Like Joe Strummer sang "Should I stay or should I go now? If I go there will be trouble and if I stay it will be double."

hmmm, let's weigh the options...

- The thought of this city hosting 5,000 Republican delegates for the four day convention gives me the heebie jeebies.

on the other hand

- The heat is getting turned up to unthinkable levels and an estimated 250,000 people are planning to protest, that visual is pretty thrilling. It's history in the making.

Groups who have already received permits to demonstrate include Planned Parenthood, People for the American Way, Code Pink: Women for Peace, the Middle East Peace Coalition and the New York City Central Labor Council.

The NYPD and FDNY will also be a demonstrating and demanding higher wages.

Many demonstrations are being organized through websites, daily email newsletters and weekly meetings.

RNC Not Welcome - http://www.rncnotwelcome.org

Billionaires For Bush - http://billionairesforbush.com

Counter Convention - http://www.counterconvention.org

The largest demonstration planned will be the anti-war protest hosted by United for Peace and Justice. The anti-war march is taking place on Sunday August 29th, the day before the convention begins. They have submitted five separate proposals for rally sites; three in Central Park, Times Square or Third Avenue. Our Republican Mayor, the one who donated $5 million dollars to the Republican National Convention, has turned down each of the proposals.

United for Peace and Justice - http://www.unitedforpeace.org

Although the police are supporting the rally and have agreed to allow the rally march past Madison Square Garden where the convention is taking place. Speaking of Madison Square Garden, when I was there for the awesome Prince concert last night, it was hard to miss the new three-story high Fox News Channel advertisement outside the Garden. It's so creepy.

As for the police and the protestors, The New York Civil Liberties Union is hosting classes for protestors? Their classes are teaching which types of protests are legal and what one should do if they are arrested (it's getting hot in here).

Wait, what was my question again?

In case one might be interested in what the right-winged party animals are up to and who will be amongst them. Republican National Convention - http://www.gopconvention.com
And I'm so proud of our gracious politicians in New York, both current and former, they have given the delegates suggestions for restaurants, ideas for sight seeing and basic NYC tips. They are just...oh so kind.

Republican Good Times - http://www.gopconvention.com/contents/delegates/top10/