Posted on 08/31/2008 8:55:35 AM PDT by paulat
ST. PAUL, Minn. — President Bush is unlikely to make it to the Republican National Convention, and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) may deliver his acceptance speech via satellite because of the historically huge hurricane threatening New Orleans, top officials said.
Late Saturday night, the RNC was planning to issue a release announcing the formation of a "working group of representatives from each of the states in Hurricane Gustav's path. The group will ensure that all affected delegates have information and assistance in real time.
"The Affected States Working Group is led by all five state party chairs from the affected area, along with other delegation officials. The purpose of the group will be to regularly brief their delegates and convention planners, provide access to timely information and assistance, and give input on appropriate steps that can be taken from Minnesota."
Officials insisted that the convention, scheduled to open here on Monday, will go on — albeit in a more limited and sedate form — even if Hurricane Gustav stays on its projected path. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin ordered a mandatory evacuation beginning at 8 a.m. Sunday after federal officials said Gustav could grow to a catastrophic Category 5 and hit Monday afternoon somewhere between eastern Texas and western Mississippi.
McCain made plans to travel to a threatened area of the Gulf Coast on Sunday, accompanied by his wife, Cindy, and running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. They planned to meet Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) in Jackson, Miss., aides said.
McCain was scheduled to deliver his acceptance speech Thursday but now may do so from the devastation zone if the storm hits the U.S. coast with the ferocity feared by forecasters.
[snip]
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Hurricanes of this magnitute are ratings-breakers for the media.
The bulk of press coverage and public interest is going to be in the hurricane, not the convention.
All the big reporters are down south waiting to pose in the storm. Political conventions dont make careers, on-the-ground coverage of natural disasters and wars do.
Another thing; If the GOP comes off as sipping champagne, tossing back shrimp, and line dancing to Big & Rich while multiple states drown ... we’re sunk, too.
they can incorporate the storm into their speeches, under the guise of caring
Go as planned...postpone. Show up in person...by remote. Go out and help people affected by the storm...stay indoors and focus on the convention. They’re damned if they do, they’re damned if they don’t. The Democrats, with the help of the MSM will use any and all criticism regardless what they do.
McCin hasn’t bee in the habit of making mistakes. He will turn this to his advantage one way or another. Remember that OODA loop.
You nailed it!
“Why, this appears to be a report by Jonathan Martin....”
Imagine that.
“I can’t imagine seeing Biden and Obama out there getting dirt under their fingernails.”
Obama did help out by throwing some sand in a bag at some point....the floods in the Midwest, maybe? I can’t recall but it was a photo op. So yeah, McCain better be doing it, too.
There is nothing candidate McCain can do to quell any damage resulting from an act of God, but there is a tremendous amount he can do to make the Republican Convention a memorable and vitally important to the future of the nation event by attending it with his Conservative running mate, Governor Sarah Palin.
Pray, FReepers, Pray!
Bingo! We’ll be blasted either way, so we should move ahead.. If JM is in LA, realistically, what can he do to help? It’s ludicrous
Only have one horror story. The sprinkler system went off at a computer show. Ahhhhh. We had every hair dryer in the city and were lucky to push the show back 24 hours.
“W” should step forward IMMEDIATELY and inform the Country that he is STILL the President and it is his responsibility to get to New Orleans to be in the way of the rescuers etc.
If McCain/Palin DON’T do the convention the ‘IDIOTS THAT PLANNED THE PROTESTS’ will have ‘won’.
If they DON’T do the hurricane they will be portrayed as insensitive.
If they DO the hurricane they will be portrayed as opportunistic and blood thirsty.
CONSERVATIVES WILL NEVER APPEASE THE MSM AND WE SHOULD QUIT TRYING.
Hey... if Obamasiah can part the ocean... then McCain should be able to spit in the wind...
Just heard that he will be making a speech shortly, followed by some remarks from FEMA.
If they hold the convention as scheduled, they will be perceived as being uncaring and callous to the people in the hurricane's path. Furthermore, networks will keep cutting away from the convention to give updates on the hurricane and the contrasting images of people dying and losing their property with the Republicans "partying" up in Minneapolis is going to come across as awful. It may not be fair but it is what it is.
On the other hand, if the Republicans go to the other extreme and "move" their convention to New Orleans, they will be perceived as trying to make political hay out of a bad situation and not only exploiting the victims but seen as getting in the way of rescue operations. Not a good plan either.
But this unfortunate predicament does give the Republican party a chance to show what leadership is. After all, if you are going to lead this country, you are often going to have "no-win" situations like this.
I am sure that there are some very bright people in the GOP discussing the options right now and based on what I've seen of the McCain campaign the past couple of months, I'm confident that they will do what is best.
If I was the decision maker in all of this, I'd have the convention go on in Minneapolis but would cut out almost entirely the political speeches the first day or two. Just take care of the convention business. I would keep Bush and Cheney in Washington and keep McCain and Palin in the Gulf area, not just sitting around but actually assisting in the relief effort. Maybe they can operate out of Bobby Jindal's emergency HQ. Then on Thursday night (after the storm is long gone), they can fly to Minneapolis that evening and give their acceptance speeches - one after the other. (As opposed to giving them separate nights). That would be sure to guarantee a huge TV audience for Palin as McCain would immediately follow her with his acceptance speech.
I agree and it would look political. Let the WH, Jindal and Barbour handle this...John McCain and Sarah Palin need to be at the convention.
I agree...I think they should go ahead, but, of course, always with the possibility of changing plans if necessary. If at the last minute, McCain decides to go to LA and Palin stays in MN, or vice versa, that’s certainly doable. The convention is purely symbolic and serves no useful purpose anyway, but most of the people attending are already there or on their way, everything is paid for, etc.
And exactly what good is McCain or any candidate going to do for the people of Louisiana in any case? Have a jumbotron that keeps the delegates updated, have regular interviews with Gov. Jindal, and work on rebuilding plans or a visit after the storm.
That is a great plan Sam. The storm is moving very fast at 16 MPH. It might even be over by Wed night.
Just heard on the news the Dems campaign is not changing schedules. I don't believe that.
if mccain does it, he will be accused of being an opportunistic camera hog and people will still hate him anyway.
I will be deeply disappointed if McCain/Palin decide to party while others are suffering and dying.
Look you people. Save the rejoicing for a party following the November 4th elections! Don't hand the Democrats a win by a bonehead decision to fiddle while Rome burns. These national political conventions are public relations events. Not only will the major media use the hurricane as an excuse not to cover the convention. They will spin it as a cold-hearted move to even hold the convention.
There are two hurricanes incoming. One of them can be avoided by not doing something stupid.
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