Is the Party On or Off in St. Paul?

President Bush decided to skip the GOP convention faster then he got aid to New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.

Republicans only invited Bush to the convention because he's the sitting President of their party, as much as John McCain now wants voters to forget. The McCain campaign didn't want a reprise of the infamous "bear hug" at the 2004 convention. And Bush didn't want New Orleans to drown (again) on his watch. So it was hastily decided that Bush would be with emergency evacuees in Texas rather than St. Paul. At least something positive has come out of Hurricane Gustav. Bonus point: Dick Cheney was told he could remain in his underground bunker.

The fact is, it would probably be a good thing for Republicans if Republicans didn't have a convention this year. Eight GOP Senators had already decided to skip it. Admitted Norm Coleman, Republican Senator from Minnesota, "If the convention wasn't in St. Paul, I wouldn't be at the convention."

The Democrats were proud Democrats in Denver. These days Republicans can't figure out who they are, or don't want voters to find out. The festivities, we're now told, are day-to-day, pending the impact of Gustav.

I just arrived in St. Paul (or rather, an outer suburb where we're staying) and the mood here, from my very limited early observations, is definitely subdued. At the airport in Denver, you could sense the excitement and hubbub around the coming convention. At the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport (home of the "Larry Craig Memorial Men's Room," as Frank Rich acidly put it), all I could hear was classical music.

Comments (44)

1. Come on HAPPY, FRANK, PONTI, LVLIB...

   what's the spin on THIS?

   Posted by Maskdelta at 08/31/2008 @ 7:42pm

2. At the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport (home of the "Larry Craig Memorial Men's Room," as Frank Rich acidly put it), all I could hear was classical music.

   As it should be.

   The Republicans are getting pretty close to a nadir by now.

   But the most important point for progressives at this moment ought to be raising our voices against the Washington consensus policy of a continuing "global war on terror".

   Afghanistan is likely to be an even more futile enterprise than Iraq ever was --fiercely imposing terrain, and a hard scrabble mostly primitive and proud population that largely wants nothing to do with us.

   Good luck with that, Obama-Biden.

   As for Osama --if he's still alive and in the vicinity-- good police work and bribes to local bounty hunters would be the smart way to proceed.

   The biggest favor we can do for the next president of the U.S. is to protest like hell until we force Washington to remove our troops from these hare-brained occupations --wherever they are.

   Posted by b_kool_66 at 08/31/2008 @ 7:57pm

3. By the way,

   (What ought to be.....)

   THE LAST WORD ON PALIN'S PALLOR

   This whole Sarah Palin circus is destined to go down as McCain's Folly --his political career is headed for the pasture essentially and he'll always be remembered best for his grasping, breathless reach for a supposedly babalicious "Barb Wire" bitch whose high pitched, nasal-tone twang reminds me vaguely of Megan Mullally from "Will and Grace"......

   "...and as Commander in Chief of Alaska's National Guard...."

   Puh-'Leeeze!

   Palin's a punchline already.

   And the jokes have barely begun.

   Posted by b_kool_66 at 08/31/2008 @ 8:09pm

4. Posted by frankgrits at 08/31/2008 @ 8:40pm

   And FRANK knows from sour grapes, BELIEVE US, Mr Berman.

   heheh

   Posted by Maskdelta at 08/31/2008 @ 9:29pm

5. My sis lives in St. Paul and her hubby is a Limbaugh fan (though not a ditto head, whew!). He isn't even watching the convention and yelled "What about Kay Bailey Hutchinson for God's sake!" right in the middle of a Labor Day gathering after the Palin announcement.

   This is not going to be a highlight in any good Republican's memory book

   Posted by Pogge at 08/31/2008 @ 9:43pm

6. As long as Obama at least matches McCain in concern and effort in the aftermath of Gustav, Republicans actually lose ground by not having a convention as they will have had no opportunity to control the news cycle for several days.

   Posted by Metteyya at 08/31/2008 @ 9:46pm

7. Posted by b_kool_66 at 08/31/2008 @ 7:57pm

   While I agree we must continue the war on terror, we must be smarter on how we prosecute this war, relying on special forces and small numbers of combat support troops to destroy these terror cells and their leadership.

   Regime change and occupation of foreign countries is what we must avoid, as this stokes the fire of extremists and creates a perpetual cycle of terrorism against Americans.

   Posted by Metteyya at 08/31/2008 @ 9:50pm

8. The best thing that could have happened for the hapless dictator and his chief pupeteer is Gustav. A reading of international press tells why. While our news accounts inform us of the eight Republican senators who have decided to skip their party's convention this year, a reading of the 13 June on line newspaper El País of Spain under the headline "Catorce congresistas republicanos no apoyarán a John McCain como candidato presidencial" details the diversity of the discontent within the Republican party. It really is unfortunate there's so little time and space for this less than celebratory news in the mainstream press about the Republican party in general and specically John McCain. Kind of epitomizes the desparation in the Rovian selection of Miss Congeniality to be a heartbeat away from that 3 AM phone call. Indeed the Democratic convention would have otherwise been a most difficult act to follow.

   Posted by WeldonRobeson at 08/31/2008 @ 9:55pm

9. RE: Sarah Palin ...

   This ain't a bold move or anything by McCain. This shows that Big Mc is all substance, while Obama's running for cover.

   Posted by HelenDAO at 08/31/2008 @ 9:55pm

10. too bad. was hoping that bush and cheney would open the convention. since they are so well loved at present. michelle obama, in contrast, was warm and friendly and told an interesting story. cheney? nuff said. i just was hoping they'd get it over with this week. less time for miss alaska to get prepared to make her case for the number 2 job in the nation. plus, i'm ready for the real campaign. all the guessing over, we know who's in. i can't wait to see the debates.

    Posted by vertigo23 at 08/31/2008 @ 10:00pm

11. I am spending mine...heading off to work in LA,..laboring and helping my country by earning profits ...

    Posted by JOMAMMA at 08/31/2008 @ 10:07p

    I am spending it with my family and friends while on call for a suicide intervention program.

    My corporate masters get enough of my time Monday through Friday so this wage slave won't even answer the phone on a holiday or weekend unless it's literally life or death.

    Posted by Pogge at 08/31/2008 @ 10:13pm

12. Posted by lvliberty1 at 08/31/2008 @ 10:05pm

    Sorry, Larry, did you answer my question....

    as a man of the cloth (and therefore a reputation for honesty)...

    Would you feel "completely at ease", if "President McCain" died in the first year of office (2009) and Sarah Palin became President of the United States?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 08/31/2008 @ 10:18pm

13. What a disappointment ... to the millions & millions who were eagerly awaiting Dick Cheney's greeting to US & the world ... "Go f--- yourselves!"

    In a class by themselves, the GOP. They do it their way.

    Posted by sloper at 08/31/2008 @ 10:30pm

14. I understand that only food & drink brought in from what the Liberals call " environmentally questionable" sites, "unsafe factories & canners" & "unreliable sources" will be featured at well marked & identified purveyors. Rest easy repubs, no phony baloney in St. Paul!

    Posted by Sorelish at 08/31/2008 @ 10:52pm

15. http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/goes/flt/t1/loop-vis.html

    good luck, america.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 11:04pm

16. But Liver, what do you think about Sarah Palin? A bachelors degree in communications and journalism, two terms as mayor and eighteen months as governor of a remote state? Does being pro-life make up for that resume? I am curious because this is the second person the GOPPERS have nominated to lead the free world (if McCain has a stroke or something)who doesn't have a world view simply because they have never been curious enough to see any of it.

