From what I have read, we are as ready as we can be. I think 15,000 protesters is conservative. Add to that the anarchist and another 15,000 reporters and anything is possible.

Since there will be total disruption due to just the RNC, what is another 15,000? Oh, I know, different views!

If TB wasn' ready to handle the expected crowds, perhaps they should not have lobbied so hard for the event. They certainly are making every effort to deny the majority of people in the area their freedom of speech. I'm sure many more people will be arrested for speaking the truth outside the venues, rather than those members of the RNC that will be continuing to spread their lies within the venues. With liberty and justice for all...

Tampa Bay should have no problem handling 15,000 protestors along with similar numbers of attendees at the convention and reporters. If we throw in Hillsborough Bay and nearby Gulf waters we can probably handle up to a million. Of course, marine warnings will have to be issued so that boaters can avoid fouling their propellers among all the bodies.

Anyone know where we can donate soap for the occupiers?

George - It's baffling, after all these years,that a journalist (especially one from Pinellas County)doesn't know that Tampa Bay is a body of water, not a city.

Just smile and wave boys, smile and wave :)

It's too late to be asking this question. Those that worked so hard to get the RNC here this month should have thought of that back when they were in the planning stages. It's not like this is the first political convention so there's plenty of history to learn from. I'm staying away from that whole area for the week and feel sorry for those who can't. I hope the convention attendees spend a whole lot of money here so it's worth it.

I was marching for peace in Chicago during the convention in 1968. Now, in my 70's I will proudly protest the party warring on women, the greedy corporate brotherhood, and the oligarchs who will not rest until they control all the wealth and succeed in placing the middle class into slavery, while cutting their own taxes and stealing what little security we have in our "entitlements".

Wait a Second!...the Democratic National Convention is being held at the BANK OF AMERICA Stadium in Charlotte? What ever happend to being against those dirty money grubbing evil banks? I bet it will be all rainbows and unicorns in Charlotte! Are you heading to Charlotte after the RNC Fries to protest there too?

Wait til you see the protestors at the democrat convention.

Protesting at large political events in the United States has been outsourced to the "professionals" so some of the same people will surely be protesting in Charlotte, too. The innocent days of gathering with your friends to show what you stand for or what you stand against are over. Now we click on internet petitions or gather a million "likes." from the comfort of our homes. We don't get hot and we don't get exposed to pepper spray. We leave that messy kind of protest to other countries where unfortunately they use real bullets. The RNC convention in 2012 will (like the 2008 convention in St. Paul, MN) have its ugly moments on the streets, however, no one will likely be killed for daring to protest. There will be hopeless traffic jams, unending lawsuits and considerable security costs for the two host cities. Political conventions, like street protests, have outlived their usefulness.

Which is why I'm heading back home in Indiana for the couple of weeks over the RNC - staying far away from the crowds, mess and general upheaval!

Actually Thanks to BO you can be arrested for protesting . You have lost you first amendment right of free speach.

H.R. 347, benignly titled the Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act
www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2012/03/the_anti_protest_bill_signed_by_barack_obama_is_a_quiet_attack_on_free_speech_.html

Why don't all of the protesting bodies pool their money and rent a large billboard. They can all glue their signs to the billboard and then go home. That way the city of Tampa won't have a big mess to clean up and won't have to supply free, or should I say " entitled", water to all of the protestors.

Personally, I have yet to understand why there is the RNC and the DNC. We know who is running--Romney andPaul, Obama and Biden. Why spend so much money that could be used for, oh I don't know, bringing down the national debt, helping homeless, sending aid to other parts of the States, like Kansas, for water. Simple things like that. Instead the elephants and the donkeys are going to hear themselves talk, about the same things ad nauseum, and party. What a waste, what a shame! Both conventions are a HUGE waste of time and money. It's already a done deal, so why not just go with that?

Can Tampa Bay tolerate 15000 raucous Republicans for their pep rally? Can any one? And if yes why would any city want to Republican or Democrat. Revenue is a factor to consider but how about some place close to one of our State or Federal Prisons just in case it gets out of hand.

And the trees were all kept equal by the hatchet, the axe, and saw.

It will be interesting to see how enthusiastic the protesters are in our 90+ degree heat.

I hope 150,000 or even 1.5 million show up to protest. STOP THE INSANITY!

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