Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Someone should tell Republicans that violence is the last refuge of the incompetent, or possibly the first.

“What are Republicans afraid of?” Everything.

A thin legal pretext to veneer over their personal religious and political desires.

“Loving your country does not mean lying about its history.”

Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

There is no compromise when it comes to body autonomy. You either have it or you do not.

We will not go quietly into the night; we will not vanish without a fight.

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

Anne Laurie is a fucking hero in so many ways. ~ Betty Cracker

When they say they are pro-life, they do not mean yours.

“Perhaps I should have considered other options.” (head-desk)

I really should read my own blog.

This must be what justice looks like, not vengeful, just peaceful exuberance.

GOP baffled that ‘we don’t care if you die’ is not a winning slogan.

The only way through is to slog through the muck one step at at time.

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

The willow is too close to the house.

Balloon Juice, where there is always someone who will say you’re doing it wrong.

We will not go back.

It may be funny to you motherfucker, but it’s not funny to me.

They think we are photo bombing their nice little lives.

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

Come on, media. you have one job. start doing it.

You are here: Home / Organizing & Resistance / Don't Mourn, Organize / Open Thread: Dancing in Tampa

Open Thread: Dancing in Tampa

by | 22 Comments

This post is in: , , , ,

The Tampa Bay Times is doing its best to give the rest of us a feel for this week’s festivities surrounding the RNC:

TAMPA — Police patrolled on horseback, bicycle and foot. An ice sculpture formed the words “Middle Class.” Some folks were dressed in suits depicting a female body part. Dogs described as Democrats by their owners sniffed suspiciously at reporters.

Protest Nation descended Sunday on Tampa and gave free speech a vigorous workout.

The city survived.

The first significant day of protests for the Republican National Convention produced few serious problems under threatening skies and the watchful gaze of hundreds of law enforcement officers….

About 175 people organized by employee-rights advocates protested Monday afternoon outside the Bloomin’ Brands corporate headquarters on N West Shore Boulevard.

Among their demands: a significant pay boost for workers whose companies are overseen by Bain Capital.

They waved signs proclaiming “Don’t let Bain Capital destroy the middle class” and chanted slogans that included, “How many millions do you need? We’ve got hungry mouths to feed!”

Bloomin’ Brands runs Outback Steakhouse, Bonefish Grill and other restaurant chains. It is controlled by Bain Capital, the private equity firm once run by Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney….

TAMPA — Police encircled a group of protesters about midnight Monday at an Ybor City intersection, prodding them to return to Centennial Park where the demonstration began.

More than 100 people gathered for a protest dance party at the park on E Eighth Avenue, but then began to march through Ybor City.

Officers, dressed in khaki and some riding police bicycles, followed…

Police appeared to be encouraging the group to return to the park, but some of the protesters were suggesting they would go to a nightclub instead.

And, especially for DougJ:

It was the ultimate clash of high and low brow. Randall, the voice behind the smash-hit YouTube video/Internet meme about the Honey Badger who doesn’t give a you-know-what, and New York Times columnist David Brooks.

The men almost passed each other by Monday evening on Ybor City’s E Eighth Avenue without recognizing the other — until a Tampa Bay Times reporter asked if they knew each other.

“No,” Brooks said. “But he does.” The columnist pointed to his 13-year-old son, Aaron…

Then Randall invited Brooks to attend his 7 p.m. Tuesday press conference at the Roosevelt 2.0 at 1812 N 15th St. Randall will be announcing the Honey Badger party’s official entry into the 2012 presidential campaign. (See www.honeybadger2012.com.)

“Honey Badger 2012,” Brooks said. “Okay. I’ve heard of this.”…

Reader Interactions

22Comments

  1. 1.

    Sly

    The honey badger has a brave a serious plan to not give a shit, and we know it’s brave and serious because he wrote it down.

  2. 2.

    Ash Can

    The honey badger theme seems quite appropriate, because there’s evidently nothing in Tampa to give a shit about.

  3. 3.

    Ash Can

    And on the subject of David Brooks, via a commenter at LGF, this is, um, weird. It appears that either Brooksie is trying to parody people who don’t like Romney, or he’s thrown in with MoDo against the Yes-We-Klan ticket. (Maybe Romney turned down his request to sit in his lap or something, and he’s pissed off.)

  7. 7.

    Old Dan and Little Ann

    Even David Brooks is watching “The Newsroom.” He decided to write an article while shrooming.

  8. 8.

    Mark S.

    Somebody really doesn’t want to talk about abortion:

    “Recognize this is the decision that will be made by the Supreme Court,” Romney told CBS. “The Democrats try and make this a political issue every four years, but this is a matter in the courts. It’s been settled for some time in the courts.”

    I have a feeling next week we’re going to be told that it’s unfair to ask Romney what kind of justices he would appoint to the Supreme Court. It’s really a private matter and we should just trust that he won’t put a few more Scalitos on the Court.

  9. 9.

    A moocher

    Wait a moment….is someone serious describing that self serving sack of bat droppings as “high brow”?

  13. 13.

    CaliCat

    I get the feeling this is going to be one of the least watched GOP Conventions in a long, long time. It seems especially uninteresting compared with all the hoopla over Sarah Palin four years ago…and she won’t even be there this time around. Ryan has very little natural charisma and Romney’s about as interesting as a wad of dryer lint. Besides Teafarts and political geeks, I can’t imagine anyone tuning in to that snooze-fest.

  19. 19.

    Chris

    I’m loving how Brooks, the guy who writes about what man in flyover country thinks and feels as opposed to these volvo driving elites, can’t recognise when an all-american internet meme walks up and bites him in the ass

  20. 20.

    Rafer Janders

    Some folks were dressed in suits depicting a female body part.

    Uh, which one?

    They just can’t bring themselves to write vagina, can they?

  21. 21.

    Rafer Janders

    “Recognize this is the decision that will be made by the Supreme Court,” Romney told CBS. “The Democrats try and make this a political issue every four years, but this is a matter in the courts. It’s been settled for some time in the courts.”

    Well, thank Kobol that whoever is elected president has no say in who sits on the Supreme Court.

  22. 22.

    Scamp Dog

    I am seriously thinking that somebody hacked the New York Times site, because there’s no way David Brooks wrote that column. I checked the URL to see who went to such an effort to mimic the Times’ web site AND add parody comments, only to find that it was, in fact, the Times.

    Next step: pinch myself to see if I’m dreaming. If that doesn’t work, I need to re-assess my understanding of reality.

Comments are closed.