–
Boston DNC Convention 2004 –
Anatomy of an inevitable taxpayer mugging
– Page 7 –
Introduction
Citizens'
inconvenience and business
loss will be only the beginning of this partisan political
boondoggle, the Democratic National Committee's 2004 convention.
Direct costs of outright taxpayer subsidies, indirect
costs imposed by public
employee unions pressure, and implied or perhaps explicit quid pro quo
benefits to corporate large donors are just as inevitable as "cost
overruns" were to the Big Dig -- as we predicted back in the
mid-80s.
This is, after all, Massachusetts. The DNC couldn't
have picked a better sucker.
In the end, Democrat organizers will turn to the state
for an expensive taxpayer bail-out. In this state dominated by Democrats,
so many with presidential aspirations (JFK in '60, Ted Kennedy '80,
Dukakis and his disastrous "Massachusetts Miracle" in '88, Paul
Tsongas in '92, and now John Kerry in '04), inevitably it's like a Boston
Celtics slam-dunk right there in the FleetCenter's hoop. When the time
comes -- despite "the worst fiscal crisis since the Great
Depression" -- we Massachusetts
taxpayers will bankroll an 11th-hour bail-out of the Democrat's
national convention.
That's a FleetCenter event you can bet on.
Here's an historical time-line, so that later there can
be no excuses but lame excuses.
And we will be here to again announce "we told you
so"!
Chip Ford – December 11, 2002
Stalling his presidential nomination might end up costing Sen. John F. Kerry the one thing he really wants at a convention - live prime-time television.
At least one major television network yesterday frowned on the idea of Kerry delaying.
"If this comes to pass, we don't like hearing about one more piece of news that will not happen at a convention," said Mark Lukasiewicz, executive producer of NBC News' election coverage.
"I'm a news person. I like covering news." ...
Network executives have long balked at covering what amounts to a scripted four-day political infomercial and have curtailed coverage in recent years. Organizers of this year's Democratic convention were going out of their way to woo the networks - floating ideas such as a camera-friendly "in the round" setup.
(Full report follows)
The Boston Herald
Saturday, May 22, 2004
Democrats' delay tactic may turn into big TV turnoff
By Elisabeth J. Beardsley
Stalling his presidential nomination might end up costing Sen. John F. Kerry the one thing he really wants at a convention - live prime-time television.
At least one major television network yesterday frowned on the idea of Kerry delaying.
"If this comes to pass, we don't like hearing about one more piece of news that will not happen at a convention," said Mark Lukasiewicz, executive producer of NBC News' election coverage.
"I'm a news person. I like covering news."
Media-watchers warned of a major prime-time snore.
"Unless you're a crazed partisan Democrat, it's not must-see TV anyway," said Tobe Berkovitz, associate dean of Boston University's College of Communications.
"To make it so he isn't even going to accept the nomination really makes it even less appealing to the average citizen."
It may be all about the money for Kerry. But it's all about the ratings for TV networks locked in the competition of a nonstop news cycle.
Network executives have long balked at covering what amounts to a scripted four-day political infomercial and have curtailed coverage in recent years. Organizers of this year's Democratic convention were going out of their way to woo the networks - floating ideas such as a camera-friendly "in the round" setup.
Local organizers said they haven't yet heard complaints from the networks.
"I think the speech and the platform are the highlights of the convention, and I think (networks) will cover that," said Peggy Wilhide of the Democratic National Convention Committee.
So far, ABC and CBS shied away from the controversy, with spokespersons at each network calling Kerry's move "hypothetical" and saying their coverage decisions are still in flux.
CNN and the Fox News Network did not return calls.
Peter Tarlow, a Texas-based tourism security expert who has worked on security at the Salt Lake City Olympics, said the transportation security measures sound about right for an event like a major political party's convention....
Reducing the risk of a terrorist attack to a reasonable level in a dense urban area inevitably causes disruptions, he said.
"I think that's something Boston should have thought about when it bid on the convention," Tarlow said.
(Full report follows)
The Boston Herald
Saturday, May 22, 2004
Security pros: Road closures unavoidable
By Jack Meyers
The Secret Service and area cops had little choice but to close highways and create road-choking traffic in order to keep the FleetCenter safe during the Democratic National Convention in July, security experts said yesterday.
Several miles of Interstate 93 from Medford to the Massachusetts Turnpike interchange will be completely closed from 4 p.m. until after midnight during all four convention days, as will sections of Route 1, Storrow Drive and Memorial Drive - the primary arteries handling vehicles in and around Boston.
James J. Carafano, a homeland security expert at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, said closing I-93 is unavoidable because of its close proximity to the convention venue.
"There just aren't good security alternatives for major thoroughfares. Stopping and searching vehicles is impractical," Carafano said.
Even trying to use explosive-detecting wands on every car and truck would be impossible without causing crushing gridlock throughout the area, he said.
"On an airline, for example, you can do extra screening of passengers or put air marshals on board," Carafano said.
"With road traffic, there are no good options" other than closing the road near a possible terrorist target such as a national political convention, he said.
Peter Tarlow, a Texas-based tourism security expert who has worked on security at the Salt Lake City Olympics, said the transportation security measures sound about right for an event like a major political party's convention.
"If I were the city of Boston, I would be taking the precautions they are taking," Tarlow said. "The threat level is very high" for the Democratic and Republican conventions, he said.
Reducing the risk of a terrorist attack to a reasonable level in a dense urban area inevitably causes disruptions, he said.
"I think that's something Boston should have thought about when it bid on the convention," Tarlow said.
"There is no such thing as total security," Tarlow said.
Officials have to weigh many factors - the threat, the cost of implementing security, economic loss due to lost productivity, among others, he said.
"This is going to be standard with these (events) in the future," Tarlow predicted.
‘Financial
bonanza’ myth shattered; economic losses grow
In the space of two months, the Democratic National Convention has gone from a $154 million boon to Boston to a potential $50 million hit to the local economy as businesses absorb the magnitude of the announced highway, street, and mass-transit closings.
A ghost town was effectively the picture portrayed by downtown merchants and businesses this week when they learned that commuters, customers, and tourists would stay away during the convention, which begins July 26. Economists say the reduction in the city's downtown work force, losses to tourism, retail, and eating establishments, plus lost productivity for workers tied up in crowded subway stations or massive traffic jams will add up to a huge negative impact on metropolitan Boston and its economy.
Economists' conservative estimates of the loss range from $34.3 million to $49.8 million for the week, but some forecasts say the potential losses could be much higher if the effect on suburban communities is factored in as well....
Last month, Mayor Thomas M. Menino's office said the event would pour $154 million into the city. Convention planners declined comment on the new numbers, but Seth Gitell, Menino's spokesman, said yesterday, "Mayor Menino is confident that when all is said and done and we look back with an historical eye, this convention will be an economic plus." ...
The mounting predictions of economic losses are undercutting early promotion of the convention as a boon to Boston....
No estimates were available yesterday on the impact to suburbs, which will clearly feel negative spillover. In the worst case, said Mark Zandi, chief economist for Economy.com, the metropolitan area could lose $300 million in economic output from road closings.
(Full report follows)
The Boston Globe
Saturday, May 22, 2004
Convention bust may reach $50m
By Kimberly Blanton and Andrew Caffrey, Globe Staff
In the space of two months, the Democratic National Convention has gone from a $154 million boon to Boston to a potential $50 million hit to the local economy as businesses absorb the magnitude of the announced highway, street, and mass-transit closings.
A ghost town was effectively the picture portrayed by downtown merchants and businesses this week when they learned that commuters, customers, and tourists would stay away during the convention, which begins July 26. Economists say the reduction in the city's downtown work force, losses to tourism, retail, and eating establishments, plus lost productivity for workers tied up in crowded subway stations or massive traffic jams will add up to a huge negative impact on metropolitan Boston and its economy.
Economists' conservative estimates of the loss range from $34.3 million to $49.8 million for the week, but some forecasts say the potential losses could be much higher if the effect on suburban communities is factored in as well. Before the release of new traffic information, the convention had been pegged in estimates at costing businesses $13 million, according to the Beacon Hill Institute.
Last month, Mayor Thomas M. Menino's office said the event would pour $154 million into the city. Convention planners declined comment on the new numbers, but Seth Gitell, Menino's spokesman, said yesterday, "Mayor Menino is confident that when all is said and done and we look back with an historical eye, this convention will be an economic plus."
Rarely has a city's major highway been shut down for hours at a time for this many days, as State Police plan to do with Interstate 93 and other crucial arteries into the city during the convention, traffic specialists say. Yet some businesses, such as restaurants and downtown hotels, clearly will benefit from the convention.
Michael Kelleher, vice president and general manager of Faneuil Hall Marketplace LLC, the management company for the downtown destination that expects to be flooded with partying conventioneers, said the fears are overblown.
"We got through 3 feet of snow in December. We got through 10 years of the Big Dig," he said. "We can get through four days of this with the blink of an eye."
But travelers and tourists are expected to stay far away from the city, and many employers are telling employees to work partial workdays, take vacations, or stay home. Retail establishments and tourist outfits are bracing for a week that many anticipate will be devastating to business during the peak summer season.
"People are going to avoid us like a bad case of the bubonic plague," said Jeremy Shugar, a manager at Hilton Tent City, a camping- and outdoor-equipment store a stone's throw from the FleetCenter, the site of the convention. "I don't know how we're going to deal with it," said Michael Lappen, vice president of Lappen's Discount Auto Parts, which has 19 stores in Greater Boston and a warehouse in Quincy.
The mounting predictions of economic losses are undercutting early promotion of the convention as a boon to Boston. Certainly, the convention is an opportunity for a week of publicity, as historic attractions and its waterfront are beamed around the world.
News that I-93 would be shut down at least eight hours per day during the event, along with large sections of Memorial Drive, Storrow Drive, McGrath-O'Brien Highway, and Route 1 south, is expected to scare away most tourists and business travelers and create unprecedented traffic. "It's Olympian in scale," said Tim Lomax, research engineer for the Texas Transportation Institute, part of Texas A&M University.
Economic activity generated by convention visitors, economists said, will be partly offset by losses from tourists avoiding the city.
Jay Spence, whose family owns Massachusetts Bay Lines, said yesterday that he has "zero" bookings during convention week for day trips on eight boats docked at Rowes Wharf for business and parties. Busloads of Japanese tourists who typically stop for a boat ride in Boston Harbor will not stop during convention week, he said. "I hate being doom and gloom," Spence said. "But for businesses living paycheck to paycheck, or with short seasons like ours, it's a tremendous burden on us. Boston will be showcased during this time -- and we have nothing."
Beacon Hill Institute's initial estimate of the convention's impact did not take into account a $9 million loss in general tourism business because visitors will avoid the city. "When I saw the numbers I was surprised," said David Tuerck, the institute's executive director.
The institute's updated estimate of the economic drain is $34.3 million. A separate estimate, by the Center for Economic Analysis at the University of Connecticut, puts the total loss at $49.8 million. The center's estimate includes $10 million more for productivity losses, $4 million in retail losses, and $2 million more for tourism losses.
