The balloons and the chocolate fountain did these Republican National Representatives in as they visited Tampa and none of the other cities so far vying for the GOP convention made them feel "so special". Cleveland is the fourth city left and better come up with something more like maybe personalized balloons or a pure vanilla fountain!
Of course the prediction of only a 2 percent chance of a hurricane hitting the Bay area two years from now in the height of the season and the fact that Tampa is in question of providing adequate hotel accomodations for this influx of thousands of additional people denying accomodations to regular travelers and business people or paying two to three times their normal rate and not addressing an already major traffic concern is not relative.
But the balloons and the chocolate fountain.....Let the festivities begin!!!! Reminds me of the original Batman movie and indeed Gotham City.

There was a letter published in the Times today (7/11) referring to the GOP convention. The letter writer blasted the Times for negative articles concerning the expense to the community and potential problems. The letter writer also stated that if the community loses the bid for the Republican convention, the Times can accept partial blame.
The Times did report on the convention and gave the cost expected from taxpayers, the amount of possible revenue taken in by the convention as well as the possibility of up to 500,000 protesters and 20,000 supporters. To me this is news!
Of course hoteliers, restauranteurs and other tourism-related businesses stand to make a hefty profit should Tampa be selected. How will this affect the average taxpaying working "Joe"? The letter writer states that with the convention occuring in September, it comes at a time of the year when the tourist economy needs a shot in the arm - which it would get in large portion with thousands of visitors. The letter writer did not state that September is also the height of hurricane season.
If Tampa is not selected for the GOP convention it won't be the fault of the Times for reporting news. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to weigh the real pros and cons having the convention here which is why should taxpayers fork over one dime to help pay for this convention which will benefit relatively few in comparison with all residents of Florida? Is it worth the risk of having thousands of additional people here at the height of hurricane season?
Also, the letter writer indicates that the Times would have had different viewpoints if it were a Democratic convention? This is something that people will have to decide for themselves but I will say one thing! As a Florida resident, taxpayer and registered Democrat, my views would remain the same.
This GOP convention will not benefit me one iota and I feel my tax dollars can be better spent elsewhere. I feel tax revenue should not even be considered to help pay for any political convention. And last but not least, the timing of the GOP convention is piss-poor!

A couple of minutes ago there was one user - "Times Staff" - and eight guests. Since the name of this system is itsyourtimes, which assumedly focuses primarily/largely on readers, who are the "guests".

And who are you people, the "Times Staff" who feel a need to be anonymous? Are you friends or enemies of either the SPTimes or we volunteers who invest time in a system "Merely to tell the truth". Is this a scam, to use us/readers toward topics you are pushing?

If you are readers you will probably remember that the Letters to the Editor section in Editorials requires writers to clearly and verifiably provide their names. And that Phil Gailey has editorialized against incivility.

It's obvious that incivility is involved when some hooded "Times Staff" tries to take over and manipulate itsy/itsyourtimes. Your latest gambit was to massage itsy toward your concept of "news". To you a guessing game about huge numbers of protestors - even below a half million - is "news"?

By the way, does anyone know anything about Robyn Blumner. Has she left the SPTimes? Do Editorial columnists just write about active citizenship and Amer. problem solving - then scram?

Fenn should love this post by the "Times Staff!" It was suggested that this covention could draw up to 550,000 protesters downsized to 20,000 by GOP supporters. In any case the number of protesters that will come will be very dependent on the weather situation at the time of the convention. Would the city be prepared? I don't think the city will be prepared for such a mega evacation plan should the convention not come at all. I cannot prove if these figures will be correct on the possible additional amount of people this convention will draw as well as I can say we will be threatened by a major hurricane at this time. As far as bidding for the convention, is it worth the risk no hurricane will be eminant and gambling our taxpayer dollars away for an event that may never come about or do GOP supporters have little crystle balls fortelling the future?

Well Alexis, glad you are out of harms way as we are approaching the pre-height of hurricane season. Perhaps we can have that beer sometime and when your in town...post me twice! Post me three times if the GOP convention is here and your are also. Perhaps we can find a shelter that serves beer! Take care Alesis!

Alexis - Any chance you could help us get back on track re this GOP Convention post by Times Staff? In Jack's first post to me after I responded to them Jack stated that he had some "very serious issues" re the GOP Convention.

They haven't come forward since then and I feel there is a legitimate concern about time-wasting, hypocrisy, and ego. Instead there has been a series of hard words and ego-involved efforts to override the Times Staff post to take credit for something which could have been done by Jack - First, alone, better?

Double posting - Who really would believe that most of us have not done this all by ourselves? Deal me in for half a dozen.

It is unfair to criticise the Times for this post as I sent an email to them suggesting the GOP convention would be a good topic of discussion in its yourtimes.com. As I feel there are some very serious issues involved with this convention taking place here, not only during the height of hurricane season but also with the expenditure of millions of taxpayer's dollars required that is so desperately needed elsewhere, I felt other residents and taxpayers might want to post their concerns as well. The Time's Staff is not to blame and I thank them for posting this subject matter. I must admit, however, that I am disappointed in the number of reads and even more so in the number of responses. I thank those that have responded and I encourage more responses regardless of agreeable or unagreeable views to this subject or my personal posts as this is an avenue for people to let others know how they feel about issues that concern them as individuals and affect them as Florida residents as well as letting our elected representatives know.

Sorry Alexis, am somewhat familiar with "Clockwork Orange" but been a very long time. All I remember is that it was pretty violent. I have no idea what Ann Coulter's book is all about but if on the same page as Clockwork Orange, they would immediately pass a bill demanding armed guards protecting them 24/7. How about we just vote them out?

Don't forget Alexis, we just might have a home football game scheduled at Raymond James. Better have plenty of school buses ready to transport them to the Trop! By the way love cluster f*&^!!!!!!!!

You made your points very clear about expressing yourself and about why the GOP Convention should not cost us one cent! Take care!

Good point Fred......but remember it is these thousands of premadonnas that will be evacuated first with emphasis on their safety. The thousands of little people and the many thousands of protesters expected will have to fend for themselves. Also remember that if a hurricane is eminent, there won't be a convention here....and the millions wasted on its prepardness paid by the taxpayers will just simply be wasted like throwing needed revenue out the window and watching it blow in the wind. But of course we not question this as we have no problems here in Florida such as medical, educational or insurance issues.

I take it you are against the GOP Convention taking place in Tampa!