I was going to comment on the bill to give Bush access to the Illinois ballot, but Jeff Trigg seems to be on top of it quite well.
You know, if you are going to exploit 9-11 and push your convention back–don’t come asking for favors about ballot access unless you are going to reform the whole deal. What will be interesting is if Madigan decides to not give Bush a break, who will be at fault in the spinning–the people sticking to the law or the people trying to skirt the law to exploit a tragedy?
The reason the GOP convention is where it is has to do with the Dems scheduling theirs as late as they did and the Olympics conflicting for the two weeks in between the Dem convention and the GOP convention.
The Republicans AND Dems were asked by NYC to hold both conventions in New York. The Republicans agreed to. The Dems declined, maybe because they just had a convention there 12 years ago.
In an ideal world, the Dems would have scheduled their convention for the second-to-last week in July, and the Republicans could have held theirs the week the Dems are actually having theirs. And they could both be in New York. But that didn’t happen.
I’m not saying Republicans aren’t guilty of gamesmanship also, but take off your rose-colored glasses, pal.
—Dems scheduling theirs as late as they did and the Olympics conflicting for the two weeks in between the Dem convention and the GOP convention.
To fact check you a bit, the Dems are earlier than the last two Republican conventions. 1996 was Aug 12-16 and 2000 was the first weekend in August.
Worse for your little screed is that the Democrats originally set their date for July 18th. Then the Republicans set the date of August 29th – September 2nd. Then the Democrats moved their date back to July 26th. The Republicans would have had three weeks in that period to schedule the convention before the beginning of the Olympics. So the Democrats did what you thought would be ideal and the Republicans still chose the early September period.
Even more bizarre is your reference to rose colored glasses. That would imply I’m seeing everything as being cheeful, when actually I’m being skeptical of the Republican’s motives. Perhaps you need some work on your colloquialisms.
So, what was it that caused Bush and the Republicans to plan their convention in New York on the third anniversary of 9/11 and well after the deadline for making the ballot in Illinois:
Stupidity?
Exploitation?
Take your time.
The olympics, you know, do fall concurrent with the election every time…
Mea culpa: I was unaware the Dems convention was as early as it was.
I do know that Mayor Bloomberg and a number of state and city leaders asked, no begged, BOTH parties to hold conventions in New York.
And I’m not sure if the GOP had a wide choice of dates. I won’t even speculate that concerts, conventions, WNBA home games and other things might have made it tough to have it New York any other week. That said, that last week in August is also when the US Open begins out there.
And yes, maybe I should work on my colloquialisms. I thought progressives like you were for multiculturalism, not assimilation!
But I suppose you only wear rose-colored glasses when you look at people who think the way you do. Those who might be to the right of you are cynical, conniving, or at worst criminal.
Search for Jerry Costello on the blog.