At the first sign of violence can the President call a state of emergency

[cheyanne]

and close down the convention?

[RKP5637]

1. I have no idea, but I sure think there is a potential for violence. If they circumvent

Trump/Pence somehow, some IMO at the convention are going to lose it. I would think if it got really bad it seems he could declare some type of a state of emergency, or the governor could. I think it would start with the governor declaring a state of emergency if it got really bad.

[glennward]

9. Precisely why I think the anti-Hillary Dems ought to call off any anti-demonstrations at the

DNConvention. We need to show unity in the best kind of way. We can protest and after the convention and after the election. Massive protests at our convention will serve no useful purpose except to incite possible violence and disruption that the GOP and Trump will love to exploit. Our political environment is much to toxic right now to risk it. The country needs to see a unified, respectful party ready and willing to help HEAL our nation not INCITE it.
I dream that we will see a flood of unifying signs and banners being held by massive crowds that were to be protestors. But I guess that might be asking too much after seeing Nina Turner and a few others out on the TV circuits and hearing Cornel West promote the Green candidate.

[RKP5637]

10. I agree very much!!! It would be far more effective to have a peaceful Democratic Convention! n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. That would be a very bad move.

Any violence should be handled by local police for starters, Secret Service if appropriate, National Guard only if it gets really, really bad (except in national emergencies the NG is controlled by its state's governor). The President would not, and should not, do such a thing unless there were a serious national emergency. Even the violence at the 1968 Dem convention, which was very bad (it was really a police riot) did not result in presidential action.

Anything like that would be seen as a politically-motivated move to shut down the convention of the opposing party, and would be absolutely disastrous for the Democratic party.

[tirebiter]

3. The mayor then the governor first

as a matter of protocol. It's their jurisdiction. But no, the president can't shut down the convention.

[Agnosticsherbet]

4. No. That would fall to governors, or, mayors.

The President doesn't have that power.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. And even if he did have it, he absolutely shouldn't use it.

The only conceivable situation where the president could legitimately do that is if the violence somehow created a national emergency. Which it wouldn't.

[Boudica the Lyoness]

6. Are you fucking kidding?

Holy shit that's a mind fuck!

[Hortensis]

8. Lol. Well, it's a question, not a suggestion.

This is an educational thread.

[jberryhill]

7. And where is this authority granted?

[FSogol]

11. LOL, Someone was sleeping thru their high school government classes....

[Her Sister]

12. That'd be too heavy handed!? Let Kasich deal with the nightmare.

[Capt. Obvious]

13. That's just the prelude to taking everyone's guns.