Twitter
StumbleUpon
Facebook
Delicious
Digg
Newsvine
Google
Yahoo
TechnoratiBush to Skip Convention as Gustav Scuppers Republican Plans
Hurricane Gustav has thrown plans for the Republican National Convention into disarray this weekend with the party keen to wipe out memories of President Bush's botched handling of Katrina, which hit land almost exactly three years ago.
The White House announced today that Mr Bush will not address the convention in Minneapolis St Paul as scheduled on Monday night as he would be touring the Gulf Coast. Dick Cheney, his Vice President, will be at his side.
John McCain and his new running mate Sarah Palin could also be absent from the early stages of the convention, as will be four Republican governors whose states are in the firing line of Gustav. Mr McCain, along with his wife, Cindy, and Mrs Palin will travel to Jackson, Mississippi, on Sunday.
Republican officials are hastily working on contingency plans that could see the gathering turned into a telethon to raise money should there be a repeat of the catastrophic scenes witnessed when Hurricane Katrina cut a swath through New Orleans, bursting the levees and killing hundreds of people.
"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," Mr McCain told Fox News.
Barack Obama, touring the northeast of the US, made a direct connection between Gustav and Katrina, saying that he hoped the preparations were more thorough than those in 2005. "It wasn't last time and hopefully we've learnt from that tragedy," he said.
With Mr Bush absent from the convention, it would fall to his wife Laura to make a more substantial address, with the President speaking via satellite. "The President and Vice-President decided not to travel to Minnesota due to the hurricane," said Dana Perino, a White House spokeswoman.
Katrina marked one of the low points of Mr Bush's second term, with his administration criticised for the slow and disorganised response to the storm, which killed 1,800 people across several states. Ahead of Gustav's impact, Mr Bush pre-emptively declared states of emergency for Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama.
47 Comments so far
Show AllSam August 31st, 2008 9:44 pm
My thoughts exactly. I would add: Why attend when you control the outcome??
The hurricane (Category 2...a blustery day, no more) is only political cover for what is really going on...no one waant to be publically associated with the GOP, and they are staying away in droves. HAHAHAHAHA
Its like when the Mafia gathers..its always in secret..
"The only means of strengthening one's intellect is to make up one's mind about nothing, to let the mind be a thoroughfare for all thoughts." - John Keats
Cheney doesn't care a whit about missing the convention. The only important matter for him is Repooplican victory in November so the river of cash keeps flowing to him and his ilk. He is spending his time with his Stalinist inner circle furiously creating strategies to fix the coming election. George Wanker Bush, on the other hand, the arrested adolescent, the truculent, strutting Punk di tutti Punks, is devastated. The Human Mediocrity, the Cosmic Failure, the Comic Book Killer who so desperately wants to be a Great Man has tasted his own medicine and been cast aside even by his own ilk. Once again, and in giant, garish neon letters, the words FAILURE and FUCK-UP haunt him. Night after night he on his knees surrounded by a stack of Bibles, a garbage bag full of cocaine and case after case of his favorite alcoholic beverage, dealing ineffectually with the dilemma. He beseeches Almighty God to pull his bacon out of the grease this one last time so he can go down in history with Washington, Lincoln and FDR. In this sense, George Wanker Bush, the Cock of the Political Walk, has already ceased to exist. It also makes him extraordinarily dangerous because, like Cheney, he is capable of anything if he thinks he can get away with it.
LOL. Come on man, don't hold back, tell us what you really think.
I hate to see Bush and Cheney having to miss the Republican convention. I therefore propose that the Republicans relocate their convention to an outdoor location in New Orleans Ninth ward.
Lobo Gris
Bush Cheney.
The most hated leaders in world history.
At least Stalin and Hitler had their fans.
Not these guys. Not even their own party will try to talk them into showing up for their own convention!
But hell, they all torture and kill millions, so they will be remembered as one in the same infamy.
The Republican Party. The most unAmerican party who ever smashed their way illegally to power.
It's going to be a very lonely retirement azzholes. I hope you have a good twenty years looking over your shoulders worrying that we may crank up a war crimes tribunal with your name on it.
And... this afterthought about my last post... Mythologically, Mc Hurricain so named -- and blowing the fury of hot, empty and hollow air as does the most angry of such storms!
I love the John Mc Hurricain reference. It never ceases to amaze me how humanity is somehow mythologically (timelessly and truthfully) named. It says it all!
