Debate this

Are you proud to be an American?

Why?

How on earth could  you be proud of the things this country is doing now?  Between blackwater, Iraq, Iran, Cuba, the falling dollar, the penalties on the poor, the utter disdain for civility...how can you be proud?

As John Lennon would say: Imagine.  Imagine, just for a second, if instead of declaring war on Iraq, the POTUS would have tried to become friends with Chavez in Venezuela?   After all, their oil reserves are almost the same as Iraq.  Why not try to just be nice for a second.

In any case, the Commission on Presidential Debates yesterday said that New Orleans was not ready to host a national debate.  The question is, "why"?

Since the federal flood, we've been able to host 2 Carnivals, the Allstate Sugar Bowl, the State Farm Bayou Classic, the NCAA BCS national championship, the NBA all star game, Jazz Fest, and NFL playoff games. 

That's not enough.

Oxford, Mississippi, population 19,000, evidently does have adequate facilities.  They have the University of Mississippi there, home of the Rebels and Colonel Reb.  A fine representation of racial equality, unlike, say, New Orleans. A backup site is Danville, Kentucky.

I was insanely mad yesterday about this. I was ready to put a bounty on fuckmook Paul Kirk's head. But over the past 18 or so hours, I've come to realize that it doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter what we do.

Nobody gives a fuck about us but us.

The candidates who endorsed NOLA for a debate were: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, John McCain and Sam Brownback.

Kucinich is notable by his absence.

If you don't vote for one of the seven (six, now that Brownback dropped out) on that list, then just move. New Orleans is all that matters. Yes, I am a single-button-issue voter, and New Orleans is that issue.

I still think that the only one of those seven that really cares about New Orleans is John Edwards. The other 5 are trying not to piss us off.

Of course, there's only one GOP member on there, McCain. He's more of an independent than anything else. I guess they didn't want to give the Dems a big ass opportunity to throw Bush's Jackson Square speech back into their face.

In case you forgot, the GOP is the party of Bush. They are one in the same.

Not that the Dems are much better. They had the opportunity to have their convention in New Orleans, but fuckmooks working for Ray Nagin ensured it wouldn't happen.

What can you do now?

Well, other than putting the heads of Paul Kirk and Frank Fahrenkopf on wooden stakes in my yard, you can email or snail mail the people responsible. There are quite a few addresses in this article in the TP. Kirk and Fahrenkopf are the co-chairs of the debate committee. Let's see how fuckmookish they really are.

Fuckmook 1, Mr. Fahrenkopf denied any political influence, saying the selections had been based on technical criteria and geographical balance. Geographic balance...right. So Oxford MS, Nashville and St. Louis, 3 of the 4 debate locations, somehow provide "geographical balance" despite being within 350 miles of each other.

Fuckmook 1A, Mr. Kirk said that acting as host of a presidential debate is “an expensive proposition,” he told The Associated Press, “and presents enormous strategic challenges. All things considered, New Orleans did not measure up.”

But Oxford Mississippi and Danville Kentucky do.

Let's fucking secede right fucking now.

Sinn Fein.

Oyster has a post about it, as does Scout Prime, update: and E and Mr. Clio has a way to express his utter disappointment without calling these fuckmooks fuckmooks.

Here's my letter:

Greetings,

I'd just like to thank you for collectively spitting on the people of New Orleans. God help you.

Sincerely,

Prof. Ashley Morris, Ph.D.

Sinn Fein.

Comments

[Tim P.]

I can't say that I'm happy in ANY way that there is still so much BS, but posts like this make me happy that YOU haven't changed.

RE: Presidential election... here in Cali all the liberals are in a lather about how great it will be if the US will just elect a woman for president. Never mind that woman is a fuckmook supreme and Bush lite.

I agree on John Edwards... but his populist stance worries me.

If y'all can manage to secede, I'll pack my bags and be on the next plane.

PS... I'm going to be in town for Krewe de Vieux. It's about time!

[KamaAina]

Doesn't the phrase "fuckmooks working for Ray Nagin" contain a tautology?

Oh yes, the only debate site not within 350 miles of the others is (drum roll, please) Hofstra University. Perhaps Marques Colston could intercede on our behalf?

[ashley]

Yeah, the whole liberal == women thing, I can't figure out. Doesn't anybody remember Margaret Thatcher?

I'm gonna be freezin my butt off at Krewe du Vieux, dressed up as a cult member. Either that or "Kool Aid Man". Scream at me and I'll hook you up with cool throws.

I hadn't thought about contacting Colston directy for intercession. Sounds like the one thing that may work.

[D-BB]

I have a lot to say about this debate bull shit and will cram it in my busy schedule tomorrow.

Also, remember what else John Lennon said: "Well I'm gonna China to see for myself
Gonna China gonna China
Just got to give me some rock 'n roll".

[GW]

Always somethin' happenin'
But nothin' goin' on
There's always somethin' cookin'
But nothin' in the pot
They're starving back in China, so finish what you got...

[ip]

Everyone should call Landrieu, Vitter, Jindal, HRC, Edwards et al to have them raise hell ab this decision. It's far, far too early to throw in the towel on this one. Even if these statements are just hot air.

From the Hotline blog:

After the Commission on Presidential Debates released the dates and locations of the three prez face-offs and one meeting of the veep candidates, John Edwards's campaign released a statement chiding the group for not including New Orleans in the bunch.

12:26 p.m. today from Edwards's campaign:

“It saddens me to hear that the Commission on Presidential Debates rejected New Orleans’ bid to host a debate in 2008 citing evidence that the city has not recovered enough to host the event. I strongly believe this decision was a mistake and I urge the Commission on Presidential Debates to rethink their decision.

