OT: Dear Protesters

[Shox214]

I understand you want your voice in politics, but I'm just trying to get home from the fair don't need you blocking the bridge. Thanks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxP0yqczSBA

[casey]

Maybe if you started posting here again the protesters wouldn't be blocking the bridge. Just a thought.

[Gunny]

Protesters piss me off.

It's great to voice your opinion, but if you claim to support non-violence, don't attack the police.

[shrink]

It's great to voice your opinion, but if you claim to support non-violence, don't attack the police.

I agree completely.

The other thing that kind of smacks of hypocrisy is that it feels like these protests are an attempt to block other Americans right to free speech and to assemble, simply because the protestors disagree with what they have to say. I'm all for the protestors having the right to say whatever they want, but by choosing the RNC, and trying to shout down opponents (with a lot of profanity as well!), I do not agree that their beliefs should supercede another groups rights to say what they want.

Let both groups speak, and let people in the middle (like myself) decide for themselves.

[Worm Guts]

It's great to voice your opinion, but if you claim to support non-violence, don't attack the police.

The protesters attacking the police probably aren't the same ones claiming to be non violent.

[Devilzsidewalk]

I like their spirit, but I question their tactics.
Unfortunately the most motivated seem to lack the creativity to achieve their goals in a non-stupid manner.

[Calinks]

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

[TheFranchise21]

It's great to voice your opinion, but if you claim to support non-violence, don't attack the police.

The protesters attacking the police probably aren't the same ones claiming to be non violent.

QFT, its those damn anarchists that are being violent and making the nonviolent protesters look bad.

[Calinks]

Coming home today, waiting for the bus at rice street by downtown I saw this guy with a bandanna covering his mouth. I was like, what the hell is he doing? Then when I got home I turned on the tv and the news was about the anarchist. They showed a clip of that same guy I saw standing on a bus shelter hoping around while police were trying to get him down.

[revprodeji]

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Actually, the original quote is "Hell is full of good wishes or desires." -- St. Bernard of Clairvaux

[Frozen316]

Bleh, why couldn't we have the Democratic National Convention

[kandiking]

i went to the RNC site on monday and i thought it was pretty well controlled. there's some pretty high-tech defense gear there, like a gate, painted and shaped like a cement barricade, that turns into a speed bump for the trucks getting in, then turns into a spike strip, then blends back into the other barricades.

speaking of the protestors, i was there when the big "parade" happened, and was suprised at the % of peace protestors and not a lot of environmentalist or gay rights activists. i walked back to my car and was counted as a "protestor" by the cops who wouldnt let me get off the path to where i was parked so i had to walk halfway back to the damn capital .

it was fun walking/"marching" with the nebraskans 4 peace though...

[Shox214]

Even though traffic was annoying for a day, I wouldn't mind if the protesters ran the Republicans out of town.

[Devilzsidewalk]

there's some pretty high-tech defense gear there, like a gate, painted and shaped like a cement barricade, that turns into a speed bump for the trucks getting in, then turns into a spike strip, then blends back into the other barricades.

you can get those at Menards

[shrink]

I heard today that a protestor from Flint, Michigan was arrested with a plan to explode Molatov Cocktails in the utility tunnels under the Excel Center, and others planned to try to kidnap Republican delegates.

[Devilzsidewalk]

I heard worse today, I-Witness video - a group that helped drop 400 made-up criminal charges against RNC demonstrators from the RNC convention in NY 4 years ago with video evidence that the police are liars and are now in St Paul to make video documentation of police conduct at the St Paul RNC - they had their offices broken into by the St Paul police. The police didn't have to use a warrant because they made up charges that there were hostages being held at I-Witness Video's office. Not a call to 9-1-1 that there were hostages, because who calls 9-1-1 to report such a non-emergency situation? Nope, according to the St Paul Police, some mystery person made a call to the RNC that I-Witness Video - amateur videographers mind you - were holding hostages. So the police broke in and their landlord freaked out and evicted them from their office.

St Paul has a nice little Gestapo niche I wasn't aware of, impressive stuff.

[Shox214]

Who are you guys voting for?

