2008 DNC Convention?

[BamaLefty]

Does anyone know where it is going to be held?

Or has it even been announced?

If not, post your suggestions on host cities.

[cyn2]

1. Not that I'd want to go....

But I think St. Louis would be peachy....or Austin, TX.

[BamaLefty]

2. Heartland Cities Huh?

I'm not sure if Austin is quite big enough. Or at least it is not perceived that way.

St. Louis sounds good. It is a very blue city in a barely red state... it could get us some votes.

[tokenlib]

6. St. Louis sounds great..

I think avoiding the coasts and the "obvious" choices woulds lead to a choice like St. Louis. I've only been there once--but it just sounds like the right place. Gateway symbolism too.

[AngryAmish]

46. Have you ever been to St. Louis in August?

Holy humidity.

[Liberty Belle]

62. Yes, as a matter of fact. Or maybe it was July...quite a nightmare.

That was the summer that they had the 500-year flood of the Mississippi. Some of our convention attendees helped the locals pile up sandbugs to keep the levee from overflowing by our hotel. A tornado touched down at the airport, causing more damage. As if that wasn't enough, lightning struck right in front of our hotel, sending a guest to the hospital!

All this, yet we still had locals saying, "You're from California? How can you stand to live there, with all those earthquakes?"

Lovely city, despite the heat and everything else, but I couldn't wait to catch a plane back home!

[Hello_Kitty]

91. Phoenix!!

115 degrees of fun!!


It's a dry heat :shrug:

[pstans]

3. Go to the scene of the crime

How about somewhere in Ohio? Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati.

[BamaLefty]

4. lol

Word. :D

[Botany]

5. O.K.

If you want the dems can hold it in my front yard ..... Columbus, Ohio .........
it will not matter who we choose ....... the 2008 repug election scam will have it fixed
anyway. The Arnold/Condi ticket is already being chosen by Tex ASS oil men as I
type ..........

So what the hell; Let us have a kick ass convention ala French Revolution ......
We take over and make those bastards drink that ill gotten oil.

Long Live the Boxer Rebellion

[FreedomAngel82]

34. What about

NYC? The city protested the RNC so wouldn't it be fun to go to NYC and be welcomed by the city and it broadcasted everywhere? Hehe.

[flyarm]

69. i say a big city that can handle the crowd and

provide good transportation..and that has the right venues...i was a delegate and i thought boston was boring!!
the big concert opening night ..we were dressed up going to welcome parties...and then were taken to outside concert with boston pops..and no chairs were provided and we had to sit on concrete with dress clothes..for hours..i was never so uncomfortable..tried to just remain standing but we were mixed in with regular boston people and they screamed at us to sit down..well they had beach chairs and blankets .,.and we had nothing..and nothing was set up for us..since we were dropped off there by bush we couldnt get out of there..i would have prefered sitting in hotel bar..than sitting on cement for hours in dress clothes! i thought it was a real lousey set up! boston just couldnt handle all of us..and most shops were closed cause the people had been warned of crowds..well it became really boring..since not much was open.so basically most of us just went to caucuses..and then hing out at our hotel at night..
although there were some good parties..obama's party was good...planned parenthood was just ok...
i was not impressed with boston for the dem convention..i think it needs to be in a bigger city..

thats just my little ole opinion...

now i am not saying it wasn't great to go...i was thrilled to be a delegate...but the venue wasn't very good...we could not get food the first night at the convention hall..and when they finally opened up some food at the convention hall they would not let us take it to our seats...not even water bottles..well when you get there at 330 in the afternoon and you can't get food or water ..ot take water even to your seat for that many hours..well that just plan sucks..then the hall was so small and they let so many in without being delegates..that the delegates could not see past the people standing in the isles...and it became so hit with all the people standing in isles..it was inhumane!!

