Are we all aware of the location of the Republican Convention?

[SeanT]

I couldn't find a topic about this, so I hope I'm not doubling up.

Can you believe that the GOP has the balls to host a convention in NYC near ground zero..IN SEPTEMBER? I mean why does the public not freak over this as I have.

It's amazing what Bush can get away with. Why is this evil..and obvious man still around? The entire party ideology is so obvious. Their marketing campaign resembles that of Philip Morris; it's scary.

[LuCifer]

1. Last I knew it was...

...NYC, which proves how big of HO's the republiKKKans are.

Lu

[cthrumatrix]

20. think NY's might be a little upset after the report on the EPA & 911...

.

[LuCifer]

22. ooooooh yeah!

That lying bastard. "Oh yeah, the air is safe, make sure you take a bunch of DEEEEP BREATHES, YOU COMMIE PINKO LIBERAL NEW YORKERS."

The RNC should build a time machine and have their stupid convention back in Nazi Germany WHERE THEY BELONG.

Lu

[eileen from OH]

2. They specifically scheduled it there and then

Even made the convention later than it ever has been before.

My own feeling is that it will backfire Big Time. Expect any Republican ceremonies at Ground Zero to draw huge protests. And expect a lot of non-sheeple Republicans to be embarassed. Expect a lot of 9/11 families to give angry interviews.

There's a lot of time between now and then for Dems to hammer home how cheap and tacky this is, just as the ol' aircraft landing is already starting to bite Bush in the ass, with the escalating chaos in Iraq.

eileen from OH

[tridim]

3. Just wait, the NYC public will freak

on a massive scale never before seen in the history of America.

[aquart]

15. Excuse me? We do not freak.

We may, of course, politely ask if they're coming now because they finally believe the air is safe to breathe?

[Rose Siding]

4. There is outrage

and some organizing to express it!

Protest groups planning for GOP convention

http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2003/08/10/news/national/04979d88055e829072fd3b1b2bfbba0c.txt

[izzie]

12. On a fund trip I heard their were more protesters than givers.

50 came to give Bush a million but 2 or 4 hundred with signs. Is that true? I heard that on the Dean c-span show when they were just talking.

[Yupster]

17. Since the maximum you can now give is $ 2,000

Either there were a lot more than 50 donors, or Bush did not raise near $ 1 million.

[laura888]

13. "2 websites created to promote demonstrations"

From the article you sited:

counterconvention.org and rncnotwelcome.org

[Yupster]

5. I thought NYC wanted the convention?

To bring in business which it needed very badly.

And on the late scheduling, blame the Democrats in part for that.

They scheduled their's first. They scheduled it just a few weeks before the Olympics as a cute little trick. It would make the Republicans hold theirs right in front of the Olympics so their convention bounce would get washed away by the Olympics coverage. Ha, Ha, ha.

The Republicans countered by moving theirs to after the Olympics and that meant in September. Now instead of the Republicans falling into the trap the Democrats set for them, it's the Democrats who risk getting forgotten during the Olympics.

There was a lot more to this political chess game than looking for the 9-11 anniversary. If they wanted to do that, they would have. They purposely finish their convention before the anniversary date.

On edit, here'sw a Newsday story about the subject

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-ny--rnc-convention0509may09,0,1304031.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

[SeanT]

6. Nah..

I can't see the dem's doing the NY thing...I think that's bull unless you have some reasonable document...

[Yupster]

7. What NY Thing?

The Dems screwed with the dates, not the locations.

The Dems thought they could back the Republicans into a box by holding their convention right before the Olympics and just leave a week window before the Olympics for the Republican convention. Then the Republicans would have to schedule theirs the week before the Olympics and they'd be scerewed because no one would see Bush's post-convention bus tour, train ride or whatever because the TV would be watching the Olympics. It was a McAuliffe trick, but it backfired when the Republicans looked at the calendar and just said, screw it, we'll bounce after the Olympics.

hich city to choose the Democrats had nothing to do with. The Republican mayor and governor of NY made a plea for the convention claiming it would bring in needed tourism business, and show the country that they shouldn't be afraid to visit NY again.

