CNN: McCain's Plans To Make Natural Disaster Backdrop For His Convention
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Of all the nakedly transparent political manuevers...I'm pretty cynical and this shocked even me. Dana Bash reports to Wolf Blitzer that McCain, clearly cognizant of the bad press George Bush got of celebrating McCain's birthday rather than keep an eye out for the citizens of the Gulf Coast, is considering a few different options for the Republican National Convention, scheduled to start Monday just as Hurricane Gustav makes landfall. One option, delaying the convention, has been set aside. Instead, McCain, along with wife Cindy and running mate Sarah Palin, will fly down to the Gulf Coast
The Arizona senator and Alaska governor will fly to Mississippi on Sunday to view preparations for the hurricane, adding a last-minute trip in an effort to contrast their would-be administration with President George W. Bush's slow response to Hurricane Katrina three years ago.
This is a little like the "McCain in the Baghdad Marketplace" moment. How much personnel will get pulled off from desperately needed duties in order for McCain to get his photo-op? Can you imagine the cries of "presumptuousness" and worse if Barack Obama had done so? But it gets worse, much worse. Now there's talk of turning the Republican National Convention -- peopled by the same types who thought that those Ninth Ward citizens should have drowned rather than look to the government to help evacuate them during Katrina, mind you -- into a telethon of sorts for Gulf Coast relief.
McCain said he had been in touch with the Governors from Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, Florida and continued on to say, "I've been talking to all of them, but you know it just wouldn't be appropriate to have a festive occasion while a near tragedy or a terrible challenge is presented in the form of a natural disaster, so we're monitoring it from day to day and I'm saying a few prayers too."
The Republican Convention planners are preparing to alter the scheduled events and may simply stick to the minimal ceremony required by law to officially nominate John McCain as the Republican's Presidential candidate and Sarah Palin as the vice presidential candidate for the GOP.
One contingency plan in the event of a worse case scenario where Gustav reaps massive destruction along the U.S. Gulf Coast is to turn a portion of the convention into a "giant hurricane relief telethon", where attending Republicans would be transformed into "Red Cross-type volunteers" as the New York Post phrases it in their report.
Those Republicans would help collect donations, not for the Republican Party or John McCain but instead for storm victims as well as collecting food and goods to help them as well.
McCain - whose campaign motto is "Country First" - said helping people during an emergency will take precedence over accepting his GOP nomination for president.
Right...he's only thinking about the people. Moira at DemocracyArsenal:
It's a complete disregard for the mission and the government professionals at all levels attempting to keep people safe.
John McCain's mere suggestion that he should go there shows his horrific and dangerous judgment. If it actually happens, which hopefully it does not, then he will actually be doing harm. Because he is a presidential candidate, air traffic stops when he lands, roads are closed, and press follow him. Secret service and law enforcement personnel have to make sure everything is secure. That means all of these things STOP WORKING to make the area safer for the people getting out and protecting their homes. The only thing working in the favor of emergency management professionals are the noticeably small crowds at McCain events...so perhaps people will not be motivated to stay around.
These are the very reasons Obama and Biden dismissed the suggestion of travel immediately when asked. He's talked to Jindal-a man on McCain's short list for veep-and has expressed help. Trips of politicians often happen after major storms, but when doing these, the main goal is to highlight the devastation in order to secure the resources needed to fix it. It appears these gentlemen get it, and McCain is out of touch in a truly dangerous way.
McCain's suggestion of a visit will waste precious hours in getting resources in at a time when hours and minutes make all the difference. It will impact news coverage which should otherwise be used to urge people to get out through the proper channels, not political parties.
Tristero has more...
Righto. But imagine the RNC should it be delayed - until yet another Katrina disaster.
...until the aftermath of another Katrina-like disaster.
Gustav would truly be the perfect storm if it sputtered to a stop in the Gulf. No damage to anything (except oil rigs, of course) and McCain's telethon would be reduced to clear skies and 'well, whatta you know!' And McCain would again be exposed as the incredibly incompetent decision-maker that he is. The storm probably won't sputter to a stop, but McCain's hopelessness will be seen again and again between now and November.
Did anyone else catch uber-jerkoff Matthew Dowd talking about how fortunate it was for republicans that Gustav would distract people from haw lame their convention was? Cokie Roberts about shat a nail over hiow tacky it was-"Compassionate conservatism", I tell ya.
I think it would be a great idea to turn the Republican convention into a Telethon fro hurricane relief.
If you recall, the last Telethon for hurricane relief was a big success. Therefore they should get some of the same players. Particularly Kanye West who honestly pointed out that...
In fact let Kanye MC the Telethon. Now that would be a great event!
John McCain NOPE T-Shirts & Stickers
America's BAraCK T-Shirts & Stickers
Lucky for the people of NOLA 2008 happens to be an election year. Unlucky for the former people of NOLA that 2005 was not. Really shows what the Republicans care about, and when they care about it. The real test will not be if McCain is there or not, but whether the levees hold. If they fail, then bye bye GWB and his Republican cronies.
Cons will capitalize at every opportunity to advance their cause. No surprise there.
This will backfire.
Remember this?
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/08/13/dobsons-focus-on-the-family-hum...
