Master of Ceremonies Doug Wead, an advisor to G. W. Bush, called Paul "a clean boat in a sea of garbage!!".

Libertarian economist Lew Rockwell called Paul, a three-time presidential candidate, "the greatest public figure of our time" to whoops and hollers.

"There’s no question, the Paulian movement is the future," Rockwell told the crowd. "You wouldn’t believe how many Paulians there are in Brazil, Spain, Italy, all over the world."

Inside the Sun Dome, the Paulian movement was in full voice. "Ron Paul Revolution" and "Hope for America" posters were everywhere. Supporters came dressed in costumes such as a red, white and blue Lady Liberty and a man in a T-shirt declaring, "Tyranny Response Team"

Paul may not be the Republican Party’s choice this year, but his loyalists are convinced that his libertarian movement is will eventually come to dominate the GOP. Wead dismissed comments by GOP establishment figures that Paul represents an out-of-the-mainstream bloc.

Paul’s is not "the extreme wing of the Republican Party," Wead said. The extreme wing — "they’re meeting starts tomorrow, a few miles away," he added to the cheers of Paul loyalists.

"Well, what are we?" he asked. "It’s written on your ticket: We are the future."

Ron Paul will not be permitted to speak at the RNC   Instead the party has promised a "tribute" video and will let his son speak, though not in prime time.

Paul still has several hundred delegates pledged at the Convention which which usually necesitates putting his name in nomination unless he withdraws in advance.  The RNC however has challenged numerous Paul delegates, especially Maine's, and has probably succeeded in reducing the number of Paul delegates and replacing them with Romney delegates.  So much for primary results.  Unfortunately  we may not see Ron Paul placed in nomination.  Automatic nomination requires a plurality in five states according to the RNC rules.  The RNC was bitterly attacked at the rally for it's efforts to keep Paul's name out of nomination. 

Too bad.  The Paul nomination promised to be one of the fun times of the convention.  His supporters certainly haven't give up.  Most are pretty pissed off he will not be allowed to speak.  Let's hope they really lose it on the convention floor!

Besides, I really wanted to hear about going back to the gold standard and doing away with the Fed.

Demonstrators Ignore the Weather

Blowing horns and banging drums, throngs of tightly packed protesters marched through downtown Tampa on Sunday afternoon in one of the city's first organized marches surrounding the Republican National Convention.

As the skies above started sprinkling, the roughly 1,000 marchers strolled the exact parade route laid out by the city. Ensuring that they did so were several hundred troops comprised of police, sheriff's deputies and others who hemmed in the marchers around each corner and flanked them on both sides and behind along a gauntlet of concrete barricades.

"We are the 99 percent," became the rally cry of the marchers, along with, "Say no to the Ryan budget," in reference to vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan.

The parade remained especially polite, as organizers with megaphones directed the flow of people away from the moving phalanx of armed troops who followed the parade's every turn.

The centerpiece of the march was a giant statue of Mitt Romney wearing a sign that said "King of the 1%."

The parade culminated at a predetermined and fenced-in protest zone across from the Forum and adjacent to a set of railroad tracks, where rail giant CSX last week parked dozens of luxury passenger cars for a private reception for RNC VIPs - all guarded by high fences and armed troops at each checkpoint.

All those troops aren't meant to intimidate anyone are they?  Sheesh.

You really have to ask yourself:  How Free Are We?

Union Square - March 6, 1930 - Demonstration for unemployment insurance lead by communists.  Demonstrations the way they used to be.