The Minnesota Independent writes: “St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman’s office issued a statement this morning
announcing that the city attorney won’t prosecute journalists who were
cited by authorities at the Republican National Convention (RNC) with ‘presence at an unlawful assembly,’ a misdemeanor charge.”

Indeed, the police presence at the RNC was so heavy-handed that they seemed hell-bent on arresting everyone and anyone who looked like anything other than a J-Crew catalog model. The treatment down at the RNC reminded me of “security theatre,” a term coined by Bruce Schneier in his book Beyond Fear, which describes the melodramatic airport searches as “just for show.” Security theatre makes it seem like you’re being really effective, without actually accomplishing anything. So, let’s review. Minneapolis-St. Paul Police/RNC: 0. The People: 1.

Almost immediately after the venom-spewing session that was Wednesday night at the Republican National Convention wrapped, an email came across from David Plouffe, Obama’s campaign manager.  Here’s an excerpt:

Both Rudy Giuliani and Sarah Palin specifically mocked Barack’s experience as a community organizer on the South Side of Chicago more than two decades ago, where he worked with people who had lost jobs and been left behind when the local steel plants closed.

Let’s clarify something for them right now.

Community organizing is how ordinary people respond to out-of-touch politicians and their failed policies.

And it’s no surprise that, after eight years of George Bush, millions of people have found that by coming together in their local communities they can change the course of history. That promise is what our campaign has been about from the beginning.

Throughout our history, ordinary people have made good on America’s promise by organizing for change from the bottom up. Community organizing is the foundation of the civil rights movement, the women’s suffrage movement, labor rights, and the 40-hour workweek. And it’s happening today in church basements and community centers and living rooms across America.

This seems to be just the window the Obama campaign is looking for to really hammer home the “McCain and the Republicans are out of touch” message. Not only was there thinly veiled sneering at the term “community organizer” as any sort of legit leadership experience by Guiliani and Palin, the audience was eating it up as well.

While the MSM has been overflowing with general praise for her performance, the blogosphere was quick to react.  Marc Cooper’s sarcasm-laden response to Palin’s speech can be found here.  P+P’s own Tricia Romano offers her take on Palin and everyone else here.  And the website SameFacts has done its own analysis of Palin’s speech vs. “reality” here.

Perhaps most poignant, however, is the comment that was left on Ms. Romano’s piece by “karimah,” an impassioned former community organizer:

I listened to Gov. Palins’ speech last night. For the past few days, I’ve tried to avoid the spins and sound bites that were unfairly whirling around her and her family. I wanted to hear Palin breath of fresh air and respect what was a historical moment. I was inspired last night by her presence when she approached the podium. She was poised, confident and ready. She had a tough job, as would anyone. She was being charged with inspiring and motivating her party. I clung to her every word. I tried to filter her mockery and insults and I saw a woman rising to the occasion. As a woman, I felt proud. Good for her!!

But….

I was absolutely shocked that she would use her moment of introduction to disrespect Community Organizers so profoundly. I have worked as a Community Organizer in every region and almost every state of our country for the past 18 years including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. I was offended and deeply hurt by the context and content of her references to Community Organizers. Giuliani was made accountable by organizing efforts for many issues in NY prior to 9/11. Maybe that was his motivation. What in the world was hers?? There are so many Americans that give up more “elite” options to follow their convictions of helping to create positive changes as Community Organizers They work side by side with good, hard working Americans who are often left out, pushed aside and left behind. If she wants, someday I’ll share with her what the job entails.