No estimates were available yesterday on the impact to suburbs, which will clearly feel negative spillover. In the worst case, said Mark Zandi, chief economist for Economy.com, the metropolitan area could lose $300 million in economic output from road closings. This assumes an unlikely scenario in which all activity will stop for one-third of the convention period. His estimate of tourism losses -- $30 million -- was also pessimistic. But, Zandi said, "that's the most you could possibly lose."
The impact of newly announced road closings will mean greater losses in productivity than during a typical rush hour, as delivery men and commuters sit in traffic, the institute said. Initially, it estimated $24 million in productivity losses; it raised that to nearly $37 million after State and Boston police announced that all major inbound thoroughfares would be closed.
David Mareira, co-owner of Roadrunner Moving & Storage Inc. in Charlestown, said there "is absolutely no doubt in my mind" that travel limitations will cost him business. The end of July is the second-busiest time of year for his company. The only way in and out of Roadrunner's location, near the Tobin Bridge, which will be closed southbound, is on roads that will either be closed or probably clogged. His big concern is who will pay for additional travel time caused by congestion: the customer or the company. "You want me to ask the consumer in this competitive market to pay $300 more because I can't get there?" Mareira said. "Either we're going to have to reduce the work or subsidize the job and make less profit margin."
Raising the stakes for the city and state, too, the Democratic Party has received about $15 million in taxpayer funds to hold its nominating convention. Trevor Potter, a former FEC chairman who is now president of the independent Campaign Legal Center, predicts that Democrats would probably have to return the money if the event did not produce a nominee. "If this convention doesn't produce a nominee in Boston, what's the point?" Potter said.
Some campaign-finance watchdogs chided Kerry for fearing a Bush money advantage when, in the first four months of 2004, Kerry raised $85 million to the Bush campaign's $65 million. Kerry has also benefited from a collection of Democratic-leaning groups that are running ads and promoting the party's agenda....
Holding a convention without officially choosing a nominee could also anger voters in Kerry's home state. "People will be inconvenienced for four days, and he isn't even going to accept the nomination," said Dan Payne, a Democratic political consultant....
Mayor Thomas Menino told WBZ-TV, "I was very surprised by it." This week's announcements of road closings for the convention have already taken a toll, he said. "After being beat up two days, and now this.... It's just a question about why this wasn't brought up earlier."
(Full report follows)
The Boston Globe
Saturday, May 22, 2004
Kerry may delay official nomination
Move would be advantage in spending race
By Patrick Healy and Rick Klein, Globe Staff
Senator John F. Kerry may delay his nomination as the Democratic presidential standard-bearer in Boston this July in order to deprive President Bush of a significant spending advantage during the final phase of the campaign. Such a move would be unprecedented in presidential politics and may sharply alter the tone of the convention here, campaign officials and top Democrats said yesterday.
Senior Kerry advisers said that they were considering delaying the nomination process to Sept. 1 and that Kerry would deliver a speech to the delegates at the July 26-29 convention, but not an acceptance speech. The Democratic National Committee would change party rules so that delegates who normally vote at the convention could vote later over the Internet or by proxy on Sept. 1 when "the nomination would be formalized, accepted, and documented," Kerry spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said yesterday.
Under federal election law, candidates can spend the money they have raised during the primary season until they are nominated by their party, at which time they are obligated to use the public financing system to pay for campaign ads and events. As a result, Kerry is considering a strategy intended to eliminate the five-week period between conventions, a time when Kerry, as a nominee, would have to start paying for his campaign from his $75 million general election account.
By contrast, under federal election law, President Bush could raise and spend primary-season dollars until he is forced to tap into his own $75 million account when he is nominated during the Aug. 30-Sept. 2 Republican convention in New York. By that time, Democratic officials estimate, Kerry could have spent $10 million to $15 million.
"We won't fight this election with one hand behind our back," Cutter said. She said that delaying the nomination is just one strategy under consideration.
This strategy has never been tried before, and it is has several potential pitfalls, analysts said. Whether the proposal is even permissible still must be determined, both Kerry officials and Federal Election Commission officials said yesterday.
Beyond the legalities, changing the purpose of the Democratic convention could pose risks: For decades, the acceptance speeches of newly nominated presidential nominees have been the dramatic high point of campaigns, and they usually trigger a bounce for them in the polls. A Democratic convention that neither produces an official nominee nor a speech by Kerry that includes the words, "I accept your nomination," could leave some voters confused or deflated.
Kerry, asked by reporters last night about the nomination strategy, said he wanted his aides to speak for him on the issue. Pressed whether he would receive and accept the nomination at the July convention, Kerry answered, "I intend to accept the nomination."
Republicans seized on the idea floated by the Kerry campaign and unleashed one of their favorite lines of attack against Kerry, saying that he was trying to have it both ways.
"Only John Kerry could be for a nominating convention, but be against the nomination," said a statement issued by Bush campaign manager Ken Mehlman. "This is just the latest example of John Kerry's belief that the rules are for other people, not for him."
Democrats picked July 2004 for their convention on the assumption that the nominee would need access to the $75 million in federal funds quickly, after a bruising primary fight. But because Kerry clinched the nomination relatively early, the party has united behind him, and he is enjoying record fund-raising.
Republican Party officials argued that Kerry should abide by the decisions that his party has made. Under federal election law, the campaigns must spend from their general election funds, once candidates are formally nominated.
"This has never happened before, but the language is pretty simple that you must start using general-election funds once the nomination is made," said Bob Biersack, an FEC spokesman. Biersack said that the only way the campaign could be certain about the legality of the idea is by seeking an advisory opinion from the commission; the Kerry campaign has yet to do so, he said.
Raising the stakes for the city and state, too, the Democratic Party has received about $15 million in taxpayer funds to hold its nominating convention. Trevor Potter, a former FEC chairman who is now president of the independent Campaign Legal Center, predicts that Democrats would probably have to return the money if the event did not produce a nominee. "If this convention doesn't produce a nominee in Boston, what's the point?" Potter said.
Some campaign-finance watchdogs chided Kerry for fearing a Bush money advantage when, in the first four months of 2004, Kerry raised $85 million to the Bush campaign's $65 million. Kerry has also benefited from a collection of Democratic-leaning groups that are running ads and promoting the party's agenda.
Republican National Committee lawyers immediately began researching the implications such a move would have on federal dollars that flow to the convention. Darrell Crate, chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party, said he was concerned that state or city taxpayers would be on the hook if the convention sacrifices federal dollars. He said that the traffic delays in and around Boston would hardly be worth the hassle if there isn't a formal nomination. "I feel bad for the hundreds of thousands of commuters who would be inconvenienced just for a pep rally," Crate said.
While Democratic Party officials publicly lined up behind the Kerry campaign's brainstorming, some said privately that they, too, were concerned about the fate of the $15 million in federal funding and that the convention would lose its potency if it did not yield a nominee. According to one Democratic Party official, who spoke on condition on anonymity, the party rules could be rewritten to transform the July gathering "from a nominating convention to a convention for rallying around the candidate-nominee."
"I don't know if a really big rally would work," the official said.
Another concern is the Democrats' ability to have television networks cover their July convention, and especially Kerry's speech, if he is not officially nominated.
"Does it factor in? Sure," said Mark Lukasiewicz, executive producer of NBC News political coverage. "We have to consider the news value of the convention. We don't like hearing there's one more piece of news that's not going to happen at the convention."
Holding a convention without officially choosing a nominee could also anger voters in Kerry's home state. "People will be inconvenienced for four days, and he isn't even going to accept the nomination," said Dan Payne, a Democratic political consultant.
Convention organizers have openly fretted about getting the public and the news media to pay attention to the event. According to the Democratic National Convention's figures, the combined ABC, CBS, and NBC coverage for each party's convention dropped from about 20 hours in 1992 to just 11 hours in 2000, while ratings dipped by a third over the same period.
Local organizers were caught off-guard by the Kerry campaign yesterday.
Mayor Thomas Menino told WBZ-TV, "I was very surprised by it." This week's announcements of road closings for the convention have already taken a toll, he said. "After being beat up two days, and now this.... It's just a question about why this wasn't brought up earlier."
Some leading Democrats who like the delay strategy said they were counting on the public not caring about such money-driven, procedural moves. "Maybe Kerry can say something like, 'I accept your nomination on contingency,' and cough when he says the last two words," said Carter Eskew, a senior adviser to Democratic nominee Al Gore in 2000.
Mark Jurkowitz of the Globe staff contributed to this report.
The final “inevitable”
piece drops in place:
Boston Globe (naturally) first to call for taxpayer bailout!
This extra transit service will cost about $5
million, but the Legislature has put the T under tight budget constraints. The Democratic convention will put the state in the national spotlight. The Romney administration and the Legislature should compensate the T for extra spending on what has become a transportation emergency.
(Full report follows)
The Boston Globe
Saturday, May 22, 2004
A Boston Globe editorial
A test for the T
Despite planned disruptions to the MBTA's own service during the Democratic National Convention, general manager Michael H. Mulhern says the T is up to the challenge of becoming the prime transportation resource for the Boston area during these stressful four days. The state should provide extra funds to make sure the T will not run a deficit for its exertions.
"Rapid transit will do a fantastic job with all types of extra service throughout the day," Mulhern said in a telephone interview yesterday. "Our entire fleet and work force will be deployed."
To provide additional capacity, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is retaining 578 buses that were about to be retired. Many will be used to carry commuter rail passengers who would otherwise get off at North Station. These riders will be driven to Red, Orange, or Blue Line stops.
The worst transportation problems will come in the late afternoon, when security officials will close Interstate 93 to all vehicles except buses and ambulances. That should make for a smoother ride home for many displaced North Station commuters. They will be whisked up I-93 to the outlying stations.
Mulhern said the T cannot accommodate every commuter who usually drives into the city. His advice for drivers is to get out by 4 p.m., before highway closings commence. But there will be enough extra capacity to make it worthwhile for many people to keep their cars at home. The T has thousands of unused parking spaces at the Anderson Transportation Center in Woburn to the north and the Route 128 Station south of Boston to accommodate first-time transit commuters. Private lots at Wonderland in Revere and the North Shore Mall in Peabody will also provide 2,200 spaces. The T needs to publicize the availability of this additional parking.
This extra transit service will cost about $5 million, but the Legislature has put the T under tight budget constraints. The Democratic convention will put the state in the national spotlight.
The Romney administration and the Legislature should compensate the T for extra spending on what has become a transportation
emergency.
Back in January 2003, citing security concerns, the Boston Police Department urged the local host committee for the Democratic National Convention to abandon its plan to hold the event in the FleetCenter, according to a high-level police official in Massachusetts. Convention organizers rejected that advice in part because of leasing and contractual agreements, according to the official....
"It was a nonstarter," said Burns, adding that she never raised the issue with the Democratic National Committee.
(Full report follows)
The Boston Globe
Saturday, May 22, 2004
A Boston Globe editorial
And for the city
Back in January 2003, citing security concerns, the Boston Police Department urged the local host committee for the Democratic National Convention to abandon its plan to hold the event in the FleetCenter, according to a high-level police official in Massachusetts. Convention organizers rejected that advice in part because of leasing and contractual agreements, according to the official.