Dimwits all.
The GOP heros, putting the country first. What country, we have no idea.
Great metaphore for the disasterous right wing!
These fuckrs are desperate I'll tell ya! - They can't stand the idea that it's impossible to run from reality: McSame = BushCo.
Personally I think John, Cindy and Sarah should take a tour of the gulf coast in a rowboat.
And stay out there!
R. David Paulison (Democrat) is the head of FEMA who replaced "Brownie".
Nice set up. If everything goes wrong no doubt they can blame an incompetent Dem.
without the alliance of the main press/media, none of this amounts to a hill of beans. as hard or as difficult as it may seem, the left must make friends with the media so that they can publicize the many foibles of john mccain. until then you're just pissin' in the wind.
Oh, I see, McSame is gonna fly down there. And just what is he going to do? Besides wasting resources and manpower so he can stick his fat wrinkly mug in yet another bank of cameras, is he going to actually HELP? Hell, no.
Well, there's some good news here folks -- it looks like the hurricane is not going to be as powerful as once feared, and it's also going to miss New Orleans and go ashore in relatively sparsely populated western Louisiana. NOLA will probably get nothing worse than a windy day.
Of course, predictions are uncertain, but if you read the latest NOAA forecast discussion, they are not sounding terribly concerned. Hope they're right.
the Republicans are using Gustav as a "convenient excuse" to ditch their convention entirely. Why bother? Why spend the money with McIIIrd's latest gaffe.
Sure McMaverick will use a natural disaster as a backdrop - all egomaniacs do. It will only serve to remind the people that another Republican permitted the people of the Gulf Coast to drown - something from which this party will NEVER recover.
I think it's comical to observe the bobbleheads this morning attempting to put lipstick on a pig. Hilarious actually.
Rove and McSame fell right into the Dems's hands and took their bait. Biden and Obama don't need to say a word to discredit Miss McStepford and McSame now - all they have to do is totally AGREE that this woman mayor with just a little more than a year under her belt as a Governor of a state which is in the middle of nowhere is "FIT FOR COMMAND". That means that all of the other presidential contenders, congress, this administration - there is no one more qualified as Miss Alaska (almost). How sad for them all. McCain has given them the 'royal diss' of all time. One from which none of them will EVER recover. He's placed a woman with no knowledge of government over them. hahahaha! I'm laughing my butt off.
The best part is that when the Dems go with the fact that McSame paints himself as a maverick and an honest man, then why shouldn't we take what he says as the truth? If it's not the truth, then it's a lie and a political stunt - more Republican "theatre". If it's the truth, I'd hate to be a Republican up for re-election when the people remind them that their candidate for president dissed them as "not being qualified". This is the best "gift" the Dems could have prayed for.
Is he going to rent a boat and help rescue people? Hold the hands of the homeless and feel their pain? Just how exactly is this opportunistic old fuck going to help the soon-to-be victims? Tell them they don't they don't have it as bad as he did back in Nam; I mean, is it raining Gooks? IS IT?
Picture McMoses' campaign team gathered around a bucket of ice and a bottle of Johnny Walker Black; "Okay, guys. How use this storm to our advantage? Ideas?"
Please stand-by national media for photo-ops of Sarah P with running mascara and touseled hair cradling a tender Gustav orphan baby in her rain slickered arms.
Actually, having a natural disaster as a backdrop is somewhat appropriate - the GOP have been disastrous for the nation.
McNoshame
Jesus they try to make everything about them and show no shame in openly doing so.
Alice X - (Chomsky Nader) - status quObama - change you can pretend in - @ 12:
Great idea, but then we might get stuck with a Romney/Huckabee ticket. Yikes! No choice, indeed.
cervantes @ 16:
It's still a Cat3...recall that Katrina was "only" a Cat3 also. And the area to the EAST of the eye of a hurricane gets the worst of it...
Fact is: No one was going to tune into their sick little convention of frauds in the first place. This is a convenient excuse for it's failure. Nice goin' repturds. Be careful what you ask for, Rev.(??) Dobson - praying for rain???? Now you've got what you've asked for.....and the world can see the wonder of karma.
Having the city of New Orleans under martial law while a hurricane hits seems quite appropriate during the RNC.
Charles @ 21:
Forget Romney, Guiliani, or Huckabee 'ever more! John McCain's proclamataion that he's selected "the best candidate in the country" as his Veep has finished them all off. Speaks volumes for what he thinks of his colleagues, doesn't it?
capnmike @ 15:
They'll photo op him commandeering a bullhorn, and handing out bottled water through car windows.
How dare that John McCain schedule a hurricane during the RNC! He will stop at nothing!
these are the same people that didn't lift a finger during katrina. they blamed it all on mayor nagen, and pointed to all the looting, saying those people should be shot on sight.
the media can't call them out on it and show old clips, because it would be in bad taste too.
it's a potential win for the RNC. disaster capitalism at it's finest.
sophya @ 25:
Maybe they're planning on erecting a pole in the oval office.