Last night Palin and Giuliani mocked the struggles of people all over this country to survive, thrive and make their communities better. These folk are working with organizers to prevent foreclosures, improve the community’s façade, leverage millions for affordable housing, train for jobs, create job opportunities, work with young people to get them committed and excited about learning. These folk are “mavericks” speaking truth to local power in they’re cities. Community Organizers are knocking on doors getting people registered to vote and inspiring them to engage in the political process. As before, we will be there helping in the aftermath when the lights go out in St. Paul and go back on in New Orleans. Hope is not just a word for organizers. It is the light that shatters apathy and ignites a spirit of participation. With seemingly whimsical comments Palin and Giuliani disregarded the legacy of organizing movements that are held dear in the hearts and minds of many Americans. At least two movements from which I dare say she has benefited….. The Civil Rights Movement and the Women’s Movement. Community organizing efforts paved the way for her to speak on a national stage last night at a RNC. You might say she did not have to “earn” that podium because of the work of organizers. They owe an apology to the countless number of people who do this work. Is organizing a legitimate qualification for our Commander-in-Chief? Palin has a right to question. My guess is Obama can and will answer her. But to make a mockery of an honest and noble American profession and to discount it by the use of your body language and tone is shameful. It was an authoritarian posture. It was a misuse of the platform and the power the she and Giuliani has as public officials. I found the references to Community Organizers careless, unnecessarily nasty, divisive, and elitist.

I am an educated woman, a mother of two beautiful young boys, a wife, a National Trainer and a very proud Community Organizer. I know I’ll talk, text, chat blog and email with other Community Organizers from all over the country today about the references made by both Palin and Giuliani. Not knowing about someone’s work and/or not liking the work they do does not grant Palin or Giuliani the privilege to do what they both did with no regard for fellow Americas who happen to be organizers. Thanks but no thanks!

God Bless the Obamas and God Bless America

Think about how many times the Dems told Americans in Denver that John McCain was a good soldier, a good man, they liked him very much, but he’s wrong. And think about how many times they said his name. Hillary even had a slogan with it, “No way, no how, no McCain.”

But the Republican speakers tonight, which included former presidential candidates Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, as well as VP candidate Gov. Sarah Palin, didn’t even say the words, “Barack Obama,” once. He was relegated to “my opponent,” and the audience was told that he’s done “nothing,” “zero,” repeatedly.

Mike Huckabee was the only one to actually give the Illinois senator any credit at all. He praised his candidacy for being historic. “I have great respect for Senator Obama’s achievement not because of his color but the indifference to it. As Americans we celebrate this milestone. It elevates us,” he said, but warned: “The Presidency is not a symbolic job.”

Many of the attack themes that Sen. Hillary Clinton raised during the Democratic primary reared their heads. We haven’t heard about Obama’s non-voting record in a while, but Giuliani made sure that was a sticking point.  He said:

130 times couldn’t make a decision! He couldn’t vote yes or no! It was too tough! He voted Present.

For a President, it’s not good enough to be present. You have to make a decision.

Giuliani’s speech—the whole thing—was as masterful as Bill Clinton’s speech in Denver.

He was at ease, as comfortable as a stand-up comic in the zone, as he delivered little Republican nuggets to his blood-thirsty audience. “He’s the least experienced candidate for President in at least 100 years. It’s not a personal attack—it’s a statement of fact,” he said of Obama, seemingly softening the blow, but then…not: “Barack Obama has never lead anything! Nothing! Nada!”

Line after line, Giuliani went for the kill, he got laughs and applause. But more importantly, his speech specifically went for Obama’s jugular.

All other speakers were lockstep with the marching orders as well. They made fun of Obama’s experience as a community organizer, a job the Democrats have cast as noble and worthwhile, something he chose instead of Wall Street riches, proof that he really cares about people. The RNC crowd literally snickered in the midst of Giuliani’s semi-serious hypothetical match-up between two men for a job that you have to hire. And when he said, “community organizer,” the crowd giggled so much that he had to pause.

Basically, they were saying, “Obama is a pussy.” In some ways, they are right. After witnessing this litany of political one-upmanship, it’s fair to say the Dems were too nice. Hillary Clinton, who gave one of the most impassioned speeches, served to unify her own party, not slam the other side. The Dems, and Obama, were often too nuanced.

“I like John McCain, but” “He’s a good soldier, but.” “I respect this person, but,” And, “I think we should do this, but…”

They are too thoughtful, and assume too much intelligence on behalf of their viewers. The Republicans know better. They know there is a reason why Hollywood action-adventure movies rake it in at the box office. Audiences respond to clear-cut characterization.

