Republican Convention in Detroit?

[Jason]

I doubt sincerely that Detroit-as-liberal-failure would be a major theme eminating from the convention itself. Doubtless, there would be some media pointing out Detroit's single party/single ideology dominance coinciding with the city's collapse, but people at the convention would provoke ill will at the convention and hurt party chances in Michigan. People in Oakland and Macomb county might rightly view Detroit's government as a total failure, but I think they have enough pride that some people who might otherwise vote Republican would be turned off. I can't think of any major speech at either party's convention that "took on" the host city. It would be bad form.

I do think the narrative would be that liberals ran the city into the ground and that with a few short years of republican influence [[snyder, dan gilbert, etc.) the city has been turned around. So I think the narrative would be very flattering for detroit. And it wouldn't be flattering for democrats, even if they weren't explicitly mentioned, but it would be flattering for republicans, which is part of the point. I also think it would be good for republicans to take a more constructive attitude and that narrative would help that.


It also could be a good move for them if they think that michigan is purple enough that having the convention here could flip the state their way, although I don't see that as likely.

[Chinman]

The NFL promised Detroit they would host the superbowl if a new stadium was built. The bidding process was a formality and Ford Field only holds 65,000. It was held there despite the small capacity.

sorry, you are wrong this. Ford field was not built because of a promise of a super bowl. I am telling you that my friend had many meetings with NFL to get it held here. the 85,000 is based on added seats. it is one of the largest stadiums to date. it is the same process for cities competing for the Olympics. who can offer the best.

[MikeyinBrooklyn]

It also could be a good move for them if they think that michigan is purple enough that having the convention here could flip the state their way, although I don't see that as likely.

I see your points, Jason, but I can't fully agree with them. The conventions are very slickly produced these days, with carefully honed messages designed to appeal to very specific groups of voters nationally. I would be astounded if they though "micro-messaging" about Detroit would be a dominant theme. There would, of course, be tributes to American industry, hard-working people, etc, etc but the format of a convention doesn't allow for deep discussions, and I think they would avoid saying anything that looked like a cheap shot about the city's problems. As for Gilbert, is he even a Republican? While it wouldn't surprise me, it also wouldn't surprise me if he wasn't.

Lastly- and please note, I absolutely favor trying to get the convention- conventions do not have a history of swaying host states. GOP conventions in recent years in San Diego, Tampa, Minneapolis, New York and Philadelphia did not sway the home states. Nor did Democrat conventions in Atlanta or Charlotte. They might help slightly, but they might not. And God forbid the convention goes badly [[if protests or party dissension became main themes), they might actually hurt.

[aj3647]

Guys, Mike Murphy is a political consultant and holds no power in the RNC. His suggestion that the RNC hold their convention here holds almost no weight. This is not an idea that is under serious consideration by Republicans.

[401don]

sorry, you are wrong this. Ford field was not built because of a promise of a super bowl. I am telling you that my friend had many meetings with NFL to get it held here. the 85,000 is based on added seats. it is one of the largest stadiums to date. it is the same process for cities competing for the Olympics. who can offer the best.

The attendance for the game was 68,206 and if you ever watched a Lions game you would know you don't add 20000 seats to an indoor stadium.

[Wesley Mouch]

I doubt sincerely that Detroit-as-liberal-failure would be a major theme eminating from the convention itself. Doubtless, there would be some media pointing out Detroit's single party/single ideology dominance coinciding with the city's collapse, but people at the convention would provoke ill will at the convention and hurt party chances in Michigan. People in Oakland and Macomb county might rightly view Detroit's government as a total failure, but I think they have enough pride that some people who might otherwise vote Republican would be turned off. I can't think of any major speech at either party's convention that "took on" the host city. It would be bad form.

I don't see it as 'taking on' the host city [[Detroit). I see it as celebrating Detroit's success. Unless the Democratic party selfishly kills Detroit reform, Detroit's future is really bright right now.

[coracle]

The two major Political parties will not consider Detroit as its venue for 2016 Convention. Democrats because they are responsible for its decline and don't want to own it, and the Republicans because they could not be allowed to reverse its decline in case they're successful.

[MikeyinBrooklyn]

Guys, Mike Murphy is a political consultant and holds no power in the RNC. His suggestion that the RNC hold their convention here holds almost no weight. This is not an idea that is under serious consideration by Republicans.