[Devilzsidewalk]

I don't interfere in mortal affairs

but if I did, I'd vote Barack, though somewhat unenthusiastically. I like Nader quite a bit more, but he doesn't stand a chance and he might almost be too much into social reform and Barack's policy my ultimately be more far-reaching. Namely is seemingly sincere desire to boost the quality and emphasis on science/math in the education system.

I think Barack will win, but I'm bracing myself for the worst as I know many voters secretly have an irrational love of George Bush's presidency and also many are secretly racists. And also John McCain was in a POW camp in Vietnam so he's automatically a war hero. And the uninformed suburban moms will probably gravitate towards his transparent choice for VP. But both major party candidates are whoring their campaign for cheap votes, but B.Ob at least has a couple good ideas, J.Mc hasn't said anything of interest. Maybe if he's true to his word about flex fuel cars, then his potential presidency won't be a complete failure. But B.Ob will disappoint people too I'm afraid.

Ultimately, B.Ob is the lesser of 2 evils, so thats where I'd vote. Lesser of 2 evils in the same way a 5 year old stealing a candy bar is the lesser of 2 evils when compared to say, Pontius Pilate

[shrink]

I also share the "lesser of two evils" feeling that devilz has, and I feel I've been voting that way in every election. I was undecided until just last week, but two things happened that pushed me into the McCain camp.

First, Obama said something in his acceptance speech that really turned me off. In a previous interview, John McCain joked (and everyone laughed) that if you didn't make $5 mil a year, you weren't "rich." He went on to say "seriously though .." 2-3 times amidst the laughter, and even said something like, "I'm sure someone will try to make me look bad about the joke." He was trying to get across that he wanted everyone to become rich, but he was right about someone using it. In his acceptance speech at the Democratic Convention, in the largest platform he's had so far, Obama flat out said that $5 mil was McCain's position, and not a single word about it being a joke.

To me, if you're running with virtually no experience, and as a "man of ideas," its only fair that you present your opponent's ideas honestly. If your ideas are better, they will previal. If you don't have actions to stand on, I need to believe in the integrity of your ideas, otherwise there is nothing for me to pin my vote on.

Second, I'm an independent (socially liberal, economically conservative) or maybe more precisely, disillusioned with both political parties. They both have a few good ideas I agree with, but they are always fighting each other so they don't happen. Obama claims to be running as a guy that will end partisanship. Yesterday, I went and looked up their voting record.

The "maverick "McCain has a history of voting along party lines 67%-90%. I think that's a remarkably independent number. Harry Reid has voted with the president 40% of the time, because many bills are just the operation of the country, or cooperative bills. Imagine the balls it take to vote 67%. If we say the 40% are unanimous votes by both parties, when McCain voted 67%, he voted 23% of the time on controversial bills with democrats, and 37% with republicans. Getting Lieberman to endorse him further shows me that in addition to what he's done (gang of 14, for example), he's independent.

Now Obama keeps saying he's the guy to end partisanship. What did his voting record turn out to be? In his three years in the Senate, he's voted along party lines 96%, 94% and 96%. He has no history whatsoever of being non-partisan. If you say it -- act it.

I have serious, serious concerns about John McCain. But honesty and partisanship are big deals with me, and McCain being the biggest thorn in the side of the Republicans for the past eight years kind of gives him some cred to me. I think that McCain is going to do what he thinks is right (though I assume several times I'll disagree), and he'll thumb his nose at detractors and polls. Scary, but in a first-term Wellstone kind of way, I find that admirable.

Lastly, I think McCain's done enough for America to be in that group of politicians who's earned the right to run for President. Obama just hasn't. Maybe he will in ten years, and if he can show he can act on his pretty words, he may earn it, and I may vote for him. I hope he does. I hope he runs an honorable campaign, becomes a bigger political player to get his ideas passed through congress, even when they disagree with his party. Right now though, its premature.

[shrink]

I think Barack will win, but I'm bracing myself for the worst as I know many voters secretly have an irrational love of George Bush's presidency and also many are secretly racists.

Dang it devilz! Since you are the board's master of humor and sarcasm, you've paralyzed my reaction to this!