Gustav and the GOP convention

cindy, Las Vegas, Nv — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:42:00 GMT

Hum.... Remember the dude asking everyone to pray for rain on the DNC? It will go down in history as Katrina being one of many of Bush's many blunders. Good for McCain. Still voting Obama/Biden!!!

Gustav and the GOP convention

Eric, Salinas, CA — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:46:54 GMT

Don't be fooled by "Photo Op" McCain's self serving trick to try to seperate himself from the moron in power. "Photo Op" McCain didn't vote for the people for New Orleans to get a decent reconstruction plan or to investigate the pathetic response by FEMA and the Bushwhacked administration, no he voted for his pal to get off the hook by blocking the truth from getting out.

Him and "Homely Girl" Palin are only interested in fooling the media, which isn't hard anymore, and the public that they have a care.

I'm still laughing that "Antichrist" Dobson's big ignorant mouth has brought this hurricane down upon the repugnant ones and their pathetic convention. I just love how the repugnant ones have been disrupted by Mother Nature, just desserts for ignoring global warming for so many years.

Only Obama/Biden will bring intelligence and real science back to the White House!

Obama/Biden 08/12!

Gustav and the GOP convention

Jen,MI — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:51:03 GMT

Canceled as it should be. I'm thrilled not to be barraged with Republican BS. I don't need the GOP to tell me where, when and how I should contribute to the recovery from Gustav. We were all there the last time when the GOP sat on their thumbs.
Don't insult us, FIRST READ. We ALL know a political opportunity when we see one.
Sarah, who?..from where?
OBAMA/BIDEN 08

Gustav and the GOP convention

Matt C Mechanicsburg — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:54:13 GMT

McCain's record on Katrina is terrible. McCain did a birthday photo op with Bush while the hurricane made landfall. He went on Face the Nation the day before to promote the war in Iraq. The night the hurricane struck, McCain went on Conan O'Brien. McCain didn't visit the hurricane zone until March of 2006. Yet, this spring, McCain did a campaign event in New Orleans where he faulted Bush for not being present in New Orleans during the disaster.

http://mccainsource.com/homefront?id=0006

When appropriations bills for Katrina came up, McCain said we had to also be concerned for the deficit. McCain voted against extending unemployment benefits to hurricane survivors and granting them access to Medicaid. McCain also voted against an emergency $28 billion funding request for Katrina. This April, McCain criticized Bush for not doing enough to help hurricane victims.

http://wwjv4.com/republicans/mccain-vs-mccain-katrina-2 ...

A Senate Committee was formed to investigate Katrina. The Bush administration refused to fully cooperate with the committee. A bill was offered that would have set up an independent commission to investigate. McCain voted against the bill. McCain later lied when he said he'd voted for every investigation of Katrina. McCain tried to lie his way out of that lie by saying the bill for the commission was loaded with pork. The bill had nothing in it other than funds to create the commission.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ng9q4L3_vU

http://www.newsweek.com/id/140233/page/1

Now McCain is getting away with milking the hurricane for votes and nobody brings up his past.

Gustav and the GOP convention

ge`pa — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:54:50 GMT

Mccain went toward the hurricane to make a big splash and try to convince people he is not like Bush; But if Mccain was already president he would do exactly what Bush did, he would fly over it on his fat a$$ and not set foot on it until 4 days later.

Gustav and the GOP convention

LN,NM — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:56:10 GMT

mccain- playing president again!

Gustav and the GOP convention

John Alexander,PA — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 13:57:09 GMT

"Someone left the (birthday cake) out in the rain, I took so long to make it, and Bush learned how to fake it and I never got a chance to explain".
I never thought Richard Harris
could read the future.
Have a great labor day everyone.

Gustav and the GOP convention

Jack, Indianapolis — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:04:35 GMT

‘Ahead of time, I want to thank all my fellow Republicans as we take off our Republican hats and put on our American hats,’ McCain said via live video feed from St. Louis, where he had just returned from a briefing with Gulf State governors hosted by Mississippi's Gov. Haley Barbour.”

Sooooooooooo, the repugs admit that they are NOT Americans FIRST but put America and country second to their own interests

Gustav and the GOP convention

George Gurgan, Austin, TX — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:07:59 GMT

Democratic-controlled New Orleans School buses in several feet of water, contrast GOP-controlled Texas coast School buses bustling down the road performing evacuations; ALL during Katrina, but of course the Democrats failures in New Orleans are all Bush's fault. Yeah right.