I don't think anyone thought Mike Murphy was making the decision. He just got a little press suggesting Detroit. His comments were probably more directed at Detroit to put together a bid than to the RNC, which is not considering any city that does not submit a bid. As I wrote in a previous post, incumbent presidents essentially pick where they want the convention to be [[although there would still be formalities of the party picking the convention site). President Obama will choose the 2016 Democratic host city. Out of power parties accept bids from any city. The 3-4 cities with the best bids get visits from a party committee, and then get debated and voted on by the national committee. Detroit could put together a strong bid. I just think that we would be in a better position to have a strong bid if we put our efforts on a 2020 bid for the convention of the party out of power, for reasons I posted higher up on this thread. In fact, Detroit could put together a very strong bid.

[Chinman]

The attendance for the game was 68,206 and if you ever watched a Lions game you would know you don't add 20000 seats to an indoor stadium.

that is fine for the attendance record. if you would like, i will get the facilities managers phone number and he can explain how it can be done and that is how they sold the stadium to the NFL three[[3) years prior in the bidding process. I am a StageHand here in Detroit and many shows are bid on from every Venue. many things are factored in to get a show.

[Chinman]

how did ford field hold a hockey game instead of joe louis stadium. because he had found a company that builds ice rinks indoors when he was facility manger in miami and did the same thing. more peeps at ford field than joe louis even though joe louis has a built in rink.

[casscorridor]

Republican policies have hurt Detroit from the decrease of revenue sharing to the veto by Governor Engler of the Detroit Area Rapid Transit Authority.

Snyder has done nothing to help Detroit, and the bankruptcy is a fraud. While Detroit is indeed insolvent, it is only so because of the state's refusal to intervene or give the city money it owes.

Does that mean Democrats have helped Detroit? No, and Granholm was horrible for Detroit. But a republican administration in the state or nation, in general, is worse for big cities.

Republican power is based in the suburbs, especially exurbs far from the central city, so it only makes sense what interests they represent.

[MikeyinBrooklyn]

Republican policies have hurt Detroit from the decrease of revenue sharing to the veto by Governor Engler of the Detroit Area Rapid Transit Authority.

Snyder has done nothing to help Detroit, and the bankruptcy is a fraud. While Detroit is indeed insolvent, it is only so because of the state's refusal to intervene or give the city money it owes.

Does that mean Democrats have helped Detroit? No, and Granholm was horrible for Detroit. But a republican administration in the state or nation, in general, is worse for big cities.

Republican power is based in the suburbs, especially exurbs far from the central city, so it only makes sense what interests they represent.

Leaving aside an argument about your political views, CassCorridor, do you think we shouldn't host the convention? In my opinion, we should host every convention that brings money to the city. I even feel that for conventions that I would disagree with.

[Gistok]

Snyder has done nothing to help Detroit, and the bankruptcy is a fraud. While Detroit is indeed insolvent, it is only so because of the state's refusal to intervene or give the city money it owes.

Huh?? Don't you think inept and/or corrupt Detroit city government contributed their fair share of causing this problem?

[Ben]

I think that having a major national convention in Detroit would be great. In fact in 2015 the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America [[which I happen to be a member of) will have 30,000 youth in Detroit for the ELCA Youth Gathering 2015. I hope that the city will look good to so many young people. I think that how this event goes will have an impact on future events.

[DetroitPlanner]

I think that having a major national convention in Detroit would be great. In fact in 2015 the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America [[which I happen to be a member of) will have 30,000 youth in Detroit for the ELCA Youth Gathering 2015. I hope that the city will look good to so many young people. I think that how this event goes will have an impact on future events.

Religious youths don't spend money like politicians do! LOL The main attraction of having conventions is that they import money into our local economy. This money churns by starting with paying hotel employees, cab drivers, etc and they spend their money locally on goods and services [[money that would not be there if they worked fewer hours). A youth gathering will mean long lines at the RenCen food court, but an adult one will mean the bars and casinos will be full as well as the higher end eateries. End result is a lot more money in the economy.

30k still isn't anything to sneeze at though.

[Wesley Mouch]

...snip...Republican power is based in the suburbs, especially exurbs far from the central city, so it only makes sense what interests they represent.

People out in the exurbs aren't interests. They are people.

You're right about burbs and exurbs, but its also true about the rest of the state. And its also true about the rest of country.

Except for cities, its Republican power. Why? Is it all Koch Brothers money? No. There's something else going on that can't be understood by cities.

But CC, do tell us if we should never host conventions for organizations we hate [[or at least strongly disagree with). Ford Field has hosted the Nation of Islam, I believe. But the Fords aren't Islamic? Should they have closed down their opportunity to speak, just because what they say is stupid? We have free speech. Its good. And sometimes Republicans speaking to each other in a vibrant city just might convince them to send more money to Detroit to help things out as you request.

[Fulcanelli]

That would be great if they had it in Detroit. They could designate the worst neighborhoods as the 'free speech' zones!