The Politics of Natural Disaster

[prole]

Given that prior to, during, and after Katrina, conservatives in general and Republicans in particular ideologically and practically stood by the idea that the Federal government should have no role in security, relief, or reconstruction with disastrous results, can anyone see the current gush of concern by the GOP over Gustav as anything more than making political hay out of tragedy?

 

“You don’t wish for it, but it shows McCain dealing with a surprise — a big event that has consequences on people,” a convention planner said. “It’s redemption for the Republican Party on the competence issue. The convention ends up being about John McCain showing the best way to serve a cause greater than yourself.”

 

...The looming storm ravaged convention plans, forcing Bush and Vice President Cheney to cancel live speeches, Monday's schedule to largely be scrapped and the media to turn its focus to what could be another Hurricane Katrina or worse.

 

But, in cold political terms, this could be a very good thing for McCain. At the very least, it pulls an unpopular president and vice president away from here at a time when Democrats are ready to hit McCain with a barrage of ads and talking points linking him to Bush.

 

One GOP consultant on what the absence of a Bush speech means for the party: "A whole series of Obama ads now in the dumper."

 

Convention planners weren't thrilled with the lack of star power during the first few days anyway.

 

...The unexpected disaster also offers the GOP a do-over on Bush's disastrous response to Katrina three years ago. If the government can do a much better job of responding to a natural disaster this time around, it can only help the GOP.

 

The officials would not discuss the political implications on the record. But their thinking is clear, based on not-for-attribution interviews.

 

The positive byproducts: No photos of Bush at the convention; an even lower Cheney profile; a chance for an unusual, dramatic charitable move at the convention that cuts against stereotypes about GOP; and the storyline becomes Gustav drama, not McCain vs. the GOP, or abortion or any other divisive issue.---from GOP Sees Potential Redemption in Gustav

 

And yes, just asking this question could be construed as making political hay by the Ironically PC Thought Police. Whoop-whoop!

[dberdinka]

“It’s redemption for the Republican Party on the competence issue.”

 

If they can actually pull that off hell maybe I'll vote republican. Can't wait to see Mac handing out the hot bottled water....

[prole]

Boy, those "stimulus" checks Bush handed out sure could come in handy now.

[dmuja]

Every thing about Mcold and the gun toting MILF, everthing republican is basically about deception, illusion, and image - basically LIES.

 

And I will say in all fairness, that had Shrillary C gotten the nomination she would have played much the same type of game.

 

That is what Obama would like to change about politics in this country. Unfortunately even he will have to play it that way to some extent because that is what people (the media especially) respond to.

 

We have an opportunity here to get beyond this type of bullshit if we can first get beyond it in our own mind.

 

The litmus test is this:

With a choice this clear, this stark a contrast, if you vote for more of the same shit, more lies, more deception, more shallow American style politics, in other words if you vote for McCain without a decent, deep, clear and honest understanding of exactly why and what the consequences of doing so are, you can rest assured knowing with complete confidence that YOU REALLY ARE AN IDIOT!