The wisdom of the department's advice became only too clear this week when state and federal officials announced that nearly 40 miles of roadway in and around the city will be shut down from July 26 to July 29, likely causing massive inconvenience for residents, commuters, and businesses.
Also clear is that Mayor Menino and Boston 2004, the convention host committee, were so focused in the spring of 2002 on hyping their bid -- which required the services of a fife and drum corps and actors dressed as Colonists -- that they gave insufficient thought to the security challenges of the first political convention since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Julie Burns, executive director of Boston 2004, says Boston police officials made inquiries about moving the Democrats to the new convention center on the South Boston waterfront but did not press the issue. She says the conversations took place in October 2003, not January.
"It was a nonstarter," said Burns, adding that she never raised the issue with the Democratic National Committee.
Boston 2004 organizers have acknowledged that they would have lost $3.5 million if they had broken their lease with the FleetCenter.
Clearly, public safety was not given enough weight during the application process. In a post-Sept. 11 world, it is folly for the US Secret Service to enter the process only after a site has been selected. The Secret Service should have been integral to the selection process, consulted by convention planners well before they sought the advice of experts on hotel occupancy, stagecraft, and TV sight lines. The presence of a few public safety officials at the beginning of the process might have saved the need for the mobilization of thousands in July.
"It's going to make a mockery out of the nomination process for the Democratic Party," said Boston City Councilor James M. Kelly. "People come from across the country, and the purpose of them being here is to nominate a candidate for the party."
If Kerry goes ahead with the delay, Kelly predicted "frustration and anger" among city residents and convention delegates who find, on top of traffic jams, that their part in history has been taken from them....
In one scenario outlined by a Kerry spokeswoman, Stephanie Cutter, delegates would skip the usual vote to approve a nomination, but would vote at the end of the convention to reconvene in September to choose a nominee. Democratic nominating rules would have to be changed to allow the delay, and delegates would vote by Internet or proxy on Sept. 1 to confirm Kerry's nomination....
Republican leaders ridiculed the plan last week, saying Kerry was trying to have it both ways, and lamenting that thousands of commuters would be inconvenienced for a "pep rally." ...
"It's a slap in the face, no matter how you look at it," said Barbara Anderson, executive director of the watchdog group Citizens for Limited Taxation. Anderson called it "beyond absurd" to disrupt the city if Kerry does not accept the nomination at the convention.
"They have no right to shut down a city to have a party," she said. "Why don't they all just vote by e-mail, or fax, or phone?" ...
Lou DiNatale, a political analyst at the University of Massachusetts at Boston, said most people wouldn't care about the change if it is made, and those who might -- active Democrats -- will support any move that might help defeat Bush.
"Most voters don't like conventions," he said. "There's no real downside to playing with the convention, because people don't care."
(Full report follows)
The Boston Globe
Sunday, May 23, 2004
Kerry idea finds support; city wary
Menino aides question timing
By Jenna Russell and Patrick Healy, Globe Staff
Massachusetts Democrat Party leaders said yesterday that they will rally behind Senator John F. Kerry if he decides to postpone his nomination as the Democratic presidential candidate until after the convention, calling it a smart strategy that would not lessen the excitement and importance of the four-day event in Boston.
Behind the scenes, however, aides close to Mayor Thomas M. Menino said city leaders were upset by the timing of the news, released one day after the transportation plan for the convention drew widespread criticism. One Boston city councilor, meanwhile, said he couldn't believe Kerry would consider postponing the nomination.
"It's going to make a mockery out of the nomination process for the Democratic Party," said Boston City Councilor James M. Kelly. "People come from across the country, and the purpose of them being here is to nominate a candidate for the party."
If Kerry goes ahead with the delay, Kelly predicted "frustration and anger" among city residents and convention delegates who find, on top of traffic jams, that their part in history has been taken from them.
Kerry aides emphasized yesterday that the proposal is preliminary, and said campaign lawyers are still analyzing election spending rules to conclude if the delay is even possible.
Postponing the nomination until Sept. 1 would be an unprecedented move that would help Kerry raise more money and spend more on his campaign. Federal election law requires candidates to start using the public financing system as soon as they are nominated.
If Kerry begins spending his allotted public funds in July, five weeks before the Republican convention, he could face the crucial final weeks of the campaign with $10 to $15 million less than President Bush.
Several Democratic delegates who expected to watch Kerry accept their nomination on the floor of the FleetCenter said that without that climactic moment the convention will still play a crucial role in introducing Kerry to a national audience and showcasing his plans for the country. And if a strategic delay can help him win the presidency, supporters said, he should pursue that plan.
"I understand that the convention is a wonderful thing, but the more important thing is the inaugural in Washington," said Charles Glick, a Boston consultant and a convention delegate from the Eighth Congressional District.
Speaking to reporters late yesterday, Kerry promised that Boston will not be let down.
"No matter what decision is made, Boston is going to have the greatest convention America has ever known," he said. "No decision has been made, but nothing we do will reduce in any way the energy and intensity of the convention in Boston."
In one scenario outlined by a Kerry spokeswoman, Stephanie Cutter, delegates would skip the usual vote to approve a nomination, but would vote at the end of the convention to reconvene in September to choose a nominee. Democratic nominating rules would have to be changed to allow the delay, and delegates would vote by Internet or proxy on Sept. 1 to confirm Kerry's nomination.
Another possibility would be to hold a vote at the convention, with delegates approving a motion to nominate Kerry that would be effective Sept. 1.
Asked if the campaign would seek an advisory opinion on the proposal from the Federal Election Commission, aides said nothing has been decided.
Commenting on the convention during a city cleanup yesterday, Menino said his advice to Kerry would be to follow tradition and accept the nomination at the convention.
"Just do it," Menino said. "Just get it done."
But he said he understood why the change would be considered. "There should be some change in the regulations, when it comes to when you start spending the money," Menino said. "That's the real issue here."
Republican leaders ridiculed the plan last week, saying Kerry was trying to have it both ways, and lamenting that thousands of commuters would be inconvenienced for a "pep rally." On Thursday, state and federal authorities detailed a convention transportation plan that included nearly 40 miles of road closures, confirming commuters' worst fears. For some, the news about the nomination added to their frustration.
John Marazzi, a painter for the Somerville Housing Authority who must commute from his home in Tewksbury, said yesterday that if Kerry doesn't intend on accepting the nomination, "they shouldn't have the convention."
"It the guy is not going to accept the nomination, they're wasting your time and my money," said Marazzi, whose usual commute down Interstate 93 will be cut off due to security-related highway closures. "Why have the convention then? It's not right. They're going to turn the city into a parking lot and it's not fair."
"It's a slap in the face, no matter how you look at it," said Barbara
Anderson, executive director of the watchdog group Citizens for Limited
Taxation. Anderson called it "beyond absurd" to disrupt the city if Kerry does not accept the nomination at the convention.
"They have no right to shut down a city to have a party," she said. "Why don't they all just vote by e-mail, or fax, or phone?"
A spokesman for Senator Edward M. Kennedy, a friend of Kerry's and a cochairman of the campaign, said Kennedy knew the idea has been under discussion and was not surprised that the Kerry camp would consider it. State Democratic chairman Philip W. Johnston said he believes the move is "critically important" to the success of the campaign.
"It makes no sense to allow George Bush to maintain a significant financial advantage," he said. "This would level the playing field."
Two top fund-raisers for Kerry said yesterday that they had heard about the nomination discussions and were still considering the pros and cons -- particularly the possible impact if the convention lacks a celebratory acceptance speech from the senator. The fund-raisers, who both spoke on condition of anonymity, said the idea was appealing because it would allow them to continue seeking money from donors who have given less than the $2,000 maximum contribution and would probably be inspired later to give more money.
Around the country, some party leaders reacted cautiously. Dan Trevas, communications director for the Democratic Party in the battleground state of Ohio, said he and his colleagues are still trying to figure out Kerry's thinking on the possible delay.
"There's probably a whole lot more we have to learn about what's the cost and benefit before we'd have any kind of full reaction," he said. "We are like the rest of the country -- curious and wondering what the effect is.... Because no one's ever done this."
A spokesman for Governor Mitt Romney declined to comment. The convention host committee chairman, David Passafaro, also said he would not comment.
Lou DiNatale, a political analyst at the University of Massachusetts at Boston, said most people wouldn't care about the change if it is made, and those who might -- active Democrats -- will support any move that might help defeat Bush.
"Most voters don't like conventions," he said. "There's no real downside to playing with the convention, because people don't care."
In Boston, business owners and managers near the FleetCenter expressed little emotion about the potential change. Tony Staffier, manager of Hilton's Tent City on Friend Street, said he is more concerned about the uncertainty surrounding convention planning, which he believes will disrupt his outdoor and camping store, than about Kerry's nomination.
But Hyde Park resident Robert Hassett, a registered Independent, said he wouldn't be surprised if some Democrats were angry. "I think if I was a Democrat, and he pulled that, I'd feel like he slighted the people of Boston," he said.
Globe reporters Rick Klein and Ralph Ranalli and Globe correspondent Connie Paige contributed to this report.
This Democratic convention fiasco is turning into a clash of cultures - between those who actually work for a living, and those who don't.
Can you guess which side the Democrats are on?
The impending regionwide gridlock was infuriating enough before Friday's announcement that Liveshot may not actually accept the nomination that Thursday night in July. Now it's even more of a slap in the face of everyone with a real job, as opposed to a government job.
And could the in-the-satchel news media have fallen over themselves any faster, covering for the 65-year-old gold-digger Teresa's boy-toy? The New York Times instantly coined a new phrase for what will be GI Gigolo's ridiculous nonacceptance speech.
It will be his "culminating speech." ...
For the Democratic base, this weeklong paralysis of Boston is no big deal. Those who slurp at the public trough haven't been rushing to grab vacation days that last week of July because they're counting on being told not to come in. Not only are the hacks not going to lose a dime, they expect to heist an extra week of paid vacation out of this.
The pols lecture everyone with a real job to "stagger" their working hours. Sorry, staggering is for Ted Kennedy and Chris Dodd. People who work with their hands don't have that luxury. So then the hacks order taxpayers to "telecommute." ...
It's rare that you can observe such a total disconnect between the Beautiful People and the hoi polloi. When have you ever heard cops joking about an impending disaster? On Thursday, they did everything but tell you to tie down your lawn furniture. But this isn't a hurricane, or a tornado. Those are acts of God. This is an act of Mumbles.
(Full report follows)
The Boston Herald
Sunday, May 23, 2004
Gridlock only stops those of us who work
By Howie Carr
This Democratic convention fiasco is turning into a clash of cultures - between those who actually work for a living, and those who don't.
Can you guess which side the Democrats are on?
The impending regionwide gridlock was infuriating enough before Friday's announcement that Liveshot may not actually accept the nomination that Thursday night in July. Now it's even more of a slap in the face of everyone with a real job, as opposed to a government job.
And could the in-the-satchel news media have fallen over themselves any faster, covering for the 65-year-old gold-digger Teresa's boy-toy? The New York Times instantly coined a new phrase for what will be GI Gigolo's ridiculous nonacceptance speech.
It will be his "culminating speech."
