The daily digest of Twin Cities culture | Secrets of the City

Since when is property crime "violence"?

If you owned any property, you wouldn't ask such a stupid question.

I have such mixed feelings about all of this. One on hand: I don't agree with the concept of mass arrests (the whole- we're arresting everyone on this bridge bit). On the other: The peaceful demonstrators who were following their permitted march routes were totally left alone.

The fact is: if the people who violated permits and decided that their right to assemble is more important than other people's right to assemble DIDN'T break off and do their own thing, next to no one would have been arrested.

The Republican Welcoming Committee wanted a fight, they wanted to disrupt. So all these calls of police overreaction seem a little disingenuous to me. What I find unfortunate is that they got what they wanted in one way. Although they sure didn't disrupt the convention. Nor did they get much attention outside of the local area.

The anarchist types did a good job spoiling the message of the protestors. Now instead of talking about the war, we've spent the week talking about jackbooted thugs and poop-flinging hippies.

Non-violent protest does not include destruction of property. Did MLK or Ghandi destroy property for the cause? No, at least not directly.

And Liberals (of which I'm one) seem to want to let this destruction of property pass, but if an anti-choice protester bombs or defaces an abortion clinic, they are all up in arms. At least that makes sense to their cause, unlike busting out a window at Macy's.

Maybe if Bush hadn't completely excluded all people that disagree with him from every public event that he has given for the last 8 years people wouldn't be so upset. There were a few protests during McCain's speech last night inside the hall from what looked to be Code Pink women. Mostly shouted down from the crowd chanting USA like some sort of mindless automatons.

I think what really upset people watching demonstrations this past week was the lack of order and accountability.

You have group like Vets for Peace holding a march then, at least there is a organization behind the activity. Someone or some group takes ownership of the event. Rules are passed down and there seems to be some order.

What happened this week so often were loose affiliations and people who came into town for the sole purpose of behaving like hooligans.

Excuse me. When I said "the protesters," I meant the Welcoming Committee types. I've been trying to avoid using the term "protesters" and blurring them with the overwhelming majority of those who played by the rules. Sorry.

There's so many credentials floating around, it's easy to get your hands on one. Media passes, guest passes for delegates, alternate delegates.

I kind of felt sorry for the guy. After so many dynamic speakers at both conventions, he looked like a doddering old man. Seemed like he said a lot of things that would appeal to many voters, but I'm guessing most people watching just noticed how bad he is at reading other people's words. He'll probably do much better in the debates when he can go off the cuff. Or, he might completely lose it and call Obama a c@#ksucker. Could go either way.

I still do not get what it is they wanted. They damaged the legitimate protesters message. The completely destroyed legitimate messages in favor of some ideology that will not function. The extremists seem to be taking over every aspect of the media and politics.

That's sad.

The First Amendment provides:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

The important qualifier is that your right to assemble only applies to peaceful assembly. The vast majority of the protests that occured in St. Paul / Minneapolis this week were peaceful and therefore undisturbed. It is unfortunate that a small number of wackos can ruin it for everyone else and overshadow the legitimate and lawful gatherings.

But the protesters efforts weren't in vain because we'll be out of Iraq by Monday, right?

What I noticed about McCain was his inability to raise his arms very high. Both of them were broken in Vietnam and were never set properly.

And for that, we're supposed to give him our vote?

The GOP sure has fallen on hard times. They used to put on such good shows. They really should have hired Britney's people.

The green screen popped up again.

The protesters

What was with the building in the background? It looked like a mansion, but I'm told it is actually Walter Reed Middle School in LA. What's the connection? Was it supposed to be Walter Reed Memorial?

Most of his reform lines were already claimed by Obama last week. Coming from someone who's been in Washington as long as he has, it sounded a bit "me too." Also it's a bit more believable when it's not your party that has been in control for the last 8 years, and if you still want to use the line, at least propose something other than the same policies as the last guy.

"Town Hall" looked more like a cat walk. And the solo spotlight when he came on stage didn't look too good either.

"We must catch up to history." ????? And is that really a good line for a 72 year old man who admits he doesn't know how to operate a computer or navigate the internet?

