There have been several diaries (referenced at the end of this diary) expressing concern from New Orleanians and others about why Netroots failed to get the convention going in New Orleans.
Rather than condemn Netroots, we'd like to give them an opportunity to explain what happened in more detail.
Nolan has offered to answer questions that we might have
regarding the planning of the convention. He is very, very busy and may not be able to answer your questions immediately.
More below the fold:
On a personal note: When I read, here on dailykos, that Netroots Nation was going to be held in Austin,
- My mouth fell open
- I felt a rush of disappointment
- I teared up.
- I got angry
- I commented on that and kos answered. I was satisfied with that at the time.
- A few days later I open the Times-Picyune. The headline from the front page was about losing the Presidential Debate. The article mentions the fact that there was plenty of room for it to be held here NEXT YEAR in '08 and that we are well-equipped to handle it.
- I got angrier.
- The next day, the TP ran another front-page headline on the same subject.
- I talked to Louisiana 76 about it in one of her diaries.
- Finally, I posted my own yesterday.
I want ya'll to know that I will fight to get this convention here. I am hoping that I can get every NOLA kossack to, at least, contribute in some way.
By the way, Yatpundit has a diary out today. We would like to have a Meet-up in early Dec. We're look at either the 6th or the 9th. This would be a great time to get together just to discuss this issue and to have a good time. Hey, we need to meet!
Back to this diary. I am doing this here because many people have asked for transparency and this is the most transparent way I can think of doing this. I trust that there are good reasons why Netroots can't be held in NOLA. Let's open up our heartfelt questions with that in mind.
One of the main purposes for this is so that we, as kossacks, can figure out what we can do to make this possible. I must state that, at this point, I believe, and I think Nolan would back this up, too much has gone into making this convention happen in Austin. Therefore, switching back to New Orleans is not my personal goal. However, I would truly like to see Netroots Nation happen in New Orleans, (preferably in June) of either '09 or '10. As someone who is proud to call New Orleans home, I promise to make that convention the best, most informative, most fun, most spooky, most romantic, most sexy, most entertaining convention any kossack will ever attend in their entire lives!
Here are my questions:
- Who tried to get Netroots Nation to New Orleans? Were they a local committee or other? Is there anyone on that committee whom we should get in touch with to put together a bid of '09 or 10?
- What venues did they try for? How many people did they anticipate would attend Netroots in '08?
From there I think I will have more questions.
Please list your questions in your posts, below.
Articles and diaries pertaining to this diary:
First Times-Picayune Article
First Louisiana 1976 diary
Yat Pundits's Diary
Editorial from the Times-Picayune regarding NOLA's "Readiness"
My diary from last night
Louisiana 1976's diary from today