For the Democratic base, this weeklong paralysis of Boston is no big deal. Those who slurp at the public trough haven't been rushing to grab vacation days that last week of July because they're counting on being told not to come in. Not only are the hacks not going to lose a dime, they expect to heist an extra week of paid vacation out of this.
The pols lecture everyone with a real job to "stagger" their working hours. Sorry, staggering is for Ted Kennedy and Chris Dodd. People who work with their hands don't have that luxury. So then the hacks order taxpayers to "telecommute."
How exactly does a nurse at MGH "telecommute"? Or a cabbie, or a cold-call salesman, or a guy with a delivery truck full of perishables?
But the political classes aren't worried about a backlash. The sheeple of Massachusetts are incapable of rising up. They just take it, whether it's tax increases or gay "marriage" or toll hikes. Which is why Mumbles seems so unconcerned. To paraphrase His Honor, this convention will be an Alcatraz around your neck, not his.
It's rare that you can observe such a total disconnect between the Beautiful People and the hoi polloi. When have you ever heard cops joking about an impending disaster? On Thursday, they did everything but tell you to tie down your lawn furniture. But this isn't a hurricane, or a tornado. Those are acts of God. This is an act of Mumbles.
The Big Dig banditos still will be collecting their $2 million-a-day overhead that week, for doing nothing. It's guys like Joe, who runs an air-conditioning service in the North End, who take it on the chin.
"Late July, that's my gravy time," he said the other night. "Now, I gotta tell my three guys, I can't pay you that week. My supplier's in Charlestown - how do you get from the North End to Charlestown that week?"
You don't.
A guy from Nashua with a delivery route called in, wondering what he's supposed to do. He operates from Chelsea to Dorchester, and he can get into the city, but how's he supposed to get home at night? Well, he could take the Turnpike extension to 128 North to I-93, but guess what, everyone in the world will be on those roads, assuming they're not the next ones to be shut down.
"I'm out," he said. "Everything's going to be a parking lot."
This is a big regional story, obviously, but it will get minimal national coverage, for the obvious reason that it makes John Kerry look bad. But when the Republicans gather in New York, watch out - the presstitutes will say the GOP has turned Manhattan into Abu Ghraib. Count on it.
Howie Carr's radio show can be heard weekday afternoons on WRKO AM 680, WHYN AM 560, WGAN AM 560, WEIM AM 1280, and WXTK 95.1 FM.
"What's keeping Bush from doing the same thing?" Menino wondered. "Suppose he decides to push back his nomination?"
Admittedly, Menino was engaging in a bit of free association, trying to extend the logic of an illogical situation. But then, who's to say he was wrong? Where's the precedent for this political script? ...
"What the Kerry people have done," Menino said, "is expose this loophole in the federal elections law. The Republicans get five weeks to spend the extra millions they have. And yet, if Kerry makes this move to counter it, he gets hammered as being indecisive and a waffler.
"If the (Kerry campaign) strategists knew about this," the mayor added, "I think it was something that should have been addressed months ago." ...
And let's not forget the $15 million in federal funds the city is counting on to help underwrite that payoff moment. "What happens to that federal money now?" Menino asked rhetorically. "We don't know."
(Full report follows)
The Boston Herald
Sunday, May 23, 2004
Menino cast in role of the helpless host
By Peter Gelzinis
For a guy whose innards have a tendency to flame up, Tom Menino did not need the extra aggravation. While the mayor kept saying yesterday morning that he could appreciate the Kerry campaign's method, the potential madness of this latest convention wrinkle left him looking ... well, rather ill.
"What's keeping Bush from doing the same thing?" Menino wondered. "Suppose he decides to push back his nomination?"
Admittedly, Menino was engaging in a bit of free association, trying to extend the logic of an illogical situation. But then, who's to say he was wrong? Where's the precedent for this political script?
"What the Kerry people have done," Menino said, "is expose this loophole in the federal elections law. The Republicans get five weeks to spend the extra millions they have. And yet, if Kerry makes this move to counter it, he gets hammered as being indecisive and a waffler.
"If the (Kerry campaign) strategists knew about this," the mayor added, "I think it was something that should have been addressed months ago."
Until Friday, what had been shaping up as the Democratic coronation of the hometown son suddenly turned into a huge potential alienation by the hometown son and his campaign masterminds. Convention interruptis.
For Menino, of course, there is the gnawing frustration of finding himself cast ever deeper into the role (or is it hole?) of helpless host. He has no choice but to live with a post 9/11 security plan, drafted largely by the Secret Service and FBI, that will effectively shut down about a third of the city.
Despite the howling of talk show blabmeisters who, for the next two months, will massage the spleens of disgruntled commuters, Menino believes the lasting benefits of "winning" this convention will overshadow four days of inconvenience.
"That's a hit I've always been willing to take," he said, "because I think the opportunity to showcase this city is worth it."
But enduring this wave of public annoyance was always based on reaching the payoff moment, when virtually the whole world would watch John Kerry - showcased in his hometown for the defining moment of his political career - say the words, "I am proud to accept your nomination."
And let's not forget the $15 million in federal funds the city is counting on to help underwrite that payoff moment. "What happens to that federal money now?" Menino asked rhetorically. "We don't know."
A significant part of the anxiety etched upon the mayor's face yesterday had more to do with the risks to Kerry's presidential chances than the pitfalls to the city.
"As things stand now, I think John Kerry can win this," Menino said, "all you have to do is look at the (poll) numbers. Bush is in real trouble. I'd just hate to see something like this become the kind of distraction that works against Kerry. What bothers me is that I think it could."
The mayor stood on Thomas Park yesterday, watching a group of South Boston people launch into a rigorous spring cleaning with brooms and shovels. If only it were that easy to clean up this budding mess. When asked if there was anything he could do to affect the situation, the mayor smiled, then shrugged.
Yes, he could pin his hopes on the likes of Ted Kennedy and perhaps a handful of local congressmen to broker another point of view. Beyond that ...
"I didn't hear about all this until 5:30 Friday afternoon," the mayor said. "I'm told things will be OK. We'll just have to wait and see."
Why, exactly, are we still hosting this convention?
"It's the shrimp," says Ilene Conway of Lynnfield. "It's all about the shrimp."
As in free shrimp. For the delegates. Because "they are the nobility," as Mark Ogilvie puts it. "And we are the peasants." ...
What happened to our old 9/11 mantras about living normal lives? Don't let fear of terrorism send you cowering, we said. That's letting the terrorists win. Remember? Go home and figure the ka-booming! odds are overwhelmingly on your side. Get thee to Fenway for a"Sock" game, as Mayor Menino calmly advised - then....
Can curfews, ankle bracelets and house arrests be far behind?
"If something bad happens," asks "Joey from the North End," his moniker of choice, "how do we get out of town? We'll be trapped!"
"They're gonna need more than the usual spin on this one," says one political adviser. "They're gonna need a damn tornado.
(Full report follows)
The Boston Herald
Sunday, May 23, 2004
The little person suffers amid the Big Scam Jam
By Margery Eagan
Why, exactly, are we still hosting this convention?
"It's the shrimp," says Ilene Conway of Lynnfield. "It's all about the shrimp."
As in free shrimp. For the delegates. Because "they are the nobility," as Mark Ogilvie puts it. "And we are the peasants."
And here's what peasants do: pay for shrimp and everything else. Let's see. There's The Big Dig, or The Big Scam.
Now right next store there's The Big Convention, or The Big Scam Jam, as in traffic. Or The Big Scam Stall, as some might say, from Braintree to Woburn, 40 miles of roads.
"More space than they closed for Chernobyl," says Kevin Barry of Chelsea. But those Russians were just peasants, too, like the good folks of Everett and Chelsea who shake in their boots watching LNG tankers float in (ka-boom!) and out (ka-boom!) and in (ka-boom-boom-boom!) again.
What happened to our old 9/11 mantras about living normal lives? Don't let fear of terrorism send you cowering, we said. That's letting the terrorists win. Remember? Go home and figure the ka-booming! odds are overwhelmingly on your side. Get thee to Fenway for a"Sock" game, as Mayor Menino calmly advised - then.
But now? Now we're shutting down highways, byways, waterways, the locks on the Charles, reports Walter McKay of Wayland, so even those who've managed to get a vacation week off won't be able to get where they're going or take even a teeny dinghy down the Charles.
Can curfews, ankle bracelets and house arrests be far behind?
"If something bad happens," asks "Joey from the North End," his moniker of choice, "how do we get out of town? We'll be trapped!"
"They're gonna need more than the usual spin on this one," says one political adviser. "They're gonna need a damn tornado."
Q If we're shutting down I-93 all the way down to Braintree, how come we're letting the Orange Line go right underneath the FleetCenter?
Q Why will New York's Penn Station remain open, just feet from Madison Square Garden, where presumed target Numero Uno, the president, will speak?
Ilene Conway's third baby is due Aug. 7 at Mass. General. Her problem? Babies No. 1 and No. 2 have come early. What happens if Baby No. 3 follows suit?
"I'm in a pattern of denial," said Conway, who's got a 45-minute drive - with no traffic - from Lynnfield to the hospital.
What will she do?
"I don't know. Maybe I'll call the state police."
Or maybe she'll go to a hospital in Winchester.
"But that road's closed off, too."
Or maybe she'll just give birth in a rest stop or a roadside field, like patriotic pioneer mothers of old. Who is she, after all, to get between Democratic delegates and their shrimp?
Debra Reynolds of North Reading isn't complaining, really. Her only problem is the theater tickets she bought - about $87 apiece - for her sister and elderly mother who can't walk long distances anymore.
Last year she and her sister took the T into town to see "Mamma Mia."They loved it so much they got tickets again "for our mom, but we would drive in because door-to-door service would be easier for her.
"Well, guess what!" she said. "We had a choice between a matinee on July 17 in the balcony or an evening performance on July 27 in the orchestra. You guessed it. We decided on July 27," Day 2 of Greater Boston Held Hostage by freeloading hacks on a spree
Margery Eagan's radio show airs at noon weekdays and 9 a.m. Saturdays on 96.9 FM-Talk.
A candidate who has already come under heavy fire for parsing his words on nearly every issue to come down the pike will stand before 6,000 convention delegates and give a speech which does not conclude with "I accept your nomination?" Oh, that's just brilliant!
Add to that the fact that hundreds of thousands of area commuters are already major-league grumpy about being asked to put their lives and their jobs on hold for a week so this Kerry nomination hoe-down can occupy the city of Boston, and you have a real fine start to the general election season.
(Full report follows)
The Boston Herald
Sunday, May 23, 2004
A Boston Herald editorial
Kerry to Dems: I'm not your guy yet
This is beyond tacky, beyond crass and ultimately beyond pointless. That Sen. John Kerry and his advisers would even think about tinkering with the nomination process that the Democratic National Convention was designed to be - all in the name of the Almighty Campaign Buck - is so hideously cynical we can't imagine what they are thinking.
A candidate who has already come under heavy fire for parsing his words on nearly every issue to come down the pike will stand before 6,000 convention delegates and give a speech which does not conclude with "I accept your nomination?" Oh, that's just brilliant!
