Disorganization and Doughnuts (Dems convention woes)

The New York Times ^ | 12/14/03 | John Tierney

[Jhensy]

THE Republicans will announce plans for their convention Tuesday, when they give a tour of the Farley Post Office, the stately New York building where 15,000 journalists will be ensconced early next September. It will be connected to the convention at Madison Square Garden by a temporary bridge spanning Eighth Avenue, to be built at a cost of $1 million.

Without seeing the plans, it is safe to make one prediction: the Republican planners cannot possibly be in worse shape than the Democrats.

Democrats have always been known for chaotic conventions, but this year they are outdoing themselves. Officials in the host city, Boston, have been feuding with national party officials over who makes which decisions and who comes up with what money.

The resulting disorganization and lack of money became embarrassingly clear this month when the Democrats held what was billed as a "walk-through" of the convention facilities. Some 200 television, radio and print journalists journeyed to the Fleet Center hoping to plan their convention coverage.

Instead, they were treated to glazed and jelly doughnuts, speeches about the virtues of grass-roots Democrats and the evils of Republicans, and an amateur ice show. And that was about it.

Party officials offered the audience basic diagrams of the inside of the arena. But rather than a walk-through, officials provided a talk-through of the possible press facilities, since Democrats still were not sure whether it would be in an office building a block or two away, in tents outside the hall or, most glorious of all, down in the bowels of the parking garage.

[Jhensy]

John Tierney is a well-hidden oasis of candor and clarity at the Slimes.

[GOP Jedi]

It's the Oliphant syndrome in action, I fear. The GOP selects the most capable and experienced people to organize its conventions, the Dems select the next quota-qualified team in line, regardless of applicable skills.

[samtheman]

Is Dukakis going to be the MC?

[expatpat]

I assume the Oliphant you are referring to is the black woman in Florida, and not the white socialist journalist/TV panelist from Boston.

[HarleyD]

These are the people who want to run the country and they can't even run a convention. Pretty sad. But worst they didn't even offer custard filled doughnuts. :O)

[lonerepubinmass]

They forgot to mention that they plan on shutting down the new 14.5 billion dollar highway that runs next to the Fleet center. Security concerns that it is to close to the building. Your tax dollars at work.

[NewHampshireDuo]

They forgot to mention that they plan on shutting down the new 14.5 billion dollar highway that runs next to the Fleet center. Security concerns that it is to close to the building. Your tax dollars at work.

And, I believe, keep trains from terminating at No Station and eliminate one or two T stops. As one pundit put it, Boston might as well declare a snow emergency during the convention.

[Diogenesis]

So true.

Furthermore, although all Massachusetts taxpayers will pay for some of the DNC hookers, alcohol, and sleaze,
Massachusetts has specficially targeted those west of Boston
who have been paying, and will, pay for ALL of the extra highway BIG-DIG costs.
Unbelievable, they pay with their tolls EVEN THOUGH THEY DO NOT EVEN USE THAT BIG-DIG HIGHWAY.

Only in Massachusetts.

[Tacis]

I loved Leno's joke one night last week. He was talking about the toy store company, FAO Schwartz declaring bankruptcy. He said, "how can a toy store go bankrupt during the Christmas season; that's like a brothel going out of business during the democratic convention."

[GOP Jedi]

The former. Might have mispelt her name, though.

[ClearCase_guy]

They should move the convention out to where the Burning Man ceremony is held. Big open area, lots of tents, huge effigy of Bush, burn it, chant for awhile, and go home.

If we're lucky, the conventioneers will get home before realizing that they had forgotten to choose a candidate, they'd only expressed their hatred of the President.

But mostly likely, they'll hold the exact same convention in Boston, and spend a lot of money for a very similar result.

[Cicero]

According to this article, the Republican Convention in New York will host "15,000 journalists." That's worse than the Democrats' prostitutes. Imagine what a sink of iniquity it will be.

[ClearCase_guy]

And the journalists in NYC will be housed well, fed well, treated well, and given transcripts of every speech, along with detailed agendas for each phase of the convention. And the journalists will broadcast insulting commentaries about how barbaric Republicans are.

While in Boston, journalists will be housed in a parking garage, fed nothing but jelly donuts, convention plans will change every 15 minutes, and everything will run behind schedule. And the journalists will laud the supreme ability of Progessives to dig the US out of the dark hole we find ourselves in.

[vollmond]

Aren't we all paying for the big dig?

[SamAdams76]

I read about that. They are just now finally finishing that $14.5 billion highway after putting the city through ten years of construction hell (they basically moved part of an interstate highway under ground) and now they are going to close it for this convention. Of course, they are already ripping down the old highway so there will be no alternate routes. It's going to be a mess. I'm thinking of scheduling my vacation during those weeks so I can be out of town and far, far away.

[OldFriend]

Consider that fiasco in Los Angeles I don't see why anyone would be surprised that the dems have no organization.

[river rat]

"Security concerns that it is to close to the building."

Why is hell should the Democrat fear attack from highway?
The Democrats are the best thing the terrorists have going for themselves in America...
The Democrats are the LAST target the terrorists would go after.... UNLESS the refuse to nominate Dean!

Jeeeeze

Semper Fi

[Zack Nguyen]

Instead, they were treated to glazed and jelly doughnuts, speeches about the virtues of grass-roots Democrats and the evils of Republicans, and an amateur ice show. And that was about it.

[SNICKER.] How dare the press complain baout their masters?!

[Jhensy]

NYC's beautiful Farley Post Office Building, where the GOP will provide space for 15,000 journalists, across the street from Madison Square Garden. That's the famous "Neither snow, nor rain...." motto running across the top above the columns.

BTW, 007 buffs might recall the scene in "Live and Let Die" where Roger Moore has to steer the out-of-control taxi cab from the back seat, and crashes on the steps of this very same building.

As of today, the facilities the Dems will provide for their press corps.

[Verginius Rufus]

I would guess that the Farley Post Office Building is named for Jim Farley (1888-1976), FDR's first Postmaster General, who was from New York. Farley broke with FDR over his decision to run for a third term and challenged him for the nomination in 1940 (according to William DeGregorio, The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents).