CRASH TEST DUMMIES:

WITH A CHAIRMAN LIKE THIS, WHO NEEDS THE RNC? (Etc., New Republic)\

It seems that New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg refused McAuliffe's demand over dinner on Monday to stop courting the Republican National Convention if he wanted to host the Dems. As a result, the chairman played the only card he had and turned to Boston, which was all-too-happy to meet the chairman's condition. Could this be any more backward? It should be McAuliffe who caters to the interests of New York, not the other way around. McAuliffe may have trouble remembering--he demonstrated as much during the campaign--but New York City lost 3,000 citizens in a horrific terrorist attack last year. At the very least, one would think he'd want to convene the party in New York as a gesture of solidarity.

Instead the Republicans will now have an opportunity to swoop into Madison Square Garden and re-nominate President Bush, stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Mayor-of-America, Rudy Giuliani, remind the country of their party's prohibitive advantage on national security, and demonstrate unwavering vigilance in the pursuit of terrorists and despots by the mere fact of their presence in the still-wounded city. Way to bargain, Terry!

One of JG Ballard's novels, Crash, tells the story of folks who get their jollies by watching the carnage attendant on car accidents. One assumes they're enjoying watching the Democrats these days. Posted by Orrin Judd at November 14, 2002 11:02 AM