Posted on 08/11/2004 6:46:35 PM PDT by aculeus
While anti-Bush activists in New York are adopting new techniques to try and disrupt the Republican party convention later this month, the police have got some new strategies of their own, writes Michelle Goldberg
If you're a delegate attending the Republican national convention at Madison Square Garden later this month, Jamie Moran knows where you're staying. He knows where you're eating and what Broadway musical you plan on seeing. For the past nine months, Moran has been living off savings earned as an office manager at a nonprofit and working full-time to disrupt the RNC.
His small anarchist collective, RNCNotWelcome.org, runs a snitch line and an email account where disgruntled employees of New York hotels, the Garden and the Republican party itself can pass on information about conventioneers. So far, the collective has received dozens of phone calls and hundreds of emails with inside dirt on GOP activities.
Recently, a woman with a polished, middle-aged sounding voice left a message saying, "For some God-unknown reason I'm on the Republican mailing list, and they sent me what they call a list of their inner-circle events." The events hadn't been publicised elsewhere, she said, and she wanted to fax the list to Moran.
Moran feeds information like this to a cadre of activists desperate to unleash four years' worth of anger at the Bush administration. By dogging the delegates wherever they go, RNC Not Welcome hopes to make the Republicans' lives hell for as long as they're in New York.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
"Wild Eye For That Kerry Guy"
RNC delegate ping.
Yes. I read it earlier.
How we are ever going to get from point A to point B with all these breakfasts, luncheons & receptions before and after the actual Delegate Sessions is way beyond me.
I checked out the anarchists' website (mentioned in the article). It was a bit disturbing -- tips on how to deal with tear gas and the like. They are trying to compile a list of the various RNC events in order to disrupt them. They also have a list of what Broadway shows the different delegations are attending and what hotels they are staying at. The shows and hotels are public information, but the focus on those things as opposed to the convention itself is indicative of the anarchists' lunacy and extremism.
I agree that we will need to plan extra time for transit to events. I'm just not sure we can guestimate the correct amount of time.
If these dim bulbs are rolling around in the street with all their arms welded together into steel pipes it's going to take longer to navigate the streets.
I spoke with someone this week and asked about walking from the hotel to MSG,, eventho my hotel is within walking distance they are strongly recommending against it.
I hope the Chamber of Commerce raises holy He!! because we can't make it to the stores to shop.
I read somewhere yesterday that the police and fire fighters are threatening to strike because they are unhappy with the offer made by the city for next year's salary package.
I somehow think I'm going to kiss the ground when I return to my corn field.
Hopefully the RNC will keep the delegates informed at the states' morning caucuses about how much time will needed to get from place to place. The Liberty Express will run to and from MSG no matter what, I'll bet. Most of the events are supposed to be within the secured perimeter. And you can be sure that any event outside the perimeter will be well-protected. My only concern is about the safety of doing non-convention touristy stuff during the week.
The cops could have a little fun with this - duct tape a lightbulb to the last guy in the chain, taser the first, see if the bulb lights.
"..chaining their arms together inside metal tubes, creating what's called a sleeping dragon"
sweet!
There might be some sophistocated "tickle" machine that when applied to the belly forces one's arms forward, thus causing a giant "Three Stooges Moment"...
Or simply goose them around a lightpole with a taser to the butts, causing a large "rattlesnake" game to be played to the delight of the viewing public.
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