Left Wing Nuts!

[Glori.B]

Anarchists damage property, block traffic, attack delegates with bleach
Pioneer Press
Article Last Updated: 09/02/2008 02:40:15 AM CDT


Anarchists who had threatened to "crash the convention" wreaked havoc Monday in downtown St. Paul as the Republican National Convention opened, shattering windows, throwing rocks, slashing tires and blocking traffic.

Their violence on the first day of the convention overshadowed an anti-war march that drew a fraction of the number expected.

The march, which sparked at least three free-speech court challenges, came off without a hitch. But breakaway groups of anarchists — some clad in black and others dressed as colorfully as clowns — kept police busy. Nearly 300 people had been arrested as of late Monday night.

Spasms of violence erupted throughout downtown as tear gas was fired and protesters — some angry, some insistent on dancing amid the chaos — played a game of cat-and-mouse as police, backed up by 150 Minnesota National Guard soldiers, alternately accommodated, confronted and chased roving bands intent on disrupting the convention.

Organizers of the Coalition to March on the RNC and End the War estimated 30,000 people showed up to march from the state Capitol to the Xcel Energy Center. They had expected 50,000.

Police put the crowd at about 10,000.

Anarchists damage property, block traffic, attack delegates with bleach - TwinCities.com

 

[Glori.B]

RNC riots pointless, undercut true protest
By Editorial Board
September 03, 2008
Anarchy has taken center stage at the Republican National Convention, to the chagrin of both Democrats and Republicans.

While members of each party have been known to revel in the misfortune of their opponents, this debacle is good for nobody. After a series of peaceful protests - about 5,000 people marched outside the convention site Tuesday - a group of self-proclaimed anarchists felt the need to throw park benches, bust windows and generally act like idiots. Almost 300 were arrested by local police and 130 were held on felony charges.

Clearly the act of disrespect brings a negative atmosphere to the convention, but the violence has also undermined the protests as well. All the TV-talk focuses on the violence, and a casual listener might simply lump all the protestors into the "crazy anarchist" category.

By crossing the line - both literally and figuratively - the rioters have made any war protest look completely ridiculous; perhaps they are not affiliated with the organized protestors, but to the average American, a protestor is a protestor is a protestor.

Organized protest is one of our greatest rights and is one of the pillars upon which our country is founded. But as a result, it is up to us to ensure that others do not abuse that right and cheapen it for those of us with self-control. There is nothing wrong with bringing criminal charges against rioters who endanger others and disregard the true democratic process.


UWire Opinion | RNC riots pointless, undercut true protest

RNC Riot Watch: Police Seize Journalists Notes About RNC Protest Plans

 

[Ravi]

I see you've aligned yourself with KMAN.

Sigh

 

[Silence]

I'm not sure I'd lump those nutters in with the "left wing" since anyone who seems to be on the Dem side is labeled a lefty.

Those people serve absolutely no purpose and they do more harm to their cause than anything else.

I'm all for peaceful protesting. It's changed the course of this country and it's a unique and important part of our heritage.

These people are a disgrace IMO.

 

[jillian]

I'm actually kind of surprised about the title of the thread... Glori must have gotten revved up by McCain's inspiring speech last night.

 

[Ravi]

Anarchists aren't lefties.

But please, continue to pretend they are people. It just cements my belief that the Republicans are more interested in staying in power than improving the country.

 

[Glori.B]

I see you've aligned yourself with KMAN.

Sigh

what?

 

[Glori.B]

I'm actually kind of surprised about the title of the thread... Glori must have gotten revved up by McCain's inspiring speech last night.

i'm razzing my friend ravi!

 

[Red Dawn]

Left Wing Nuts!

Anarchists damage property, block traffic, attack delegates with bleach

Anarchists are considered by political scientists and all informed people to be a form of rightwing extremism, deeming government and the State unneccessary and advocating individualism and the voluntary association and cooperation of people free from central State authority.

-an·ar·chism (nr-kzm)
n.
1. The theory or doctrine that all forms of government are oppressive and undesirable and should be abolished.

-an·ar·chism
Pronunciation:
\ˈa-nər-ˌki-zəm, -ˌnär-\
Function:
noun
1 : a political theory holding all forms of governmental authority to be unnecessary and undesirable and advocating a society based on voluntary cooperation and free association of individuals and groups

-anarchism
Noun
a doctrine advocating the abolition of government and its replacement by a social system based on voluntary cooperatio

-anarchism
1. a political theory advocating the elimination of governments and governmental restraint and the substitution of voluntary cooperation among individuals.

-"anarchism" derives from anarkhia, the Greek word for "nonrule," for that is what anarchists essentially espouse: the eradication of government in favor of a natural social order. A libertarian variant of socialism, the ideals of anarchy date back at least as far as the eighteenth century.

 

[dilloduck]

Anarchists are considered by political scientists and all informed people to be a form of rightwing extremism, deeming government and the State unneccessary and advocating individualism and the voluntary association and cooperation of people free from central State authority.

