Why not a Democratic National Convention for 2006?

[Dawgs]

Get all of the Democratic candidates together in one place and have them all speak. Get a few guest speakers (Obama, Clintons, whoever..), and have them speak to excite the base.

It would help to encourage voting, as well as inform voters of unknown candidates.

And, if possible, try to plan it in secret. Tell the media a couple of weeks ahead of time, so the Republicans couldn't counter with their own convention; Maybe do it just one week before the election.

Thoughts?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Work on a united message

That could be the outcome of this convention-what Dems stand for, what Dems will do for the nation. A true Contract For America.

[vespucci]

2. what

do we stand for....why do we need to sit down and decide.....
how can we be "for" something right now when we don't know what
that is?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

9. the point of the convention

and if you've read what Howard Dean has been saying lately,you know some of the things Democrats stand for-

Example:

The family.

Our family values include making sure that breadwinners have a job that is safe and that pays the bills. It means making sure that the family has affordable health care. It means making sure that Social Security is there for seniors and Pell Grants are there for their grandchildren so that every family can feel secure in their old age and hopeful about their future.

[vespucci]

10. oh come on...

EVERYBODY is for the "family".....who is going to stand up there and
say they are against the family?.......

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

12. Well, the GOP isn't for

protecting American jobs, for example. They have done what they could to encourage the gutting of OSHA practices. And just ask them what they think about universal health care! Dean has framed our issues via using the family....a brilliant move.

[FreedomAngel82]

4. Yes!

That way people can't say they don't know where we stand. And I think this time with Dean running the convention it would be so much better and more organized.

[FreedomAngel82]

3. That would be so much fun!

I would love that. I wish it could happen! Are there any resources? I think the Tn state democratic party is going to have one but I'm not sure. :shrug:

[0rganism]

5. How would you get a convention together on short notice?

I mean, I like the idea, but you have to line up meeting facilities, accomodations, and travel for large-scale events like that months in advance. If it could be done secretly, I'd be psyched, but I'll be happy if it happened the normal way too.

[Davis_X_Machina]

6. Make it much, much smaller -- maybe 300 or so delegates.

Something like the annual party conferences that the UK and German political parties have. The UK conferences are in resort towns like Brighton and Blackpool that have a lot of hotel space. Have 'em out of season to save money.

I'm surprised something like this hasn't happened years ago.

[Chiyo-chichi]

7. the MSM

barely covers the Presidential conventions any more. Do you think this would get much coverage? If the Republicans didn't do it, too, there would be zero coverage.

The candidates also probably feel they need to be in their own state in the days/weeks before an election.

I would like to see it, tho.

[JNelson6563]

8. Cause it's a waste of money?

Seriously, I would hope every person here would rather see that money used to fund candidates.

[mb7588a]

11. too expensive. nt.