Wipe Out

bill rappleye

Gustav throws a wet blanket over the convention

i sat with the Rhode Island delegation as they watched the news conference announcing the grand kick-off of the Grand Old Party’s quadrennial campaign showcase will be cancelled.  No George W Bush.  No Demkocrat turned Independent Joe Lieberman. No bodybuilder turned Governor Arnold Schwarzenneger.  That’s a lot of star power wiped off the slate.  And no saying whether they’ll be rescheduled later in the week.  But tomorrow is business only.  Delegates reporting in, establishing a quorum, and doing the procedural stuff that is part of the nominating process, which is what the convention is ostensibly about.  This has to be a hit for the party’s plans to bounce back after the hugely watched Denver display by the Democrats.  The delegates are disappointed, but not complaining, because of the sensitive issue of the hardships coming towards New Orleans.  And who knows, they may find these multi-million dollar stageshows called modern conventions, may be overrated.  Maybe McCain-Palin will do betterl by showiong up on the Gulf Coast.  Maybe this will be the end of lthe corporate sponsored week long adult camps with liquor that these conventions have become.  Would that be a loss?