Democrat, GOP officials mulling cruise ship deal(for National Conventions)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/2214317

Cherry-wood staterooms, Jacuzzis, private tanning areas and a butler: Not your father's national political convention.

Republican and Democratic party officials are in early talks with a major cruise line to quarter members of Congress and lobbyists on a ship during next year's conventions in New York and Boston.

On board the Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Dawn, members and their friends could party and mingle in private -- away from the prying eyes of journalists and other uninvited guests.

"All media who attempt to board the ship will be forced to walk the plank," said Jonathan Grella, spokesman for House Majority Leader Tom DeLay,R-Sugar Land.

The cruise ship idea, first reported in the Capitol Hill newspaper, Roll Call, appeals to DeLay, who recently distributed a fact sheet about the plan to other Republicans at their weekly GOP conference.

[grytpype]

1. That is not going to work too well in New York.

If the Repugs float around in NY harbor, they're going to be surrounded by protest craft with helicopters filming it all. It's going to be a bigger circus than if they stayed on dry land!

[RamboLiberal]

2. I'm thinking it would be one big mother of a terrorist target

eom

[interceptor]

3. Very true

I wonder if a boatfull of politicians would fare any better than the COLE did?

[Don_G]

5. It'll Work

Access is controlled by a pier. One way in and out where they can't avoid the demonstrators. If Al-Queda pulls a repeat of the USS Cole....

[leesa]

14. Does Al-Queda even exist?

[hang a left]

9. Reminds me of one of those lawyer jokes

"What do you call a ship-load of Republicans on the bottom of the New York Harbor?"

[loudnclear]

12. Taht's the first thing I thought about...especially is Bush or Cheney

has a guest appearance. Plus, there is just too much that can be done to a ship PRIOR to anyone coming on board. Just shows you that when you have more money than you know what to do with you don't know what to do.
Just think, all those $10-$50 dittohead donations helping the rich to live large!

[Gman]

8. Shhhhhh.......!!!

Let 'em do it!

[Dover]

4. This is disgusting. The good ship Titanic I hope.....

This is in keeping with an elitist and secretive political body.
What a fitting symbol of the great class divide.

[Vogon_Glory]

6. Floating Palace: Typical Republican Arrogance

Looks like the economic royalists in the GOP have decided that since they can't have a castle and moat to keep the oppressed American peasantry at bay, they've decided to go for the next best thing--a cruise ship out in the harbor where they don't have to look at the canaille.

Yet another reason for Democratic and independent jacquerie to give the arrogant Republicans the heave-ho in the November, 2004 elections.

:P: :nopity:

[Buns_of_Fire]

7. Behold the mighty BSS Bunnypants (BSS = Boosh Ship of State)

http://www.evesmag.com/andreadoria.htm

[qb]

10. Someone should organize a huge tea party ...

Hurl thousands of tea bags at the pukes and their boat for taxation without representation. After all, they certainly don't represent "The People".

[JM]

11. Sorry, but...

...when I am considered middle-class and am constantly struggling to pay bills during Operation Jobless Recovery, their opulence offends me. I am sending mail to the DNC telling them the money I sent is the last they will ever get from me if they waste it on this stupid idea.

Later,
JM

[Timefortruth]

19. There was an article yesterday that the Princess

made the offer to the Democrats. That they are considering that offer is a red herring meant to throw off the public from the fact that the Republicans now realize that they made a huge mistake planning their convention in NYC. Democrats aren’t going to face massive demonstrations, there might be some freepers defending a port-a-potty but that’s about all.

[loudnclear]

13. The Dems are witless!! This should be a huge opportunity to show

the elitism and hypocrisy of the Repugs but what do they do? They want to copy them.

[leesa]

15. That's because most of the Dems ARE elitist, ultra wealthy

hypocrits. Why do you think so many have been supporting the Bush adventures and trying as hard as they possibly can to get the Republicans 'elected'?

[Nlighten1]

16. The Looooooove Boat...soon will be taking another run!

Sorry I couldn't help it.

[Gin]

17. Cockroaches like damp things....look for your relatives tom delay.

gin

[ConcernedCanuk]

18. Is My Dumm Canuck mind confusing me ?

. . isn't this the sort of thing the German Gov't "treated' themselves to before and during WW2 ?

. . as well as the Roman "empire"

- maybe there is hope then ?

- we know what happened to those "empires"

Just A Dumm Canuk's Musings -

[Vogon_Glory]

21. Comparisons Between German Gov't and The Shrub

Actually, the German government did build a number of liners with an eye to using them as troop transports, but they were German built and sailing under the German flag, unlike Princess, which would be foreign built and have a foreign port as home port.

I do remember reading of one incident late in 1944 where Hitler was traveling by private train across Germany. There was a train of German wounded on the opposite track looking in the direction of Hitler's car. Hitler and crew lowered the curtains so the other train's passengers couldn't see in.

The GOPsters' cruise ship idea sounds like something to pitch to reactionaries from the hinterlands so they can have a sanitary convention experience; they can see some of New York without actually having to deal with real New Yorkers.

:P:

[Patriot_Spear]

20. Wow-Anyone know where I can get a used military Sub, cheap?

...and some spare torpedos? or a French EXOCET?

Ha-ha, just kidding ...or am I? LOL

[54anickel]

22. Could hope for a cruise ship type virus....

Of course, they are all so full of sh*t, it would take years to clean up the harbor