Republicans rethinking NYC convention?

[underpants]

I had not heard of this but this morning on the Today Show Katie Couric had Chris Mathews on to take the "Political Pulse". Amongst other things that they discussed Katie said that there were starting to be rumbling inside the Republican party that their choice of New York two weeks before the third anniversary of 9/11 might not work out as they originally planned. Mathews said that they are pretty much stuck with that decision now just as the Dems are stuck with Boston, could be a little too much Massachusetts themed.

Has anyone heard anything about this? I am surprised that anyone in the Republican HQ would allow even the smallest second guessing to be leaked.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. Was Tweety whoring it for * this morning?

I hope it backfires on them!

:dem:

[underpants]

4. Not too much

He said the obvious-he is surprised W came out so early and went negative so fast. He hopes that it won't turn off the American people as he makes a living reporting on it. He said the Dems are united and everyone knows that Kerry is a very real threat.

He did say that incumbent Presidents either get a huge victory or a huge defeat but didn't say which way he thought this will go.

[StClone]

19. DUers predicted with last year GOP's Announcement

This would be a disaster and it is shaping up nicely so. :-)

[donco6]

2. No way they can change

These things are set up many years in advance. They may be rumbling, but they're stuck with it.

[mobuto]

3. Lets hope they move to Mobile, Alabama

The GOP is not a national party.

[donco6]

7. Hee!

Yes, that would serve them right.

[lowreed]

12. LMAO!

[Gman]

8. Actually, its usually about 2 years in advance

The respective party's NC will assemble a site selection committee usually in the off election year. They travel around to cities that want the convention like in the spring of that year and make a recommendation by the summer. So the RNC picked NYC in mid-2002. At about the same time the DNC picked Boston.

But, the RNC is at this point committed with hotel reservations, RESERVATIONS FOR DOCKED LUXURY CRUISE SHIPS FOR LOBBYISTS AND TOM DELAY, and NYC has already committed resources such as booking MSG well in advance. They could back out and go to Montgomery, AL but it would cost them both in bucks and ill-will.

[nostamj]

5. it's already backfiring

but they're no way they can change now. you don't book madison sq garden and get to back out.

the insipid chimp knows he can't go near Ground Zero now. and there may be up to a million coming in to 'welcome' the pubbies to our fair city...

[YNGW]

11. NYC

They'll go to Ground Zero. Count on it. They view 9/11 as being the defining moment in the "leadership" of *. No way they'll back away.

And they want the protesters there. They'll portray them the same way they did the protesters in Seattle in '99; as a bunch of extremists dressed up in costumes, banging drums, and saying "Down with America".

Fully orchestrated from beginning to end with big $$$$$ productions in the city that never sleeps. And only 45 days until the election.

[SoCalDem]

13. Extremists with drums..

I am with you on this one.. I WISH that evryone would show up in black.. head to toe.. It sends a statement.. It's the color of mourning..

The puppets, floats and balloons are "entertaining", but it paints all protestors as "those wacky freaky hippies"...

There is a place for them, but if we are looking to make a unified statement, hundreds of thousands of "mourners" showing up at his "celebration" would make a powerful statement....

[supernova]

6. And I hope New Yorkers march

on the convention by the millions.

The GOP need to be taken down a few notches.

They need to be out of power for the next 15-20 years for their own good.

[aquart]

16. And I hope everybody stays home.

Yeah, that's right. STAY HOME.

I am having nightmares of what will happen when protestors meet rush hour commuters meet armed national guard troops patrolling Penn Station.

I can't think of anything that would turn this election around faster than another 1968 in the streets of New York. We saw what Miami looked like.

New Yorkers know how to protest. We're very very very good at it. We don't destroy small businesses because we're mad at big corporations (yeah, I'm talking about you, Seattle). And we have a different feeling about our cops since 9/11. But everytime I hear some of the grandiose ideas here about millions of protestors, I shudder. This is a wounded city and too many of you want more blood on our ground.

What's the point of it? The Republicans suck? Show them at the polls. Instead of coming to New York, go and help in contested congressional elections. Go and make some sure things unsure.

DON'T come to New York and make wavering Republicans believe they HAVE to go to the polls to protect America from anarchy. Let them believe they have nothing to get up for on election day.

[supernova]

18. Uh, wait a minute

I didn't say one word about wishing it would be violent. I'm all for peaceful protest, not mob rule. Every single demonstration I have ever been to has been peaceful.

In short, you read something into my post that isn't there. BTW, I won't be in NY. I'm unemployed and don't have the money for luxuries like travel.

As much as I wish that convention were going to be peaceful, I do worry something will happen. This shit is coming to a head whether we want it to or not.

edit: This article rather supports my suspicions.

[prolesunited]

21. Excuse me!

Sorry, but I AM planning on coming to NYC.