Good vs. evil. Us vs. them. Liberal vs. Conservative. Republican vs. Democrat. Right vs. Wrong. Righteous vs. Sinner.

Mitt Romney did his best to distort those lines. He cast teachers in a union vs. poor innocent children, as if the teachers (notoriously underpaid) were in it to get rich, not, you know, teach children. He pitted liberals vs. conservatives, and Guantanamo terrorists vs. Democrats. “We believe there is good and evil,” he said. “John McCain hit the nail on the head. Radical Islam is evil and he will defeat it.”

And then, Romney’s rhetorical hammer struck again. Republicans, he said, “prefer straight talk to politically correct talk.” Michael Steele, of GOPAC, served to be the RNC’s Brian Schweitzer, the Democratic governor of Montana whose speech in Denver easily had the most entertainment value. Steele’s phrase about “energy independence, “Drill, baby drill (and drill now)” is sure to become a national calling card for Republicans.

The night served to diminish, devalue, and deride the Dems as much as possible. Huckabee dissed Joe Biden by saying that Sarah Palin received more votes as mayor than Biden did for President. There’s an overreaching, overeager need to defend her meager experience.  Me thinks they doth protest too much.

Perhaps most egregious, the Republicans stated their case using a series of laugh-out-loud lies and distortions. I loved Giuliani’s “How dare they?” bit about the media’s attack on women— you know how dare they question Palin’s ability to be both strong mother and effective politician? Maybe he should ask the members in the crowd who were wearing buttons that referenced the “Hottest VP from the Coolest State,” or “I’m voting for McCain and the Hot Chick.”

Or her claims of the “heavy tax burden” that Obama’s presidency will bring, on small and large business alike (even her sister’s new filling station!). Or Thompson’s, Romney’s, and Giuliani’s insistence of new taxes across all income brackets, when Obama clearly stated in his acceptance speech that 95% of the entire U.S. population would receive tax cuts. It’s the other 5%—the ones in control of about 95% of the wealth—that would lose a mere percentage of their ludicrous disposable income under Obama. The Republican-perpetuated myth that taxing the very wealthy would stifle investments that would be pumped back into the economy just doesn’t hold water in this age of absurd conspicuous consumption among hedge fund nouveau-riche.

The Republicans are living in an alternative reality, where they are the more fiscally responsible, and don’t have to explain why their sitting president ran up the largest federal deficit in history—this, after squandering the largest surplus in history. A surplus that began with George H.W.’s tax hike (and broken promise) that cost him a second term, and was nurtured by a so-called tax-and-spend Democrat in Bill Clinton. It was Clinton who cut more welfare programs than any Dem president in recent memory, and instituted the Welfare to Work program.

The Republicans —and the Democrats—all seem to be living in a timewarp. For the Republicans, it’s still 1980; the Dems are cast as tax-and-spend-welfare liberals who want to turn this into a communist state—one speaker even used a Big Brother analogy. Huckabee, drove the point home in his laid-back humorous way. He called the Dem candidate’s overseas visit, “Barack Obama’s Excellent Adventure to Europe,” and worried that he might bring back those terrible European ideals. (Free health care! Affordable education! Shudder.)

And if you listened to the Republicans, we’re still living in the shadow of Jimmy Carter’s years. Giuliani, who left the New York City budget a total mess, had the gall to talk about how lower taxes would create jobs. Palin, in her debut to a national audience, revealed her “Barracuda” claws. Through her Marge Gunderson On Speed accent, she smirked and rallied against Obama and the Dems, over and over. “Obama has written two memoirs but has not passed a single major law or major reform,” she wrongly claimed. She dissed his “styrofoam Greek columns,” and claimed that he would “make government bigger,” when in fact, the reason Obama attracts independents, is because he promises to make government smaller (See above).

Sometimes the Republican audiences help hang themselves. When Palin hinted that businesses would be taxed, the camera cut to a woman who had a small fistful of diamonds hanging from her ears, booing. (Rich lady, here is my very small violin. It plays a tune for you.)