The Republicans purposely chose not to have the convention on the anniversary date though.

[Yupster]

8. And another thing ...

during the NY convention, you can expect to see a whole lot of stories about the incredible security for the convention, and you can expect to see some little old lady convention delegates in elephant hats and red white and blue outfits being asked about whether they were scared to come from Nebraska to NYC with all the terrorism concerns.

And those little old ladies will say how the terrorists haven't scared them and how they're happy to be there to support the president, and

If the giant protests being planned can be pkayed in any way to be impeding security or making the police's job more difficult, then I believe there will be hell to pay on election day from middle America.

[aquart]

18. Which is why they must be completely non-violent.

I say again, if you're planning to make trouble, STAY HOME.

We don't need you and we don't want you.

[Yupster]

10. And on McAuliffe ...

to me he's long overdue for removal.

He had no qualifications for his job other than being Bill's money man.

He pulls amateurish stunts like this and they blow up in his face, leaving the party in worse shape. The reason he pulls amateurish stunts is because he's an amateur.

[PDittie]

9. All concerned New Yorkers should arm themselves with a whistle

..and stand outside the arena, blowing them as long and as loud as possible.

A cacophony of whistles, so loud they can be heard on TV INSIDE the hall.

Now THAT would be cool....

[Lars39]

16. I'd love to hear Peter Jennings announce exactly what the whistles

represent! :)

[poskonig]

11. Our citizens were not slain to elect Junior.

That will be the mother of all protests. Hell, I have plans to come in from Chicago to participate.

[Yupster]

14. BTW Sean ...

if you were the GOP, on which dates would you hold your convention?

[nwstrn]

19. Don't Blame the Democrats

Yupster--interesting info on the dates for the conventions. But I disagree with your defense of the Republican's selection of NYC:
"NYC wanted the convention" "to bring in business which it needed very badly." Every state in the country would want the extra business associated with the convention. Do you honestly believe that's why Republicans chose New York? Because poor New Yorkers needed some extra cash? They chose New York because they want Americans to take their sadness, grief, anger and fear about 9/11 and VOTE REPUBLICAN. They didn't need to have the convention on 9/11; they know GW will get positive, unquestioning press coverage on that day. (and it's a national day of grief, not a day of celebration).

[Yupster]

21. So you think they should have

what? -- not allowed NYC to submit a bid?

let NYC bid, but made it clear they would not be chosen no matter how good their proposal was?

The bidding came down to three cities (NYC, New Orleans and I can't remember the third) Should they have just eliminated NY because even though they had the best deal, and needed the money and good publicity the most, people might question motives if they picked them? That sure seems defensive.

They stayed a full week away from the anniversary date. Given the calendar constraints I just don't know much more that could have been done.

What would you suggest to them if you were advising?

[nwstrn]

23. Yea, you're right, it must have been a coincidence

I'm sure 9/11 had nothing to do with it.

[Yupster]

24. Sarcastic, but it doesn't

make any attempt to answer the question.

[dmr]

25. .... enormous political and emotional symbolism ....

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70816F83E5A0C748CDDA80894DB404482

METROPOLITAN DESK | January 7, 2003, Tuesday
REPUBLICANS PICK NEW YORK AS SITE OF '04 CONVENTION

By ADAM NAGOURNEY (NYT) 1671 words
Late Edition - Final , Section A , Page 1 , Column 1
ABSTRACT - Republican Party picks New York City as site of its 2004 national convention; this will be first time in heavily Democratic city's history that it will play host to Republican convention; Republican officials say they chose New York over Tampa and New Orleans in part because of enormous political and emotional symbolism that has become attached to city since Sept 11, 2001, and because New York offered best package of financial incentives, including pledge to raise $53 million in private contributions to defray estimated cost of $80 million for gathering; Mayor Michael R Bloomberg and Gov George E Pataki, both Republicans, lobbied urgently for convention to be held at Madison Square Garden, arguing that it would be psychological and financial lift to city during difficult times;

more ....

[Yupster]

26. You stopped bolding a little early

the next part says and NYC offered the most money, the best deal.

All Republicans care about is money.