Add to that the fact that hundreds of thousands of area commuters are already major-league grumpy about being asked to put their lives and their jobs on hold for a week so this Kerry nomination hoe-down can occupy the city of Boston, and you have a real fine start to the general election season.
Kerry's advisers insist that for Kerry to dip into that $75 million pool of federal general election money five to six weeks before President Bush begins to tap his $75 million puts the Democratic nominee at a disadvantage.
Well, there are worse things. One possible consequence is robbing a national political convention which has already been turned into a virtual non-event with little drama and no spice into an actual non-event, safely ignored by TV and millions of viewers. The Federal Election Commission says spending on such a non-event may not even be legal.
Kerry ought to pop this trial balloon - and fast.
Last time an out-of-towner tied up traffic like this, they called him "Lumberjerk!" This time, they are calling them "delegates."
If you have to come into Boston during the Democratic National Convention in late July, when thousands of delegates, the media and demonstrators arrive, here are a few things to bear in mind:
First, don't do it.
(Full report follows)
The Boston Herald
Sunday, May 23, 2004
Convention may drive locals nuts
By Jules Crittenden
Sunday, May 23, 2004
Last time an out-of-towner tied up traffic like this, they called him "Lumberjerk!" This time, they are calling them "delegates."
If you have to come into Boston during the Democratic National Convention in late July, when thousands of delegates, the media and demonstrators arrive, here are a few things to bear in mind:
First, don't do it.
"It's pretty close to unprecedented in Boston's experience," Jeff Larson of SmartRoutes said of the planned highway shutdown.
Security plans call for Interstate 93 southbound to be shut down from Medford to the Pike at 4 p.m., along with most of Storrow and Memorial Drives. Ditto the Tobin Bridge and the Sumner Tunnel.
"If you want to go downtown from Peabody, you will have to take Route 128 to the Pike, or maybe to I-93 in Braintree," Larson said. With Route 128 experiencing heavier volume, he said, "If you normally use 128, think about 495."
He also suggested taking Route 1A to the Ted Williams Tunnel.
"Coming in from the south isn't going to be a breeze, either," he said. I-93 northbound will be closed just before the Central Artery tunnel, and Quincy or Dorchester on-ramps will be shut. The HOV lane will occupy the northbound left lane 24 hours a day for emergency vehicles only.
Mass transit offers a partial answer. North Station, under the DNC site at the FleetCenter, will shut down at 4 p.m. Northbound commuters will take buses from Haymarket and South Station to outlying train stations.
If you can use your feet or a bike, Larson said, do it. Ferries from Hull, Hingham and Quincy are another option. UMass-Boston urban planner Jack Wiggin said this is a great time to consider adding ferry runs to harbors up and down the coast.
"We have the deep water," Wiggin said. "You just need the boats."
The good news is Hub drivers have a good track record of avoiding traffic messes, Larson said. "If people take it to heart, it will reduce the inconvenience."
Now, more than two years after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and two months before the Democratic National Convention, MBTA police are preparing to conduct ID checks on the 1 million commuters who hop aboard trains and buses each day....
As for who will be stopped, where they'll be stopped and what they'll be expected to produce to satisfy law enforcement, the MBTA isn't saying - and that's not sitting well with riders....
"I come from Europe. I was born during World War II and this is what the Gestapo would do," a local college professor, who did not want to give her name, said yesterday at South Station.
(Full report follows)
The Boston Herald
Sunday, May 23, 2004
Riders protest MBTA's 'invasive' ID check plan
By Robert Dietz and Laurel J. Sweet
Those who take the T have been hearing voices lately - somber announcers urging calm in the event of calamity, while stressing the need to speak up when things don't look quite right.
Now, more than two years after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and two months before the Democratic National Convention, MBTA police are preparing to conduct ID checks on the 1 million commuters who hop aboard trains and buses each day.
"Under this program, officers are trained to detect whether the actions of one or more individuals are an indication of any level of risk or threat to the transit system, and, when necessary, to take appropriate steps based on the observed behavior," said a statement released yesterday by MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo.
As for who will be stopped, where they'll be stopped and what they'll be expected to produce to satisfy law enforcement, the MBTA isn't saying - and that's not sitting well with riders.
"I come from Europe. I was born during World War II and this is what the Gestapo would do," a local college professor, who did not want to give her name, said yesterday at South Station.
"It's absolute nonsense," she said. "They (don't) give enough details, which is a mistake. I take the T every day and it will be an incredible nuisance."
Pesaturo confirmed transit cops have been learning from state police already skilled in questioning passengers at Logan International Airport. He would not say when the identity stops will begin.
"It's invasive, but whatever they have to do," said frequent traveler Courtney Smith of Boston. "I think if anything, they take (security) too lax."
Adam Davis, an ironworker from Plymouth who rides the MBTA daily, said, "It would be a pain in the ass, but they're doing it for a good reason. The only thing is, it might be too late before they can do anything (about terrorism) anyway. It's kind of pointless."
NEW YORK -- When it hosts the Republican National Convention this summer, the nation's largest city does not plan to seal off main streets or close subway stations, in contrast to the transportation shutdown planned for the Boston area during the Democratic convention.
In the Big Apple -- a city of 8 million accustomed to big conventions, tourists spilling along Fifth Avenue and Times Square, and people squeezing into buses, subway cars, and commuter trains, officials say life will go on as usual when the Republicans come to town Aug. 30 to Sept. 2....
Paul Elliot, spokesman for New York's host committee, said the city does not intend to close major streets and transportation centers.
"We won't be shutting down anything," he said. "We are open for business.... The mayor has said there may be delays. Commuters might experience minor delays, whether it's traffic or trains, but he was adamant that life will go on and that it is his job and the job of the police commissioner and others to ensure the continuity of life."
(Full report follows)
The Boston Globe
Sunday, May 23, 2004
NY vows no major closings for RNC
By Tatsha Robertson, Globe Staff
NEW YORK -- When it hosts the Republican National Convention this summer, the nation's largest city does not plan to seal off main streets or close subway stations, in contrast to the transportation shutdown planned for the Boston area during the Democratic convention.
In the Big Apple -- a city of 8 million accustomed to big conventions, tourists spilling along Fifth Avenue and Times Square, and people squeezing into buses, subway cars, and commuter trains, officials say life will go on as usual when the Republicans come to town Aug. 30 to Sept. 2.
"We have the best trained police department in the world when it comes to terrorism, and unfortunately, it's because we have experience. The police will be able to pull it off with minimal intrusion on people's lives," said Peter Vallone Jr., a city council member who chairs the body's public safety committee. "New York City is used to dealing with huge crowds.... We have pretty much consistently stayed on high alert, and it's made us more capable of dealing on different levels."
While city officials are under intense pressure to balance their duty to protect the public with keeping a wounded city feeling as normal as possible, New Yorkers' biggest concern is whether parts of midtown will be closed and whether police will shut Penn Station, which serves 500,000 people daily and extends under Madison Square Garden, where the convention will be held.
"The mayor has been very clear that with the exception of minor disruptions and maybe when the president is speaking, there are no plans to shut down Penn Station," said Jennifer Falk, spokeswoman for Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Security will cost $75 million, said Vallone, adding that much of the money will buy equipment, including helicopters and surveillance tools, that can be used again. City officials banned street fairs near the end of August so that the 10,000 police officers assigned near the arena can focus on the convention.
Emphasizing that the city's plans could change, Vallone said rather than close down the entire Penn Station, plans call for police officers to use bomb-sniffing dogs to check trains long before they ever enter Manhattan.
Still, there is confusion and concern. In a radio address, Bloomberg said he does not encourage workers to stay home during the convention. While the mayor's office and the police department said Penn Station will not shut down, security plans continue to evolve and concerns that life could be turned upside down during the convention have caused friction among the mayor's office, the Secret Service, protesters, and convention organizers.
Emotions ran especially high this month when Michael Miller, the convention's director of operations, told reporters that the Secret Service and the police department planned to shut Seventh and Eighth avenues near Madison Square Garden. Bloomberg said Miller was speaking out of turn, but he never explicitly denied the assertions.
Leonardo Alcivar, a spokesman for the Republican National Convention, tried to play down tension between convention organizers and the city, saying police will have the last say: "The police department is working hard to balance the need for security against the need to keep New York open for business."
Police and convention organizers said recently that security plans have not been been finalized but will be announced soon. Last week in Boston, officials announced 40 miles of major road closings during the Democratic convention from July 26 to 29. Mayor Thomas Menino asked employers to allow workers to take vacation during the convention so that roads can be clearer.
"That's not our plan," Vallone said.
Paul Elliot, spokesman for New York's host committee, said the city does not intend to close major streets and transportation centers.
"We won't be shutting down anything," he said. "We are open for business.... The mayor has said there may be delays. Commuters might experience minor delays, whether it's traffic or trains, but he was adamant that life will go on and that it is his job and the job of the police commissioner and others to ensure the continuity of life."
William Dobbs, spokesman for United for Peace and Justice, an antiwar coalition, said he doubts that city life will not be disrupted: "The mayor and the police department and all the federal agencies have refused to put their cards on the table. There is great confusion whether Penn Station will be open or closed and when. Protesters from Long Island are concerned about whether they will be able to get to Manhattan for the massive protest on Aug. 29."
Bloomberg declined to allow protesters to demonstrate in Central Park, and Dobbs said police have not granted permits to protesters.
"They claim they are waiting until everything gets clarified, but we think what is going on is that they are letting the clock tick," Dobbs said. "The longer things drag on, the harder it is for the people who are organizing."
I said it almost as a joke last week that the traffic nightmare caused by the Democratic National Convention would give Massachusetts to President Bush.
After looking at the actual plan, I am now sure of it....
All this makes Kerry's announcement that he might not accept the nomination in Boston -- thereby making the whole fiasco irritating and pointless -- look like a sound political decision.
(Full report follows)
The Eagle-Tribune
Sunday, May 23, 2004
DNC will redefine 'road rage'
By Andy Kosow, Staff Writer
This column was going to be about minor road closings, detours, yada yada yada. But any news regarding traffic has to refer to the absolute horror unveiled in Boston this week.
I said it almost as a joke last week that the traffic nightmare caused by the Democratic National Convention would give Massachusetts to President Bush.
After looking at the actual plan, I am now sure of it.
In case you are not aware by now, they plan to close Interstate 93 from 4 p.m. to midnight daily, which typically handles 200,000 cars a day.
And make no mistake, even if you do not commute to Boston this will affect you. And for far longer than July 23 to July 30.
I am sure someone you know or someone in your family will be one of the unfortunate commuters who will be forced to squeeze into Boston that week. When they finally squeeze back out at night, you can be sure you will be facing a totally irrational human being. Contact with one of these people is ill-advised.
When arguing about anything with these people remember they are suffering post-traumatic stress disorder. So if they literally try to kill you for handing them a venti no-fat latte instead of a grande latte with a little fat, don't take it personally.
Also, the commuter rail parking lots are already full, so unless there are changes or someone can drop you off and pick you up, that will be not be a viable option. Never mind the fact that North Station will be completely closed.
Local delegate Methuen Mayor Sharon Pollard had this to say:
"I am sorry that the world has changed so dramatically to warrant the disruption that will take place in Boston in July and New York City in September."
