Tampa suspends 1st Amendment for Republican Convention

[NoJingoLingo]

I thought the republican party was all about the constitution... when it suits them anyway.

In May, at the behest of national Republican officials, Tampa’s mayor and council passed a temporary ordinance to suspend our First Amendment and authorize a crackdown on protestors. Warning ominously that a few vandals might get out of control, the ordinance tries to force all citizen demonstrations into a few restricted parade routes and what amounts to “protest pens.” Pre-emptive detainments, indiscriminate mass arrests and police infiltrations of peaceful protest groups can be expected. Ironically, that’s the kind of autocratic excess that led to the American Revolution itself.

The National Memo » Protecting Political Insiders From Our First Amendment
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/23/us...-protests.html

[Charlatan]

Get rid of the first amendment and use common sense! Imagine a lot of teachers puzzling over the rules laid out by the first principal at a school, wasting time, screwing each innuendo in the rules to better suite thier goals...

[crimethinker]

We all like to use respected symbols to bolster our arguments, in this case the Constitution, but we're equally capable of tossing them aside or perverting them when convenient. The Constitution is good for nothing without a rational government to enforce it.

[Dieval]

If the other side wasn't known for being very disturbing, there would be no need...now would there?

[NoJingoLingo]

If the other side wasn't known for being very disturbing, there would be no need...now would there?

So I was right in the OP when I said "...when it suits them anyway". Thanks for confirming that you at least, don't really believe in the rights of all Americans.

[Thanatos]

Curiously, they won't be suspending your right to bear arms for this event. Another ordnance will allow armed protest in the city if you want, under the assumption that liberals don't have guns.

The temptation to show up with guns and an obnoxiously liberal t-shirt and scare the crap out of a bunch of snotty conservatives simply by being there is large. I'm going, by the way.

[NoJingoLingo]

They are banning water guns... LOL

[Dieval]

So I was right in the OP when I said "...when it suits them anyway". Thanks for confirming that you at least, don't really believe in the rights of all Americans.

This article is such a joke. It's sole purpose is to incite trouble at the RNC, but completely ignores the DNC, which has done EXACTLY THE SAME THING:

the police will have the protesters surrounded in secured areas.
...
With the convention in mind, Charlotte adopted an ordinance in January allowing it to create designated areas for people to gather for large-scale events and prevent them from carrying backpacks and other items in those areas. The protests are being held in designated areas in the business district, and the crowds can be easily moved between those areas, police said.
Charlotte Police Say They're Ready For Protests : NPR

Not that I'm a big fan of NPR, but when they say it, it doesn't sound like it's out to incite backlash....funny how that works.

[Yarn]

This slopes too old to be slippery.

[NoJingoLingo]

This article is such a joke. It's sole purpose is to incite trouble at the RNC, but completely ignores the DNC, which has done EXACTLY THE SAME THING:


Not that I'm a big fan of NPR, but when they say it, it doesn't sound like it's out to incite backlash....funny how that works.

I see, so your defense is 'they do it too'? But I thought you guys were the party of fervent belief in the Constitution... when it suits you.

[Dieval]

I see, so your defense is 'they do it too'? But I thought you guys were the party of fervent belief in the Constitution... when it suits you.

Again, the point is this article is a joke. Honestly, I don't even see how this "suspends 1st Amendment". Care to explain?

[Trojan_Ripper]

I say put all the protestors in the "big sombrero" that way it will be easier for the media to interview them. It's not like the media will be reporting on anything else but protestors anyway.

The temptation to show up with guns and an obnoxiously liberal t-shirt and scare the crap out of a bunch of snotty conservatives simply by being there is large. I'm going, by the way

.

Well I'll look for you Thanatos; wear a Volconvo t-shirt and we can hook up. I grew up in Tampa and I'll show you the sights.