Gustav and the GOP convention

Geoff Smith, Clovis, CA — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:11:02 GMT

It's smart to cancel the convention for today. Three years ago Bush and McCain were sharing birthday cake and ignoring Hurricane Katrina.

They have to try to minimize the direct reminder of how incompetent the Bush administration has been.

Gustav and the GOP convention

I support McCain! ? maybe... — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:15:39 GMT

I've been a big McCain supporter since he's become the Republican candidate. I thought that he really did put country first. No question that I was going to vote for him in November. But, this choice of VP made, seemingly out of impulse (meeting someone just once before?), has stopped me in my tracks in the support of McCain. If one of the most important things is the readiness of the VP to step up to to the presidency in case of ER or fatality of the President - WHAT THE HE** is he thinking picking this absolute NOVICE????? It's made me question his "Country First" theme. I think we need to let him have a do-over. Maybe he wasn't thinking clearly because of his 72nd birthday - maybe going through mid-life crisis in his 70's? I certainly hope he'll come to his senses, admit he's made a mistake, and let him have a do-over.

Gustav and the GOP convention

Kurt Poleet — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:21:21 GMT

It's pretty sad the the Fourth Estate has been reduced to weather reporters. Yes, Gustav is a storm of note for it's size and timing, but MSNBC, as well as your rivals, have completely dropped the ball on every other story - most notably: Who the heck is Sarah Palin?
She's not been properly vetted by McCain, the GOP, or the American people; that means it's YOUR job to do some old-fashioned investigative journalism.
I don't think you're up to the task, but by all means, PLEASE prove me wrong.

Gustav and the GOP convention

grace richardson, midwest city, ok — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:22:10 GMT

First impressions are lasting impressions, the Bush administration did not give 2 hoots about the people during the Katrina. It will not matter what you do or say, it will not erase the pictures that are dwelled in American's mind as to the way American citizens were treated. Even the countries overseas could not understand why the Bush Administration was not doing anything to help our American citizens. It was the American People that came together from east to west; north to south; band together to take care of our neighbors. So, your little trips (Bush, McClain, Palin) will not give up extra brownie points; the damage has already been down. Nice try, as it wasn't long ago that the Katrina Victims were kicked out of trailer homes that the government provided and were living on the streets. Tell the truth, republican just wanted to check on the oil lines. This picture the republicans are trying to paint will not erase the ugly picture that was dwell-ed in our mind because of lack of respondance from the Bush Adminstration.

Gustav and the GOP convention

Mike, Texoma — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:23:42 GMT

If it is John McCain's intention to redefine the Republican Party, then I am mystified by his selection of Sara Palin as his running mate.

As awful as this storm is or will be, and as on-the-job as we need to be in order to minimize the suffering, the storm that is approaching America econmically, socially, and environmentally is potentially far more devastating and of much longer duration than Hurricane Gustav.

Katrina teaches that when the hurricane winds blow it is especially critical that it do its blowing in circumstances of sound governance.

So it is that the judgment of Senator McCain in picking Sara Palin as his running mate is not a trivial matter.

Gustav and the GOP convention

Carol, FL — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:23:43 GMT

Be Careful What You Pray For:

For all the Pastors who asked their Congregations to Pray for Rain on the Democratic Convention:

Your prayers have been answered in a way you did not expect.

That being said I pray that Gustav spares the area and especially the people who live ther

Gustav and the GOP convention

Donna, Lincroft, NJ — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:31:46 GMT

Of course McCain's response will be different than Bush's. However, Jindal's response will be different than that moron Mary Landreau's.

While Bush should have been stronger and more direct in his response to Katrina, what is unspoken is that the Democrats-mayor and governor- played politics with people's lives in Katrina. Who let 700 buses that were used to get people to the polls sit idle while people needed to get out of town? Oh, right, Mayor Nagen. Who refused to activate the National Guard until AFTER nolo was flooded-oh, right, Democrat Governor Mary Landreau. Who got blamed?

Gustav and the GOP convention

Jopan Kuperstein — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:35:42 GMT

We know how much the NBC News family misses Tim Russert. But do you know how much the viewers miss Tim? We miss Tim with his honesty, integrity and great abilty to tell and ask it like it is.

