Keep your hands off my vagina!

Not everybody was on board in Tampa

   After witnessing one political convention and watching the other I am left more amused than enthused.
   Having access to the Republican confab in Tampa certainly allowed for more 'behind the scenes' moments, like the one screener at security who was walking around with a Geiger counter.
   Another moment came when a relatively mousy, yet tallish, mid 40s woman was moving down my aisle in the press area. She held one hand back to help guide what I presumed was her mother (maybe grandma) along the aisle and then down a few rows before they sat down to my right.
  Twenty minutes later the pair leaped to their feet (granny not so much) and attempted to unfurl some kind of banner while screeching, "Keep your hands off my vagina!" A half-dozen burly suits with earpieces muscled the ladies out of the forum.
   There were other minor disturbances and an absurd racial hazing incident perpetrated by a pair of Neanderthal delegates, but all in all a very quiet convention.
   The DNC seemed to have some internal as well as external challenges, what with the Hurricane Isaac effects crimping plans for another neo-classical coronation of All Things Obama.
   Kind of ironic that the same storm that shortened the RNC on the front end also took out (maybe conveniently) the outdoor adoration that was to cap the DNC fest.
   But before I let the Democrats go Forward, I must mention my chat with what I call Paul's Posse: the young, fervent followers of that Texas octogenarian, Ron Paul.
  Small, but fairly organized, burning in their gaze, this primarily young and vocal sect of the GOP see the future in very stark terms. Of the three I spoke to, their overriding concern was the mounting debt that they are watching pass the $16 trillion mark and they are adamantly against any more piling up. Ron Paul's call to bring all troops home and cut off all aid to foreign countries gets these kids up on their feet.
   Of course, the RNC would have none of it. During the roll call of the states, the chairman was not counting any delegates cast for Paul, resulting in a shoutdown by Texas and a full walkout of Maine's contingent in protest.
   It was good to see people standing up for their principles; it was good to see younger people actively engaged.
   It's a cryin' shame that the two-party system has such a stranglehold on public discourse in the USA; we need more voices, we need more ideas.