Not to spawn a meme of a snarky word play on a name...
but sometimes I can't help myself:
So from this week hereafter, we call him John Mc(hurri)Cain
My hope is modest: that Gustav does no serious damage; that it lingers long enough to prevent the Rep. convention from taking place, or in such abbreviated form that the news coverage will be diluted to the more important event of the storm threatening the Gulf coast. I don't like to watch disasters on TV, so I would be happy to miss the Republican convention entirely.
An interesting rumor is that McCain and many GOP delegates definitely did not want Bush or Cheney to attend the St. Paul convention because they're too unpopular, and that Hurricane Gustav afforded a fortuitous excuse for both of them to stay away.
A parallel, tongue-in-cheek rumor is that Hurricane Gustav was not a natural occurance, but instead was created by GOP science insiders who learned from
Chinese weather manipulators how to generate and guide the disastrous storm, thus guaranteeing Bush/Cheney the excuse they needed to stay away.
Would Bush actually put all those Gulf Coast people at risk just so he has an excuse to hide from his own Party? Cough-gurgle......
I, for one, dismiss the second rumor only because of the impossible science involved..........
walpurgis, your naivity and gullibility is incredible. Bush is barely 30% in the polls and is obviously toxic for everybody except the bible thumpers who still support him. It's not an 'interesting rumor' that McHurricain would rather a solid year in a dentist's chair than to have Bush/Cheney at his convention. It's an obvious and extremely widely discussed reality.
But...he can't possibly win without those creation-in-6-days-6000-years-ago evangelicals, so he can't snub Bush. So Bush was going to make a quick appearance on the 1st day of the convention while McCain was nowhere in sight so that the 2 would never come close to appearing together, and then Bush was going to go back to riding his tricycle at his Texas hide-out. That Bush can't be there (with a 'credible' excuse) is obviously a lucky break for McCain.
About the Repugs creating and/or guiding the hurricain...!!!!????? From the idiots who couldn't organize a few bottles of water and some sandwiches for dying people in the Katrina fiasco!!?? Sure.
Would Bush be Machiavelian enough to...say...start a war on on a lie that might kill over 4,000 soldiers and over a million Iraqis (with 4 million displaced) and leave a country in ruins just for his own political advantage and to provide billions to friendly corporations and allow the big 4 oil companies kicked out by Saddam to get back in? Come on now, let's not be cynical. I've seen him on TV. I looked in his eyes and I saw what was in his soul. He's just not that type of person. Trust me.
What is completely typical of this criminal bunch - and their party - is that they are more concerned about the APPEARANCE of not giving a shit by proceeding with their appearance at the Convention, than actually giving a shit. Sums up the last 7 years and the Rethuglican Party pretty nicely.
"The only thing required for evil to flourish is that good men do nothing."
I keep getting this image in my head of Bush and his cronies all boarding a giant rocket-powered skull to escape justice.
They've made their money. Their turn at the wheel is almost over. Why should they care? Why would they even be at the RNC?
Lame ducks? More like jackals will full stomachs.
"ST. PAUL, the United States, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Republicans have decided to change the schedule of their Sept. 1-4 national convention due to Hurricane Gustav, Republican presidential hopeful John McCain said Sunday."
Not to be too cynical but nobody will be watching the RNC show in St. Paul,
everyone will be watching New Orleans going down for the second time.
I would wager that that the Pres. and VP will make a show stopping walk down the convention aisle, whatever speaker slated will have a message whispered in the ear and and with humble honor will step aside for their arrival and special report.
In a way it's too bad the Repubs have an excuse for Bush to stay away from the convention. But God certainly must have a sense of humor with the timing of Gustav.
And Thomas More, get real. You can't seriously think that if Bush was our lifetime dictator, he would do anything differently than he is now, which is to neglect the people and steal public funds for his friends. At least Castro hasn't been doing that. Considering the per capita income and sanctions, he's done p0retty well by the Cubans, if not on the civil liberties issues - although at present we're not doing so well on that side ourselves.
Great post, Siouxrose.
When the people fear their government there is tyranny,
when the government fears the people there is liberty.
~ Thomas Jefferson
The White House is in cahoots with the National Home Builders Association to build a continuous line of high-rise water-front condos from Miami to Houston and see Gustav as their ticket to build. THIS TIME the top two class war criminals will be at the dirt turning ceremony, golden shovels in hand.
"Bush/Cheney to skip convention"
That's a logical strategy. When one applies for a new position, one tries to hide one's liabilities. Those two guys would be a liability to McBomb.Imagine the mental association when Bush/Cheney/McBomb appear together on the TV screen.
