Protestors... I hope you realize you could do much more harm than good by being obnoxious to the delegates. Please THINK. This election is about swing-voters. You are not going to win any hearts by shouting down Republican delegates trying to see Broadway shows, etc. Keep things peaceful and dignified. I'm glad yesterday's march was so peaceful -- and it is clear how dissappointed Republicans were that it was. Very little fodder for the media.

This isn't the time to fly your freak flag. This is the time to present a rational, thoughtful face to the swing voters of America. Don't let the radicals ruin it.

dear frustrated new yorker,

no one in the mainstream media cares about this; i doubt that you'll see articles about delegate harassment. the harassment is personal, individual -- in short, a bad media spectacle.

just calm down for crissakes.

Delegates ARE NOT swing voters. They are people who dedicate themselves to the Republican Party and all the bullshit it stands for. Just like Iraq, these people think they're going to waltz right into hostile territory and get greeted with roses. Well, they ain't.

This election is about two ruling class parties. No matter who wins, we lose. I don't give a damn about swing voters.

Protesters,

Keep up the good work! No matter what others tell you, always remember that agitation is always required for real change. And that you are following your heart. Whether it be letter writing or harrassing delegates, actions speak louder than silent thought. Hearing about your stories on indymedia serve as inspiration to us all to do more.

I really appreciate everyone's efforts this week, and I hope to join you all for at least one more event!

Repubs SURPRISED at "impolite" people? Let's see if THEY would be polite when their MASTER sets up his very own gas chambers and starts to feed THEM into them too! See if they walk in and "be nice!!!" They're so damn stupid.

I see that you think that since the harassment is personal and individual it is okay. Harassment is never okay and it just makes someone look like they can't hold their own in an argument. The easiest way to spot ignorence is spotting a bully. Go ahead guys, keep harassing the Republicans, it harms you guys in the long run.

Do whatever it is that you believe in and strive force. POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!

yes please stop being mean and naughty to the nobles, they hate that. Smile and bow and scrape and wait for them to decice to suddenly all be different people. That always works. Real change comes through inaction! Power to the powerful!

Imagine the productivity loss of these protests. Let's assume 100,000 people spend 8 hours outside carousing and hooting. 800,000 is a lot of time, boys and girls. You could have been teaching disadvantaged children to read, volunteering in a soup kitchen or adoption center, or gosh, even working.

well, so much for reasonable discourse.

Both sides of this country are sounding stupider everyday.

That's it... I'm moving to Europe.

"Imagine the productivity loss of these protests. Let's assume 100,000 people spend 8 hours outside carousing and hooting. 800,000 is a lot of time, boys and girls. You could have been teaching disadvantaged children to read, volunteering in a soup kitchen or adoption center, or gosh, even working."

Bullshit. Let's just say I've done all of those things. Many of the other protestors are engaged in other noble pursuits. Your defeatist stance is sickening.

Hell, why do anything at all? Why not just be a self-righteous liberal volunteerist with a bad case of work-ethic-itis to beat the radicals with.

Who are these supposed "swing voters"? I think the bigger problem is people disatisfied with the only two choices they have. Both are nearly identical. Both are corrupt and elitest. Instead of fighting for something people really want, they pretend they need to appeal to this "swing voter" group. These supposed "swing voters" don't demand reforms, they apparently want Democrats to be more Republican. Of course when they don't win an election, they can say it was because they lost these important "swing voters" because of some scapegoat, such as the Greens or protesters or whatever else is convenient.

The eyes of the world are on nyc and they are not laughing at you they are cheering you on. dont believe me go look at the major paper on line, they all speak of the "large protests" "mass rallies" which are taking place stating they are good natured by-in-large peaceful affair. Well done and keep donig it (anyway the drag just adds color)

Hay, I am a working class American just making it, But why is it ok for your group to express your feelings but others are not and as far as you are concerned they are dead wrong.

If you are the working poor there is only one reason, you don't spend enough time at work. Seems you are traveling around on some rich persons money not working, and protesting.

Should we give into the terror like Spain? They are still being targeted for terror acts, or like France who did not join in the Fight. It is funny the people in the Middle East hate us but move to Western Countries to make a living and enjoy our Freedom. Must not be all-bad.

It is our right to disagree but not to harm others while we do it. You accuse the Right of harming and depriving others but how is it ok to try and prevent those who don’t agree with you from expressing themselves in a peaceful way?

I suggest we all vote, get an education, help others and be good people. But most of all take responsibility for your own actions and stop looking to blame the other side for your own wrongs.

I'm sick of all this namby pamby shit. These people are a bunch of parasites. It's time to de-worm New York.
GIVE EM HELL!

Delegates may not be swing voters, but they are tourists, and they'll go back to their home states and tell everyone they know how horrible the people in New York are. Damaging the tourism industry, which is one of New York's larger industries, is just shooting yourself in the foot, and ironic coming from a group who is allegedly so concerned about unemployment.

you're an idiot if you think bad behavior by protestors won't be picked up by the media. In fact, you can expect such things to be used in political ads by the Republican party -- it plays right into their hands in depicting the left as a bunch of violent, hypocritical loons.

And swing voters are the ones who are watching on TV, not the actual delegates...

PS But good job protestors, at keeping it cool so far...

I love how leftists are always telling others how to behave. I've been to countless protests since the lead up and the start of the Iraq war.

At everyone of these, some peace-nazi was always trying to stop those of us who planned some direct action, even if it meant walking in the street instead of on the sidewalk where the police wanted them to walk.