However, I and nobody I am planning on coming with plans on destroying small businesses or being abusive to cops. I plan to exercise my right to dissent — PEACEFULLY.

I don't want any blood on the streets, especially mine!

And, FWIW, I am also planning to take the week prior to the election off to campaign for Kerry wherever it will do the most good.

And as far as Miami went, if you reviewed the accounts and the videos, it was NOT the protesters provoking things. It was the storm-trooper clad police who arrested people for standing there. Sorry, that's not my vision for America and I refuse to be intimidated.

[Kinkistyle]

29. You have the wrong impression about who's been attending!

At all the recent protests against the Iraq War I have been to in New York and D.C. for the past couple of years have been populated by a large cross-section of the American population, which of course includes dreadlocked, tatooed youths, but also the elderly, parents, grandparents, young children, whites, blacks, asians, hispanics, muslims, jews, christians, buddhists, gays, straights etc. The protests have been extraordinairily peaceful and is truly an exhibition of the BEST America has to offer.

The 20-strong Freeper counter-protests on the other hand are a great example of the Morans who continue to turn back the clock on our coutnry.

[kskiska]

9. Maybe they should have stuck with DeLay's cruise ship plan

Then they could hoist anchor and take their traveling circus elsewhere.

[mobuto]

20. No, Castle Clinton

was built to protect New York from sea attack. Tom DeLay wouldn't have a chance against the 32-pounders.

[still_one]

10. Mario Cumo

was on mathews show last night, and told him that the pugs having a convention in ny on sept 11 might backfire

mathews has nothing original to say

[SmokeyBlues]

14. Surely not including the political ads

"...he is surprised W came out so early and went negative so fast."

I know Tweety can't be including *hole's political ads in his comment about going negative so fast! Shit junior, just last week he and Fineman (I think) were tripping all over themselves in an unofficial contest to see who could kiss *hole's butthole the most!

Not to mention his disrespecting the families (by pretty much saying they don't know what they're talking about) of 9/11 victims who openly called the ads disrespectful and shameful.

[frank frankly]

15. oh TWEETY! you had to mention that the dems couldn't switch from Boston

where do you come up with such garbage? he must be writin' buddies with David Brooks.

FU, Tweety!

[DinahMoeHum]

17. Doesn't seem to me the Dems are that anxious to change sites.

In fact, the way things are turning out, Boston may well be the perfect place!!

Boston - hotbed of the 1st American Revolution that fought King George III of England.

Boston - springboard of the next American Revolution against another man who would be King George.


:kick::kick::kick:

[BabsSong]

22. Too close to Ground Zero may burn them

I don't think they expected the reaction to their first attempt to drape themselves in 9/11. What I want in the streets of New York is Firefighters and Police from NYC and all over. Let's see the repukes call them fucking lunatics and fringe. You can't pose with one in your ads and then piss on them. I pray to heaven the firefighters and police are planning something because that is the most effective image of all that they can't put under the carpet. And, indeed, they are going to sound crass and grasping for something to run on. This isn't going to go good for them. Tough shit.

[seabeyond]

23. i would rather be stuck with boston i say lmao......

kerry's home state. tea party, love cape cod. or a bunch of texas oil dudes saying yeehaw in ny totally manipulating the 9/11 and all the anger. hm i say

and boston ought to be awfully pretty about that time. i have a sister in cape cod, lmao. huge thumbs up

[BabsSong]

24. and right near the Fleet Center rests Old Ironsides in Boston Harbor

..what a fitting backdrop - the USS Constitution. Oh, how they can work that into their message. Fighting to free Americans from the abuses of wealth and priviledge; fighting to free Americans from King George; fighting to preserve the Constitution of the USA!!! Bring it ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[seabeyond]

25. chills

and witches cackle, lol lol and a double hi five over the head

i dont know if i said but i have a sister in law living in cape cod a wonderful place. visited a couple years ago. would love to go back about.........when is the convention., lol. ya i think it is cool too. thanks for sharing

i do get to be second delegate and secratary in the little place of the panhandle in texas. who knows.

[BabsSong]

26. sea---I spend a week on Cape Cod every year

Go there to play golf in April. Spend as much time as I can in Boston, too (daughter works there)---a lot of that time is spent on the bar stool at Cheers. We shop a little, drink a little and have a great time.

[Beaker]

28. have any groups planned any "tea parties" for Boston Harbor-

during the convention? to send a message to "King George"?

of course these days, tea wouldn't make any sense- what could they use as an appropriate replacement?

and with regulations in place these days, it'd probably be hard to get a permit to dump anything into the water...

[MrBenchley]

27. Oh let's hope not...

<sarcasm>I think it will be great...especially if the Chimp appears at Ground Zero in his pilot costume...

Maybe they can lower him from the sky on a cable, or something...