Republican Convention Loses Jindal

By TChris, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 02:02:30 PM EST
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We can't expect a rousing acceptance speech from John McCain, so the GOP will have to look elsewhere for adrenaline. Bobby Jindal would have provided the fresh face that the moribund party needs, but the governor is intelligently staying home to preside over Louisiana's response to Hurricane Gustav.

Gustav is gaining strength and is on track to make landfall Tuesday, three years after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and caused more than 1,500 deaths along the Gulf Coast. Just where Hurricane Gustaf will make landfall is uncertain, but if it stays on its projected path, it will hit the central coast of Louisiana.

President Bush has already declared Louisiana a state of emergency. Now that Louisiana has a popular Republican governor in an election year, it has the president's attention. Whether his administration will be any more helpful (or competent) this time remains to be seen.

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Republican Convention Loses Jindal | 41 comments (41 topical)

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If the Republicans were smart... (5.00 / 2) (#1)
by santarita on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 02:26:24 PM EST

They would postpone the convention or seriously alter the first day's content. The last thing they need is photos of partying conventioneers while Gustav is wreaking havoc.

That's exactly what McCain has said, (none / 0) (#30)
by SueBonnetSue on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 04:28:51 PM EST

according to Politico.com. As much as it pains me to say it, McCain's comments sound very Presidential. He's in contact with all the Governors and thinks postponing the convention is the way to go. He said the republicans don't want to be partying while people are in harm's way. He's playing this very well.


: Too little too late (1.00 / 0) (#41)
by IndiDemGirl on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 06:39:51 PM EST

Not looking too Presidential in this photo. They don't want to be partying NOW, but they had no problem partying then.

And if the Dems were smart (none / 0) (#35)
by Joan in VA on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 05:48:43 PM EST

they'd put muzzles on Don Fowler and Michael Moore who are trying to portray Gustav as God's wrath on the Repubs. Pretty tasteless to make political hay on a hurricane which has killed many and threatens many more.


That's what they're doing, (none / 0) (#45)
by tek on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 08:25:50 PM EST

they're not losing anybody.


My next door neighbor (5.00 / 2) (#2)
by magisterludi on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 02:27:01 PM EST

just left for Baton Rouge. He's with the COE in TN. His wife said he was told to expect a 30 deployment. Trains of evacuees should be arriving soon in Memphis- at least 2000.

I hope they are as prepared as can be. I pray it's enough.

Unless it's a record-shattering storm... (5.00 / 0) (#3)
by EL seattle on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 02:34:20 PM EST

... that's going to directly hit major urban areas, I wouldn't be surprised if the Republicans don't try to use the storm to show how much change has gone on with FEMA and disaster response since the Katrina disaster. They tried to ignore Hurricane Katrina. This time they may over-respond spectacularly to try to protect every person, house, car, and cat that's within camera range. And do it in a very media-friendly way.

: Well, they should... (none / 0) (#14)
by Jerrymcl89 on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 03:22:38 PM EST

... and despite the political cynicism involved in that decision, I hope they do. The area can't really take any more large-scale setbacks.

: For The Cameras (none / 0) (#25)
by JimWash08 on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 04:03:30 PM EST

This time they may over-respond spectacularly to try to protect every person, house, car, and cat that's within camera range. And do it in a very media-friendly way.
I don't care if they're going to be playing it for the cameras ... heck I could give a toss if they flew Wolf Blitzer and Olbermann and their crews in Air Force One to cover their contingency and evacuation plans.
But if it means they're going to do everything they can NOT to lose a single life and minimize damage and the loss of property and livelihoods of the people of N.O. (and anyone else in the path of the hurricane), then more POWER to them.

Good choice by Jindal... (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by Addison on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 02:45:48 PM EST

...honestly he didn't really HAVE a choice here but all the same he's doing the right thing.

As far as their attempts to redeem themselves in the media's eyes with Gustav, here's Sen. McCain:

It wouldn't be appropiate to have a festive occasion while a near tragedy or a terrible challenge is presented in the form of a natural disaster.

Uh (link goes to image).

So, the question must be asked, when did it become inappropriate? The rebuttal to McCain's faux concern writes itself.

: Hmm, let's gather some photos (none / 0) (#43)
by Valhalla on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 07:11:37 PM EST

of what Obama was doing on the same day, shall we?
Was this pic put out on Dkos or something? It's already posted in this same thread. Two guys standing for a photo with a birthday cake, on one guy's birthday.
From the intro, I expected an all out Republican ravefest.

I had a cynical thought.... (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by Maria Garcia on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 02:49:34 PM EST

..McCain could use the hurricane to cut the convention short to just acceptance speeches on one day. Then he would be spared the humiliation of a night celebrating Bush/Cheney.

: Ooh (none / 0) (#20)
by Ga6thDem on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 03:35:03 PM EST

I hadn't thought of that. That would be a win/win for them wouldn't it?

What the RNC (5.00 / 1) (#8)
by DemForever on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 02:56:16 PM EST

has in mind for the campaign

If it makes (5.00 / 1) (#21)
by Ga6thDem on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 03:37:48 PM EST

you feel, better these are the kinds of things that are going to help Obama. Rush does nothing but hurt the GOP but they, on the whole, are too stupid to realize this. After the Michael J. Fox disaster you would think that they would learn but I guess they've become members of the "slow learners" club. And I find Rush's calling Palin "a babe" extremely sexist. He's a pig.


