Sure, free speech is a nice idea, but there’s something at stake here, just as it was in Denver: the big, safe, happy American Family that Barack and Michelle want to make for us, if we help them. That American Family is about Unity, not dissent; about Victories over those that threaten America (from the outside or inside); about pride and loyalty to the factory jobs we are blessed with; about our own clean, strong families (can you believe those beautiful girls!); and about Our Faith.

Now, those scruffy protesters we saw in the video aren’t exactly a part of Our American Family, are they? Employed? Even students? Supporting the troops? Loving wives and husbands? Hmmmmm.

Should they really be allowed to try to tear down the Family that Michelle and Barack are making for us? Think about it. I know Joan is.

one we will continue to slog, boots making sucking noises the whole distance, toward. Case in point, take a look at this email from Nader/Gonzalez recently:

"Obama is such a man of principle.

Take Israel/Palestine as an example.

Tradition has it that former presidents get a speaking slot at the national conventions.

Not at Obama's convention.

Not in Denver.

President Jimmy Carter was scheduled to speak at the DNC in Denver.

And then, at the last minute, his speech was cancelled.

Why?

Because Carter has spoken out about the plight of the Palestinian people?

Because Carter has written a book with the descriptive title: Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid?

Because Obama didn't want to offend the militarist American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)?

Apparently yes, according to this article from the Jewish Daily Forward.

Denying Carter a speaking slot at the DNC "shows the party gets it and Barack Obama's campaign gets it," according to one Democratic party activist.

Well, we get it too.

While Obama and McCain take the hardline AIPAC militarist line.

Nader/Gonzalez will stand with the millions of Americans, Israelis and Palestinians who want peace, with justice for all."

The courts are our last refuge against this sort of tyranny. Given how many of Cheney's judicial appointments were rubberstamped by our corrupt congress, we may be shit out of luck on that score as well. What's left?

You'd think on a local level, a commander or incident commander would simply say "I'm not risking my men for this nonsense."

You are assuming that a police commander would consider busting "hippies" for anything whatsoever to be nonsense.

That is an unwarranted assumption.

Hippies are the most dangerous group in American to a lot of right wingers, and the cops, while not exclusively right wingers, lean that way so far they have to use outriggers to keep from turning turtle.

That's a TASING!

Only MSM sanctioned pro-war and corporate propaganda permitted.

This has been going on since the 60s.

You didn't know or notice?

Text of H.R. 1955: Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-1955

This police action sounds like it could fall under what is referred to as the 'Thought Crime Bill'. It was passed in the Congress earlier this year and awaits approval from the Senate. Along with the other Bills passed under Patriots Act, Military Commission Act, FISA and so on along with numerous Presidential sighing statements we have now come to a State where what is written in private or on websites can be used to arrest you. I just don't know what to say.... This Bill has not been through the complete passage process and yet it appears thy are already enforcing it.

I just looked on google news and nothing on these raids. This won't get much attention unless people make sure people know about it. Forward the story to all your friends, so they know about the assaults on our freedoms. If you silence one of us, you silence us all.

Living in CO, I was extremely angry at the way the local media reported on the police presence at the DNC. No one mentioned that the police were breaking the law by not being identifiable. I only know about it because it was reported on Democracy Now. They had no name badges, and definetly acted like they knew they wouldn't be held accountable. Not only did the media practically fawn over the massive police presence, they actively cheered it. The Rocky Mountain News ran an article how on "reassuring the heavy police presence was". Yes nothing better then a police state. I feel so much safer now. I don't think it's a coincidence that the protests were much smaller then expected. That was definetly the goal, to scare people away from protesting. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

Of the two major parties, the only candidate not to call for mass murder of Arab (or Persian) woman and children is the Republican chick from Alaska. Give her time, give her time.

McCain thinks some half-assed pick of a VP candidate that might be labeled "libertarian leaning" (whatever that means) will appease the Ron Paul supporters. What a laugh, they are not even welcome at the convention and (here comes the on-topic part) may well get their heads knocked about also.

From Republican Dean Singleton's MediaNews Group:

http://articles.latimes.com/2006/mar/22/business/fi-singleton22

(I mean, the wildly pro-McCain Pioneer Press of the Twin Cities)

http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/

Buckets of urine, slingshots, anti-bus weapons seized in raid on anti-RNC protesters

By Mara H. Gottfried, Elizabeth Mohr and Dave Orrick

Article Last Updated: 08/30/2008 04:29:33 PM CDT

Ramsey County sheriff's deputies found weapons and devices to disable buses - among other items - in searches in the Twin Cities last night and today. Authorities said the items came from "key members of the RNC Welcoming Committee," a self-described anarchist group. Five people have been arrested and four properties have been searched, according to the sheriff's office.

Here is the sheriff's PR release:

"The 'Welcoming Committee' is a criminal enterprise made up of 35 anarchists who are intent on committing criminal acts before and during the Republican National Convention," said Sheriff Bob Fletcher in a statement. "These acts include tactics to blockade and disable delegate buses, breaching venue security and injuring police officers. They have recruited assistance in their criminal conspiracy from other anarchists groups throughout the country. Through their plans and actions they have exhibited a blatant disregard for the law and the safety of others."

However, the AP says no arrests:

Protesters said police raided three Minneapolis homes on Saturday after a late-night raid on a building used by protest organizers. No arrests were made, but the protesters said deputies seized laptops, protest literature, bus schedules, a map and sign-making materials. Sheriff Bob Fletcher said authorities moved to head off efforts to disrupt the convention.

Those stories don't seem to match...

This is also just the kind of thing that the Rove crowd loves to get involved in... and then repost on right-wing sites. This went on in Denver, for example, with Alex Jones attacking Michelle Malking for the FOX cameras:

http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/08/michelle-malkin-attacked-at-denver.html

Quote: "What started out as another failed Leftist protest turned violent. Conservative pundit and author Michelle Malkin who was there to cover the protest as a reporter was attacked!!!"

So, how can we sort out the various conspiracy theories? Let's see how the story is being covered. The two main news outlets breaking the story are the Associated Press and the St. Petersburg Times. Yes, there is a connection:

William Dean Singleton, Chairman and CEO, MediaNews Group, Denver, Colorado, member of AP's exclusive board of directors.

Tom Curley is the media executive who owns USA Today and is also president and director of the Associated Press.

So, that's the massive corporate media version of events.

If you want a local independent view of the RNC security operation, one you won't find anywhere else (not at DN!, that's for sure), look at this article published by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, which is a large but independent paper, much hated by Dean Singleton and other media empire-builders:

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