and if you went to the bathroom then you couldnt get back in as a delegate because they let so many non delegates onto the floor..that the fire marshalls shut the place down so no one could go back to their seats...it really was not well controled who got passes in ..
and its maddening when you have spent so much money ..to run for a delegate seat, and how many hours and days you campaign and go to so many meetings and the whole shabang..then you can't see because the dem party has filled the isles with people who are not delegates...
i really think it needs to be a much bigger city , and much better facilities..
they must do a better job at making sure delegates can get water..and food...
i went to caucuses all day..and would go from breakfast till 12 midnight or 1 am before getting any food..thats not right!

any way ..just my 2 cents ...

however i must say all those we encountered in boston were very friendly and very hospitible!!
just not many places were open!

fly

[SCDem]

81. I enjoyed Boston

the convention "rules" were crazy. But I snuck food in anyway.

Tuesday night of the convention... the local media night.... was crazy so many damn reporters in there and talking while trying to hear the speeches but I am sure each convention has its quirks.

[DemDogs]

7. Decision for 2004 made in 2003 (n/t)

[PresidentObama]

8. St. Louis would be fine with me.....

I live about three hours from St. Louis. I wouldn't mind if it was there.

[xmas74]

13. What part of the state?

Just curious. I used to live 45 minutes north of Columbia and now live about 40 minutes east of KC.

St Louis would be wonderful but KC is building a new arena downtown and there are quite a few businesses ready to follow them (including hotels). By 2008, it might be up and ready. And they are wanting to bid on conventions of all sorts-so why not?

[Ken Burch]

94. Suggestion:

You should find a picture of Kerry that ISN'T blurry and out-of-focus. The one you've got looks like a visual metaphor for the last campaign.

[Corey_Baker08]

9. Indianapolis, Indiana

Well thats be kind of cool since I live close to there and I'll only be 18 in 2008, yet it is racing capitol thing or whatever and I heard someone say that most Nascar fans are Republicans,ahhhh, wait maybe like Miami Florida would be better cause I could get out of this damn state to be there and we'd have a better chance of winning florida

[FightinNewDem]

10. Convention criteria

A city that wishes to host the Democratic National Committee must have the infrastructure to hold such an event:

The city must have adequate hotel space. This is what kills most bids. The 1988 Atlanta fiasco saw delegates housed in suburban hotels 45 minutes from the convention hall.

The city must have modern facilities. There must be an arena, domed stadium or massive convention hall capable of holding 18,000 or so delegates, guests, donors, VIPs and members of the press. The facility should have some sort of luxury boxes for the care and feeding of major donors. Also, the city needs to have off-site facilities to house the numerous caucuses, rallies, exhibits, vendors, and such. Last summer, the Hynes Convention Center and the adjacent Sheraton, Marriott, and Westin hotels filled the bill.

The city should not have a political culture that lends itself to problems. Boston almost blew it last year when the mayor and the head of the police union let a third-tier labor dispute careen out of control.

There are several cities that have already bid in years past that seem to have what it takes to host the convention. Denver's bid for the 2000 convention was said to be better than LA's, and it almost won the 2004 nod. Cleveland and San Antonio have also submitted strong bids in recent years.

It is also a nice touch that Cleveland, Denver and SA all have political benefits as well.

St. Louis seems to be a sentimental choice for a lot of people, but the city does not have a lot of hotel space, which is a ptentially fatal flaw.

Other cities that might be plausible choices include San Diego, Tampa, Miami, New Orleans and possibly Nashville.

[MaineDem]

15. Hotels need to be unionized

That's a major component of the bid.

[leyton]

29. Denver would be a great place

to make a pitch to the Southwestern states that are within our grasp - Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada.

[iwantmycountryback]

11. Biloxi

LOL. ;) But seriously, going to a big city in a red state wouldn't be a bad idea. Atlanta, St.Louis, Cleveland, Phoenix, Richmond (is that big enough), or Denver. Actually now that I mention Denver, that would be a especially good place because Colorado seems to be becoming more Democratic.

