Hurricane Gustav and Its Effect on GOP Convention

Photo from source, Raw Story

One of the cries you'll hear shouted when anything bad happens, is "let's not play politics." I would agree with that on principle, except for the fact that the request is never heeded. Everything is fodder for politics, and if one side sits it out, the other side will clobber them, right?

Well, this time the "bad thing" is another hurricane headed toward New Orleans. If Katrina had never happened--or if it had been handled differently--there would probably be no thought given to altering the style or substance of the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis next week.

But Katrina was bungled badly. Whether you're like my Mom ("Yeah, right, George Bush made Katrina happen?") and think that President Bush was not to blame for anything, or if you're like me, and think Katrina underlined and bold-faced the incompetency of the Bush Administration, I think everybody can admit that it didn't go at all well. And so, having your big party pep rally while a potential Katrina-type disaster is happening again--well, Karl Rove can't let that happen, without some creative response.

There have been rumors that the convention would be postponed, or that George Bush would cancel his speech. The story excerpted below paints a much more likely picture. The Republican National Convention had the potential to pale mightily against last weeks Democratic one. But what if you turned it into a big Hurricane telethon?

[Excerpt]

Will McCain turn RNC into telethon for hurricane victims?

A top aide in the McCain campaign said officials may turn the Republican National Convention into a service event to aid possible victims of a hurricane headed towards the Gulf Coast, CNN reported Saturday. . .

Read more at: Raw Story