August 17, 2004, While the GOP is in Town, the Constitution is a Privilege
Thus sayeth New York's Mayor Mike Bloomberg, adding that if protestors (two varieties-- local police and firefighters protesting their pay and related issues, and the United for Peace and Justice "anti-Bush" protestors), such miscreant protestors would "lose their privileges".
As noted in the Grey Lady's article, one of the protestors questioned when First Amendment rights had become privileges. The answer, of course, is when Dear Leader is in town, or even on his way to town.
A colleague told me she recently observed our mayor at a Wall Street eatery having lunch with a small coterie, while nearby, police and firefighters seemed to be trailing him and protesting. New York still being (for the most part) New York, no one not immediately involved even seemed to even notice, let alone look up. But that was then... now, things are approaching critical mass...
Meanwhile, the UFPJ geniuses continue to (foolishly) press the issue of their anti-GOP Convention protest, having reneged on accepting a West Side Highway protest venue, and now re-insisting on their "right" to protest in Central Park (it actually IS a right: it's a public park, and if they really were willing to post an appropriate damage bond, then the denial of permission to protest there is, frankly, unconstitutional, at least when the Constitution provided rights and not privileges).
My problem with the UFPJ protest, which I was once planning on attending and am now far less likely to, is that Bush's reelection prospects are rapidly dying.
We are now 77 days out, and barring some unlikely suicidal move by Kerry, this one is quite over, and John Kerry will, inevitably, be our next President. Bush can do nothing to stop this. However... something unforeseen, such as an out of control protest in New York (and let's face it, we can expect thousands of police and FBI moles at such a protest-- if necessary, to cause the protest to go out of control) could be just the thing to turn the tide back and to change the minds of many understated Swing-State Americans who would otherwise rather not sympathize with our current leadership and its excesses.
So just as I have seen some intelligent suggestions recommending that Move-On.Org withdraw its "anti-Swift-Boat-Veterans" ad campaign lest it give credence to a slander that really isn't getting traction, I suggest that UFPJ withdraw its GOP protest altogether, and instead, stage a pro-Kerry rally, rather than an anti-GOP rally, and invite the candidate (of course), as well as Democratic candidates for the House and Senate. Hell, we can raise millions and millions for the all-important Congressional races. True, UFPJ itself might not be able to do this and maintain its tax-exempt status, but then it can turn over the thing to the DNC.
That's my suggestion.
Bush's continued melt-down and self-destruction just does not seem to end, even as Titanic Deck-Chair Coordinator Rumsfeld suggests to Congress that, notwithstanding the 9-11 Commission's recommendations, the Pentagon should continue to maintain control of 80% of the nation's intelligence apparatus, given how good a job he and the Pentagon have done in that department.
Iraq is going to s***, the stock market remains moribund, oil prices are high, OBL is still out there, and even our Olympic basketball team is getting its ass handed to it by our colonies. Kerry knows all this-- I think UFPJ should follow his lead.
The President is self-destructing. Get out of his way.
Comments
Ok .....
On Bush in New York ... don't forget, New Yorkers, the rest of us peons are really counting on you to tear Bush a really HUGE New One!!!
Besides.... what happened to Bushville Tent City???
Make it happen.
Gran
Posted by Granny at August 17, 2004 07:36 PM
I like your pro-Kerry rally idea. That would be great. I won't be there but my advise to demonstrators is to sit, cross arms and sing if you're anywhere near a dust-up. Chances are the bad actors are just that-- agent provocateurs. So let the security folks step in and cart them away . . .
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