07:45 am
Gustav Update: GOP Has Problems Either Way
The Washington Post-dated is reporting that the GOP is considering postpoining their convention next week, in light of the fact that Tropical Storm (and likely to become Hurricane) Gustav is barreling down on New Orleans:
The threat is serious enough that White House officials are also debating whether President Bush should cancel his scheduled convention appearance on Monday, the first day of the convention, according to administration officials and others familiar with the discussion.
For Bush and Republican presidential candidate John McCain, Gustav threatens to provide an untimely reminder of Hurricane Katrina. A new major storm along the Gulf Coast would renew memories of one of the low points of the Bush administration, while pulling public attention away from McCain’s formal coronation as the GOP presidential nominee.
Senior Republicans said images of political celebration in the Twin Cities while thousands of Americans flee a hurricane could be dubious.
You think?
The Republicans are pretty much screwed either way they go. If the go forward, then they compete with Gustav. If they postpone, people spend two days watching Gustav.
The Post goes on to say that some Republicans think this could be a win because a robust response could demonstrate that Bush et. al. learned from Katrina, and MCCain would benefit. The problem with that argument is that it takes anywhere from 72 to 96 hours for the media — and thus the public — to know, much less understand, what actually has happened in a serious hurricane zone. The first pictures are unlikely to be of rescues but rather of suffering. And even if it turns out that the Bush Administration succeeds in avoiding another Katrina, having to respond in the first place is still going to remind everyone of Katrina.
Anyone who thinks otherwise is not just callously trying to take advantage of a natural disaster, they’re also fooling themselves.
Here’s the latest tracking from the National Hurricane Center on Gustav:
I wonder what Rain Man thinks of all of this?
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