A Disaster Brewing For The Democrats? (DNC Convention in Denver)

Transterrestrial Musings ^ | March 21, 2008 | John Kavanagh

[2ndDivisionVet]

In Denver.

Denver is not equipped to handle any convention scenario other than a coronation, and certainly not the most (potentially) contentious national convention in 40 years.

It is important to point out that the state of Colorado, and the city of Denver, is currently nearly completely controlled by Democrats at every level of government. This puts these locals in a box, politically and from a law enforcement standpoint. This sets up a scenario similar to Seattle 1999 WTO debacle. I happened to be living in downtown Seattle during that awful experience, and what stands out is that the city and state (even the Federal Government at that time) were all controlled by Democrats at every level, even police chief. That meant they were politically unwilling to confront their own in the days leading up to the summit: that is, the anti-globalism/WTO protestors, greenies, and union members that were planning major marches, civil disobedience, and even outright mischief.

The reason is simple, they didn't want to alienate their own constituencies by seeming too heavy handed. The result was that by the time they had to crackdown, it was too late and with police state tactics, water cannons, gas cannisters, police in riot gear, and dusk to dawn curfews on the streets. There is still a lot of these scenes on YouTube and many disenchanted lefties are promising a repeat in Denver this year. Any variation of this would be a potential public relations disaster for the Democrat nominee in trying to win Colorado, and one that would virtually ensure not only a McCain victory in the state, but a stigmatization that could likely lead to major setbacks for the Democrat party in Colorado for years to come.

[Early afternoon update]

It's already starting, and it's still March:

Spagnuolo has been meeting monthly with city officials for a year, hoping to win the right to use Civic Center throughout the convention. He says 50,000 war protesters are coming for a march from Civic Center to the Pepsi Center on Aug. 24.

He said Thursday that he would not respect the host committee's permit and would occupy the park, even if it forced police to intervene.

Referring to the $50 million in federal security money slated for the convention, Spagnuolo said Denver police would need "$25 million to protect the Pepsi Center and $25 million to protect Civic Center."

I have no sympathy. When your political party encourages and welcomes brown shirterry (as long as it's aimed at "neocons" and "globalists," and "capitalists," and other evil people), this is what you get. Lay down with dogs, get up with fleas.

[Update at 1 PM]

More bad news for the donkeys:

In a sign of just how divisive and ugly the Democratic fight has gotten, only 53% of Clinton voters say they'll vote for Obama should he become the nominee. Nineteen percent say they'll go for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and 13% say they won't vote. Sixty percent of Obama voters say they'll go for Clinton should she win the nomination, with 20% opting for McCain, and three percent saying they won't vote.

That's already starting to show up in the national polling, where McCain is way ahead of both Hillary! and Obama. As I've been saying for months, the Dems have set themselves for a shellacking, because both of their lead candidates are unelectable in the general, and the internecine strife just makes it worse. Their only hope lies in a brokered convention, and a different candidate, and even then, it's unlikely that they'll recover.

[RandallFlagg]

I am relocating to Colorado in the coming months.

Whatever you do, stay the hell away from Boulder.
Trust me on this.

[rockrr]

It’s gonna be a long hot summer...

[DanielRedfoot]

