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Convention blown off course | Convention blown off course |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Some delegates have already arrived for the Republican Convention | Some delegates have already arrived for the Republican Convention |
By Jonathan Beale BBC News, St Paul Years of careful, painstaking preparations have been completed. The stage is set. The battle is about to begin. | By Jonathan Beale BBC News, St Paul Years of careful, painstaking preparations have been completed. The stage is set. The battle is about to begin. |
But for the Republicans the choreography has been blown off course by events entirely out of their hands. | But for the Republicans the choreography has been blown off course by events entirely out of their hands. |
A hurricane, a natural disaster, an act of God is about to spoil the Grand Old Party's celebrations. | A hurricane, a natural disaster, an act of God is about to spoil the Grand Old Party's celebrations. |
On the face of it this may already appear to be a disaster for the Republicans, even before Gustav has struck. | On the face of it this may already appear to be a disaster for the Republicans, even before Gustav has struck. |
Some of the camera crews and reporters who had booked their flights and hotel rooms to Minneapolis are now on their way to the Gulf Coast instead. | Some of the camera crews and reporters who had booked their flights and hotel rooms to Minneapolis are now on their way to the Gulf Coast instead. |
The TV headlines are consumed with the hurricane's imminent arrival, not the mood of the Republicans. | The TV headlines are consumed with the hurricane's imminent arrival, not the mood of the Republicans. |
Republicans scale down plans for the first day of their convention | |
And then there are all the reminders of Hurricane Katrina, three years on. | |
That was a moment of national shame for many - including an angry John McCain, who called the federal and local response to Katrina a "disgrace". | That was a moment of national shame for many - including an angry John McCain, who called the federal and local response to Katrina a "disgrace". |
Katrina has also been used by the Democrats as a reason for the public to turn their backs on the party that elected George W Bush. | Katrina has also been used by the Democrats as a reason for the public to turn their backs on the party that elected George W Bush. |
Yet there could be a silver lining for the silver-haired senator. | Yet there could be a silver lining for the silver-haired senator. |
Gustav gives Mr McCain an opportunity to show how he would be a different president from George W Bush. | Gustav gives Mr McCain an opportunity to show how he would be a different president from George W Bush. |
It offers a chance to show the country that a McCain administration would not be four more years of the same - as Barack Obama claims. | It offers a chance to show the country that a McCain administration would not be four more years of the same - as Barack Obama claims. |
Hearts and wallets | Hearts and wallets |
John McCain and running mate Sarah Palin have already been to the Gulf Coast to witness the preparations. | John McCain and running mate Sarah Palin have already been to the Gulf Coast to witness the preparations. |
It was from there that he announced that most of the activity of the first day of the convention would be suspended. | It was from there that he announced that most of the activity of the first day of the convention would be suspended. |
He told his delegates that it was time to take off their Republican hats and put their American ones on; a time to open their hearts and their wallets for those people whose lives could be ruined by Gustav.John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin have visited the Gulf Coast | |
It is a wise move for a candidate whose convention slogan is "Service" and "Country First". | It is a wise move for a candidate whose convention slogan is "Service" and "Country First". |
Those words, illuminated all around the convention hall, would have looked rather odd if the Republicans had ignored the plight of those living on the Gulf Coast. | Those words, illuminated all around the convention hall, would have looked rather odd if the Republicans had ignored the plight of those living on the Gulf Coast. |
In short, the order has gone out - there will be no fiddling while Rome burns. | |
So, no razzmatazz on the opening day. On Monday there will be no political speeches, just procedural activities that will allow the convention to officially get under way. | So, no razzmatazz on the opening day. On Monday there will be no political speeches, just procedural activities that will allow the convention to officially get under way. |
In the words of Rick Davis, the chairman of the McCain campaign "we want to be respectful of the situation". | In the words of Rick Davis, the chairman of the McCain campaign "we want to be respectful of the situation". |
We are even unsure when normal service will be resumed. There will be updates every day to react to what has happened on the Gulf Coast. | We are even unsure when normal service will be resumed. There will be updates every day to react to what has happened on the Gulf Coast. |
Balloons at the ready | Balloons at the ready |
But in reality the preparations are continuing. | But in reality the preparations are continuing. |
Microphones and lights are being tested, 200,000 balloons have been suspended above the stage - ready to be dropped when John McCain closes the proceedings.New Orleans has prepared for the arrival of Hurricane Gustav | |
The show will go on, but not quite as planned. And that does not seem to worry the delegates and supporters from all corners of the states. | The show will go on, but not quite as planned. And that does not seem to worry the delegates and supporters from all corners of the states. |
Take Kim Skipper - a delegate who has come all the way from Alaska. She told me that she still thought this would be a "great convention". | Take Kim Skipper - a delegate who has come all the way from Alaska. She told me that she still thought this would be a "great convention". |
And, like many of the early arrivals, agrees with the way the party has reacted to the approaching hurricane. | And, like many of the early arrivals, agrees with the way the party has reacted to the approaching hurricane. |
"I know they [John McCain and Sarah Palin] would not have wanted a party atmosphere while our neighbours to the south are suffering." | "I know they [John McCain and Sarah Palin] would not have wanted a party atmosphere while our neighbours to the south are suffering." |
Things are not as bad as they might look for the Republicans and John McCain. | Things are not as bad as they might look for the Republicans and John McCain. |
Gustav may have just handed him the best opportunity to show that he is different from the last lot, that he is (for a moment at least) above party politics, and that he will be true to his word - putting his country first. | Gustav may have just handed him the best opportunity to show that he is different from the last lot, that he is (for a moment at least) above party politics, and that he will be true to his word - putting his country first. |
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