AP- Some Democrats touting New Orleans for 2008

[Al-CIAda]

Some Democrats touting New Orleans for 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) _ A Maryland congressman is urging his fellow Democrats to hold the party's 2008 presidential nominating convention in New Orleans as a signal of national support for the city after its devastating losses from Hurricane Katrina.

Representative Elijah Cummings made the suggestion after party officials announced that their 2008 convention will be held August 25th-28th. Cummings says declaring New Orleans as the host city for the party's national convention would demonstrate to its residents that the city ``has not been forgotten.''

It would be reminiscent of when Republicans held their 2004 party convention in New York City to show support for the area after the 2001 terrorist attacks killed more than 26-hundred people at the destroyed World Trade Center.

The decision on a convention site will be made by Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and party leaders, after reviewing bids from a dozen or so cities with sufficient convention and hotel facilities. The process will begin in January when the party asks for bids. The choice will be announced sometime after the 2006 midterm elections.

http://wwl.com/Article.asp?id=142080

[efhmc]

1. That is an amazing and absolutely fabulous idea!!!!

[babylonsister]

2. I think this is a fantastic idea if it's possible by '08.

:applause: :applause: Let's keep reminding the masses how this admin so totally fumbled the ball when they were really needed, killing thousands.

[Endangered Specie]

22. It will be...

people are already moving back in, and besides, maybe the convention can use money to help rebuild wherever they hold it (presumable the astro-dome or the convention center)

[politick]

25. Don't take this the wrong way

because I think it's a good idea - but isn't this a bit opportunist, too? Kind of taking advantage of the situation, exploiting somewhat...? Just a little?

[JPZenger]

3. Will Probably be able to show that Bush Didn't Keep Promise

I predict that in mid-2008, the Dems will be able to show that the Bush-Cheney-Rove Administration did not keep their promises to rebuild New Orleans. The convention center and superdome and the hotels and tourist areas will be fine by then, but everything else will still be a pit.

[goclark]

4. Los Angeles!!

Many former residents of Los Angeles live in Los Angeles.
THere is a huge Creole population here that would do everything possible to focus on the issues from New Orleans.

We have strong politicians and great venues.

[KamaAina]

20. "Many former residents of Los Angeles live in Los Angeles"?!

like, say, people who went away to college for four years and then moved back? :-)

Oh, right, many former residents of New Orleans live in Los Angeles. True - and we hope that 53 of them will NOT be wearing black-and-gold jerseys!! Then again, the same could be said of Houston, Atlanta, Dallas, even the East Bay -- and this was true even before the storm hit; we've got a lot of work to do to bring our people back.

Go ahead and put in for DNC 2012; the most important issue facing the country in '08 (unless King Dumbass** gets us into another war!) will still be the rebuilding of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.

THere is a huge Creole population here that would do everything possible to focus on the issues from New Orleans.

What would it take to make sure that as many of them as possible would be in the mighty California delegation to DNC '08 at the Dome? The same would go for Tex., Ga., etc.

[Ganja Ninja]

5. and make Brownie the keynote speaker.

:evilgrin:

[pitohui]

6. in a way it's a great idea

in another way it is terrible, i don't think we should continue to promote tourism in new orleans in the weeks from aug 15- sept 30, that is when you have the absolutely greatest chance of having a disastrous hurricane

[DeadManInc]

7. I would like to see them have it in Texas.

That would be too funny!

[gorbal]

8. Please no!

Who here was mad at Bush and co for holding their convention in NYC? Let's not follow their exploitive patterns. Follow SOME of their ideas of how to win, of course, but lets not absorbed their morals in the process.

[Al-CIAda]

11. You do not know what you are talking about.

The city desperately needs its convention and tourism business back.
All the service industry (which is one of the primary sources of employment) is on life support.

You wrongly attribute 'exploitation' to genuinely helpful and solid support.

Let NOLA go down the tubes then, by this you also let La. go down the tubes. W/O NOLA, La. will turn into another Ms/Al.

[Brotherjohn]

13. On that note, I'd be happy if BOTH parties held their conventions in N.O.!

As a born and raised New Orleanian who visited there for the first time after the storm last weekend, New Orleans NEEDS it! Anything to help get the economy going would be great.

