Comments on: The Hurricane and the GOP Convention http://themoderatevoice.com/22274/the-hurricane-and-the-gop-convention/ An Internet hub for moderates, centrists, and independents, with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, and right Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:17:10 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: elrod http://themoderatevoice.com/22274/the-hurricane-and-the-gop-convention/comment-page-1/#comment-144287 elrod Mon, 01 Sep 2008 02:54:51 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/conventions/22274/the-hurricane-and-the-gop-convention/#comment-144287 This is not good for the Republicans. Yes, they can look "above politics" during the storm. But the GOP relies heavily on their convention for ramping up negative attacks against Obama. <br><br>The slogan of the convention was going to be "Not Ready '08," where they were going to mock how inexperienced Obama was. Then Sarah Palin through that for a loop. The GOP had to recalibrate the message to push "reform" and coopt "change" instead of experience. But that would have taken lots of planning. Gustav will only keep that mixed message in flux. This is not good for the Republicans. Yes, they can look “above politics” during the storm. But the GOP relies heavily on their convention for ramping up negative attacks against Obama.

The slogan of the convention was going to be “Not Ready '08,” where they were going to mock how inexperienced Obama was. Then Sarah Palin through that for a loop. The GOP had to recalibrate the message to push “reform” and coopt “change” instead of experience. But that would have taken lots of planning. Gustav will only keep that mixed message in flux.

]]> By: StockBoySF http://themoderatevoice.com/22274/the-hurricane-and-the-gop-convention/comment-page-1/#comment-144286 StockBoySF Sun, 31 Aug 2008 20:23:38 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/conventions/22274/the-hurricane-and-the-gop-convention/#comment-144286 The GOP must be thanking the Heavens for the hurricane. Everyone has been wondering how the GOP could top the Democratic Convention in Denver, and now it turns out they don't even have to try... I can imagine them saying, "There's a major hurricane heading to the US so we Republicans must focus our attention on helping the area devastated." And of course there's not a thing the Dems can say....<br><br>Also this means that we don't have to wince in pain as we watch Bush try to string two sentences together (he and Cheney have cancelled their convention trip). And with McCain planning on using the convention as a tool for fundraising for hurricane victims, the GOP can claim that they've learned from the past experience. And of course the focus will be on the hurricane and not McCain nor Palin. <br><br>So while the country got to watch a united Democratic Party in action in Denver last week, Hurricane Gustav has taken away our chance to see the Republicans in action and examine their policies. If we don't at least see Palin on stage giving her speech, then there's really only one national public appearance that the American public will see of her before election- her debate with Biden.<br><br>So this is truly a blessing for the Republican Party which no one can complain about. After all I think there should be a response to the hurricane. But I think that we the voters should be given the right to examine the candidates, particularly Palin. There must be some balance that McCain and the GOP should strike, because at the end of the day, after the hurricane has come and gone, we're still electing a leader whose decisions will impact the lives of hundreds of millions of people for years. So we need a balance.<br><br>Let's all pray that Hurricane Gistav causes minimal damage. The GOP must be thanking the Heavens for the hurricane. Everyone has been wondering how the GOP could top the Democratic Convention in Denver, and now it turns out they don't even have to try… I can imagine them saying, “There's a major hurricane heading to the US so we Republicans must focus our attention on helping the area devastated.” And of course there's not a thing the Dems can say….

Also this means that we don't have to wince in pain as we watch Bush try to string two sentences together (he and Cheney have cancelled their convention trip). And with McCain planning on using the convention as a tool for fundraising for hurricane victims, the GOP can claim that they've learned from the past experience. And of course the focus will be on the hurricane and not McCain nor Palin.

So while the country got to watch a united Democratic Party in action in Denver last week, Hurricane Gustav has taken away our chance to see the Republicans in action and examine their policies. If we don't at least see Palin on stage giving her speech, then there's really only one national public appearance that the American public will see of her before election- her debate with Biden.

So this is truly a blessing for the Republican Party which no one can complain about. After all I think there should be a response to the hurricane. But I think that we the voters should be given the right to examine the candidates, particularly Palin. There must be some balance that McCain and the GOP should strike, because at the end of the day, after the hurricane has come and gone, we're still electing a leader whose decisions will impact the lives of hundreds of millions of people for years. So we need a balance.

Let's all pray that Hurricane Gistav causes minimal damage.

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