I've been lurking here a while, but haven't seen this discussed, so I thought I'd throw it out there...
Does anyone besides me think the cynical decision to hold the RNC convention in New York in September was a huge miscalculation on the part of the Republicans? I think it might just be the final act of hubris that topples the administration. New York does NOT love this president... I'm predicting an enormous backlash, one that will dominate coverage of the convention, because:
Not only are New Yorkers by and large not Republicans, but everyone I know there feels, and reports that most people feel, exploited by the president and the administration already, in using 9/11 as an excuse for Iraq and passing a ridiculously conservative agenda in their name while not delivering on actual help for the victims and families... and they are, almost irrespective of their politics otherwise, REALLY angry about it.
All conventions are protested, but the protests are usually fairly small and kept well away from the action, and they are only perfunctorily covered by the press. In this case, however...
- New York is one of only a few cities with the population gravity to draw mass crowds, and the city is (see above) ready to come out for this.
- Many of those responsible for security at the convention, i.e. the NYPD, are likely on the protesters' side.
- The one thing Brokaw, Jennings and Rather, and their bosses and staff, have in common? They are all New Yorkers. They want to cover the New York reaction, and they probably sympathize with it.
So what do you all think... will the RNC convention be a flag-encrusted 9/11 all-American love-in? or disaster for the Republicans?