What will happen at the Gooper convention next year?

[bluestateguy]

Supposedly many groups are planning to convene in New York City next summer to participate in protests of the Republican National Convention. Others have predicted that the protests could be huge and virtually shut the city down, or even lead to violence a la Chicago in 1968. I have no way of knowing if things will work out this way. There will have to be a perfect political storm for the demonstrations to amount to anything meaningful. All political conventions draw some protestors, and if there are only a few thousand people the media will likely ignore it as simply routine convention protesting. No doubt the White House goons will try to exile the protestors out to Long Island so the precious Emperor will not have his feelings hurt by seeing them. If the protests are to mean anything there will have to be at least 300,000 protestors and they will have to make their voices heard where the establishment can hear them (that means not allowing goons to exile them to another borough of NYC).

[ShaneGR]

1. Well, here's my take on it

With the GOP Convention at MSG being listed as National Security Zone, and the responsibility of the Homeland Security Department.... the whole city is going to be shut down.

[La_Serpiente]

2. I have heard

that they have been planning for the convention ever since it started.

They want at least 250,000 people there. I hope they get that much.

Here is a website

http://www.cofc.org/Newsflash/mass_worldwide_protest_during_th.htm

[ajacobson]

3. Oh, I'd say

about 800 or 900 arrests.

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

4. Well, I live here in the Big Apple

and I can tell you that the only reason anyone was willing to put up with those jackasses having their convention here was for the economic boost. Now that Douchebag DeLay is going to put everyone on a boat, the one reason anyone was willing to have them here just went out the window.

Most of us here never wanted them coming here, regard them as the scum of the earth, and wish that they would keep the fuck out and continue loathing us from afar. I try to stay out of the prediction business so I won't say definitively what's going to happen at or outside the convention, but it won't be pretty, I can tell you that much.

[Silverhair]

5. They will be ready. Does anybody remember 72?

The yippies were going to be there (Palm Beach wasn't it?) in such overwhelming numbers that they were going to shut the convention down. Security was ready for them. Some clashes. Nixon got corinated, and went on to beat McGovern.

Security will be more than ready for demonstrators. TV crews will be looking for violent demonstrators to film, because that is more interesting than peaceful protesting. Joe & Jane Average will get a negative impression, not of W, but of the demonstators. For some, that will turn their votes away from our cause. Joe & Jane don't like unruly demonstrators. Sorry, but that's the way it is. Saw it all before in 72.