GOP drops convention's opening night as Gustav nears

[Faygo Kid]

Source: Houston Chronicle

ST. PAUL, MINN. — Virtually all of the Republican National Convention's Monday night program, including an address by President Bush, will be canceled as national attention focuses on Hurricane Gustav, party officials said today.

"It is doubtful that there will be any kind of program tomorrow night" when the four-day convention was scheduled to commence, House Minority Leader John Boehner told reporters. "The convention is going to be handled on a day-to-day basis."

Boehner, of Ohio, the top Republican in the House, said the convention is concerned about potential victims of the storm, "and the best way we honor that is to help Americans who are in need."

"There will be efforts to engage the delegates, alternates and our friends in relief efforts." . . .



Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5976307.html

---

[Vincardog]

1. The GOP is on life support. Will someone please pull the plug on them?

[Dead Elephant]

64. They don't deserve a second chance

The Republicans obviously couldnt handle a hurricane hitting New Orleans the first time.
Now they want to turn the next tradegy into political theater.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330266306995&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DSelling

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330266576899&_trksid=p3907.m32&_trkparms=tab%3DSelling

[Virginia Dare]

66. No, let them vegetate a while like they did to Terry Schiavo...n/t

[mvd]

2. Heh - NOW they show concern

When they think they can gain political points. The fact is, the occupation in Iraq drained resources at the local and state levels as well as at the federal level. Post-Katrina reconstruction was also meager. Now, there are fewer poor to evacuate. And we are again unprepared.

[UpInArms]

3. no one was going to show up anyway

everyone hates Dimson and no one wants to even be a part of their "party"

they're just giant LOSERS

[kestrel91316]

4. The only reason they give a goddam rat's ass about NOLA

and Gustav right now is because it's an election year and the big day is less than three months away.

[UpInArms]

5. I disagree - they are using Gustav as cover for the poor attendance

that they anticipate

[Beartracks]

11. What's this about poor attendance? n/t

[UpInArms]

61. Sununu not planning to attend GOP convention

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/08/13/1263992.aspx

From NBC's Doug Adams
Sen. Pat Roberts (KS) is now the eighth Republican senator to announce that they will not attend the GOP Convention in St. Paul, Minn., next month.

Roberts spokeswoman told the Topeka Capital Journal today that Roberts will be campaigning that week, finishing up his 105 county statewide tour during the convention week.

Four others who've announced they won't be attending are -- Ted Stevens (AK), Elizabeth Dole (NC), Gordon Smith (OR), and Susan Collins (ME). All are running for re-election and are in close races. (Collins may have the easiest race, but she's never been a close ally of McCain.)

Three other GOP senators who are retiring this year have also said they'll skip the St. Paul festivities -- Larry Craig (ID), Chuck Hagel (NE) and Wayne Allard (CO).

And the list could grow. Two more GOP senators locked in tough re-election races -- John Sununu (NH) and Roger Wicker (MS) are still undecided about attending.

[Virginia Dare]

67. The Terminator will not be there either..

and I also read where Bob Erlich, former Gov of Maryland and Chair of the McCain campaign in Maryland has "scheduling conflicts". Basically anybody who values their GOP career will not be there...:rofl:

[carolinablue]

14. Sorry the president can't make it

And what a convienent way to keep the most unpopular sitting president of all time off the dais and the TV screen.

[roguevalley]

32. so much for showcasing Sarah. They are getting karma for asking

for rain on Obama. What goes around comes around. :)

[Virginia Dare]

68. Karma's a bitch as they say..

I just wish the people of New Orleans weren't caught in the crossfire this time.

[DCKit]

6. What if you gave a convention and nobody showed?

Gustav is a hell of a cover/excuse for canceling what was sure to be a complete yawn and embarrassment.

After the Dem convention last week, they know they're toast.

[David Zephyr]

7. faygokid, the media refuses to show that photo of Bush & McCain partying as people drowned.

McCain just said this weekend it would "be inappropriate" to be seen partying while there was a hurricane.

The hour by hour timeline is clear: the photo of Bush & McCain with the party birthday cake and laughing was simultaneous with the levees breaking and New Orleans going under water.

The media just will not point this out. It is truly frustrating.

Thanks for posting the photo.

[Faygo Kid]

8. Thank you. We have not always agreed. . .

. . . but we are in full accord on this one.

All the best.

[Trajan]

9. Expect some replacement for this ....

They are sensitive to the image of their artificial ebullience being played out in split screen across the world, BUT they will do something to substitute for their lost 'image building' opportunity ....

I have to admit though; the notion that thousands of delegates will have to skip out on Friday means they will be hard pressed to extend into Friday .... They will have, at best, a 3 day convention, if that ....

