Arizona begins to bleed tourism dollars

[mfcorey1]

Arizona took another hit Wednesday as Republicans cast a vote for the home of their 2012 convention. Phoenix made the shortlist but lost to Tampa, Fla.

The news was little surprise to Arizona tourism officials. Meeting and events business has fallen drastically since the state passed the nation's toughest immigration law three weeks ago.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2011850978_immigbiz13.html

[saltpoint]

1. This Democrat is supporting the boycott. I hope it is sustained

as a way of demonstrating to Gov. Brewer and the Legislature that there is a consequence for the ethically tawdry bill they drafted and passed / signed.

[arcadian]

2. Question: If the racist immigration bill is overturned

And it is overturned due to mounting outside pressure like a boycott of the state, will that be seen as a political defeat for Brewer and might it end her political career?

[lunatica]

3. Her career may be ended by the non white voters in her own state

And I hope there are plenty of white voters who will join them. I would.

[tavalon]

12. Protracted boycott or not, her career is over

She was never elected and she won't be "reelected", she'll be spending more time with her family. Oh, what a lucky family!

[Scuba]

4. Sad for the good people of Arizona, many of whom work in the hospitality industry for low wages...

...but probably the fastest way to end the madness.

[joeybee12]

7. sad, but change has to come from the bottom up...

...the leaders don't lead, they follow the people.

[Scuba]

14. Sad. True. Maybe we should outlaw polls?

[KharmaTrain]

5. The GOOP Needs Florida More Than Arizona...

Just like the Democrats hoped by having their '08 Convention in Denver it would help carry Coloradio (it did), the GOOP see Florida as a big state in '12 and thus why that state was chosen. Not only Florida, but along the I-4 corridor in the more rushpublican part of the state. Arizona they take for granted.

[izquierdista]

6. I-4 corridor?

You mean the one that goes through Grayson's district?

[KharmaTrain]

10. Notice They Didn't Choose Orlando

:rofl:

Cometothinkofit...isn't Charlie Crist from Tampa???

:rofl:

[HooptieWagon]

11. Crist is from St Petersburg, not Tampa. n/t

[DesertRat]

8. Since when does the GOP boycott for civil rights issues?

:crazy:

[TwilightGardener]

9. Good.

[tcaudilllg]

13. Arizona... beginning to look like Iraq?

This is the first time in memory that a state has been boycotted by a plurality of people. You'd might as well call the state sanctioned.

But the Dems need to start thinking about the case for stopping this thing. #1, they need to bravely attack Brewer -- she should get no credit, ever, for any positive development that comes from any of this. #2, they need to remind people of the reasons racial profiling is derided.... But most of all, there need to be direct personal attacks against Brewer. The high road will not work: it pays to call out evil for being evil, and Brewer is one helluva evil bitch.

There is an opportunity in the new legislation which maligns teachers for allegedly teaching subversion. It's a red flag, and we need to exploit it. If we don't, the Republicans will have a powerful new issue come September. We demurred on illegal immigration for a reason... let's remind people of what that reason is! ;)