Hurricane Gustav roils the GOP convention

ST. PAUL — With Hurricane Gustav bearing down on the Gulf Coast, Republicans have canceled all but the bare minimum requirements for Monday's session of their convention, as GOP presidential candidate John McCain called on delegates to turn their attention to people likely to be displaced.

Speaking this afternoon by video from St. Louis to reporters massed here for the Republican National Convention, McCain said it was necessary to “take off our Republican hats and put on our American hats.”

It's uncertain whether McCain will appear at the convention — that depends on the severity of the storm — although party rules require the delegates to formally nominate him and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

McCain campaign manager Rick Davis, speaking in St. Paul, said the Monday session would be designed to comply with requirements of calling the convention to order. It is impossible to plan beyond that, he added.

Davis and McCain both urged delegates and others gathering here to donate to relief efforts. The McCain campaign is chartering a DC-9 to fly delegates from the Gulf Coast back home; about a dozen have taken them up on that offer so far. Davis said some would be returning with their family members.

“Pray for the best and prepare for the worst,” McCain said. He had spoken earlier Sunday with the governors of Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama, the states that could be in harm's way.

He said that although some communications systems appeared to be lacking, the response would far exceed what the federal government had done in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita three years ago. At that time, McCain was sharply critical of the federal response.

“Of course, we have to do away with party politics and act as Americans,” McCain said this afternoon. “It is a time for action.”

-- Dan Morain

Photo: McCain campaign manager Rick Davis announces the change in plans for Monday's convention session. Credit: Emmanuel Dunand / AFP/Getty Images

Comments

[Raul]

With no intention of hurting anyones feelings, you have to appreciate the irony of the situation.

1 year after Buh is reelected Katrina happens and he drops the ball, big time; 3 years after here comes Gustav to rain on their parade.

I understand the risk for New Orleans and my prayers are with them, but those of us who believes that everything happens for a reason see this as a clear sign from the one above.

Besides, I don't know how there are those willing to reelect the republican party after 8 years of atrocities.

[Taylor]

Why can't we just wear our American hats all the time?

[Julie]

How apt that global warming is going to disrupt their convention. Didn't a big storm also nix McBush's plans to give a speech from an offshore oil rig?

Anyway, we know exactly how much Republicans care about New Orleans from Katrina. They are probably rubbing their hands in anticipation, hoping the place gets destroyed so they can act like martyrs.

[Mahmoud Kabalan]

God help the people in the path of Gustav

[JL]

"Take off our Republican hats and put on our American hats" is only something they do when they want votes.

In 2005 the Republican hats stayed on, and the underprivileged, unwanted residents of New Orleans were left to drown.

[Dan Rains]

You bet they should take off their Republican hats and put on their American hats. The last thing America needs is a Republican to come to the rescue of anything. I’d bet a millions dollars that if the Republicans had done a good job in 2005 with Katrina, they would be having their convention all right. They would be saying: “See! We did a great job in 2005, we deserve another eight years!” But no, now they’re running scared of their own convention and have nixed Emperior Bush and Darth Cheney from even video-beaming in a supportive appearance from the Death Star in Mississippi. Besides, they should be happy about this hurricane because it has the potential of wiping out all those pesky voters from Louisiana who just MIGHT remember Katrina. They’re voting Republican, yeah right.

[Rick S.]

Why does it take something like a major national disaster for Republicans to "take off their Republican hats and put on their American hats"?? Can't they see that their policies have caused not only a national economic disaster but a global environmental disaster? They've been talking for 30 years about global warming not being man made, that we don't need to take drastic action on it, that trickle down economics actually helps the middle class and many other glaring mistaken policies.

[dybbuk dali]

McCain has to remember that there is a sitting President in the White House and it is the President's job to handle the storm in the Gulf. McCain's job is to be at the convention in Minnesota and get formally nominated . Could it be that he is hiding behind the storm in the Gulf, knowing that the GOP convention will not be a very impressive one? Could it be that he doesn't know what to do, or say about choosing Gov Palin and that he's stalling for time? Will he thank Gustav formally?

[dianne]

John McCain's response is one of real "class" and taking the high road for sure. No matter what you think about his politics, he is acting in a compassionate,responsible manner. He understands that "it's not all about me". He could have operated with the "show must go on" attitude. It would be a great gesture if all the money wasted on these big productions was now donated to something worthwhile; even greater would be IF the storm hits and causes loss and damage, those delegates could roll up their sleeves and head to the storm area to help. The election would be won right then and there. The Republicans could gain tremendous headway with a show of support to the people and not graindstanding in a a stadium with pyrotechnics, soaking up the adoration of the public at decadently excessive expense. When exactly does the change start.? Sounds like it started today...

[cherie]

Not to be callous, but the Republicans have to look at Gustav as mana from heaven.

