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DEL.ICIO.USAfter the election, Georgia Republicans want to make a play for the 2012 national convention
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
During the Republican National Convention in St. Paul last month, state Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine, in a speech to the Georgia delegation, pitched the idea of Atlanta making a bid for the 2012 gathering.
The state GOP is taking him seriously.
A letter has gone out to members of the state committee, pitching a Nov. 22 organizational meeting of a convention committee.
“To avoid distractions from the 2008 campaign focus, the Committee will begin formally working after the November 2008 election. Commissioner Oxendine has committed to raise $50,000 by December 31st to provide initial seed money for the Committee and has invited his fellow statewide GOP elected officials and the US Congressional delegation to join him,” says the letter.
Here’s an assessment of the competition:
“Already Republicans in Arizona (Phoenix), Indiana (Indianapolis), Louisiana (New Orleans), and Texas (Dallas) are organized and moving forward with their 2012 bids. All these states have already formed committees - before the close of the 2008 election cycle.
“In fact, Arizona who is busy trying to elect their US Senator as President, is able to also focus on 2012. New Orleans has already earned the support of the Democrat Mayor, who sent an official delegation to Minnesota to observe and prepare for their bid. Indianapolis is hosting the 2012 Super Bowl and the Indiana state GOP is working with the business community - today - to do both the Super Bowl and the National Convention.”
The letter was written by Maria Strollo Zack, the 2012 bid chairman, Rob Doll, first vice chair, and Mansell McCord, the Fifth District chair.
Read the entire missive on the jump.
GEORGIA 2012 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION BID COMMITTEE
Dear:
We are excited to announce the formation of the Georgia 2012 Republican National Convention Bid Committee. I wanted to give you an update:
The first meeting of the Committee will be Saturday November 22, 2008 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon at the offices of McKenna Long & Aldridge, 303 Peachtree Street, NE, Suite 5300 Atlanta, GA 30308.
Anyone who wishes to serve on the 2012 Bid Committee is invited to attend. This committee will be exploring the possibility of Georgia submitting a bid. We need everyone involved who wishes to participate. No decisions have been made and the point of this meeting is to allow everyone an opportunity to contribute and provide leadership and input. Please RSVP to strollom@bellsouth.net by November 14th, so that we may plan accordingly. Should you have any questions, please call XXX-XXX-XXXX.
After Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine called for Atlanta to host the RNC in 2012 at the 2008 RNC in Minneapolis Minnesota, members of the party have unified behind this effort.
To avoid distractions from the 2008 campaign focus, the Committee will begin formally working after the November 2008 election. Commissioner Oxendine has committed to raise $50,000 by December 31st to provide initial seed money for the Committee and has invited his fellow statewide GOP elected officials and the US Congressional delegation to join him.
Georgia would not be in a position to bid for the 2012 RNC National Convention without the leadership of such pioneers as Bo Callaway, Mack Mattingly, John Linder, Newt Gingrich, Paul Coverdell, Billy Lovett, John Stuckey, Carolyn Meadows, Dot Burns, Linda Herren, Alec Poitivent and our state Chair Sue Everhart.
We have a united effort growing rapidly on this bid, and I want to thank all of you who have expressed an interest in helping. In the old days, our party could only rely on a few people to do the hard work. Today, we are blessed by those who successfully laid such a solid foundation strong enough to seriously bid and host a national convention.
Already Republicans in Arizona (Phoenix), Indiana (Indianapolis), Louisiana (New Orleans), and Texas (Dallas) are organized and moving forward with their 2012 bids. All these states have already formed committees - before the close of the 2008 election cycle. In fact, Arizona who is busy trying to elect their US Senator as President, is able to also focus on 2012. New Orleans has already earned the support of the Democrat Mayor, who sent an official delegation to Minnesota to observe and prepare for their bid. Indianapolis is hosting the 2012 Super Bowl and the Indiana state GOP is working with the business community - today - to do both the Super Bowl and the Nation! al Convention.
Although these states are working now for 2012, we can clearly offer a better opportunity through our resourcefulness, hard work and great state. We take a back seat to no state in our ability to both elect our candidates and prepare for 2012.
Sincerely,
Maria Strollo Zack
2012 Bid Chairman
Rob Doll
First Vice Chair
Georgia Republican Party
Mansell McCord
Fifth District Chair
Georgia Republican Party
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Comments
By lucylou
October 2, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
By all means, let’s have the 2012 Republican convention in Atlanta. It’s not as if traffic weren’t bad enough already. What’s a few more thousand morons clogging up our roadways, acting like the true idiots they really are, and making pollution 10 times worse than it is now. Yes, please do come.
By Abomi Nation
October 2, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this
This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.
Georgia Republicans hate Atlanta, but now want the city to host the Republican convention??? Get lost.
Try pushing Columbus and see where that gets you, or maybe Cobb County, LMAO! The “Big Chicken” would be a great gathering spot for all them Republicans.
I can understand why Atlanta might be popular with Republicans because of the Hartsfield-Jackson mens rooms, but the answer is still NO.
And why embarrass the city? Republicans might want a glass of water, what if we’re out? What if they want to go see the Confederates at Stone Mountain and run out of gas? What if they want to go to the nudie bar and it takes them 4 hours to go three miles??
Why would Republicans want to showcase a city that has been abandoned by Republican state lawmakers who are turning the city into a third world showcase, instead of an American showcase?
What is a State with a TWO BILLION DOLLAR deficit going to bribe the selection committee with, a bag of peanuts?
No, not Atlanta. Let them go to Sonny’s south Georgia hometown and have the convention at Sonny’s new Fishin’ Stadium. I hear it will hold 50,000, plenty of room.
By The Truth Comes Out
October 2, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this
The way the dumbocraps that are running the city of Atlanta now there may be no city of Atlanta by 2012. Try somewhere else Republicans Atlanta is an embarrassment to the state of Georgia!
By Copyleft
October 2, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
And that’s why it would be so awkward to have a ton of Republicans wandering around Atlanta. The locals know how much the GOP hates them, and would (hopefully) respond in kind.
By Yall Come On Ya Hear
October 2, 2008 7:26 PM | Link to this
bring ‘em make sure its during gay pride week and open up Piedmont it will fun, throw a parade for everyone
By ATL
October 3, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
Is the Mayor suppporting this bid? Doubtful!
They will not be welcomed in the actual City of Atlanta. They would have to hold their events in the Cobb Energy Center.