Sunday, September 2, 2012

What Price RNC/DNC?


I woke this morning to the sound of fighter jets over my house.  The invasion has begun.

Charlotte, NC is hosting the DNC this year. I was disappointed to find out we were chosen but we were and now we deal with the influx.

The City leaders have been spouting how downtown will be business as usual.  Ask the many folks who can’t park there now because they have closed most of the parking decks. They have also closed most of the streets downtown and moved the bus station away from uptown.

My daughter went downtown yesterday to the gym and felt intimidated when she was being followed by a SWAT Team. There is a greater police presence in the surrounding area where I live. They passed laws giving the police more power to search folks without cause. They tried to make it a permanent law but in the end it only runs thru the Convention. They also brought in police from all around and gave them jurisdiction.

I don’t stand with the Occupy Wall Street folks or many of the other groups picketing downtown during this Convention but I do respect their right to free speech. Well the DNC didn’t see fit to see it like that. They had groups apply to protest and march and then gave them a limited areas to move in. This is the USA folks we have rights but our City was quick to set many of them aside just to host this party.

Today’s paper suggested that the forecasted economic windfall is going to fall short. Really? Surprised?

Do we need a week to nominate a person that is basically running unopposed in his party? Do we need to spend millions on a big party so lots of folks can get drunk? Do we really need to shut down a city? Are there not bigger issues to address than completely remodeling the football stadium?

Is it really worth the freedoms they took from folks to have a party?

And to top it off, the wife went to the store to get balloons for my oldest’s birthday tonite only to find out there is no helium available in the Charlotte area. Did they have to use it all?

I don’t rant much but dang it, don’t wake me up with fighter jets on Saturday morning.

13 comments:

Bunnym said...

No helium in the city? Well then, I better watch the DNC just to hear them all sound like the chipmunks.

Although I don't live anywhere near L.A. ....when the Prez is in town it's like lock down at fort Knox...at least that's what my friends say.

Waking up to fighter jets is just not exceptable...just like waking up to someone mowing their lawn at Crack of Dawn O'Clock...lol

Take Care and Where the heck were you?

bunny

Juli said...

Perhaps, after you are strip searched and violated, you can sneak out of the convention with a few red white and blue balloons.

Is it necessary? No. But it will bring a lot of revenue in in a short amount of time. I feel the same way when I just want a nice day on the Vineyard and what ever president is in office wants to bring his gang over for a vacation. *sigh*

Good luck, and stay out of the line of fire. :)

Jolene said...

Swat Teams.

Strip searches.

Helium.

Where do we sign up for this wild party extravaganza?

But seriously though, they owe you about 8 years worth of sleep-ins.

I feel your pain, well, not really but me saying so makes you feel better, right?

Btw, Happy Birthday to your oldest!

I hope they didn’t buy all them dang cakes in town ;)

Travel & Dive Girl said...

WHAT? No helium, no baloons? Are you serious? I'd be cranky getting woke up early too.

Diane said...

I hear ya! I will not be going anywhere near Charlotte until this mess is over. My husband worked from home today. He has a commercial HVAC company and although I haven't heard anything yet I'm sure some of the service techs. are running into issues today!

And no helium? That's just wrong!

Simply Suthern said...

My niece told us her friends who live in uptown apartments were told to avoid going on their balcony's and if they did not to wear anything shiny.

The little one's birthday is this weekend. We will see if we can get some helium. If not I spose I will huff and puff till i'm dizzy again.

ipenka said...

The securty thing becomes quite crazy. Last year the president was in town and I was literally 3 minutes too late.

I needed to cross ONE BLOCK in a car to get to a building on the other side. The entire street was shut down w/police, swat and everyone making sure no one crossed. JUST so all the limousines could pass by.

An hour later.

That was definitely a FML moment.

Don't strain yourself on the huffing & puffing! I wonder if you can make homemade helium?

Beatriz said...

Tampa probably had the same complaints! I have friend who just moved moved away from that area and she was so glad she made it out before the RNC.

Besides everyone needs pep rallies :)

Simply Suthern said...

Turns out there is a National helium shortage. I still blame it on the RNC and DNC. I'm sure they used more than their share.

April said...

Hi there!
I found you on Diane's blog and was immediately drawn to the title of your blog...being that I'm from the south, too! Born and raised in Arkansas, now living in GA. You have a really nice blog here...I'm your newest follower!

Pearl said...

It's all about keeping those in power in power.

SO glad they're not in Minneapolis, but I feel for ya!

Pearl

Anonymous said...

I had to turn it off.

Not So Simply Single said...

I agree. I like quiet. Ugh!