Republicans May Alter Their Convention Agenda to Adapt to Gustav (Wizbang)

John McCain is looking at several options for the convention if Gustav turns out to be as bad as predicted. One option, CNN is reporting, is to turn the convention into a telethon to raise money for the Red Cross and other charities. I'm trying to imagine how that would work. Would conventioneers be given ribbons to wear as a show of support for hurricane victims? Would the phone numbers to the Red Cross and other organizations scroll along the bottom of the screen with speakers encouraging Americans to call and donate? When I hear telethon, I think of Jerry Lewis standing next to a big board outlined with flashing lights projecting the amount of money raised.

As Hurricane Gustav's power increased and the storm bore down on the Gulf Coast, Republicans grappled Saturday with problems both logistical and political.
Sen. John McCain's campaign manager, Rick Davis, plans to meet with officials in charge of the party's convention planning in Minneapolis-St. Paul on Sunday to review the latest news on Hurricane Gustav and what their options might be and then consult with the presumptive presidential nominee to determine what changes may need to be made.

"I wouldn't call it a nightmare, but it is a very perplexing challenge," said a GOP official planning the event.

A senior McCain source said Saturday that officials are considering turning the convention into a service event, a massive telethon to raise money for the Red Cross and other agencies to help with the hurricane.

"He wants to do something service-oriented if and when the storm hits and it's as bad as its expected to be now," the McCain source said.

The governors from the affected states, Bobby Jindal, Haley Barbour, Rick Perry, and Charlie Crist, will skip the convention.

Another the option is skipping or condensing the first day or two of the convention. No matter what, though, Gustav is going to put a crunch on this convention, and if McCain/Palin take just the right action, they could use this awful situation to show that they are ready to lead the nation.

Comments (6)

"To lead the nation" ... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by doctorj | August 30, 2008 8:27 PM | Score: -10 (10 votes cast)

doctorj:

"To lead the nation"
Sorry, you are 3 years too late on that.

Posted on August 30, 2008 20:27

They have the Excel Center ... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by StevefromMKE | August 30, 2008 8:51 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

StevefromMKE:

They have the Excel Center booked through the 17th. If they wanted to move it, they could.

Posted on August 30, 2008 20:51

"Sorry, you are 3 years ... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by Tom Blogical | August 30, 2008 9:23 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

Tom Blogical

"Sorry, you are 3 years too late on that."

So are the local Democrats. You know, guys like Ray Nagin? The local governments were an absolute disgrace during that time. Then they started pointing fingers towards anybody but themselves. Funny how selective your memory is.

Posted on August 30, 2008 21:23

I guarn-damn-tee you that B... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by CR Mountjoy | August 30, 2008 9:34 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)

CR Mountjoy:

I guarn-damn-tee you that Biden and Obama and Obama-media will be on the ground once the all clear is given where ever this hurricane hits. It will happen. And the slobbering and blathering of what the gvt is/is not doing will only focus on a 15 sq mile section of Orleans Parish. Why? It's still fashionalble to blame the Bush Admin for 150 years of banana republic politics in my beloved city of New Orleans. And all the camers will focus on the 9th Ward, Chalmette, etc. The camers never went to any other part of LA like lower St Bernard Parish, Grand Isle, etc. If landgfall is Houma to Lake Charles, that is bad enough. But you watch and see, all the eyes of the nation will be on the poor souls in the 9th Ward.

Since Jindal has taken immediate control of the situation, the noise of the sympathy and grief peddlers should be lessened. Jindal has done more in five days than Blanco did before, during and after. And if I was in the Bush Admin, I would bend over backwards this time.

Talk about selective memories? I hope the Bushies don't forget what happened in '05. Two million instant Republicans could have been made out of that situation!

Pray for all of the Gulf Coast. This is going to be nasty no matter where it lands.

Posted on August 30, 2008 21:34

"Talk about selective me... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by Tom Blogical | August 30, 2008 9:42 PM | Score: 5 (5 votes cast)

"Talk about selective memories? I hope the Bushies don't forget what happened in '05. Two million instant Republicans could have been made out of that situation!"

I don't have any argument that the federal government was slow to react and had problems getting help to the entire area, despite the magnitude. However, the local governments have a responsibility to evacuate and prepare, and then to respond first; and for someone to expect the federal government (Republican or Democrat controlled, or otherwise) to act immediately in a damage area of that scale is just smoking grass. And a lot of it.

Posted on August 30, 2008 21:42

If the hurricane is as bad ... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by sirsurfalot | August 31, 2008 12:18 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

sirsurfalot:

If the hurricane is as bad as predicted, it would be a stroke of genius to transform the Republican convention into a makeshift telethon/disaster recovery center. Brilliant!!!!!!!! Just think all the Ghouls (dumbocrats) all have their authentic Voo-Doo dolls (purchased at the last Mardi Gras) chanting/praying for death and destruction so they can blame BushCo.

Posted on August 31, 2008 00:18