She is right about the need for security, but not necessarily about New York. I hate the city as much as any Bostonian because of that baseball team, but they are not closing Manhatten's Penn Station, which is located below the Republican National Convention.
So besides the Yankees and traffic lights that are synchronized, they now also have a better convention, one not designed to literally choke its host city into paralysis.
And finally, how does this make us safer? If a terrorist really wants to drive a car bomb into the Fleet Center, I am sure taking the long way isn't going to deter him.
All this makes Kerry's announcement that he might not accept the nomination in Boston -- thereby making the whole fiasco irritating and pointless -- look like a sound political decision.
The Democrats should have listened to Gov. Mitt Romney.
Two months ago, the Republican governor offered some excellent advice to the Democratic National Committee: Hold your nominating convention in July at the new convention center in South Boston, instead of the FleetCenter.
It didn't require a traffic study, it wasn't a partisan snipe, it was just common sense....
The Democrats' response? Scorn and insults.
(Full report follows)
The Eagle-Tribune
Sunday, May 23, 2004
An Eagle-Tribune editorial
Good advice scorned
OUR VIEW
Two months ago, the Republican governor offered some excellent advice to the Democratic National Committee: Hold your nominating convention in July at the new convention center in South Boston, instead of the
FleetCenter.
The Democrats should have listened to Gov. Mitt Romney.
Two months ago, the Republican governor offered some excellent advice to the Democratic National Committee: Hold your nominating convention in July at the new convention center in South Boston, instead of the FleetCenter.
It didn't require a traffic study, it wasn't a partisan snipe, it was just common sense. The governor simply noted the obvious: The FleetCenter sits "in the heart of our transportation system," he said, right next to the Central Artery and North Station. The security required to protect the site would essentially destroy the city's ability to function in any kind of normal way.
The Democrats' response? Scorn and insults....
Last week's announcement -- with the warning that the restrictions might get even more expansive -- left Mayor Menino and other Democrats drowning in their own doublespeak.
Boston Mayor Tom Menino huffed that if Romney wanted to "help plan the convention," well then he should fork over some state money to help pay for it.
Michael Meehan, a spokesman for presumptive Democratic nominee John Kerry, suggested that Romney would "like to move the convention to Crawford, Texas," where President Bush owns a ranch.
Philip W. Johnston, who chairs the Massachusetts Democratic Party, said Romney was trying to meddle with the convention to benefit the Bush-Cheney campaign.
Perhaps so. But now it looks as if the Democrats should have taken the advice.
The traffic restrictions announced late last week for the week of the convention are, in the words of Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone, "a nightmare." And that is putting it gently. While it may sound humorous to invoke the old "Bert and I" line, it will not be funny in late July for those who must commute to Boston to realize that, "You can't get there from here."
The list of restrictions or closures of major roads and public transportation makes that dizzyingly clear:
Interstate 93 will be either closed or restricted to one way anywhere inside Route 128, starting at 4 p.m. In other words, the Central Artery will cease to function.
The North Station commuter-rail stop will be closed. So will the North Station stops for the MBTA's Orange and Green lines.
The easternmost end of the Charles River will be closed to all boat traffic. So will 50 feet of the Boston Harbor near the Charlestown Bridge. So will the Lovejoy Wharf water transit service.
Route 1 southbound near Chelsea will be closed.
The Tobin Bridge southbound will be closed.
Storrow Drive eastbound from Western Avenue to Leverett Circle and Memorial Drive from the BU Bridge to the Longfellow Bridge will be closed.
The Sumner Tunnel will be closed.
And all this for what? A four-day party and pep rally that is an utterly foregone conclusion. Is there any doubt at all about whom the Democrats are going to nominate?
Last week's announcement -- with the warning that the restrictions might get even more expansive -- left Mayor Menino and other Democrats drowning in their own doublespeak. The mayor, who a month earlier had encouraged the entire Boston area to come and participate in the convention events, was left begging people to take vacations or to telecommute -- stay away, in other words.
Meanwhile, David Passafaro, chairman of the convention host committee, tried to say the opposite -- that people should come and participate, as long as they make "smart choices on how to get in and out."
How can people make a smart choice when there is essentially no choice?
It didn't have to be nearly this bad. In an era of terrorism, the FleetCenter is likely the worst possible place in Boston to hold a political nominating convention. Gov. Romney told them as much two months ago.
But the Democrats didn't listen. So the impending public relations disaster will be completely of their own making.
CLT calls for
cancellation of DNC convention
CLICK
HERE
WASHINGTON - President Bush's campaign yesterday threatened to hold four days of campaign rallies to yank the media spotlight from Boston's Democratic National Convention if Sen. John F. Kerry delays accepting his party's nomination....
Republicans said if Kerry stalls on the nomination, the four-day Boston gathering should be considered a political rally, not a convention.
If Kerry opts for delay, the Bush campaign would seek to blunt media coverage of the July 26-29 Boston convention by demanding TV networks abide by federal laws requiring equal time for both parties, a Republican source said.
(Full report follows)
The Boston Herald
Monday, May 24, 2004
GOP: We’ll crash party
Repubs want equal time if Kerry snubs nomination
By Andrew Miga
WASHINGTON - President Bush's campaign yesterday threatened to hold four days of campaign rallies to yank the media spotlight from Boston's Democratic National Convention if Sen. John F. Kerry delays accepting his party's nomination.
"Certainly, we would give strong consideration that there be (Bush) rallies all four nights of their four-day political rally in Boston, should Kerry decide to delay his nomination," said Bush campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt.
The Kerry camp, already catching flak from some party officials complaining the delay could render the Hub event irrelevant, brushed off the Bush threat.
"We would expect that the Bush campaign is going to try and run counter-activities during the convention," said Kerry campaign spokesman Michael Meehan.
Republicans said if Kerry stalls on the nomination, the four-day Boston gathering should be considered a political rally, not a convention.
If Kerry opts for delay, the Bush campaign would seek to blunt media coverage of the July 26-29 Boston convention by demanding TV networks abide by federal laws requiring equal time for both parties, a Republican source said.
"It would be our expectation that our rallies receive the same coverage as the Democratic convention," a GOP official said. "What happens if Kerry has 15,000 people in Boston for a speech and we have a Bush rally in Minnesota with 25,000 people?"
Kerry, who floated a trial balloon Friday about delaying the nomination to raise money for five more weeks to cut into Bush's fund-raising advantage, is expected to request an advisory opinion from the Federal Election Commission soon, a Kerry source said.
"It's a brilliant strategy," said U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano [related, bio] (D- Somerville). "There's only one goal now: Beat George Bush, whatever it takes."
Bay State Gov. Mitt Romney declined to comment yesterday on Kerry.
Capuano denied that Kerry's move would be a snub to Bostonians being asked to make huge sacrifices due to heavy security and commuting nightmares.
"Politics is a bloodless battle, it is not a genteel sport," Capuano said. "Those who play by genteel rules, generally don't win. The average guy in the street could not care less what Kerry is doing ... it will be a coronation without the crown going on his head."
If Kerry accepts the nomination July 29 in Boston, he will have to begin spending $75 million in public general election funding.
The advantage would go to Bush, who would not have to begin doing so until five weeks later on Sept. 2.
For more than a decade, the Democratic and Republican conventions have suffered a painful decline as experts bemoaned how scripted they had become, what incredibly uneventful events.
Now, with John Kerry openly treating his party's party with the lack of respect it deserves, isn't it time to acknowledge that the conventions are way more trouble than they are worth? ...
Kerry's flirtation with delaying accepting the nomination sounded alarms among the politicians that Boston might lose the $14 million in federal funds the government gives each party to run its convention. Taxpayers had a different reaction: We're giving each party $14 million? When did we vote on that?
(Full report follows)
The Boston Herald
Monday, May 24, 2004
Conventions no more than silly relics
By Joe Sciacca
Party conventions have become the political equivalent of VCRs flashing 12:00: Formerly proud and functional, now mocked relics of the past.
For more than a decade, the Democratic and Republican conventions have suffered a painful decline as experts bemoaned how scripted they had become, what incredibly uneventful events.
Now, with John Kerry openly treating his party's party with the lack of respect it deserves, isn't it time to acknowledge that the conventions are way more trouble than they are worth?
Delegates don't pick the nominee. The compacted primaries did that. They don't determine the platform on which the presidential race is based. The nominee does.
The convention is not some unique opportunity to introduce the nominee to the American public. Ten seconds on Leno or Letterman does that.
It's been a long time since 1952, when Adlai Stevenson won the Democratic nomination on the third ballot.
The possibility that Kerry might just give a speech and formally delay accepting the nomination so he won't be at a campaign cash disadvantage under federal limits is not deflating the convention. It was already deflated.
Both parties are so desperately out of touch that they simultaneously came up with the same dramatic idea to pump excitement into the conventions this time: theater in the round. Most likely, we're talking comedy, not drama.
In Boston, the Democratic convention organizers will tell you it's all about the camera angles and the giant multimedia screen.
This poses two questions right off the bat: How many camera angles does it take to show nothing, and is it really prudent to put Ted Kennedy on a giant screen?
In New York, the GOP has suggested a rotating podium, which sounds fairly tame unless Dick Cheney is sitting on the edge when it speeds up.
There is also some consideration being given to "off-site events" broadcast in real-time to the delegates at Madison Square Garden, leading to speculation President Bush might accept his nomination standing somewhere else, like in front of the Statue of Liberty.
If his job approval ratings continue to dive, they might even try dressing him up as the Statue of Liberty.
Kerry's flirtation with delaying accepting the nomination sounded alarms among the politicians that Boston might lose the $14 million in federal funds the government gives each party to run its convention. Taxpayers had a different reaction: We're giving each party $14 million? When did we vote on that?
He's taking heat for flip-flopping on the nomination, but there's no shame for Kerry in keeping his eye on the prize instead of the party. Running for president means winning, not ensuring that some donkey-capped delegates with their credentials hanging over their lobster bibs feel "part of the process." Both parties should start thinking about the conventions and whether the negatives - too scripted, too costly, too mind-numbing and too predictable - have made them throwaway events in the new era of high-speed politics.
The compacted primaries make sense - getting the party to rally around a nominee early rather than endure the prolonged unraveling of fragile front-runners (Howard Dean) the listlessness of past-prime stalwarts (Joe Lieberman) or the symbolic jabbering of the rest (Dennis Kucinich).
An easier way for the parties to make it official - whether it's delegates voting online or party leaders calling a summit - is preferable to a convention that's just a show, and not a very good one at that.
Fearing its residents and businesses will be cut off by the planned closing of Interstate 93, the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce has asked for an emergency meeting with Democratic National Convention officials....
"We want to meet and find out exactly how we're going to get to and from Boston," chamber President Joseph Bevilacqua said. "We don't have the answer. We can't figure it out, and we are very, very concerned." ...
"Many people we have talked to can't afford just to take that week off," he added. "We are going to be hit the most severe of any community. I'm not sure (the security planners) thought about us, to be quite honest."
(Full report follows)
The Boston Herald
Monday, May 24, 2004
Unmerry Merrimack: Clue us in
By Thomas Caywood
Fearing its residents and businesses will be cut off by the planned closing of Interstate 93, the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce has asked for an emergency meeting with Democratic National Convention officials.