There was no way they could have topped the emotion or pageantry of the Democratic National Convention... using Gustav as a reason to show good face and scale down events can only help the GOP.

[Army Brat]

Shouldn't McCain be staying clear of the Gulf
region so as to not interfere with the REAL
emergency response?

[JOJO]

IS THIS BAD OMEN FOR McANE AND HIS ELECTION TEAM?
OR GOD WATCHING REPOS FOR THEIR ACTION BLOOD LOST DUE TO IRAQ?

[abby0802]

My only concern is for those who are being adversely affected by the storm. They are all in my prayers as well as those who have already been hit hard by this storm and Hurricane Fay.

McCain, Obama, everyone needs to put the needs of those people first and check their political campaigns at the door.

Of course, McCain has also said that he might give his acceptance speech at a site "blasted" by the storm.

IF McCain does that -- well, he is just being crass....

[Mary Porter]

I’m sorry, but it looks like the Republican party is taking advantage of the emergency to run away from itself. Are they really planning to use a natural disaster as a campaign event, with photo-ops and staged speeches? The big payoff is, they’ll be able to keep Bush and Cheney away from St. Paul. McCain's people have control of the program now, and can keep away ugly reminders of the past 8 years. In fact, I’m waiting for a FEMA order for the evacuation of the whole Twin Cities area. I just read a story where a McCain operative was exhultant at the "Gustavication" of the convention!

Republican spokesmen have been saying the party is “energized” by the hope of running as some other party, rather than as itself. Demoralized and (rightly) shamed over the administration they inflicted on the country, they are showing shallowness and cowardice in refusing responsibility for their party’s dismal record.

This convention (if it happens) is a cynical effort to put a fresh “new” face on the same morally bankrupt party. The hard-right base are the same people who brought us George Bush as the Nascar-watching, sports-loving, good-buddy, low intellectual accomplishment, born again president. Look where that got us.

Under cover of light-weights just like their current line up, the far-right neocons have pursued policies that have wasted, killed, maimed, crippled, and disgraced our country and its people.

They are looking forward to a fantasy of inventing a clean, new identity, under cover of belated concern for the Gulf Coast.

[mc]

Give us a break dybbuk, McCain isn't looking for an excuse to cancel anything this week out of fear it won't "show as well" as the dnc's. Seriously, are you for real? This event has been planned for months and I'm sure there's real disappointment. But it was a class move.

[Sophie]

It's unfortunate that our country hasn't been working as hard on protecting New Orleans as it has on protecting the oil in Iraq.

[DW]

The party is overjoyed Gov. Palin isn't going to have to speak. Her Flat Earth mentality, contempt for the wild world (except to kill it), denial that global warming is caused by human actions, beauty queen adolescent cutesy way of expressing herself, complete lack of international knowledge or experience--all make it extremely advantageous for the Republicans to KEEP HER AWAY FROM A MICROPHONE! They're hoping just to slip her by the public. Then, when McCain dies (he's already outlasted his father and grandpa, and he has a particularly nasty form of cancer) and she becomes THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, we'll all get a chance to get to know President Palin. Oh well, we all love surprises, don't we.

Forgot, they get to take off those hats and act like real Americans for a little while... uh, wait, did McCain really say that?

Governing this nation is not a joke. It's not a political "game." This is serious business, and does anyone in their right mind believe this woman, nice and even "tough" as she may be, is ready to stand against Putin and Chavez and the mullahs? Give me a break, and get honest with yourselves, fanatical partisans. Her nomination represents a looming disaster for our nation.

[Alexander Hamilton]

Please google "Popular Mechanics report on Katrina response" and stop the damn democratic lying about the Federal response to Katrina. Where is Gov. Blanco today? The people of Louisana know who was incompetent and inept.

[O. Amaro]

Regardless of anything the Republican Party does in trying to erase their reputation of total incompetence when it comes to federal emergency response, the image of Georgie Boy and McCain sharing a piece of cake while Katrina drowned will forever be associated with a GOP-run government.

[Dave]

Gustav. It's a perfect opportunity to dump Bush and Cheney from speaking at the convention. I'm sure the GOP planners are elated for the window of opportunity of a legit excuse to cancel Bush and Cheney’s speeches.

Obama texted us again asking for donations to Red Cross...His champagne is genius and he is a once in a lifetime leader. He gets criticized for being too good of an Orator, and not having enough experience. Obama is where he is right now for a reason. Because he’s a great talented natural born leader, who rose to the top with his skills, and genius. Isn’t being a great Orator part of being a great leader?

You mean to tell me if any other politician could speak as well as Obama to the people they wouldn’t? Hell yes they would. He brings people together with his speeches. And that is the greatest accomplishment of any leader/politician.