You know, we once had a comedy show here in Seattle called "Almost Live" that was pretty good at nailing Seattle and Washington state's foibles. Case in point: About 10 years ago the local PBS station was reporting that they were running a surplus, but still ran their usual month-long
pledge drivecommercial. Almost Live aired their version of the pledge drive, with women in mink manning the phones, volunteers being served by waiters and the like.That's how I imagine a Republican telethon for New Orleans would be.
Can these shameless panders do anything but ruin him? Are there people stupid enough not to see through this? I have no faith in the American electorate, but this is a stretch even for the flock.
The Most Shameful Political Pandering In History
compassionate conservative .......only shows up at election time
Let them have their way after Gustav. Hanna is right behind him, and looks like will trounce them as well. Not to mention the two other storms right behind her.
Oh man, their stackin up all the way to Africa.
Breaking news on MSNBC says that Bush and Cheney are both going to skip the RNC . . . to focus on Gustav.
In a way it's probably convenient for them that they can use it as an excuse to avoid staining McCain by association. I guess the Katrina victims were just unfortunate not to have their disaster during the height of an election.
The RNC was going to be a "festive occasion"?
This helps them out immensely. Gives them plausible deniability for Duhbya and "Dick" to cancel their speeches (honestly, just WHAT is Cheney going to be doing to "help"?) so the convention doesn't have to reek of their failure stench.
Widespread @ 35:
They can count on the MSM to use Weapons of Mass Sensationalism to distract from failures.
"MY FRIENDS...(violent winds blowing)...I'M HERE...I SAY...I SAY....I SAY....I'M HERE!!!...(whipping rain and gusts of winds increasing)...TO LEND A HELPING HAND....(gust of wind blows sarah palin away, aides holding onto mccain)....LET ME ASSURE YOU!!!...(whhhoooooooooo, KKKKRRRRRROOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!!)....I...WILL...NOT....(a violent gust suddenly blows mccain away)....RAAAAAISE.....taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaxessssss!
Heads bowed. A moment of silence for the war hero.
Widespread @ 35:
You took the words right out of my keyboard ... McCain's camp was DYING to find a way to get out of W and Dick speaking at the convention -- but the stain by association remains: Sidekick McCain.
In theory, Hanna could slip in through the Straights of Florida. And follow the same path. That was the course Katrina took.
Rather PRESUMPTUOUS for McCainto knowingly travel into a disaster zone before the disaster strikes.
Who does he think he is? Why are emergency leaders taking time out of their important work in saving lives and property to brief a CANDIDATE for political office?
Is he some type of CELEBRITY that will hamper important emergency and relief work with his enormous ENTOURAGE, simply to stage some PHOTO OPS?
PRESUMPTUOUS. CANDIDATE. CELEBRITY. ENTOURAGE. PHOTO OP.
Hit him hard people.
It is of utter priority importance that law enforcement people in MS be pulled off disaster prep to provide security services for McSame and The Hockey Mom in order that this dynamic duo may "check on the people" there.
PERFECT backdrop for his policies - A DISASTER!
Joe Tseng @ 38:
The military industrial complex salutes Captain John Sidney McCain III for personally losing five aircraft in nine years of service.
Widespread @ 35:
This comes as no surprise since Bush and Cheney didn't want to have to appear with MCain... there are enough damaging photos out there of McSame hugging Bush.
They were floating not coming for the last two weeks to see what the reaction would be and this offers them the perfect excuse, so no birthday cake or hugs for Johnny this birthday.
As to McSame... his new nickname is "Pander Bear"
I think this will backfire. The population is leaving NOLA for the most part. There are long lines on the highway and at the airport, as people evacuate, and McCain is going to take up air and strip space for a political op and a photo op. Not good. People down there are busy preparing,and should be. Taking public resources away for him to walk around Bourbon Street and look "Presidential" is selfish and foolish.
Think of they hay that was made with Gov. Blanco for not doing what she was supposed to do, when she DID do what she was supposed to do. How could Gov. Jindal allow something so outlandishly not in the interest of the people of NOLA at a time of preparation and evacuation?
Just saying.
Joe Tseng @ 38:
They'll photo op him and her in some Command Center standing over the shoulders of chisel jawed uniformed officials.
"John McCain and Sarah Palin direct Emergency Operations following Gustav".
Among other things.
Mcdouche is hoping for massive flooding so he can say "The Storm Surge Is Working"
But it obviously didn't take precedence over his birthday three years ago ..........What a phony , complete piece of shit , this wrinkled old fool is..........
Someone , wake up George from his nap!
Wow John McSame, Ralph Nader, Cynthia McKinney, Bob Barr and Martin Sheen can all go to New Orleans and play Commander-in-Chief while Bush ducks out to Crawford again.
Rethuglicans and their extremist evangelical base like to paint God as the avenger who visits disasters on his creation to 'teach us a lesson.' That is a 'God' of their creation which is not to be confused with the God who is. These extremists are mired in the Old Testament and the Book of Revelation. Their center is not the Jesus of the Gospels. McInsane has shown himself to lack knowledge of those same Gospels. Jesus in those Gospels tells us that God, His Father and ours, is a God of love who wills the salvation, not the destruction of all of us. He leaves it up to us however, which is why we have a free will to make our own choices. Therefore, to suggest that God is sending us a message in a natural disaster, is to insult that God. This is something that the likes of Dobson and company do very well. The fact is there is a God who will make the final judgement on Dobson and company and I would not like to be him. But, to go along with this nutcase for a moment, suppose this storm is a message. It is fair to say that God is sending the Rethuglicans a message as to how displeased He/She is with how they have abused and defamed the name of God!
