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Code Pink Shakes Tampa Daily Beast - ‎6 hours ago‎ Spunky Code Pink cofounder Medea Benjamin dishes to Lynn Waddell on the Republican National Convention protest scene in Tampa—and why her antiwar group started wearing vagina costumes. Print; Email; Comments. Political activist Medea Benjamin ...   Read My Lips! Vaginas Protest Republican National Convention (VIDEO) Global Grind - ‎1 hour ago‎ Republicans need to read the lips of Code Pink activists who have been protesting outside the Republican National Convention against the GOP's war on women. STORY: A No-Show! Rep. Todd Akin Absent From Piers Morgan Interview. Dressed up as ......

The Hillsborough County School Board in Tampa Florida appears to be the only school district in Florida and perhaps the nation which will knowingly allows Council for American Islamic Relations (CAIR) officials to instruct students regarding Islam and Sharia law. Tragically, board members have no problem with CAIR officials giving their biased version of “Sharia”, “Human Rights and Islam” and “Women and Islam in different countries” to hundreds of students at Steinbrenner High School funded by taxpayer dollars. A condensed history of this issue is posted at the end of this article.

At 2:00 p.m. today in Tampa, the Republican National Committee, led by Team Romney, is moving to shut down conservative grassroots activists. I’ve been on the phone with several individuals involved in the fight who tell me that the fight is not over, it is only just starting.Specifically, the media is reporting that the rules fight is over because Team Romney is abandoning Ben Ginsberg’s effort to allow candidates to control delegates. Under an initial proposal, delegates would, in effect, be chosen by the presumed nominee’s campaign and not based on votes in the states and delegate selection processes in...

One arrested during peaceful — and wet — day of protest at Republican National ConventionBy Alexandra Zayas and Jamal Thalji, Times Staff Writers Posted: Aug 27, 2012 05:06 PM TAMPA — Police arrested one protester on Monday afternoon and Tampa police Chief Jane Castor said that so far officers and protesters alike are getting along during this storm-shortened session of the Republic National Convention. "We hope this is it," Castor said. "But I doubt that's going to be the case." Police said protester Dominick De La Rosa, 19, was arrested on misdemeanor charges of wearing a mask — which is...

TAMPA -- A Republican National Convention protestor was arrested while he allegedly carried a machete strapped to his leg, according to deputies. According to Hillsborough County Sheriff's officials, Jason T. Wilson, of Tallahassee, was arrested as he walked in the RNC Event Zone carrying a "full size" machete. When deputies approached Wilson, they said he continued to walk away despite orders to stop. "When deputies caught up to Wilson, he advised he did not have to stop and that he was allowed to carry whatever he wanted," HCSO spokesperson Larry McKinnon said. When deputies attempted to physically stop him, Wilson...

Politico has an interesting and provocative interview with Mitt Romney this morning — although perhaps not provocative enough for some of the passionate base.  After dumping the “nice guy but failed President” argument in the overwhelming volume of nasty attacks from Barack Obama and his campaign, including insinuations of being a felon, a murderer, and a modern-day slaver, Romney tells Politico that the theme will return at the Republican National Convention this week in Tampa: Mitt Romney conceded President Barack Obama has succeeded in making him a less likable person, but he offered a defiant retort to those hoping he will open...

Monday 2:00 p.m. Chairman of the RNC Reince Priebus Call to Order/Start Debt Clocks 2:10 p.m. Announcement of Recess Tuesday 2:00 p.m. Chairman of the RNC Reince Priebus [SNIP] Roll Call for Nomination of President of the United States Roll Call for Nomination of Vice President of the United States [SNIP] Remarks by Speaker John Boehner [SNIP] Remarks by former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum Remarks by Host, U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers 8:00 p.m. Remarks by U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (NH), accompanied by Jack Gilchrist Remarks by Governor John Kasich (OH) Remarks by Governor Mary Fallin (OK) Remarks by Governor...

Zeke Miller is reporting that a set of changes to the convention rules pushed through by Mitt Romney’s team is raising a few hackles among the delegates and could potentially lead to a squabble on the convention floor. The modifications in question deal – among other things – with the method used to select and approve the individual delegates from each state. Frustration over changes to the Republican Party’s rules pushed through by the Romney Campaign on Friday may lead to a fight on the floor of the Republican National Convention on Monday. The Convention Committee on Rules took a...

Like teenagers on vacation with their parents, Republicans from blue states and Democrats from red states don't want to be seen with party elders. "I don't spend a lot of time thinking about Mitt Romney," Elizabeth Emken, the Republican who will face off against Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein in November, recently told me. "That's the truth. I've never met him." Emken thinks she has a shot at winning the election precisely because she is not the pick of the GOP establishment. "We've had millionaires and billionaires and CEOs and movie stars," said Emken in a not-so-subtle swipe at former top-of-the...