[Hippo_Tron]

12. New Orleans perhaps?

Well I'm biased cuz I live in Louisiana, but I think that strategically you're right, Denver probably would be the best.

Oh yea, did I mention that regardless where it's held, I hope that the guy who's picture you display in your profile will be accepting the nomination

[rodriguez94]

14. I don't care where it is..I am going...I went to Boston this

year and it was wonderful...no problems with transportation like in LA...that is what I heard anyway, Boston was my first DNC, but not my last!!!

[patricia92243]

18. How about the South - Atlanta maybe.

[goodhue]

16. It has not been decided.

I suggest Cleveland or St. Louis.

[Lady President]

17. Anaheim, CA

I'm not sure if an official site has been announced, but Anaheim is the front-runner. Their tourism board held a fancy brunch in Boston on the Fri. after the 2004 Convention ended.

Personally, I'd love to see a mid-west city, especially in my home state of Ohio.

[FightinNewDem]

20. Oh, no!

Why would anyone want to hold a convention in the uberburb that is Orange County? There's no "there" there.

Besides, LA just held the 2000 convention, and despite what the Anaheim chamber of commerce types say, Anaheim is a glorified suburb of LA...

[Akno21]

22. Seattle?

Seattle is possibly the most liberal major city in the USA, Washington may not be a swing state, but this could lock it up.

I'm not sure where you are getting the idea that having it in a swing state will win that state for you, it didn't help Bush in PA in 2000, even though they had it in Philly.

[Paul Dlugokencky]

52. Seattle!

Good choice. And having the convention in NYC didn't help Bush in NY either.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

93. convention

Hold on to your hats ,the way it,s looking it may be held in Washington D.C. ! The biggest one they ever saw!!!

[Radical Activist]

78. Sure, associate the Democratic Party with California

and all the flakes and activist hollywood celebrities that go along with it. Yeah, that's exactly what we need! :eyes:

Would there be any better way to help Fox News keep making their stereotypes about liberals?

[ronnykmarshall]

88. Uh, I'm one of those "flakes".

Nice insult to Californians.

[DaveinMD]

19. Denver would be a fantastic choice

Its a wonderful city and the state is ripe for the picking.

[BamaLefty]

21. Colorado & Missouri-- Swing States

I vote for Denver or St. Louis

[flaminbats]

56. How about New Mexico..Albuquerque or Santa Fe?

or even Las Vegas

[Turn CO Blue]

37. Colorado - Yeah, Baby!

Ripe for the picking? Yes! I believe that Colorado is going blue!

[stackhouse]

23. MINNEAPOLIS PLEASE!!!!

I NOMINATE MINNEAPOLIS FOR 2008 DNC Convention...

[nirvana3240]

40. I second Minneapolis

ditto....or else the Dems will totally lose MN as a stronghold.

[democratic4ever]

45. Excellent choice.

Minneapolis would also be a great choice.

[democratic4ever]

24. It has to be OHIO

We need to win that state if we are to take the presidency. Some city in the middle of that state will do.

[Akno21]

25. Where?

Cleveland?

Ohio doesn't have a big enough city. "And now we go to the DNC in... Cleveland" That sounds awful.

[democratic4ever]

26. "... Cleveland"

I'm sure it will sound great to the ears of many Ohioans and we do need their votes.

[Akno21]

30. Nationally

It won't help nationally. It wasn't only Ohio. Kerry could have won there, but then lost New Hampshire by less than 10,000.

[Hawkowl]

33. ???

What do you mean lost N.H. by 10,000? It is not a zero sum game.
It needs to be in Ohio because it will put Dem's over the top. The democratic party needs to dust itself off, stand up, and demonstrate to all the disenfranchised Ohioans that they are not going to take this sh*t from the rethuglicans. I would select Columbus. It is in the center of the state and easy to reach for all Ohioans. They need to be energized.

