Major party conventions are a wonderful staged affair, where all surprise is removed by the release of scheduled spontaneous actions to the media.  It would be awful if the media failed to cover a well-choreographed spontaneous moment.  No one would get to see it and be filled with the majesty of American politics.

But as this paean to politics proceeds with precision, there is messy business going on outside.  While the official game of politics is played inside, the unofficial show of Americans disappointed with the game happens in the streets, blocks away within an area delineated by fences, barricades and polices officers charged with not letting unofficial voices disrupt the wonderful staged affair.

Jon Katz of Underdog raised this issue in a comment, and offers a great post about it.  Jon explains the reasons why some people are disenchanted with the official system, which covers the full spectrum of political thought, provided one has a very narrow perspective.  I’m not sure that it’s something that requires much explanation. 

Major political parties are far more similar than different, and never stray from the mainstream of political ideology.  Regardless of whether one agrees with the party platform, Americans have both the right, and the historical duty, to raise their disagreements with those in power.  It is our birthright to question and challenge politicians and parties when we believe that they are failing to serve our Country.

And so it happens in Denver.



The difference is that those Americans who lack a tag around their neck issued by the official party are relegated to being treated like cattle, with armed police keeping them in check lest they disturb the official celebration. 

There are few scenarios more ironic than this juxtaposition of the officially sanctioned political dog and pony show and the gulag-like treatment of Americans who think outside the official parameters.  This is not a phenomenon of the Republicans or the Democrats, but one of those in power and those whose voices annoy those in power.

Most Americans will view the rabble in the cattle pens as malcontents, unworthy of being taken seriously and just a perpetual disruption to the steady grinding of normal politics.  Of course, most Americans are lemmings, carefully drawing within the lines lest their picture appear messy and the teacher be upset with them.  Not only are they incapable of connecting the actions of outside protesters to our American ideals of free speech and political activism, but they find the chaos that follows abhorrent.  They claim to love this Country, while loving order more.

When these malcontents stray too far, they are brought to protester court, according to Anne Skove at Court-o-Rama.  The host city to a convention is as clear that the malcontents will show as they about the delegates, and Denver has prepared well for those who won’t comply with their official directives.  This is why the outsiders are surrounded by police in riot gear while the official stage show relies primarily on colorful balloons to keep people happy. 

But the irony is not complete until the official delegates get the opportunity to sneak outside the “big tent” and enjoy the host city a bit.  No, they don’t wander over to the rabble to listen to their views and ask themselves why the major political parties prefer milquetoast to beef, why they all want so desperately to be as close to the middle of the road as they can be.  They go to parties.

Michelle Chen at Viewsday posts about the wonderful shindigs designed to educate the official party delegates.  Major corporations throw major bashes for major party delegates.  Their “voices” are heard, amid the caviar and champagne.  In fact, even some delegates and media are deems unworthy of entrance to these very exclusive parties.  This largess is only intended for the ears (and stomaches) of most important delegates.

While the official machines of American politics plays out its well orchestrated stage show for the adoring fans back home, and while the important delegates stray long enough to listen to the concerns of major corporations, the rabble remains penned like cattle, under armed police control, with a special court all their own should they exercise their rights with too much vigor.

Regardless of whether you prefer the orderly show put on by the major political party to the chaos of the rabble, the convention presents a great opportunity to see American politics play out.  But before you condemn the rabble as mere malcontents, unworthy of having their voices heard and properly herded behind distant barricades by armed police, ask yourselves where Thomas Jefferson and James Madison would have stood had the convention been called by George III.

You don’t have to agree with anything the rabble has to say, but their voices are every bit as worthy as those of the delegates in the official stage show.  Maybe the convention would have greater relevance if there was more disruption and fewer well-planned spontaneous moments.  Maybe we’ve missed the whole boat on the meaning of democracy.  But man, those political parties sure know how to put on a show.

Update:  It appears that a clash of “parties” resulted in ABC News Producer Asa Eslocker being arrested while trying to film Dem Biggies and their donors at one of those special educational parties at the Brown Palace Hotel. 

A cigar-smoking Denver police sergeant, accompanied by a team of five other officers, first put his hands on Eslocker’s neck, then twisted the producer’s arm behind him to put on handcuffs.

A police official later told lawyers for ABC News that Eslocker is being charged with trespass, interference, and failure to follow a lawful order. He also said the arrest followed a signed complaint from the Brown Palace Hotel.

Eslocker was on the public sidewalk outside the hotel when he was forced into the street by a cop, who later has this public menace by the throat.  Naturally, he was charged with disobeying a lawful order.  But the situation was caught on video.

Clearly, if the Denver cops have so little fear for manhandling a network news producer, the rabble better watch their butts.

H/T Turley