Today’s quotable: “It reeks with New York”
Friday, Jan 27, 2023 - Posted by Rich Miller
* The New York Times has an article today about the jockeying for the 2024 Democratic National Convention. It talks about how many of the states around Illinois are backing a Chicago location. And it goes into some of the sniping…
[Gov. JB Pritzker] has noted that the city often hosts large-scale events, the state reflects the nation’s diversity — and that summertime in Chicago, along Lake Michigan, is “phenomenal,” an implicit contrast with the heat and humidity in Atlanta, and the pungent summer smells of New York City. […]
But some Chicago-skeptical Democrats quietly point out that the city is closely associated with a different Democratic president — Barack Obama — and argue that the only splashy convention Mr. Biden would ever get should be in a place that could be made to feel distinctly his own.
Wait. Obama is a negative?
* Back to the story…
In an interview, Mayor Adams emphasized New York’s event infrastructure and cast the racially diverse, liberal city as a place that showcases “all the values that we look for in the Democratic Party.” (Democrats in the state, however, had a deeply disappointing midterm election.)
“When you do an examination of all the things that a good convention looks like, it says New York,” Mr. Adams proclaimed. “It reeks with New York.”
“Reeks” is a wild word choice.
[Hat tip: Jake]
- Arsenal - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 10:01 am:
==the only splashy convention Mr. Biden would ever get should be in a place that could be made to feel distinctly his own==
Unless Wilmington or Scranton is on the short list, I don’t see it happening. And the only convention I can remember feeling distinctly like the nominee’s own was the Dems in Boston in 2004, and that ended poorly.
- HDO - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 10:03 am:
Ummmm . . . what city gave us Trump???? Wouldnt that be NYC?
- Stuck in Celliniland - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 10:04 am:
==Unless Wilmington or Scranton is on the short list, I don’t see it happening.==
Baltimore or Philly could be other close possibilities if they wanted to make it truly the “President’s own.”
- The Truth - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 10:05 am:
To be truthful and honest - New York City really does smell bad in the peak of summertime.
- Grimlock - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 10:09 am:
I can see why Biden’s people see the Obama/Chicago connection as a weakness, Biden will always be in Obama’s shadow.
- Roman - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 10:13 am:
I’m rooting for the home team on this, but It probably makes more sense for the Dems to pick Atlanta. Maybe it’s old fashioned to think that holding a convention in the state helps win that state in the fall, but it can’t hurt.
- Gravitas - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 10:24 am:
It has always puzzled me that Biden has constantly gotten so much mileage out his being from Scranton. I believe that his family relocated to Delaware when he was six years of age.
Chicago could really use a boost from a convention, but I am afraid Biden does not want to come here despite his constantly seeking help from Obama on during Democrat election campaigns as a surrogate.
- JS Mill - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 10:28 am:
=Biden will always be in Obama’s shadow.=
HArd not to be given he was his VP and Obama was a two term president. There are some similarities to George Bush and Ronald Reagan in that regard.
If I am Biden, I would want to be anywhere I can that would remind people of Obama and his successes.
- DuPage Saint - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 10:29 am:
To make it his own probably should be in the Carolinas
- Hot Taeks - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 10:30 am:
I’m really just hoping Chicago is not picked. I don’t want to deal with the endless traffic, road closures, and protests that come with it. NATO 2012 was bad enough.
- Eire17 - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 10:36 am:
JB should have it in Lake Geneva. It’s great that time of year. He can take everyone to Gordys and Biden won’t know where he’s at anyway.
- CLJ - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 10:46 am:
As a resident of Baltimore, bad choice, not enough infrastructure (hotels, convention space, etc.) to manage that. Philly would make better sense. All assuming Biden in the nominee.
- One Trick Pony - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 10:47 am:
This all assumes that Biden is the nominee. Will he be the nominee is the question.
- 48th Ward Heel - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 10:59 am:
Chicago is one of the most loyal Democratic constituencies and the Republicans’ national punching bag. Imagine giving us a show of support.
New York gave us Giuliani and Trump and their current mayor is a cop who asked to get paid in crypto. It’s basically Miami North at this point. And their pizza is overrated too.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 11:01 am:
===This all assumes that Biden is the nominee===
No, it doesn’t. At all.
- Homebody - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 11:06 am:
I’m with 48th Ward Heel on this one. Lean into it. Dems have to learn not to run from Republican attacks.
Show the country that Chicago is more than just Fox News talking points.
- jackmac - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 11:06 am:
Bill Clinton was also renominated in Chicago (in 1996) and won a second term. Seems to me that Chicago Dem convention reminders of Obama and Clinton are win-win and a strong launch pad for a second Biden campaign.
- Gravitas - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 11:39 am:
With its central location and excellent transportation, Chicago has been the preferred national convention location for both major political parties since Abraham Lincoln was nominated in 1860. Twenty-five conventions met here.
The GOP has not held its national convention in Chicago since 1960, but the party met here fourteen times, including five conventions in a row from 1904-1920. The Democrats convened in Chicago eleven times.
Heck, there were summers in which Chicago hosted both the Donkeys and the Elephants (1884, 1932, 1944, and 1952). Bring it back to Chicago in 2024!
- Amalia - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 11:44 am:
Atlanta is a better choice. I love the Chi, but Atlanta represents so much more than the party needs in the next round.
- NIU Grad - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 11:50 am:
Honestly, I don’t want Chicago to be used as a national punching bag for crime. That’s what hosting it would bring.
The party would be better off with Atlanta from a voter turnout perspective.
