Reply #14: 2004 not 1968 ? [View All]

[fugop]

From my understanding about Chicago '68, much of the violence (the majority?) was brought on by the police, as per Daley's instructions, as opposed to the protestors, right? Isn't it somewhat common knowledge that the police lost control in their attempts to stop the protestors at any cost? Or do I have that wrong?

My hope (perhaps a naive one) is that this time the police have been better trained to stop outbreaks of violence without losing it like that, thus making a very bad situation so, so much worse. I'd like to think (although I certainly may be proven wrong) that the police in NYC are better trained now, 30-some years later, to quell violence faster and more, for lack of a better word, efficiently. If they can be fast and efficient, perhaps they can "put down" violent outbreaks before things get as out of control as they did in 1968. And I just can't believe Bloomberg would be goading them on behind the scenes, as seems to have happened in '68. Maybe some "learning from past mistakes" has occurred.

At least I hope that's the case. Because my belief right now is that Kerry is going to win this election unless - and that's a big "unless" - some outside event swings the public against him. I hope the convention isn't that event.