[Still Sensible]

10. Not Necessarily a Good Thing

While some, like Michael Moore, seem to be getting some satisfaction--ironic to be sure--that a hurricane in the gulf will disrupt the GOP quadrennial BS-fest, it seems to me this is likely to turn out to be more a curse than a blessing:

1. With Bush and Cheney taking the first opportunity/excuse to stay away, independent or undecided voters won't get the chance to see the rethugs squirm through a couple uncomfortable hours embracing the failure of the last eight years.

2. John McCain gets to basically stay in the hurricane zone, looking presidential, appearing concerned, "see how different I am than Bush", and comforting well-selected, photo-op victims.

3. With attention turned toward the gulf coast, the talking heads will be buried in showing how much they know about hurricanes and not spending time that should have been used to some extent exploiting, challenging McCain's choice of Mayor Sarah for independent or undecided voters that--based on what I am hearing from such folks--are saying WTF?

4. This storm gives the republicans the chance to do a substantially better job and, to some extent, show they have corrected some of the problems they displayed in the aftermath of Katrina (fortunately their republican view of govt will keep them from doing anything that could be called a more than a barely adequate job).

I think I would rather have a typical bullshit-fest GOP convention to more sharply--and in a more timely manner--frame the debate for the next nine weeks.

[Sweet Freedom]

12. Welcome to DU

and I have to agree. I think if the repubs respond appropriately to Gustav, it will be points for McCain and the media will eat it up.

[Still Sensible]

16. Glad to be here

Thanks for the welcome. I have been checking in here almost daily since the '04 election, but this is the first time I have posted. I used to post a lot on Taegan's board before he shut down the discussion. Generally the sniping on these things (WWW discussion forums) make me want to avoid joining the cacophony. The primary campaign notwithstanding, I find DU does provide many great threads on important issues. I usually can count on someone else (Nance, Frenchie and many others) expressing my opinions quite eloquently before I even think about participating.

[Faygo Kid]

13. Welcome to DU, but cool it with the shot at Michael Moore.

He's a good guy, and that was gratuitous.

Otherwise, all the best.

[Still Sensible]

20. No "shot" intended

Thanks for the welcome. No disrespect intended to Michael Moore, I just think gloating over the irony publically could be counter productive to those "independents and undecideds" we desperately need to win over if Obama-Biden are to be elected. Don't get me wrong, I firmly believe we need to take "in-your-face" positions on many important issues, but I'd rather in this case Moore would have enjoyed the irony privately. Even though I agree with his opinion, I cringed when I saw it because I know how it will play to the target audience. Moore has done many great things for the cause and for that I applaud him.

Having said that, I love the helmet. I just helped my youngest get set up in Haslett so she could start grad school in East Lansing. (I assume that's an MSU helmet I'm looking at)

[Faygo Kid]

22. Yes, that's MSU. I look forward to your posts.

I'm a green and white alumnus who is bummed about yesterday's result against Cal, but still optimistic.

You're a good writer. I look forward to your posts, and the occasional update on your youngest at State. Tell him/her to enjoy; no finer campus in the country.

[whopis01]

25. He deserves a couple shots after claiming a potentially devastating hurricane is proof god exists

"I was just thinking, this Gustav is proof that there is a God in heaven. To have it planned at the same time – that it would actually be on its way to New Orleans for day one of the Republican Convention, up in the Twin Cities – at the top of the Mississippi River."

Now that is gratuitous.

Not saying Moore isn't a good guy. But he isn't perfect and anyone who makes comments like that should be called on it.

[AntiFascist]

27. eeek, I'm sure he was being sarcastic...

that sounds like it came straight from Pat Robertson.

[whopis01]

36. I have no doubt he was being sarcastic as well - but it is still inappropriate n/t

[non sociopath skin]

21. A related worry is that it will give the Repugs the chance ...

... to place Palin in the public consciousness as "The Heroine of Gustav" - the first real public memory will be of her comforting the victims of a natural disaster and mouthing platitudes.

Did someone say, "America's Mayor" #2?

The Skin

[aquart]

71. Uh huh. And what happened to America's Mayor #1?

Not that I suggest not worrying. I plan to be a carnival of worry for the next three months.

[llmart]

74. Reminder.....

A couple of you have said "3 months" - do you realize it's only 8 weeks away? Tomorrow is Sept. 1st.

[mvd]

23. Curtailing the convention was the right thing to do

But it clearly gives us an avenue if they appear to exploit the issue. If McCain spends too much time at the Gulf, we show pictures if him partying during Katrina. The show of concern is more political than anything.

Also, it gives them less time to bash Obama, introduce their wingnut Palin, and feed lies to the public.

[Doctor Cynic]

15. Can they move it to, say, the 11th?

[aquart]

72. First time I've laughed all day.

[MadrasT]

76. Oh, snap and SNAP! Well played! n/t

[trthnd4jstc]

17. Congress ought to reconvene, and start impeachment hearings on Bush and Cheney

That would be fun!

