Convention

Both.

(1) The Republicans have already demonstrated their willingness to exploit an American tragedy for political gain once-- in NYC-- so they certainly have no qualms in that regard.

(2) Holdng the Convention in New Orleans would be a golden opportunity for the Republicans to "stand with the people of New Orleans." And more importantly, it would present them with a golden opportunity to distract public attention from the Republican Administration's role in the disaster.

(3) The Democrats can't let the Republicans single-handedly exploit an American tragedy for political gain a second time, so the Democrats will be forced by political necessity to be in New Orleans.

(4) Holding the convention in New Orleans would be a golden opportunity for the Democrats to "stand with the people of New Orleans." And more importantly, it would present them with a golden opportunity to direct public attention to the Republican Administration's role in the disaster.

(5) Both parties need to appeal to southern voters-- the Republicans to keep their base, the Democrats to peel voters away.

(6) New Orleans needs the money.

(7) America has a long history of ceremonial resurrections of disaster-stricken cities: The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was followed by the World Columbian Exposition in 1893; The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 was followed by the Panama-Pacific exposition of 1915.

That's my theory.

The Republicans have already demonstrated their willingness to exploit an American tragedy for political gain

I think the Democrats were the first to exploit Katrina for political gain

twist wrote:

The Republicans have already demonstrated their willingness to exploit an American tragedy for political gain

I think the Democrats were the first to exploit Katrina for political gain

Actually, the Democrats waited 10 days before they criticized the federal relief effort.

But what I meant was exploiting it in their convention. The Republicans held their convention in THE Democratic City. The citizens didn't want them there. New York gave a big Fuck You welcome to the Bush campaign. I know, because I was there-- not to protest, just to hang out. There was only one reason for the Republicans to hold their convention in New York-- to wrap themselves in the corpses of 9/11-- for the benefit of all the undecided voters watching at home-- the way they usually wrap themselves in the flag.

That's the type of exploitation I was referring to. It will be de rigeur in 2008.

i don't think the city will be rebuilt by then, but i think the democrats could definitely exploit this one up the ass.

That should put Diggy off the Democrats.

Actually, I think they'll bust ass to get the City open for business, even if the people whose homes were destroyed will still be waiting for housing.

It would be in Bush's best interests to provide permanent shelter for all those disgruntled and displaced voters in such open locales such as California, New York.. isn't the electoral college great?

Add: If this Port Chicago reenactment had happened in 2007/08, and if the Dems had any remaining cult of personality past that of a premature ejaculation, they could have used it as their own pseudo-Iran Hostage Crisis stepping stone in regaining the white house.

Last I checked though, Hillary was attempting to drum up potential Middle America votes by speaking out on the blood n' breasticles videogame business. Can't go wrong with the Think-Of-The-Children! votes

Hannett of the Apes wrote: It would be in Bush's best interests to provide permanent shelter for all those disgruntled and displaced voters in such open locales such as California, New York.. isn't the electoral college great?

but new orleans is a democratic city, so it probably wouldn't be to the republicans' benefit after all.

That's probably what he means-- permanently move the citizens who vote Democratic out of Louisiana, into states that already vote Democratic anyway...

bLuE oRdEr wrote: That's probably what he means-- permanently move the citizens who vote Democratic out of Louisiana, into states that already vote Democratic anyway...

true. good point.

bLuE oRdEr wrote: That's probably what he means-- permanently move the citizens who vote Democratic out of Louisiana, into states that already vote Democratic anyway...

Ing-xactly

bLuE oRdEr wrote:

(7) America has a long history of ceremonial resurrections of disaster-stricken cities: The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was followed by the World Columbian Exposition in 1893; The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 was followed by the Panama-Pacific exposition of 1915.

So...would you say that they're standing on CONVENTION? Or swimming?

Hannett of the Apes wrote:

bLuE oRdEr wrote: That's probably what he means-- permanently move the citizens who vote Democratic out of Louisiana, into states that already vote Democratic anyway...

Ing-xactly

The bad news:

The early thinking is that the evacuees least likely to return to their homes in Louisiana may be the poorest -- and thus, Democrats for the most part. That would hurt the party in a state where Republicans already were making inroads.

The good news:

"In any event, though, with Texas' Hispanic population surging and its black population growing faster than the white population, demographic shifts already are pushing the state toward the Democrats. Relocation of evacuees could help hasten the trend. "Our politics may be Republican," Stein said, "but that's just a temporary condition."

As politically divided as this nation is I doubt the Demos will get enough spin nationally to win any ground. Republicans are looking at this as "entitlement soup" and good bye tax cut. (BTW Bush's nondefense related spending as high as LBJ and Nixon). Perhaps they see the lawlessness, rape, murder, theft and breakdown as part of a general trend away from Christian values. Corruption and gang issues need to be addressed. Fear of gun restrictions will keep the NRA volks voting GOP. Sure, Shrub may have been a little slow but Repubs aint changing voting patterns because of poor planning in New Orleans.

Finally, the Demos will blow any gains from this will their usual parade of "leftist" agendas and an overintellectual liberal candidate (Mondale, Dukakis, Kerry) that will only unify whatever gun toting yahoo corporate puppet that promises less government and tax cuts.

Unless they can find someone like Bubba who campaigned on "it's the economy, stupid" I do not see a change in the White House.