Tropical Storm Isaac forced Republicans on Sunday to rewrite the script for their national convention in Tampa, as party officials scrambled to make sure candidate Mitt Romney's message to voters would not be blown off course. Isaac was expected to spare Tampa a direct hit and strike, with hurricane strength, farther north along the Gulf Coast this week. But it has left Republicans who canceled most of their schedule for Monday in anticipation of the storm with a new challenge for the convention's remaining three days: Help Romney make an aggressive, memorable argument to be president, while being careful to...

Mitt Romney’s legal advisor, Ben Ginsburg, has been attacking grassroots activism within the Republican Party during the Convention of the Rules Committee that met Friday prior to the Republican National Convention in Tampa, FL according to a source at the meeting.  I was told late yesterday that one of the amendments that he offered and was passed by the committee changes the RNC rules so that the presumptive nominee and the state party can decide who the delegates are that can go to the national convention.  The language of the rule states that the presidential nominee and state party can...

Like teenagers on vacation with their parents, Republicans from blue states and Democrats from red states don't want to be seen with party elders. "I don't spend a lot of time thinking about Mitt Romney," Elizabeth Emken, the Republican who will face off against Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein in November, recently told me. "That's the truth. I've never met him." Emken thinks she has a shot at winning the election precisely because she is not the pick of the GOP establishment. "We've had millionaires and billionaires and CEOs and movie stars," said Emken in a not-so-subtle swipe at former top-of-the...

St. Petersburg sees first RNC-related arrests after men found on downtown rooftop with weaponsBy Kameel Stanley, Times Staff Writer Tampa Bay Times In Print: Sunday, August 26, 2012 ST. PETERSBURG — Two suspected protesters were arrested after they were found playing with a BB gun atop a downtown parking garage, authorities said. **SNIP** They also found several items indicating the people were protesters, including antigovernment T-shirts and a backpack stuffed with a large machete, a pocketknife, tin snips and a pry tool, Puetz said. The backpack belonged to Trevor Swanson, 19, of St. Petersburg, who is prohibited from having weapons...

...... Soon, tens of thousands of Republicans will descend upon Tampa Bay, but this area's Democrats say they aren't going anywhere. Their schedules are packed: protests, rallies, vigils, press conferences, a visit from the vice president and even a secret-but-not-so-secret "counter-convention." "We don't want to ruin the convention for delegates," said Ella Coffee of the Hillsborough County Democratic Party, which opened its Tampa campaign office Thursday night. "We just want to be able to have a conversation." Preparation for that conversation starts today with a protest training session in Tampa. The Code Pink-organized gathering, which many area Democrats are expected...

Threats from anarchists have Tampa on lockdown ahead of GOP conventionBy Jordy Yager - 08/25/12 04:00 PM ET The city of Tampa, Fla., is on virtual lockdown this week as local and federal law enforcement authorities ready for tens of thousands of protesters, politicians and media to swarm the coastal metropolis during the Republican National Convention. With the Secret Service at the helm, the FBI, the Coast Guard and the military have taken extensive steps to guard against potential terrorist attacks as well as uprisings from anarchists intent on disrupting the five-day event. “As far as demonstrators, we don’t make...

Republicans have postponed their national convention in Tampa at least a day because of concerns about Tropical Storm Isaac. The event will kick off Monday morning but the convention will immediately recess until Tuesday afternoon, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said in a statement. “Due to the severe weather reports for the Tampa Bay area, the Republican National Convention will convene on Monday August 27th and immediately recess until Tuesday afternoon, August 28th. After consulting with Governor Scott, NOAA and local emergency management officials, we are optimistic that we will begin an exciting, robust convention that will nominate the...

From the RNC: Republican National Convention President and CEO Bill Harris made the following statement: “Our chief priority is the safety of the residents of Florida, of those visiting the Convention, and all those in Gulf Coast states who may be impacted by Tropical Storm Isaac. We have been working closely with the campaign, the party, and state and local officials for months to ensure a successful, enjoyable convention. Federal, state and local officials assure us that they are prepared to respond, if needed, and the scheduling changes we are announcing today will help ensure the continued safety of all...

Pinellas sheriff’s Deputy Ed Diluzio asks CodePink and St. Pete for Peace protesters to move off private property in Largo. ARGO — Seventy-five protesters, many dressed in pink, gathered outside the local production plant of Raytheon on Thursday, denouncing the defense contractor for its role in drone warfare. The demonstration, organized by the groups CodePink and St. Pete for Peace, marked the unofficial start of protests surrounding the Republican National Convention, set to kick off Monday in Tampa. "Raytheon, shame on you," they chanted. "Children die because of you." The director of the Young-Rainey Star Center was not happy to...

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden is postponing his planned trip to Tampa, Fla., the site of the Republican National Convention. An Obama campaign official says Biden is putting off Monday's trip in order to ensure that all local law enforcement and emergency management resources can stay focused on Tropical Storm Isaac, which could impact Florida during the convention.