[Radical Activist]

77. Cleveland has plenty of space.

I'm not sure how big their convention center is but they have plenty of hotel space and its a major city. It would be a great site. Maybe they would give Kucinich a good speaking slot. :)

[redqueen]

99. That sounds like the perfect place to me!

:bounce:

[erpowers]

27. Maybe Houston

I think Houston could be a nice place to hold the convention. There are a good number of places to hold the convention. The only problem would be that it is in a red state.

[Cascadian]

36. The GOP did their convention in a blue state and a blue city.

eom


John

[karynnj]

70. Which didn't make the people in the city very happy

and the conventioneers had to know it. There were anti-Bush shirts and buttons on sale all over town.

[suneel112]

76. Houston 2008

That might be a good idea. I think that by then, the majority of Texans will have woken up and smelt the roses. It would also be a great chance to tell the southerners that the Democratic Party stands for them (family farms, helping the poor, etc...), and with Houston being the energy capital, a great chance to start a push for alternative energy sources.

In addition, it will be the 80th anniversary of the previous DNC in Houston (which took place in 1928, when the Democrats were a small, southern supported party) on the eve of the second era of Democrats.
The only suggested place where there will be major opposition is Crawford, TX. ANY big city gives us an advantage and supporters.

The Democrats will never win unless they "leave the house and make friends". They should actively pursue southerners and citizens from the Great Plains and mountain states.

If the democrats are more aggressive in 2008, they will not lose to anyone but another democrat (by this, I mean John McCain, who is RINO).

[femme.democratique]

28. It should be in Philadelphia.

Birthplace of Liberty!

[Mr_King]

31. Detroit, Michigan

I think Detroit is a good place for 2008's DNC. We have a Democratic Governor, 2 Democratic Senators and has gone for Clinton (92 & 96), Gore in 2000 and Kerry in 2004.

Plus I hate the fact that that the last major political party to hold a convention in my state was the Republicans.

[Akno21]

32. Only Problem

is the city has a terrible reputation. Democratic leadership can be blamed for Detriot's problems, albiet unfairly.

[Clark Bayh 2008]

74. Detroit or Philly will be sought by smart Republicans for RNC

[Cascadian]

35. What about Seattle?

Uh...probably not. I still have visions of WTO rioting in my head. By the way, the GOP were actually talking about having their Nuremburg rally in Seattle. Can you imagine the outrage and insanity this would cause especially in Seattle? A largely liberal city????



John

[momknowsbest]

38. the big apple?

bring it here... dems in, repubs out!

[njdemocrat106]

39. I suggest New Orleans

A Southern city in a Southern state that should have gone to Kerry. I believe Louisiana has a Dem governor, 2 Dem senators, and a Dem majority state legislature, right?

[Hippo_Tron]

51. DINO Governor, moderate Dem Senator and a Repuke Senator

Dem legislature but hardly a progressive one. But nonetheless, I'd love having the convention in my home town.

[steelyboo]

41. Louisville, KY

So I don't have to drive far :silly:

[Hell in a Handbasket]

42. i dunno, but New Orleans would be cool. nt

[Vektor]

43. I'd like San Francisco

It's close to me! :-)
And I may be biased, but it is one of the most beautiful cities EVER.

[democratic4ever]

44. PORTLAND, OR

Although I still believe that the 2008 DNC Convention should be held in Ohio, if it is not possible, Portland, OR would be an excellent alternative. It is a good examle of a well-run Democratic city and state and would be an excellent example of the good things that Democrats can do when they are in charge.

[AngryAmish]

47. Miami or Jacksonville

Miami meets all criteria. Jacksonville just had superbowl.

Probably any city that could have the Superbowl could have the convention. Just not St. Louis. Too many cardinal fans there.

[pauliedee]

48. Early convention was BIG disadvantage

The Democratic Convention was too early. It gave the republicans a HUGE advantage going into the final turn. Kerry had that and the wartime incumbency going against him and he still almost won. I got his back in 08.

[Paul Dlugokencky]

53. Agreed

Better to have the convention later in '08, but where? Meanwhile, I believe that Kerry should have (and could have) hit back at the swifties as well as stood up more for Ohio.

