Who's Down With R-N-C?

Oh, God.

Might San Antonio play host to the 2008 Republican National Convention? In a press release issued today by the RNC, 31 cities across the country were chosen as preliminary contenders to host the next convention, two years from now. Each is required to submit an application proving that they can meet such requirements as:

Main Convention Area: Facility capable of seating at least 20,500 persons, including the convention floor with seating for approximately 5,500 delegates and alternates.

Provision of Facilities & Services: The City and/or Host Committee shall provide facilities and services necessary to hold the convention as determined by the COA, including: seating for delegates and attendees, electrical power, lighting, a sound system, a transportation system, heating and air conditioning and a telecommunications system.

Security Measures: All provisions of security and related protective services shall be provided at the sole cost of the City and/or Host Committee except security measures for which the federal government agrees to pay.

Hotels: The City and/or Host Committee shall make at least 20,000 hotel rooms and 2,000 one and two bedroom suites available to the COA

Cities selected in the first round include: Anaheim, Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Memphis, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, and Tampa

What - San Antonio over Austin? Of course, that's probably because we don't have a single indoor structure* that could possibly encompass twenty thousand people all at once. And thank goodness for that.

* We might be wrong.