Who plans to protest the Repug Convention in NY?!

[peabody71]

It could very easily become a sixties style convention protest.
The fact that they chose NY should serve to only inspire us.
Hate to say it but the media will ignore us unless we create some sort of civil unrest.

[lcordero]

1. I will not support hurting people and destroying property.

[Bombtrack]

2. like 68?

that went so well

People here really know how to shoot themselves in the foot

The GOP would love nothing more than for the news reporting how the already strained security was tested by annoying leftists with nothing better to do

It's a really stupid idea

Do you think that if you don't protest people will think that everybody loves the republicans?

No, just like if I didn't see a McDonalds commercial for 3 days I wouldn't think they went out of bussiness.

No matter how you try and spin it, it's unconstructive

[maha]

4. Not like '68, but ...

I would love to see peaceful demonstrations in NYC throughout the convention, focused especially on the way the Republicans have politicized the September 11 anniversary. New Yorkers would get behind this.

[tedoll78]

6. BINGO! WE HAVE A WINNER!

".. focused especially on the way the Republicans have politicized the September 11 anniversary."

YES! For two years, they've basically danced in the blood of those 3000 people because those attacks saved Bush's ass. I can almost hear them wishing for another attack in October 2004.

edit: grammar

[lcordero]

16. Ok, look at it this way

If we don't actively protest shrub* then he will steal New York's electoral votes <---how do you like them apples????

[maha]

20. Huh?

New York City will vote for whatever the Dems nominate, be it animal, vegetable, or mineral, and the convention in Madison Square Garden won't change that. It will not be close, and I don't see how the convention will enable Shrub to "pull a Florida" in New York.

[lcordero]

29. You forget about diebold

it is the vote fraud machine
If we don't get out there to make it public that we hate his bitch ass then Pataki will see it fit to steal our votes. Keep in mind that Bloomberg said that he will win his next election by a landslide. There is no way that he will ever win by a landslide...unless another we have another Andrew Cuomo or Mark Green. If something like this should happen, Auliffe better start stripping people of their (D)s.

[maha]

31. That's a separate issue

I agree we have to fight the vote fraud machines, but that's a separate issue from protesting the Republican Convention.

[HootieMcBoob]

63. really?

the same way new york city voted for whatever democratic mayoral candidate has been on the ballot for each of the last three elections?

We have to have to hit the streets at unprecedented levels. Huge numbers of protestors in the streets is definitely called for. Peaceful civil disobediance, not violence.

When people see the peaceful way that the Democratic convention unfolds in MA and then contrast that with the massive protests in NYC it could make a big impact.

[maha]

71. I'd love it

"When people see the peaceful way that the Democratic convention unfolds in MA and then contrast that with the massive protests in NYC it could make a big impact."

I'd love to see massive protests in NYC IF there is no violence. Or no violence beyond a few rowdies herded into paddywagons -- gonna be somethin'. However, what we DON'T need is a violent confrontation with National Guard in Herald Square. Bad, bad move. And unless this thing is planned very carefully and kept under control, that's what you are gonna get.

[peabody71]

3. Hold on a minute.

Hurting People?
No not a carbon copy of 68'.
What I am getting at is that if we could force the media to show some constructive, and yes I mean constructive, civil disobedience at the convention it would most definetely have an effect on Bush's image at a time when people are paying attention.
There is this warped belief that it is never appropriate to vent and show our frustration. I don't believe that.

[Bombtrack]

5. The convention

is already going to strain the city and state municipal workers including police like nothing since 9-11. Any unneeded distraction or disruption by bored liberals would play right into the RW medias hands.

Nixon tried to manipulate liberals into doing the same thing at the 72 GOP convention, with infiltrators sparking chaos. It would not be difficult for Bush to do the same, post 9-11

[peabody71]

7. I really don't get what you are saying.

How in the world would showing our distaste for Bush play in the hands of Bush? Millions have constantly protested Bush around the country, and the average American doesn't even know it. On Feb 15th, the largest day of protest in world history and the media ackted like it was a barbeque.
We have the ability to force it on them, in a time when people will be watching.
68' and all of its problems did not help the Republicans.

[maha]

9. See message #8

Whoever plans this must be very familiar with New York City.

[peabody71]

11. There is no doubt that there will be protests.

Of some sort or another.

[maha]

14. Absolutely right

And I plan to be in on them.

[HootieMcBoob]

64. bored liberals?

What the fuck are you talking about? Have you been reading the papers lately. Jesus Christ!

