GOP could delay convention if Gustav hits Gulf Coast

[question everything]

StarTribune.com
GOP could delay convention if Gustav hits Gulf Coast

By Russ Britt, MarketWatch

August 28, 2008

DENVER — The Republican Party may hold off on its national convention next week if Tropical Storm Gustav turns into a hurricane and strikes the Gulf Coast, a spokesman for presumptive presidential nominee John McCain said Thursday.

Gustav was gaining momentum off the coast of Jamaica and headed on a trajectory toward New Orleans, which was hit three years ago Friday by Hurricane Katrina. If it strikes the Gulf Coast by Monday, that would occur right as the GOP is convening its quadrennial gathering in St. Paul, Minn., on the heels of the Democratic convention this week.

"Sen. McCain has always been sensitive to national crisis — in the 2000 race he postponed his announcement (to run for the presidency) because of the situation in the Balkans — and we are monitoring the situation very closely," McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said.

Bounds said there is a possibility the convention could be postponed but said: "I have no specifics to announce."

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has already announced he would skip the convention if the hurricane hits land over the weekend, and the White House has said President Bush is monitoring developments very closely.

http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/conventions/27630249.html

(strange URL, edited, I hope)

[darius15]

1. They wanna make McCain look like he cares

But honestly, I hope the hurricane veers off into the ocean. New Orleans can't afford another hurricane.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. This is partly politics

but the reality is I doubt they can afford it... this costs lots of money and many delegates will not be able to change their schedules

[Lifetimedem]

7. Exactly !

[ben_meyers]

11. It may be expensive but I don't think you could buy that kind

of pub at any price.

[maseman]

3. If it is going to be delayed

it will be SIGNIFICANTLY smaller venue and event than originally planned.

Think about it...food/catering, video and audio rental, compueter/DSL support, venue to house the events, hotels, flights, rental cars, people who volunteer who take off work, delegates who have taken off work, advertising spent, down payments made, etc.

It is logistically impossible.

[darius15]

4. They'll just get money from lobbyists

no big deal for them.

[crimsonblue]

13. In return for No bid Cleanup contracts

If it does hit and the Convention is delayed, look for huge "donations" to the RNC from Home Depot, Walmart, etc...

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

29. Yep, it'll be quite the mess....

[Mz Pip]

5. I think they want to

regroup. If Obama gets a huge bounce then McCain would much prefer the GOP convention be held as close to election day as possible. He wants to have his bump not have as much of a chance to fade.

[crimsonblue]

14. He can't delay by too much, or else he starts running into State ballot deadlines

The states print up and program their ballots weeks in advance, so he can't take forever.

[question everything]

18. Not to mention McCain's acceptance speech clashing with a football game (nt)

[AZ Criminal JD]

23. The speech is scheduled after the game

[Raven]

6. I think they would be wise to do that. This looks like such a bad

storm that no matter where it lands, there will be great suffering. The sight of tipsy republicans with balloons will not do them much good.

[Auggie]

8. The current schedule, I would think, bodes well for Democrats

Opening night is on Labor Day. Closing night is the beginning of NFL football.

[ben_meyers]

9. It would be a hell of a PR move if they did.

And I wouldn't put it past them.

[graywarrior]

10. They're having trouble getting people to attend

That's the real reason.

[calimary]

22. Yeah, but that isn't all because of Gustav.

Many republi-CONS simply don't want the loser stench. Even Ahnold is a likely no-show. Maybe Maria finally got to him. After all, she had to sit through his abysmal convention in 2004 - surrounded by the enemy. And I remember the look on her face. She was in the elder bushes' box. And she looked uncomfortable - really not all that happy to be there.

[graywarrior]

24. I don't think it has anything to do with Gustav.

I think it's McCain.

[calimary]

27. Hurrimccain.

Hurrmccain?

I'm still fixated on the really nice weather over Denver. Looks like those bastards prayed in vain.

[graywarrior]

28. They got what they asked for.

Just not where or when they asked for it.

[calimary]

39. No kidding.

How a-fuckin'-bout that?

[ronnykmarshall]

36. Arnie may not come because we don't have a state budget yet.

[truthisfreedom]

12. Yep, look at him getting all sensitive and shit as Katrina hits...

[ben_meyers]

17. Right, but unless the whole country comes to DU who is

going to see that?

[depakid]

30. Therein lies the problem with the high road pollyanas-

People don't know this stuff about McCain- even though there's been an ENTIRE SUMMER to have put this stuff out there.

[KamaAina]

37. "Sen. McCain has always been sensitive to national crisis"

Indeed.

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[Shakespeare]

15. The REAL reason they're doing this: delaying the switch to public funding.

Until he accepts the nomination, he's not constrained by election rules for taking public funding. If he delays it, THAT is the real reason.

[Fleshdancer]

16. Could is not the same as would

I think it would be the decent thing to do, but I don't think they would postpone their fun.

[nevergiveup]

19. I doubt they will have a delay

regardless of how bad Gustav gets. Keep in mind that Gustav will give Chimpy a legitimate excuse to skip the convention. Chimpy's approval ratings are abysmal and no Republican with an ounce of sense wants him speaking at the convention in the first place. Gustav might well turn out to be a gift from God for the GOP.

[CitizenPatriot]

26. my first thought as well

an excuse to leave chimpy at home "monitoring" the crisis from his plane or whatever. puke.

though I think their convention will be a rather sad state of affairs, full of no-shows (lots of em are in jail, evading the po-po or subpoenas, or hated so much they're afraid to leave the comfort of their homeS) and hate.

Not a ton of fun...

[eleny]

20. As if antendees could change travel and hotel reservations at the drop of a hat

[rainbow4321]

31. No problem...I'm sure Cindy McCain can just buy up a few thousand houses

for them to stay in if they have hotel room reservation problems.
Maybe use her pocket change buy a few hundred private jets to pick them all up to get them there.

[ronnykmarshall]

35. and the hotels can't kick people out that have reservations

that are set after the GOP convention is supposed to end.

[WindRiverMan]

21. Won't happen.

McCain needs his public financing money and fast. He is burning up the rest of his donations very quickly now, as he has to have them all spent before he is officially nominated. He simply cannot afford to do it unless the Republican donors come up big for him on short notice.

[MadrasT]

25. I can't even begin to imagine the logistical nightmares

that postponing the convention would create.

[AZBlue]

32. What, they're going to pretend to care now? Too little, too late.

[Hansel]

33. They better not. I took next week off of work to avoid those

asshats. Their headquarters are 5 blocks from my work and I have to walk by there to get to my ride.

And give me a break. "Sen. McCain has always been sensitive to national crisis?" I know when I'm feeling sensitive about national crisis I meet someone on a tarmac and giggle over birthday cake. :sarcasm:

[ecstatic]

34. Kharma's a bitch! The f*ckers were praying for rain during Obama's speech

[Bluebear]

38. "Message: I care"