To me it’s patently obvious that simply canceling or postponing the event is not an option. To do that would cost millions, if not tens of millions, of dollars, not a red cent of which would then be available to help the victims of Gustav regardless of where it ends up making landfall.
Appearances are important, but they are only one of many considerations. It is a liberal idea when someone is suffering to make others suffer too, just to make it look like you are leveling the playing field.
When the storm makes landfall the people of the area are going to need a tremendous amount of help. Nothing that is going on at the convention will affect that fact. Travel plans are made, food is purchased, hotel rooms are reserved, everything is in readiness for the event. To cancel it would be a cruel financial blow to the host city and to every business that has spent a lot of money getting ready. What is the good of having two disaster areas instead of one.
IMHO the answer to go ahead as planned, make it abundantly clear that everyone who is tending to important business at the convention prays for the storm’s victims. ANYTHING that is at the convention site, or headed that way, that could be better used in the disaster area would be shipped or diverted.
I know I will take heat for not caring about the victims of the storm, but the object of the response is to help those victims, not make others suffer too.
Three days of telethon for red cross, two days of convention for RNC is the answer.
“When the storm makes landfall the people of the area are going to need a tremendous amount of help. Nothing that is going on at the convention will affect that fact.
IMHO the answer to go ahead as planned, make it abundantly clear that everyone who is tending to important business at the convention prays for the storm’s victims. ANYTHING that is at the convention site, or headed that way, that could be better used in the disaster area would be shipped or diverted.”
I agree with you — that would be the sensible thing to do. But there is one important consideration — the media is covering Gustav 24/7 and would not cover even important speeches, and the real purpose of the convention is to reach out to the TV audience. That’s why I was suggesting postponement or extending it a couple of days.