Earlier today, both President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney announced that they would not be attending the Republican National Convention due to Hurricane Gustav. Now comes word that most of Monday’s activities have been canceled. According to CNN, the rest of the convention schedule will “be determined on a day-by-day basis.”
I guess the folks who were praying for rain missed it by a few days.
Watching the President on TV earlier today, I was glad to see that some preparations are being done in advance of the landfall of this hurricane, unlike what was done when Katrina hit. Perhaps you can teach an old dog new tricks.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
President Bush is doing a great job handling Gustav than Katrina but I still don’t get it! Why wouldn’t Mr. Cheney attend GOP Convention and let Mr. Bush handle Gustav escapes for now?
Is Mr. McCain trying to avoid Mr. Bush and Cheney completely due to their failed policies and due to Mr. Obama sincere accusation of McCain continuing Bush/Cheney third terms?
Gustav gave McCain and the Republican Party a perfect excuse to separate themselves from Bush and Cheney.
Gee, One would think that Gustav was headed directly for the twin cities, not New Orleans. I find it amazing that while a hurricaine NEVER disrupts the President’s vacation, it can drasticallymake a GOP convention come to a halt. Guess I really never knew just how many compassionate conservaties could cause the GOP to change their convention plans… Not that we really need any more pics of Bush and McCain pictured as bossom buddies. Looks like John McCain’s prayers have been answered- No Bush OR Cheney baggage to deal with. And I’m still trying to figure out McCain’s VP selectee and just how big a bonfire does 77 candles really make?
Yeah, it looks as though even Democrat Mayor Ray Nagin got the memo this time, and is evacuating residents.
Sad how New Orleans hasn’t fully recovered and they will get hit again. They haven’t even repaired all those levies. I don’t think they can avoid reminding everyone of Katrina. Whether the response is good or bad, New Orleans is still not the city it once was. I also think the speed at which we were able to get humanitarian assisstance to Georgia stands in stark contrast. I think Americans should focus a lot on that.
But good news for McCain that Bush and Cheney won’t be around. That will help him disassociate himself. Also, it will give him more time to focus on intoducing Governor Palin to the rest of America. We’ll see how that works out for them.
If you think the RNC/Gustav situation is just a coincidence than you are not a card carrying Republican evangelical. It is a well thought out supernatural plan. He (God) is saying you don’t deserve a convention. Three years ago your president allowed many to die. Where do you get off thinking you rate a convention after that? Let’s see what he (Bush) does this time around!
I think McCain’s Gulf evacuation plans are hilarious – found here:
or on the http://www.thedailymccain.com
That was a fairly amusing bit, Mullin. “Our plan is for you to evacuate, and go to one of your other homes . . . .”
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I don’t really think there’s any way for the GOP to deal well with this. The chance for that was three years ago. Had their leadership not danced and sang and ate cake while a major American city was wrecked three years ago, Americans might not be so finely attuned to Republicans generally ignorning a hurricane this time around.
(There is definitely a net benefit in it providing an excuse for Bush/Cheney to stay home, however.)
No shortage of Katrina mythology around here. Let’s not forget the huge role that the corrupt and sclerotic governments of Louisiana and New Orleans itself played in the poor response.
The Falacy of the “COUNTRY FIRST” campaign
MCAIN/KATRINA
8/28/05 McCain Appeared On Face The Nation To Promote Progress In The War In Iraq,never mentions Katrina.
8/29/05 Hurricane Katrina touched down.
8/29/05 McCain is celebrating his birthday with President Bush in Arizona
9/16/05 McCain Warned Of Excessive Government Spending In Response To Hurricane Katrina
39 Senators Visited Post-Katrina New Orleans Before McCain
3/06 McCain’s first post-hurricane visit to the region.
7/07 McCain back in New Orleans, held an open news conference, the purpose of the trip was officially a private fundraiser.
Contrast this schedule to Obama’s. By February 2008, the Illinois Democrat, according to his website, had visited New Orleans five since Katrina struck. Those trips included public announcements about Gulf Coast recovery plans, tours of devastated areas, public speeches, and campaign events.
MCCAIN VOTED AGAINST RELIEF MEASURES FOR VICTIMS OF HURRICANE KATRINA
McCain Voted Against Emergency Funding Bill, Including $28 Billion for
Hurricane Relief. McCain voted against passage of the Emergency
Supplemental Appropriations of 2006. It would provide more than $28 billion
for hurricane relief, approximately $2.3 billion for pandemic flu
preparations and $1.9 billion for border security efforts. [2006 Senate
Vote #112, 5/4/2006]
McCain Voted Against Five Months of Medicaid For Hurricane Katrina
Victims. McCain voted against an amendment to provide emergency health care
and other relief for survivors of Hurricane Katrina. The amendment would
grant access to Medicaid to Hurricane Katrina victims for up to five
months; it also provided full federal funding for Medicaid in Louisiana,
Mississippi and Alabama for up to one year; provided $800 million to
compensate providers caring for Katrina evacuees; it temporarily suspended
the Medicare Part B late enrollment penalty; and permitted states hit by
Katrina or serving evacuees to access the TANF (Temporary Aid to Needy
Families) Contingency Fund. It would be offset with funds unspent by FEMA.
[2005 Senate Vote #285, 11/3/2005]
McCain Voted Twice Against Establishing A Commission To Study The
Response To Hurricane Katrina. McCain voted twice against establishing a
Congressional commission to examine Federal, State, and local response to
devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in the U.S. Gulf Region; and
making immediate corrective measures to improve future responses. [2006
Senate Vote #6, 2/2/2006; 2005 Senate Vote #229, 9/14/2005]
McCain Opposed Granting Financial Relief To Those Affected By Hurricane
Katrina. In 2005, McCain voted against allowing up to 52 weeks of
unemployment benefits to individuals affected by Hurricane Katrina. [2005
Senate Vote #234, 9/15/2005]
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MCCAIN/GUSTAV: Now timing is everything, here is a hurricane McCain can capitalize on politically.
Brian, you’re arguing with the voices in your head on a public forum, again. Which myths were repeated here? None.
That trick where you bring a devastating response to an argument that was never made? I think you’re the only one who enjoys it. So why must you share it with the rest of us?
I’m confused.
How will canceling or cutting back the RNC help the situation with Hurricane Gustave? It seems too much like careful political maneuvering to me. It appears to show compassion, but how is it compassionate? Does canceling the convention help anyone threatened by the hurricane?
Oh, wait, I just figured it out.
No Bush/Cheny issues, the republicans appear to care thus overturning the Katrina debacle, and who can argue with compassion? The RNC looks like the party that cares.
Okay, smart move taking advantage of the storm. Scary though.
MB,
Do you see that slider bar over on the right side of the page? Try using it to actually read Vivian’s original post and the other comments. Nothing is lamer than snark from the ignorant.
Brian, are you saying that you’re now seeing things that the rest of us can’t? Maybe it’s time to step away from the Internets.
(And you’ve got that a little wrong – snark is wasted on the ignorant. Which is why I wasn’t being snarky with you.)