2008 Democratic Convention Watch

Interesting blog I've been following for a week or so.

One topic is where the convention should be held in 2008.


Andre at Georgia Politics Unfiltered makes the case for Atlanta (my hometown):

think Atlanta should host this convention.
...
Howard Dean campaigned for the Chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee on a platform of "showing up" in all 50 states, so what would send a better message to the American people than Democrats holding their national convention in the Deep South (which, in recent years, has become Republican central).

I mean it would show that the Democratic Party, nationally, isn't going to ignore the South like it did in 2000 & 2004.

Having the convention in the deep south (even though Atlanta is a Democratic city anyway) would be a "back at cha'!" to the GOP for having their 2004 convention in New York.

Yes. That would be great! Maybe I could go than!!

It would be a good idea to have it there or in a swing state or a newly emerging Dem state, like Arizona.

And look how well that worked for us.

If ballsy is what we're going for, I say we do it in Houston.

Would that be reflected in more favorable news coverage at the event? I don't know.

I like the idea of sticking the convention in a red state, maybe even a dark red state. Someplace like Salt Lake City or Dallas or Houston. I hope Phoenix is in the running too.

Than that would show we're serious about taking back the red states. :D Atlanta or Houston would be good places.

And the candidate gives the acceptance speech with Denali in the background! The roll call is held under the midnight sun! The delegates can catch salmon! The nominee can fly into Fairbanks, have a "whistlestop" tour on the Alaska Railroad down to Anchorage, and then begin the campaign tour by heading down the Inside Passage on the Marine Highway.

Assuming there's anyway the city can be made ready for the event..... and it would certainly create a lot of jobs in the meantime.

But planning the Dem Convention there in 2008 would give the city a sorely needed boost.

New Orleans might just be a bad idea. Its too obvious. Houston is a great idea - Tweek their noses by having our convention in Texas.

Memo to the Supreme Court:
Never send a boy to do a President's job

I don't like it, and the truth is that political conventions provide a very limited, short term economic benefit to a city. The way to get New Orleans back on its feet again--for the working people of the city--is to invest in the long term future, not a four day political schmooze- fest for the elites of the Democratic Party and corporate influence peddlers who infiltrate these conventions every four years.

And the security will be very high. I don't think New Orleanians would like all those fully armed jack-booted police and National Guardsmen coming back.

....the Pukes would. And there's no way those fucking bastards should be able to take any credit for revitalizing a city that their incompetence destroyed in the first place.

I first thought of New Orleans as the convention city about a month ago, before anyone else had mentioned Atlanta or anywhere else. My primary reason for it then and now was that it was both perfect for an example of Dean's 50 State Strategy AND that the city would benefit from the economic input required to pull off such an event. It goes without saying that investment in NOLA should also be long term, but what better place to deliver that message than in New Orleans itself?

then they get the convention. what's next a DLC leader? How about somewhere where we are welcome?

and if winning is what we want, then yes..put the convention in a red state. It's a little step, but those things add up. We don't need to get votes where we are "welcome." In fact, I think we would be welcome just about anywhere. Democrats spend money and that's what conventions mean to cities.
( Oh well...it's silly really. Way too early for this kind of talk...)

Boston, Los Angeles...

Howard Dean is a blue state governor, and Nancy Pelosi is from SF; Steny Hoyer is from Maryland. Harry Reid is from a swing state.

I think your concern is exaggerated.

SC is one of the first, too and bears weight far beyond its value to Dems. Once more the heavy, rich ,Dems states are going to be taken for granted to cater to a bunch of spoiled, weakwilled, undecideds and moderates. Hide from your base guys, you just might keep up the Joementum.


Regional primaries, which rotate first place, and you can have the primary in any backwater you choose, cause Dems will decide.

Not only in the south but the people Bush abandoned and the promises he failed to deliver. The location of the most obvious example of Bush incompetence and lack of carrying next to Iraq.

deficiencies while proposing something different . . . such as -- oh, I don't know -- taking our government back for the people? . . . just a thought . . .

Indianapolis is a blue city in the middle of a red state. We just passed an anti-discrimination ordinance that bans employers from discriminating against people on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity. This ordinance puts Indianapolis in line with similar executive orders issued by our Democratic mayor to protect LGBT city workers, and by our Republican governor to do the same for state workers.

That's my best guess. Or maybe Denver. Unless there's some major sea change, it won't be in the south.

That rules out the convention there.

Denver is a possibility. I think the Colorado folks are playing it up as an option.

ONE?? *sigh* That's just sad. They were talking about Portland last go round. I would totally love that and we would put on a helluva convention. But I don't know if the Party as a whole really wants the liberal image generally connected to Portland. So if there's no union hotels in Phoenix, then I imagine Denver would be it.

NOT!

Name another state that has voted Democrat in every Presidential election since 1976. You can't because Minnesota is the only one. It has been a consistent bastion of good government liberalism and should be rewarded. And though still blue, is turning purplish and a convention in the upper midwest could help solidify the area!

And end up with these assholes trying to disrupt the convention......

And we are currently the cultural CENTER of the universe.

I'd like to see some FRESH ideas.