There is a lot of trepidation coming to Minneapolis on the Sunday before Hurricane Gustav. In fact, most of the statewide elected officials from Mississippi that had planned to attend the convention will either not attend at all or only attend after having the opportunity to gauge the effect of Gustav. Only after making sure that the state’s residents are out of danger and aid, if needed, is flowing will they consider attending the Convention. President Bush, it seems, will opt not to attend the Convention in person. He will be monitoring FEMA’s response to the storm and verify that lessons learned during Katrina will be put into action.
The Katrina Gustav Effect
This is an interesting time for Republicans. An efficient evacuation and response to Gustav (at whatever level the damage may be) with Governor Bobby Jindal (R), Governor Haley Barbour (R), Governor Rick Perry (R), and of course President Bush may go a long way to show the country how far we have come in disaster preparedness and response. Hopefully, Mother Nature will give us all a hand and not unleash her fury too badly in the affected areas.
Today, Senator John McCain and his running mate, Governor Sarah Palin, visited Jackson to tour the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency facilities. Late this afternoon came the word that the Convention activities would be limited tomorrow and would likely take only two hours to vote in a platform and other technical issues. The Convention is a technical means by which to nominate our candidates and place them on the ballots. In truth, the technical aspect of a convention doesn’t take long.
Politically, there is an earned media consideration. Having a whole week in the spotlight with gavel to gavel news coverage has real value and the Republicans must walk the fine line of taking advantage of that time while not being insensitive to what’s going on with Hurricane Gustav. There are also huge logistical considerations. Minneapolis/St. Paul have been planning this convention for years and travel, security and logistical considerations make this the case where the convention cannot simply be reconstituted in a week or two. It’s just not feasible. However, there is a real opportunity to do good and do well at the same time. It could be in the form of a fundraiser or just a platform to focus the nation’s attention on the needs, but McCain and RNC staffers should be able to find a way to honor and help people affected by the storm and use some of that earned media time to help victims and rally response around the need.
Democratic glee over timing of Hurricane Gustav
As is predictable, media and political leaders in the Democratic Party are now gleeful about the Republican Convention being held during this upcoming natural disaster. Filmmaker Michael Moore recently said on Keith Olbermann’s show how Gustav hitting during the RNC was a “sign that there is a God in Heaven”, ’cause you know, that’s how God rolls. He hates Republicans so much that I think he’d do anything to distract the RNC.
The only sign from God I’m taking away from Gustav is how nature is more powerful and unpredicatable nature can be. Trust me, Michael, this storm will devastate folks without regards to political affiliation, gender, race or anything else. But I hope you have a good time eating popcorn, watching Jim Cantore and rooting against us.
Even party officials have gotten into the act. Former Democratic Party Chair Don Fowler was overheard on a flight having a conversation with US Representative John Spratt (D-SC) about “God being on their side” with the Hurricane sucking the news coverage out of RNC’s week in the spotlight.
hattip Michelle Malkin
As has been proven time and again . . . you cannot hide what you really think. Some Democrats are wallowing in the trough of hubris and overconfidence. I am so glad that a former DNC chair and a sitting US Congressman show what they really think about the expendibility of the people in Mississippi and Louisiana.
Events in Minneapolis
The Mississippi contingency went to an event that was sponsored by Mississippi Power and Raytheon that was retrofitted from a party honoring Governor Haley Barbour to a event benefitting the Salvation Army’s efforts to respond to Hurricane Gustav. Though Governor Barbour was not there (of course), he did address the attendees by phone over the PA.
Two other interesting things have happened. First, McCain’s campaign has chartered a DC-9 to shuttle delegates and their families to/from the affected areas of Gustav as needed, according to press reports.
Tomorrow morning the Mississippi delegation will be addressed by former US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton. C-SPAN is scheduled to cover that event.
Our Coverage
I do have non-affiliated press (blogger) credentials to the Republican National Convention (whouda thunk it?), and I will be staying with the Mississippi delegation. My hope is to bring folks a little different glimpse into the RNC from what they will read in the newspaper or watch on CNN. Since I have never been to a convention, I suppose it will be a pretty fresh look. I will try to update daily.
Don’t expect to hear any stories about me asking YP readers for money to attend. I haven’t received any travel vouchers from the State of Mississippi for “educational purposes” either. But I will try and post daily, and will be on Paul Gallo’s show on Supertalk Mississippi to give updates there as well.
Keep the faith on Gustav. Hopefully Mississippi and Louisiana will avoid the worst-case scenario on the storm.
Magnolia Tribune
