Memo to world: GOP will see more than strippers, seniors in Tampa

Tampa's getting the 2012 Republican National Convention, and people around the blogosphere are talking.

But honestly, have many of these folks ever been here?

Button-down oxfords at football games? God's waiting room? The birthplace of death metal? Lap dancers galore?

OK, we'll give you the last one.

But a quick look at the sample reaction paints Tampa as a blue-haired hurricane bull's-eye filled with country bumpkins and naked women looking to party.

Of course, it can be that at times. But the area also has several vibrant locales, great weather (usually), a new arts museum, well-known performing arts centers, major-league sports, beaches, theme parks and a proven track record of hosting national events.

Here's what they're saying. We've still got two years to change some minds.

Huffington Post

• If Salt Lake City is Squaresville, as far as getting liquored up and crazy impaired is concerned, Tampa is the exact opposite. As the Hold Steady sings, repeatedly, Tampa's Ybor City is "tres speedy and throws such killer parties." How killer? Apparently, in Ybor City, you can count on being "up to your neck in sweat and wet confetti." There, people are "jamming jetskis into the jetty...with some guy who looks like Rocco Sefredi." Basically, BEST REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION EVER.

• Paul Allen, the founder and publisher of NightMoves magazine, says he hears about the city's reputation all the time. He believes the sheer number of strip clubs in the Bay area has undoubtedly contributed to the city's rep.

"In greater Tampa Bay, I think the last count is around 56 different clubs that are adult-oriented," he said.

Another reason for the reputation is the city's role in the adult industry. "If you own a club in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and you want to book a feature (dancer) to come to your club, there's basically four people you can call. Three of those four companies are based right here in Tampa," Allen said.

But the biggest reason for Tampa's lap dance reputation is because of an ordinance the city enacted about 10 years ago. Called the "six foot rule," it requires customers to stay six feet from the dancers ...

Gawker
• In troubled times politicians look to their base for support. So naturally the Republican Party chose God's waiting room as the site of its 2012 convention to nominate a presidential candidate. Arizona was in the running, but was passed over.

New York Times

• It is a sprawling city of around 333,000 people, where car radios twang with country music, and the button-down oxford seems to be the dress code for football games, church and barbecue stands.

• Just a short drive from center stage at the convention, on an otherwise average street with Thai restaurants and steakhouses, debauchery awaits. "Nude girls - blast off in our space ship," says the sign at 2001 Odyssey. Up and down Dale Mabry Highway, a stretch that claims to have more lap-dance emporiums per square mile than any other city in the country, the message is much the same: come hither, join the fun.

Dallas Morning News

• It's official. The Republicans plan to hold their 2012 presidential nominating convention in Tampa-St. Petersburg. The convention wil be the week of Aug. 27.

Average weather for Tampa in August: highs in the 90s, with 90 percent humidity. Nice.
On the bright side, the delegates will be indoors. It's the protesters who'll be melting.

Bummer for Charlie Crist. If he'd run for another term as governor he'd be the gracious host.

The Salt Lake Tribune

• Salt Lake officials are smarting a little after the Republican National Committee recommended Tampa to host the 2012 GOP Convention.

But it was kind of a no-brainer when you look at it a little more closely.

Sure, Utah has its selling points. But Tampa, Tampa has lap dances.

On Twitter:

@lruettimann: GOP convention in Tampa in 2012. Another reason for me to avoid Florida, white pants, and resort wear.

@marc_cooper: #GOP decision to do next convention in Tampa instead of #Phoenix is effectively part of #AZ #boycott. LOL

@mikealex80: Tampa wins bid to host 2012 GOP Convention. Maybe if the oil reaches here we can put them to work cleaning their mess.

@kingsthings: The GOP has picked Tampa as the location for their 2012 Convention. I love Tampa, but isn't that the height of Hurricane Season?

@TroyFlanaganIFA: RNC Convo right across the bay from the Crist condo. Awkward.

@JerryPerisho: GOP selected Tampa for their 2012 presidential convention. One plank in the GOP platform will be, "Hey you kids, get off my front lawn".

@IWelsh_art: Haha, Rachel Maddow played Deicide's "Homage for Satan" saying it's funny the GOP con is in Tampa, the birth place of death metal.

@3BowlofPorridge: @maddow GOP Convention in Tampa. Yet another oily disaster coming their way!!

Reader comments:

Arizona Republic: No coincidence that FL was the chosen site for the Republican convention. Jeb and George Bush devastated that state by ignoring our immigration laws and their sworn oath of office. Those illegal aliens fleeing AZ will be very, very comfortable in Jeb Bush's FL, which includes Miami - a city Tom Tancredo correctly described as resembling a third world country.

Salt Lake City Tribune: This could be good. Tropical storm hits Tampa during 2012 convention. More viewers watching it on the Weather Channel than on any other network. But the GOP would rather take THAT risk than stage their convention in unholy Utah.

Salt Lake City Tribune: But being a native (born in Melbourne) Floridian, I can tell you that Tampa is a pit.

Salt Lake City Tribune: I'm biased maybe towards FL's east coast. bright blue waters, white sands, palmetto trees. the gulf side's waters are brown and the beaches seemed more polluted to me. Plus I had an aunt that lived on the seedy side of tampa, I still remember how nasty that part of town was. bradenton's a pit too though.

Salt Lake City Tribune: Thats great news because Tampa has more prostitutes and nude bars than can accomodate the convention, and Tampa also has real beer, and I will be living in the Tampa Bay area to read the news about Salt Lake and their woes of being not included in the national activities. I'll send postcards, but not to the deseret news