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As I indicated earlier, I was helping to monitor the protests downtown as part of the True North team. Disappointed by the pitiful protest staged at noon, which you can read about here, we came back to our super-secret bunker in the heart of the beast and tried to get a sense of what the protesters had planned. We were getting tips and hearing rumors all over the city. In fact, the city of St. Paul itself informed it\’s downtown business to send home workers by 3 pm, so we knew they were expecting trouble. Right on cue, our observer on scene, Mitch Berg, reported numbers gathering on the capitol grounds, so I high-tailed it down there to join him.

This crowd was definitely bigger. I\’d estimate between 1000 and 1500 people. Before I knew it the crowd started moving and Mitch and I had to move to keep in front of them. That was kinda fun, trying to outguess a crowd and guessing what the mob mentality was going to achieve. When the crowd deviated from their approved route, the police revoked their permit and trapped them on the John Ireland bridge. Fortunately Mitch and I were on the \”good\” side of the police line and was able to watch riot police, mounted police, bike police, police on ATVs, motorcycle police, BCA and Secret Service deploy and redeploy. Put on gas masks, then take them off, put them on and then off again. You can see the live blog of the event here, and apparently KSTP had a camera on the opposite side of the protest and you can see that report here.

Despite claims that they\’d stay there all night if they had to, the protesters eventually dispersed. Or did they??

Well as it turns out, a couple hours later, assuming every thing was petering out and was going to be limited to small skirmishes I headed out of downtown with Andy, whom I had since linked up with. We had just managed to find our way back over I-94, when suddenly a protest march was coming right at us. Less than a 1000 people but still sizeable, 400-500 likely. Where they managed to assemble that number of people is unsure, but they were trying to find a way across I-94 and apparently tried to use the same method we did. The highway (I-94) plays a very strategic role. It\’s a natural barrier and with limited number of crossings to \”defend\”.

But it appears the police might have been caught off guard by this one because they really had to struggle to redeploy in time to block them. It was nothing like the very organized responses I saw earlier, in which the police appeared to know what the protesters were gonna do before they did. This was obviously very ad hoc, but they managed to prevent the protesters from taking the Marion overpass. Protesters were turned back north toward the Sears by the Capitol and the next thing we knew the parking lots were filled with flashbangs and tear gas and we were briefly caught within police lines. Turns out the police had formed a police line north of Sears using cops on bicycles, the crowd challenged the line and tried to force their way through.  Police responded.

Fortunately the crowd moved back toward the Marion overpass and police redeployed toward them. Further flashbangs and tear gas announced another confrontation. Once the gas had cleared we discovered that police had trapped and arrested about 200 protesters. That number is not confirmed, only my guesstimation from looking at the number of people on the ground, in cuffs.

Protesters were still gathered around the area but the police now had proper police lines in place and reserves at the ready and kept them back so the arrested could be processed. However, the police had also ordered gawkers to disperse as well.

The tear gas and flashbangs took the fight out of most of the crowd, because most of the protesters scattered and there were many pulling out their cellphones trying to find lost, and potentially arrested, comrades. What little group that was still assembled (maybe 150) is mostly \”street medics\”, lawyers and \”peace groups\”. So I wouldn\’t expect much more trouble now. Likely there will be small groups blocking intersections all night long but I doubt they\’ll have the numbers to \”smash the Xcel\” as was their intended goal earlier.

Many compliments go to the St. Paul police, the Ramsey County Deputies and the other agencies involved. They showed great restraint today. There were several instances where things could have turned very ugly very quickly. But police kept their powder dry and were very tolerant of the protesters….which is as it should be.

And thus comes to a close the protests of the RNC. The GOP was able to have it\’s convention. The protesters were able to say whatever it is the hell they had to say. Nobodies rights were violated and we can all go home….well except for those that apparently can\’t be bothered to follow the law.

[Crossposted at True North]

Ok so I\’m currently in the super-secret True North protest watch bunker at the moment.  We\’ll be keeping an eye on the protests going on.  There will be a school walk out starting at 11.  They\’ll converge on the state capitol.  And then there is a protest march and \”theater\” at the Xcel around 4.  Myself and the rest of the True North crew will be doing what we can to report on that.  I\’ll be fairly busy myself, so I probably won\’t put it up here.  Instead I\’d suggest you hang out at True North for the day and catch the updates from both myself and others as they come in.

