U.S. Republican Convention in Turmoil

[Hissyspit]

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

US Republican convention in turmoil

Republican White House hopeful John McCain suspended most of Monday's first day of his nominating convention, as Hurricane Gustav sparked political turmoil as it zeroed in on New Orleans. Party leaders scrambled to change their plans, keen not to be seen by voters as mounting a celebratory event while a potential natural disaster unfolds on the Gulf Coast, exactly three years after the Hurricane Katrina tragedy.

"I hope and pray we will be able to resume some of our normal operations as quickly as possible," McCain told reporters via a video link from St Louis, after returning from a tour of relief preparations in Mississippi.

"We're going to suspend most of our activities tomorrow, except for those absolutely necessary," said McCain, who is facing the prospect that his best chance to sell his case to voters will be severely curtailed by the storm.

- snip -

McCain's convention manager Rick Davis said the convention will open for just over two hours tomorrow, solely to go through procedures necessary under law to begin the process of nominating a president and vice president.

"We will refrain from any political rhetoric which would be traditional in an opening session," Davis said. "Right now we have a horrible storm bearing down on the Gulf, people should be more concerned about that than a political campaign and that is the way we are going to let the chips fall."

Read more: http://news.smh.com.au/world/us-republican-convention-i...

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[regnaD kciN]

1. Too bad they didn't have such concern...

...when there wasn't a Presidential election in two months.

[Hissyspit]

5. Social scientists refer to that particular behavioral phenomenon as...

"Being a Fucking Hypocrite."

[SpiralHawk]

14. BFH = Republicon

[mac56]

33. Remember at all times, though, that Republicans

are less troubled by hypocrisy than normal people are.

[Mind_your_head]

16. Exactly! n/t

[BrklynLiberal]

25. ROTFLMAO!!!! Sometimes the truth is hysterical.

[EFerrari]

39. LOL!

[coalition_unwilling]

41. ROTFLMAO -n\t

[quiet.american]

2. My very favorite headline of the week.

So, McCain's best plan is to "hope and pray," eh? Hmn.

[izquierdista]

13. Pat Robertson

will close his eyes EXTRA tight as he pleads with the Lord to deliver them from the demon hurricane!

[susanna]

15. Hope and prey is more like it. n/t

[quiet.american]

17. :) nt

[susanna]

18. I couldn't resist. ;-) n/t

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. It only becomes a crisis when their plans get messed up.

[Pab Sungenis]

4. No convention activity

means no free TV coverage.
Means no bounce.

[mac56]

6. I bet Dobson's buddy is sorry now that he told people to pray for rain.

What an idjit.

[Dollface]

9. Apparently there is a god and she has a sense of humor when it comes to politics.

[BrklynLiberal]

27. I just love it!!!!

[Chovexani]

38. Her name is Oya

And She don't take kindly to bullshit.


Oya is the powerful Yoruban Orisha of the winds and tempests. She is considered either the sister of the storm-god Shango, or one of His three wives, with Oshun and Oba. She can manifest as winds ranging from the gentlest breeze to the raging hurricane or cyclone. She goes forth with Her husband during His thunderstorms, destroying buildings, ripping up trees, and blowing things down. Oya is known as a fierce warrior and strong protectress of women, who call on Her to settle disputes in their favor.

As the goddess of change, She brings down the dead wood to make room for the new, and She uses Her machete or sword to clear a path for new growth. She is believed to watch over the newly dead and assist them as they make the transition from life. She is equated with the Vodoun lwa Maman Brijit, who, like Oya, guards graveyards.

http://www.thaliatook.com/AMGG/oya.html

[Dollface]

52. Can't help but notice that the weather was perfect for Obama's acceptance speech.

[coalition_unwilling]

42. I've seen God . . . and she's black! -n\t

[Dollface]

51. and pissed

[ChazII]

54. That line is old

well I first heard it in 1976.

[kestrel91316]

7. They are also freaked out because he picked someone who is completely

unqualified and batshit crazy. And who wasn't vetted.

They have no idea what to do or how to react, is my guess.

[Xenotime]

8. Ha ha ha ha ha!!

We got to have our convention and they don't. Serves them right.

[Historic NY]

10. Who cares they have nothing to offer anyway, running away from Bush shows that.

[applegrove]

11. It was going to be a flop anyways. So now they have an excuse for why

it wasn't as enthusiatic & extatic a convention as the Democratic one was.

[mac56]

12. I think you're spot on with this.

They're exploiting and politicizing the hurricane, but kind of in reverse.

[LonelyLRLiberal]

35. YES! nt

[Solly Mack]

19. oh blah blah blah bullshit look at me! look at me! blah blah blah bullshit

[NYC Liberal]

20. Don't you just love how the MSM was pushing the "disunity" meme for the DNC

Who here has seen anyone in the MSM talking about this? About how none of the Repug running for reelection want to show their faces. About the whole delegates crisis in Nevada. And this.