[pitohui]

24. i agree we need the business

just don't see the sense of promoting convention business for the end of august thru at least mid september

we need to get cat 5 levees -- not floodwalls -- real levees & we need to get serious abt the reality that aug 15-sept 20 or so are not the dates to be promoting a large influx of tourists

[951-Riverside]

15. I agree with gorbal and like to add

The democratic party excluding black caucus members because they did a hell of a job speaking up but the rest didnt say much and didnt do much for those people during that week when they really needed help, most of them remained silent or spewed the RW "blame game" and "pointing finger" talking points.

[retread]

9. Bad idea!! August is hurricane season! n/t

[David Dunham]

14. The Convention won't be until September, after the Olympics

[Brotherjohn]

16. Well, I think they should do it. But the Conv. is set for August 25th-28th

And Hurricane Katrina hit on Aug. 29th... and Hurricane Ivan hit Pensacola on Sept. 16th... and Hurricane Opal was early October.

There's just no getting away from the threat of hurricanes. I still think it would be a good thing to do for N.O., though.

[Al-CIAda]

17. Question- Where was the 1988 Republican convention held?

Yep....

And btw- National Review Online...

New Orleans 2008


The wind had barely stopped blowing before Katrina and the storm's aftermath had become the latest front in the nation's political/cultural war. Bush critics are already undermining their own cause with overreaching, as they denounce the president as a racist for his alleged unconcern about the suffering of so many black people in New Orleans. But an administration whose FEMA director knew less about on-the-ground conditions in the stricken city this week than the average TV viewer has a real vulnerability.

It will only address that vulnerability with a performance in coming days and weeks that is more in keeping with the GOP's image as the "daddy party," the party of competence, the party that can be trusted in times of crisis. That is the main thing. But symbolism will matter too. No single step would go further to dramatize the GOP's commitment to rebuilding New Orleans than announcing now that the party's 2008 convention will be held in the recovering city. Such a move would signal the party's confidence in the Big Easy's renewal, and put it at the forefront of what should be similar commitments from private actors to do their part to help New Orleans come back.

Critics will call it a transparent attempt to burnish the party's image after the Bush administration "failed" with the initial relief effort. The gesture would, however, reflect the genuine sentiment of Republicans who, like all Americans, want to help a city facing such a bleak future. We heard similar complaints — easily brushed off — about the Republicans' coming to New York for last year's convention.

No doubt there will be logistical problems. There were logistical problems putting on big events in New Orleans even in the best of times. But the Republicans held their convention there in 1988, and should return 20 years later. They will go to a city that then will, no doubt, still be scarred by the catastrophe of the last week, but back on its feet, and a perfect venue for a testament to the American spirit.

http://www.nationalreview.com/editorial/editors200509031654.asp

[Shakespeare]

19. End of August, actually--and that's still the height of hurricane season.

Much as I love Nawlins, I'm not sure that's the greatest idea.

[Barkley]

10. This makes good economic sense

Bringing money in from around the country will help them more
than bringing the Saint back (of course these events are not
mutally exclusive)

However, the Saints essential move local money around.

Conventions bring new money in.

[mcscajun]

12. Yes! A marvelous notion.

By August 2008 the reconstruction will have moved along, but the economy will still be in need of a boost.

[BrightKnight]

18. This would be great news for NOLA

It would bring a lot of money into the city. It would help jump-start the convention and tourist industries. It would put New Orleans back on the map.

I could not imagine a better political choice.

[Endangered Specie]

21. Most excellent idea!

Amongst the benefits of publicity and political gain, there are significant economic benefits that come to a city that hosts a convention... If they don't hold it here, they should hold it in some other fairly poor large city, and it SHOULD either be in the south or midwest afaic.

[JPZenger]

23. Plenty of Illegal Aliens to Staff the Convention

The billion dollar no-bid Federal contractors have plenty of illegal aliens on hand in New Orleans to help staff the convention. Their goal will be to make sure that none of the local residents or local businesses receive any of the work.

[David Zephyr]

26. What a great idea!

I hope it is New Orleans!