during the convention help Bush?

[Eric J in MN]

From a Republican blog:

i tell you, i am becoming hugely optimistic about the upcoming election. There are several reasons for my optimism.
...
i think we can expect a big freak show at the upcoming Republican Convention in New York. The far left nut jobs will ensure Bush's re-election, even though they will think they're doing the opposite. In fact, i hope they go on a total Bush-hatin' rampage in the streets of New York. Everyone knows who's side they're on, and the worse the protesters act, the more people will realize how low the Democratic Party has fallen.

http://annika.mu.nu/archives/038809.html

[Spinzonner]

1. If they believe that

they probably have agent provocateurs embedded in the more volatile groups.

[Nevernose]

3. Shades of Nixon

[Still_Loves_John]

8. Who was reelected...

If the protests were peaceful, that'd be no problem, but I think that when you have such a large group of people violence is bound to break out, and that can only look bad for our side.

[Eric J in MN]

4. I'm sure there will be cops disguised as protestors shoving people (nt)

nt

[Djinn]

10. or breaking McDonalds and/or Starbucks windows

at the Melbourne anti-WTO protests the right wing media loved the smashing of McDonalds et al windows becaused it "showed" what a bunch of ignorant sheep we were, problem was the black clad "anarchists" who broke the windows did so in front of a SHITLOAD of cops and NONE were arrested. 100's of people who WERE arrested were later released or aquitted because of a lack of evidence.

There are ALWAYS reactionary elements in any decent sized protest, I'd be wary about letting this put a dampener on any protests though -the media would just spin that as "see no-one REALLY disapproves of Bush - it's just a handful of loud malcontents shouting down the silent majority"

[hang a left]

21. This is sitting in LBN.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-uster...

More financial institutions than previously disclosed may be at risk of attack, and an al-Qaida operative has told British intelligence that the group's target date is early September, intelligence sources said yesterday.

The operative, described as "credible" by British intelligence, told his debriefers that the attack would take place "60 days before the presidential election" on Nov. 2, according to a former senior National Security Council official. On Sept. 2 President George W. Bush is expected to address the Republican National Convention at Madison Square Garden.

Counterterrorism officials are analyzing data from a computer seized in Pakistan last month to see if financial institutions in addition to the five disclosed Sunday are at risk of attack, U.S. officials said yesterday.

The former senior National Security Council official said he was told by British intelligence that they are interrogating an al-Qaida operative who confirmed that financial institutions are being targeted and that an attack was planned for September.

snip>




Do you think that the pigs might have different plans for the protests?

[Wapsie B]

5. That's almost a given.

Which is reason enough to pull everyone off the streets come convention time. The silence would be deafening. Have a rally for Dems somewhere else in the metro.

[searchingforlight]

11. I suggested this a week ago on this board and received a drubbing.

I really think it would send a huge message of caring for the people of NYC. It would also tell the repubs that we are uninvolved and uninterested in the type of election they want to have, that we are already aware that they aren't listening and that protest at that event is futile.

We need to continue to take our message to the people who will be making the decision.

[Wapsie B]

19. Yes.

Uninterested in that little man they have fronting for the gop in the WH. I tell ya all I see is rw thugs trying their damndest to instigate a riot.

[goclark]

27. I love your idea!

Why can't the Democrats have a PEACE rally at the Statue of Liberty?

It would not be ranting and screaming. It would be a statement of beauty.

They could invite speakers like Obama to speak. That is one example of someone that people would like to rally around but be calm.

There could be religious leaders of every faith that would offer prayers for our country.

Quiet singers and signs that say thinks like "God Bless the USA."

I know, you will tell me that it is the Republicans turn to shine in NEW York.
I say bull****! The Rethugs took up residence all over each TV Channel, interviewed delegates on the FLOOR of our convention. They even put the mike in front of the tech guy with the balloons. CNN did that on purpose!


I say that this is not the time for us to have us arrested. We can do that AFTER their convention is over. They are not going to let us get within 5000 feet of the delegates anyway.

Do you think they will let Bill Maher interview during their convention - hell no!

[Wapsie B]

32. Thanks.

Yes a rally at the Statue of Liberty, signing patriotic songs. Candlelight vigils across the country. That would get our message across better than demonstrations in the streets of NYC.

[Baltimoreboy]

12. They don't need to

Things will get out of hand and that will play into his.

[Pallas180]

2. Protests could give him the excuse to pull down Martial Law & then

our gooses are all cooked.

[Spinzonner]

6. And/Or the announced High threats

may be a preemeptive excuse to clamp down on protests, marches, and demonstrations during the Convention.

Convenient, Coincidental timing of the two, isn't it ?

[DaveSZ]

7. Well

Let's look at the election for Paul Wellstone's seat for an example of how they will spin it...

[Bush was AWOL]

9. They could help Bush if it gets out of hand.

I'm actually worried about this. They want the protesters to get completely out of hand and I'm sure they will incite it.

[Baltimoreboy]

13. I really don't think they have to incite

I think the protesters will oblige all their own.

A gift from the extremists to the GOP.

[Bush was AWOL]

14. You're right. I'm definitely worried.

[prolesunited]

33. Curious about your remarks

Have you ever been to a protest? Recently? Are all protesters extremists? Do you think peaceful protest is possible?

