Slouching Towards Tampa (Turn Right at Greenland edition)

[DemocratsForProgress]

Jeff Rosenzweig: Slouching Towards Tampa (Turn Right at Greenland edition)

You probably remember at least the highlight reel of Barack Obama’s Grand Tour overseas four years ago, when the then-candidate visited the UK, France, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait, and wrapped the whole thing up with a brilliant speech to nearly a quarter-million people in Berlin. It was a triumph of statesmanship, politics and marketing, and proved beyond a doubt that the supposed political neophyte had presidential chops to burn.

I mention this because Mitt Romney recently returned from his Bland Tour, which was mercifully restricted to only three countries (had it been eight, we’d likely be in the early stages of World War III already). As with the Obama trip in 2008, Romney’s sojourn was intended to demonstrate the candidate’s gravitas and comfort on the world stage; quite unlike the Obama trip, Romney accomplished neither.

If Romney and/or his campaign operatives were hoping to follow in the President’s footsteps, they were doomed from the start by Romney himself, a candidate with all the gravitas of a KFC Double Down, a guy who probably starts feeling uncomfortable the moment he steps out of the bathroom in the morning, hair immaculately coiffed, forced smile firmly affixed to his face, wondering if today might just be the day, at long last, when he meets someone who actually likes him.

First stop, the United Kingdom. The engines of Romney’s plane hadn’t even cooled down when two anonymous campaign advisers unpacked their dog whistles for an interview with The Telegraph...

More at: http://www.democratsforprogress.com/2012/08/06/slouching-towards-tampa-turn-right-at-greenland-edition/

[lib2DaBone]

1. Federal Government gives $50 million each to Tampa and Charlotte to police protest....

http://m.startribune.com/politics/?id=163334376&c=y


Congress has given Tampa — and Charlotte, the location of the Democratic National Convention — $50 million each in taxpayer money to try to ensure everyone is safe for the political gatherings that crown each party's presidential candidate every four years.

Tampa police have spent about $13.6 million so far on big-ticket security items, including 200 bicycles, 13 electric all-terrain vehicles and one armored truck for the Aug. 27-31 Republican gathering.

However, authorities are not revealing much more about the purchases and other expenditures


Shimberg said that organizers of parades or marches must sign up with the city to use the route, and are slotted in 90-minute increments. But as of July 6, only three groups have signed up. Shimberg said he's surprised more groups haven't come forward, and doesn't know what the low numbers signify. There's no deadline to sign up for the parade route, but he said there are 28 open slots during the four-day convention.

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Gee.. I wonder why no one wants to march at the conventions?

Tanks, helicopters, patrol boats in the canals, Military troops in the streets, LRAD, laser heat rays... thousands of police from all over the State of Florida....all itching to use the new toys given to them...

Woe the lone whistle blower who wanders into tampa.