[aquart]

29. Nevada? Delegates? Crisis?

I ignore Republican news. Did I miss juicy?

[NYC Liberal]

31. Yup, read here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[aquart]

32. Thank you! Hadn't heard a word.

[npk]

21. The timing of their convention was horrendous anyway

To chose Sept. 1, Labor Day, a day when families try and soak up the last little bit of summer, spent fishing, and BBQ, the RePugs decide to start their convention. Brilliant. That's just what most Americans are looking forward to doing. I mean think about it, "Honey would you rather have a pic nick outside, spend the day on the lake, or we can watch John McCain on the teevee." This is what happens when you have brain dead people in running your party.

[Kali]

23. not to mention repukes in power have very little regard for those who actually labor in this country

much less organized labor

[BrklynLiberal]

26. I think theyt were trying to come close to 9/11..and this was the best they could do

without actually having the convention on that day..

[LonelyLRLiberal]

36. OMG - you are probably right! eom

[maseman]

46. Plus McSame will speak up against

the end of the first regular season NFL broadcast between the Redskins and NY Giants.

[DainBramaged]

50. The WORLD CHAMPION NY GIANTS I might add

the GOP will draw a 4.1 while football will get a 19+

[peaches2003]

47. Which is why Bush and Cheney were scheduled to speak

on Monday night.

[wickerwoman]

48. Glad that the cynical choice of venue is coming back to bite them in the ass too

Not that I would wish another hurricane on New Orleans. Just happy that they don't get away with defiling the memory of thousands of dead people with their crass, pandering BS.

[LibDemAlways]

49. They hate ordinary workers and have no interest in

celebrating labor day anyway. Shows how out of touch they are with the common man and woman.

[bemildred]

22. I think God is punishing the Republicans for their arrogance and greed. nt

[GOPsux.com]

24. First Palin now this....

GOP are going down. I have to say I am not thrilled with Obama
and Biden, but it can't be any worse than the McCain/Palin =
Dumb and Dumberer ticket

[aquart]

30. It will actually be a whole lot better.

And I speak as the also unthrilled. I've got my Obama button from MoveOn and I'm wearing it.

[Sodbuster]

28. Does anybody remember the jackass preacher who invited his believers to

pray for rain when Obama was at Invesco Field giving his acceptance speech. How did that work out for him?
Guess God has a sense of humor or the preacher doesn't have the direct line to God he thought he did.

[happyslug]

37. There is an old saying, "God's way is NOT man's way".

Look at Gustav, it is nothing but a reminder of what the GOP FAILED to do after Katrina. As a religious person once told me, God wants else to help each other, when we fail do to our own greed (and lets be honest that is why Bush and Company cared less about Katrina) we fail God and each other. Gustav may be God's way to remind us and the rest of the American Voters what the GOP did and failed to do after Katrina.

[zehnkatzen]

34. The Message Is Clear ... God Doesn't Want Republicans in Power any more.

Hey, it's sauce for the goose, yes?

[truthisfreedom]

40. "Let the chips fall." He's gambling again. He gambled with Palin, and now he's gambling with

the whole convention. At some point, his handlers are going to wish they'd let him get it out of his system in Vegas.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-c-rose/mccains-mo...

[CJCRANE]

43. Yes. McCain has proven himself to be the "risky" choice

while Obama has shown that he is thoughtful, organized and methodical.

McCain is flying by the seat of his pants...and we know what's happened before when he does that...

[Name removed]

44. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MaineDem]

45. Their convention would get NO coverage

It's all about the storm this morning rather than the talking heads blabbering about the convention. Better the GOP gets coverage for postponing than no coverage at all. Maybe that's what they're thinking. It's certainly not out of compassion.

[progressivebydesign]

53. Political opportunism. NOW Daddy Warbucks doesn't have to pose with Bush..

..or have to explain WHY so many of the prominent Republicans are skipping the convention. I frankly think that ALL was needed regarding the Gustav response was to do their fucking jobs right for once. Get FEMA in place, and have everything ready to evacuate, and help afterwards.

The moment that a McCranky spokesperson took Obama to task for criticizing McCain 'while we're facing a hurricane', I knew that these pigs would milk this for all its worth.

ALL that is required is for them to do their job. The idea that they'd turn this into some grand statement is bullshit. All we ever wanted was for them to do their jobs... that's all. It does NOT make amends for the horror of Katrina. The images are burned in our minds -- regardless of the RNC convention changes. They could have still done the convention as planned, but just kept it low key, like the Academy Awards after 9/11, etc. It only makes them look like opportunists.. like the ridiculous photo op tour of McCranky and Caribou Barbie -- what was the purpose of that? They weren't dressed to work or help.. they just stood around looking stupid.

[treestar]

55. They should simply hold their convention

Instead of making the storm all about them.

they are using this for political benefit.