LOL. Bush/Cheney/McBomb = The Axis of Evil (or at least Incompetence).
I don't understand why everybody seems to agree that Bush was slow to deal with Katrina.
He still hasn't dealt with it. The poor residents who want to go home are still scattered to the seven winds, the levees are not fixed, and the heckuva job Brownie did is just lying there STILL. And everyone seems to be calling Katrina over.
Actually I suppose it is over from George's point of view. Some time has passed and the corporations hired to clean up the mess have made out like bandits.
What? work not delivered? Well, maybe not but we got paid and after all we are in business to make money. I don't hear the people who hired us complaining.
Gustav will once again strip Republicans butt naked in the eyes of the world. Republicans would rather take care of Iraqi's instead of Americans.
They should have crashed the DNC.
bush flees again? Now, I'm not sure about anyone else, but I'll bet bush and his buds are quite happy for this scuppering. He's not at the convention to draw attention to the last 7.5 years of shame and damnnation, the pukes will be able to ignore the debt of the usa, they'll not have to question the wisdom of letting a senile ole coot follow a dimwitted moron.
I wish I could go to Vegas and put a wager on some 'terrorist' group blowing up the repuke convention. After all if the major leaders of the pukes are all out of town, it'd be a perfect ploy to get that pd 51 off and running. bush could rule forever, as he's the reincarnation of Jesus Christ!
But, just for posting this sort of comment I suppose I'll never be allowed into the states again; pity.
A sitting President will not be attending his party's pro-climate change convention because he was the chief bungler of Katrina. Denial continues to be a river that runs from St. Paul to New Orleans.
"Bush...he would be touring the Gulf Coast..."
Nice wording. I hope he gets some nice souvenirs while he's 'touring'.
If I believed God put us here just to beat us up, or punish us for all the things those so called preachers say the natural disasters are sent for, I'd say maybe this time He's got something special planned for Gustav to take care of.
.
http://www.votenader.org/media/2008/08/29/minnealpolisrally/
Fresh from a 4000-person super rally in Denver, the Nader/Gonzalez Campaign team has hit the ground in Minneapolis and will be out in full force over the weekend to focus attention on the need for opening up the Presidential Debates for third party and independent candidates, working towards the crescendo: a star-studded open the debates super-rally on Thursday.
Ralph Nader, Matt Gonzalez, Jesse Ventura, Cindy Sheehan, Justin Jeffre, Nellie McKay, and other surprise guests to be named soon to be announced will all appear at the Nader/Gonzalez "Open the Debates" Super Rally September 4 at 7.30 p.m. at the Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis.
The Nader/Gonzalez independent presidential candidacy will be on the ballot in 45 states, is polling at 5-6 percent nationally, and a new Time/CNN poll shows Ralph Nader polling 8 percent in New Mexico, 7 percent in Colorado, 7 percent in Pennsylvania, and 6 percent in Nevada -- all key battleground states.
.
I like the idea of independents banding together to demand inclusion in debates and to organize other forums for their ideas. It shows maturity and the idea that a movement is more important than an individual. It would be even better if McKinney were included. The demand to include independent voices in debates will be clearly understood as just and fair by many people and should be pushed. It is essential to expose more people to the ideas of progressive independents.
I do not see the virtue of Nader concentrating strength in key battleground states. As we develop independent strength, we should try to focus challenges against the worser of two evils, not the lesser.
Based on the realities and possibilities of the moment, can we think in two ways at the same time? We need to defeat the McCain duo and at the same time promote and publicize a truly honest progressive agenda against which Obama can be measured.
Joe
Jesse Ventura? Who is that guy? The one who helped to pass seat of Paul Wellstone to that Republican Coleman? This name alone gives clear indication that Nader crowd are part of the game even if some of them as Cindy Sheehan do not realize it. IMHO these people only help to keep illusion that “democracy” is still functioning.
The only delusional voters are Democrats, who think that a fraud like Obama would fix anything. After all, Bush and Cheney were only able to commit so many crimes because of Democrats like Obama, who voted to fund the war and protect phone companies that spied on Americans. Blind fools.
JAVIER: So true! I feel that way when they try to collect money to "fight cancer," when all along the industrial solvents polluting our bodies are a definite cause factor NOT being properly regulated! Reminds me of Chris Rock doing the spoof on "Jerry's kids" and how come they still haven't found a cure for the common cold... the list of absurdities added to atrocities are so long that I feel a real heaviness of the spirit lately. Just knowing of all these ills and acceptable "evils" (the banality of evil, one author called it) brings a weariness to the spirit when those of us awakened realize we are up against very insidious forces in our hope to BE the change the world and nation are waiting for.