[lovuian]

18. I don't think Anybody is going to show up

and Gustav is going to remind everybody about the katrina disaster

[sandyd921]

19. Hope the Obama campaign

puts the photo of the McDirty birthday celebration with Shrub during Katrina in a campaign commercial and shows it day and night!

[Gman]

24. Blatantly naked pandering to the country through the hurricane victims

before they even get started. What an absolutely disgusting and nauseating display of pandering politics at it's worst. Had they handled Katrina and if they were now adequately prepared they wouldn't be going through this exercise in political masturbation.

"oooooohhhh... the country might think we did something wrong with Katrina so we better act like we care this time since the election is 3 months off...ooooohhh"

[Lorien]

26. Our convention up North is gonna suck! Quick, use a Southern tragedy

to deflect everyone's attention from the fact that WE HAVE NO NEW IDEAS!

[ZombieHorde]

28. Man asks people to pray for rain during Obama's DNC speech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohxdvio9n2Q&feature=related

Bwahahaha!

Though if the storm is really bad, not even this fantastic irony will soothe the damage.

[Olney Blue]

29. Veep candidate Annie Oakley Palin will fly in moose stew for the shelters.

[Faygo Kid]

34. Annie Oakley was a very nice person. One hell of a shot, too.

One of those few people in American history whose hype is legit.

[Wednesdays]

30. Wow, they're all of a sudden concerned about storm victims?

Somebody should tell that to the several trolls on today's board who are screaming about holding on to their "hard-earned tax dollars".

[Triana]

31. GOP and their media are busily trying to...

...erase that indelible image of their absolute failure during/after Katrina. If this wasn't an election year, dya think they'd give a rat's ass? Hell no.

[Faryn Balyncd]

33. I think perhaps they should just disband the party.

[atjrpsych]

35. Good way to prevent an unpopular president and his evil vice to make an appearance

This whole things seems really weird. All of a sudden the GOP is showing sympathy, please, there is something else that is driving this decision.

[AntiFascist]

37. McCain orders convention curtailed for Gustav

Source: Associated Press



ST. PAUL, Minn. - John McCain tore up the script for his Republican National Convention on Sunday, ordering the cancellation of all but essential opening-day activities as Hurricane Gustav churned toward New Orleans.

"This is a time when we have to do away with our party politics and we have to act as Americans," he said as fellow Republicans converged on their convention city to nominate him for the White House.

...

McCain said he was looking forward to being the convention but did not say when he would arrive. He spoke via satellite from St. Louis after he and Palin received a briefing on hurricane preparations in Jackson, Miss.

In an interview with NBC, he said it was possible he would make his acceptance speech not from the convention podium but via satellite from the Gulf Coast region.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080831/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_convention_rdp

---

McCain was apparently partying with Bush during Katrina.

[Whoa_Nelly]

38. McCain orders???

He's in charge of the RNC?

Wow! What a maverick! :eyes:

[AntiFascist]

40. Not only that but he is apparently running emergency operations...

McCain said of his briefing in Mississippi: "I'm happy to report to you that the coordination and the work that's being done at all levels appears to be excellent." He cited remaining challenges in communications and search and rescue operations, but emphasized that the response seemed to be going more smoothly than the one three years ago.

Not politicizing the hurricane? Give me a break!

[Doremus]

58. Spinmeisters extraordinaire AND disaster recovery experts

Wow, they must be geniuses or something.


:eyes:

[ErinBerin84]

39. "tore up the script "

oh, surreee. For Christ sake, Rick Davis spoke with more authority about this matter than McCain did . McCain is just their puppet. Plus, he looked really horrible when he had his 4:00 televised "statement".


:crazy:

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

41. yea and he also "ordered" the evacuation of NOLA too

what a A$$

[Tangerine LaBamba]

42. Their incredible luck

I just can't get over how the Republican Party gets these weird breaks.

The last thing they wanted was to have to compete with the brilliance of the DNC; so, along comes Gustav, and they quickly jump on it as an excuse to curtail the RNC. In fact, they didn't want Fuckface or Dickless Cheney to be there, so now they have a great excuse.

What the hell McCain is going to do in the area hit by Gustav is beyond me. Maybe just screwing everything up with his security detail? Getting in the way of rescue operations so that he can have some kind of meaningless photo op?

When Katrina hit, Fuckface and McCain were in Arizona, celebrating McCain's birthday. You've seen that photo.

[704wipes]

43. we need to run that picture everywhere

Partying during Katrina, while an American City drowned...

[NYC Liberal]

57. This isn't luck for them, it's a disaster.

This whole thing only brings up comparisons to Katrina - like that photo. They do NOT want that. So they will try to put a positive face on it and claim they're doing it to "help"...when really McCain will just be getting in the way.

