Gustav Threatens RNC Convention Plans
All tracking models of this thing suggest it could get pretty freaking nasty and this has RNC Convention planners, the McCain Camp, and others considering possibly delaying the convention…
This from Fox News:
DENVER — Mindful of the pitfalls of hosting cocktail parties while Gulf Coast residents are being evacuated, John McCain’s campaign suggested Thursday that Republicans could postpone their upcoming national convention in St. Paul if Tropical Storm Gustav makes landfall over the weekend.
Accu-Weather storm trackers say nothing is impeding Gustav from turning into a hurricane before it makes landfall in the United States. Maximum sustained winds could reach 111 miles per hour.
“The storm poses a serious threat to lives and property next week along the Gulf Coast. All interests from the Florida Panhandle to South Texas should closely monitor the storm, prepare an emergency plan and stock up on supplies,” the weather agency wrote in a statement early Thursday afternoon.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has already said he would skip the convention, scheduled to start Monday and last through Thursday, if a hurricane barrels down on New Orleans and the Gulf Coast just days after the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said delaying the start time is a possibility.
“Senator McCain has always been sensitive to national crises — in the 2000 race, he postponed his announcement because of the situation in the Balkans, and we are monitoring the situation very closely,” Bounds said.
Spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker said the campaign has “contingency plans in place.”
Karl Rove, a former adviser to President Bush, said the big question is whether Bush stays in Washington, D.C., or travels to St. Paul to speak.
“He’s the one individual speaking Monday night who might actually have some responsibility with regard to this,” he said.
The Bush administration came under fire for appearing slow to react when Katrina struck New Orleans three years ago. Democratic speakers have reprised that criticism during their national convention in Denver, where so far no serious disruptions have occurred.
“The Republicans can’t seem to get a break when it comes to August and when it comes to the weather,” said Rove, a FOX News analyst. “I know this is being thought a lot about in Washington and at the White House and discussed and I suspect they will monitor it carefully and figure out what to do.”
White House press secretary Dana Perino said Bush is receiving “regular updates,” while David Paulison, the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is already in Louisiana.
She said it’s “premature” to say whether the storm will affect Bush’s speaking plans Monday in Minnesota. But she left open the possibility that Gustav could rain on the Republicans’ plans.
“Obviously a category three or four storm has huge significance no matter where it hits,” she said.
A Republican convention spokeswoman said planners are “moving forward with the convention,” but are monitoring Gustav’s course.
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We could do without this potential disaster…
The question is, will New Orleans ACTUALLY prepare ALL it’s citizens, should the worst happen?
August 28th, 2008 at 11:11 amIt’s all Bush’s fault! He is using the secret government weather control device to direct more hurricanes towards the south and east coast. That way he can try and make up for his response to katrina (which was his fault too) and make the GOP look good, in a last ditch effort to over throw the mighty Obamessiah who has come to save us all from ourselves.
August 28th, 2008 at 11:14 amIt’s amazing how durable Dem talking-point BS is. The Katarina screw-up was on the head of the Dem Governor Blanco who panicked and refused to act.
August 28th, 2008 at 11:26 amHey Nagin, U-DUM FK mayor of N.O., time to tell your share croppers in the chocolate city to get outta dodge-
August 28th, 2008 at 11:30 amFOX news is reporting that Mcain HAS picked his VP and will announce tonight……..
August 28th, 2008 at 11:56 amyeah Gustav is going to be one nasty storm. i hope everyone down along the coast prepares for this. and like others have said, hopefully Nagin gets his chocolate city prepared this time. very bad news that the convention might be delayed too.
August 28th, 2008 at 12:05 pmBe prepared folks and stay safe.
I hope McCain waits. If he announces as this storm is hitting it will not get nearly the coverage it will after. He needs to do this with the right timing to own the networks for at least a couple of days. Just a thought..
August 28th, 2008 at 12:20 pmWill the commies blame Bush or McCain for this storm?
Which ever gets them more political traction I suspect.
August 28th, 2008 at 1:32 pmC’mon now, you know the messiah could just wave his hand and make this storm go away!
August 28th, 2008 at 1:56 pmNew Orleans is supposed to be preparing for a hit right now.
August 28th, 2008 at 3:06 pmI dont think alot of the population ever did come back.
New Orleans citizens, at least those who did not drop out of school in the 4th grade or graduated from high school with an 4th grade equivalent, are ready. I just spoke with our real estate agent. She and her stockbroker husband are going to ride it out. Her reasoning is the entire hassle of getting out, finding a place, and being allowed back in outweighs the potential risks.
Also, Blackwater will get a fair amount of business from the upper crust who live in Metairie Club Gardens, along St. Charles Ave. near the Lakefront, the wealthy creoles near St. John’s Bayou and a few French Quarter Mansions. There is also the former public street now private near Tulane. I think there are quite a few who were roaming the streets after Katrina now know where they will be welcomed with
Now for those who live on the east side of town I’d haul ass out of there.
August 28th, 2008 at 3:48 pmIts strange that it happens near election time. Could this be a result of weather control? There is nothing that can unite a country more then a disaster. There is also nothing that is more capable of switching peoples minds on to the here and now(onto basic survival), and away from thinking about the future then a disaster. The republicans will stand strong and offer as much support as possible.
August 31st, 2008 at 2:16 am