CNN

We pray that everyone be safe during this uncertain event in New Oeleans. The truth of te matter is we can now visualize that the Republicans failed to handle Katrina properly may be because no election was near so they can hold the white house but they want to do it this time because they are desparate to win electioin. This being said,we need to remind them that it is not a one shot action that attract voter ; it is consitency. This time, we are determined to have a people minded president, an ordinary american citizen, someone very fresh with new idea and aspiration, this person can not be another than Senator Barack Obama.

Forget that Dobson clown, God will deal with him.

P.S. The RNC logo looks like the window sticker with the boy pissing on whatever. Apparently the elephant thinks 2008 is lost! Sour Grapes!

McCain Does. Obama talks.

COME ON! SOMEBODY ANSWER ME... HOW CAN SHE RUN FOR OFFICE WHILE UNDER INVESTIGATION??? WHAT IF SHE'S FOUND GUILTY? tHE RNC JUST SWEEPS THAT UNDER THE CARPET???

I agree that the convention should be posponed but that simply might be possible. The problem in doing so is logistics. It is a huge enterprise. Where will they find another venue that can accomodate them with only a week or few's notice? What about other events already scheduled for that new venue? They would be facing a whole bunch of breach of contract lawsuits.

It would be better to tell all the delegates and committees to cut out most of the ceremonial activities/backslapping and get cracking on business so that they can condense things down to just a couple of days of nuts and bolts work and nights of speeches and ceremony. Night 1 would be carefully selected speeches about views and policies and plans. Night two would have the VP and Presidential candidates both be nominated by acclimation by their home state delgations – since there is no competition anyway – and have them both speak on the same night.

Any delegates or committee members who need to be present to vote on whatever should be given the option of voting electronically or by proxy and excused from attendance without penalty so that they can go attend to local disaster-relief business if needed.

MMCAIN HAVE PUT US ALL IN DANGER BY PICKING A VERY UNQUALIFIED VP,MCCAIN IS 72 SO WHY WILL HE EVEN TAKE A CHANCE LIKE THIS,THIS WOMAN COULD BE IN CHARGE OF 300 MILLION AMERICANS,IF THATS NOT ENOUGH TO SCARE YOU TO DEATH, I DONT KNOW WHAT WILL,HER TEENAGE DAUGHTER IS PREGNANT,SHE THINKS GLOBAL WARMING IS A MYTH,THIS WOMAN SOUNDS LIKE A NEOCON,I HOPE AMERICA DONT FALL FOR THIS BECAUSE THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION,I CANT BELIEVE MCCAIN WILL DO THIS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,PUT OUR FUTURE IN THE HANDS OF SOMEBODY LIKE THIS

Even conservatives are questioning the selection of Palin:

But the notion of plucking a governor with less than two years of experience that would count for anything (unless your a fan of movies like Dave) to serve as Vice President to a 72-year old President is troubling, to say the least. The pick comes with enormous risk, both as a matter of politics, and more importantly, governance. As a political matter, the Obama camp must be breathing a sigh of relief that it can now run ads that say, "Is SHE ready to lead?" The choice also says a lot about McCain. First, that he is a bit desparate. Second, that he is one arrogant SOB. McCain is essentially telling the world that he doesn't really need a Vice President. It is hard to imagine Palin playing the same sort of role that modern Vice Presidents like Gore, Bush, Cheney, or Mondale played. Rather, the Office would seem poised to return to the "proverbial warm bucket of p***" category. McCain has thus made a purely political play without regard for the governance concerns. ...from The Corner

why dont oboma give some of his campatne money toward helping people during these disasters. in stead of spending it on living so good during his campayne. he can afford it he got a lot of money to run and he says he like the common man. thats bull. thank you gloria

Palin is not Hillary,and her supporters are pro choice and diehard democrat. They will vote for the devil they know (JOB= JOE/OBAMA) than the angel MCSAME they do not know.

JOB 08-12

During Mr. Sanchez's broadcast today, when discussing the Republican convention the bottom of the screen read (poor timing for convention) i.e. Gustav. CNN will do anything to make the Republicans look bad. As an independant voter seeing news corporations so obviously push their agendas is sad and a bit scarey.
How could the Republicans have poor timing when choosing their convention when it was planned a year or more out? It's not poor timing it is just nature.

McCain being in the Mississippi area is pointless show-boating. He can't do anything at this point. Even as a Senator. The evacuations and preparations don't need his authority to proceed or get any more done. It doesn't show that he cares more than others that he went there. That was simply show-boating.

