Latest reports from the streets - Lindsay called in, is fine ... says she has only seen peaceful folks but police are blocking access to many locations and she's seeing a lot of police in riot gear with batons and tear gas launchers at her location. She's hearing that the demonstrations are diverging across the city.

Lindsay, Glenn and Jane are out in St. Paul getting the story from the ground as the RNC starts up – and we’ll be bringing you continuing news throughout the day.

As we keep an eye on the reports about police actions in advance of the RNC – particularly through Lindsay's great reporting at the Silo and Jane’s video yesterday – it seems like a good time to remember that these sorts of raids are a daily occurrence in Iraq though often with more deadly consequences.

When word first hit about the raids committed by uniformed officers against various sites in Minneapolis and St. Paul, it was really bizarre and confusing. Why were the cops staging raids against people like Food Not Bombs? Why did they shut down the RNC Convergence Center and take all their computer gear? A look at Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher may provide some answers.

Fox newsmen, agents provocateurs or journalists? You tell me.

The much more realistic counterpart to the left's online organizing efforts are probably to be found with the Ron Paul conservatives, who are disgusted at the fact that their principles of smaller government, civil liberties and no foreign intervention have been sacrificed to the highest bidder.  Their online organizing efforts are likewise nacent, but their counter-convention in Minneapolis seems a lot more interesting than an effort to boil Exxon's messaging down to 150 characters so a bunch of people can repeat it with sheep-like accuracy.

Face it, fellas.  You're still getting pwnd. 

firedoglake had hoped to wrap up the TedFest! poetry contest here today because it is the first anniversary of the FBI raid on his Girdwood chalet. The raid was the first in the history of the United States upon the home state dwelling of a sitting member of the U.S. Senate. But serendipity mucked up our plans. I don't think "anybody could have predicted" that between the beginning of TedFest! and its wrap-up, Ted would be busted. To answer once and for all the question I’ve dealt with dozens of times since yesterday morning - no - I didn’t know in advance. And I’m not sure Ted did.

This nation of ours is in trouble. Divisions run rampant, and economic strain pushes far too many of us to the brink of disaster. What we need in this moment is real leadership -- someone who will stand up and be honest, inspire unity of purpose across all the fractured battle lines and levels of power.

The Senate will vote on cloture on S. 3297 this afternoon. Word is the vote will occur around 4 pm ET. As Kagro says, this cloture vote will show how many pals Sen. Coburn has been able to line up behind his constant obstruction of Senate business. We'd like to help make that as few supporters as possible.

The Democratic Party starts a "Roots Project"--and you can join in.