US News

With convention set to start, Republicans eye advancing hurricane

Aug 31, 2008, 3:27 GMT

Washington - Hurricane Gustav is forecast to hit the US Gulf Coast Monday and might force Republicans to alter the agenda for their party's nominating convention which opens the same day. The Republican National Convention is set to kick off Monday in St Paul, Minnesota - more than 1,900 kilometres to the north of New Orleans - which the hurricane is likely to hit, along with other areas along the northern Gulf Coast. Republican presidential hopeful John McCain told Fox News, in an interview to be broadcast Sunday, that holding the convention while Gulf Coast residents suffer would be insensitive. '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,' McCain said. 'So we're monitoring it from day to day and I'm saying a few prayers too.' Prominent Republican governors of Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida - whose states lie in the projected path of the hurricane - have either cancelled or postponed plans to attend the convention, CNN reported. In the event of a disaster, officials could turn the convention into a service event with a massive telethon to raise money for relief efforts, CNN quoted a McCain campaign official as saying. 'I don't think (postponement) is a possibility,' Republican National Committee Deputy Chairman Frank Donatelli told reporters. 'I do believe there are other methods to deal with that potential situation so that we recognize and show the gravity of the situation and still do our business.' President George W Bush is scheduled to address the meeting Monday night and was making contingency plans - such as speaking to delegates via satellite - in case the storm compelled him to stay in Washington. Bush has already declared an emergency in Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama, allowing the federal government to coordinate disaster relief efforts. In 2005, the president was severely criticized for attending political events after Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc in New Orleans.

On the Web

Blowing Up Blogs

Place your ad here
Loading...

Your Talkback on this Story

Latest Headlines in US

Older Talkback

page: 1

-Aug 31st, 2008 - 07:08:12

They should postpone it.

Report this comment

IanAug 31st, 2008 - 08:23:22

How do you postpone a hurricane ?

Report this comment

navywifeAug 31st, 2008 - 08:54:08

McCain and Palin will be in Mississippi tomorrow ahead of Gustav. Some may see this as PC, but it is what leaders should do.

I am from Mississippi and have family there 120 mile inland. When President Nixon visited after the destruction of Camille (to the Coast) it touched many hearts, the same as when President Bush visited the Mississippi Coast.

Please pray for those in the path of Gustav. It is predicted that what was not destroyed by Katrina may be by Gustav in New Orleans. Baton Rouge and surrounding areas will have hurricane strength winds as well. The storm surge and winds will be east of the storm, the worst possible path for New Orleans and the Miss. Gulf Coast.

Governors Jindal of LA and Barbour of Mississippi are doing all they can to get people out of harms way. If they choose to stay in NO and in the path, they stay at their own risk.

I hope that this storm will be weakened, and people will be safe (unlike the despicable Michael Moore who hopes for destruction).

The GOP Convention is not going to be about speeches and fluff, it is going to be dealing with this storm and helping fellow Americans.

Report this comment

Michael Moore is scum and loves barack obamaAug 31st, 2008 - 09:05:38

Michael Moore showed us once again how the left has hijacked a natural disaster and turned it into a political football.

Appearing on Keith Olbermann's wretched show, the first word's out of Moore's mouth after Olbermann asked him about the potential postponement of the RNC were 'Gustav is proof there is a God in heaven.'

Report this comment

JimAug 31st, 2008 - 09:59:46

Navywife - what is the point of praying ? If your fictious God wanted to listen, he/she/it could have avoided creating the storm in the first place

Report this comment

CaseyAug 31st, 2008 - 15:10:35

No, because the world isn't perfect, nor was it intended to be. That will come in Heaven!

Report this comment

SP4: JimAug 31st, 2008 - 15:44:33

...what harm does praying do? The problem with folks like you is that you treat atheism just like a religion.

Report this comment

@SP4Aug 31st, 2008 - 15:54:31

For once I have to agree with you. The same goes for all those people who try to be different because they don't want to conform and end up being a group conforming anyway!

Report this comment

big billAug 31st, 2008 - 17:15:17

how does micheal moore fit in here?

Report this comment

big richardAug 31st, 2008 - 17:19:52

don't forget .
if Mccain gets in then bush will be back in the picture for sure.
this is only a smoke screen for bush's 3rd term.

Report this comment

to sp4:Aug 31st, 2008 - 17:28:49

brown brown you name is brown your nose is brown your ass is brown .brown brown your brown all over.

Report this comment

page: 1