[aintitfunny]

60. Absolutely correct (n/t)

[foreverdem]

49. NYC!

The repukes contaminated it last summer, we need the Dems to come in and cleanse the place.

[Johnny Noshoes]

50. Nope

Sorry this New Yorker does NOT want the '08 convention to be held in NYC. First it just adds to the symbolism - wrong as it is - that the party is just an east coast/west coast party. That's also why any city in California is a bad idea. Second I for one do not want to have to put up with the security crap we had to deal with when the rethugs were here last year. Third symbolism being important I do believe that a city in the "heartland" like St Louis or Denver or a city in Ohio is a much better choice.

[democratic4ever]

54. I agree completely.

My choices:
1) Columbus, Ohio
2) Minneapolis, Minnesota
3) Portland, Oregon

[Deaniac20]

55. the right people, from right states, in Dallas

I want Al Gore as the nominee, with Biden as the running mate. I see Eliot Spitzer, Hillary, Obama, Ted Kennedy, even john kerry, Ken Salazar, and Jimmy Carter speaking with many others the first three nights. The last night, Bill Clinton should introduce Al Gore, and the two should be close, because Clintons numbers are very high, even favorablity now as shown in pollingreport.com and Gore can run on his VP record. Gore needs to attack the Bushies, and who ever is the GOP nominee hard. Biden needs to stress how his son is in Iraq. We need Mark Warner speaking, and we need liberal Democrats from Red States.

[rndmprsn]

57. cleveland OH n/t

[Deaniac20]

58. Miami is the place!

Florida is crucial to winning elections and there are a lot of Cuban and hispanic votes there. We NEED that state, so we must come there. We also need a good show. I could see Bill Clinton, Eliot Spitzer who will be governor of NY, Al Gore, Barack Obama, Ken Salazar, Ted Kennedy, Al Sharpton (again who was GREAT at the 2004 convention), Hillary(especially if shes the nominee), Gov. Warner(D-Va), HOWARD DEAN, because he has to open it up anyway, and others. I hope Gore runs, contrary to what matthews said on hardball a few days ago. If he's the nominee, then we need Bubba to introduce him. It would bring back the Clinton Gore nostalgia, but with a NEW new democrat approach. That approach would be pro-choice, anti-terrorist but not Bush imperislist so we could spread the idea of alliances in place of war, health care emphasis of Kerrys plan which was brilliant,and a balanced budget, like with Clinton. Any candidate shoudl run on that platform. But once again, Miami is the place.

[ophelia1027]

59. Come to Chicago!

Hey, it's time for another convention inside the "Democratic Machine." We can relive the chaotic riots of the '68 convention. Groovy, man! =)

[Deaniac20]

80. we were there recently

in 1996

[CampaignCarl]

61. 2008 Democratic National Convention

As a member of the DNC, inside buzz claims New Orleans, Louisiana ~or~ Seattle, Washington.

Republicans will hold their convention in Orlando, Florida ~or~ Las Vegas, Neveda.

[rodriguez94]

63. great! never been either place and plan to go in 08!

[ProudToBeLiberal]

65. Yay, I was just thinking about Seattle.

Washington State is an awesome state. And seattle can be the foundation where we try to pick up red states.

[Corey_Baker08]

66. I wish the Democratic Party and the Republican Party would trade venues

I think it would be great for them to hold it in Miami or Las Vegas,- NO Seattle Washington,It would be best for us to work in the South as apposed to the coastal lines up north we have hardly any trouble with.

New Orleans sounds good also cause its in the South in the heart of the Red.

[UrbScotty]

92. All of those cities would be appropriate

New Orleans: Democrats can jazz it up better than Republicans. B-)

Seattle: Progressive. What else can you say?

Orlando: Republicans act like Disney characters.

Vegas: Bush&Co. gamble away our future.

