I think you misread the McCain press release. They're actually moving the whole convention to the Thunderbird Motel on 494. The Airport Holiday Inn is just a Holiday Inn, but the Thunderbird is all class. Pretty good convention facilities, too, as anyone who grew up as a comic book fan or Trekkie in that part of the country in the early 1980s could attest. Or, um, that's what my comic-reading, Trekkie friends tell me.

...the Xcel Energy Center is in St. Paul, y'all, not Minneapolis.  If we're talking about the Thunderbird on 494, the airport Holiday Inn, etc., we should be consistent in getting the Twin Cities geography correct.  

Maybe he should make the speech at the Medina Ballroom.  That would certainly attract the right age of audience members....

You have it right Rhubs.  It's all about repositioning the GOP as the party of the working man.  Make that RE-repositioning the GOP as the party of the working man.  If they're serious they'll do as you suggest and hold the convention at the Thunderbird.  Or at a Super 8 in Brainerd.  Or how about Wall Drug?  Or keeping it in Minnesota, how about the Treasure Island Resort and Casino in Red Wing?  That way Little Big John could simultaneously pay his respects to our Native American brothers, symbolically make peace with the Jack Abramoff wing of the Republican Party, and get in some time on the craps tables.

...it rains? I agree that having Obama speak at Invesco Field , before some 75,000 screaming partisans

Bay of Campeche.

Offshore, south of the border and from the Jurassic era? He'll get in some of those "Why is older better?" lines. Plus, there are several platforms where Mr. J. can announce his platform. He can control access too, 80Km for land. (Note to Joe Klein: Don't eat the packed-lunch)

The banner will read, McCain - Our Dude For Crude

OK, there may be a problem if word gets out the field reached peak production in '04.

aero, Wall Drug doesn't have convention facilities. But the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD, does. (Question: Would the onion domes and minarets of the Corn Palace muddle McCain's security credentials, or would they remind people that Obama is a Muslim?)

Alternately, why not have the GOP convention at the Sturgis rally in August? Nothing says "comfortable with the working man" like the ability to not freak out in the presence of half a million bikers. (Plus, much as I love the Twin Cities, and as close as the Xcel Center is to Cossetta's, which is a try-the-chicken-marsala subliminal hint to TNR staff covering the event, a couple of days with the bikers at Sturgis is just more fun than a couple of days with the country-club Republicans in St. Paul.)

Why are comments posted by TNR editors always screwed up?

When will TNR's website enter the 21st century?

"When will TNR's website enter the 21st century?"

...when they get out of their 9/10/01 mindset.  Zing!