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 ...
And if they cancel, the press will howl at how the GOP screwed over all those vendors, hoteliers, restaurant waiters, etc. in St. Paul.
I think that they should come to Memphis where train loads of low income Blacks are being transported.
Hand out food and promises. Might translate into votes.
That’s just too bad.
All the radio reports I’ve heard are quoting Mayor Nagin - clearly claiming credit for the preparation that Jindal and FEMA have done!
Palin should order the Alaskan national guard to be in ready to help in NLA. Then attend the convention!
yep, suspend, do not postpone... fast forward the convention to Wed or Thurs and skip all the uneccessary banter and stuff no one watches anyway.
the important thing is to introduce Palin via her speech and a biography about her life and McCain with the same..
viola! done! talk about change ! I think it will be a huge + and people will be happy with far less bloviating.
In the meantime showcase McCain doing 'presidential' stuff where its needed. Just have him stay out of the way and not damage the work by cluttering up the relief efforts with all the hangars on that follow him as a presidential candidate.
Exactly right, this is a governors' job. Just as Gov Palin said "If we want a bridge we'll build it ourselves." Paraphrasing. Now that La. has a competent Governor, the state effort will be vastly improved as will the coordination with Federal agencies should they become necessary.
How about seeing if they can extend it a day and have it run just 2 days, Thurs & Fri?
One of the main problems is that the media is going to be giving top billing to the hurricane and the Republicans aren’t going to get the coverage or viewers. If they wait until Thurs, the Hurricane will be over.
I agree. If the convention is delayed, cut-back or diluted,,,the public (and even the MSM) will credit the Republican Party for doing the right thing.
Although most will appreciate that 'pat on the back'--
it will be devastating to the Party--as the Party will literally LOSE millions and millions of dollars for free-advertising which conventions provide. What an incredible lucky break for the democrats. Sigh.
I agree.
By Thursday the storm will have passed. One or both McCain and Palin NEED to get up to the Convention and stop grandstanding at the disaster zone.
Yes, to stay down there for days for photo ops passing water bottles and sandbags and chatting up the very busy Red Cross and FEMA people with an entourage of press and secret service- will look like (will be) gratuitous grandstanding.
Obama and Biden will do that-
That stuff is below McCain and Palin’s paygrade. Taking charge of the party ticket at the Convention is within their paygrade.
"Why is this city built below sealevel in the direct path of so many hurricaines??? It's sort of like drilling for oil in ANWAR." Or something along these line.
dream on
YOU CAN’T POSTPONE...have you ever organized an event? Once you’re gone...others come in...it’s over...
I am repeating what McCain and others have said themselves, so I guess I’m in the same catagory as they are.
People need to get a grip...forecasts indicate that the main event re: Gustav will be later on Monday...by Tuesday it will be an inland rain event. Plenty of flooding to be sure...but not the ‘Katrina-level’ disaster that many Democrats are salivating over. I think the RNC should go on as scheduled. If McCain goes to Louisiana; he’ll be accused of pandering; if he stays in Minnesota; he’ll be reviled for his lack of compassion.
How do you know the venue is already booked and they can’t have it for Fri?
THAT would blow people away used to polished, image-loving politicians. I can't imagine seeing Biden and Obama out there getting dirt under their fingernails.
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