[JohnnyBoots]

64. Crawford, Texas

It could be one last FU to W before his time is out.

[Ken Burch]

98. Can we have Cindy Sheehan give the keynote speech?

(Note: this wouldn't work if we nominated Warner or Bayh or somebody like that.)

[AJH032]

67. Indianapolis/Detroit/Cleveland

I think we should have it in a large city in a midwestern state. I know the '96 convention was in Chicago, so maybe Detroit or Cleveland, or possibly Indianapolis?

[Corey_Baker08]

68. Indianapolis, Indiana

I agree

[Clark Bayh 2008]

73. Only if Bayh is already on the ticket next year... lol

[BamaLefty]

71. Cleveland

That just doesn't sound right.

Seattle or New Orleans for me. New Orleans would be the best. That is an AWESOME town. The best in the south IMO, and a Dem stronghold.

[Clark Bayh 2008]

72. Cleveland or Orlando

Process of elimination:
VA - too close to Beltway
CO - too Red & far from heartland
MO - too Red & getting righter every year
PA - attention & money already guaranteed for the Santorum fight
MI - too aligned w/ Dem base to make any impact

Leaving the usual suspects: Ohio & Florida.

RNC goes to: Philly, Detroit, Minneapolis, Cincinnati, or Miami.
DNC goes for Cleveland or Orlando.

The convention MUST NOT BE IN A BLUE STATE!

[russwallac]

75. Why bother?

Given that the networks barely covered last years convention, 2008 will probably be a bunch of drunk Dems standing around talking to each other with no media in sight.

I was a delegate in Boston, and we need to wake up and change things or there won't be much point to it in the future. Just a big party with no real impact on the race.

[safi0]

79. My number one

Would be Denver, I think its a city thats turning Blue(Kerry actually did better than Gore) and I think it'd be an overall great place. Other areas would be St. Louis, Seattle, Orlando, and maybe a state in Ohio although I'm hesitant because I don't know if they'll have the space

[XDreamBoi]

82. Philadelphia

I say Philly, or San Francisco. Keep it in the blue states.

[BamaLefty]

84. Damn

they got so much more attention than we did. I couldn't fucking believe it. Media whores... I ain't surprised. :-(

[Ken Burch]

97. Maybe if we actually started the convention with the nomination in play

rather than have the whole thing be a meaningless formality. I mean, who wants to watch a roll-call vote when we already know who's going to win?

[belladonna]

83. the dnc convention

burlington vermont

[BamaLefty]

85. Now C'Mon... n/t

[Name removed]

86. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dajoki]

87. dallas

[mconvente]

89. Nashville or Minneapolis, preferably nashville

plenty of hotel space in nashville, plus we can show the US that the Democratic Party is for all americans, not just west/east coasters. Plus it'd be one hell of a party!!

[Gemini Cat]

90. A city in the mid-west.

Cleveland or Columbus Ohio for the obvious swing state and stolen state reasons. Minneapolis would be good place, let's keep Minnesota blue and Indianapolis, because it's in the middle of a red state that needs Democratic attention. The last time Indiana went blue was in 1964. I think it's time to reverse that red trend in Indiana and having the '08 DNC there could actually start the process of reversing the red trend.

[Lisa0825]

95. I agree.

We need more Democrat visibility in the midwest.

[Ken Burch]

96. Maybe you could have it up here in Alaska...

The weather's temperate, the scenery's great, you could have the acceptance speech delivered under the Midnight Sun and what the heck, if the convention's a snoozer there's still hiking, climbing and fishing if folks get bored.

(Only half-serious here folks, but thought it might be worth suggesting...)

[SharonRB]

100. I've heard either Minneapolis or New York

[bedpanartist]

101. Columbus Ohio is a natural

It is plenty big, has a couple of very large arenas, The Ohio State University, and plenty of hotels just to get started. Plus, I could give the media guided tours of the post-industrial ruins of Dayton, Ohio as a first hand guide to what happens when Rethugs rule.