Gustav & the Repugnican Convention

There's good news and bad news.

The bad news, of course, is that Hurricane Gustav has already killed too many people, torn up too many towns and devastated too many dreams. Even worse, Gustav is not done yet. As he heads toward the Gulf Coast, people are literally fleeing for their lives, many of them on buses to nowhere - they don't know where they are going or what they will find when they get there. Some are not planning to return to New Orleans no matter what. They've had it.

It's a scenario from hell. Weather and other pundits are calling it a "monster storm," the "storm of the century." That may be hyperbole, but if not, the storm could make Katrina look like a bad rain. Nothing could be worse for those who have carefully crafted a place for themselves along our nation's Gulf Coast.

Fortunately, this time our leaders appear to be trying. Whether what they do is effective remains to be seen. Not many are convinced of either their sincerity or their abililty.


The good news is that Gustav has already disrupted the meeting of Repugnicans scheduled to begin in St. Paul, Minnesota tomorrow. According to news reports, George Bush and Dick Cheney will not be in attendance. [Arnold Schwarzenegger won't be there, either, but I don't think anyone really cares]

What Bush and Cheney are doing is anyone's guess. They are said to be "focusing on Hurricane Gustav." With their record, that is not necessarily a good thing.

John McCain is off to the Gulf Coast with Cindy and Ms. Palin. I suppose they plan to be a force for good or a "sight for sore eyes," or perhaps a gleaning of hope? I don't know what else they could do. Ol' John, of course, needs to redeem himself as when Katrina hit, he and Bush were eating birthday cake on the tarmac of Luke AFB in Arizona!


One wonders why the Repugs don't continue with their convention as usual, as it is unlikely the delegates will be able to do anything of significance to assist those fleeing the coming catastrophe. Actually, they're more concerned about their image than anything. As McCain said, "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."

One could always argue, of course, that the Repugnican Convention is a disaster in and of itself. The Party Platform was written by the radical right and the religious freaks and puts the Republicans on the fringe of our political life, out of touch with the majority of people, and shows Republicans to be a immoderately concerned to control your life and mine by imposing their extremist views as the "morality" of the nation.


It looks like there's been an update. Cheney is now planning to speak to the convention on Monday, as is Laura Bush. For Cheney to speak is especially appropriate, as he represents the absolute low in Republican politics and has been a true tragedy, an unmitigated disaster so far as the well-being of this country is concerned. Who the hell needs him in the Gulf Coast anyway?

Some of the governors in states potentially affected by Gustav may stay home in order to deal with the impending crisis, including Jindal of Louisiana, Crist of Florida, and Rick Perry of Texas. What a trio that is! Three extremist Christian rightwingers who agree on abolishing women's right to choose, teaching the crap of Creationism in our public schools, vouchers to use taxpayer money for private, religious schools, denying gays the same rights the rest of us enjoy ...

They won't be missed, though, as it appears most Repugs agree with them. They represent the heart and the worst of Republicanism in 2008.


One final, funny note. Cindy McCain, noted for her intellectual achievements and brilliant analysis of international problems, said that Sarah Palin is ready to be president because "She is heavily experienced in what she has done."

Yikes!

The reason she would be effective in terms of national security, says Cindy, is that she's the governor of Alaska and Alaska is close to Russia. "And," Cindy continues, "she has a very serious direction in where she goes."

Yikes again!

Let's not leave out another partisan poohbah, Tim Pawlenty, the ultra Christian governor of Minnesota who does nothing without his Jesus. Pawlenty thinks that Palin would be an effective leader in terms of national security because "Palin is commander in chief of the Alaskan National Guard."

Oh, stop laughing. He actually said that!


Let us pray!