The only Republican convention-related events to take place on Monday are those absolutely necessary per party rules, John McCain ordered this afternoon. As he said, convention-goers will take off their Republican hats and put on their American hats.
“I pledge that tomorrow night, and if necessary, throughout our convention … to act as Americans, not Republicans, because America needs us now no matter whether we are Republican or Democrat,” he said.
Gov. Bobby Jindal, Gov. Haley Barbour, Gov. Rick Perry, President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and about a dozen members of the Louisiana delegation will not be present at the convention as a result of the storm. Senator McCain and Gov. Palin’s very presence at the convention is now in question, with both presumptive nominees on the scene in the Gulf Coast.
There’s also word now from Rick Davis, McCain’s campaign manager, that the convention will provide both material and financial support to the victims of Gustav. Fundraisers will be used to raise money for the Red Cross and other relief charities.
I’ll be covering both Hurricane Gustav and the limited Republican National Convention extensively here, so be sure to check back often.
August 31st, 2008 at 5:12 pm
If we remember correctly, the right wing minister that prayed for rain to come on Denver the day of Obama’s speech seemed to get what he prayed for but God gave him some notice not to wish bad on people or it just may come back to YOU befittingly.
August 31st, 2008 at 5:59 pm
This shows what we have all known for awhile. The conventions are about as necessary as our appendix. If they can be canceled for a storm, they aren’t doing anything very important, and can be canceled for anything. Let’s hope they do the lemming thing soon.
August 31st, 2008 at 6:02 pm
What’s the real reason for the RNC to make adjustments to their scheduled convention? Is it because all members of the convention (with a few delegates included) will be traveling down to NOLA and physically adding support to the efforts or is it because they don’t want coverage of their convention to be overshadowed by Gustav? Sad to say but I truly believe its the latter and their will be a wide-spread of gullable Americans who will not view their actions as a political tactic rather they will think that they actually care for the people of New Orleans this time around.
August 31st, 2008 at 6:23 pm
“If we remember correctly, the right wing minister that prayed for rain to come on Denver the day of Obama’s speech seemed to get what he prayed for but God gave him some notice not to wish bad on people or it just may come back to YOU befittingly.”
Can you tell the difference between rain and a Category 4 hurricane? Most breathing creatures can.
“Is it because all members of the convention (with a few delegates included) will be traveling down to NOLA and physically adding support to the efforts or is it because they don’t want coverage of their convention to be overshadowed by Gustav?”
One problem with your logic: Their convention isn’t being rescheduled; It’ll be overshadowed anyway. The RNC is also preparing to give money and volunteer hours to the relief groups, while it has flown Gulf Coast delegates back home if they want.
August 31st, 2008 at 8:35 pm
The RNC will become a telethon with disaster relief and ongoing videos in conjunction with CNN. Obama and Biden are expected to appear in a joint-relief effort, helping to move NOLA residential marijuana plants to the DNC headquarters.
August 31st, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Three years ago at the same time as John McCains birthday,President Bush and McCain were having the time of their life eating birthday cake and smiling while katrina disaster began. Maybe its a bad omen for Republicans.
September 1st, 2008 at 6:42 am
Well I see you erased my comment. But here it is again though. If you think the RNC/Gustav situation is just a coincidence than you are not a card carrying Republican evangelical. It is a well thought out supernatural plan. He (God) is saying you don’t deserve a convention. Three years ago your president allowed many to die. Where do you get off thinking you rate a convention after that?
September 1st, 2008 at 11:08 am
“He (God) is saying you don’t deserve a convention. Three years ago your president allowed many to die.”
First of all, I’ve been having commenting system problems and even my comments have been deleted. I don’t recall ever deleting a comment because it disagrees with me.
Second, you’re absolutely fricken insane. You think God is punishing the GOP by sending a storm to destroy…New Orleans? If he’s looking to destroy the GOP, why not cause a disaster in MSP? As the lefty TNR’s Nate White said, this situation could help the GOP.
As for “my” president letting people die, where the hell were the Democratic governor and mayor? Per the Red Cross, Blanco didn’t allow relief efforts into the state. Bush wanted to send in federal troops but Blanco, even according to Nagin, wanted more time on her own. Nagin, meanwhile, let hundreds of buses sit in water rather than use them to evacuate people.