The very fact that there will need to be a telethon tells you everything you need to know about the Bush administrations preparedness and the Republican philosophy of government. Not only can we look like we care - we can make other people pay for it.
New, at The unauthorized McSame Store:
http://www.bgladd.com/McSameStore/GOPticket.jpg
And remember that the convention itself is a disaster from
the get-go, too!
The repigs whould never have changed their convention plans. Do you have any idea the amount of planning that goes into this? Just getting the site and the number of hotel rooms reserved costs mega bucks. This was just a PR ploy that was launched by the repigs to gain some good press. The MSM, being owned by those who want the repigs to win, were happy to go along with it. I would note that st john went to mississippi rather than either NO or La, where someone would in all likelyhood have told him to eff off we are busy here.
Slightly OT, but OMG, Palin is from Idaho! I'm very sorry that once again my state has contributed to a long list of horse's asses loosed upon the Republic, ( Larry Craig, Bill Sali, Mike Simpson, Mike Crapo, Dirk Kempthorn, Butch Otter, Helen Chenoweth, Steve Symms, George Hansen.......).
Again....sorry.
Chimpy just got done with a press conference , in which he implored others to not go anywhere near the area , because it will result in more work for emergency workers ; how does that not apply 10-fold to McDepends ?
They're gonna' need 100 US troops and several helicopters and tanks (again) , to protect his sorry old ass ; guess nothing gets in the way of the GOP when it comes to a good photo-op ................
How about the "appropriateness" of nominating Mrs. Palin, who might actually have to serve as president in the case of incapacity of Mr. McCain- has he even looked at his "Country First" posters? That might be a good idea.
My only thought, the only way i can makes sense of this man, is Karl Rove really wants Obama in office so that he takes the pain of the post Bush era, economy, war, housing, health care, immigartion, etc. I assume Karl is betting we're in for a national disaster of epic proportion. So lets pin in all on the Dem president.
No other scenario seems to fit.
McMEtal of 58 brings up a good point- McDepends and McHockeyMomBeautyQueen Should go nowhere the region and NO Resources should be diverted for a Photo-Op, even Dubya has wised up that this is a BAD idea...
it will costs how much to do so?
it will displace how many people for security and tie up how much air traffic and roads for delivery of aid to do so?
And which house will they be staying at?
Has anybody noticed a trend here:
1. Choose a war-credentialed candidate (who is neither wise on world politics nor the war he put us in).
2. Install pundits who are black and/or female on cable news networks (who are neither progressive nor insightful on issues of minority and women's rights).
3. Select a young female as the running mate (who, again, is against women's rights).
4. Have the organization preemptively appear at the site of a natural disaster (where they messed it all up a few years back).
...
Every choice that Republicans make seem to be to show the American people that they are willing to confront these issues on the surface alone, but when it comes to substance, they are still hollow men and women of their ideological and power schemes.
GOP: Gustav = Opportunistic Politics
Do not underestimate the power of the right-wing noise machine. If the Republicans turn their convention into a telethon for Gustav victims, they can say they were thinking about the people instead of spending millions of dollars on an "out-of-touch" stadium show in Denver. They can say that instead of spending a week talking about the American people, they're people of action helping the American people. The contrasting images from the conventions could be devastating, if you think the Repubs aren't going to exploit this tragedy for political gain over the next two months, then you haven't been paying attention for the last seven years. If Obama and his supporters do not have an explicit strategy mapped out for handling this tsunami of propaganda, Gustav could end up being the Dems' Katrina moment.
So, let me see if I've got this right...
The 1968 elections were thought to be disastrous for the Democrats partially because there was rioting in Chicago during the convention. Now the Republicans are trying to one-up that by linking a hurricane to their convention?
McDepends Should offer up his houses as Shelter, and McCindy's Planes for Evac'.....the Hockey mom he has it his side has never even seen a Natural Disaster much less administered one as Gov.....her worst disaster is running out of Koolaid and Jiffy....this team could not handle a toilet overflow much less a Gustav.
I think it's a great idea. in fact, I think they should fly macho-man-mcain out to one of the oil rigs in the gulf and let him give his acceptance speech from there - right in the middle of the storm. it'll be a perfect metaphor for just how relevant he is...
beckyboo @ 46:
I believe he's going to Mississippi rather than NOLA. Nevertheless. considering the resources necessary to his trip, he really ought not go near the Gulf Coast.
After Katrina, I offered my homes (yes, I have more than one--but I know how many, and they're pretty unimpressive) to evacuees. I wonder if McCain will do the same.
This certainly confirms that McCain isn't like Bush. Bush would never politicize a natural disaster like this... oh, never mind...
DannyEastVillage @ 68:
He's been practicing carrier landings for his own "Mission Accomplished Moment," y'know...
Gee, exploit natural disasters much??
Phuz01 @ 65:
It depends on how the Dems (mis)handle this.
