I don’t think Masters is trying to be a cheerleader. He intelligently assessed the data, odds, and made a recommendation based on his experience. He is correct that the wind radius is increasing. The hurricane force wind field doubled between the 2000 and 2300 advisories.
I’m not sure which way the wind will be blowing when it gets on land but isn’t it possible Gustav could curve back to the east? Taking an out of town Labor Day weekend sounds like a winner to me.
If you will read his current blog you will notice that I am not the only one to take him to task on that admonition and description about New Orleans; he essentially apologizes for stepping out of his proper role.
He presents as a professional weather analyst not as a pundit, sociologist, economics expert or politician.
So far he has been very accurate in his storm assesment on Gustav especially the significance and importance of the loop current influence but he should stick to the facts and stay out of the do-gooder kitchen.