2008 Democratic Convention !!

[snowbear]

I just read another post that discusses Cleveland and their attempt at hosting the GOP convention. Someone even commented "What if no one wanted to host the Democratic Convention?"

HeLlLLlloooOO.

Let's take a look at the facts.. ELEVEN cities initially bid on the Democratic Convention, and FOUR for the ReTHUD Convention.

I wouldn't knock Cleveland too much. Chances are, they just have a group of gung-ho Rethuds who happen to want it there. Who cares?

Look at Denver!!! Denver didn't even bid on the R-thuds.. Currently, they are fighting tooth and nail to host the Democratic Convention!

We started out with a long list of cities, but different things start to factor in along the way that effect the bids (like Detroit having to back out because of financial concerns).. etc.

Plus, remember that the Democratic Party looks for pro-union facilities which can sometimes make the search more difficult.

The latest info shows that the Democrats have it narrowed down to 4 cities.

Which city would you select?

[LincolnMcGrath]

1. MSP

[snowbear]

2. By the way.......

Daily KOS is also polling its readers about the four remaining selections:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/5/22/212716/872

Updated Democratic Convention News: http://demconwatch.blogspot.com / ~~

Looks like we could have a Rocky Mountain High Convention!

[Catchawave]

21. Voted on the Dkos poll too !

DemConWatch just mentioned that 85 of the last 112 votes (on Dkos) went to NOLA !

I voted for NOLA on both polls :patriot: I like to vote!

larrisa, send your poll to the watch blog, maybe they'll put DU on that page too!?

[msn]

23. That was a typo - it was Minneapolis

Minneapolis is way ahead in the poll now. Some Minneapolis blogs have urged their readers to vote early and often!

matt

[Catchawave]

27. Hi matt !

Are you the DemConWatch blog ? I've had ya bookmarked for quite some time :hi: Great blog, I'm a frequent visitor.

What's funny, several months ago, I posted a DU poll to pick a city to have a national DU meetup at.....Minneapolis won that too!

And a very belated Welcome to DU to you :toast:

[msn]

52. DemConWatch

Yes its Matt. I lurk here on occasion whenever the conventions come up for discussion. I'm glad you enjoy the blog. Tell your friends about it, and if a new post on the convention is started, please email me at the address shown on my blog (demconwatch.blogspot.com) and I'll come by and take part.

thanks

matt

[newyawker99]

30. Hi msn!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[TheFarseer]

3. I said Minne, but Denver is also a very good choice

New Orleans is not a horrible pick, but New York is about the stupidest thing we could do.

[snowbear]

5. I'm not so sure about selecting NYC either...

Nice that Mayor Bloomberg included us in his bid though..

I'm kinda leaning towards Denver. It would be beautiful that time of the year.

And what I like is that they REALLLLLLLY want to host it!

[marmar]

4. I went with Denver...

N.O. would be good symbolically, but logistically, will it be ready to host a national political convention? Plus, the convention season takes place during hurricane season.

[nickinSTL]

16. actually, NOLA is hosting a major conference (not political) in June

The American Library Association (ALA) is holding their annual conference there in June.

Last year's conference in Chicago had 27,800 attendees. In 2001 in Orlando, 19,575, and in 2001 in San Francisco there were 26,542.

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. NOLA. I would go to NOLA just for the fun.

:thumbsup: for NOLA...they NEED the revenue and it's an AWESOME place to visit.

[hippiechick]

7. Minneapolis - right next door to VEEP Feingold's home state!

:applause: :bounce: :applause: :bounce:

[William769]

8. Other

Crawford, TX. :rofl:

Now wouldn't that be a kick in the pants!

[BOSSHOG]

9. HOPE, ARKANSAS - Bill Clinton's hometown

Homestate of 2008 nominee Wesley Clark.

[karynnj]

10. Well Denver is the city that my favorite candidate was born in

Although he is from MA through and through. :)

I understand the significance of New Orleans, but it is in hurricane season and I think August is suppose to be hot and humid there. (Great food though)

[gully]

11. Why Colorado, it's a Red State?

Reward Minneapolis for voting Blue, or have it in New Orleans to support the community.

[Douglas Carpenter]

14. both Colorado and Louisiana are potential swing states

their would be a tactical advantage in putting the convention in any potential swing state.

[gully]

17. Makes sense.

Thanks.

[msn]

19. Denver is purple, and hopefully going blue

as are other Mountain states. Minnesota should be blue in 2008 regardless of whether they get the convention. - Matt

[snowbear]

31. Hi Matt !!!

Thank you for stopping in!! I agree with Catchawave.. your website is such an incredible source of information!