    I am also perplexed by a woman who clearly wants a career continuing to have children she cannot possibly have much time for. I took eight months to help my adopted son adjust to a new family though we really couldn't afford it. I understand that the governor's office in Alaska is not a real power center, but can it possibly be that much of a no brainer? I only have one child, a hubby who is a marvelous father and a huge chunk of our time is still spent simply being our son's mom and dad.

    My niece the Pentecostal, has five kids, but she is a stay at home mom who has zero respect for women who can afford not to work having big families and then putting them second to a career. It's one of the few things she and I agree on.

    Posted by Pogge at 08/31/2008 @ 11:04pm

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    http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/comment/reply/617#comment-form

    <<<<<>>>>>

    hmmmmm........

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 11:42pm

18. HIGH OVER NZ A "RECORD BREAKER"

    2008 is certainly being summed up as a year of extremes and this week is no different. Some regions had their driest summer on record then their wettest winter. In July a deep low near Northland just missed out on giving us our lowest air pressure ever recorded - and over the past 24 hours our record book has been broken again - according to Niwa the highest air pressure ever recorded in the South Island and Chatham Islands has just been recorded at 1044hPa - just shy of the national record of 1045.9 set in Wellington in 1889.

    The centre of the high (East of East Cape) is estimated to today touch 1050hPa. Most highs over New Zealand are around the 1020hPa mark.

    "This is an incredible high pressure system and seems to be more proof that our weather is becoming more extreme - for whatever reason" says head weather analyst Philip Duncan.

    Mr Duncan says it's as if the planet is trying to balance itself out. "Hurricane Gustav is currently close to 950hPa which is about 50hPa below a normal air pressure reading in Auckland - and here we have a high that is about 50hPa above an average reading. It really is remarkable".

    MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt says they haven't got any explanation as to why this high-pressure is so high.

    http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/

    Posted by frosty zoom at 08/31/2008 @ 11:44pm

19. liberty, i was hoping bush and cheney's speaking would serve as a reminder to republicans what they're made of. i am not watching the pub convention. yawn. puhleeeze. its funny to me how many pubs watched our convention though, lol. enjoy your excitement over ms. alaska (almost)...glad you all finally got something besides more boring old guys to listen to.

    Posted by vertigo23 at 08/31/2008 @ 11:58pm

20. "But it is not a big deal. McCain has made the right decision once again in minimizing the RNC convention in the light of the current threatening weather in the Gulf. Once again McCain has demonstrated why he is a leader and the most prepared to be president."

    How has this demonstrated why he is a leader? Is he a leader so he can postpone/cancel conventions? Wow, that is one hell of a leader. Why doesn't he just declare War on Hurricanes or something like that? That would, seemingly by your very low standards, also show great leadership...and perhaps preparation to be president, even if only of the Weather Channel.

    Posted by onthehelm at 09/01/2008 @ 12:24am

21. After Obama's insanely wonderful convention, anything McCain does now would just look sad and pathetic. Everyone's canceling on him, and hotels in St. Paul aren't booking up. Bush, canceled, the Governator just backed out, and other key political players have sent regrets.

    It would be truly embarrassing for McCain if he threw a convention and nobody came. So in my book, the hurricane is the best thing that could possibly happen for McCain. At least this way when his convention flops, he can say the game was called on account of rain.

    God willing, the hurricane will make it necessary for him to cancel the whole damned thing, and good riddance. Besides, nobody wants to see him make a fool of himself watching that Palin woman's ass again. During his VP announcement, he never heard a word she said. All he did was stand behind her watching her ass. What a pig!

    Don't believe me. See for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qUVQDmLf7s

    Posted by gmlaster at 09/01/2008 @ 12:27am

22. uh oh!

    i just watched ms. palin's acceptance speech,

    and while she has the tackiest lapel pin possible,

    MR. MCCAIN HAS NONE!

