Per this report, St. Paul police raided the headquarters of groups preparing to protest the Republican National Convention. Guns drawn? Chilling effect, anyone?
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I saw an article about an ABC reporter getting arrested by Denver cops on a public sidewalk.
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p>http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blot…
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p>It is chilling. The selling of the presidency 2008 is almost complete. It makes ya wonder why we even bother to vote when it’s all too apparent that it’s the special interests and corporate fundraisers who run this country.
Why do we have these stupid conventions? It’s all a bunch of blow hards preaching to the choir and getting drunk.
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p>Maybe in the “olden days”, the parties had to come together in a big meeting and negotiate the platform and make concessions to persuade delegates but that never happens anymore.
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p>I would love it if one or both parties announced there would be no convention in 2012 per se. And that the internet including video telecasts and voting would be used instead. We could save money and drunks and stupid hats and boring TV. The main participants (Pres, VP…) could gather in a central location and broadcast the whole thing live and be done in one night.
While I wouldn’t mind seeing a real convention in my lifetime (which would take care of the boring TV complaint), conventions still have a profound purpose. They are the single best opportunity for the American people to see each party take a few days to lay out their vision and views. “Debates” and advertising are mostly simplistic soundbites. Then there is the energy factor for those of us who are activists. For one week a given city becomes the hub of all the organization and enthusiasm the party can muster. It’s an opportunity to network with other activists and learn the tricks of the trade. You wouldn’t hold a Super Bowl or a World Series in an empty arena and just show it on television, would you? That is what these events are to political junkies. Yes, conventions do also have the job as the highest governing body of the party to ratify the platform.
that Obama might have got an 8 point bounce.
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p>Why do we have them? For that reason, I guess.
Or it is transient? As for the “other” benefits… I think they could be real benefits but I don’t know how measurable they are. Certainly the states could hold local events to fire up the people. But I seriously wonder about the benefits to the American people of hearing the lies and distortions presented in such a one-sided bias manner with no ability to challenge validity. That point would be for both parties BTW so don’t start attacking me. Debates on the other hand, IMO are true tests about how candidates feel about issues in a challenging manner vs. softball questions or speeches where ANYTHING can be said.
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p>Your Super Bowl analogy doesn’t hold much water to me since it is a sporting event which many people want to see in person. And in fact, given the chance to go watch the Pats or Red Sox win the Super Bowl or WS, I’d rather watch it on TV with a nearby refrigerator and clean bathroom and minus smelly loud obnoxious people bouncing into me, paying outrageous ticket prices, parking, waiting in lines and dealing with the weather.
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p>But, that’s just my opinion and I’m sure the marketing and theater people involved in elections would never agree to such a practical argument.
These conventions are a collosal waste of money…money that could be used far more appropriately. They are largely disorganized and tedious. Technology should drive the change…and I hope your idea comes to fruition.
here.
has this yesterday and this on Saturday
This is a major assault on our constitutional rights that should be disturbing to all Americans. They’ve even harassed an organization whose role is to document with video coverage such assaults, the same group that was responsible for the dismissal of hundreds of cases of police abuse during the 2004 RNC in NYC.