President Bush bails on the convention. Is anyone complaining?

Could it be that President Bush's decision not to show up tonight at the Republican National Convention satisfies everyone -- except, perhaps, Democrats?

With his job approval rating hovering around a record low, his presence in St. Paul, Minn., during prime time wasn't exactly what was needed to shine a positive light on the Republican presidential ticket.

Indeed, it would have given commentators one more opportunity to remind Americans that Bush's expression of support for John McCain was not necessarily a good thing -- and, anyway, the two could barely tolerate each other and had not, apparently, spoken to each other since late May.

Along comes Hurricane Gustav, the convention schedule gets torn up, and instead of heading to the upper Midwest, the president dispatches himself this morning to Texas, to comfort evacuees from the approaching storm.

And he gets a chance to step out of a blatantly political role and present himself instead as "on the job as president of the United States," said Kenneth M. Duberstein, Ronald Reagan's final White House chief of staff, in an interview with Countdown to Crawford.

Besides, said Kenneth Khachigian, who wrote the speech Reagan delivered to the Republican National Convention in 1988 as he turned the political reins over to George H.W. Bush, the current President Bush really had no choice.

"The potential for disaster would make the president look thoughtless if he came to the convention and addressed the political gathering, instead of showing his concern" for the people in the storm's path.

Khachigian said:

It was probably a pretty easy call for him to make. Katrina's on everyone's mind. The choice was made for him. I don't think he had to weigh one thing against the other. Once it got to a certain dimension -- with the governors of the gulf states canceling, and [Vice President Dick] Cheney not coming -- that's probably the right thing to do.

"The president has become the comforter in chief," Khachigian said, and it would have looked inappropriate for him to forgo that role to speak in the political setting.

As for getting out of a setting in which the coverage would note Bush's low standing, Khachigian added: "It sort of relieves him of having to deal with one more series of political shots."

For a longer look at President Bush and the Republican National Convention, follow this link to a story in today's Los Angeles Times.

-- James Gerstenzang

Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta / Associated Press

Comments

[Louisiana resident]

Sept 13,2008

I am a resident of louisiana. I have heard that since louisiana was not a state that majority voted for president bush, that more money will be given to the state of texas(which did vote for him)than to louisiana.
We are still suffering from Hurricane Katrina and only a part of the money president bush promised has reached louisiana.

We have a very very good governor Jindel now, that was very much on the ball when hurricane gustau hit,with very little help from federal(or I should say from president bush)and now he(Governor Jundel) has spent a lot for the safety of our our people and the state of louisiana and I certainly hope that the federal government will pay as much or more than he(president bush) intends to give to texas.

I certainly dont wish any more sufferings to our neighboring state texas, but I do believe we deserve as much as he is planning on giving texas if not more,because he(president bush)promised when he came to louisiana for hurricane katrina an amout which he didnt follow through and most of the coastal areas are still waiting after Hurricane Katrina and now after Hurricane Gustau and Ike. And I must add as fast or faster(money) than he plans to do for texas. Only time will tell, Is he or whoever he backs for the coming president follow in putting themselves and what they want ahead of All voters not just the states and voters that back them.

We are all people of the United States and we have the right to vote for the best of the best not just selfish people who are only out to get what they want for themselves.

In my opinion if he does to all people ,the best he can ,than he deserves to be voted into office and not just do for himself because he is going out of office and finds that the one that is replacing him is going to do what he(the present president)wants.