Protests about RNC and Bush beginning already!

[Mitchell]

Last night I was talking to my 18 year old cousin (Who incidentally is new TMF member DemonofHeaven) My aunt and cousin live only a few blocks from Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, where the Republican National Convention is being held, and my cousin told me that late last night there were protestors who were against Mr George W Bush and this war standing with signs right outside his apartment building.
More anti war and anti convention information: I was surfing the web this morning, and happened to read posts on the New York Yankees baseball team message board on AOL. The message board had detailed information of where protests were going to be held in Manhattan both tomorrow, and throughout the convention.
As most know on here who have read my posts, Iam strongly against both Mr George W Bush and this war, and hope he loses the election in November. While I agree with the people's right to protest, and hold demonstrations and opposition, to Mr George W Bush and his policies, I just pray that the demonstrations are peaceful. From what I'm reading and hearing, it sounds like it is going to be a pretty eventful week up there. The goings on in New York this week are a sad chain of events stemming from Mr Bush and his policies. I hope that the state of this country, the war, and the economy will result is his defeat come November, because I shudder to think of what will happen, and what the country will look like by 2009, if we have four more years of the policies of this guy.

Mitch

[TummyDragon]

Kerry is here in Washington state at the moment, and there was a clip on the news showing a group of supporters for Kerry cheering and holding their political signs. One person walked up with a "Bush/Cheney" sign, and was immediately punched in the face by one of the Kerry supporters. At least there was a police officer standing nearby and witnessed the attack and hauled the 'puncher' off to jail.

I think there's a possibility this election may bring tensions between those with differing opinions to a breaking point. I also hope things remain peaceful at the RNC, but, with the political polarization we have surrounding this presidential election, there's a good possibility we'll see the worst behavior in some people.

[buggs]

And if the roles were reversed and it was Bush supporters who had hit a Kerry supporter, you would be hearing it from the hills from the liberals.

[ShiningIce]

Just like we'll soon be hearing from the hordes of conservatives. :)

[Shem the Penman]

Actually, I understand that there was an incident in Portland where a Bush supporter tried to physically silence an anti-Bush protester:

http://img54.exs.cx/img54/3204/40817CLeadArt.jpg

That said, anyone who gets violent during protests (or in response to protests) is an idiot. Let's not try to generalize from those idiots, though.

After all, there are going to be hundreds of thousands of peaceful protesters out there reminding the Republicans that they are not welcome in New York. The presence of a few idiots does not negate that.

(Source of photo: http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2004_08_15_dneiwert_archive.html#10928571773251794 9 ).

[Mitchell]

I posted that quote a few weeks ago, one of Bush's funniest blunders ever!

Mitch

[TummyDragon]

Originally posted by Shem the Penman


... anyone who gets violent during protests (or in response to protests) is an idiot. Let's not try to generalize from those idiots, though.



Yep, that's my thought as well. Each side is going to have their "idiot" minority of nutbags, but, they are simply the ones who grab the attention of the press, not the representation of either side.

[maniactickler]

Its good to see the uncivilized liberal protestors out there making complete fools of themselves. at least the republican protesters have some class. these liberal protestors are just angry, uptight hate mongers. but its suits the party well. the democratic party is one of misery, depression and lack of ideas and substance. this should be one fun convention!

[MrMacphisto]

Ah yes.... those conservative abortion clinic bombers... they have class... enough class to kill innocent people. Wake up, Maniac... there are classless protesting idiots on both sides of the political fence. I figure you, of all people, would know the conservative side of this issue quite well.

[Mitchell]

maniac, and the GOP convention is one wonderful affair. A celebration of a "president" (to use the term loosely) who has presided over the worst economy and greatest job losses since the depression, who has dragged us into a miscalculated war where 1000 lives have been lost, to liberate a country that shows it's appreciation by having their barbaric insurgents kill the very soldiers assigned to help them. A convention that celebrates the "accomplishments" of a president, who, due to his war, has given us the greatest deficit in our history, after the Republican orge Bill Clinton left us with history's greatest surpluses. I would rather have the "miserable" Democrats that you describe as opposed to this guy any day of the year. A convention that celebrates a president who believes in abolishing Social Security, which has been a right of hard working people who reach senior citizen age since FDR, in favor of his "private investment plan", where people can risk their money by placing it in the stock market in companies like Enron, where they can lose it to corrupt CEO's like Bush's buddy Ken Lay. A real fantastic president I'll tell you!
I wouldnt vote for Bush if he was the last man on the face of this earth, or the only man running. He does a fantastic job of coercing a portion of the population into believing what he wants them to believe. It will remain to be seen come November just how many people buy into his "perception" by casting their votes for him.

Mitchell

[maniactickler]

And whats wrong with getting rid of soc sec? i think it should be slowly fazed out. if i had the option, id be out in a heart beat. soc sec was the biggest scam in history thanks to FDR and the libs. and yes, they are of course some right wing wacko protestors also. but not even close to the magnitude of the left!

[MrMacphisto]

While I totally disagree with Maniac's assessment of Social Security's origins, I do agree that it should be phased out. It's basically becoming bankrupt, and Bush's private investment solution isn't helping things any.

Maniac, before you blast FDR and Social Security's original intent, please bother to educate yourself on economic principles and American history. You do realize that Social Security was a great system for recovering a nearly dead economy. Social Security might seem like a useless institution nowadays, but it wasn't always this way....

[maniactickler]

True, at the time it was a good idea but was suppose to be temporary. of course once the democrats get a tax in place, theres no way they are letting go of it. it only grows. i believe they had that in mind when they created it.

[venray]

http://www.ssa.gov/history/reports/briefhistory.html#developmentofssa

This will give you a brief history of social security, how it was set up and when changes were introduced.

Ray