jilted by the gop
JohnIt’s being reported near and far that the Grand Old Party has decided to hold their potential-king-making bash in the great-white-north instead of the land of the great-white-shorelines.
This can be looked at as a shocking item as some people thought Tampa was a shoe-in for the convention. The state being a crucial battleground and the I-4 corridor being one of the most vital swing regions of the state seemed to all but ensure Tampa’s selection.
Yet, the local media demanded a little light shed on the the local bid for the convention, and what was uncovered was more money expected from the city of Tampa than promised. While the area had a very strong bid, the money-conflicts could easily be looked at as what broke the camels back.
It’s a lot of lost dollars for the tourism industry and other local companies that would have stood to profit from this large undertaking, but it doesn’t ruin the regions voter clout come election day 2008.
Tags: government, politics, tampa
Loading ...
September 27th, 2006 at 5:03 pm
It’s oficial. We have information at State of Sunshine… and The Buzz also has the info.
There has not been an official announcement.
September 27th, 2006 at 5:03 pm
Rather I should have said “It’s true” … not official. Oops.
September 27th, 2006 at 5:11 pm
Man, no mooning convention delegates I suppose.
September 27th, 2006 at 11:10 pm
i’m so disappointed
September 28th, 2006 at 9:45 am
It is interesting to note the way the two major papers treated the news.
The St. Pete Times and their free tbt paper used the negative tones of calling Tampa rejected and a loser.
While the Tampa Tribune just said it is a No Go for Tampa.
I didn’t want the convention here because of what I feel will be very ugly demonstrations, BUT I am proud that Tampa was a serious contender for the event. However, having the convention held in Tampa — at the St. Pete Times Forum — would have been a little difficult to handle.
September 28th, 2006 at 4:19 pm
Let’s be realistic, with no real tranportation infrastructure and the national spotlight squarely on us, did we really want this? I for one am glad we don’t have to witness “designated free speech zones” or as they are called in the real world, cages. These conventions are a sham anyway. I’m glad my tax dollars aren’t going towards this boondoggle. Let someone else subsidize the slow suffocation of our democracy.
September 28th, 2006 at 4:40 pm
Dave, I’m with you…
When we got turned down for the 2012 olympic short list, I wrote a letter to the Times saying we didn’t even deserve it to begin with — the region is too divided and until we settle some of these rifts (political and logistical) we shouldn’t be in the limelight like that.
September 28th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
Is Mary Alvarez a god?
When the Tampa city council woman was asked about the hurricanes that could threaten a convention, she gave us this gem:
“We certainly would have made an effort to try and prevent hurricanes from coming,” she said.
Wow! That’s some trick!