They could hold the debate in Jackson Square, where President Bush addressed the nation by television after the storm. Actually, they are offering the convention center. Photo by Mark Silva.
by Mark Silva
Since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast nearly two years ago, a group known as Women of the Storm has worked at ensuring that more members of Congress visit the storm-stricken region for a first-hand understanding of what remains to be done.
And now the women have teamed with several universities in the area to compete for one of the formal presidential debates that will be held in 2008.
“I don’t think these national leaders recognize how important it is the spirit of the people here,’’ Anne Milling, founder of Women of the Storm, said today of the continuing press for attention from members of Congress.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Cal.) was there again Sunday. Still, Milling says, the chairmen of several House and Senate committees have not visited since the storm.
And now Women of the Storm has teamed up with four New Orleans colleges to serve as host for one of the presidential debates next year: Dillard University, Loyola University, Tulane University and Xavier University. They are offering the Morial Convention Center, and certainly a plethora of downtown hotels.
“We just think we would be the perfect venue for a dialog by the candidates,’’ Milling says. "We are not suggesting that presidential candidates look backward to these ills but use a debate in New Orleans as an opportunity to move forward...to set a comprehensive domestic agenda.... Hosting a debate would beam globally that our tourist industry is open and functioning; hosting a debate in New Orleans would boost college applicants, which have dropped 50 percent at some schools.
"And finally...a debate would boost the spirits of a tired city.''
They are not alone in competing for the venue, however. The Commission on Presidential Debates, which organizes three debates during each election cycle, is weighing many bids, including applications from colleges that have played host to debates before -- and including a bid from the state of Illinois to host a debate at McCormick Place.
Milling says the commission has advised that a decision is coming in October.
The contenders are:
Belmont University, Nashville, TN
Centre College, Danville, KY
Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County, Indiana
Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
Indiana University and the City of Bloomington's Convention and Visitors Bureau
Metropolitan Exposition Recreation Commission, Portland, OR and Clark College, Vancouver, WA
State of Illinois (Lakeside Center/McCormick Place, Chicago)
University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR
University of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, OH
University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS
VisitPittsburgh, PA
Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
Washington State University, Spokane, WA
Washington University in St. Louis, MO
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Comments
They should hold the debate in the center of the Ninth ward, in one of the many many empty lots.
No media questions or moderators, just people from place like the Ninth ward, Bay St. Louis, and Waveland.
Questions from folks living in FEMA trailers who weren't told of evidence of dengerous levels of formaldahyde, and the fact that FEMA actually tried to stop the testing that confirmed those problems. Questions from people who can't rebuild their homes since the insurance companies that they paid premiums to for decades have denied tens of thousands of claims.
That's a debate I'd like to see.
Posted by: Tony | August 16, 2007 2:45 PM
I graduated from Loyola University in Chicago and received the Loyolan Award given to only 9 graduates from BS through the Doctorate. But, I believe TV stations should hold debates not leftists from academia. They always slant everything to victims of this or that. In life you must face obstacles which liberals don't prepare you to handle.
The idea of holding a debate in New Orleans would only benefit John Edwards,the trial lawyer. There are many engineering hurdles in New Orleans which will take time as Ron Reagan used to say I'm with the government and I'm here to help you should scare all of us. The private sector is the only sector that can handle problems like New Orleans--government should help not hinder and we need less academics and more get a hanle on it or as the Cable Guy says Get'r done. Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | August 17, 2007 8:19 PM