Likely scenes in Boston, New York worry parties

[JoFerret]

http://www.newhousenews.com/archive/benson052104.html

WASHINGTON -- New York looked good to Republicans and Boston to Democrats a few short months ago, but leaders in both major political parties now have reasons to regret their choice of convention cities.

Sensitivity over the open wound in the earth where the World Trade Center once stood, an expected circus of demonstrators and the attendant nightmare of security problems may be giving GOP honchos second thoughts. Democrats, meanwhile, had no idea when they picked Boston that Massachusetts would become a high-profile sanctuary for gay marriage partners -- an issue Republicans intend to exploit.

Democrats had wanted voters to see the party's convention open July 26 against a backdrop conveying patriotic vision. "We have an important story to tell about Boston as the birthplace of the nation," said Mary Beth Cahill, campaign manager for Sen. John Kerry, the presumed Democratic nominee.

That message may be overshadowed by Massachusetts' new image as the capital of gay marriage.

Democratic strategist James Carville sees a field day for conservative radio and television commentators who will focus on Democrats choosing a liberal candidate "in the most liberal state and the most liberal city in the world." He doesn't think it will hurt Kerry, but other Democrats aren't so sure.
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[cjbuchanan]

1. I think New York will be a harder sell

I don't think the gay marriage issue will be that hard to deal with. I think thousands of protesters will make for a bigger story.

[saigon68]

19. WAIT TILL THESE ARE HUNG FROM BUILDINGS

A giant banner of a hooded and abused Iraqi prisoner is displayed during a rally in Beirut, May 21, 2004. Tens of thousands of Lebanese Shi'ites in white shrouds marched in Beirut Friday in a collective show of their willingness to die in defense of holy shrines in U.S.-occupied Iraq (news - web sites). REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

[arcos]

2. "the most liberal state and the most liberal city in the world"...

well, I think Mr Carville needs to travel around the world a little...

[TahitiNut]

3. He should visit San Francisco.

(God, I miss the city!)

[JoFerret]

7. This is true

Most places in the developed world to start with. Western europe for example finds BushCo illiberalism absurd and laughable.

However, we do know what he means.

(California is not a particularly liberal state.)

[Cronus Protagonist]

33. I think he was baiting the pubs to make that claim

So we could all laugh at them.

Click here for stunning, insulting, shocking, funny buttons, magnets and stickers

[malachibk]

4. BOSTON IS NOT LIBERAL

From there. NOT LIBERAL. Moderate, maybe. But still pretty ass-backwards when it comes to race, homosexuality, etc.

[Longhorn79]

13. Count your blessings

I'm in Austin TX, which is the only city in this vast state in which I even have a chance of interacting with like-minded people. I feel like i'm standing on an island that's only 6 feet wide, and no other land in sight.

[stepnw1f]

16. I Disagree Big Time

I grew up here, and I can tell you, it's a big mix, but people here do tend to accept a hell of a lot more progression than Florida.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

29. Not true. Boston is very Liberal.

There is not one Republican on the Boston city council. There is not one Republican in the State House from Greater Boston. There is not one Replican Congressman or Senator from Massachusetts.

Maybe in the '70s Boston wasn't liberal. The legacy of busing ugliness has died. I grew up here and there is a great deal of tolerance. Compared to the rest of the country it's an oasis of liberalism. Especially now.

[Tellurian]

5. Out of the two..The Dems are in a better position..Gays do vote ya know.nt

[robbedvoter]

6. Glad Carville is once again making the points for BFEE

Eversince he said "torture is OK" on Crissfire I doubted his allegiances 9and used to be a big fan too)

[JoFerret]

8. Anyone who thinks torture is/ was acceptable

is to be held in contempt. (Relative contempt perhaps - after all - one must remember BushCo.inc., but still contempt.)

[movonne]

9. Remember who is married to.

[schultzee]

11. I heard Mary Magdalene on NPR's Diane Rheams show and she

is so disgusting. She praised Barbara Bush and Bush Jr. and she called her husband a "redistributionist," because he supports a more equal society.

[Career Prole]

10. I'm not ashamed of Boston, or Massachusetts.

I'm ashamed that some other Dems are. :shrug:

[graywarrior]

12. Hey, I grew up in Boston

We hate everyone, not just a few.

