RNC Protest: 5 days to go

The Guardian has a great piece by Gary Younge today on the runup to the Republican National Convention in New York, looking at all sides of the equation, and giving more time to the New York contingent than other pieces I've seen. There's also a funny public exchange between Norman Mailer and his son about my biggest fear, of violent protest boomeranging on us and delivering votes to the Bushies:

"If I were a voice in top Republican circles, I might be offering this advice: 'What we need for New York is a large-scale riot,' " wrote Norman Mailer in New York magazine recently, in a public written exchange with his son. "I don't have a great deal of hope that most of the people involved are really thinking of this election so much as expressing the need to vent, to gain some self-therapy."

"You do get a sense that the spiritual revolution may be awakening," replied his son, John Mailer, who believes that the protests could provide a focus for a huge anti-corporate movement. "All right," replied Norman. "But if we lose the election, it's going to be a very expensive spiritual education."

Are we oversaucing the goose? Is our fear of unknown consequences really justified?

Also, I'd like to hear from anyone who is planning on being in New York for the protests, or from any New Yorkers, on the runup to these protests. What's the word on the street? What are the concerns being voiced in meetings? How are the moderates faring against the radicals?

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