"We want to meet and find out exactly how we're going to get to and from Boston," chamber President Joseph Bevilacqua said. "We don't have the answer. We can't figure it out, and we are very, very concerned."
The Secret Service's security plan announced last week calls for I-93 to be closed from the Massachusetts Turnpike interchange north to Exit 32 in Medford, and for onramps to the Boston-bound lanes to be blocked from Woburn to Braintree, in the afternoon and evening from July 26-29.
Bevilacqua said Merrimack Valley residents and firms had planned to be inconvenienced, but they never expected their main link to the south to be completely severed for much of each day during the event.
"Many people we have talked to can't afford just to take that week off," he added. "We are going to be hit the most severe of any community. I'm not sure (the security planners) thought about us, to be quite honest."
Police and Secret Service planners have said the road closings - which also will include part of Storrow Drive, Sumner Tunnel and the inbound lanes of the Tobin Bridge - had to be ordered to defend the FleetCenter convention site from would-be attackers.
Bevilacqua conceded the need for heightened security. He said he just wants to know that convention honchos have some kind of a plan to keep the city's northern suburbs connected.
"Everybody's concerned. Everybody," he said.
Senator John F. Kerry’s suggestion that he would delay accepting the presidential nomination until after the Democratic National Convention, floated on Friday, has provided the clearest evidence yet of a growing divide between city officials and party officials planning the event....
Menino has much on the line politically regarding the success of the convention, because he was instrumental in bringing it to Boston. Recent studies have predicted that the convention will be a net economic loss in Boston, because it is displacing other big events this summer and because shutdowns of major roadways for security needs will affect worker productivity.
The mayor may also need city taxpayers to chip in for the convention, because fund-raising has slowed in recent months and costs are threatening to increase....
The convention host committee, known as Boston 2004, is charged with raising the money that is spent largely under the direction of the Democratic Party and the Kerry campaign to stage a four-day extravaganza at the FleetCenter.
That's been slow going of late, with a $4.6 million fund-raising gap and the possibility of costs rising still further to make the event everything the Kerry campaign wants it to be. National Democrats have said recently that they may involve Kerry directly in fund-raising, to ensure the convention has the cash it needs....
One local convention organizer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said yesterday that the Kerry campaign should think about scaling back convention activities if the candidate won't accept the nomination in Boston. Such a move could cut costs and reduce the hassle to commuters, particularly if the convention events can be squeezed into fewer than four days, the organizer said.
But Menino said he would not suggest that Kerry cut back on events, and said he expects the convention to look much the same even if there is no formal acceptance of the party nomination.
(Full report follows)
The Boston Globe
Monday, May 24, 2004
Amid convention scrambling, rift shows
City, campaign split on mission
By Rick Klein and Donovan Slack
Senator John F. Kerry’s suggestion that he would delay accepting the presidential nomination until after the Democratic National Convention, floated on Friday, has provided the clearest evidence yet of a growing divide between city officials and party officials planning the event.
With Kerry and the Democratic National Convention Committee on one side, and Mayor Thomas M. Menino and his convention host committee on the other, an inherent tension exists, owing to their disparate missions and different political stakes. Until now, that tension has stayed largely below the surface, with private grumbling rarely making it to the public arena.
But yesterday, Menino again called on Kerry to accept his party’s nomination at the Democratic National Convention, in keeping with the practice at previous conventions. He said Kerry’s goal of leveling the spending playing field, while worthwhile, can be accomplished by other means than delaying the nomination process.
Rather than affect convention planning that has been proceeding for more than 18 months, Kerry should seek to have Congress change the Federal Election Commission rules, Menino said. Both political parties should have the same start date for the official "general election cycle," regardless of when their conventions are held, he said.
"What should happen is somebody should file legislation to correct the flaw in the law, and close this five-week gap," the mayor said yesterday in an interview. "There should be a way of correcting this. You don't have to change the convention at all."
In a statement that caught local convention planners by surprise, the Kerry campaign said Friday that it was considering delaying formal acceptance of the nomination for several weeks, so that the spending limits of the general campaign would kick in later in the election season. Such a move would help Kerry better compete financially with President Bush, whose expected nomination at the Republican National Convention in New York would come five weeks after the Democrats' event in Boston.
Stephanie Cutter, a Kerry campaign spokeswoman, said the news came out via media reports, not a campaign announcement. She said delaying the formal nomination remains one of a series of options being considered to help Kerry compete with the "Republican money machine," and she praised Menino's efforts in convention planning.
"He's been a key leader in making the convention a success and in showcasing the city of Boston as the world-class city that it is," Cutter said. "Regardless of the final decision, the Democratic convention will continue to be a celebration of the next president of the United States and the kickoff of the national effort to take back the White House and put America back on track."
Peggy Wilhide, a spokeswoman for the Democratic National Convention Committee, said organizers have developed a great working relationship with the mayor and his team, and are collaborating on countless details to make the July 26-29 convention a success.
We're getting along extraordinarily well with the mayor and the host committee," she said.
Yet Menino and his committee were clearly displeased by the timing of the Kerry campaign's announcement. Barely 24 hours before the news broke, security officials from the Secret Service, the State Police, and the Boston Police Department had outlined road closings that will be in place around convention time, and the impact is expected to be far worse for area commuters than had been previously described.
Menino has much on the line politically regarding the success of the convention, because he was instrumental in bringing it to Boston. Recent studies have predicted that the convention will be a net economic loss in Boston, because it is displacing other big events this summer and because shutdowns of major roadways for security needs will affect worker productivity.
The mayor may also need city taxpayers to chip in for the convention, because fund-raising has slowed in recent months and costs are threatening to increase. A convention without a formal nomination could take away from the event and make it harder for organizers to draw interest from television networks.
Menino was still grumbling yesterday that he hadn't been told of the Kerry campaign's idea until several hours after the first news media reports on the subject. Cutter, who worked as the convention's spokeswoman until late last year, confirmed the reports to the press before Menino got his first phone call. Even local convention organizers said they were caught off-guard by the announcement.
Yesterday, Menino said his advice regarding whether to accept the nomination at the convention hasn't been solicited by anyone connected to the Kerry campaign. Asked whether he thinks he should be in on the decision-making process, the mayor responded, "No comment."
Kerry began putting his stamp on convention planning in March, and he now has a team of staff members working alongside planners in Boston. Menino and Kerry have never had a close working relationship -- the mayor has long been closer to Kerry's senior Senate colleague, Edward M. Kennedy -- but the tension between the two sides predates Kerry's involvement in planning.
In October, Menino phoned convention chairman Bill Richardson, the governor of New Mexico, to smooth over hurt feelings that stemmed in large part from a perceived snub. Richardson had scheduled a meeting with the host committee's financial team, but Menino ordered it canceled, leaving Richardson upset about how he had been treated, according to party officials.
While personalities no doubt play a role in the current tensions, analysts say many of the problems are systemic and unavoidable. The convention host committee, known as Boston 2004, is charged with raising the money that is spent largely under the direction of the Democratic Party and the Kerry campaign to stage a four-day extravaganza at the FleetCenter.
That's been slow going of late, with a $4.6 million fund-raising gap and the possibility of costs rising still further to make the event everything the Kerry campaign wants it to be. National Democrats have said recently that they may involve Kerry directly in fund-raising, to ensure the convention has the cash it needs.
And while the Democratic National Committee is concerned exclusively with electoral success for Kerry and his fellow Democrats, Menino and local convention officials must worry about keeping Boston area residents satisfied with the event. The party wants a message that will help Democrats triumph in November, while host committee members want to see their city portrayed in a glowing manner during the convention, said Linda Bilmes, a lecturer in public policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
"You have a number of different competing agendas," Bilmes said. Meanwhile, Bush campaign officials are considering holding political rallies during the convention should Kerry not accept the nomination.
"If Kerry does not accept the nomination, it's not a nominating convention, it's a political rally," said Bush campaign spokesman Steve Schmidt. "Certainly there would be very serious consideration to holding political rallies for all four nights to preserve equal coverage for our candidate." Kerry yesterday declined to answer reporters' questions on his way into Fenway Park, where he was attending the Red Sox game against the Toronto Blue Jays. As he made his way to his seat on the third-base line, he was met mostly with cheers, though he also drew a smattering of boos. Kerry went to the game with his daughter, Vanessa, and John Sasso, his point man at the Democratic National Committee.
If Kerry does choose to delay the nomination, he will be effectively calculating that the fund-raising advantage the move would give him is worth the price of "putting people's noses out of joint in Massachusetts," Bilmes said.
"I don't think anybody outside of Massachusetts is going to care," she said. "In terms of winning the election, I don't think it matters."
But the move could further sour relations with the host committee and the businesses that are supporting its efforts. Clayton Turnbull, vice president of the convention host committee, said Kerry should accept the nomination at the convention to make the point that the event "is about patriotism," and not simply part of a "business deal."
"It is our hope that Senator Kerry would accept the nomination in Boston," he said. "I know politics has become a financial chess game, but the convention is a significant part of our patriotism to America."
Turnbull, who also serves as cochairman of the Boston 2004 business liaison committee, said it was too early to predict how a non-nominating convention would be perceived by the business community. Many large local businesses have donated large sums to the event. Turnbull called on Kerry to make a final decision quickly in any event.
"I think the highest priority is to have him make that decision clear," he said.
One local convention organizer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said yesterday that the Kerry campaign should think about scaling back convention activities if the candidate won't accept the nomination in Boston. Such a move could cut costs and reduce the hassle to commuters, particularly if the convention events can be squeezed into fewer than four days, the organizer said.
But Menino said he would not suggest that Kerry cut back on events, and said he expects the convention to look much the same even if there is no formal acceptance of the party nomination. He said the host committee will work with whatever plans Kerry decides to go with.
"I'm not saying we should scale it back or anything," the mayor said. "It's going to be a great show in the city."
Glen Johnson of the Globe staff contributed to this report.
US Senator John F. Kerry, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, is considering forgoing accepting his party's nomination at the convention this July. I offer this early draft of Senator Kerry's nonacceptance speech:
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, delegates. Thank you, you suckers from ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, and FOX, for attending our nominating -- pardon me, our four-day "unity conference." ...
But just because I can't accept that thing I can't accept here in my hometown, just because there's a traffic jam outside from Lowell to the Sagamore Bridge, just because you're being picketed by dozens of unions without contracts, doesn't mean that we haven't accomplished a great thing together.
Thank you, mayor, for this wonderful showcase for my campaign's stunning indecision and ineptitude....
I know what some of you are thinking by now: Why are we here? That is a good question, and I think it's important to answer it....
But first, we have a few million dollars to raise and spend. As you know, taking back the country from the special interests and the rich is an awfully expensive proposition.
Thanks so much for stopping by. And remember, don't drive this week unless it's absolutely necessary.
(Full report follows)
The Boston Globe
Monday, May 24, 2004
For Kerry, a nonspeech
By Adrian Walker, Globe Columnist
US Senator John F. Kerry, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, is considering forgoing accepting his party's nomination at the convention this July. I offer this early draft of Senator Kerry's nonacceptance speech:
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, delegates. Thank you, you suckers from ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, and FOX, for attending our nominating -- pardon me, our four-day "unity conference."