At least Mitt Romney admitted what year he was living in, saying “That Ronald Reagan 30 years ago was the right choice.” I hope that after tonight, the Democrats stop saying nice things about Palin (who insists on dragging her “special needs child” to a loud auditorium night after night), about how the media should leave her family alone, and grow a backbone and some balls. You might not be able to hit a girl, but clearly you can’t play like one.

I am at the Republican National Convention, and though I am a staunch Democrat who’s possibly even further to the left of Dennis Kucinich, I decided that I must immerse myself in real GOP Culture and not just hang out with unwashed lefty anarchists. Of course, the most painless way to do this for a Democrat such as myself is to spend some time getting used to the Other Side with a contingent I’m very familiar and comfortable with: The Gays, or in this case, the Log Cabin Republicans. Yes, Dorothy, there are Gay Republicans. And no, we’re not in Kansas, anymore.

I told Log Cabin Communications Director Scott Tucker that my friends were perplexed by Log Cabin Republicans’ very existence, as was I. He didn’t miss a beat. “Did they look at you like you had three heads?”

Yes they did. And if you were wondering, Tucker and his fellow Republicans don’t have three heads, either. I spoke with him after their “Big Tent” classy lunch, where all the attendees sat at white tableclothed tables eating fine fare while us journos stood in the back looking like disheveled cattle. He explained that they were endorsing Senator John McCain because they believe he will be an “inclusive” president. They declined, after George W. Bush started a stampede on gay rights with the Federal Marriage Amendment, to endorse W. He said of McCain, “We have a relationship going back with McCain to the early 1990s. Sen McCain stood with us on the Fed Marriage Amendment twice and he stood on the floor with us in 2006 and gave a very impassioned speech about that amendment, calling it antithetical in every way to the core philosophy of Republicans.”

The core philosophy is what might make even certain Dems wistful for the days of Alex P. Keaton. Remember when Republicans were mostly about spending money responsibly, smaller, less intrusive government, and strong national defense—and not about Bible thumping yahoos? After W., it’s hard to remember, but you have to reach back before the Reagan years. It was during those years that the Republican party rounded up the right-wing religious fanatics, the James Dobsons and Jerry Falwells of the world, cherry picking certain social issues that had previously belonged to the Dems—like abortion, and now gay rights—to drive a wedge right through the center. ( A good primer on this is the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Haynes Johnson’s book, Sleepwalking Through HIstory: America in the Reagan Years.)

“I would argue the Ronald Reagan never used these issues himself,” said Tucker. That’s the party Tucker and the Log Cabin Republicans hope to bring back: “The way I look at it is those people are going to leave this party before I do,” he said of the extremist factions.

Yes, but what of Sarah Palin, the would-be VP? She’s vocally against gay marriage (as are all the other politicians on both tickets,) and supported a bill banning gay marriage way back in 1998.

In 2006, she struck down a bill that would have denied benefits to gay state employees, but only on the grounds that it was unconstitutional. Still, the eminently quotable Tucker couldn’t really suss out Palin, and left the unflappable flack a little tongue-tied. “Gov. Palin’s positions on gay and lesbian issues is largely unclear,” (nope, they are not, see above), he said and didn’t directly address her support of the ban in 1998.

Even with all their strides, it’s not easy being gay in the GOP. He beamed with pride talking about how 49% of the GOP delegates support civil unions and/or gay marriage, according to a CBS News/New York Times poll, (“That’s half of Republican delegates! These are party faithful, party activists!” he said, hopefully) and noted that during their open booth at the Civic Fest in the hours they were there, and out of the hundreds of people they talked to, only two people said, “Read your Bible,” before walking away. On the battleground front, there’s more work to be done: “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell looks to be on its last legs, and with Cali Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vocally against the Prop 8 ballot initiative, which would overturn the state’s Supreme Court decision recognizing gay marriages, the gays have come a long way, baby.