Regardless of which of our finalists make it, it's going to be AWESOME!

[Hawkeye-X]

41. Colorado is NOT considered a red state.

We're a very deep purple state, a potential swing state, with 9 EV's.

[gully]

43. When is the last time you went blue?

Minnesota is a purple state as well, but the dems have had the edge in presidential elections.

[Hawkeye-X]

45. '92 or '96. We went for Clinton

[gully]

47. That's good to know.

Thanks.

I'm leaning New Orleans after further consideration.

[SCDem]

12. I vote for NOLA! Yess logistics may be a problem but I say...

build it and they will come. Putting a time line on when things will need to be built by or prepared by would be a good motivator to get things going like increased revenue and capital.

[the other one]

13. NYC v. 2 second tier cities and a disaster zone...

I understand showing empathy to New Orleans, but it is an open question as to whether they will be ready for an event this size.

Denver is boring...
Minneapolis doesn't even rate as boring...

NYC is a great choice for Dems.

[Hippo_Tron]

37. NYC is also our base

They are going to be voting for us whether we have the convention there or not. Where we have the convention does say something about our party identity and I think that it would be best if we have it in a red state to show that we are trying to reach out to the entire country.

And as a New Orleans resident, I can assure you that the parts of the city in which the convention will be held are not even close to a disaster zone. They are very much back to the way they were before Katrina. Give us two years and I would be shocked if we would not be able to handle the convention.

[Hawkeye-X]

42. Umm. boring?

I don't consider Denver boring. Plenty of things to do during the summer. Catch a Rockies game, go shopping on Cherry Creek Mall, Flatirons Crossing, or even Colorado Mills. Pikes Peak area (Manitou Springs) is a fun place to check out, and it's quite liberal compared to next door Colorado Springs, and the cog railroad is a fun trip. We have the mountains just a skip, hop and a jump away from Denver, fun for Alpine slides (Heritage Square or Breckenridge. Take your pick), biking, Boulder (very liberal city) with great events happening every weekend, and much more. I can go on, but I've said my piece. :)

Of course, I live here. Wife hates it, but she is a New Yorker, so it's hard to compare. :P

[wakeme2008]

15. LOL what happened to Vegas....

Booo Hooooooo :(

[Meldread]

18. New Orleans. Symbolic: A City and a Party Rising from the Ashes.

It also showcases the utter failure of the Republicans down there, something that could give us an edge.

[Catchawave]

28. Very well stated....

Thank you.

Who has the final say on the selection?

[msn]

53. Dean decides

Ultimately the decision is Howard Dean's.

[Rowdyboy]

20. I'd love to see it in New Orleans but I worry about a major hurricane....

Even the possibility that one might hit would force an evacuation. Our delegates would presumably return home and the party would have to regroup. The resulting confusion would delay our start of the fall campaign and seriously damage our chances. By the time we had finalized the process of nominating, it would be too late to begin an effective campaign.

I know its a nightmare scenario, but I don't want to take any chances. I'd much rather see Denver.

[Hippo_Tron]

36. When is the convention date?

Major hurricanes tend to happen in late August/early September. Since we have to go first, our convention will probably be held in late July/early August. Hurricanes are CERTAINLY a risk, but not nearly as high as if we were to go second.

[Rowdyboy]

38. I'm pretty sure ours is set the week before Labor Day....not sure about

the Repukes

[Hippo_Tron]

39. Wow that's late

Yea, that's right in the middle of hurricane season. That could be a serious problem.

[msn]

54. Convention Dates

Democrats: Aug 25-28
Republicans: Sep 1-4

[northzax]

22. I think both parties should pledge to New Orleans

Both of them.

[msn]

24. New Orleans not interested in GOP

New Orleans did not bid for the GOP convention, so this won't happen. Not to mention the fact that the conventions are in back-to-back weeks, so they can't be held in the same arena. - Matt

[northzax]

25. Yes, but the GOP should publically commit anyway

imagine how much money would pour into New Orleans to prepare it for the BushCo Succession Show!

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

26. minneapolis-do it for paul

new orleans would look about as shameless as der idiot exploiting nyc in 04

[Hippo_Tron]

35. Except that New Orleans isn't hostile territory

There won't be protest marches in New Orleans because it's a Democratic stronghold. And of course I'm a bit biased considering where I live.

