organized anarchy

The Republican Convention is, predictably, dull as dirt, but some of the side shows are kind of fun.

The show that the cops are putting on in downtown St. Paul, for instance. It is like an armed fortress down there -- hundreds of them in full riot gear. They have come in from all over the state and outside the state. Last evening, we tried to pick up Joan (who lives in downtown St. Paul, a few blocks from the Xcel Center) for dinner, and it's not easy with all the detours and barricades and fences and cops itching to use their tear gas. Luckily, we were driving Jerry's BMW, and what cop in his right mind would attack a BMW??

Monday, we marched with the anti-war protestors in St. Paul, and it was great of course (They say 10,000 people marched, I say it was more than that). There were a few anarchists also, mingling through the crowds, obvious in their masks and black clothes, ready to make trouble and ready to get arrested, which they did. I went to their website before the march to see what their plan was and was amazed at how well-organized these anarchists are, which to me seems to be the opposite of anarchy, but oh well... There were numerous and diverse groups that were part of that march. We walked with the Veterans for Peace, which included the Iraq Veterans Against the War.

Joan calls me now and then to update me on the happenings on the streets. Convention ends tomorrow, and downtown St. Paul will be a ghost town once again.
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My thoughts on Sarah Palin's pregnant daughter and the upcoming shotgun wedding: Whatever happened to "abstinence only", right-wingers?.. Maybe these kids needed some sex-education classes or condoms??... :-)