Hello St. Paul! Planning picks up for '08...

From Planning picks up for '08 GOP convention:

Right down to the arena thermostat setting, planning for next year's Republican National Convention is occurring with painstaking detail and the pace of preparations is about to pick up.

The article quotes event planner Paul Ridgeway Sr. as saying "It is going to be the largest undertaking ever" [for Mn] How big? The sample numbers are breathtaking. Cut & paste samples:

"the committee agreed to: round up at least 8,000 volunteers"
"Expected expenses include: $5 million to rent the Xcel Energy Center complex and nearby facilities and parking ramps; "
"The committee must raise $39 million by June 2008, but Larson said the goal is to secure $57 million in donations by the convention."

Wow. There's a lot of money, a load of people, and a ton of press coming to town. What will the '08 GOP convention in St. Paul mean for you? What else should be considered during planning?

_________________

Julia Schrenkler
Minnesota Public Radio Interactive Producer

Comments: 12

Mark J. Mar 5, 2007, 12:20pm EST

Remember the Superbowl back in 1992. When that was first announced, a bunch of friends of mine made the decision to get outta Dodge because we didn't want to be in town that's how the science fiction convention called Supercon was born. I had cocoa with a friend of mine yesterday who is planniing an out of town camping event for everyone who doesn't want to be bothered by the GOP. I plan to be out of town during that time....or organizing a same sex kiss-in, I can't decide.

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~ Frick! The Discount Musical Prankster™~ Mar 5, 2007, 12:47pm EST

I want to see what they're going to do with the Dorothy Day Center and the Catholic Charities soup kitchens right across the street. I highly doubt that they would want the GOPs to see our homeless and mentally ill out on the streets as proof of how effective their social programs are. I wonder where they're going to ship them off to?

[Note: Sarcasm was employed in the writing of this message]

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Julia Schrenkler Mar 5, 2007, 1:56pm EST

Well Mark you'll probably want to watch the planning process while making your decision.

Frick, who knows? Maybe it will be a volunteer opportunity. Bob Collins wrote about "Compassion Across America" happenings during the NYC 2004 convention - maybe that will happen again?

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Gary Fischbach Mar 6, 2007, 12:21pm EST

I want to get a bunch of Republicans to go into Garrison Keillor's bookstore and ask for books by Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, Anne Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, and the list goes on. Then, they can hang out by the coffee shops nearby and just make all those leftists cringe.

I also want to get a list of every left wing coffee shop like the one by my house (J & S in St.Paul) and get a bunch of Republicans to hang out at all the coffee shops in town just to bug the patrons.

Next, I'm planning a Pro-Isreal rally on Summitt Ave and Snelling by Macalester College.

I do like the idea of having a camera on the hostile, angry, cursing, and generally irate protesters and broadcasting it on a big screen so every one can see.

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Diana Raabe Mar 6, 2007, 12:32pm EST

There will plenty of protestors to counterbalance your groups, Gary, but you should feel free to ask Mr. Keillor for any book you need.

Like Frick, I'm concerned about the homeless and hope that this part of the story gets the coverage it deserves.

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Gary Fischbach Mar 6, 2007, 12:39pm EST

I can't wait! Doug Grow, Nick Coleman, Lori Sturdivent, Ruben Rosario, Keri Miller, Eric Eskola, and MPR's angry white male, Garrison Keillor, all in the heart of the beast! Oh, I can't wait to see wait to see what they have to offer! My side hurts already and I have not even read their articles and reporting! Oh, will the small details be scrutinized! I can't wait!

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Gary Fischbach Mar 6, 2007, 12:41pm EST

Watching the media and the angy leftists will become a spectator sport. THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT!

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Diana Raabe Mar 6, 2007, 1:09pm EST

There will be several degrees of "angry", Gary - on both sides - some of which will be interesting and some of which will be ridiculous and not worth watching at all.

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Gary Fischbach Mar 6, 2007, 1:21pm EST

Watching the media, including MPR, will be hillarious. The amount of anger in the Democrats after losing the last two presidential elections will be huge. I predict that the media will assist the Democrats in the largest charactor assignation ever attempted. Norm Coleman and who ever gets the nod from the Repub's will have an all out assult from the Democrats and there posse of George Soros, the Move on folks, and the Hollywood elite and the mainstream media will be all too willing to help out.
Hillary is so polarizing and Obama is so inexperienced that the media will have to cover the right flank for the Democrats.

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Julia Schrenkler Mar 6, 2007, 2:14pm EST

Well Gary, I'm gonna hold you to watching it all. Diana will you be following the planning process?

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Gary Fischbach Mar 6, 2007, 2:58pm EST

You folks read David Brooks today in the SPPP? Can the Dem's make the right decsion and choose Richardson? He seems to be the best qualified.

Oh Julia, it's gonna be a lot of fun.

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deminn from Minnesota Mar 7, 2007, 2:49pm EST

Please try and not forget THE UNITED STATES IS A FREE SPEECH ZONE. Your special interest political party is a guest in our nation. Respect our constitutional freedoms or demonstrate for the world to see that you don't. Let's not have a repeat of last elections disgrace.

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Hello St. Paul! Planning picks up for '08 GOP convention

Comments: 12

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