As others have said, the McCain website has no mention of the hurricane at all. The Obama website has news on who you can contact if you want to help as well as contact information if you live in the area and need help getting out.

Altering the RNC Convention was the right thing to do though.

I find it disgusting that McCain would say it was time to take off his Republican hat and put on his American hat. He is making it seem like when is Republican hat is on, he is not American. Obama seems able to keep his Democratic hat on while still being a caring and concerned American.

how about how the convention is affectin the hurricane victums when this is over?? no mention from the "TOP" on what they will do ,, besides eat cake and party on while many are homeless,,, soits said for the republicans,,, yuck,,, obama/biden 08 and beyond

DONT BE FOOLED by false REPUBLICAN bloggers saying we clinton supporters arent insulted by McCains VP Pick…HELL WE ARE!!

My friends an I have been EXTREMELY INSULTED by McCains' vp choice!!

this is OUTRAGEOUS..He is OBVIOUSLY selecting Palin simply because of her anatomy, and expecting intelligent american women, including Hilary supporters, to vote for him because of this!! NO!! Hilary isnt just "any women"..John McCain!! we support her for WHAT SHE STANDS FOR!! And this Palin women stands for the complete OPPOSITE!!..

she has even voted against womens rights......!!!

Yesterday we set up a group in my neighbourhood, consisting of 57 women already, who have commited to voting for OBAMA because of McCains decision.. a desicion which shows that he REALLY IS OUT OF TOUCH with women in America!! There is only one safe choice for women (and America) this year.. OBAMA/BIDEN!!!

Eve Watson, New York

Hey Jimmy @ 3:51
Where have you been? The Republicans already SAID THEY WOULD use the Red Cross! There is no low they can't get under. I pray for the safety of the peopie and their homes on the gulf coast.
Not a very advertisement for offshore drilling is it?

McCain and the Republicans are getting what they deserve. They spent all the money for the "big party", but it looks like they won't get to have it! It's deja vu all over again, but this time a hurricane is costing them instead.

I find it funny that McCain is trying to use Hillary to win this election. The republicans hate the Clintons. Remember when McCain laughed when asked by a supporter, how do we beat this b%$ch? This woman is no Hillary Clinton. I will not vote for her just because she is a woman. I can't stand my neighbor and she is a woman also. You have lost John. Oh and I love what Rush said the other day, "We have a babe on the ticket, we have a babe on the ticket"

Good thing for Obama hardly anyone reads these blogs. If they did all the ignorant and repugnat things the Obama people write would lose the election for him in a second.

One thing that really slammed it home for me was watching how Obama responded to General Petraeus in September 2007 in the Senate committee hearing. I was shocked that Obama was so hostile after hearing about all the progress made in Iraq. Hillary was even worse saying that his report requires one to "suspend belief" which is an accusation that Petraeus was lying! They are so out of touch and so hostile to Petraeus, it reminds me of how Hitler refused to listen to his generals. We need McCain in the White House. Look at his record starting with Beirut when he went up against Reagan on the issue of troops there. He turned out to be right. Reagan's mistake cost a lot of lives. We need McCain as President.

One has to wonder how many of the so-called Hillary supporters now for McCain are impostors here.

NO mcSame no Palin the worst match....

I do pray all of the people in and around New Orleans are going to be safe. Secondly you have to watch out what you pray for. They prayed that rain would ruin the DNC convention's last night. If any of you are christians that know your bible, you know that your words can doom you and be careful what you say. The tongue is powerful thing.

As for McCain, last time you celebrated your birthday while New Orleans drowned, and people were begging for help. I am happy to hear this time you care. But your still going to lose the election by a landslide!

CNN post this comment!

Thanks for keeping us informed, CNN. I have family living in Louisiana so I truly appreciate your coverage.

So McCain celebrated his birthday with Bush during Katrina. Why am I not surprised.

DEMOCRATS PLEASE UNITE!!!!!

Can he compliment her without being sexist. Yes, she is young and good looking since it is Joe Biden who said it; it is sexism.
When you talk about taking women seriously, the democrats take women more seriously than the republican. Since the 1980 the democrat been putting women on major political ticket. Geraldine Ferraro was a democrat VP running mate in the 1980. Tell me a mojor republican woman that hit that miles stone in the 1980; none, zero. Hillary Clinton was the front runner in this race for quite a while and she is a woman democrat. How can you talk about democrat think women is no brainer when they are the one who introduce them to hold these big political position. What you can say is that John McCain is using a woman to try to take some of the people that was fallowing Clinton by using a woman to do so since Hillary was a woman. McCain know how a lot of Hillary's suppotters feel about her been treated unfair and pick a woman VP to see if he can get their vote very manupilative.