    Spread the word.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/01/2008 @ 12:39am

23. ooh,

    look.

    there's a negro framed inbetwixt the heads of mr. mccain and ms. palin.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/01/2008 @ 12:40am

24. <strong>Talent On Loan from Drugs

    Drugs on drugs

    Palin-Quayle on drugs

    Gustaf on drugs

    Alice, Iraq & the rabbithole

    Posted by winyahn at 09/01/2008 @ 12:43am

25. Posted by frosty zoom at 09/01/2008 @ 12:40am

    A negro! I do declare! Why, what has the Grand Old Party come to,

    It's funny, y'know, but I just like looking at and talking to people who are not a lot like me. It's like exotic food or fine art, heightened contrasts make me happy and comfortable. I like Obama's face, though his ears, which are so much like my beloved husband's, took some getting used to.

    Much as I want to go back to "Wrong Woman for the Job" and see if John Lowell finally went off the deep end and put an actual curse on me I have got to get to bed. Thanks for the footy. England scored 34 goals before I realized I'd been hyp-mo-tized.

    Posted by Pogge at 09/01/2008 @ 12:56am

26. Evangelicals were praying for rain during Obama's speech on Thursday. They got a beautiful summer evening instead. Gustav will make landfall just as the gop convention is to start. Just in time to remind us what a heck of a job brownie, bushie and vader and company did the last time there was a storm. Tell ME God does not have a sense of humor. lol.

    Posted by bascaville at 09/01/2008 @ 01:30am

27. WHAT A HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE PERSON:

    http://www.grizzlybay.org/PalinBear.jpg

    sickening.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 09/01/2008 @ 01:32am

28. Well, word just in...Gov Ah-nold Terminator of CA will NOT be attending the GOP convention due to the ongoing budget crisis in his state.

    So he's going to be speaking: Bush...no, Cheney...no, Jindale...no, Schwarzenegger...no.

    So I guess it'll be McCain (my friends, I was a POW), Palin (oooh, when I'm the vice president and figure out what it means I'll fry us all some mooseburgers dontcha know), Giuliani (noun, verb, 9/11) and of course the host state will provide Tim Pawlenty (who as a fundyvangoneocon will probably pray a bit for our bemusement).

    I bet they could get some other famous people on short notice. Fred Thompson probably isn't doing anything, or maybe Wilford Brimley (he could bring all the constipated old white guys there some oatmeal)

    Posted by leftofcenter at 09/01/2008 @ 04:33am

29. ooops "he's" should be "who's"

    Posted by leftofcenter at 09/01/2008 @ 04:59am

30. Not a Rightie yet has come up with any good spin for why Repub after Repub is bailing on this Convention...not even HAPPY?!??!

    (Of course, it's a Labor Day weekend, so....Rush won't be back on the air until tomorrow!....heheh!)

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/01/2008 @ 05:11am

31. Nothing good about natural disasters, but this one has really allowed Republicans to dodge the silver bullet. I was actually looking forward to seeing the electorate's reaction to a convention hosted by folks who can't keep track of how many houses they own.

    Posted by klean2 at 09/01/2008 @ 05:49am

32. And the opening night has been cut back to 2 1/2 hours (from 7)

    Posted by leftofcenter at 09/01/2008 @ 06:12am

33. LvLiberty-We don't know who came up with the idea of minimizing the convention and doing that hardly shows that one is ready to lead America.Following 9/11 and Katrina many people canceled or delayed sporting events,weddings,and other celebrations.Are those people ready to lead America?McCain showed extreme poor judgment in picking a running mate who is under investigation and who has less experience than Obama.Of course,the GOP will abuse it's power to make the charges against her go away,but such a person never should have been selected in the first place.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 09/01/2008 @ 06:17am

34. As if Ari Berman is going to applaud any action taken by Republicans...

    Convention proceeds as planned, or a minimized convention with concern and empathy focused on the ravaged Guf States?...

    Neither decision would be appplauded by the left. Isn't that politics?

    Posted by freiheit1 at 09/01/2008 @ 07:47am

35. "I was ready to listen to the grownups again."

    Posted by lvliberty1 at 08/31/2008 @ 10:05p

    And they call us elitist.....

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/01/2008 @ 07:48am

36. Posted by lvliberty1 at 08/31/2008 @ 10:05pm

    It shows what kind of person you are and what kind of party you represent when you are excited about someone who is under investigation for abuse of power and ethics violations. I guess the rule of law doesn't matter much these days.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/01/2008 @ 07:50am

37. I would think the Obama folks would like a convention intact. This just makes it that much harder for the democrats to spin McCain as Bush's 3rd term, doesn't it?

    Instead we have comments by Foley and Moore showing what they really are and energizing Republicans even more.

    Once again, the democrats will snatch defeat from the jaws of victory...

    Posted by freiheit1 at 09/01/2008 @ 07:56am

38. Fowler, excuse me.

    Posted by freiheit1 at 09/01/2008 @ 07:57am

39. At the risk of sounding cynical and uncaring, but does all of this seem ridiculous. All my sympathies are with the hurricane victims, but a national party cancelling a convention because of a storm? How have we come to put so much stock in our politicians? I understand the president not going, but what good does it do to cancel a nominating convention? To me it looks more like political pandering than it does a heartfelt show of sympathy. Why not have the full convention program while talking about and raising money for the victims instead of cancelling the whole thing? Are then gonna cancel it for Hannah? What about if Ike becomes a major storm? If there is one in November will we cancel the election? Where does this end?

    Posted by jlw771 at 09/01/2008 @ 08:47am

40. I was certainly looking forward to hearing both Bush and Cheney. Frankly after all of the nausea I have from the Dem convention, I was ready to listen to the grownups again. But it is not a big deal. McCain has made the right decision once again in minimizing the RNC convention in the light of the current threatening weather in the Gulf. Once again McCain has demonstrated why he is a leader and the most prepared to be president. Frankly, my excitement has sky rocketed with the naming of Sara Palin and the prospects now of clinching this fight against the empty suit and the mouth (aka Obama and Biden). Posted by lvliberty1 at 08/31/2008 @ 10:05pm

    Also this one is funny to me. McCain is showing real leadership. He is doing this because they don't want it to look like they are partying while a portion of America is being destroyed AGAIN. This isn't about showing real leadership this is about not looking like an idiot like Bush and his equestrian guy during Katrina.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/01/2008 @ 08:57am

41. Posted by 2HAPPY at 09/01/2008 @ 07:49am

    "Nothing to see here, everything's fine, move along...move along!"

    LOL

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/01/2008 @ 09:53am

42. Why is no one talking about police raids on peace activists prior to the start of the convention?

    Posted by bluebirdella at 09/01/2008 @ 11:34am

43. we are on another thread, although it will be interesting to see if it hits the MSM outlets

    Posted by leftofcenter at 09/01/2008 @ 12:40pm

44. National Political Conventions are as American as Baseball, Apple Pie, and Chevrolet. When Katrina struck, college and professional football games in the south were postponed, but not cancelled, nor was the season shortened. In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, MLB and NFL football games were postponed, but not cancelled, nor was the season shortened. When, in 1989, a great earthquake stunned San Francisco during the "World" Series, America's oldest and most venerated sports spectacle was postponed, not shortened nor cancelled.

    Now, in the wake of a second tragedy in Louisiana, John McCain and Company refuse to honor precedent and do the logical and courageous thing: POSTPONE THE CONVENTION. Instead, the desperate republican bag of wind cynically and haplessly seeks refuge behind the torrentially hard spasms of an opportunist's proverbial wet dream--the perfect cum.

    "Well, Blow me Down," cackled John the Sailor Man.

    You may have been strong to the finish til you ate your Palinish.

    "I yam I yam," you say.

    Nah, Sailor Man, you ain't what you are.

    Posted by bobforer at 09/01/2008 @ 1:40pm