As you know by now, there are four magic words I cannot utter this evening. But they really don't matter, my friends, because we all know why we're here tonight. I know how you feel, and you know how I feel. We don't have to say it out loud.
I'd like to say a few words about my good friend Tom Menino, the mayor of this great city. Mayor, all Democrats owe you a debt of gratitude for your tireless efforts in shaking down everyone in town to raise money for this fabulous shindig. People will say it was all for nothing, that nothing is really taking place here, and frankly, they're right.
But just because I can't accept that thing I can't accept here in my hometown, just because there's a traffic jam outside from Lowell to the Sagamore Bridge, just because you're being picketed by dozens of unions without contracts, doesn't mean that we haven't accomplished a great thing together.
Thank you, mayor, for this wonderful showcase for my campaign's stunning indecision and ineptitude. Teresa and I will never forget it.
To my longtime colleague Edward Kennedy, who is at home in Hyannis tonight -- and why shouldn't he be? -- let me just say that we don't need a convention to tell everyone how much Massachusetts means to the Democratic Party. It's true that we've never had a convention without a nominee before. But, as we both know, Massachusetts is a state of "firsts."
My friends, we're gathered here to begin a great journey. Well, not to begin it -- we don't want to give the Federal Elections Commission the wrong idea. Let's just say we're here to take a major step.
I know all of us stand together in deploring the role of money in politics. My friends, we will return politics to the people. We will break the stranglehold of the wealthy and powerful on our government.
The thing is, we can't return politics to the people just yet. We can't stop collecting millions until the Republicans do. We need every dime we can get our hands on, to make sure we can explain to the American people exactly how we're different from our competitors.
Some people say it's bizarre, a nominating convention without a nomination. Slaves to convention! We aren't afraid to think outside the box, and that is the kind of leadership America is hungry for.
I know what some of you are thinking by now: Why are we here? That is a good question, and I think it's important to answer it. We are here to celebrate Boston. I hope you get to the Aquarium and to Legal Sea Foods, and take a ride or two on the T.
Also, we are here to bask in being Democrats together. The nomi -- that thing I can't accept tonight, that is just a technicality. Conventions are about unity, and here we are, united.
Finally, and let's not mince words, we're here because we had four nights of prime-time coverage that we weren't about to give up. And besides, it would set a terrible precedent, to trample centuries of tradition by giving up the convention.
You may be wondering when you're going to vote on a nominee. That's a good question, too, and we'll be getting back to you.
But first, we have a few million dollars to raise and spend. As you know, taking back the country from the special interests and the rich is an awfully expensive proposition.
Thanks so much for stopping by. And remember, don't drive this week unless it's absolutely necessary.
God bless you, and God bless America. Good night.
John Kerry on Monday sought to reassure anxious Bostonians that the Democratic National Convention will be good for the city amid concerns that businesses will suffer if Kerry does not accept the presidential nomination there....
"Boston will be open for business," Kerry told reporters aboard his campaign plane. "People will make a lot of money. We're going to have a full-fledged convention, and people are going to have a fantastic time."
(Full report follows)
Associated Press
Monday, May 24, 2004
Kerry says Boston will be open for business during the convention
By Nedra Pickler
BOSTON -- John Kerry on Monday sought to reassure anxious Bostonians that the Democratic National Convention will be good for the city amid concerns that businesses will suffer if Kerry does not accept the presidential nomination there.
"Boston will be open for business," Kerry told reporters aboard his campaign plane. "People will make a lot of money. We're going to have a full-fledged convention, and people are going to have a fantastic time."
The Massachusetts senator said no decision has been made about whether he will accept the nomination at the convention in late July or wait a few weeks to even the financial playing field with President Bush.
Both presidential candidates are expected to accept $75 million in public financing once they accept the nomination. But if Kerry is nominated at the Democratic National Convention, he'll have to stretch the money five weeks longer than Bush, who plans to accept the nomination at the Republican National Convention in early September.
Boston business owners and residents reacted angrily when police announced plans to close nearly 40 miles of major roads around Boston's FleetCenter, site of the convention.
Kerry said talk of anything being reduced during the convention "is silly."
"No decision has been made, but it will be a full-fledged convention with all the excitement and everything," he said. "What's important to me is that Boston is going to be open for business, people are sitting down, we're working through these issues."
Uncertainty over whether Sen. John F. Kerry will accept the nomination at July's Democratic National Convention in Boston could scuttle television coverage of the bash.
"If you ever wanted to give the television networks a reason not to cover the convention, this would be the way," said one longtime Democratic activist, who spoke on condition of anonymity....
"It does affect the fund raising. You're asking people to contribute to a non-event," he said. "The city's gone through contortions to host this convention, and this pulls the rug out from under it."
Mayor Thomas M. Menino, who led the charge to land the Democrats' convention in Boston, said he spoke with Kerry yesterday by telephone but received no apology for the confusion over whether the nominating convention will actually nominate anyone.
"He talked about the convention, some of the issues. He asked me how we're doing" on fund raising, the mayor said.
(Full report follows)
The Boston Herald
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
TV could pull plug on Hub convention
By Jack Meyers
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Uncertainty over whether Sen. John F. Kerry will accept the nomination at July's Democratic National Convention in Boston could scuttle television coverage of the bash.
"If you ever wanted to give the television networks a reason not to cover the convention, this would be the way," said one longtime Democratic activist, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
If this convention lacks even the spectator appeal of an acceptance speech, television executives might "pull the plug" on coverage, knowing they'd be spending a fortune to broadcast an event they will be unable to sell advertising for, the operative said.
"It does affect the fund raising. You're asking people to contribute to a non-event," he said. "The city's gone through contortions to host this convention, and this pulls the rug out from under it."
Mayor Thomas M. Menino, who led the charge to land the Democrats' convention in Boston, said he spoke with Kerry yesterday by telephone but received no apology for the confusion over whether the nominating convention will actually nominate anyone.
"He talked about the convention, some of the issues. He asked me how we're doing" on fund raising, the mayor said. He said Kerry "has brought to light a real flaw in the law" that tilts the fund-raising edge toward whomever delays the nomination the longest.
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy yesterday backed Kerry's consideration of a delayed nomination, saying, "I imagine this will be decided in the next few days. I intend to support (Kerry's) decision."
Out-of-state delegates coming to the FleetCenter in July said they strongly support Kerry's move to stay competitive with Bush financially, even if it means stalling the nomination.
"The issue is do the Republicans get another month to spend money" without being under the cap, said Robert Tuke, a delegate from Tennessee. "We have to keep our eye on the ball and focus on winning in November. Virtually every delegate I've spoken to is for it."
Henry Yanez, a firefighter from Michigan and a convention delegate, said he supports "whatever he has to do to counter the Bush money machine. I say go for it."
Dick Harpootlian, a South Carolina delegate, agreed. "To sacrifice five weeks of strategic political parity ... is not worth giving up for an acceptance speech and 15 minutes on the news," he said.
|
|
|
Dave Granlund l
MetroWest Daily News l
May 25, 2004 |
It's now the fourth day that John Kerry has held hostage the Democratic National Convention.
At this point, there's not much sense trying to make sense of Kerry's strategy. He must know by now that his national reputation is one of a waffler, a shameless self-promoter, a typical pol who changes his mind in mid-sentence. So what does Kerry serve up? More shameless, waffling, self-promoting blather about some technicality that would give George W. Bush an unfair advantage to raise more money.
(Full report follows)
The Boston Herald
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
Only Kerry would rain on his parade
By Howard Manly
It's now the fourth day that John Kerry has held hostage the Democratic National Convention.
At this point, there's not much sense trying to make sense of Kerry's strategy. He must know by now that his national reputation is one of a waffler, a shameless self-promoter, a typical pol who changes his mind in mid-sentence. So what does Kerry serve up? More shameless, waffling, self-promoting blather about some technicality that would give George W. Bush an unfair advantage to raise more money.
Kerry's whining is so bad that Republicans are enjoying another day of Christmas in late May. "Only John Kerry could be for a nominating convention, but be against the nomination," Ken Mehlman, the Bush-Cheney campaign manager, quipped about Kerry's talk of not accepting his party's nomination at the convention.
That pretty much wraps up John Kerry. And he only has himself to blame. Not even the coldest Republican strategist could have thought of a way to drop such a stink bomb at Kerry's own supposed coronation.
It's bad enough the city must close the entire Eastern Seaboard to protect the FleetCenter. It's worse when the bride tells her groom on their wedding day that she needs a bigger diamond.
And what's he going to do with all of that dough? Try to change his image? Or maybe buy an image on eBay?
Kerry raised $31 million in one month. But he needs more. He has already raised about $117 million, more than any other Democratic candidate ever. But he says he still needs even more. With acceptance of the nomination, he's guaranteed another $75 million in taxpayers' money. But he needs more, more, more. When will it ever end with this guy?
And why does he need more than what he already has? It isn't to clear up his own record, not when it's he who is muddying it.
During the Senate race in 1996, Kerry and then-Gov. William Weld made a gentlemen's agreement not to spend more than $500,000 of their own personal money. Just before the election, Kerry screamed that Weld had violated their agreement. As it turned out, it was Kerry who violated the deal by giving his campaign $1.7 million of his own money. So much for honor.
In 2002, Kerry voted for campaign finance reform - whatever that means. And when he decided to run for president, it would be outside of the publicly financed primary system in order to escape limits on fund-raising.
The enemy then was Howard Dean and his wildly succesful Internet campaign. Now Kerry's enemy is Bush, who has already raised $200 million and would be allowed a month more of fund-raising. Kerry's problem is that even with an extra month, he will be hard-pressed to erase his waffling image. And as the race enters its final months, expect more waffling.
As The New York Times reported on Sunday, for instance, Kerry must somehow close the gap among white male voters, most of whom are inclined to vote for a sitting president during wartime. Those white males also vote for the economy so there's no telling how Kerry will balance those so-called NASCAR dads with the Democratic Party's traditional base of minorities and women.
But at the rate Kerry is going, he might not even win his own state, much like Al Gore failed to carry Tennessee. Given all the inconveniences that Bay Staters are expected to shoulder in late July, there's no telling how Kerry's show of disrespect will play out in November. Voters could tell Kerry the same thing that he is telling them: We need real diamonds, not cubic zirconia.
The only good thing that Kerry has going is party loyalty. And that came for free. Tried and true Democrats - like Mayor Tom Menino - would never vote for Bush, no matter how difficult the presumptive nominee makes their lives. Kerry knows that.
"Boston will be open for business," Kerry told reporters. "People will make a lot of money. We're going to have a full-fledged convention, and people are going to have a fantastic time."
It's unclear whether conventioneers will have a fantastic time. This is Boston, after all. It's unclear whether it will be a full-fledged convention where the nominee actually accepts the nomination. Nor is it clear that people will make a lot of money.
The one thing that is clear is that John Kerry will be open for business, trying his honest best to blow this election for the Democratic Party.
Go to the next page
for more . . .
Go on to next page
NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this
material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior
interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes
only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml