NYC RNC Protests

[304065]

The first protest hit yesterday, some members of ACT UP got naked next to MSG. (Why do I think that they probably didn't look good naked?) In any case, they were trying to make a statement before the "Main Event" which starts tomorrow.

Can somebody try to CALMLY and without resorting to rhetoric (I know, good luck with that . . . ) attempt to explain to me why so many people are coming to protest? I would love to have talked to somebody who REALLY organized, like someone from the Solidarity Labor movement under the Soviets, not the "drive to the protest in my dad's Lexus" crowd that I've seen at the WTO, or was it Woodstock II?

And I don't mean, why are they angry at the Bush Administration. No question, the level of rage, hatred, anger, and stridency has reached a pitch we haven't seen since the late '60's. No, I mean, why are they coming HERE?

It's not like they're going to convince anyone here. According to the Washington Post, about 435,000 residents of Manhattan voted for Gore, while only 75,000 voted for GWB.

If you were running a campaign, you'd probably want to concentrate your resources in the marginal areas, where they could have more impact. So why are people getting on buses and spending time and after-tax dollars to come and "protest" here in NYC? Do they do it for the experience? Do they gain a sense of empowerment? Do they want to get on TV?

Or do they just like to protest, for the sake of protest?

If it were me, I wouldn't jump on a school bus in Washington State and drive all the way to NYC just to get tear-gassed by the NYPD. I would, instead, use those resources to organize at HOME, try to swing voters in the sphere of influence I could relate to and understood best.

THAT seems to me to be the best way to effect meaningful political change. Not much in the way of narcissistic value, I'll admit.

You have to wonder, how many people have come here with the specific intention of creating a public disturbance, disrupting commerce, damaging infrastructure, destroying property, or doing bodily harm. How many out of the million?

I wonder if they'd like that in THEIR neighborhood?

[widebody911]

For the media exposure. I saw it at the g/f's house last night, don't recall what channel, but they ran it uncensored, full frontal and all. I thought it was pretty funny.

Why is it the people who are the most willing to take off their clothes and parade around naked are usually not the ones you don't want to see naked?

[Rot 911]

I think just because it's an event. I am curious how many of the protesters are even registered to vote.

[304065]

That must be it. It's certainly where everyone is tuned in.

The NYPD have got themselves a machine that creates sound pressure levels of 150dB, so they can be "heard" over the din of protest.

That's louder than JET EXHAUST.

Louder even than Deep Purple.

Want to trade coasts for a week?

[RickM]

It's a bunch of factions with totally different agendas. They put up with each other for "The cause".
Many say their tactics may backfire, depending on how out of hand they get.
This bothers me because the authorities have enough on the their minds regarding anti-terror efforts while they have a wave of troublemakers to contend with as well.

[Superman]

They do it for the EXPOSURE. Pun intended, but seriously, we're talking about it. Peter Jennings is talking about it. Mission accomplished. Staying at home and organizing voters would not have gotten the COVERAGE that the nudies had.

[Moneyguy1]

That's the problem. Take away the press coverage, the so-called loonies stay home.

Freedom of the press is a double edged sword.

[island911]

"group naked" . . .seem the sub-text screams; They just want to get laid.

[djmcmath]

Hang on, let me see here -- get on a bus with a bunch of generally liberal people I barely know to go to NYC and take my clothes off for a week? Why didn't I get invited, that sounds like a blast! Nevermind the convention, or the tear gas, you can skip those bits. This is definitely more of a party (not the political type) than it is any kind of rational effort to swing the vote.

Dan

[VINMAN]

My question is , "Do these people have jobs"??? Or just mommy and daddys money.

[island911]

John you need to go down to the street and get yourself one of those "Lick Bush" T-shirts . .. and head to the mosh-pit.

Yep, "Lick Bush" . . that's what it's all about.

[Mule]

Somehow fat, ugly, naked socialists never did do it for me.

[Tim Hancock]

Funny, you do not see huge quantities of "whacko conservatives" demonstrating against Democrat events. Only at Republican events do you generally see so many whackos coming to protest. I guess this means that there are more whackos on the liberal side than the conservative side. Am I right?

[304065]

Tim,

I've lived here for the last 8 years: my view is that the Whackos tend to be evenly distributed across the political spectrum.

Unlike the Pelican Board.

Well, you'd be proud of me: I recently bought both a Garmin 296 and an RC Allen Electric Attitude Indicator (for safety purposes only, I know it's not required by 91.205 for VFR) to go in my airplane so I could take a trip, VFR, to Michigan this week during the convention. That big fat cold front from the Oklahoma Panhandle to Nova Scotia put the kibosh on that, unfortunately. MVFR conditions across my route of flight, not to mention the TFR's from Dick Cheney's bus tour and the Blue Angels/Golden Knights up at IAG.

I know you're an A&P, are you also an IA?

[Apologies for pilot-speak to the rest of the thread.]

[304065]

you need to go down to the street and get yourself one of those "Lick Bush" T-shirts

Island, I prefer to stay here and hone my skills as a cunning linguist.

But I'm pickin' up what you puttin' down!

[Tim Hancock]

John, I got my IA rating this past November, but I have kind of kept it quiet locally. If all the locals found out, I would likely get swamped with requests from guys wanting $100.00, 2 minute annual inspections.

I have done a few planes for customers (presently I have a Beech T-34 Mentor in for a new vacuum pump and fuel boost pump).

I am trying to finish a 924 partial restoration for my 16 yr old daughter along with trying to get my 911 engine put back together along with putting brakes on the wifes 325 along with fixing the mower along with fixing the 4-wheeler etc etc.

I need to just quit my day job!

We have bad thunderstorms right at the moment and they are forecasted thru Sunday AM. Saturday I am sure there will be a TFR
for Toledo Express (TOL) due to an airshow and "W" is supposed to speak there late in the day.

Where in Mich were you headed? If are you still heading out this way, stop in. I am about 20 SW of TOL.

[Superman]

I think it's important to lick bush, and I'm prepared to do all I can.....

And I'd sure like to get my hands on one of those Attitude Indicators. I could use one at some of the meetings I hold.

[304065]

Tim,

Ever work on taildraggers, like Champs?

All the METARS look good right now, but here's what's on tap for tomorrow. I think I made the right decision to not try a VFR XC.

[dd74]

How do you know they're not protesting the IOC wanting Paul Hamm to give back his gold medal?

Ooops! Wrong event!

[concentric]

Well, part of the whole deal is the experience... It's actually pretty cool to be part of a 30,000 person mass of humanity that has something to say. No, I don't agree with all of them, but I do appreciate the right to free assembly, and traditionally a march on Washington was a great way to protest, so why not NYC or in my case, the protest at the 2000 DNC?

For every whacko in the crowd, there were at least 2 people with realistic, poignant concerns about the political system and certain issues facing America. Even those I consider misguided have the right to care.

Besides, if you're into taking pictures or film, you can't beat it for footage. I got the most amazing shots of the largest police mobilization I've ever seen, including some great film of the LAPD riot squads running (yelling HUT HUT HUT HUT at the top of their lungs and banging their sticks on their shields) bound over interference along the parade route and literally shoving a group of 6 old ladies off their bicycles into some newspaper stands because they happened to be in the way.

Oh, if you plan on protesting, please don't let the authorities corral you in a chainlink enclosure, that's recipe for an a$$kicking, and the a$$ is yours.

Jason