I went to the anti-war protest in downtown L.A. earlier today, and the pics from the event are here. After having attended this and the previous protest, I only have one question: Can we just nuke Iraq and shut these people up? Now - really - I'm not a warblogger. But, I just think that would be sweet.

Unfortunately, this peace protest wasn't as fun as the last one. No babes in limos trying to show me their tits.

The most interesting moment occurred when a group of Lyndon LaRouche acolytes tried to join/take-over the protest. They stood at the front of the march just as it was starting and, using a bullhorn, began spreading their own particular brand of anti-QE2 nonsense. They even pointed out one of the members of the crowd, claiming he was an FBI agent. I couldn't discern who they were talking about, and neither could someone else I asked.

The "real" anti-war protesters, noticing that the LaRouchian's brand of garbage was threatening to supplant their own brand, tried to get them to leave the parade. Unfortunately, no shoving ensued, although one of the (Iraqi?) protesters, in a brilliant display of peacefulness, shoved a flag against the faces of a few of the LaRouchians, literally trying to muffle their message. "Get your own protest" they shouted.

Eventually, the cops stepped in and told the LaRouchians that they didn't have a permit to march in this particular parade.

Later, while taking pics, I was asked by a little bearded fellow, "Who are you taking photos for?" "Just myself" I replied. Not satisfied with that answer, said bearded fellow thought he could trick me: "Who are you going to sell the photos to?" "Just myself." But, what I really meant was "John Poindexter."

More paranoia ensued, as I was asked by someone else from some "legal" organization, "Are you a policeman? Because, if you are you have to tell me." I received no response to my earnest reply "Who the fuck are you?" Apparently, peaceniks have no problem with lookism. Just because I look like a cop doesn't mean I am one. Next time I'll just say I'm there from the Acme Industrial Corporation.

Paranoia must be fed.