RUMBLE AT THE DNCC

This week and the next, we will be delivering a special mini-edition of the Week In Review, devoted to the ongoing party conventions. After that, the WIR will revert to its usual, panoramic view of the terrain. What was the top convention-related story over the past week? That would be "Fox 'News' Taunts Convention Demonstrators," with 136 votes and 348 comments. For djn3nunez3, the Fox reporter-cum-provocateur got what he deserved: "What a bunch of dittohead weirdo reporters, doing what they are told, trying to stir up trouble amongst all those peaceful protest marchers." PatrioticAmerican begged to differ: "Shows what kind of morons the protesters are. They had their chance to voice their views and concerns and all they can do is utter insults. Sounds like the Dems and leftists are one and the same." But Tangent001 argued that the Fox reporter was more interested in fomenting a punch-up than reporting the story: "If this reporter really wanted to know what their message was, he would have arranged for proper interviews or approached them in their staging area. Wading into a bunch of chanting protesters is a great way to get the sort of chaotic footage Fox adores." And jovial objected to the very characterization of the incident as a "riot," which he deemed one more piece of self-serving sensationalism: "I didn't see a crowd out of control. I saw a crowd saying enough is enough. The people who see a raucous group aren't in touch with what a real protest consists of. " And mackiemesser, a veteran of various Sixties protests, agreed that the Fox rumble was pretty small potatoes: "This one was pretty tame. I don't think that reporter would have lasted long in a 60s demonstration. He and his camera crew would have been toast. Lest I be misconstrued, I'm a peaceful demonstrator who just observed what happened at these events."

HILLARY SPEAKS

"Clinton salutes Obama as convention Dems cheer" rang up 105 votes and 152 comments. "Good for Hillary," said not2needy, "very classy!" For bigurn, Clinton's speech still evaded the question of Obama's qualifications: "She did not make the case for his abilities, and I'm still waiting for that." Replied CRYMPTYPHON: "She was talking to those who have already acknowledged Obama's qualities by selecting him in a long marathon process. She was talking to the Democrats." Added cushi: "I was extremely disappointed and incensed by some of her behavior during the primaries, but I feel she anted up and kicked in nicely in the end!" But 4cprocess viewed the speech as a step backwards for women: "Sorry to burst anyone's bubble here, but for her to concede to the wishes of the party only took the women's movement back 40 years. I'll give her this much: it was a great speech. But I know Hillary enough to know that is was not delivered without duress, and I can only imagine what kind of 'deal' she struck with the Obama folks." Another member, bluetexasvalley, also suspected that a bargain had been struck: "Has it occurred to anyone here that Hillary and Obama might have made a 'deal' that night they met so surreptitiously? Perhaps they agreed on another position for her, like a cabinet post." Shadowolf, meanwhile, confessed to a change of heart: "I seriously underestimated the Clintons when they came out of the primary gate slinging mud.... When push comes to shove, they are team players."

A TRAGEDY AVERTED

"Four held over white supremacist gun plot to assassinate Barack Obama" generated 81 votes and 61 comments. BB64 urged the law enforcement folks to drop the hammer on the suspects: "If they were truly a threat to Senator Obama, then take them down. Do not pass go, do not collect $200, and never let them out again." And bigurn agreed: "Well said, BB. Let's determine what crimes may have happened and take the appropriate action. Dirtbags have a place in our society--we have a need to turn big rocks into little rocks." Meanwhile, Justice4All dismissed speculation that the four suspects were harmless loudmouths: "I guess the wigs, bulletproof vest, and walkie-talkies were for a hunting trip. Good thing for traffic stops." Said jovial: "I feared this would happen. I'm glad the plot was foiled. I see enough rabid hate on Propeller for Obama to know that this is a small tip of the iceberg, a microcosm of the ill will people still feel towards black people in America." One member, untetheredtruth, remained skeptical about the plot: "There was no plot to assassinate Obama. These meth-heads might well be racists, but so what? It is still legal to have stupid opinions in this country." Replied RCHill: "It's disturbing to see people take this lightly. They stated that their plan was to kill Obama! They had high-powered rifles! They had scopes! It doesn't matter if they were stoned. It doesn't matter if they are stupid. It doesn't matter if the plan would not have worked. What does matter is they probably would have taken a shot at Obama if given the chance."