Monday, July 26, 2004

The Free Speech Gulag Boston has followed the latest trend in 21st-century protest: a "free speech zone." What better way to stand as the party of inclusion than by putting people with diverse opinions behind chain-link fencing and razor wire? The concept of a "free speech zone" first appeared in Seattle during the WTO protests. Our brilliant mayor, Paul Schell, decided that he would designate several blocks of downtown Seattle as a safe zone for protest. Which, of course, designated several other blocks as a "get the fuck off the streets" zone, leading to completely-predictable outrage, violence, and tear gas injuries aplenty. The difference this time is that they're tying the FSZ to terrorism threats, threatening to arrest any protest in front of the Fleet Center. Anti-globalization hippies, Al-Qaeda - apparently, you can't really tell them apart. 8:37:49 PM    comment [] Random Thoughts - DNC Day 1 I appreciated most of Barbara Mikulski's speech, but she absolutely killed Dolores Huerta's name.  People who don't follow politics were probably thinking that Al Gore suddenly found a sense of humor.  He's been slowly building it over the last two years, and it occurred to me that I've heard most of his best lines already. I'm not sure anyone could have gotten away with the flamethrowing speech that Jimmy Carter delivered.  He can do it, because people think he's a gentle old man.  But it was ferocious - a thorough, dignified undressing of everything Bush tries to stand on.  It was devastating.  Bill Clinton was on tonight.  Rock-solid, pinpoint perfect.  Not too cocky, not too humble, just rock solid.  A perfect, made-for-tv, list of grievances against Bushie's economic policies. I have heard other speakers employ the repeated refrain - "Here am I.  Send me."  It's from the book of Isaiah.  One of those brilliant speaking devices that Bill has borrowed from Baptist ministers.  And speaking of ministers, the Rev. Davis Alston almost stole the show from Bill.  There's nothing more risky than putting a professional preacher in front of a  wannabe on national tv. 8:22:19 PM    comment []

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