Yes, I have returned.  Myself and several other members of the MN Militia just got back from several days of hinting in the NoDak badlands/desert.  We figured it necessary to stage this trip since one of our members is preparing for another deployment (currently to Iraq) and he\’ll probably miss next year\’s trip.  He demonstrated his shooting skills were definitely up to the task.  However, I sincerely hope, and I\’m sure both him and his wife/family agree, that he never has use for them.

But even in it\’s own right it was an enjoyable trip.  Middle of what is essentially a desert shooting at prairie dogs from 300 to 600 yards away with a 30+ mph crosswind.  It seems they\’ve gotten a bit skittish from being shot at all summer so combined with the conditions I won\’t pretend we put much of a dent in their population but it was good fun anyway.  Except for the rattlesnake.

Having returned and finally gotten cleaned up, it\’s time to catch up with the world.

New Orleans is under water again?? You don\’t say.  Who could have seen that coming?  I\’m so glad we spent millions of tax dollars rebuilding a city that was guaranteed to be destroyed again soon and which contributes virtually nothing to the nation with the notable exceptions of copious amounts of most of the seven deadly sins, and a few sins that haven\’t even been invented yet.

GOP convention is going on, albeit in a very abbreviated format.  I\’ll be participating, so to speak, for the rest of it.  I hope to relate my experiences here but we\’ll see what I have time for.

Palin has been picked as VP.  I think I\’m damn near required to comment on that but it\’s now old news having been announced as I was on my way out the door.  But we\’ll see.

Other than that the world is pretty much as I left it.  Which is nice that it can survive without me.

Officials have found a \”foreign substance\” at the Republican National Committee recently. Initial reports indicate that it may be either a \”backbone\” and/or \”rational thought\”. Results are still pending…

State Republican officials from across the country on Thursday will formally break with the desire of President Bush and other top Republican leaders to include amnesty and other benefits for illegal aliens in immigration-reform legislation.

So far, 47 members of the 168-member Republican National Committee have signed a resolution that unequivocally opposes the Bush-backed policy that would grant legal residency to millions of illegal aliens.

Wow, so you finally decided to listen to your base huh?? Or at least some of the state parties appear to be. Still no word on when President Bush and Department of Homeland Farkups Secretary Michael Chertoff are going to call those 47 people racists and claim they just want to execute all Mexicans. But I have a \”gut feeling\” that they might just choose to remain silent on this one.

The RNC\’s Resolutions Committee is expected to approve the resolution at its Thursday session at the RNC annual summer meeting in Minneapolis-St. Paul, the site of next year\’s Republican presidential-nominating convention. The resolution would then go to a floor vote on Friday by the full RNC membership, made up of an elected national committeeman and woman and the elected state chairman from each state and territory.

And I hope they do, because if so I know at least 47 people I want to join me for a beer at Keegans that evening.

But really is it that surprising?? Conservatives and the general public from all over the nation generated unprecedented levels up outrage over this latest attempt at amnesty and state party members couldn\’t help but hear it. They see what the conservatives want and not being isolated in their ivory towers Washington DC, they have to respond. Or at least 14 state party chairmen did already….no idea yet on if Minnesota\’s was one of those, I\’m gonna try to work on that one. But I guess I\’m a little surprise, and more than a bit concerned that only 14 have endorse the resolution. Afterall, ….

It is rare for committee members to defy the RNC\’s leadership and a sitting president of their own party. But the immigration resolution is merely \”common sense,\” said Maryland Republican Chairman James Pelura.

\”Americans have made it clear that they want the borders secured, respect for the rule of law, and absolutely no amnesty,\” Mr. Pelura said. \”We can do better. We must do better.\”

Yes, we must.

A couple month ago I wrote about some of the various potential GOP presidential candidates, and things have changes a good deal since then.  Right now the clear front-runners appear to be John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, and Mitt Romney.  I have to admit I'm a bit confused about that.  Conservatives have bitched for awhile about RINO (Republican In Name Only) and 2006 certainly seemed to be a reflection of that. 

So why are three RINOs leading the pack now?  And yes three, McCain and Giuliani are well known RINOs….well, actually McCain is, Rudy is a fully fledged liberal.  Despite his recent gains in polls I think Romney is peaking at the moment.  He's flip-flopped on alot of issues, most notably abortion.  Just a year ago he was listed as one of the top ten RINOs by Human Events.  And back before "Reagan" was just a label Republicans wear on for public opinion points, Romney was dismissive of Reagan and his beliefs.  