I've mentioned this before. The numerology of 9-11-2001 addes up to 23, which connotes the hexagram/kua of "SPLITTING APART" in the I ching. I believe that day, given how the US has responded, is really causing a splitting apart of so many things. We are experiencing the disruptions now, but eventually out of this crack of the not-so-cosmic egg, will come the seed of what is next. Things have gotten so bad that they have to corrode from within in order that space be made for the next experiments in growth, and what CAN grow out of the toxic mix of false values and polluted resources. Those being born at this time (and there are so many of them! Everywhere I look I see a todler or pregnant woman) either came in for one kick-ass finale, or have enormous courage to take on the work of rebuilding what is coming apart.
9-11-2001 adds up to 2021, not 23, if you're to be consistent in your numerology. If you're adding up single digits in that date, then you have 14. But you got 23 by a contrived hybrid of single digits and whole numbers. Of course, numerology is unscientific, contrived bullshit through and through, and it cheapens our discussion here.
I feel as you do on your other points.
"the list of absurdities added to atrocities are so long that I feel a real heaviness of the spirit lately"
You speak the truth Siouxrose. Any thinking, feeling person has to fight against weariness of the spirit. Only the uninformed or sociopaths can be truly happy right now.
Nonetheless we depend on your posts for insights and inspiration. And your grandchild probably enjoys the bike rides.
Joe
Personally, I'd watch if either or both showed up just to see what these characters might say. For the Democrats there couldn't be better campaign ad material.
Poet
Now if these two gangsters would just hang themselves simultaneously in a nationally televised "Event" sponsored by the National Home Builders Association who will construct a gallows made from the lumber of ruined houses in New Orleans. Unemployed Iraqis can construct the gallows and the rope will be donated by the Supreme Court. Blackwater will handle disposal of the bodies. I'd pay to see that.
Darn, you are waxing poetic this week! great.
Thank God Sarah Palin is headed for Mississippi. Hurricane Gustav might scare the hell out of George Bush, but it doesn't stand a chance against our plucky little soccer mom.
HAH! Caught you...SEXISM!!!!!
No kidding, great post!
A telethon? You hear that? The country that spends 1 trillion dolars a year on military, more than the rest of the world combined, is asking its citizens to donate money in case New Orleans needs it. How absurd is that? Notice the abscence of shame when they do this. Truly unbelievable. The US really is a disgusting nation. Watch the cubans. They will deal with this hurricane without loss to life and without having to do a telethon. And they have a GDP per capita of 4000. They even offer TO HELP US!! If that isn't shameful I don't know what is.----------------------------------lizard
I agree-=-including telethons, faith based initiatives, etc. are all just calls to strip the govt of the responsiblity it has to the welfare of its citizen. If they can spend all this GD $$ on the war, on Mecicare bills that hurt people,for conventions, contractors in Iraq (--none of which I agree with--and then, a disaster comes, and we have to have a bake sale. You remember what they uised to say ABout military and bske sale? I wish tha5t would happen instead.
The real shame is that absolute majority of Americans would not and could not see the irony of their dream come true - government and major parties are begging public rather than confiscating marauders, er, captains of industry and finance.
Cuba is a communist dictatorship. I hope you aren't suggestiong we give Bush the same lifetime dictatorship so he can deal with Gustav like the Cubans do?
Just kidding.....though I'd be glad for them to raise money to help anyone. Charity is always useful.
PS There is no such thing as a "communist" dictatorshp--of iot is a dictatorship--its not really Communist!
Charities have thier place.Bush et al , has used them as a way to evade responsibility a govt has for its people! A charity is not consistent (economic times are bad--rich folks give nothing--peole die--our foo dbanks are empty)and should not be considered a reliable excuse top deregulate teh govt and shut down all public agencies that help people (or are suposed to--Bush is the perfect wayto show govt doesn work!)-This is just provqte industry's excuse to cut taxes and programs, and then make a tiny donation and get their name advertised. It is not a reliable way of dealing with disasters.
totally agree... I bet the RNC is so happy the guys won't dirty their convention
yesterdays republicans are todays democrats... and todays republicans are fascists
Another possibility:
Why would Bush or Cheney go to the Repug convention when they have no intention of leaving in January 2009? And there's no one to make them leave. There's that Directive 51 they put in place. Why would they put a directive in place with no intention of using it?