Where should the DU national convention be?

[KCDem]

I just read the other thread and love the idea. Let's pick a location and see where it goes from there!

(you can add your own as well, there were only 10 choices)

[StopTheMorans]

1. Boston

Patriots 1776 vs. George III

Patriots 2004 vs. George W.

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. Very symbolic!

I like that idea, too!

Though I still think it should be in France, preferably a gay area of Paris, to really piss of the Freepers.

[KCDem]

4. how about if we just all get pissed on French wine?

And eat French bread with French fries, and we can all French kiss and then you men can put your little French ticklers on... and... well, after that, who knows what will happen? :evilgrin:

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. A capital idea!!

Also why it should be in NYC, since the repukes and freeps think we're Sodom and Gemorrhah all wrapped up into one evil, nefarious, family- and America-hating city.

French ticklers for everyone!

[liberalhistorian]

75. Hey, sounds good to me!

n/t

[Nevernose]

5. Paris Hotel/Casino

We get to go to Vegas that way AND piss off the Freepers. Las Vegas is centrally located, relatively, and has cheap airfare and cheap hotel rates. (plus, as I mentioned on another thread, tequila and strippers)

[Rabrrrrrr]

8. Yes, I also think Vegas would be good,

for the reasons you mention.

Except that I, in good conscious, could not support that city.

But on the other hand, I desperately want to see the Star Trek casino thing...

But on the other, other hand, wherever it is, I probably couldn't go anyway, which is one reason I favor NYC.

[Nevernose]

9. But NYC is EXPENSIVE

[Rabrrrrrr]

12. But it wouldn't be for me!

That's the beauty of the plan! It's win win!

I win because I don't have to spend anything extra, and I win because I can stay at home, maybe even entertain some of the more diabolical DUers!

[Nevernose]

14. Damn!

You've figured out my "I'm-too-poor-to-travel-so-why-don't-I-talk-them-into-coming-to-Vegas-where-I-already-live" scheme.

And on a more serious note, I constantly see things like "DY gathering in Boston" or "New York" or wherever, but never any place that I can really get to; I'm starting to get jealous.

[Rabrrrrrr]

16. We'll keep it a secret between us!

Actually, I'd say of all the ideas, Vegas does make the most sense since it's always easy to find cheap flights there from anywhere, the hotels aren't that expensive (and flight/hotel deals are always popping up and cheap), and the weather is good.

And maybe we could win Skinner a few millin at the craps table! maybe win so much, we break the bank and they have to give us the casino, then we'll have a democraticunderground.com casino that's only for registered democrats, greens, and other progressive independants!

[jokerman93]

41. Vegas is FUN!!!! n/t

[liberalhistorian]

72. Aw, but then us straight guys and gals

wouldn't be able to troll for those romantic French men and women we're always hearing about!

[SiobhanClancy]

15. Yes..Boston!

It's appropriate,and the OTHER convention is going to be here:)

[Rowdyboy]

3. New Orleans!

And to use a line I really hate

"'Nuff said!"

[dae]

85. Like he said, New Orleens-French Quarter, Bourbon Street, and all that

good food!

[JVS]

7. Chicago, good cebtral location

St. Louis is good too

[pmbryant]

10. I also voted for Chicago

Not near me, but I have family there.

2nd choice is obviously Austin or "somewhere else in Texas" (i.e., San Antonio, not Dallas or Houston. ;-) )

--Peter

[prolesunited]

18. I went with Chicago, too!

Wonder why. ;-)

But NYC would work for me as well.

[terrya]

47. I voted for Chicago because I live there. :-)

Self interest, what can I say?

[SOteric]

11. D.C.?

Just a thought. Might be able to time it well to support some of the Democratic legislators.

[SmileyBoy]

13. Chicago, cause it's relatively close to where I am.

It would take up two tanks of gas and 9 hours to get there, but what the hell??? Also, my parent's house is at roughly the one-third point to there.

[Guaranteed]

20. Me too...only a couple hours...but, I voted for NY anyway

I wanna fuck those Repukes up.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

17. Boston-lots of Democrats, lots of history, lots of good bars

my second choice is NYC, only because I can combine a DU convention with a good shopping trip! ;-)

[ChoralScholar]

19. I'm surprised

St. Louis got that many votes. Hey, I'm all for it though. I'm not that far away.