[Career Prole]

15. I grew up seven miles from Providence.

Made a lot of roadtrips to Fenway, though. I think I learned how to spell Yastrzemski before I learned how to spell yellow. :hi:

[Rebellious Republican]

14. Its RW spin, they have realized what huge freaking mistake....

they made by choosing NY City. So now they are playing the old smoke and mirrors game. Oh look over there at the Dem's, don't pay any attention to us over here, you see nothing over here. :puke:

[JoFerret]

17. Huge mistake

Boston will be a tea- party by comparison. (oops - wrong comparison?)

Maybe all those "God hates Fags" Fred Phelps people will show up and alienate all decent minded people everywhere.

[saigon68]

21. YOU MEAN THESE GUYS ??? with their CHILDREN

[Rebellious Republican]

28. saigon68 and JoFerret, great posts, I needed the laugh today!

:toast:

[SOS]

27. Another possibility...

The Republicans chose NYC to provoke (or covertly instigate) riots.
Worked for Nixon in 1968.

[bushwakker]

18. I knew Boston would be a bad choice

Sen Kennedy pushed for it and the DNC gave in but it never made any sense. The convention should have been held in Seattle or Orlando. The people in Boston are the most miserable, unfriendly, cynical, complaining, assholes on the planet. All everyone here does is bitch bitch bitch 24 hours a day. We are the Can't Do City (as anyone with any knowledge of the attempts to build various convention centers and arenas in Boston can attest). Places like Memphis or Kansas City (places that Bostonians look down their noses at) would pull it off no problem but Boston can't get it's shit together. All the eye sore Big Dig construction will still be going on and be quite visible from the Fleet center. So predictable. So stupid of the DNC to come here. The traffic restrictions that the SS are putting in place are absurdly onerous and designed to embarrass the party. For those who think this idea that JK can come here in July and NOT actually accept the nomination you are crazy. He will be crucified if this was all just a giant pep rally without him taking the nomination. This will not happen.

[graywarrior]

20. I Love your Boston Spirit ,bushwakker

I think you're right on the mark. I drove a tour trolley in Boston for several seasons. Bostonians are cranky and anything they seem to attempt fails somehow. They're only saving grace was the Celtics in the 80's. The convention in Boston sounds like the right idea, but it will piss off a lot of locals.

[Catt03]

22. With all the publicity about Boston being such a mess

in re; construction, traffic, Republican Government, is there a chance to change location?

I agree with the idea of Seattle or even someplace in New Mexico where there might be less conflict.

Also, Kerry will be taking a big chance delaying his nomination. I can't help but think that delegates may not even show up if they can't have a symbolic and visual closure in choosing a party candidate.

[Bridget Burke]

24. All the publicity about Boston! Yes, ignore NYC.

The redirection is working. The article mentioned gay marriage as a huge problem--the usual yokels will be protesting. And, yes, Boston traffic is insane.

But the Republicans' selection of New York City & their decision to schedule the convention to "take advantage" of September 11th is the bigger story. They've delayed full investigation of 9/11, used images of that day in ads, and continue to imply a connection to Iraq. And Iraq has gone so well!

I somehow think there will be more protests in New York City.

[bushwakker]

25. Too late now - another crappy Terry Mac decision*

[flaminbats]

32. Why be so cynical?

There is nothing miserable, unfriendly, or cynical about Boston which cannot be found in another American city. :toast:

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bushwakker]

26. Boston is the most unfriendliest city I've ever been to

unfortunately I live here.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

30. I disagree-I'm a native

it's the blow-ins that make the place unfriendly. I live in Cambridge and it's the university types and those that stay on that contribute to a lot of the city's coldness. Us native townie types are a lot friendlier.

A friend of a friend just moved here from CA and said she was surprised at how friendly people are in Boston. The drivers, on the other hand, make NYC drivers look polite.

[Barrett808]

31. A Republican lectures about media manipulation

But Republicans must be careful to avoid anything resembling the violent street rioting at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago.

"I don't envision anything like that," said Kansas Republican State Chairman Dennis Jones. "In 1968, TV was still a new medium and the protesters were masters of manipulation. Law enforcement has become more sophisticated and news directors have become less gullible, although the opportunity to manipulate the media exists now as it did than and we've got 24-hour news channels that like to create stories."

I see: the protesters invited the police riot in 1968, so they could manipulate the new medium!