Tucker allowed that they have “some disagreements with Sen McCain related to gay rights. The employment non-discrimination act, McCain doesn’t support.” And he admits, “Senator Obama has promised a lot of wonderful things. If you’re looking at the very narrow prism of the very specific gay and lesbian rights issues, we’re not going to argue that Republicans are better than Democrats—we never have. Democrats have come farther than Republicans on gay rights issues, if you’re looking at that — quote, unquote — scorecard of issues.”

Still, Tucker points out that Dems are no great shakes, either, especially Donkey rock star, Bill Clinton, who signed both “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” and the “Defense of Marriage Act,” into law. “He was a great disappointment for the LGBT community,” said Tucker. “A Democratic president signed two pieces of legislation that the gay and lesbian community spends most of their money and time fighting and trying to overturn.”

If you’re wondering why they insist on working for a party that largely hates them, Tucker explains their Sysyphean battle thus: “We want to get our party more inclusive on these issues. And we have to come further on these issues otherwise we’ll be on the wrong side of history if we don’t.”

Missed our coverage of last week’s Democratic National Convention? Check out our 30+ posts by clicking HERE.  Or just click the tag “P+P@The DNC” on any related post, or in the Tag Cloud in the sidebar.

Also check out the photo galleries from last Monday’s Wyclef performance, downtown Denver & the protest gallery, and Invesco Field for Obama’s acceptance speech.

And lastly, posts with original P+P video can be found here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Managing Editor Tricia Romano is on the ground as of Monday in St. Paul for the Republican convention, so be sure to look for her observations on the event throughout the course of the next several days.

Sen. John McCain’s online experience may be limited to email printouts he receives from staffers and occasional glances at “The Drudge Report,” but don’t let his crotchety voice and snow-white hair fool you. This man — or at least his campaign — knows a thing or two about manipulating the media.

Today, McCain will have you know that he is putting his country first more than anybody, including Sen. Barack Obama. In a statement released late yesterday, McCain’s campaign manager Rick Davis made the case that his candidate’s retooling of convention plans shows that he cares more about hurricane victims than the presidency. This, of course, is meant to contrast with Obama, who apparently hates America because he made campaign stops yesterday.

Throughout the day today, McCain’s campaign proclaims that their efforts will go toward ensuring the safety of those living along the gulf coast, even at the expense of political gain.

Using this tragic time for political purposes is unacceptable, and should not be tolerated. And by the way, our vice presidential candidate-you know, the one who detests sex-ed and stands on a soapbox full of abstinence-her daughter is 17, unmarried and a little bit pregnant.

The latest sneaky news dump out of the McCain campaign comes less than a week after they stopped the Obama acceptance speech raves in their tracks by announcing Palin’s selection the very next day.   Not surprising seeing as this is the same machine that made Britney and Paris legitimate conversation for political pundits.

As for the moral implications of using a hurricane you’re accusing your opponent of politicizing to slip incriminating news under the radar, the McCain campaign might say the American people on the gulf coast are suffering too much for us to be thinking about such frivolous matters. But maybe Davis’ criticism of Obama holds some water here. Maybe instead of staying out of the way, raising money and gathering volunteers, he should start talking louder about America and posing for some hurricane photos.

With the DNC over and the temperamental limelight now hovering towards McCain’s more than slightly surprising VP choice and the impending (weather-based, obstacle ridden?) Republican National Convention, the GOP doesn’t seem to be having their expected grand old party lashing out against the Obama campaign…today. But the day is young and the elephants have not yet been wished happy hunting.

Over the course of the Denver-based convention, however, the McCain Campaign, National Review and folks such as Michelle Malkin, Mark Hemingway and Ann Coulter went to town with a bevy of nasty tidbits that “more than hinted” (cough) at a hope to subvert Obama’s influence (or to simply get a gleeful two cents in).

The Brief Breakdown:

Mon, 8-25: On Michelle Obama’s Speech:

In what can be shocking only to an earthworm lodged deep in the world’s core and away from the sensory-overload producing buzz of this election and American politics in general, we read that Ann Coulter did not like Michelle Obama’s speech.