[mopinko]

21. oooh, oooh chicago

not just cuz i live here, of course. centrally located, great public trans, reasonable prices, lots to do, great beer, great food, great art, great music, great scenery, everything, chicago has everything. great deomcrats- dick durbin, carol mosley braun, paul simon, adlai stevenson. here, here.

[Robb]

55. I like Chicago, conceptually

Central, big airport hub. Plus hell, I've never been there. :)

(Edited to add): But there is a lot to be said for Vegas, not the least of which is that there are always deals to be had on airfare and hotels, especially as a group. :shrug:

[Catshrink]

86. You forgot to mention the Cubs...

[Booberdawg]

22. Centrally Located - Chicago or Omaha

Omaha is actually smack in the middle of the US.

[KCDem]

23. Omaha--that's where I grew up, and my parents are still there!

If you've been to Bellevue... they're the DEMOCRATS who live there.

[toddzilla]

24. st. louis

its much cheaper than chicago as far as hotels go..

and i live here!!

and we have that "arch thing"

when i lived in fl. people would always ask em "what's up with that arch thing?"

hehe

[Booberdawg]

25. Bellevue University is where I got my Bachelors Degree's

Are your parents the only DEMOCRATS who live there? LOL! Pretty Republican territory around there.

I grew up in Council Bluffs but have lived in Omaha and La Vista. Right now back living in CB.

Shoot me a PM if you're ever in the neighborhood. :hi:

[populistmom]

44. KCDem, you grew up in Omaha too?

Wow! Me too, my home from 1972-1987.

[KCDem]

58. I lived there from 76-89.

Wow, we totally overlapped!

[Booberdawg]

61. I lived in La Vista. Papillion, and Omaha 75 to 82

[Nevernose]

26. No offense

But who the hell wants to go to Omaha on their vacation?

[Booberdawg]

27. To meet with other DUers, anywhere is paradise!

And there is plenty to do in Omaha!

[prolesunited]

28. LOL!

That's what I was thinking. Chicago is definitely a destination city.

[Nevernose]

29. Vegas is still better

But Chicago has possibility. Nice zoo, at any rate.

[prolesunited]

30. Vegas is a plastic, superficial playground

Chicago has history and culture and way more than just a nice zoo. How about two world-class museums, the art institute, planetarium, aquarium, Mag Mile, Rush Street, something for everyone.

[Nevernose]

34. Ooooh

I forgot about the Field Museum. I get excited just thinking about it. Haven't seen the other things yet; I've only been there a couple of times, and only for a few days around Christmas. Chicago is one of my favorite cities, except its big and expensive and hard for tourists to get around in.

You're right about Vegas being plastic and superficial. Of course, that's what makes it FUN (also has low airfare and convenient hotels ;-)).

Side note:
The first time I went to Chicago was three years ago to visit my folks, who had just moved there. Now, I'm a grown man with kids of his own, and I've travelled extensively, but I've never been anywhere cold during the winter (I grew up in a swamp, and now live in a desert).

So the lake behind their house was frozen. I spent HOURS next to it, a 30 year old man acting like a little kid, going "Are you SURE it's safe to walk on? But WHY don't the fish freeze to death? I just assumed they migrated or something... So the grass turns brown and dies, and just comes back again next spring, even though it's got five feet of snow on it? I just don't understand..." I was like one of those rain forest Indians who sometimes wander into downtown Brazilia and starts worshipping a taxi because they think it's a chariot of the gods.

[prolesunited]

36. That's a really sweet story

Live here long enough and the novelty of winter wears off pretty quickly. ;-)

I agree it's big, but you can usually find hotels with good weekend rates. Why do you say it's hard to get around in? Chicago has a good public transportation system.

[Nevernose]

38. The hotels and attractions are scattered

over a big, crowded, and confusing downtown. Ever seen "Midnight Cowboy?" That was my reaction to Chicago (except w/o the gigolo part, or the acid trip). A city that big can be confusing for people. People like me :-).

