Bloomberg, DeLay "rift" over NYC Repub. convention

[DeepModem Mom]

LA Times:

Months before the big event comes to town, an embarrassing and unexpected rift has developed between (Mayor) Bloomberg and some prominent party figures, including House Majority Leader Tom DeLay of Texas. The fallout has veteran political observers scratching their heads as it casts a pall over pre-convention planning.

The conflict surfaced last month, when DeLay announced a plan in which 2,200 conventioneers would stay on a luxury cruise ship in New York Harbor. There, only blocks from the convention at Madison Square Garden, delegates could mingle freely with lobbyists and each other, enjoying a high level of security, the Republican leader said.


But Bloomberg has repeatedly denounced the idea, saying it would draw badly needed business away from the city's hotels and restaurants. The cruise ship, the Norwegian Dawn, has 14 bars and 10 restaurants. Others have suggested that the notion of keeping delegates safe is a slap in the face to the New York Police Department, which is spending millions to beef up convention security.


As the conflict escalates, the mayor has begun criticizing DeLay's positions on legislation affecting New York. He has singled out the majority leader's support for changes in federal transportation funding that could cost the city $300 million.


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-nygop27nov27,1,5076479.story?coll=la-home-nation

[ibegurpard]

1. WAAAA!

Repuke pigs!

[Racenut20]

2. Ahhhhh what a shame

note this link is to the LA Times. hehehehe

[izzie]

3. Oh this should be fun to watch.

Two little men with a lot of power in the same party. Both who will make poor old George look silly.

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. Ship of Fools

I say, let him have the cruise ship. Maybe we can cut the ropes and it will drift out to sea.

[oneighty]

12. delete

I know has a much better idea.

180

[Dudley_DUright]

5. I knew this would lead to trouble when they announced the idea

GOOD, GOOD, GOOD! :evilgrin:

[ClintonTyree]

6. Is Tom DeLay...............

evil incarnate or what? I have never heard of any more vile creature on God's green earth than this asshole. He is the poster child for abortion rights. If only his mother had.........

[TreasonousBastard]

7. I have no idea what's behind this...

although it's been covered locally. It's the dumbest idea I've heard in years.

Besides the logistics of getting people on and off the ship and over to the Garden, which are considerable, having everyone in one spot in the middle of the harbor is just plain dumb. The security they'll set up to stop some nutcase from sinking the ship will tie up the entire harbor, the Hudson River, and miles of NYC and New Jersey coastline.

Bloomberg's spot on in hating the idea. It's not just taking a few million out of the NYC economy, it's just plain stupid.

[Bridget Burke]

8. Why not use the "European Vison"?

"European Vision, a ship that hosted the World Leaders during the G8 Summit in Genoa. A magnificent, modern ship full of comforts that offers you the opportunity for an unforgettable cruise."

In July of 2001, the ship was used to counter the threats of terrorists crashing planes into buildings. Hey, that's about the time that Ashcroft announced he was no longer using commercial flights! Just before W* & Crashcart announced their vacation plans? Remember Condi claming they had no idea that terrorists might do that sort of thing?

They think the New Yorkers might be mad about losing business? Remind them of our "leaders" working to keep THEMSELVES safe, back when the Twin Towers still stood.

www.anthonytours.com/cruise/europe/cr_ev.htm

[mikehiggins]

9. DeLay will be really p.o.'d

when his next opponent finds a check for a few million in the mail.

Never anger a billionaire.

Bloomberg may just be a mayor, but he is a very rich man, and a very successful businessman and innovator. And he doesn't like being screwed with.

If he can buy the mayor's office, how hard will it be to buy a jerk-off congresscritter's office?

[leesa]

10. Excellent!! New York will be a disaster...Crawford here they come!

Truth is they CAN'T protect their delegates because Republicans are simply too hated for their blind support of fascists. Of course they will cry "terrorists" but I don't think the majority of Americans believe that tired old lie anymore.

[tjdee]

11. Those SCARY NEW YORKERS, don't want to mingle with them, eh, asshole?

Tom Delay doesn't know jack all shit about New York City, and what better way for he and his republican brothers and sisters to TOTALLY ISOLATE themselves from the scary scary city and "THOSE" people? Just stay on a private boat, get your chaffeured car, go to the Garden.

I'm fairly certain Bloomberg may kiss the behind of many Republicans, but I'm sure he also finds Tom Delay as repugnant as we do.

[Snellius]

13. DeLay doesn't want anyone to see how the other half lives

These country-club Republican delegates have always been the fattest of the fat cats but with Bush we're talking major fur balls.

I remember during Bush's inaugural ball a naive C-SPAN trainee was interviewing a tuxedo-and-cowboy-boots Texan with his diamond-studded wife. She was complaining about how many gowns and luggage she had to bring, to which the C-SPAN interviewer wondered, "Did you have trouble getting it all on the plane?". The answer probably never occurred to him: "Oh," explained her husband, "we have our own jet."