Here’s an excerpt of her reaction:

The speech itself felt mechanical. There were some interesting quotes including:

“I love America!” [Note: As an aside, I feel like if you have to say it, you call it into question.]

“We will build the world as it should be.”

“Hillary Clinton put 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling”–and this is a paraphrase–and changed the world for our girls. [I'm sure Hillary is happy to know she paved the way for Michelle's daughters.]

She also said some airy, fairy stuff about stellar education from cradle to grave, but no specifics other than by “bringing us together” and finding the “common thread”. Whatever the hell that means.

At the end of the speech, there was a staged moment where Barack was piped in via satellite and talked to his girls who were absolutely precious. To me, I think that part was the “winning” moment, if there was one. The all-American family. The all-American black family. Very powerful.

Tues, 8-26: On Hillary Clinton’s Speech:

Unabashed and hilarious hard-hitter Michelle Malkin pulled no live-blogging punches in describing Hillary as an “orange creamsicle,” in languishing in descriptions of Clinton as a liar and in highlighting the possible enmity between Hillary and Michelle Obama.

A portion of her writing shows:

She’s telling all her old campaign victim anecdotes. Gives a shout out to the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuits.

Ewww.

A nice tribute to the son of Stephanie Tubbs Jones and the widow of Bill Gwaltney.

A galling reference to Chinese dirty money and private profits over the public good.

Michelle O can barely get through this. Hasn’t cracked a smile yet.

Well, this will probably seal the deal. Another cutaway to the new ice queen, Michelle O….

Hillary gives her hubby a shout-out. Standing ovation. Michelle O and Joe B gingerly clapping again. Is that fear in their eyes?

A dig at Obama’s differences with her on health care: “I can’t wait until Barack Obama signs a law that covers every single American in this country.”

11:05pm Eastern. She’s quoting Harriet Tubman. “Keep going.” Almost lapsing into her Selma accent. “We’re Americans and we don’t quit…we don’t have a moment to lose or a moment to spare.” Her accent, whatever it is, is getting thicker.

Over.

Forced smiles all around.

Wed, 8-27: On Bill Clinton’s Speech:

Mark Hemingway’s answer to Mr. Clinton’s speech, published in the National Review was somewhat gentle and even quite flattering, if a portrayal of it as “rousing partisan screed” (see below):

Denver — The reviews are in, and Bill Clinton has given the best speech of the Democratic convention thus far. True, the bar hadn’t been set at a daunting height for the most talented politician of his generation — but credit is due where credit is due. Bill Clinton’s speech was an impressive display of partisan red meat at a convention that was showing signs of anemia. Watching the soporific John Kerry come out after Clinton was like watching Tiny Tim stroll on stage with his ukulele seconds after Jimi Hendrix had dropped his still-scorching Stratocaster.

That, however, is all the Clinton speech was — a rousing partisan screed. Alleged acrimony between the Clinton and Obama campaigns has been much buzzed about all week — and not for nothing. The on-camera denials have been as unconvincing as the off-the-record gripes have been frequent. Even when Barack Obama made his “surprise” appearance at the end of the night and singled out the Clintons for their support, you could almost hear Bill and Hillary restating their tentative endorsement through clenhed teeth: America deserves Barack Obama . . . good and hard.

Thurs, 8-28: On Barack Obama’s Speech:

Michelle Malkin took great pleasure in painting Obama as a holier-than-thou snot, or “Snobama,” or leader of a goon squad, from Harvard in her campaign-parodying images.

The McCain Campaign followed its presentation of Obama as a celebrity with alternate images of him, using the structure of the stage at the INVESCO field as an inspiration, as a self-proclaimed–but no less hallowed– Greco-Roman God-figure…much in the spirit of its delighted characterization of him as “The One” as well as of a novice simply “not ready” to fill the hot seat.

So. The dual-sided, putrefied mud-slinging ping pong of insult and injury continues in vivid form. After all, this democracy is red and blue in tooth and claw.