Brand X wrote:revel wrote:Brand X wrote:Sofia wrote:Why is it that the Republicans allowed the Democrats to have their Convention--but the Democrats can't seem to do the same? (Here's one difference between the Dems and the GOP.)
I would have been embarrassed and angry if my political party 'infiltrated' the Opposition's Convention, and acted like a bunch of ill-mannered delinquents. How high school. Don't confuse this type of attack with protest.
But, let them be seen for what they are. If there is a terrorist event that 'gets through' because police are tied up with Democrat bullshit, it will never be forgotten. This stupidity will just overextend police. And, this year, NY needs all the police they can get.
Quite a Contrast would you say?
The Republicans will gain points due to their own decent behavior during the Democratic convention.
Decent behavior or scripted behavior?
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040816/ap_on_el_pr/bush_preaching_to_the_choir
What does that have to do with the Dem convention?
If it was as open as this AP article suggest, Repubs intent on disrupting the Dem convention would have been in there doing it, eh?
If they were in fact in there and no disruption then I call that decent behavior not scripted.
There was disruptions at some of Kerry's campaign speeches. Bush does not have that problem because he don't let anyone near him that is not a supporter which makes it scripted. The article is not really talking about the Republican convention, but the Bush/Cheney campaign in general and how it has been run up to date. I think that I should not have used it for this particular thread since it is about the conventions, but the words "decent behavior" caught my eye in light of an article I just read before coming here and I posted it.
The Bush campaign billed his visit to Beaverton as a chance for ordinary citizens to pose questions to the president.
But first, his audience at "Ask President Bush" heard a 21-minute speech from Bush. Then there were 22 minutes of testimonials on his domestic policies from four supporters. After that, Bush moved into a second speech lasting 24 minutes on terrorism and Iraq (news - web sites), along with a few comments about his meetings with world leaders.
His audience did not mind waiting more than an hour for the question-and-answer session. This was no town hall appearance before a cross-section of citizens. Bush-Cheney re-election headquarters had instructed Oregon campaign officials to distribute tickets, so the school gymnasium was filled last Friday with 2,000 passionate Bush backers.
By contrast, most of Kerry's events are open to the public, though there have been some town hall events that are invitation-only. For certain appearances, the Kerry campaign has distributed tickets to the local party, unions and other supporters.
But Kerry spokesman David Wade said that any member of the public can get a ticket from a local campaign office or from the affiliated groups on a first-come, first-served basis. Many people are admitted without any ticket.
"I think America deserves a president who is willing to talk to anybody, I don't care if you are Democrat, Republican or independent," Kerry said Friday.
Kerry's more open approach carries political risks. Sometimes protesters show up and try to disrupt his appearances. To get across their point that Kerry is a flip-flopper, they often clap flip-flop sandals over their heads, and chant, "Four more years!"
Such dissent is never a problem for Bush.
When the time came to "Ask President Bush" Friday, none of his 16 questioners challenged him on his policies. Several did not ask questions at all, but simply voiced their support.
"If it wasn't for your tax cuts and your stimulus and your steady hand since 9/11, my job would never happen," one man said.
"Could you take a moment to pray for Oregon, for us, right now?" asked one questioner. (Bush declined.)
"Mr. President, as a child, how can I help you get votes?" another audience member inquired.
"Thank you for serving!"
"My husband and my twins and I pray for you daily, as do many home schoolers. Thank you for recognizing home schoolers."
Bush campaign spokesman Scott Stanzel said the Bush team strives to draw some undecided voters to each event, though he could not estimate how many typically attend. There appear to be few fence-sitters at Bush's events, where audiences frequently interrupt the president to cheer.
The president's events are not designed to convert Kerry backers, but rather energize Bush's base, aides say.
"The thousands of people at these events are the messengers for the campaign," Stanzel said. "They go out and spread the message, whether it's at their place of business or their VFW or sportsman's club or just in their neighborhood."
Bush's camp has taken other measures to keep non-supporters out of Bush's events.
Last month, some Democrats who signed up to hear Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) speak near Albuquerque, N.M., were refused tickets unless they signed a pledge to endorse Bush. The Bush campaign described the measure as a security step designed to avoid a disruption it contended had been planned.
Campaign spokesman Dan Foley said people calling for tickets from an anti-Bush group's telephone line underwent screening. Those seeking to attend the speech but giving false names were denied tickets, he said.
Bush's admission policy can leave the impression that the president has strong support wherever he goes.
Labor unions traditionally align with Democrats and have not been particularly friendly to Bush. So when Bush spoke at a Las Vegas union hall Thursday, the campaign used its usual ticket distribution policy to pack the hall with backers.
The crowd roared its approval throughout the speech. Some tickets were also given to union members. A few of them sat silently in the back rows.
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