Rising Convention Costs and Delays Worry Democrats
Rising Convention Costs and Delays Worry Democrats - NYTimes.com
An interesting article on the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Denver at the end of August. This is nothing new to the residents of Denver. But the National media is finally beginning to recognize the problems.
The host committee is struggling with appropriate financial decisions, is having trouble raising money, and making some bad decisions. It is falling through for them and now they are discussing having Obama accepting the nomination at Invesco Field.
Some of the bad decisions include wasting money on upscale office space at $100,000 a month and then not needing it all. They are then wasting that unneeded office space including unneeded office furniture.
In previous articles they are cutting back on parties around town, including parties to recognize the numerous volunteers that are going to be helping with the event. That is one thing that you don’t cut back on, providing recognition to the people who are giving their time to help you.
It will be interesting to see how this comes off and if fundraising increases. Obama has sent a team of people to help, but is it too late?
The Democrats have found ways to lose the last two elections. Let’s see if they can pull off the convention or blow that also.
I just hope that Denver does not get a bad name because of their incompetence.
Update: See the comments section for clarification from the Democrats on their blog.
I’ll miss Tim Russert
I just want to say that I’ll miss Tim Russert.
I enjoyed watching “Meet the Press” and listening to his thoughts and insight into political activities on NBC News and MSNBC. It was quite entertaining and he made it fun because he enjoyed it.
For those of you who don’t know, he passed away today at the age of 58.
I remember back to the Bush-Gore election and Russert was on the news speculating on the electoral college and who was going to win. It was back-and-forth and he kept erasing his white board. I was up late that night and Tim was still there with his white board.
I had the opportunity to see Tim speak in person at the PRSA International Conference last fall in Philadelphia. It was quite a speech and most of it spoke of the upcoming Presidential election. But he was most proud when he was talking about his book and his dad.
Tim Russert will be missed, especially as we go through this upcoming election. He made politics fun while educating us and providing a look into the campaigns.
Burma - the Junta should be charged with crimes against
The rejection of aid by Burmese government should be a sign and trigger that the Burmese government leaders should be charged with crimes against humanity.
They are knowingly killing people and no one can do anything about it. It is just sad.
The world community should do whatever they can to get these killers out of there.
Who can do that? China.
They are the only country that has a slimmer of influence over them. But will that happen? I doubt it.
You can see China’s influence on Sudan and their repression of Tibet. They could care less and also don’t care what happens to people, especially in countries where they carry a significant amount of
influence.
China wants to be a world power and influencer in the world, they should begin to act like it.
Right now, let’s hope the military junta comes to their senses and begins to let in aid to help the hundreds of thousands of people who need it.
Douglas Bruce in trouble again
Representative Douglas Bruce’s tenure in the Colorado House continues to be a tumultuous one.
It started with him kicking a Rocky Mountain News photographer, using a remark against seasonal workers, and now being accused of sexual harassment.
In the latest issue, a complaint was filed against Bruce for sexual harassment. But in an interview with KHOW’s Dan Caplis, Bruce said that he was only smiling at the woman. Read more
Road Map to Defeat
Road Map to Defeat - New York Times
This was an interesting op-ed. The Democrats are doing whatever they can do to lose it, but they hadn’t won it either.
I found a quote interesting in this op-ed, “And the country wants to elect a Democrat.” I don’t think the country wants to elect a Democrat, they want change.
John McCain has gone against the Republican leadership before and has fought battles. I think that is why he is the presumptive nominee. He pulls in the independents and gets back to core Republican values. He is change from the current administration.
For the Democrats, Hilary Clinton is not change. She is old eastern politics and a holdover from the 8 miserable years this country experienced under her husband. The only reason she is where she is, is because of her husband was President.
Barack Obama is running on the change platform and his campaign is being really successful in garnering support from voters who have not previously cared or voted. But he is not being realistic in his policies and programs. Read more
2008 Pulitzer Prize Winners Announced
The 2008 Pulitzer Prize Winners have been announced. I don’t agree with who won, but the Idaho Statesman being named a finalist for their coverage of Larry Craig? Give me a break.
This was neither breaking news or good coverage of the the story. It was sensationalized with some elements of truth built in. The Idaho Statesman has always been out to get Larry Craig. What I find funny is that they did not break the story.
Rumors have always flown around about Larry Craig, but there hasn’t been that much of proof. This story provided an insight and the Idaho Statesman went for the jugular.
Now this mediocre newspaper is claiming victory by being named a finalist for a Pulitzer.
Media not covering the Presidential Election as much as they used to
The cost of covering the 2008 Presidential Election has grown to a point that newspapers aren’t covering it with their own reporters as much as they used to.
In an article that ran in the New York Times, The Buzz on the Bus: Pinched, Press Step Off, they discuss how major newspapers aren’t covering the presidential campaigns.
For most of the others, the price of admission — more than $2,000 for just one person to travel on Mr. Obama’s charter flights that day — was too steep, in an era in which newspapers in particular are slashing costs and paring staff, and with no end in sight to a primary campaign that began more than a year ago.
It is just getting too expensive for them to cover the events and who does that hurt? The voters. We are not getting the information we need but are getting bombarded with information that does not help us make an educated decision on who we are going to vote for.
Bloggers help, but for the most part they drive a lot of misinformation. Who should we believe?
Only a few newspapers are covering it full time. Most are relying on wire services for their coverage.
It is a sign of the times that things are changing in the media industry, but I wish something would come along that would provide the services that these news organizations used to provide.
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