“As a nation, all of us have a responsibility to do everything we can to help rebuild this great city, and holding national events in this city, like a presidential debate, will help New Orleans move forward. I have made rebuilding this city a central part of my presidential campaign because I believe we cannot stand on the sidelines as President Bush continues to fail the people of New Orleans.

“The truth is America is not the country of the Superdome in New Orleans after Katrina. We can prove it by fulfilling our moral responsibility to get New Orleans back on its feet. At a minimum, when I am the Democratic nominee, I will push to make sure we hold a presidential debate in New Orleans. And, as president, I will make sure that our government does everything in its power to help restore the city.”

And then, 4:25 p.m. today from Hillary Clinton's team:

“While the locations it selected are worthy ones, I believe the Commission on Presidential Debates missed a golden opportunity to show New Orleans that the entire country is committed to its recovery, by passing it up as a site for a debate. Hosting a debate in New Orleans would spotlight the city to the rest of world and push to ensure that its rebuilding is not ignored.

“Getting New Orleans back on its feet must be a national priority, as rebuilding New York after 9/11 was. We must get to work on a plan to cut through the red tape, deliver the federal assistance the city was promised, and get services running and infrastructure built in New Orleans and across the Gulf Coast.

“Choosing New Orleans as the site of one of our nation’s great democratic events would have been a chance to reaffirm this priority, and I’m sorry the commission decided differently.”

Can Obama's release be far behind?

Here's the commission's sched:

First presidential debate:
Friday, September 26
University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS

Vice presidential debate:
Thursday, October 2
Washington University in St. Louis, MO

Second presidential debate:
Tuesday, October 7
Belmont University, Nashville, TN

Third presidential debate:
Wednesday, October 15
Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY

The two backup sites are Centre College in Danville, KY and Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC.

All debates will be 90 minutes in length and start at 9:00 p.m. ET.

[joejoejoe]

Did you know that Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr. is the President & CEO of the American Gaming Association? Did you know that the AGA hosted one of it's marquee events, the G2E Institute in New Orleans in April 2007?

From the G2E (AGA-sponsored) website:

"LAS VEGAS—Global Gaming Expo (G2E) today announced that G2E Institute, its unique conference event that debuted last year in Las Vegas, will move to New Orleans in 2007, bringing G2E’s world-class educational content, dynamic networking events and “by the industry, for the industry” approach to the Gulf Coast. Set for April 10-12, 2007 at the Wyndham New Orleans at Canal Place and themed Gaming’s Next Era: Leveraging Innovation to Enhance Your Market, the event also will include a charity golf tournament.

As in 2006, Casino Design, the popular G2E conference dedicated to the design and development of casino resort properties, also will be co-located with G2E Institute.

“All across the country we are seeing the continuing growth, expansion and reinvention of the gaming industry. Nowhere is this process more evident than along the Gulf Coast, making it the perfect venue for G2E Institute,” said FRANK J. FAHRENKOPF, Jr., president and CEO of the AGA. “When we launched the flagship G2E event in 2001 as the first trade show and conference event by the industry and for the industry, I said our duty was to serve the needs of the gaming industry. Developing a top-notch educational event focused on moving emerging and evolving gaming markets forward is a prime example of our continued dedication to delivering exactly what our industry and our host communities are looking for.”

Lying fuckmook.

[Cousin Pat]

What the F do we need a committee for? Just set it up and invite the candidates to come on down. Sinn Fein meets DIY.

Let's do this. Let us have our own debate, set it up, and invite the candidates very, very publicly to grow some spine and show they ain't skerrt of this part of the world.

Put the onus and responsibility on THEM to get down here, not on some insider committee to decide our future.

[Mr. Clio]

Hey, Cousin Pat, good to hear from ya.

One problem with your excellent point: I'm willing to bet that the two major party candidates sign in blood that they will ONLY participate in the assigned debates, lest they have their gonads forcibly removed with rusty implements.

[ashley]

Oh, Mr. CL10, you've met my urologist! I think he used a rusty grapefruit spoon. He said something about "the cut of my jib".

[Clay]

Hey, easy on Ole Miss. That was my evacuation school and almost where I got my engineering degree (thanks to Cowen).

[Clay]

Also, if you've ever been to a football game at The Grove, you know they can handle a big influx of people.

Of course, nobody can do it as well as New Orleans.

It's a shame they can't just come out and say that neither the Republicans nor the Democrats want to have a debate here. They both want to have one in an area where they can raise money...

[matter]

Don't count on the cowardly corporate Dems to do anything like, say, holding feet to the fire over NOLA.

[Aaron]

My anger was palpable yesterday. Today I've resigned to a simmering rage which I will utilize one day over one of the idiots who made that decision. You shouldn't go angering an entire metropolitan area, you never know when one person in that area is going to have decision-making power concerning your interests one day.

[Cousin Pat]

Howdy Mr. Clio, it is good to be able to read stuff online again.

But even if the Major Parties make those candidates sign in blood, we can create a media storm of our own to absolutely force their hand. How much are politican's promises worth these days anyway, even to other politicians?

Facility: the Loyola School of Music Auditorium (or equitable facility)

Moderators: David Zirin, Norm Robinson and Oyster

Emcee: Dangerblond

TV Feed: All major networks if possible, if not, C-Span or MTV (it ain't like we'd be interrupting music). If not even then, Sattelite Radio.

Press Room with an open bar (how many reporters do you know won't show up for THAT?).

Liveblogging ad nauseum, and hit all the "big national blogs" as well.

Security? BERG and Angry RSD teachers.

Post Debate wrap up: Ashley (we really would need sattelite radio for that one...)

Hell, invite some of the candidates who DIDN'T get the nomination.

This can work. We just set it up and DARE them not to show. Broadcast some empty podiums if need be. At least one major candidate would do it to prove their 'backbone.'