They have to accentuate the sad irony at work here as Chris Dodd did on CNN this morning.
Is someone ticked off that he isn't getting credit for the Anthrax attacks?
2 St. Louis hospital emergency rooms on lockdown
jafari @ 63:
This is going to be another huge natural disaster. The GOP are trying to use this for their own political gain. It won't work.
Here's a little reminder of what Katrina did.
Oil Spills.
http://www.katrinadestruction.com/images/v/damaged+energy+facilities/?g2...
Lets not forget the tornado's that will be a result of these hurricanes.
This will be bad, very bad.
"Hmmmm.m...nice ass..."
How sweet, as people flee and emergency crews are needed, McCain will take up resources for another photo-op. There is nothing more impressive than exploiting people at their worst moments for political gain.
jafari @ 63:
Yeah it's pretty cynical alright.
What are Obama and Biden up to? Make no mistake, being engaged and saying the right things is a net positive.
Btw, the Dem surrogates were exellent this morning - Hitiing Bush McCain, and Palin hard, reminding people which party was responsible for the reposnse to Katrina.
Too late Repug slimebags, Katrina was three years ago.
Your attempts at being very publicly prepared this time around aint gonna fool anyone, you ddidnt give a shit then, and you dont know.
Actually, Palin has no time to go to New Orleans. She must immediately get to Iraq. After all, Biden, Obama and McCain have been there and she can't have an opinion on it until she has visited the troops over there.
wow... McSame really DOES have bad judgement.... or maybe it is the judgement of God.
He can't win no matter what he does.
1. If he goes down to NOLA he looks like a political opportunist who offers nothing to the victims but platitudes -- i.e., just like Bush did with Katrina
2. If he delays the convention until later, he will again look ineffectual and good for nothing but hang wringing after the fact -- i.e., just like Bush did with Katrina
3, If he has the convention it will look like the GOP is eating cake while people suffer and die -- i.e., just like Bush did with Katrina
In short the GOP is a bankrupt party with nothing to offer this country ---i.e., just like Bush with Katrina
God is punishing the republicans.
Pat Roberts told me so.
Chimpy is getting ready to play the blame game again.
"I lost the blame game last time but I'm more prepared for it now".
BobbyG @ 77:
That's incredible. McInsane ACTUALLY appears to be staring (time and time again) at Palin's ass. Hahahahahaha!
It would be nice if they could have a change-of life type experience like Ebenezer Scrooge but my guess is their next move will be deciding whether to go back to their summer home or their winter home.
BobbyG @ 77:
I wonder if Cindy saw that ...
wow........maybe it's me i haven't heard the chant
drill here......drill now.......lately!
Charles @ 85:
I know, man, ROTFLMFAO!
MSNBC is reporting
Bush to skip convention
White House says president, vice president will focus on hurricane.
how totally convenient. we all know that the images of bush and cheyney speaking at the McCain convention would do more damage to the party and McSame than the images of katrina did for bush. i take this as an obvious sign that the Obama speechs attaching bush and McCain at the hip is working and worrisome for repubics.
god bless the people that are truely in the path of this storm.
If it takes a Hurricane for bush and cheney to cancel so the USA doesn't have to suffer thru another one of their speeches, Go Gustav!
Those two lying, criminal sacks of shit can fade away from the national spotlight as soon possible, I'm tired of being disgusted by them.
I'm I the only one sick of 2 years of election politics?
And seeing that America is already a fascist-police-state oligarchy, why don't the Republicans just have Bush cancel the election, declare martial law, and continue on indefinitely?
Look at the bright side:
1 - no more having to listen to political BS 24/7
2 - the minority enlightened can go underground and actually attempt to overthrow the government and REALLY earn the police harassment, tasering, and jailing that they're already getting right now ANYWAY for bike-ride protests and standing on sidewalks reporting the news.
ok. I'm just sarcastically joking. Or maybe not? Oh well, it's my first amendment right. Right? Or maybe not?
Are you scared? Who has the power? You or the authoritarian elites?
If this post gets scratched, you have your answer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ibjtq3LSm4Q
Has everyone heard the story about Palin's last "supposed" child? It's really her daughter's child. Hahahahahaha!
That's why no one knew she was pregnant. Because she wasn't.
Sara Palin's is not Trig's mother
Well, OF COURSE McSame would USE A DISASTER for political backdrop and purpose. And the Republican Convention is ALREADY A DISASTER ALL ON IT'S OWN. Did you see the crummy cheap stage and venue at CSPAN when the "rolled it out"? LOLOLOL
They were completely cornered and embarrassed with the cheap showing and with the LACK OF TICKET SALES for a looser convention. The storm angle gives them some REGROUPING TIME and a cover story which pretends to show them as compassionate.
Maybe McInsane is hoping to catch a little nookie on the trip that nobody wants to go with him?
I could understand this if Arizona had hurricanes, and McCain was heading home to deal with what might be happening to his constituency. But seeing as how Senator McCain isn't from the great state of Louisiana, he's got no business going down there.
Georgette Orwell at 69
Thanks you for your contribution. For me this is personal.
I did see that after the fact. Sorry.
