N'Orleans and the 2008 GOP Convention: Laissez les bontemps roulez!
The editors at National Review make the case that the Republicans should hold their 2008 con in The Big Easy:
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.
More here. If they really want to help a city "facing a bleak future" "after the Bush administration 'failed' with the initial relief effort" and chock full of logistical problems, how about holding the festivities in Baghdad?
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Perhaps someone could take Rick Santorum out for a round of hurricanes and a couple of lapdances.
Would be good for him.
Any convention that brings the opportunity to get the Bush daughters drunk and lifting their tops in exchange for strings of beads is a positive development for our country.
The parallels between 1988 and 2008 are bad enough already, both being the end of the second term of a Republican president who changed Republicans' minds about Big Government, and got tough on an old enemy long appeased by his predecessors.
And both years had/will have Cubs-less World Series. 🙁
I wouldn't count on the New Orleans PD being quite as, ah, accommodating of the RNC's requests about squashing protesters.
how about holding the festivities in Baghdad?
How about they boycott the next election?
Better yet, then could hold it amid the mass graves left over from the Baghdad-based regime we removed!
Maimed attendees get in half-price! If your village was attacked with WMD you get a free "Nick Gillespie cares... but not about you!" sticker!
Well after Hallibuton rebuilds NOLA into a theme park and oil industry industrial complex, and the blacks and poor are priced out and kept out of the new white corporate city, it will be the perfect place to showcase the GOP's brand of corporate fascism. The Halliburton security force will take care of any dissenters.
Reason should schedule an event in the French Quarter.
Come to think of it, Bourbon Street would be a great place for an LP Convention.
First New York, now New Orleans. I hope that the vulture convention never comes to MY city.
You bitches! You just made me pee my pants! GOP Convention in New Orleans! And they're serious! Wow. Now where did I put that spare pair of shorts...
A mess that's this Big,
be it Easy or Apple,
is hard to turn down.
Here's your help New Orleans. Three years, 3 months, and several days too late ... but afterall, it's the thought that counts, and it's reported that a thought has just been had, at NRO, no less!
So start rebuilding for the daddy party will soon be there (you know the daddy party: the party that refuses to ask for directions no matter how lost it gets).
Cool, can't you imagine a Category 5 hitting the Republican Convention in late August 2008.
Seriously though, I think 2008 might be it for conventions. The only thing keeping these behemoths going are the federal funds from the income tax checkoff. There is no logistical or practical reason to keep them going, and I suspect that cities will begin to realize that the security hassles are going to outweigh the benefits of holding the conventions in their city.
Awesome! The rebuilding of New Orleans is going to be the best thing going for politicians and their cronies! So much money!!!!
One of the biggest concerns I've been hearing from people from New Orleans who don't live in flooded areas (i.e. rich, white areas) is that the Saints are going to leave town. A Republican National Convention could mean that the federal government could build New Orleans The Most Expensive Stadium Ever to keep the Saints and attract the Republicans. Ooohhh... how about New Orleans bids for the Olympics? The cost of an Olympics are just a drop in the bucket!
But the problem is what to do about the poor blacks? It would probably be too costly to clean up their neighborhoods, so we'll just let them back in, but give them some shovels. The gives the politicians more money for reinvigorating New Orleans, plus it helps the poor learn how to help themselves. But to show we care, we'll build the levees higher around their neighborhoods (this will also help to ignite the levee construction industry). Then, when the Worst Case Scenario actually happens (a strong hurricane that hits New Orleans directly) they'll be under 30' of water kept in by the levees. This would also help get rid of the refugee problem.
I agree with James B. Conventions are nothing more than an infomercial. And since the security costs of these infomercials are ever growing, it makes more sense to just do them in a TV studio rather than in a convention center.
Are the (R)s counting on there being some sort of calamity every few years, just so they can have their convention in that city?
This sort of "testament to the American spirit" makes me think that the bald eagle should be replaced by a vulture.
Wow. I didn't think the Republicans could be anymore tasteless after exploiting 9-11. I guess I was wrong. Worst attack on American soil ever, check. Worst response to a natural disater ever, check. Gee, you'd think the Republicans would want people to forget who was in charge when the ball got dropped (see FEMA article up top).
Mo-
Going along with your observation, G. Gordon Liddy and Ollie North have radio shows and go out on the lecture circuit.
Meanwhile, the Libertarian convention will still take place at Nick's apartment, provided he can get his roommate to go to a movie or something.
See, I wasn't too far off asking about someone to name this disaster. The Republicans are going to do it. You can't write fiction this good.