This is a wise move, and they are correct: It would definitely seem inappropriate to be partying down whilst the Gulf Coast is hit with a huge hurricane.
QUOTE |
By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent ST. PAUL, Minn., Sept 1 (Reuters) - Republicans open their convention on Monday to nominate presidential candidate John McCain with no pomp and little politics, shelving the usual celebration out of deference to the approaching threat of Hurricane Gustav. Fearing televised images of Republican festivities would be inappropriate as a killer storm slammed the Gulf Coast, McCain and his party will hold a curtailed business-only session for about two hours on the convention's opening day. McCain visited a hurricane command center on Sunday. He does not want to risk comparisons to President George W. Bush, who was seen as out of touch and was heavily criticized for his failure to respond to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina three years ago. "I have every expectation that we will not see the mistakes of Katrina repeated," McCain said by satellite from St. Louis on Sunday after being briefed on storm preparations in the region. |
International Level: Ambassador / Political Participation: 595 59.5%
St. Paul Police Conduct Mass Preemptive Raids Ahead of Republican Convention
Armed groups of police in the Twin Cities have raided more than half-a-dozen locations since Friday night in a series of "preemptive raids" before the Republican National Convention. The raids and detentions have targeted activists planning to protest the convention, as well as journalists and videographers documenting police actions at protests.
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