Flash Back!_____________________________________________ ### 2004 Democrat Convention - Protesters ( all their own moonbat liberals) were isolated in a cage around the back of the convention hall.___ Not new - same thing in NYC with collecting homeless and dumping them, isolated any rouge protesters rthen as well. Democrats shall have no descent among the ranks, all trolls are to get in line or disappear._________________________________________________________ BOSTON - While thousands of delegates, journalists and dignitaries stream into the FleetCenter, a shadowy, closed-off piece of urban streetscape just over a block away will be the place protesters call home for the next several days. DNC's 'FREE SPEECH ZONE' A caged- area designated for organized protests appears enclosed by mesh and chain link fencing near the site of the upcoming Democratic National Convention, in Boston, Wednesday, July 21, 2004.' (AP Photo/Steven Senne) The maze of overhead netting, chain link fencing and razor wire couldn't be further in comfort from the high-tech confines of the arena stage where John Kerry is to accept the Democratic nomination for president. Abandoned, elevated rail lines and green girders loom over most of the official demonstration zone, sloping downward to a subway station that has been closed for the convention that kicks off Monday. At one end of the 28,000-square-foot zone, tall protesters will have to duck to avoid hitting the girders. The train tracks obscure the line of sight to much of the FleetCenter. Concrete blocks have been set into place around streets that surround the site, a transportation hub on the north side of downtown. Protesters have compared the site to a concentration camp and complain it is too far away from the FleetCenter to get their messages across. The zone is next to a parking lot where many delegates will pass on foot on their way to the downtown arena. Authorities say _ and a judge has agreed _ that the discomforts are necessary security requirements in the post-Sept. 11 era and as protests at big events become increasingly violent and disruptive. On a rainy morning made darker by the presence of the girders overhead, protest leaders on Saturday held a news conference at the demonstration zone to object to the site as pools of rainwater collected on the pavement. Some protesters taped their mouths shut while others spoke out in anger to express opposition to protest restrictions they say violate free-speech rights. "We don't deserve to be put in a detention center, a concentration camp," said Medea Benjamin of San Francisco. "We feel it's tragic that here in Boston, the birthplace of democracy, our First Amendment rights are being trampled on." Benjamin was joined by two other protesters from the anti-war group Code Pink who dressed in pink Statue of Liberty garb. The two others kept their mouths taped shut during the news conference, and Benjamin removed her tape to speak with reporters. Activists said they understand the need to maintain high security for the convention. But they said organizers went too far in restricting demonstrations. "We are on high, high red alert for the protection of our civil liberties," said Claryce Evans, national coordinator for United Peace and Justice. "Yes, security is an issue, but you don't handle it by setting up an internment camp." On behalf of protesters, lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union and National Lawyers Guild asked a federal judge to open up or move the zone. This past week, U.S. District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock refused to order changes, despite calling the conditions "an affront to free expression" and a "festering boil." However, the judge did allow protesters to march past the site on Sunday, the night before the four-day convention begins. A coalition of protesters filed an appeal with the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday in hopes of winning an order easing the restrictions at the demonstration zone. The appeals court denied a motion for a preliminary injunction Friday, and the panel asked that briefs be filed by Monday morning. Authorities said that they were lowering the maximum number of protesters allowed to 1,000 from a previous 4,000 because of concerns of overcrowding. Other protests are planned during the convention at sites farther away from FleetCenter. © Copyright 2004 Associated Press ### __________ Sorry- I need HTML Basics

[RepublitarianRoger2]

Oh yeah, I know about Boulder. Been there a number of times. Actually a cool city to walk around in — I actually like Pearl Street Mall’s quirky shops and laid-back atmosphere — but NO WAY would I want to live there.

[egginanest]

We have family friends who are EMTs in a small community about 40 miles West of Denver. They were told that there will be NO vacation time taken during the Dem convention. This includes fire fighters, Police, etc. They don't even live in Denver....

[george76]

Ward and Russell Means will be there.

[RandallFlagg]

I actually like Pearl Street Mall’s quirky shops and laid-back atmosphere

I took my Sons there last summer. There's this area where the sidewalk is fitted with about 25 water nozzles that randomly shoot a stream of water straight up in the air.

My 2 Sons (Ages four and six at the time) were having a blast trying to dodge and jump over the water. Giggling and playing in the lazy afternoon.

Until...
A woman and her four Daughters (I think) from some other country shows up, has the little girls strip completely naked, then sends all four of them over to play with my Sons and the water.

We got the heck outta there fast. Never to return.
Call me overprotective and anti-multicultural all ya want. But there's just some things that shouldn't just be thrown into the laps of kids at that age.

[yankeedame]

...that were planning major marches, civil disobedience, and even outright mischief....

'Outright mischief'? Outright mischief?? What were they gonna do loosen the top of salt shakers at resturants around town? Slap a 'KICK ME' sticker on the back of some poor schlub?