How good a sign is it when it's your VP pick that gets the biggest cheers of your night? How soon is Palin going to drop McCain from the ticket?

The anarchist types did a good job spoiling the message of the protestors. Now instead of talking about the war, we've spent the week talking about jackbooted thugs and poop-flinging hippies.

Amen.

And david, despite all that, McCain's gonna win. heh

@erica

But with the Graves right across the street, they kinda didn't have a choice but to line up outside. Someone's got to protect the lobbyists and other GOP dignitaries. But I seriously, don't know if they could have really risked it by not lining up.

What I was hearing from some council members and staff was that there had been assurances made that we wouldn't see the police in riot gear until absolutely necessary - but that that didn't happen.

Maybe their interpretation to that edict was a little racier than yours.

Just checked with the City of St. Paul: the report from the police on rnc will not be until the end of the month -- NOT September 10.

as for the note from Rat, I write for family newspapers. . .

I don't condone violence but what do we have to do to get through to our politicians that we do not support the so-called war on terror and we want our troops out of iraq and afghanistan immediately!

Uh, don't vote them into office in the first place?

P.S. Your "get through to them" argument is less with the politicians than it is with the people who elect them into office in the first place. Wouldn't it be more effective -- but, yeah, less riveting -- to be demonstrating at, say, some golf course clubhouse? Or the St. Paul Grill? That's where GOP voters tend to hang out, I hear.

you dirty patchouli-smelling hippie anarchist! what were you thinking, going anywhere near downtown st paul when the police state is in effect!

and taking a camera! I'm surprised they didn't shoot you!
didn't you know taking pictures is illegal now?

Why do they confiscate cameras anyways? Are these pigs violating your civil rights or what?

they confiscate your camera to check for dirty pictures they can download before returning it. cops gotta get off too, and beating down college students only gets them so far!

I think the police are just doing their job which would be enforcing the law.

Oh yeah, I saw that on facebook this morning.

Nevermind!

You raise a good point about the pigs wayne. Nothing to do with the rnc, but im sick of st. Anthony pd over stepping their boundaries and pulling people over in st. Paul and minneapolis.

Sorry mb but im not a thug but i i have a victim of police harassment before.

McCain was in the shit.

That explains why he's so full of it.

He looks like he stuffs it in his cheeks, too.

Mccain is really a bad guy. Im sick of all this cutsie hockey mom crap. Our boys our bleeding in iraq and we're devastating a country that was one of the earliest cradles of civilization.

The people of fc, sa, and lauderdale aren't paying taxes for their police to be bothering people in minneapolis and st. Paul.

no I think their suits and badges do plenty well to distinguish them.
also the way they carry themselves.

it's a shame you don't feel bad about all those poor people whose sexy you stole. unfortunately it just doesn't work the same when stuffed into an empty suit.

Stole it? No no no. I'm bringin' teh sexy back!

And FYI I'm waring blue jeans and a ratty t-shirt today.

These days, if you don't want to deal with a metric ass ton of protesters, then your city needs to go after the DNC and NOT the RNC.

Why can't a mob of Republican hooligans raise hell and make the party look bad?

because they wage their wars abroad. duh.

@wayne

The Hennepin County deputies were also in St. Paul. A lot of stuff was put on hold in Hennepin County because they were over there.

I saw a few times here people say 'the cops were just doing their job.' if they chose principle over money they would've refused to do the assignment of protecting the war criminals against the righteous indignation of the protesters.

ps, why are the minneapolis police over in st paul protecting republicans?
I don't want my tax dollars spent protecting republicans. maybe if they'd let some of my tax dollars get spent on fucking buses or trains or something I might not care as much that the police force I help pay for is off in another city protecting their stupid asses.

It wasn't just Minneapolis police sho were brought in to St. Paul. I talked with a couple of officers sitting in St. Paul squad cars who told me they were from Philadelphia.

From the Wall Street Journal:
"The federal government provided grants of $50 million to cover security costs at each national party convention; more than 3,500 officers from more than 50 federal, state and local agencies, including the National Guard, have been on duty in St. Paul."