The facts on the ground here are that I have relatives (elderly) in Mississippi who are not leaving, and the headline and opening blip got the better of my emotions. I went through Camille at the age of 5 and will never forget it. We live in Missouri now because of the aftermath of that horrible hurricane. (no jobs, etc.)
You are correct in the above. Anyone with any kind of experience in hurricane preparedness knows that you don't divert any resources available to help. The Mississippi Gulf Coast has an Air Force Base and a Sea Bees unit that are on full alert to help. (I also have relatives that work at each of these places.)
At least two of my relatives mentioned above are fully backing McCain. Or, at least were the last time I spoke to them a few weeks ago.
I work for a major drugstore chain. After Katrina, the corporation took up donations and insisted that there be made spots in the company for displaced workers. At my store, we saw a lot of the refugees because there is a major interstate and lots of hotels nearby. We collected toys and clothes and laundry supplies to help the people that would be staying at the hotels for extended periods of time, and some of us organized our churches to adopt some of the families to pay for their hotel bills.
We don't own more than one home, but we did open the doors to family members who needed a place to stay.
I am convinced that in situations like this, personal outreach far outweighs government help on a one to one level. However, you do need the government for the big lifting. You must have open evacuation routes that are monitored and kept moving. You must have water and ice and shelter provided on a large scale, and access to outside communications and financial transaction. You have to have save food, as much of it is water logged after the fact and can not be eaten for a variety of reasons. The movement of these resources have to come from the government, and they have to be regular and uninterrupted.
I wouldn't trust that any "TELETHON" that the Republicans might throw, would actually funnel the money to the people who need it. Look at what they've done with the money from Katrina. Whatever they "collect" will go toward paying Blackwater and Bechtel for their overpriced services, and will probably go toward shoring up the oil rigs that have been closed down, etc.
I believe the meme on this needs to be that this is window dressing and diversion of resources and funds. The RNC should not be holding a telethon. FEMA and the National Guard need to be doing what they are supposed to be doing, and protecting and serving the citizens in need. GWB is still the President, lame duck or not. He is still the problem, and if McCain doesn't call on him to do HIS job, then HIS selfishness and lack of decision making ability should be put in the spotlight.
Biden and Obama could flatten this tactic if they just keep the focus on what REALLY should be happening, instead of the appeals to emotion.
DannyEastVillage @ 75:
They insult the intelligence of the american people. They think we only respond to PR, soundbites and political theatre. Facsist are adept at camaign PR but are inept at governance. KKKarl Rove is Goebbels reborn
Another transparent political stunt by insincere selfish users that think this will somehow repair their tarnished image. Good luck, you'll need it. I'm sure the detaineees in Gitmo and the families of the 4151 soldiers that died in Iraq will be overwhelmed by your "compassionate" act which in reality is designed to benefit your self centered interest. Other centered service? That's for weakings and cowards.
And LA @26, they'll be passing out water from a 3 MPG Hummer. That's the Republican way---conspicuous consumption.
A hurricane is a terrible thing. But I won't be surprised to see it used by McRove to, once again, change the subject and distract from the elephant in the room -- eight years of Republican failure.
As Obama said, it's time for the [Republicans] to own their failure."
People have a short memory
When Katrina happened McCain and Bush were enjoying a party instead
xoites at 74
The one hospital is less than a mile from where I live. There was some kind of mishandling of the dry chemicals at this plant. It is a crime scene, as of last night. They are reporting two people dead on the local news, but have not said how or where, because the people who showed up at the hospitals are all being said to be in various conditions that are semi to none critical.
I'll see if I can find a local link, and if I can, in fact, link it here. Not my strong suit, but it doesn't look to be sinister, just stupid.
bmw 528 @ 98:
Recall how McSame went to the Iowa flood zone for a show-of-concern photo op? -- after the local authorities fucking begged him to not come. He went anyway.
beckyboo @ 96:
Welll said. Remember that among other things, FEMA sent mobile homes to the victims that were laced with dangerous levels of formaldehyde. And when this folly was discovered, they tried to ship the homes off to a Native American reservation---which was also cancelled once diesovered. The perfidy of these people is endless.
Your last comment is exactly right as well, Obama/Biden should be focused on solutions to the victims, not on the emotional selfish grandstanding stunt by the GOP.
Carol @ 100:
Yep.
BobbyG @ 102:
Exactly. Selfish grandstanding---taking disaster and misery and turning it into a personal benefit---it's the Neocon way.
I heard earlier that Obama and Biden are keeping in contact with state officials on the gulf coast but they will not be going down to the area because they don't want to get in the way and take away time and resources that are needed now for other things. They will schedule a trip down there but it will be at a time when they feel it's appropriate.
colbert: who in the fxxk is sarah palin? wonder if she'll
be down in the gulf area.
http://miaculpa.blogspot.com/2008/08/colbert-who-fuck-is-sarah-palin.html
Just to point out to McCain.
The secret service can't protect you from drowning when they are drowning too.
carefulwiththatAXEeugene @ 33:
EXACTLY!!!!
Every 4 years!!
According to the news, the gov. of Miss invited McCain and Palin down there today so they could review Mississippi's disaster plans. By it being an invite, he doesn't appear to be the exploiting bastard that he is.