Las Vegas, on the other hand :evilgrin:, has all of its attractions and hotels lined out on a ten-mile stretch of road. World-class hotels and attractions, I might add, which Zagat's consistently rate higher than darn near anywhere else in the world. Fine collections of art, the biggest roller-coaster in the world, every kind of show imaginable (unless you enjoy theater *sigh*), swimming pools and movie stars. Weather's nice year round, too, and the only frozen water is in your drink.

[prolesunited]

40. Well, you make a convincing case

but if you look at the poll results, even St. Louis is beating it. What's up with that?

[pmbryant]

49. Chicago's #1 now. :-)

I don't understand the fascination with Las Vegas, myself. For one thing, he heat is absolutely oppressive, and that's coming from a fellow who has lived in the heart of Texas for several years.

:shrug:

Whenever I get a chance to go to Las Vegas, I skip out of town and drive a few hours. There are some spectacular natural sights to be seen in that area: Zion, Grand Canyon, and much more.

:thumbsup:

--Peter

[geniph]

64. The heat in Vegas?

who the hell ever goes outside there?

I love Vegas. One might wonder why, as I don't gamble anything but quarter and dollar slots. Because I love nice hotels and room service, both of which are DIRT cheap in Vegas. It's the cheapest place to go for a really nice hotel vacation. We got married there, and won enough to pay for most of the trip AND the wedding right before we flew home, so I have fond memories.

[pmbryant]

68. LOL

who the hell ever goes outside there?

Not me! At least not any more. The one time I did, I think I almost melted instantaneously. I had to run inside in a hurry to save myself.

:D

--Peter

[Capn Sunshine]

60. find me a better Zoo

than the Vegas Strip on Saturday night, bay-bee! :wow:

[Catshrink]

87. Don't forget

Wrigley Field!

[ProfessorGAC]

51. Besides, Aren't Airfares to Omaha Usually High?

Most of the midsize cities have high airfares because of low volumes and few options. Besides, with hub air traffic, people would probably have to go to Denver or Chicago anyway.
The Professor

[populistmom]

54. I'm probably going there in a few months

(Used to live there and have family there.) I'm in Connecticut, so I'd fly out of Bradley here (another midsize airport), probably have to connect in Chicago or Minneapolis and the prices I've seen so far are around $275-300 round trip. Not super-cheap, but not that high either and if it's a central location people want, the hotels would be cheaper than Chicago.
Not that I'm rooting for Omaha (the chances I'd be able to go even are pretty small), but the cost factor is all that bad either.

[Redbear]

31. Crawford, Texas

Including a huge barbeque/protest rally near the ranch of the alleged President.

[LincolnMcGrath]

32. OH I like the way you think

:spank:

[ForrestGump]

33. Vegas

Same reasons as others: cheap to fly to (supply and demand, my compadres), can be really cheap to stay in, also, and plenty of diversions and perversions for those who might have an interest in such things. Also a beautiful part of the country with dry weather - chance to see some of the Four-Corner States' scenic beauty for those who're traveling far to get there.

And I can wear my favorite jumpsuit there without people looking twice at me.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

35. Yay!

[short bus president]

37. my house.

I no longer have a car. :-(

[Nevernose]

39. I'll pick you up

Where do you live?

You'll have to ride in the back of the pick-up, though. I hope that's okay?

[DoveTurnedHawk]

42. Vegas Baby Vegas!

We'd actually talked about doing this a few months ago (planning for around February), but the offline discussion just kinda died off.

DTH

[BritishHuman]

50. Another forum's National meet ended up in Vegas

Cheap flights, cheap hotel rooms, cheap meeting rooms... It worked pretty well.

[SOteric]

57. You only say that because

You won $$$.

[ewagner]

43. I like a central location...but....

The idea of hlding it in connection with the repub convention is soooooo tempting..........

[populistmom]

45. Vegas or Omaha

Omaha because I grew up there (haven't lived there since 1987 though), it's a nice city with lots to do, good hotels, and a central location. O8)

Vegas because it had cheap flights and according to the latest tourism ads for it now what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. My kind of town. :evilgrin:

[WoodrowFan]

46. DC! It's where Skinner is! (NT)

[Blue_Chill]

48. Washington DC should have been the first choice

It's by far the most relevant.


*cough* and I happen to live there *cough*

[GOPisEvil]

52. Pick a city that serves as a major hub for an airline.

Air fares will likely be cheaper.