How about his (none / 0) (#27)
by BernieO on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 04:11:43 PM EST

blaming Elizabeth Edwards for John cheating on her? That was the worst


Yuck! Rush is a scumbag... (none / 0) (#29)
by JimWash08 on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 04:24:47 PM EST

What did he say about Liz Edwards?


: He said something about (none / 0) (#37)
by BernieO on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 06:11:58 PM EST

how she is smarter than he is so she probably doesn't shut up, therefore..... Youtube has clips.

Rush is disgusting. How he stays on the air (none / 0) (#17)
by Teresa on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 03:27:34 PM EST

with his racist and sexist comments blows my mind. He is still playing that "Barack the Magic Negro" song.


: If decent people bothered to (none / 0) (#36)
by BernieO on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 06:09:26 PM EST

complain to his advertisors they way they did when Imus made his remarks, he probably would not be on the air.

Gustav is expected to be upgraded to CAT 5 (5.00 / 1) (#10)
by MichaelGale on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 03:12:38 PM EST

wind advisory 156+ and is predicted to hit New Orleans. Mandatory evacuation expected Sun AM.

Not again. Good luck NO

...and TS Hannah isn't far behind! (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by Josey on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 03:17:40 PM EST

Depending (5.00 / 1) (#23)
by MichaelGale on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 03:51:14 PM EST

Hanna may come close to me, South Florida, West Palm Beach. I will be in Cape Cod though.

Sorry to be OT briefly.


: that's definitely getting out of harm's way (none / 0) (#44)
by Josey on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 07:38:50 PM EST

Glad you'll miss it.

Oh wow. That's scary. Wasn't Katrina expected (none / 0) (#15)
by Teresa on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 03:24:34 PM EST

to be a 5 and ended up a 3 and still did that much damage?


: They say that won't be a problem this time. (none / 0) (#22)
by Teresa on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 03:41:00 PM EST

How do they know? How do you test something like that? This time it may be the wind rather than the water depending on the amount of rain I guess. It still did a lot of damage outside New Orleans so I can't imagine how bad a 5 would be.
You have family nearby, right? I hope they stay safe and damage free.

: not exactly (none / 0) (#47)
by bigbay on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 12:24:27 AM EST

While Katrina was a Cat 3, that's more a sympton of the flawed system for evaluating hurricanes. Its storm surge was the highest (unofficially) in US history. Its surge built up when it was a Cat 5 in the Gulf. That's why so many died in Mississippi, where the damage alone would have made it one of the worst hurricanes in US history. I believe nearly 200 people died in that state alone.
A hurricane's storm surge is where most of its damage and loss of life comes from, and that's why the current Category system, based on wind speed, is so flawed.

It's sad if NOLA gets hit again (5.00 / 1) (#24)
by Prabhata on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 03:51:21 PM EST

My heart goes to the whole region. It's incredible that almost to the day another hurricane is targeting the same region.

Don't forget (none / 0) (#5)
by Wile ECoyote on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 02:43:47 PM EST

Nagin diverted money from Levee maintenance to statue maintenance.

Excellent! (none / 0) (#31)
by Wile ECoyote on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 05:03:25 PM EST

then we can save taxpayer money by not doing maintenance on the Levees.


Sure (none / 0) (#39)
by Wile ECoyote on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 06:31:18 PM EST

I was referring to your post;

Leevee failures were due to poor design and construction, not to maintenance

See your post above.


: LOL (none / 0) (#48)
by Wile ECoyote on Sun Aug 31, 2008 at 05:30:33 AM EST

Tose are your vague assertions. I was quoting you.

convention (none / 0) (#9)
by mymy on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 02:56:20 PM EST

I not exactly sure what purpose would be served by cancelling the convention.no one can even go to volunteer until after the things blown thru.

: This would also be a disaster for the (none / 0) (#42)
by Grace on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 06:59:10 PM EST

Twin Cities: All those booked rooms, etc. It does bring income to the city.

yea, exciting oratory (none / 0) (#11)
by DandyTIger on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 03:12:41 PM EST

is not what I'm expecting from the repubs. Nor nicely constructed hollywood quality imagery. They just can't compete with dems for either. If you want excitement, watching grass grow is probably better. :-)

If the GOP was preparing a glitzy convention (none / 0) (#13)
by Josey on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 03:22:17 PM EST

it will certainly be downsized NOW after Obama's spectacle of unnecessary oppulence while Americans are hurting economically.
Expect to hear comparisons such as GOP's stage designed by Mrs. Bryan's 5th grade class - not Britney Spears set designers.


Fill up your tanks. (none / 0) (#19)
by magisterludi on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 03:31:50 PM EST

Maybe this line of storms and hurricanes will change some minds about the wisdom of off-shore drilling.


Absolutely. (none / 0) (#32)
by Wile ECoyote on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 05:05:09 PM EST

We should rely on Russia for our oil.


odd comparrison (none / 0) (#34)
by AlSmith on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 05:46:01 PM EST

If an energy source (and one that is storable like oil) is invalidated by being off line once a year during a hurricane what does that say about wind and solar that are off-line about 50% of the time?


: Post of the (none / 0) (#38)
by Wile ECoyote on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 06:29:16 PM EST

day.

Jindal Needed to Perform Exorcism Against Gustaf (none / 0) (#46)
by john horse on Sat Aug 30, 2008 at 08:35:01 PM EST

Maybe Jindal can perform an exorcism against Hurricane Gustav and cast out the evil demons like he did when he was in college.

For that matter, how about casting the evil demons out of George Bush, Karl Rove, and Dick Cheney? Besides saving their souls it would have also made this country a lot better place to live.