Damn....and all this time I thought they were going to preach from a POW cell in North Vietnam.
A classic example of 'HE JUST DOESN'T GET IT'.
will McCain once again wear his $500.00 Italian loafers like he did on his recent trip to NOLa?
Palin and current VP Chiney are bringing shot guns.....a little R&R while they exploit the homeless. McCain is so butt ugly (read that creepy)....he can't take the chance of going duck hunting with Chuney.
If only Gustav would lurch Westward and deluge Crawford, Texas....
JimboSlice @ 6:
...................................
Ya, you wish. Wishful thinking YOU ! If the levees are breached, break, have not been rebuilt / reinforced - it is the fault of the democrats and Obama -- Karl Rove, and Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter and FOX will say.....
and many Americans will believe them because Americans are in a trance.
Mc Anus will be the next president because Palin hates killing innocent fetuses but loves killing innocent animals herself. She's a hunter, an anti-abortion person and a creationist. The republicans are peeing in their pants because they are so excited about this. Once again - the Illuminati has brought us one step closer to the final total destruction of mankind.
This is the best I could do xoites. Sorry
http://news.yahoo.com/i/3197
Local Video - KMOV Channel 4 St. Louis on Yahoo! News
test mcPander's temperment ask about off-shore drilling
POP at 110....you mean...Governor Haley Barbour?
Yeah..his head is up someone's ass.
You are spot on though.
There are strong indications that McCain is a pervert. Did you see the way he ogled Pulan's breasts and fidgeted lustfully, during her speech. He was almost panting. That guy has "lust in his heart." Do you think Cindy steals his Viagra, too. My guess is that she won't let the creepy, "wrinkly old white dud" anywhere near her.
Charles @ 85:
Maybe there's a teleprompter on her ass? Have you thought of that!!?? You damn libs ...
/snark
I'm cynical - and pessimistic.
ABC, NBC and CNN are apparently allowing the Republican spin on this to go unchallenged, which reinforces that bad feeling I got Friday with the announcement of Palin as McCain's VP pick. With the media's help, or at least by allowing themselves to be manipulated yet again, it looks like we're in for at least four more years of the same crap we've had for the last eight.
Let's just hope that some of the photo op grandstanding spills over into some actual help for the people along the gulf. I know concern for the tired, the poor, and the huddle masses is nowhere near a top priority for Republicans, but maybe they can do some good in spite of themselves.
Looking at a woman's heinie doesn't make you a pervert.
Looking at a woman young enough to be your daughter while twirling our wedding ring, on national television.....there is a case to be made.
ciu @ 83:
*clap* *clap* *clap*
Obama really should have jumped on this and gone down ahead of McCain. The MSM focus for the whole week will be McCain/Phalin assisting survivors. I think this will have tremendous political impact and further distance McCain from Bush. BHO better start talking.
lmab @ 119:
..............................
Yup, I'll bet that one of the main reasons McCain picked Sarah Palin is that he hopes to get some action from her. I mean sex. Look what Bill Clinton got away with in the Oval Office. Also Kennedy got action on the side while he was Prez. If McCain doesn't expect to get sex because Palin is so Christian - he's at least figuring he can cop a feel on an almost daily basis...or brush up against her. That's possibly 33% of the reason he picked her.
beckyboo @ 122:
You're referring to BJ Clinton hugging Monica, I assume.
This is where the power of independent blogging comes into play - it'll be impossible for the Republicans to NOT party during their convention, it'll be impossible for McCain to pull off a dog and pony show.
Someone's going to have a camera somewhere in NOLA, in MSP, someone's going to snap a photo of college republicans boozing it up, someone's going to catch some k-streeters and GOP hotshots sneaking to the nudie bar.
Don't recall Bill twirling his wedding ring and looking at Monica's heinie when he hugged her.
I was commenting on the link posted above by Bobby G at 77.
Rasputin @ 45:
They don't have to go to the convention. the media machine can't protect the repugs either, unless they want to blame James Dobson's god.
Gustav is all over the news.
NOLa is all over the news.
the RNC convention is all over the news
THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THEM IS AN ONGOING ANTI-REPUBLICAN AD.
I love that.
The ultimate show of the truth of the repugs - that they will exploit anything at any time. no amount of carnage is too much for them not to try to find a way to blame it on the Democrats, with the help of the media. They will show America their willingness to stang upon it's rotting carcass and demand four more years.
I think the Republicans need to stay out of the way of people that are actually trying to do something that matters to the people that are in danger. John McCain should have some cake with George Bush.
McCain should be ashamed, but then he has no shame.
L.A. Confidential @ 13:
But nothing will go wrong, and the comparison between that and Brownie's 'heckuva job' will be obvious!
maybe the worse thing about all of this is that the oil companies are closing their gulf refineries. the price of gas will go up because no opportunity to exploit anything to raise prices will ever be overlooked
I will say this about the 'brilliance of the idea' - simply it will play on the average American that at the very least the Republicans are coming across to show they 'care' about the soon to be unfortunate sufferers in Gustav's wake.
