New York Awaits Republicans With Reluctance and Unease NYT

[Nambe]

As an anticipated 50,000 delegates, demonstrators and others land in New York City this weekend for the Republican National Convention, the four-day extravaganza opening Monday at Madison Square Garden, half of all New Yorkers are approaching the week with a mix of dread and unease, like reluctant hosts wishing the party were in someone else's house.

Fifty-three percent of city residents say they are very or somewhat worried that a terrorist attack will happen during the convention, according to a New York Times/ CBS News poll. Forty-eight percent say they are very or somewhat worried that demonstrations or protest marches will lead to violence. Fifty-two percent said some other city should have been picked to hold the convention. ..

"We're vulnerable," Vera Lamb, 55, an office manager for the Internal Revenue Service in Brooklyn, said in an interview after the poll was completed. "It would be the time to strike. At the same time, I know they think we're prepared and focused, so they might do it the week after. But one is definitely coming. I can feel it." ..

Ride Don’t Drive * * It’s Global Cool

[SoDesuKa]

1. Republicans are Unwelcome

Republicans are going to get the cold shoulder wherever they go. Selecting New York in September is a ripoff of September 11th. It's going to get nasty, and it should.

[goforit]

2. Hmmmm..........Just throw the Damn Oil overboard and call it a day!!!

Don't just sit and stew about it.

Kick them out!!!!

[DeepModem Mom]

3. Results of NYT poll of New Yorkers: support Kerry, oppose Iraq --

"The nearly 5,000 delegates and alternates will be arriving this weekend in a city in which 68 percent of the residents polled said they would vote for the Democratic ticket if the election were held today; 63 percent said they think the Republican Party cared "not much" or "not at all" about their problems; 65 percent said they think the United States should have stayed out of Iraq; and 77 percent said the Iraq war has not been worth the loss of American life...."

[nightperson]

5. These numbers should be emphasized to the rest of the country!

How do Bush supporters across the country explain away the long-standing fact that the "9/11 city" is a Bluer-than-Blue region in a non-battleground Blue state!

If you're concerned about terrorism you vote for.... :shrug: :freak: :shrug: Figure it out!

[mrbill]

4. my little texas town has a delegate coming.

The local newspaper/shopper ran a front page story.

Pat Peale, delegate, was pictured "modeling" the offical "cowboy boots and a chemical filtration mask required by convention organizers in the event of an attack or if gas is used by police to repel convention protesters."

Hope some new york waiter spits in her food.

[JohnyCanuck]

6. Anti-Bush signs displayed on rooftops to be visible from the air

NEW YORK - In case their discontent isn't already clear, protesters are spelling it out. "Stop Bush Now" signs and other anti-GOP messages are appearing throughout the city well before delegates arrive for the Republican National Convention, which begins Monday.

A 25-by-75-foot banner that reads 'Save America Defeat Bush,' dwarfs pedestrians and vehicles where it hangs five blocks from Republican convention headquarters at New York's Madison Square Garden, Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2004. The sign hangs from the offices of the Unite Here union, which represents 440,000 workers from various industries, including hospitality, gaming and textiles. In case their intention isn't already clear, hroughout the city, activists are plastering not-so-subtle signs, like 'Stop Bush Now,' to greet Republicans swooping into town for the convention, even before their airplanes even touch the ground.

Bright blue tarps, painted with glaring yellow letters, are going up on dozens of rooftops in Brooklyn, under the flight paths into busy New York airports. Thousands of delegates and convention guests peering down at the city might see messages like "No more years" and "Re-defeat Bush."

"We just hope that they'll look down and ask themselves, 'Why, why do they feel so strongly? Why is it that New York feels this way?'" said Genevieve Christy, who has painted more than 80 banners since thinking of the idea a few weeks ago.


www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0825-10.htm

[FlaGranny]

7. Cool idea!

Very, very cool. Go Genevieve!