Specifically, Chicago, St. Louis, Denver, Memphis, Nashville, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston...

[Hell Hath No Fury]

53. Vegas....

cheap to visit and easy to get to from all over the country.

[catmandu57]

56. I'd pick Chicago

but I think we're taking too big a bite going for a national. I think smaller regional meet ups funneling delagates to a national committee meeting would be a better way to go.
You know there really isn't any reason to pick a place loaded with attractions, musuems, galleries, casinos etc... just being with people of simular mind is a very powerful stimulant, we could have a meeting in bumfuck egypt and it'd be great.
I asked my wife for permission to go to a big meet, months ago and she grudgingly gave me permission, so aside from finding the cash I'm set to go.

[liberalhistorian]

77. She "grudgingly gave you permission?"

Is she your wife or your mother, lol!

[Capn Sunshine]

59. Vegas

Here's why: all roads lead to Vegas; they make it cheap to get there and stay there. The Sahara is 35 bucks a night for god's sake.

Even the Four Seasons there is like half what it costs elesewhere in the country.

[MaineDem]

62. I've wanted a reason to go to Chicago

This sounds like a good one. :)

[alexwcovington]

63. Minot, North Dakota!

Who's with me?

[liberalhistorian]

78. RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA!

The Black Hills are near there, and so is the Crazy Horse Memorial, and, best of all, MOUNT RUSHMORE! Perfect place to have a protest!!!!!

[liberalhistorian]

79. Nah, Fargo would be better!

n/t

[geniph]

65. Vegas is THE town for any kind of convention

everyone can afford a decent hotel room there, and the buffets have good food at great prices. Besides, it's a town where no one would throw Zomby Woof out of a restaurant for talking too loudly.

:evilgrin:

[Zomby Woof]

66. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bring me those free drinks when I am playing the slots, and I am a wild man!!! :D No pent-up, self-hating waiters to harrass me.

I love Vegas too, and I never thought I would until I actually went.

[mwdem]

67. Vegas, baby!!

I'm going to be there the first week of March, was there the beginning of June during the 112 degree heat. When is this supposed to happen, anyway?

[Endangered Specie]

69. Come to North Carolina

Nice place, big airport ( RDU ), can go to Chapel Hill, one of the most liberal places in the South, however, us from NCSU will have to bring eggs.

[mwdem]

70. I was born in N.C.

Grew up there, still have family there. I just went back for a visit in August. I always get homesick when I go back, and it's still home to me.

[HEyHEY]

71. Vancouver....if you wanna come to Canada

It'd be nice and cheap for me!

[CanuckAmok]

73. White House South Lawn.

or maybe 1598 and 1602 Pennsylvania Avenue.

[HEyHEY]

76. Victory Square

;-)

[liberalhistorian]

74. Cleveland, anyone?

After all, we've got the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the Great Lakes Science Center, the internationally known Cleveland Museum of Art, Natural History Museum, Crawford Auto and Aviation Museum, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Cleveland Playhouse (largest professional theater district outside of New York City!), the Flats (area by the Cuyahoga River with great restaurants and bars), Lake Erie Beaches, excellent local bands you can always hear live, reasonably priced hotels, etc., etc., etc. What more could ya ask for!

[BlueCollar]

80. Havana

Because it'll piss the right-wing fundies and freepers off...

[populistmom]

82. Now that's an idea.

Very original. Is it legal yet or would we have to travel to Canada first to get around it?

[BlueCollar]

88. Canada or Mexico

or just about anywhere in the civilized world...

[David Zephyr]

81. What About LOS ANGELES? We Have the Best Weather.

I notice that L.A. is not included in the poll. It is the 2nd largest metropolitan center in the U.S. and....

1.) Best Weather (Year Round) With No Humidity
2.) Lots of Hotel Accomodations
3.) Lots of Transportations Options To & From

Plus...

We have the beaches and all the Beach Cities, the mountains, Hollywood, West Hollywood, the desert, theme parks forever, concert halls everywhere, and fun, fun, fun til daddy takes your T-Bird away.

Seriously, the DU Convention should be in Los Angeles...on the Left Coast.

[onebigbadwulf]

83. Sin City

That way if any DUer makes it big they can donate some mad cash

[Padraig18]

84. Chicago!

:thumbsup: