Democrats put off convention decision

[Infinite Hope]

By BETH FOUHY, Associated Press Writer 26 minutes ago

NEW YORK - Democrats have put off an announcement on choosing a 2008 national convention site until early January, hard-pressed to pick between Denver and New York, officials said Tuesday.

Party officials have been negotiating for months with host committees for New York and Denver, but a series of problems with Denver's bid — and a significant cooling of interest from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg — led Democratic Party Chairman
Howard Dean to seek more time to make a decision.

"Because of the holiday week, and at the request of both cities, we will announce the convention city in early January," Dean said in a statement.

Edit: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061219/ap_on_el_ge/democratic_convention_1

[villager]

1. I say California.

Mostly because that's where I am.

[cyclezealot]

6. Dont take California for granted.

It raises the most Money for Democrats. Plus San Francisco is America's most scenic city.

[brentspeak]

2. I'll make the decision for you: Denver

[derby378]

3. Austin, Texas

Either that or Dallas.

[Infinite Hope]

8. Dallas would be good economically for the area. They have a difficult time filling the...

...Convention Center. It's one thing that really surprised me when I interned there with a certain congressperson. Economically, in general, Dallas is struggling as their strength of the 60's, 70's and even 80's moves out of the city. Many residents described it to me as a city clinging desperately to his past success and not finding solutions to revitalize it. Their mayor is arrogant and the city government in general is ineffective and they desperately need a boom and something to draw national attention and money back to the once-thriving city.

[tridim]

4. It's so damn obvious they should choose Denver

I've yet to hear one good reason to have it in NYC, yet again.

[Pirate Smile]

5. Why is this even a question? Fix any issues with Denver and pick Denver.

NYC doesn't need another convention.

It wont help us any by having it in NYC but it will help Democrats by having it in Denver. Just do it.

[Hawkeye-X]

7. Well, I just wish the Dems would forget the no-strike guarantee

and just deal with it. It's only a week convention not 30 day party!

Hawkeye-X

[Infinite Hope]

9. Surely Denver must have another venue...

...that isn't so controversial. There must be a way to make things work. It needs to be in Denver. Reward the Democratic Party of Colorado for their hard work and swift changes and bring another state into our beautiful blue tent.

[madfloridian]

10. "they turned their back on their core constituencies" Dean's fussy about unions.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/816

One reason Howard Dean is taking his time on the Denver decision...unions, DLC

Some statements from his book in 04.

[Contrite]

11. Thanks for that background, MF

As usual, Dean is sticking to his principles. What a man.

[ReadTomPaine]

12. It's ashame New Orleans is off the table..

as the area could use the development dollars, construction jobs, attention and exposure.

Democrats rebuilding part of New Orleans for the convention and helping to bring people out of their FEMA trailers and back into their old neighborhoods could become a powerful national symbol of hope and civic responsibility, especially compared to the GOP's murderous negligence. It would make a nice contrast to the abuse NYC faced during the GOP's convention there in '04

[madfloridian]

13. I think it was New Orlean's choice not to have it.

.

[ReadTomPaine]

14. So it seems.. here's a link..

http://www.nytimes.com/cq/2006/12/13/cq_2037.html

That left just New York City — a 2008 also-ran to again host the GOP convention, as it did in 2004 — and Denver in the running for the Democratic convention. A fourth finalist city, New Orleans, dropped its bid in July, citing financial and logistical difficulties.

The Democratic faceoff pits Denver — a relative novice at hosting conventions, but a key city in a fast-growing Mountain West region that increasingly is a partisan battleground — against New York City, one of the most seasoned convention hosts and a Democratic Party stronghold of long standing.

Still, if the will existed for this, it could have happened differently.

[madfloridian]

15. One good thing, Dean held the spring DNC meeting there in NO.

They did 300 hours of community work in the 9th ward. The media did not cover it. Well, Colmes did, he interviewed Dean there...but Fox chose not to air that interview.

But they tried to call attenion. The media decided in its wisdom not to air anything about it except the meeting itself.

[Contrite]

16. How about Richmond, VA?

Close to DC yet "south". Great town, too.

[IndianaGreen]

17. Let's have the convention in the Midwest

I am sure our Democratic mayor would be thrilled at having the convention in Indianapolis, as I would.

[ripple]

23. I vote for Kansas City, MO

Smack in the middle of the US. Indianapolis would be cool, too, though.

I definitely think it's time to get it out of New York.

[Heidi]

18. Kick.

:kick:

[GardeningGal]

19. Democrats put off decision on convention to early January

NEW YORK (AP) - Democrats are putting off an announcement on choosing a 2008 national convention site until early January.

Democratic Party officials said Tuesday they are hard-pressed to pick between Denver and New York.

Party officials have been negotiating for months with host committees for New York and Denver. A series of problems with Denver's bid and a significant cooling of interest from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg led Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean to seek more time to make a decision.

"Chairman Dean is going to make the best decision for the party based on the merits of each city's bid. ... Because of the holiday week, and at the request of both cities, we will announce the convention city in early January," DNC press secretary Stacie Paxton said in a statement.

....more at link

http://www.9news.com/acm_news.aspx?OSGNAME=KUSA&IKOBJECTID=9ccc5568-0abe-421a-00c5-6bddb70743c1&TEMPLATEID=0c76dce6-ac1f-02d8-0047-c589c01ca7bf

[madfloridian]

20. One reason....

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian

I am glad he is giving Denver time to get it done.

[madfloridian]

21. I found what Al From said about unions in 1995.....

and what he said about Jesse Jackson. There was no excuse for letting someone like him be in such control of this party for years.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/818

[nolabels]

22. I say we should cut to chase with lobbyists and do it in Tahiti

(look they even have some offering discounted packages :-) )

We offer discounted rates
for your perfect
Customized Vacation
or Honeymoon to Paradise!
http://www.tahititravel.com/