My brother (also NYC resident) and i had a big arguement about this over Christmas.  He was pretty militant about it - "I have a voice and I'm going to do what it takes to make it heard" - I expressed the concerns that you all have.  Since then, he has toned it down and I think now sees the problems that could occur.  Talking to other NYC Dems and reading responses in the paper, I believe the vast majority know we need to do this the right way.  

Will there be Blackwater thugs there to rile stuff up?  No question.  I will be there with my digital camera to document all violent protesters in the hopes (probably in vain) that they can be identified.  Will there be genuine lefties doing it too?  Unfortunately yes.  I hope the power of hundreds of people demanding that they stop those actions is effective.  

Like I said, I've only lived here a year, but the sheer audacity of these people to have their convention here is stunning.  I couldn't imagine the anger I would feel if I was born here or lived here for a long time.  The current republican party is so opposite of everything this city is, on many different levels.  We know we're not considered "real Americans" by them and it pisses us off.  

It is so incredible, the spirit and camaraderie people have here about Democrats and liberal ideals.  Everyone assumes everyone else is a democrat, and they usually are.  While we don't exactly spit on republicans they are mostly treated as a joke.  

And damn it, it feels good to have that after living in Ohio where I was represented on every level by Republicans.  I guess I do have a Repub. mayor and gov., but we'll change that in 2006.  

I'm sorry folks, but from the fact that we get less terror funding per capita than Wyoming to lying about the air quality after 9/11.  From 1/3 of kids in the Bronx having asthma and their "clean air" act allowing corporations to exempt old plants from complying with new pollutions regs to the palpable fear and uncertainty that's in the air here constantly from questionalbe terror alerts demands that we protest.  These are slaps in the face above and beyond all the other bad shit this adminstration has done.  

Here are some reasons I think the protest will have a positve effect:
1. The coverage of the protests will dillute the messages the Repubs. will be trying to get out.
1a. They will get liberal messages out in a time (conventions)  when it is hard for the opposition to present their side.
2. They will inspire Dems. across the country.  
2a. They will inspire Dems. in this city who are not working to oust Bush to get involved.
3. NYC Police and firefighters will likely strike or have sickouts during the convention to protest the fact that they have not had a contract in 2 and a half years.  I'm sure there will be some anti-Bush sentiments there too.  There is no way a bored press corps will not be covering this and it will be a very effective counter to all the 9/11 exploitation I'm sure we'll be seeing.    

It's gonna happen, and I have faith that it will happen right.  There are lots of people here working in unique ways to help get Kerry elected b/c we know our votes won't have any direct power.  These protest are our direct power.