[primative1]

29. Sure would get a warm welcome in ...

Managua

[NJ Democrats]

32. Go NYC!

[NI4NI]

33. I'm more concerned about WHEN, not where

I want to see the Democratic Convention held AFTER the Pukes hold theirs.
Kerry was a sitting duck for every 'Lican who gave a speech in '04. Remember ZellOut Miller? Guiliani? Ahnold? The Purple Band-Aids? I say let them have their say first, nominate whoever they want, spout their same old BS, and then......take our turn to blast them with everything they've done wrong, or failed to accomplish, with the Democratic promise to repair America.

[Hippo_Tron]

34. We have to go first

I don't know if this rule is written or un-written but the party out of power always holds their convention first. However, we need to hold ours much closer to the GOP's than we did last time to account for the spending regulations involved with accepting the nomination under McCain-Feingold.

[Major Hogwash]

59. The last week of August, before Labor Day

That is when I heard it was going to be held.

[Hawkeye-X]

40. Local rag (Denver) said...

that the once they found out that we were in the running as one of the 4 finalists.. the vote increased to 51% favoring Denver, 33% for N'Orleans, and the rest were low (9 for Minneapolis/St. Paul and 6 for NYC)

[Zynx]

44. Denver. The non-coastal west thinks we ignore them.

[zann725]

46. Seattle?

Blue thru and thru. And the right 'environment' to add strength to the Convention. Let's use a page from Repug handbook, and 'preach to the choir' on MSM, and use the image of our hugh numbers and loyalty wave like a proud DEMOCRATIC American Flag.

[Love Bug]

48. Let the GOP have their's in NO

They can lock them in the Superdome for 4 days without food or water and see how they like it!

[NoodleBoy]

49. Damnit, I wanted it to be in Phoenix

That would have been awesome, I could have gone and not gotten a hotel. The convention center is like 15 minutes away.

[choie]

50. Gotta go with NYC. I know, I know...

The others deserve it too, and we all here in the Big Apple are used to such spectaculars, yadda yadda. I don't say you're all wrong, and I can see the attraction of the other places too.

But this city was invaded by Repugs in the 2004 convention. And worse, they still use our dead 9/11 victims to shill for their foul war on democracy. It makes me vomit just to think that anyone might have the idea that we NYCers should be grateful ... grateful, God help us! ... to this piece of shit administration.

I want a massive throng of Democrats to return and take back their spritual ownership of my city.

Plus it'd just be cool, is all. :)

[Darkhawk32]

51. I'd say Columbia, MO. It'd be the best place, IMHO.

For me, anyway. ;)

[snowbear]

58. Yeah, but... they're not on the "final four" list...

Either is Seattle, Crawford, or a couple of the other locations that some of our fellow DU'ers mentioned.

Denver .. New Orleans .. NYC or Minneapolis ~~~~~

[AusGail]

55. As a non-American I'm a little bit naive about your political system

Has anyone given any thought to Ohio. Wasn't that the state that almost hinged on the outcome of the 2004 election?

Also, I would love to see a convention where it was a lot less stage managed (eg everybody holding up placards saying exactly the same thing). I would much prefer to see something a lot more spontaneous with a few surprises and have it come from the heart.

[tibbir]

56. New Orleans. Barring another hurricane,

they should be pretty much up and running by then.

[liberaliraqvet26]

57. Denver, the West is the future of the party....

we can win in Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and maybe even Arizona (changing demographics), Montana (with the right candidate) and one of the Dakota's. We need to lay off the guns and reach out to their farmers, liberals and even libertarian moderates who dislike the religious right.

Gov. Schwitzer of Montana can lead the way.

[Robb]

60. I'm biased, but I agree

CO put Dems in power in the state government. And told Pete Coors to lump it.

Plus, I could be there in like six hours. :D

[nickshepDEM]

61. I guess Denver. I would have prefered St. Louis

[Doremus]

62. I think Cleveland is going to get it -- wooo hoooo

In '04, I was green with envy at the folks who lived close enough to NY to be able to protest. If they bring it here, I'll be in the streets 24/7. :evilgrin: :toast:

Plus, residents of one of the country's poorest cities can really use the cash infusion after suffering 6 years of chimperor's failed economic policies.

Cuyahoga's a Dem stronghold. They think they'll woo us with their bullshit, but they are so sadly mistaken. We'll have to put up with an onslaught of ignorant neocons for awhile, but there's many more of us than them here, thank goodness.

[zann725]

63. Seattle, I feel would be the best...progressively.

(I could not get "pop-up" of Eleven Cities initially suggested for DNC.)...but would STILL choose Seattle.