[maha]

8. Logistics

You don't need 'civil disobedience.' Just about anything you do that would be 'disobedient' will just piss people off, and I don't mean Republicans, I mean New Yorkers.

You can bet the NYPD and National Guard will not permit large groups of unauthorized people to loiter about in the Herald Square area during convention week. This is not just to protect Republicans. Madison Square Garden sits right on top of Penn Station, a major commuter hub. Hundreds of thousands of people travel through Penn Station every day, and it's an area considered sensitive to terrorist attack. New Yorkers are sensitive about anything that compromises antiterrorism security.

Armed National Guard are in Penn Station 24/7. I'm sure their numbers will be increased during the convention. You do NOT want to confront the National Guard. Even if nobody is shot, you will end up looking like a jerk. They are there to protect New Yorkers from terrorists. This would be a shame, because most New Yorkers will be sympathetic to the Cause. Bush is not much admired here.

I don't know what kind of demonstration permits the City might hand out that week. A really big demonstration eats up a lot of police and shuts down traffic. For example, last February in the big peace demonstration the entire East Side was pretty much closed off. I'm sure the city will permit no such thing during the convention.

On the other hand, smaller organized demonstrations such as a silent walking vigil around Ground Zero would say a lot. You could have bigger rallies in the Sheep Meadow in Central Park. There's lots of good stuff that could be done. Just think it through first.

[peabody71]

10. And what attention, Nationally, is a small silent protest going to bring?

We've lost our fire.
The media controls everyting that it can.
A MAJOR display of civil disobedience would basically dictate that it is shown on Our public airwaves.
I don't know about you but I am that pissed off.
And obviously what we are doing, as the opposition, isn't really doing it.
What exactly are you afraid of anyway.
Remeber Jefferson stated that a good revolution is neccessary to maintain our republic from time to time.
It is time. And not a shot need be fired.
Just a blatent venting of our frustration.

[maha]

12. If it's done right

You can get enormous media attention if you're smart about it.

You can have big rallies in Central Park to vent frustration. But if you go out into the streets you will have to rely on small, carefully orchestrated (and publicized) demonstrations.

I'm not saying this because I don't like big, loud demonstrations. I'm saying it because I know what is possible and what isn't. A big, angry mass of people surrounding Madison Square Garden will not be possible. And with a big crowd there will be some incidents, if only because there WILL be confrontations with NYPD. If you don't have a permit, it will get very ugly.

[maha]

13. You don't know New York

Remember, you've got the A Team news organizations of the major networks and newspapers in New York. The city will be swarming with journalists looking for stories. You will get national media attention if you are smart about it.

[HootieMcBoob]

66. you're wrong

I was here for the democratic convention in '92 and there were tons of protests even then, from act up and all kinds of groups.

NYC has a long long tradition of protests and there will without doubt be protests during the convention. There are throughout the summer untold number of parades and all kinds of things that go on in the city and nobody complains.

The residents of this city are used to these things and even expect them. Hell a whole hell of a lot of us will be organizing them. If the city doesn't allow for peaceful protest there will be lots of yelling and screaming.

Anybody who says that the city would be upset by protesting and hellraising doesn't understand New York City even a little.

[maha]

68. Do learn to read.

> Anybody who says that the city would be upset by protesting and hellraising doesn't understand New York City even a little.

Nobody is saying the city would be upset by protesting. However, I don't see much tolerance for anything that might cause National Guardsmen to start shooting into crowds.

I was in lower Manhattan on September 11, and I've been in the city nearly every day since (I live in Westchester). And I've been here when Penn Station was emptied out of tens of thousands of people because a sniffer dog lingered over a package. And I've been here when there were rumors of gas in the subways. And I watched lots of bagpipers at the funerals at St. Patrick's.

The city is not in the mood for "hellraising" if that means "violence." Trust me on this.

[HootieMcBoob]

73. who said anything about violence?

There are tons of protests here all the time and there has never been any shooting into crowds. Cmon lets get back to reality here.

As far as my reading goes -- who wrote:

" Just about anything you do that would be 'disobedient' will just piss people off, and I don't mean Republicans, I mean New Yorkers."

i think that i know how to read please don't piss me off by saying that. New York City will have protests during the convention there just is no way to stop them. The city will not stop, and the more people who are involved in them the better.

When we say civil disobedience we don't mean violence.

[maha]

77. I don't mean violence, either, but

"When we say civil disobedience we don't mean violence."

Explain that to the guy who started the thread. HE explicitly equated civil disobedience with vandalism and violence.

I think you and I are on the same page, actually. I'm trying to talk down some guy who wants to re-create the Seattle street war in Manhattan.

[Divernan]

15. You're not familiar with The City, are you?

The street grid of New York makes it extremely easy for the police to block off large areas from protestors. And the New York police are very expert at doing just that, as was seen at the massive peace rally in Central Park . Among those areas will be the convention location itself and any other areas, such as Ground Zero, when the Repubs are using it for staged events. That is where the news coverage will be, and we have not yet found a way to "force" the media to give anything but "de minimis" coverage to anti-Bush demonstrations. I hope the New Yorkers do find a way to peacefully and effectively demonstrate during the GOP convention. But it would be very easy for Republican/agent provocateurs (spelling?) to infiltrate any demo to try to instigate violent and/or destructive behaviors, which would win sympathy for the GOP. You advocate "civil unrest". What exactly do you mean by that?

[peabody71]

17. With regret. BREAK A FUCKING WINDOW!

[maha]

19. Karl Rove will thank you.

Send your suggestions to ol' Karl. He may even pay you.

[maha]

18. Good point

"But it would be very easy for Republican/agent provocateurs (spelling?) to infiltrate any demo to try to instigate violent and/or destructive behaviors, which would win sympathy for the GOP."

Yes, which is why anything done in the streets will have to be carefully orchestrated and controlled, and the number of people limited to be kept manageable. Demonstrate smart, not big.

"You advocate "civil unrest". What exactly do you mean by that?"

That worried me, too.

[peabody71]

21. Ridiculous. How can you substanciate your fears.

I do not get it. KArl Rove would like for the public to be so angry at what the administration has done that it brakes the peace.
What in the world are you saying.

[maha]

22. Voice of Experience

I've seen it before. During the Vietnam War era, operates of the Republicans (more specifically of CREEP -- the Committee to Re-elect the President) infiltrated demonstrations and committed acts of vandalism, which caused people to turn against the anti-war movement and support Nixon. (And, of course, hotheads in the anti-war movement did some damage themselves.)

Think about it. The 1968 protests in Chicago helped to elect Richard Nixon. Acts of vandalism attributed to the anti-war movement re-elected Richard Nixon. That's the plain truth.

As an eyewitness to the destruction of the World Trade Center, I believe I can speak for New Yorkers when I say that anyone who deliberately causes any vandalism or damage to the city whatsoever will get no sympathy. And anyone who interferes with security will get no sympathy.

However -- and I cannot emphasize this enough -- New Yorkers don't like Bush. So they will be very supportive of PEACEFUL demonstrations.

[peabody71]

23. Seattle. Some vandalism. Good press. Basically a success.

The anti-war movement in the 60s was a minority.
The resistance of the left,now is basically a majority.
Not necessarily voters, but a majority of the populus none the less.

[maha]

24. Seattle?

Based on news coverage, Seattle was a mixed bag. It didn't sound good at all, but then I'm on the East Coast. You say you want good news coverage? Seattle did not get good news coverage.

Regarding minority/majority -- you are way too young to remember, aren't you? I suspect the percentage of people supporting or not supporting Iraq right now is pretty close to support/not support of Vietnam during Nixon's term. And, yes, I am old enough to remember it well.

I have been hoping for some demonstrations in New York to counter the Republicans and suggested this a couple of times on my web site, but after talking to you I'm about to change my mind. The last thing we need is a bunch of damnfool hotheads showing up in New York and making us look bad, and the Republicans look virtuous and law-abiding. Ugh.

[peabody71]

25. My whole point is. Protest have proven to be totally useless.

It should not be that way. This is our country and damned our concerns must be noticed.

[DemNoir]

26. Amen to that!

Protests are news for maybe a day, they do nothing to change things. Its better to save your energy to support candidates that can make a difference.

[maha]

28. Be realistic

One protest won't change anything. It takes a movement, over time, to change things. Demonstrations can be effective -- consider the Civil Rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s. If you expect to change the world with one protest, however, you will be disappointed.

[General Discontent]

49. What ever you do, Don't upset the opposition party...

Because if you do, they will get upset and oppose you. Besides, I'm trying to win them over with logic and reason, using an emotional argument that is factually correct. I sense that it is starting to work.... Blah Blah Blah.





D Wolfman

[maha]

50. Another 12-year-old heard from

[HootieMcBoob]

69. I can not believe some of the things I'm reading here.

protest small? don't upset anybody? God God Almighty people!!!! Have you all gone soft in the head? Has the DLC taken everyone over in the middle of the night?

We need millions of people!!! Maybe on the Great Lawn. Maybe with coordinated peaceful marches through midtown. Little demonstrations in time square and tompkins square park and washington square park. Theater protests, artists protests all kinds of things! And you know what, there will be.

[maha]

74. That's exactly what I'm talkin' about

> Maybe on the Great Lawn. Maybe with coordinated peaceful marches through midtown. Little demonstrations in time square and tompkins square park and washington square park. Theater protests, artists protests all kinds of things! And you know what, there will be.

Those are all good ideas. I'm all for it.

What some of us are arguing against are busloads of hotheads showing up to march Madison Square Garden. Kent State redux.

New Yorkers will be very supportive of peaceful demonstrations. I was in the 300,000 + group that marched from Times Square to Washington Square Park last March. It was beautiful. All along the way, people were applauding. People came out on their balconies with peace signs and waved down at us. You could feel the love all the way down Broadway.

However, if the hotheads start getting violent, or compromise security, or if the National Guard starts shooting, it won't be so nice.

[maha]

27. Protests are useless?

Protests are not useless, but they can be counterproductive if you are not careful.

If you are planning something in New York, you have to plan it for New York. New York is a very different city from Seattle. It is not only a lot bigger; it is also much denser. Moving large numbers of people around in New York City is a logistical nightmare.

Also, to New Yorkers September 11 isn't just something they watched on television. If you do anything to compromise security measures you will get NO sympathy from anybody here.

If the only way you can think of to express yourself is to smash something up, do us all a favor and stay in Seattle.

[bearfartinthewoods]

57. the convention will already be a terror target

just imagine if something were to happen and any republican can spin it that security assets were spread thin because of protests.

we won't be able to be elected dog cather for a decade.

[Capn Sunshine]

42. The 60's anti war movement were NOT a minority

Do you honestly think that things would have changed if we were?

Many of the same people in charge then are in charge now(Bush 1,Rumsfeld, Cheney, Perle, Wolfowitz,Powell,etc. etc.) they are just older and know better how to screw with us.

[bearfartinthewoods]

59. Good press??????????

on what planet?

[Catt03]

30. What if the Republicans use Ground Zero

as I've read, where Bush will lay the conerstone for the new construction?

I think the protest should be prepared for all these Rovian antics that will tried to be pulled off. This, of all protests, has to be planned very, very well.

[maha]

32. Yes! Yes! Yes!

That's got ME fired up, for sure. We can't acquiesce. But the last thing we need is to have a bunch of angry people showing up and smashing things.

Think Ghandi, people. Think Margin Luther King. Nonviolent resistance. It's the only kind of resistance that actually works.

[maha]

33. I think better when I'm naked.

I was in the shower and had an inspiration.

You can bet that a large number of survivors and family of victims of September 11 will be opposed to politicizing of the memorial. New York firefighters (who think they own Ground Zero) will want to say something also. If these people were organized to maintain a nonviolent vigil during the convention, it would not only be Karl Rove-proof but would get some sympathetic press.

Such a vigil would need to be carefully controlled, of course. If the press found out that some part of the participants were ringers, it would be counterproductive.

[starroute]

34. What about extended pre-911 commemorations?

Say a month's worth of events, starting in mid-August. Silent vigils. Concerts. Events in support of the families and the firefighters. A steady stream of broad-based, respectful multi-ethnic commemorations.

Perhaps some tasteful mentions of various related issues, from the stonewalling on the causes of 911 to the economic pinch on the city today.

If this were done right, and done in a way to garner media attention, when the Republicans swing into town, it could make their hooplah seem like a fart in church. Garish, exploitative, and self-serving.

There's a lot to be said for being on the ground first and putting your mark on the situation. It sure beats the purely reactive nature of standard protests.

[maha]

35. Excellent

Yes, this is the way to go. Jeez, I wish I were better at organizing things. What would be the next step?

[gristy]

41. write letters to people who are experienced at this

and could take it on. Maybe the folks at The Nation? Who else?

[gristy]

40. Yes, starroute, I like it

Especially the idea of having a month's worth of events (though maybe two weeks would be enough, though) AND getting it kicked off BEFORE the Republican's get into town. As you say,

"it could make their hooplah seem like a fart in church. Garish, exploitative, and self-serving."

Yes, yes, yes!

[peabody71]

36. That's it. PROTEST NAKED!!!!!

[maha]

51. I'm an old lady. Naked old ladies are very scary.

[gristy]

37. What is needed is some sort of "event"

which will force the media to share coverage of the Republican Convention with this "event".

What is being suggested here is that this event be some kind of protest, with one or two here suggesting that this protest include civil disobedience (e.g. breaking windows). I agree that breaking windows or committing any kind of vandalism is a bad idea and one that Mr. Rove would actually favor.

But maybe there is something else that could be done. What about a large "peace conference" at some big hotel or theatre. You could invite Nelson Mandela, John Nichols, Arundhati Roy, and lots of others. A donation would be requested for admission. Any proceeds collected in excess of expenses could be donated to a "peace charity" of some sort. You wouldn't even have to do it in NYC.

The goal is simply to push some of *'s coverage off the front page AND to get the democratic/peace/activist message out.

[maha]

54. Excellent

That's the best idea I've heard yet.

[HootieMcBoob]

75. civil disobedience does not equal violence

Martin Luther King and Ghandi practiced non-violent civil disobedience.

[Ein]

38. I will be there.

Bus ticket, 2 hour ride

I'm so down.

[chomskyite2]

39. without a doubt

theres no way i wont

[Ein]

43. when it comes closer to the date us DU'er's should....

arrange a meeting place and form our own little sect. :)

Sounds like fun, I'd love to rap Chomsky with somebody

[ElsewheresDaughter]

44. i will be there

[peabody71]

45. A solid week of demonstrations relating to 9-11. Good one.

Beat the Repugs to the punch. THis is a great idea.
But the huge question still remains. Where does the media coverage come from? And coverage that is more than a sound bite.
This is the real problem. One that needs to be very seriously considered.

[maha]

56. Protest smart, not hard

Get the 9/11 survivors and families involved. Invite "names" for a teach-in or counter-convention.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

46. I sure as hell will protest Bush and the terrorists, like the Saudi royals

that Bush has been in business with for years. Bush belongs in prison right next to the Saudi royals and Binladens and Carlyle executives that attacked us on 911.

Times like these make me wish I could support the death penalty. I guess I just can't.

[bluestateguy]

47. Maybe

I'm supposed to be in Chicago that weekend for a convention. But if I have the means and a place to stay I may take the train in and do the protests for a day.

[peabody71]

48. I just contacted Internationa Answer Coalition!

I presented our ideas relating to extended demonstrations prior to and during the Repug Convention. Hopefully I can get their attention.
www.internationalanswer.org

These are the folks that can pull this off. They have worked with MoveOn.org to plan all of the protests that have been going on.

[maha]

52. Oh, no! Not them!

Um, bad move. Not ANSWER. No no no.

MoveOn.org, yes. United for Peace and Justice, yes. But if ANSWER takes over, I'm out. ANSWER is not an honest organization.

[CWebster]

55. Yes it is

Pulled off the anti-war protests masterfully through grassroots networking and bashing them is strategy to sabotage those efforts and intentionally divisive.

Criticism of Israel is NOT ANTI-SEMITIC and more well-deserved with every passing day. ANSWER just happens to be on the cutting edge.

[maha]

58. Not really

United for Peace and Justice organized the two big NYC protests, which were bigger than anything International ANSWER did.

ANSWER is an extremist Marxist organization. Their sponsorship will discredit the entire enterprise from the get-go. The last thing you want to do is alienate the center.

[Lars39]

70. I had never even heard of ANSWER until the protests.

I listened/watched some of their broadcast on LINK. I like the idea that it can be a forum/platform for so many different agendas, but I also feel that there were too many topics to be effective. If you're protesting the war or the administration, it needs to be vocalized as one message, or variations of the same message, not 50 totally different topics. Just my 0.2. :shrug:

[HootieMcBoob]

79. I agree

I'm kinda turned off by answer too. It gets to be too much about mumia and all that stuff. Focus is importanat and united for pease and moveon.org are great. if answer does get involved it can't be allowed to muddy the waters.

[maha]

60. Joe Conason speaks to your "cutting edge"

http://archive.salon.com/opinion/conason/2003/02/20/unmovic/index.html

Joe Conason referred to International ANSWER as "radical stooges for facsism." That should tell you something.

I maintained a Michael Kelly Watch page for Media Whores Online (until, of course, Michael Kelley died). The late Mr. Kelly was doing a great job using ANSWER to discredit the entire peace movement. (From my very messy archives, scroll down to "Who's Left?) Karl Rove is prepared to take up the mantle, no doubt. It's infuriating, yes, but that's how the game is played.

See also this article by Michelle Goldberg from Salon, February 12:

http://archive.salon.com/news/feature/2003/02/12/lerner_ban/index.html

When this blatantly intolerant thing happened in San Francisco the Freepers were all over it like ticks on a dog.

First rule: Don't hand your enemy ammunition.

[CWebster]

62. So?

if the Left wants to do the Rights legwork, or if American Jews are progressives who care about human rights until it comes to the apartheid state of Israel, than at least there are some willing to risk the arrows in order to tell the truth. Time will redeem them, it always does.

[maha]

65. (Sigh) you didn't read the link, did you?

Try again:

Paste begins

Intolerance on the left

Michael Lerner, liberal rabbi and harsh critic of Ariel Sharon, finds himself blacklisted by ANSWER, the group co-sponsoring Sunday's big antiwar rally in San Francisco.

- - - - - - - - - - - -
By Michelle Goldberg



Feb. 12, 2003 | Even as other members of the democratic left have denounced the hardcore Maoists and Stalinists behind much recent antiwar organizing, Michael Lerner, the dovish San Francisco rabbi and editor of the liberal Jewish magazine Tikkun, has defended the role of sectarians in the movement. When members of his congregation complained about the stridently anti-Israel rhetoric at demonstrations sponsored by ANSWER, a front group for the Workers World party, he urged them to turn out anyway, and Tikkun sent busloads of people to both Washington and San Francisco. He co-signed a letter to Salon criticizing Salon's criticism of ANSWER and Not In Our Name, which is connected to the Revolutionary Communist Party.

So Lerner was understandably outraged to learn that he'd been banned from speaking at the San Francisco rally ANSWER is co-sponsoring on Sunday. ... The real reason for his exclusion, Lerner believes, is that, while he is unrelenting in his opposition to Ariel Sharon's government and his call for Palestinian statehood, he supports Israel's right to exist and condemns Palestinian terrorism. Read more ...

Paste ends.

ANSWER has its own agenda, and it's an agenda that is not compatible with most people the peace movement needs. And, frankly, any anti-Bush activism surrounding the Republican Convention and/or the September 11 anniversary should NOT be a platform for ANYBODY'S opinions on the Israeli-Palestinian mess.

Further, none of ANSWER's peace demonstrations came anywhere close to being as big and as successful as the ones sponsored by United for Peace and Justice. United is the group that knows how to organize in New York.

If ANSWER organizes this, in NYC you're going to get the usual aged upper-east-side socialists and some young people wearing FREE MUMIA T-shirts, and everyone else will stay home in droves.

[jonnyblitz]

67. you have something against people with free mumia t-shirts

and socialists from the upper-east-side? Whose side are you on? did i stumble into the wrong political discussion board?!?!

Michael Lerner is a flake.

[HootieMcBoob]

80. Focus

Think about what you want to accomplish. If you want Mumia out then organize a protest for that and that only. If you want Bush out then organize in the smartest way to achieve that end.

[maha]

81. Another useful idiot for Karl Rove

"and socialists from the upper-east-side? Whose side are you on? did i stumble into the wrong political discussion board?!?!"

Do you want to demonstrate for Bush or against Bush? If you intend your demonstrations to play into Karl Rove's hands, by all means wear your FREE MUMIA and be sure the world knows you belong to a Communist organization. This will be worth several Republican electoral votes in the South and Midwest.

[CWebster]

72. You are late to this debate

Lerner's claim has been blown out of the water as a down and out lie.


this is an old story and an absolutely shameful moment for some who would seek to destroy the credibility of an entire issue to whine about Left-wing anti-semitism on the pages of the Wall St journal, david Horowitz, Daniel Pipes style.

[maha]

76. Joe Conason is more credible to me than you are.

Those of us who protested Vietnam are not "late to the debate." Rather, we're the ones who've been down this road before.

I've been to ANSWER'S web site. That told me all I needed to know.

[CWebster]

53. Be there

;-)

[gulliver]

61. Counterproductive.

Have a circus. Do something to make fun of them. Don't "protest" them. Let them have their convention with the usual brown and black faces on stage and all white audience. Let them try to "utilize" 9/11 and shame themselves.

[Amaya]

78. I will be

peacefully protesting. :)