CNN moving top anchors from convention to New Orleans

[WI_DEM]

TAMPA -- In a move that signals how Tropical Storm Isaac threatens to eclipse the Republican convention, CNN has announced that it is sending Soledad O'Brien and Anderson Cooper to New Orleans.

The storm, which is bypassing Tampa and on course for the north Gulf Coast (and very possibly New Orleans), could now pose far bigger problems for the Republicans than high winds and waves ever would. There is a very real fear among Republicans that a natural disaster in New Orleans (seven years after Hurricane Katrina) or nearby could all but eclipse the convention -- or, worse, create an unfavorable "split-screen situation" in which images of Hurricane damage are juxtaposed with the theatrics of Mitt Romney's nomination.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2012/08/cnn-moves-obrien-cooper-to-nola-133310.html

Meanwhile:

Heightening GOP fears that Tropical Storm Isaac will rob the party of its week in the spotlight, a spokesperson with NBC News tells POLITICO that audiences should "expect to see a lot of split screens" during the network's coverage of the Republican convention.

"NBC -- along combined with the resources of The Weather Channel, MSNBC, CNBC, and Telemundo -- has resources from Haiti and Cuba to up the entire coast of Florida, across the panhandle, and all the way west to New Orleans," the spokesperson told POLITICO. "We've been able to deploy those anchors, correspondents, and crews without disrupting our coverage of the Republican convention in Tampa."

http://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2012/08/nbc-expect-to-see-a-lot-of-split-screens-133337.html

And what really scares the GOP is this possibility:

Consider for a moment the juxtaposition of President Obama marshaling his administration’s forces and personally visiting New Orleans or Mobile, Ala., in the aftermath of the storm’s landfall, all while the convention hall is filled with delegates dressed in funny hats listening to partisan speeches.

Consider, too, the practical reality of the public and news media being forced to choose between watching a staged political event or coping with the aftermath of a natural disaster.

http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2012/08/26/while-romney-campaign-talks-forging-ahead-isaac-may-prompt-convention-cancellation/D1rB5Sxn1uoqSNF1qgrUIN/story.html

[central scrutinizer]

1. time for Jindal to cowboy up

and refuse government handouts while waiting for the magic hand of market forces to make everything all right.

[babylonsister]

3. What you said!

[Fawke Em]

2. Because the loss of air time is more important to the GOP

than any potential loss of life along the Gulf Coast.

[arikara]

4. Nothing changes, they didn't care about loss of life

with Katrina either. Bush carried blithely on with his birthday party while NO drowned.

[malaise]

17. It wasn't Bush's birthday

It was McGramps

[BlueStreak]

5. I'm trying to remember who was President when Katrina came through

I'm sure if I tune into the GOP convention coverage, the split-screen will remind me who it was that had birthday cake instead of looking after the needs of New Orleans.

The GOP message of "Screw everybody. We're giving all the money to billionaires" should blend nicely with the coverage of another weather disaster.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

6. Isn't this exactly what happened 4 yrs ago, w McCain and Gustav?

While Republicans were cavorting in Minneapolis (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Republican_National_Convention ), the eyes of most voters were diverted 1000 miles away to 48 deaths in Louisiana due to Hurricane Gustav (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Gustav ).

[central scrutinizer]

7. I'm guessing that Obama will not be at McCain's birthday party

if a big one hits New Orleans

[Historic NY]

19. nor will be be playing a geetar with Mark Willis

[Qutzupalotl]

27. Look closely at that fingering.

That's the traditional open G chord shape, but one fret higher, making it a dissonant G/G#. No wonder the real musician appears concerned.

[JDPriestly]

8. Soledad O'Brien -- a top liberal whose reporting at the Republican Convention I would like to see.

Anderson Cooper who has just come out as gay (if I am wrong, please correct me) and whose reports from the GOP bigots I would also like to see.

Come on now. This is not good news. This is the Republicans' dream. I wonder which of the big Republican honchos requested their transfers.

[sadbear]

16. That was my first thought, too.

[AverageJoe90]

18. How is this bad news, JD?

[ashling]

22. Getting Soledad out of Tampa?

so she won't be raining on their parade . . . so to speak?

or more likely, taking attention away from their idiot platform meets nominee fiasco?

[JDPriestly]

24. I would like to see Soledad interviewing the Republican delegates and nominees.

She would not ask only easy questions. I fear that this is a move to get potentially tough questions off the air.

[SheilaT]

9. Huh? I thought that Isaac was veering off in a westerly direction

and is now expected to hit New Orleans. Couldn't CNN just fire Ms. O'Brien and Mr. Cooper if they want to get rid of them? Sending them off to be in a hurricane seems, oh, I don't know. Stupid?

[Catherine Vincent]

10. Split screen :)

I like that. I'd rather watch a hurricane come in than watch the republican convention. (just kidding)

[OmahaBlueDog]

11. If you are actually watching the GOP Convention, most likely you are watching FAUX

Meanwhile, if five tree branches fall on Bourbon street, the GOP will scream that Obama cares less about NOLA than Junior Bush did.

[nolabear]

14. LOL! If five tree branches fall on Bourbon they blew there from Esplanade.

Right now the worry lies in New Orleans East. They're outside the levee system and way low. Time to head for higher ground for a few days, folks.

[Bertha Venation]

12. Let us hope fervently

that the convention is not upstaged by the ts/hurricane. I don't want people to die or to be flooded out of their homes and livelihoods just so the other party's party is ruined.

[FSogol]

13. Can't they cover BOTH disasters?

[sibelian]

15. Upstaged by other people being threatened by a natural disaster!

It's so UNFAIR.

[lpbk2713]

20. Another great strategic planning coup for the GOP ... NOT ... LMAO

Scheduling their convention in a coastal Florida city in the middle of hurricane season is only
surpassed in its infinite wisdom by whoever thought it was a great idea to schedule 25 live
TV primary season debates. What a fuggen laugh riot circus that was. LMAO.

[vaberella]

21. I noticed this when I was watching CNN today. I'm going to be on CNN for these two days. n/t

[Blue Idaho]

23. "Heck of a job Brownie..."

The ghost of Katrina will gut the GOP like a fish. Let's all remember what its like when republicans controlled the handles of power.

[randome]

25. So...they're trying to kill their anchors?

[SoCalDem]

26. Good.. It's just a the run-of-the-mill infomercial anyway..n/t

[grasswire]

28. Isaac will show a NEED for government...

...while GOP is railing against government services!

That will be the conundrum.

[BeyondGeography]

29. Oh well. Luck of the draw, but

it couldn't happen to a more obstinate bunch of climate change deniers.

[Wednesdays]

30. They're moving Soledad O'brien?

Could it be a way for TPTB to get her out of the way and avoid having to answer tough questions?

[applegrove]

31. I think both Soledad O'Briend and Anderson Cooper spent part of their childhoods

in NOLA. So they would be the people to send to NOLA out of anyone.