If he really wanted to help, he should do what Obama is doing - use his campaign email list to get people to donate and volunteer. That would actually do something substantive.

[Lorien]

44. Er, and just HOW will it help those in Gustav's path?

couldn't be because McCain and the GOP know that they can't top Obama and that they really have nothing to say for themselves, now, could it?

[Wednesdays]

45. I was just going to say...he's not tearing up the script

He's throwing in the towel!

[eagertolearn]

56. Bingo..This is what I was thinking. That Democrat Convention scared

the shit out of him and I believe he would like to just have this whole thing over. Of course he will blame his loss on the inability to have a full convention!

[mac56]

46. People in Saint Paul have been working on this for years now.

Between this and Governor Timmy being left standing at the altar, they are gonna be PISSSSSSSSSSSSSED.............!

[DrZeeLit]

51. Oooh. that is a shitload of lost money on all sides. Wow.

[aquart]

75. Considering St. Paul's current behavior...

I'm a little light on the sympathy...except to the merchants because I come from them, and every lost sale is a dagger in my heart.

[marshall]

47. Let the hand wringing begin!

And the over the top "fund raising" for the "children".

[Dr.Phool]

48. There will be a lot of happy delegates.

More time to spend drinking and cavorting with the hookers, instead of listening to boring ass-clowns pontificate.

[MichiganVote]

49. Tell it all to the Katina victims buster.

[Neolib2]

50. Guys, please forgive me...

I got to give a little credit to the RNC for now, at least. Only time will tell what they will do while they are not at the convention to help, should the hurricane hit hard. Its not often that Repubs actually do something right, for the right reasons, but if we take them at face value for now, it seems they are doing the right thing.

BUT...if it turns out this is more exploitation and politicizing, it wouldn't surprise me, and it would be just another time that they have shown their truest colors. But we should at least give them the benefit of the doubt about 1% of the time.

[Olney Blue]

53. What's a neolib?

[POAS]

60. I asked that of somebody

about a year ago and never got an answer.

[Virginia Dare]

70. Joe Lieberman...n/t

[Doctor_J]

73. Neoliberal is a term for the Cheney/Wolfowitz foreign policy

Interventionism, isolationism, nation-building, military budget-busting. It's a little strange that a visitor to this forum would admit to being one.

[Neolib2]

79. Neolib -

I have always used the screenname Neo, but since The Matrix came out, its always taken. I guess I was just being lazy. : )

[Binka]

81. A Douche Bag Re-Puke Thinking They Are Fooling Somebody.

Jack Asses simply.

[AntiFascist]

54. All levels of government around Louisiana are much more prepared this time....

but just wait, McCain and the RNC will find some way to gain political capital from it all. If they had any shame, they would be staying in the background. Cancelling parts of the convention is all fine, but for McCain to be getting face time around New Orleans out of this is disgusting.

[Doctor_J]

65. Go ahead, and good luck to you

the GOP and their neolib reps give not a rat's ass about anythig but fascist takeover of the country. You'll be long gone and unmissed by Tuesday

[Virginia Dare]

69. Um, no....n/t

[Xenotime]

77. Fuck no. They know they are weak and are using this as an excuse.

Plain and simple.

[Olney Blue]

52. McCain must be confused. He is not the president.

[Plucketeer]

55. Gustav for President!

He can't do any more harm to the country or kill any more Americans than Chimpy&Cheney have!

[Doremus]

59. Put Palin front and center! She's got YEARS of state executive experience!

:eyes: :puke:

[npk]

62. What is Larry Craig going to do now?

He had already picked out his bathroom stall at the airport near St. Paul. Now he going to have change all his plans and find a new stall near NOLA. Pity.

[ladywnch]

63. this actually plays well for them on two fronts

first, they get to look competent and compassionate (something they failed miserably at during Katrina) and second it keeps coverage the embarrassingly poorly attended convention to a minimum. Most of the party heavy hitter are already on record as not attending and tickets for the gallery are not selling well either so this gives them cover to minimize the tv coverage. its a win win for them.

[GinaMaria]

80. Not much of win

just some damage control. They lost out on TV time where they could drive their messages and inspire patriotic fever or whatever GOPers do at these things. Sounds like the usual GOPers aren't touching this candidate or VP with a ten foot pole. There's no way that's a win.

[populistdriven]

78. I am disappointed the entire country won't get to see President Shit For Brains talk nt

[Speaker]

82. I read all the posts, and am suprised that no one brought this up.

Katrina: Democratic Governor of LA gets crap response from Republican Federal Government.


Gustav: Republican Governor of LA gets excellent response from Republican Federal Government.

They are gonna' make Bobby Jindal a hero.