Just have to say...all these peops visiting Cleveland and Akron this week-end will spending LOTS of money at restaurants, hotels, bars, souvenir shops, the Rock Hall, probably also taking side trips to Holmes County, maybe to the Erie Islands, maybe visiting the Casino(s), taking a tour on Lolly the Trolley or the Goodtime II, etc.
I would expect many to arrive before the actual "games", and to stay for a few days after.
While I disagree in principle with "gay games" (what's the point? Gay athletes can and certainly do participate in all the OTHER games, including the "real" Olympic games), and I don't like the co-opting of the "rainbow" symbol, all these visitors should be just as welcome as a convention of used-car salesmen, or anyone else, IMHO. I'm always happy to meet you, just don't get in my face with your agenda, LOL!
That said...0bama is just as disgraceful, pandering, and self-serving as always. FEH! The Sunday Plain Dealer had a 2-page full-color spread in the front section, of pictures and stories, including this priceless "joking" quote from the mayor of Akron: "Probably more people are going to be upset when the Republicans are here"...
I guess we will see how "emotional" Connie and Sherrod will be when the GOP convention arrives...and how welcoming the city and citizens will be. Perhaps just one person will notice what didn't happen at the gay games (no protests, no tirades, no excoriations, no blistering editorial columns) and what is sure to happen at the GOP convention (the opposite, count on it)...
I will always be on the side of civilized and hospitable, unless forced to do otherwise...there's a time and a place for everything, although these are times that try my patience, lol