So since they hate all forms of government the break windows and fight with cops. Not very effective. I had no clue what their point was other than to make a big damn mess and get attention.

 

[Glori.B]

Anarchists aren't lefties.

But please, continue to pretend they are people. It just cements my belief that the Republicans are more interested in staying in power than improving the country.

what cements your beliefs? this thread?

they arent' people? they ARE people...radical dembot people.

you want to hold every mccain/palin supporters responsible for all the extremists in the republican party, no?

 

[editec]

Are those damned Republicans rioting again?

They are a racous bunch, aren't they?

Why can't they hold peaceful conventions like the Dems, anyway?

I think it must be something in that kool aide they seem so fond of.

Well that they don't get enough sex, of course.

Probably explains their queer affection for their guns, too, doesn't it?

 

[Glori.B]

Anarchists are considered by political scientists and all informed people to be a form of rightwing extremism, deeming government and the State unneccessary and advocating individualism and the voluntary association and cooperation of people free from central State authority.

i didn't see anyone throwing any bleach at the democratic delegates in denver.

 

[Ravi]

what cements your beliefs? this thread?

they arent' people? they ARE people...radical dembot people.

you want to hold every mccain/palin supporters responsible for all the extremists in the republican party, no?

Methinks you have no idea what anarchists are. And find where I've held McPee responsible for the extremists in the republican party.

What cements my beliefs are the continued bull that the Rushbo listeners, like KMAN and perhaps you, keep spreading. The politics of hate and lies, that's what the Republican party has become.

 

[Glori.B]

i didn't see anyone throwing any bleach at the democratic delegates in denver.

DELEGATES HASSLED

Some delegates were confronted on their way to the Xcel Energy Center.

A rock was thrown through the windshield of the Alabama delegates' bus, showering the driver and retired Alabama Supreme Court judge Terry Butts with glass.

Masked protesters confronted the Connecticut delegation, and several delegates were spat upon, roughed up and doused with a mixture of water and bleach.

Heath Fahle, director of the Connecticut Republicans, said the incident happened on Kellogg Boulevard about 2 p.m. "It was frightening," he said.

He said the delegation of more than 100 got off their chartered buses near the X. As they walked on the sidewalk, masked protesters chanting anti-war slogans appeared in front of them.

They linked arms, trying to create a human barricade. As police on horseback arrived, Fahle and other delegates tried to push through. Most of them escaped unscathed, but the protesters splattered the last group of delegates with the liquid.

Former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons was hit in the face with the liquid. He was outraged.

"We were attacked by a mob," he said. "We were subjected to violent and anarchist behavior by a bunch of thugs."

The area was supposed to be secured, he said, "but this was a breach in security, obviously."

INTERRUPTIONS

Buses were canceled, uncanceled and then re-canceled.

Bridges across the river were abruptly closed, leading to confusion as families tried to walk to a Labor Day festival on Harriet Island. Detour and traffic plans were useless, and downtown businesses and residents lost access to their buildings during confrontations.

In addition, the city's only detour south of the Xcel Center, Shepard Road, was closed for hours during a mass arrest.

Metro Transit temporarily suspended bus service in downtown St. Paul for about three hours in the afternoon because of traffic congestion caused by protest activity.

Still, police said the day went as planned.

St. Paul Police Chief John Harrington said the anarchists' "mission by their own words" had been to block the delegates from getting to the convention, "storm the gates to the convention" and to keep the convention goers from being able to leave. Those things didn't happen, Harrington said.
Anarchists damage property, block traffic, attack delegates with bleach - TwinCities.com

 

[DiamondDave]

Anarchists aren't lefties.

But please, continue to pretend they are people. It just cements my belief that the Republicans are more interested in staying in power than improving the country.

As I have posted before

I remember tons of youngsters with their little fascination with calling themselves anarchists when I was younger... their little sayings about it all.... in truth they really are rarely "anarchist"... they just want their little "if it feels good it should not be illegal, so do it" freedoms... and they don't usually speak out or protest against the liberals or the DEMs because they see that as their ticket away from what they put in their heads as the "big bad rich Republicans"

So again... I did not say they were liberals... what I said is that we don't see them doing this at the DEM convention.... and in actuality, I fully believe they are not really "anarchists" but angst filled youngsters

And if you have to go back to 1968 to show otherwise, considering the radicals and hippies would protest ANYTHING in 1968, it is not much of an argument

 

[Dirt McGirt]

Anarchists are extreme right wingers not liberals or Democrats. They shouldn't be lumped in there with them. And since we know that Republicans are big government liberals too, they should be excluded as well.

 

[bigdaddygtr]

I'm actually kind of surprised about the title of the thread... Glori must have gotten revved up by McCain's inspiring speech last night.

 

[editec]

Anarchists are generally a group of people who obviously don't really understand what the word means.

I recall, back in '65, buying a button in Greenwich village reading " Anarchists Unite!"

I've always loved ironic humor.

 

[Glori.B]

actually, i fell asleep!