Some people like to bounce political agenda's in a mirror, to see the reaction on their face - I go to my father who sadly has been following in line with the general opinion of those many that voted for Bush twice in a row (the good news is he is all for Obama this year, so my 'poll' seems positive in that regard). That being said, he thinks it is probably the best thing McCain can do and the Republican party can do. Even though it will divert emergency personal to deal with McCain little entourage, and the idea of Republican's stunt to have the rest of the convention as a campaign drive to help Hurricane victims, as my father said on the phone "Really makes them seem human this year compared to Katrina." So yes, this may play out in favor for McCain.
And that's tasteless I know. But you have to consider who this is being played out for - not the educated few that see what kind of horrible showboating it is, but to the average American who's attention span is sadly that of the next media scandal or celebrity moment.
I always try out the most obvious explanation first and this is no different. The Dem Convention was huge and anything the repubs put on will look puny in comparison so along comes Gustav to save the day. Now McCain can draw attention away from his anemic little basher in Minitota and use the hurricane’s victims as an excuse.
Yeah - I know what he's praying for.
*
Is anyone surprised that a party that has cynically used abortion, race, and other emotional issues would be all over using this possible tragedy as a backdrop for political gain?
And McCain....this is the guy who sent his wife to Georgia a couple of weeks ago to visit wounded Georgian soldiers. I'm sure they were all excited when the lady of the manor showed up. What is with these the McCains? I mean, ambition is one thing. You don't get to be POTUS without it? But is anything fair game as long as it produces a headline for the campaign?
I wonder how intelligent Jeb is feeling today? Does he still think an approaching hurricane is a "scary, scary thing"?
Using a hurricane to one's advantage. Who would have thunk that. Ask not what you can do for this hurricane, but ask what this hurricane can do for you. Hope he read the second printing of "My Pet Goat."
Granted, the Republicans are in a bind over this. But it wouldn't be such a bind if they hadn't gone Milton Friedman/Marie Antoinette on New Orleans' ass during Hurricane Katrina, when Bush and McCain were literally eating cake. I guess McCain is going with the Giuliani model. Walk around with a dust mask among the people, hold press conferences with cops in the background, and everyone will love you. Unfortunately for McCain, he's no Giuliani when it comes to being this spontaneous. He'll be reading everything off of scripts, and it won't be pretty.
John McCain's statement just now:
"Evacuation plans do not include those who were foolish enough to stay behind."
I'm trying to be as close to what he said as possible, but he just called these people who can't or won't leave foolish?!
.......BMW 528 said, Exactly. Selfish grandstanding—taking disaster and misery and turning it into a personal benefit—it’s the Neocon way.......
They used Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in the same way too.
Question for Mr. McCain.
Do evacuations plans include those that are physically unable to leave?
senator, people are actually LEAVING the hurricaine zone, are they hanging around waiting for you? oh, it's nagin,huh? well, would the hurricaine know HIM by chance? will it blow by to maybe just gently puff his cheeks and move on? "what's up? i'm Gustav and i'm just blowing by-won't be long." carry on! talk about wantin' to do one of them 'presidentials.'
bush at the white house: "dammit, i forgot to flush..."
mccain in a near panic: "don't move, i got it."
If these talking heads mean what they say they'll call off the RNC and ship the vast amounts of food and supplies that were surely purchased for the RNC and its corresponding parties down to the shelters where evacuees will be staying. Let them eat caviar and drink dom perignon...they deserve it more than the cronies.
While I hope we can take better care of the folks in the Gulf this time round no matter who gets what credit, there is truly only one way to remember the TRUE actions of the GOP leaders as it relates to New Orleans and Hurricanes: Katrina.
Trying to make all the right PR moves NOW does not make up for their absolutely horrid inaction of three years ago. When there was nothing important going on in 2005 (other than a birthday for McShame and some guitar lessons for W) they now make a big deal about shutting down their convention as a sign they're really serious about it this time.
Life's lesson, eh? Tell that to those dead and still displaced from your last debacle.
On the front page of the BBC website is a picture of an attractive American lady....well actually...a soldier with an assault rifle standing in fron of the Dome in New Orleans.
What a lovely site. This picture, coupled with the story about Blackwater preparing to hire and then send many professional gunmen to the area, kinda of throws a dent into America The Beautiful!!!!!!
Even in times of need, their own people can't reach out to one another....they would rather pillage. Two Thumbs Up On This Picture- Roger Ebert
no longer a proud american @ 14:
I don't think it's a matter of making friends with the media. It's who OWNS the media and that is the RIGHT. That is why we are fucked. No matter what Obama does they will twist it so it seems bad and no matter what McSame does they will make it seem good or gloss over it. And until dumb Americans start to think for themselves our country is going to continue to go down hill. Seems those of us who actually THINK are of a minority.
Who in their right mind would vote for McCain when they previously backed Hillary Clinton? The two candidates are like polar opposites. Either those people were only going to vote for Hilary because she is a woman or they are fucking morons.
Republicans need disasters to boost their poplularity and turn attention away from their gross governing incompetence.
Gustav could do for McCain what 911 did for 9ui11iani. Make him "America's candidate"
odanny @ 123:
thank ya, thank ya ... thank you very much ;)
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