Keep holding your little parades and going where the authorities tell you.

I'm looking forward to seeing some of the actions taking place later in the week.

Power to the radicals!

I say, "GO FOR IT!" Those who are so damned concerned about this "election"--an election where one of the "choices" is a megaloaniac and the other "choice" is afraid of alienating the idiots who lean toward supporting the megalomaniac's policies--ought to wake up and smell the coffee. Personally, I think something even beyond rudeness is called for at this juncture in history. Given what George W. Bush and his accomplices have done to "the least among us", they ought to be insulted and called whatever dirty names you can come up with. To Hell with "the neighbors" and what "they" might think--the fact is they neither think nor feel or they wouldn't be blithely supporting such a corrupt and dangerous administration. The working people of this land are fed up (unless they've been lobotomized by their TV sets) with the kinds of candidates who somehow float to the top in the current two-party sewer. GIVE 'EM HELL...it's cathartic at least.

I think new york city resident is reserves the right to tell any rnc delegate they stumble across to go fuck themselves. I did it several times sunday night and it made me feel alot better about this whole mess.

delegates aren't swing voters, they aren't even run of the mill republicans, they're hard-core right wing true believers, responsible for drafting and ratifying the most hateful and intolerant major party platform in the history of the US.

I truly appreciate the kind woman who pulled me off the "islam for kerry" guy at the march---but now its on, and "harassing", "scaring" and otherwise making any delegate unfortunate enough to cross my path feel as uncomfortable as possible is how I plan to protest, it’s truly important and impactful direct action. anyone who would suggest otherwise can…well, you know what you can do.

I'm tired of the right wing denying the existence of their fellow citizen's dissent. George W. said a while back that he doesn't see the dissent and division n this country...

Time for W and his delegates to witness first hand how the opposition feels... can't take the heat? get out of the convention...

GOOD WORK PROTESTERS, THEY HAVE HAD THE LAST 4 YEARS, WE CAN HAVE A WEEK!!!!

Much LOVE!!!

It all sounds very therapeutic. But none of it matters a single God Damn. The media will continue to ignore the underlying issues...the two heads of our corporatist single party will continue to thrash each other about Vietnam...The protests are a sideshow...virtually as scripted as the convention itself.

I have no answer to this. Frankly I think that the US is doomed to be a corporatist oligarchy, and there's not a damned thing that we can do about it.

McCain says:

...the small-minded people here are intolerant of
differing opinions. They will delete posts of anyone who disagrees
with their views. The measure of free-speech is supporting it when
you don't agree with it. These folks involved in the NYC protests
fail this fundamental test.


Your dedication to free speech for those who disagree with you is certainly exemplary.

I'm certain that when you get tickets to the next closed and scripted Dubya campaign event, that you'll be sure and share them with us. Won't you?

I wouldn't be in a position to help you, and I won't give you tickets to my Libertarian functions. We like free speech. You people demonstrate a loathing for it..... see below..

(4th post of this message, 1st 3 deleted)

You ask me, this is the best plank in the whole protest platform: the Bushites have screwed this city so bad, so hard, for so long, that even this mild-mannered Gothamite was fully ready to provide erroneous subway directions to anyone wearing tacky convention regalia. Homeland Security, my ass: Ashcroft's home district in Pigdung, MO gets more HS money than the great international city with the big target painted on it. Attention pie throwers: Tom Ridge should be target No. 1 every time he sets foot in this city for the next 50 years for that Orange Alert crap he pulled last month.

Problem is all the *#!#@$*! are riding around in Town Cars. Trying to find a cab from downtown this evening, I had to find the nearest GOP event to even find a bootlicking greedy yellow cabbie, then got the usual attitude about having to schlep out to Brooklyn. Hey, buddy, you got the fare hike you wanted, now shut up and take Flatbush like I told ya.

Polite? I got ya polite right heah ...

shut down the enabling oppressors !

we need to appeal to the masses, and let them know that the ruling elite laughs at us !!

maybe if we can pull enough people into the street, we can stop the normal people of NYC from earning their living ! Wow - then they will hurriedly see the angst with which we charge the barricades

We must stop Fox news from deluding the masses - their speech is evil, and must be ended
And stop the facist police state from shutting down our demonstrations - don't they know about the first amendment !!!

NYC needs to have more wackos - can't we extend this to F2 ?

We struck fear into the hearts ofthe delegates - so much that they brought in arnold !!!!

This isn't about our own selfish fantasies, rather directing attention to ourselves

have fun guys

God speed to everyone with the courage to confront those LYING pigs. We learned in the 6o's that you don't get anything from facists unless you mess up their little parties. I called Nixxon a murdering liar to his face and would do it again to this baby hitler now. I only wish I could be there with you today. So we're even, we did it for you, and now you are doing it for us too!!

1, 2, 3 ,4 we don't want your MOTHER&^$%ing WAR!
RIGHT ON !!!!

Strong comments that are ethically grounded can have the effect of shaming delegates without the need for gratuitous insults. People who are acting against society's broad interests should not be allowed insulate themsleves from public opinion and pressure. It is very healthy for New Yorkers, who have stood at ground zero, to express themselves to Republican delegates - both for the New Yorkers and for the delegates.

McCain said:
>I won't give you tickets to my Libertarian functions.

And as a Libertarian you know have every right not to. Freedom of association is guaranteed by the Constitution. So why do you get so excited when Indymedia chooses not to associate themselves with you? Who is the hypocite here?