[OKIEDOC]

Can someone tell me why I should care one iota about the Dems?

The Dems have become over the past couple of decades a party of phony two faced no values cowardly liars.

The Dems can not handle these radicals with their can't we all just get along appeal.

[GOPJ]

Rush and Rove, you magnificent bastards!

Or, Clinton, Obama … idiots. ;-)

C. Both of the above.

[Space Moose]

How’s this for a twisted scenario... Fractured convention in Denver. Democrats settle on Gore. McCain names Liebermann as running mate. Into the rabbit hole we all plunge.

[Grunthor]

“The Dems have become over the past couple of decades a party of phony two faced no values cowardly liars.”

LOL, and people say that there is no difference between the parties...

[GOPJ]

In a sign of just how divisive and ugly the Democratic fight has gotten, only 53% of Clinton voters say they'll vote for Obama should he become the nominee. Nineteen percent say they'll go for Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and 13% say they won't vote. Sixty percent of Obama voters say they'll go for Clinton should she win the nomination, with 20% opting for McCain, and three percent saying they won't vote.

And 2% say they'll burn down LA if Clinton steals the nomination from Obama...

[BIGLOOK]

Ward and Russell Means will be there.

Not to mention Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Cindy Sheehan. La Raza, the Teamsters and Janet Reno.

Hope you don't live in Denver, George.

[Natty Bumppo@frontier.net]

And who was the genius that thought up proportional splitting of delegates and super duper delegates anyway? If you think about it for five minutes you come to the conclusion that a virtual stalemate is inevitable.

The dims use proportional splitting of the delegates and super delegates, because they don't trust their own members not to drive the party off a cliff.

The intent was to ensure the primary race was always close so that the super delegates could step in and "anoint" the candidate with a realistic chance of winning and enough of a marginal grip on sanity to ensure that if elected, the dim candidate would be no less incompetent a President than Jimmy Carter.

However, the system was not designed to handle two Marxists candidates each attempting run further left than the other, to secure the nomination. This dim primary season is like a bad Dr. Seuss book with McGovern1 and McGovern2 as the candidates.

Not that the Republicans are faring much better. The key to success for both parties is the same: Run as hard and as far to the right as you can.

Instead, we are treated to the spectacle of three individuals, who among them lack the executive ability to run a corner lemonade stand, attempting to outdo each other in their promises to take from the productive citizens of this nation and give to the masses in order to buy votes.

God help America!

[RandallFlagg]

As in Chruchill?
Figures. The bum’s used to screwing taxpayers out of money. No doubt the destruction of a major area like that due to mob violence will cost taxpayers millions.

[muawiyah]

The concept of "crossover" by Republicans to the Dem primaries for the purpose of advancing the Hildabeast or Obamasama, whichever one was lagging, was first expressed right here on Free Republic ~ not by Karl Rove nor by Rush.

This occurred BEFORE the Virginia primary and it worked to deliver both Virginia and Maryland to Obamasama. Otherwise these states had been slated to support the coronation of the Hildabeast.

BTW, it was at that moment that manipulation of the Dem primary system had a shot at denying both of their leading candidates an unquestioned delegate lead.

[Vince Ferrer]

Whatever you do, stay the hell away from Boulder. Trust me on this.

If you want to know a secret, the city and county of Boulder is not that bad, its actually close to 50-50 republican-democrat. Its the University, the city council, Boulder high school, the Boulder public library, and the traffic police that make life intolerable there. If you can live just on the outskirts of town, away from those places its actually nice. Or just stay in Longmont, Layfayette, or Louisville and go into Boulder when you need to.

[RepublitarianRoger2]

Hmm, never seen anything like that happen there. I’ve always had a good experience.
‘Course, that sort of incident with foreign visitors can happen nearly anywhere.

[ccmay]

A Dem relative of mine has been predicting all along that this would happen and Gore will have the nomination.

If either Gore or Clinton ends up with the nomination, black America will stay home at best or erupt in rioting at worst. The Dems CANNOT win without the black vote. They have really painted themselves into a corner this year.