Is this three-pack of misfits going to be what us conservatives have to choose from in 2008?? I think not.  I think the field is ripe for a second or even third tier candidate to emerge from the shadows and take the lead.  And I'm not the only one.  So who??  Well I have some thoughts on that. 

Tancredo…I wish I could say otherwise but I think we can count out Tancredo in 2008.  His campaign continues to not generate traction despite his better name recognition that most of the other 2nd and 3rd tier candidates.  If I had to guess people still consider him simply a single issue congressman. 

Thompson…ok, the former leader of the cheeseheads is not a horrible candidate in his own right, but his rather extensive links to President Bush might be more of a liability than ever before.  As evidence of that, may I see a show of hands of conservatives who have been happy with Bush's second term?? ….uh, you in the back….the Antique Plumbing Convention is next door….yes, so nobody else?? Ok then.

Gingrich…he seemed dedicated to remaining a threat in the wings.  He's declared he will only run as a last resort.  So my guess is he'll keep himself just alive enough to force the RINOs to the right…at least until after the nomination.  Whether he would entertain the offer of a VP slot for one of the RINOs is an interesting thought though.

Huckabee…eh, nothing to say here….because that's exactly what Huckabee has done so far.  

Brownback…ok except for immigration, he's fairly conservative.  That alone is enough to make him stand out in this field.  However, charisma is just not his thing.  And he has a knack for making the wrong political move.  So while his platform may be palatable, the person behind it probably is not.

Hunter…this former Army ranger fought in Vietnam and his son fought in Iraq, which cancels out ANY chickenhawk argument libs can make against him.  That plus his chairmanship of the Armed Services Committee gives him credibility on foreign policy.  He's the only candidate, besides Tancredo, that would rule out citizenship for illegal aliens.  Probably the one negative I could dig up on him would be that he's not a free trader.  He's definitely got a protectionist streak against him.  But I think that would actually play pretty well with the general public.  Especially considering that he has quite a bit of charisma to his credit.  

I think Hunter is probably the most likely candidate to break from the back of the pack and take over the lead.  And this belief isn't without some support, as Hunter just recently took first in a straw poll in Maricopa County, Arizona's most populous county.  It's worth noting that Romney was second, Gingrich was third and McCain was fourth (in his own state).  Looks like the more conservative candidates are leading amongst those that are informed enough to know the differences.

I think the question is not whether Hunter possesses the credentials necessary to take the nomination, it's whether he can generate name recognition fast enough to take advantage of those credentials.  Even as we speak candidates such as McCain and Romney are signing up advisers, financiers and other important staffers.  Time is running out and let's hope that Hunter can generate the traction he'll need in time.

According to a Press Release from the MN GOP

Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Ron Carey made the following statement today regarding the selection of the Twin Cities to host the 2008 Republican National Convention.

\”We are thrilled Minnesota will be the host of the 2008 Republican National Convention. Minnesota is the best place in the United States to live and we are excited to showcase our state to the entire world.

\”We believe this election will be decided on the banks of the Mississippi River. We look forward to helping nominate the next president of the United States.\”

Excellent, this will be alot of fun, plus it accomplishes alot politically. Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa are all basically former-blue-with-a-distinct-shade-of-purple-states. Having the Republican National Convention here is going to take over the media market here for quite awhile and hopefully should be enough to push all three into the red category, for at least this election.

Now some might theorize that our own governor may be a potential candidate for the Presidential ticket. In fact my BPOU chair, myself and another local activist were just discussing this last night. Personally I don\’t think he\’s there yet.

First of all, what are the two issues ticking off the base right now?? Fiscal conservatism and immigration. Fiscally, Tim hasn\’t got the best track record. And people can list all sorts of reasons for that, and some of them might even be true. But the fact remains. Immigration, now he HAS pushed that, but who besides Minnesotans really considers Minnesota a border state. Let\’s face it, the passion is on the southern border. Is incorrect as that perception may be, nobody cares about the northern border. Plus there are still hurt feelings within the state party, and who know if those could be sufficiently mended over to give him all the support he\’d need here at home.

However, I think he\’d make a great vice-presidential candidate. He\’s young, he\’s got charisma in spades, he\’s a governor (as opposed to a Senator….that\’s good BTW). Plus putting him on the ticket probably more than likely delivers the midwest votes.

So yes it would be nice to see Pawlenty added to the ticket right here at home.

The real issue remains though. I mean with the national convention virtually in my backyard, how do I, a lowly blogger, get in the front door? Commence Operation Ass Kiss. Cause seriously, how cool would that be?