[Baltimoreboy]

34. I saw the World Bank protest

Was working at the time. It only takes a few assholes to set things off pretty quick. NY will be a powderkeg waiting to blow. Why add a match.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

15. that's the purose for the local...get great film footage and pics for *'s

campaign ads!...they'll say LOOK at these ugly angry liberals are these the kind of people that you want in the WH?

this is the Rove/GOP game plan

[gatorboy]

16. I think the protestors should get dressed up for the event.

You know, suit and ties, formal dresses. Even better, maybe dress like priests and nuns. I think it would make for great TV if you saw a policman taking a night stick to a man of the cloth.

[Q]

17. One man's 'freak show' is...

...another man's first amendment rights.

[Mighty Undecided]

18. Sounds like a Crossfire question: "will Clinton's book hurt Kerry?"

"Will democrats have to be executed one by one for kerry to win? Should New York be blown out of existence so its freaks won't interfere with the optimistic, mellow, "what war?" Kerry is putting on?
Stay tuned.

[Eric J in MN]

20. The difference is that Bill Clinton is popular, but the majority

of Americans hate protestors.

[redqueen]

22. Yes, I think the chances are good that they will. n/t

[hang a left]

23. I am conflicted on this subject.

On one hand if there is violence and that is what is shown of the protests on the news than it is bad.

But on the other hand if there is 100's of thousands of people protesting in the streets it might make people question the media and the polls. I really believe that *'s true support numbers are probably in the 30's. If the general public knew this it would cause them to pay more attention.

[Eric J in MN]

24. but police disguised as protestors can shove people to start

violence

[redqueen]

25. I'll probably get flamed to a crisp for this, but...

IMO you can better spend your time organizing a rally supporting something positive, than protesting something you don't like.

In a rally environment, if you provide something to attract passersby, you can coordinate with local groups, get people to sign up, register voters, etc. In a protest, you're voicing your dissent of course, but you're also presenting a plum target for those you're opposing. With all the options available for them to sabotage the event, misconstrue your motives, etc... IMVHO (of course) it's more counterproductive than productive.

[ChipperbackDemocrat]

29. That's a darn good idea!!!

I wouldn't flame that idea, it fact its something the DNC should expand upon.

The GOP set up a "truth-squad" operation in Boston. They bought in legislators, opinion makers, Gillespie, Racicot, the whole Joseph Goebbels arm of the apparatus.

The Democrats should do the same..except we do it bigger.

Imagine Freedom's Block Party 2004

Instead of their "free speech zone." The party gets in one the bourroughs or even sets up in a alternate spot near MSG and put up a week-long block party design to educate, entertain and register voters.

Teach-ins, speak-in, concerts, information kiosks on the issues and voter registration, and of course good grub and fellowship.

And for the kicker we answer the falsehoods they raise inside the Garden on our stage, our forum in a manner so grand that the media can't ignore it.

Something like this would especially fire up young voters and minority voters, and not just here but nationwide. We are not going to win on just getting the undecided. We need to get those folks who aren't voting but are hurting to vote, anyway we can.

I haven't thought of all the nuts and bolts, so please don't flame me on those. The base concept is that we have to run a bold guerilla campaign to win.

[redqueen]

30. Hi Chipperback Democrat!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

I don't think the DNC would go for it... but if so that would be great! I'd like to see groups like ACORN, NARAL, Progressive Vote, Democracy for America, etc. involved.

That's exactly what I'm talking about, though... just set up somewhere else entirely, and focus on giving a positive message. If the DNC was involved they could counter any of the undoubtedly numerous lies that will be coming out of the RNC convention.

All of that would be so much more productive, IMO, than a protest shouting what the world already knows - that we can't stand the crooks in charge!

[Lerkfish]

28. an off the wall suggestion:

I think the repubs have us in the corner of "damned if the protests turn violent" and "damned if no protestors show up"

between those two unsavory choices, may I humbly suggest there are other alternatives?

what I suggest is that protest groups NOW start staging practice protests, inviting the media, at which nonviolence is stressed and made abundantly clear that violence will not be tolerated. Do this at the headquarters of all groups involved. Print leaflets, send faxes, do a media blitz BEFORE the RNC that makes it clear our intention is to protest ONLY. That way we're on record with that attitude. This will be a lot easier if foreign instigators DO start something, to point back to the practice sessions as proof it was not the protestor's intent.

second, devise a badge of some sort that groups only give to those protestors that are members of the groups. and only distribute them on that day, until then, keep the design secret. That way, disguised repubs will NOT have the badges, and we can point to the videos and point out that they are outside agitators.

there are probably more ideas, lets come up with some, people, DONT get paralysed into only two choices: don't demonstrate or be infiltrated by violence. those are the two choices the repubs want you to dwell on.
Instead, lets turn tables on them and come up with creative alternatives to those two choices!

[Bandit]

26. Everyone knows who's side they're on,

America's side. It's the people against the Bush* Cabal and their enablers. America really does know who's side we are on and it really gripes the GOP.

[NewJeffCT]

31. I think they'll be ignored

The media made the big deal about the free speech cages in Boston, so I think they'll ignore protestors in order to show that the Republicans don't cage the opposition, even though the reality is the opposite.