Okay, okay! I yield.
I am not going to be the selfish sourpuss, the turd in the punch bowl or the kid who won’t play nice in the sandbox.
Count me in as a supporter of bringing the Republican National Convention to KC in 2016.
You’ll remember that I wrote a week or so ago about how the Republican convention was going to be a big inconvenience for us residents and that we did not need the “one percenters” taking over our city and leaving the rest of us “behind the ropes.”
But now, instead of crying the blues, I’m singing “Happy Days Are Here Again.”
One factor in my change of heart was that upon arriving in Kansas City on the Amtrak train from St. Louis last night, the first thing I saw when I walked out of Union Station were the words “KC 2016” electronically projected in massive type on the stone wall of Liberty Memorial’s northern base, across from the station.
It was impressive.
But the biggest factor in my capitulation was reading about — and seeing video of — Mayor Sly James’ boisterous greeting of the Republican Search Committee at Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport yesterday.
In case you didn’t see the video, here it is. And below is The Star’s front-page photo of Sly dancing with the GOP site selection chairwoman Enid Mickelson.
It was a little hokey — how could it not be? — but Sly, with his uninhibited, engaging personality, pulled it off perfectly.
It was clear that Enid and other members of the site selection committee were into the moment. They clapped their hands and smiled widely as Sly and Enid danced.
Another inspired touch was the 1970s-era atmosphere that the greeting party contrived, harkening back to the days when Kansas City hosted the 1976 Republican National convention.
Those greeting the search committee included former TWA flight attendants dressed in period uniforms and the Schlagle High School (KCK) marching band. In addition, the TWA Constellation — “the Connie” — that a group of area TWA aficionados restored many years ago, was parked nearby.
I think it would be difficult for any of Kansas City’s three competing cities — Denver, Cleveland and Dallas — to top the welcome that James and the others gave the GOP yesterday.
Another factor in my change of heart was a column that Steve Paul, a member of The Star’s editorial board, wrote on the Op-Ed page last week. I can’t find it now because The Star’s link to the electronic archives seems to be temporarily broken, but the gist of it was that Steve urged Kansas Citians to resist the urge to be small-minded and to always, always, push for whatever will move Kansas City a step ahead.
He said specifically that we should do everything we could to get the GOP convention here.
Thank you, Steve, for laying down that challenge. And now I’m calling on you, blog readers, to accept that challenge, too.
Yes, I’m talking to you, Jennifer, and you, Jason, and you, John Altevogt (do all my readers’ names start with “J”?) to step up forward and do what you can to bring this convention to Kansas City.
We can start by grabbing our umbrellas and going down to Sprint Center this afternoon and trying to buttonhole the search committee members as they come out of Sprint Center after a scheduled tour.
Yes, it’s hokey, but no hokier than dancing on the tarmac!
JimmyCsays: At the juncture of journalism and daily life in KC 
Only one black person is in the picture–what’s up with that? And those women–clearly–are not in need of contraceptives, so we are looking better than the Iowa plan.
Denver and Cleveland won’t win. Too much weed and progessive politics in Colorado and Cleveland has that perpetual losing mentality (not to mention screwing up draft picks in BOTH basketball and football). Not sure how we beat Dallas, though — Sprint Center? Pffft. Once those dancers tour the gallows of the Texas gas chambers, they will be smitten with that city.
OTOH, I would be in favor of any convention that pours money in the local enconomy — plus, the good folks of The Daily Show will be in town.
But the Republicans really, really need Ohio in the 2016 presidential election. That could be a pivotal factor. The Republicans know they’re going to win Missouri, and it doesn’t have many electoral votes.
…I appreciate your ongoing concern, Jennifer, for the Republican comfort factor.
Like I said before, “dog and pony show”.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are the opinions of Jason Schneider. They do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by the City of Raytown or it’s citizens.
A fine place it has been…since former Police Chief Marion Beeler departed the scene.
Born in ’72 and became a Raytown resident in ’73. I guess I missed out on that drama.
He was chief when you were young, but being Caucasian, you had nothing to worry about from Marion and his boys. He was to Raytown what strip clubs were to KCK in the 70s, 80s and early 90s.
And then you turn left coming out of the Sprint Center and the only two buildings with anything in them are a nudie bar and a cigar bar. Not a lot for thousands of delegates to do. Too bad they can’t figure out how to house everyone in Overland Park and then ship them to the Sprint Center via buses.
I just don’t see what KCMO would have to offer, not that any major Democratically run American city would be any better. They need to go back to someplace like the Corn Palace sort of like you suggested before.
What’s really standing out in this search is the destruction of the American city thanks to Johnson’s “Great Society” programs.
I still see the Quad Cities as a strong contender, right up there after us. I would pitch them to the Republicans as the Midwest’s “Invisible Jewel.”
Bismarck, ND. it’s lovely in August and you can walk virtually anywhere from the concert center downtown without having a National Guard escort and it’s a center of Republican prosperity in the midst of Obama’s permanent recession.
Your initial instincts were correct. Small town America. If KCMO blocks off too big of an area where are the cops going to write tickets?
Since you are allowing only “J” responses, I decided to respond. As you know, I am not a current Kansas Citian (is that what you’re called?”) but lived there a couple years in the mid-70’s. I enjoyed the city very much and have a special place in my heart vs. all the other cities I lived in…specifically Louisville, New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Albuquerque, Denver, Baltimore, Chicago.
How could the city officials, and prominate citizens (like you Fitz) NOT BE DOING EVERY THING POSSIBLE, to get the convention. What an economic and psychological boost to a city that needs some tonic.
Fitz, you were very instrumental in getting the tax defeated on some type of medical issue. I congratulated you then and more even now. I CHALLENGE you to take up the ‘KC 2016″ possibility and put an equal amouint of effort into it. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE…YOU ALREADY HAVE!