Entitlement Soup

LOL Blue you are as slow as Jesse Jackson and Rev Al Sharpton were with the race card. That news came out the 4th at least in terms for the military installations. But these welfare babies actually work and get shit done, and vote GOP. Name another company that does this as well? Did you really expect them to pick someone else? Do you think the victims of the Terror Dome are going to vote GOP?

Nothing has changed, nada. Red State voters will vote with what they think will save their wallet and what they perceive as who will protect their values. Anti-Christian black racists or white apoligists who run on "Blame Bush and let me take your paycheck, guns and nice car car so I can pay for welfare and gay marriages and fuel your furnace by burning Bibles" aint gotta chance.

The secret will be to find another Bubba and keep the fringes hid in the closet until after the election.

You have too much faith in America, my friend. Mondale ran on fixing the deficit. Got him retirement. Gore ran on the environment. Got him zip. His own state voted against him (which would have made FL irrelevent). Kerry ran on "I'm Not Bush" and he was allowed to keep his old job and his wife. Too bad, Tess would be great in the spotlight of the First Wifey. And the environment and or energy situation will sffer accordingly unless their is "profit" it making changes.

twist wrote: Think anyone rescued from the TerrorDome will vote GOP?

i wasn't aware chuck d, terminator x and flava flav were in new orleans during the hurricane?

Clinton beat Bush Sr on "it's the economy stupid", taking GOP issues and Dole because he imploded. St Hillary does not stand a chance in taking away Repubes vote because she is a liberal carpet bagger who is talking the way the wind blows--no one who she could win over believes her. And just the polarization on that scenario will be about as bad as the eve of the Civil War.

PE is NYC and in obscurity, most unfortunately. their message is needed more than ever. Of course, Prof Griff will need to remain in whatever box they placed him in.

Suzy Was a Rockstar.

twist wrote: PE is NYC and in obscurity, most unfortunately. their message is needed more than ever. Of course, Prof Griff will need to remain in whatever box they placed him in.

Suzy Was a Rockstar.

professor griff has been muzzled, as far as i know. he almost caused a riot back in the day didn't he, with his anti-semitic remarks?

chuck d has the most powerful voice. they should've sent him down with the bullhorns; i sure as hell would have listened to him. flava could have provided much needed timepieces.

PE isn't quite living in obscurity, though. chuck d has a show (on the real) on air america and flava flav was on the 'surreal life' and then the show where he flew to milan to woo brigitte nielsen. i don't quite know how i felt about that, yet i was somewhat drawn to it.

In Fear of a Black Planet. Awesome lp. Unfortunately gangsta and then bling bling took over. I caught a little of The Surreal Life with Flav and Briggie. Sad. Fight the Power is like selliing cars or time shares. Terry Gross's rap/hip-hop week could only conjure up a 1997 interview of Chuck D. I had no idea that he is on Air America. I do not get AA.

NPR in the morning, Mancow on the way to work if I drive and if "Talk of Iowa" on public radio is dull and a local call in talk radio show on the way home if I drive. Since I have been biking to work for the last two weeks I have not listened to any talk radio at all.

Twist's note---my previous night's drinking and kare E yoke key was knocked my grammar and spelling centers offline. Endless edits are sucking me dry. Time for sleep.

twist wrote: In Fear of a Black Planet. Awesome lp. Unfortunately gangsta and then bling bling took over. I caught a little of The Surreal Life with Flav and Briggie. Sad. Fight the Power is like selliing cars or time shares. Terry Gross's rap/hip-hop week could only conjure up a 1997 interview of Chuck D. I had no idea that he is on Air America. I do not get AA.

neither do i. you can get it through streaming audio on airamericaradio.com. i think he's on now, actually.

Entitlement Soup

twist wrote: LOL Blue you are as slow as Jesse Jackson and Rev Al Sharpton were with the race card. That news came out the 4th at least in terms for the military installations. But these welfare babies actually work and get shit done, and vote GOP. Name another company that does this as well? Did you really expect them to pick someone else? Do you think the victims of the Terror Dome are going to vote GOP?

It will be interesting to see the President's reconstruction plan. I'm betting it will be more slopping at the public trough for those "self-sufficient" fat cats, and less like the Freedom Socialist Party plan:

CAKE - CLOCK - ZWART wrote: 2. Institute a massive public works program and start building housing immediately. Hire the displaced at union wages, and provide relocation allowances and training.

Bush has already ordered a suspension of the prevailing wage requirement, so poor old Halliburton won't have to go bankrupt catering to those damn over-paid workers the Republican party cares so deeply about.

President bLuE oRdEr would be inclined to institute something along the lines of the Freedom Socialist plan: A revival of the Works Progress Administration, hiring the displaced to rebuild, paying union wages to skilled laborers, and providing job experience and training for unskilled laborers/unemployed youths. Rebuild the City smart-- restore some areas to a more natural floodplain function by creating parkland where it will help with future flood control; restore the buffering wetlands that have been lost; replace some streets with canals; build affordable housing to replace the affordable housing that was lost; design for integration of transit, housing, and commercial infrastructure.

After all that, pizza party with the interns back at the oval office.

I all in favor of some sort of works program. Give the people a job and a sense of ownership in the rebuilding.

America agrees! Watch out, world.