- hisgirlfriday - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 12:02 pm:
I’ve only been to NYC once (summertime in early 2000s) and was very grossed out by the smells. I have heard it has gotten worse now in last couple years now that the sewer smells have mingled with the marijuana smells.
Reeks is a wild word choice, indeed.
- 47th Ward - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 12:03 pm:
===I don’t want Chicago to be used as a national punching bag for crime.===
I hate to be the one to break it to you, but we’re already the national punching bag for crime.
- Loop Lady - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 12:05 pm:
I’ll be blunt…when a certain trial is over, we’ll host again here in the Windy City…I guess corruption has a cost after all.
- Commissar Gritty - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 12:06 pm:
I’m vetoing New York unless they agree to make Pizza Rat the keynote speaker
- MisterJayEm - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 12:06 pm:
My Chicago fandom takes a backseat to no one, but Atlanta feels like the better choice both tactically and strategically.
A Chicago convention could be a boost for Chicago, but I don’t see it doing anything meaningful for the Democratic nominee. By contrast, an Atlanta convention might move the needle a bit. And in a tight race, a little movement could mean a lot.
That said, if I remember my time at Ft. Benning correctly, late summer in Georgia is gonna be hot and sticky as all get out.
– MrJM
- Google Is Your Friend - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 12:10 pm:
- Stuck in Celliniland - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 10:04 am:
- CLJ - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 10:46 am:
The Dems did Philadelphia in 2016. And for what it’s worth, Biden’s 2020 campaign HQ was also there.
- Google Is Your Friend - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 12:12 pm:
- NIU Grad - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 11:50 am:
It will take less than it took me to write this comment for Atlanta to become the national punching bag for crime if a convention were there.
https://www.11alive.com/article/news/crime/atlanta-chicago-crime-rates/85-1a13cc4a-bdef-43d6-a213-69ced3835b48
- Grandson of Man - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 12:46 pm:
Remembering some strong Chicago/NYC sports rivalries, Cubs/Mets and Bulls/Knicks. Chicago fans would agree with Mayor Adams but use much stronger language. Personally like NYC for travel, but agree that Atlanta is the better city because of the need to win Georgia.
- thisjustinagain - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 1:47 pm:
Yes, “reeks in” was strange; “reeks of” makes far more sense.
But what if the Dems threw conventions in poor towns to flood the local economy with money? Imagine Cairo, Kankakee, East St. Louis, etc.? After all, they are supposed to be the party of the people, and lots of people in towns like this are hurting for even temporary employment. Sure there’s venue and housing issues, etc., but put all that money where the party’s mouth is.
- Politix - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 2:12 pm:
I was in journalism school at Columbia College Chicago for the ‘96 DNC. My favorite instructor, the late, great Jim Sulski, managed to get the college newspaper crew into the event. It was glorious.
- JoanP - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 2:58 pm:
= Sure there’s venue and housing issues =
That’s an understatement. Can Cairo house 50,000 visitors? Is there a convention center in Kankakee with the capacity and technology needed?
It’s all very well to say the party should go to poor towns, but if those towns can’t meet the physical needs of a convention, it’s a non-starter.
- Stuck in Celliniland - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 3:16 pm:
==That’s an understatement. Can Cairo house 50,000 visitors? Is there a convention center in Kankakee with the capacity and technology needed?==
Along those lines I actually wonder if back in the day Bill Cellini actually tried to see if he could pull enough strings to actually attempt to bring the RNC to Springfield.
- TJ - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 3:24 pm:
Oh no, Biden and the Dems are risking being associated with the most popular Democrats if Chicago is the host.
The horror…
- Give Us Barabbas - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 3:32 pm:
I can see the arguments for either Chicago or Atlanta. The strategic argument for concentrating on Georgia is persuasive. To really make an impact there, the spending has to be targeted in a way that doesn’t favor big out of state vendors but rather a larger number of smaller local ones.
- Thomas Paine - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 4:07 pm:
Atlanta is a battleground state and it gives you the opportunity to elevate Marjorie Taylor Greene.
This should be a no brainer. Chicago is unrivaled as a place to hang out and party. But a convention in Chcago won’t be about Obama, it will be about gun violence in Chicago, and we all know it.
- JB13 - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 4:16 pm:
It’s not that Obama is a *negative.* It’s that the Dems might not want their nominee - particularly if it’s Mr. Obama’s former VP - to be overshadowed by the legend. It would be like LeBron James trying to make his case for the GOAT, while standing in the United Center under all the banners, with No. 23 visible in the background. It could remind too many people too much that you are not actually The Man, so to speak.
Also, Gov. JB is right on. Chicago is *phenomenal* in the summer. It’s our recompense for February.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Jan 27, 23 @ 4:29 pm:
I love New York. I’ll just begin there.
I visited Manhattan in late June, early July, stayed in the Garment District in midtown. It was a little hot.
Had an awesome time, but two things;
There was garbage everywhere, as with no alleys, you’d walk and you were constantly walking around garbage bags.
I needed a haircut, I found this barber shop tucked into a side entrance, run by a coupe guys from Queens. Told them I was from Oswego (not Chicago) and that triggered a whole SUNY Oswego conversation and other things like… above ground pools in Queens… and why Manhattan was “quiet” to them… as all the usual clients were either in the Hamptons, the Carolinas (which I found interesting) or going to places like Toronto.
Why?
“You been walkin’ around, no? It’s hot and it stinks wid all da garbage out dare”
Like I said. I love New York.
The haircut was exceptional too.