I was sad, disappointed and angry watching Brian Williams tip toe through the tulips as he interviewed John McCain on Sunday---apologizing for asking 'soft' questions.

Where was Tom Brokow, as the leader of the pack, to raise questions about Sarah Palin's integrity (lie) on the bridge to no where and the ethics investigation.

I am (was) an NBC News and MSNBC advocate, but the leadership of Tim is glaringly obvious. Tim never would have taken a blind eye and allowed McCain/Palin a free pass. After watching Luke last week, I am left with the feeling that he would have cut to chase and asked what needed to be asked.

If McCain didn't vet Palin, why won't the news media do it? When are you going to request/demand access to Palin to further discuss her views on teaching intelligent design, aboration and equal wages for women.

You have ignored McCain's temper, temperment throughout the primaries. You have shown no interest in his ability/inabilty to think through decisions.
Will you continue to do so?

Can't help but wonder if Tim is watching and feeling proud or disappointed....saying come on folks do your job.

My only hope is that Chris, Keith and Rachel will take up the proud Russet tradition.

From the web site, it is difficult to email Chris, Keith and Rachel. Hope that perhaps my email can be shared with them.

Joan Kuperstein
One of the older (64) white, Jewish voters FOR Obama...certainly in the group you say is for McCain

Gustav and the GOP convention

Beth, Denton, TX — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:39:16 GMT

I do not think the people of New Orleans or Mississippi or South Texas will so easily forget the terrible handling of Katrina - and Rita - that continues until today. People are still living in FEMA trailers 3 years later. Many homes, especially in the 9th ward, have never been rebuilt. Some families from New Orleans have moved on, putting down roots here in Texas or elsewhere. But the scars of that time remain, and the images of a neglected people have not been erased. Recently, my 12-year-old cried as she watched pictures from the flooding of New Orleans, followed by picture of Pres. Bush having birthday cake with McCain on Aug. 29, 2005. Even she is old enough--and wise enough--to see the hypocrisy and utter tragedy in those images. There is no going back, McCain. It is too late. I say, "Enough!" of your bad decisions, poor judgment, and lack of respect for others, especially the disadvantaged. As a voter, I am not afraid this year. I am angry. And I will not waste my vote on this ticket.

Gustav and the GOP convention

John — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:45:47 GMT

You left out one from the Washington Monthly
...I'm curious about something. John McCain has been in Congress for about a quarter of a century. There have been plenty of hurricanes and other natural disasters, some of them horrific and devastating, during that time.

Exactly how many times, throughout his lengthy congressional career, has McCain felt compelled to visit emergency-response teams in advance of a disaster, form briefing committees on the eve of the disaster, and return to the scene of the disaster immediately afterwards?

If the answer is "zero," it certainly suggests McCain's new-found interest in natural disasters may have something to do with political opportunism.

John McCain doesn't have a background in emergency response or disaster relief. None of the people working on the ground answer to him directly, so it's not like he can give orders or manage the response. Indeed, there's literally no reason at all to think McCain will be in a position to help recovery efforts in any substantive way.

So, what's the justification? We can probably guess the actual reason, but I'm wondering what the official line is.

If the answer is, "Because he cares," that's not exactly compelling. As I suspect even McCain would concede, everyone cares. A hundred senators, 435 House members, the White House, and 301 million Americans care.

There has to be some other official explanation. I'm just wondering what it is.

Gustav and the GOP convention

pedestrian — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:59:16 GMT

Let's see... why would there be such a major shift in how Bush/McCain responded to a hurricane??

In 2005, they were eating birthday cake together while thousands of people were being forced from their homes and their live endangered.

In 2008, they can't say or do enough.

Oh right, I forgot. There's an election this year and they're hypocritical, opportunistic Republicans.

Gustav and the GOP convention

R.Merrell — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:00:53 GMT

Mccain didn't "run" toward Gustav for any reason other than a photo-op and to use it as a very thinly veiled excuse not to have Bush and Cheney show up in St. Paul. Like they're doing everyone a favor by rushing to the Gulf Coast to "monitor the situation". Photo-op is the name of the game with this crowd and Bush and Cheney on the stage in the Twin cities was not one they relished.