'08 Convention Has To Be In New Orleans

[ruggerson]

There's an interesting article in the NY Times this morning about how the Democrats are gearing up to use Katrina in '06 and '08 the same way the Republicans used 9/11.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/22/us/22dems.html

To ensure that this strategy achieves its full electoral impact, the Democrats need to assemble in New Orleans for their convention in '08.

The MSM will lap it up, using images over and over again of the destruction, reinforcing the message for us that the Republican congress and Republican president were unable and unwilling to respond to the greatest natural disaster in the US in over 100 years.

Most importantly, the Democrats can use the destruction and rebirth of New Orleans as a powerful metaphor for the entire country turning away from the divisive policies of the GOP and embracing a new beginning, a new unity, a re birth, a new hope for the values and aspirations of the American people.

That's what the theme should be for the convention: American renewal and American unity.
The angry, divisiveness of the Bush era is over and the Democrats will heal the nation and bring us together to rebuild.

Every speaker should be emphasizing it over and over.

And what better symbol for American renewal than the grand old American city of New Orleans.

[LA lady]

1. not ready

2008 is pushing it

My family had minimal damage but their businesses are still working on getting back on their feet.

[ruggerson]

2. Even if logistically it means more work

the effort should be made. It is too important to the country to not undertake to do this.

[stray cat]

3. It will be easy to label as playing politics with peoples lives

and peoples hardships. If we do this we better have the policies to back up choosing it as a location.

[Gman]

5. Well, we know that saying doesn't stick

if it did, the Dems would have had Congress back in '02.

[stray cat]

12. I think the republicans can make it stick to dems.

They are extremely effective in making things stick to dems. just think swiftboat.

[ruggerson]

13. so why don't we just roll over and give up

instead of fighting back with everything we've got.

[stray cat]

17. We need the policies to back up the message

We need a convincing message and candidate that is a populist if we make a populist statement of going to NO.

[ruggerson]

19. I agree completely

and we should get moving and have that ready by this fall. IF need be, have the DNC publish a detailed, comprehensive, exhaustive book delineating a recovery strategy and the means by which to achieve it.

Having said that, THEY were in charge when this happened. We were not. The entire federal response rests on the shoulders of the GOP.

[Gman]

24. No... Swiftboat didn't have to stick

it was very, very poorly handled. Kerry's team's lack of immediate response killed him.

[ruggerson]

6. And the Republicans exploiting 9/11 wasn't?

It works. Visual politics works. Emotional messages work. It resonates with voters.

[stray cat]

15. You are right - but I'm skeptical the Dems can do it as well

as the repubs. I haven't been encourage by our past history in fighting republican spin. You are right that this may be the way to do it. I just think we better have a populist message and candidate to go with it.

[William Seger]

11. "Playing politics with peoples lives and peoples hardships"

Considering that the hardships were increased by Republican incompetence and indifference, "playing politics" is how we as a nation do something about that. The Repbulicans used 9/11 to play upon peoples' fears; we need to use NOLA to play upon peoples' outrage at the way it was handled by Republicans.

[Raiden]

25. You mean like holding the Repub convention in NY?

Talk about playing politics...at least New Orleans is (was) a Democratic city

[Gman]

4. Good idea but

I doubt NOLA would be able to handle it by 08.

[democrank]

7. Our convention should be in New Orleans, even

if we have to pitch tents. It`s the right thing to do.

[William Seger]

8. "..use Katrina in '06 and '08 the same way the Republicans used 9/11"

Bullshit! NOLA is testimony to Republican indifference and incompetence. Actually, come to think of it, so is 9/11.

[ruggerson]

10. Uh, that's the point

re read it.

[William Seger]

18. I did read it

That's NOT "using Katrina in '06 and '08 the same way the Republicans used 9/11," unless you believe that Democratic incompetence and indifference made the aftermath of 9/11 worse. The author is making a false equivalence, reinforced by quoting Brazile, "It brings back home the notion that there is a difference with the two parties." Yes, that mirrors the Republican claims about Democratic inability to deal with terrorism, but those claims are full of shit, yet the author subtly validates them.

[ruggerson]

21. That's how the Times described it

I agree with your point, but I was relaying how the Times worded it in its article. I thought much the same thing when I read it, but it wasn't really the point of the OP.

I think, furthermore, we have every right to be in New Orleans, as we are standing with the city in a message of hope and renewal. Republicans used NYC cynically, because 1) they hate NYC to begin with and 2) they used fear and terror, instead of hope and courage.

[badgerpup]

9. Can you imagine...

the BOOST for the Democratic Party if New Orleans is rebuilt?
The message?
"IF WE CAN DO THIS FOR YOU WHEN WE'RE NOT IN CONTROL OF CONGRESS...

IMAGINE WHAT WE COULD DO FOR YOU IF WE WERE!!

Or something of that nature...

[MuseRider]

14. They should and they

should do it on the cheap meaning they should not cost that city anything and bring in tons of money to the city.

We do not need fancy schmancy halls to do our work, so what if it is not all built up yet. We are the people, we can meet anywhere in NO but we have to do it without costing the city a ton of money.

I hesitate to use a city that has been so poorly treated as an image booster, you know that is what the Republicans will say we are doing, but do it the way I have described would put their little lie right out in front of the people and once again they lose credibility (as if they had much left to lose).

[CottonBear]

16. The GOP used 9-11 for evil purposes.

Democrats would hold their convention in NOLA for the good of America and especially the Gulf Coast and its people.

edit: sp

[newblewtoo]

20. One possible fear

The repugs would re broadcast Aaron Broussard, Ray Nagin and others over and over to inflame voters. It would be lose lose even if NO was in great shape. They would say look at how wrong people were and what a great job WE did.

[saltpoint]

22. I appreciate points made here about the city still trying to get back

on its feet, but a concerted effort could make that happen. Various youth groups were down in New Orleans this spring instead of spring-breaking, and from most accounts, they got a lot more done in 7 days each than FEMA can manage over a period of months. The city can be re-built if the focus is there, seems like.

I think New Orleans is a contender, but I wouldn't fly into a rage if we chose Denver, or Phoenix, or Minneapolis/St. Paul, and so forth -- places we don't usually go for conventions, and all in red or purple states. I think Texas would be interesting. You know, just show up in San Antonio or Dallas and shove the platform planks down their throats, but use cool-browed, reasoned language and temperament to do it. Steel magnolias blossoming in the cactus-strewn red plains of Texas, Dubya's home turf. It would be a long-overdue intervention.

The music's awfully good in New Orleans, though. Wouldn't bother me one bit.

[pstans]

23. It will be spun that the Dems are using it for political purpose

which is probably true. I guess that doesn't mean that they shouldn't have the convention since a convention is soley for political purposes. It wouldn't be as bad as the Republicans having their convention in NYC after 9/11.

[Left Below]

26. Late Summer convention - during Hurricane Season????

Would take BALLS>>>>



I like it.


But only with a contingency plan in case FEMA is rigged again.

[killerbush]

27. Inside info, Denver gets the convention!!

Looks like Denver will get the convention. It's centraly located and they aren't looking either east or south. Everything is back east, and the south is too hot.