Are Bush and Cheney not reacting the same way as in 2005 with Katrina to save the people of New Orleans or to save the oil, of which oil prices are sky rocketing through the roof? We will never know, but a quick reaction by the Bush administration to Gustav during a time when Republicans are due to hold a convention and when a lot of voters can be choosing whether to vote for them has to be a cynical ploy. A quick reaction by Bush and co to Gustav is certainly not going to change my mind about this bunch of evil doers eight years on after what they have done to America and the world.

Obama 2008!!!!!!!

One has to wonder if Gustav is a "sign" from God.

perhaps they shouldn't have prayed for rain on obama's speech. maybe GOD does not like those kind of prayers that are meant to be harmful to others. such hypocrites.

Jack, I for one already support and have for many years, Christian organizations that helped after Katrina. Organizations that I know will use the money to help the people it was meant to help. They help people in our country and all over the world all year long. I know they will be in New Orleans and anywhere else they are needed.

a force of destruction forces the party of destruction to "change" their plans...there is irony here but let us first send our prayers to the people who live in the areas affected by Gustav...God bless you all

People who care more about attacking the other party when they should be focusing on how to help with the upcoming disaster, this is for you. Tear each other to shreds but at least have the decency to allow the moderates to cross party lines and get something done.

As a Christian woman, I was shocked that James Dobson encouraged people to pray that it would rain on the evening that Barack Obama gave his acceptance speech last Thursday. Using God for such overtly political reasons seems very unholy to me. I hope that this hurricane will not inflict the damage that Katrina did and I also hope that Rev. Dobson will keep his prayers between himself and his God. Faith can be such a powerful catalist for good in this world and Rev. Dobson and those like him cheapen faith.

You people are sick, this is a natural disaster and it is not politically produced to help or hurt either party.

I find it ironic that Focus on the Family's prayers to have Obama rained out somehow got lost in translation and the weather catastrophe has been visited on the Republic convention. Be careful what you pray for!

I went threw hurrucane Katiria....When you give, (and alot of people do, and its very helpful) please don't send clothes...All the power is off, and theres know way to wash .....Send money!

So a city is in the path of destruction and it is all about THE CONVENTION 1000 miles away?

You think they would even notice it if it couldn't be used for political gain thanks to fortuitous timing?

Well well, the RNC is a joke anyway, so it doesn't matter what they do....

When the RNC prayed for rain, they didn't expect this....be careful what you pray for you might just get your prayers answered.

OBAMA/BIDEN 08/12

Didn't New Orleans have a democratic mayor and a democratic governor at the time of Katrina? Why are repulicans getting all the blame for the failures????????

While Mississippi and Louisiana were getting slammed by Hurricane Katrina and Americans were dying, McCain was cutting birth day cake with Bush.

If you don't believe me google "Katrina, George Bush, John McCain, and Cake"

People this is the real deal, something is definitely happening here, stop using this situation for political gain. Once a politician is always a politician, I don't trust any of them, of course they will utilize others misery for personal gain, that's human nature, but you will never benefit from it.

Hey, all you bible bangers – here's your "sign from God". God despises Republicans.

Are these the same Republicans who were PRAYING for rain on the day Sen. Obama gave his speech? I don't think God appreciated the blasphemy. I hope the republicans get to have every moment of their convention. That pitiful lineup (Bush/Cheney) should be happy that it will probably be cancelled!

Thank Goodness this storm is hitting during an election year. Neither party can afford to not provide adequate support to the affected areas.

I'm glad they're doing this. And I'm glad that the various government agencies seem to have learned from Katrina. Lets hope they continue to do so after the fact. Our prayers are with those in the Gulf region.

Meanwhile, hopefully the RNC won't turn this into some politically-motivated event to make it look like THEY came to the rescue of the poor citizens of this region. This is not about them.

The Republican party needs to do the right thing but it still wont change my vote for Obama in Nov. Katrina should have been handled correctly to begin with! While they can help correctly this time, they shouldnt have screwed up the first time. A true leader would have handled Katrina better as well as this dumb war we should have never been involved in. A real leader makes the correct judgements the first time... Their are differences of personal judgements that which effects mainly you and then Judgement which affects mainly others.

White woman 39 married with children for Obama/ Biden in 2008! We need real leaders in the whitehouse looking out for We the People.

Mike, you are right. Off-shore oil drilling will not be an iron-clad solution for our energy crisis. The off-shore oil platforms are too open to damages and possible destruction when hurricanes hit them. You have reminded us that we need to be much more farsighted in our approach to solving our energy crisis.

Thanks Mike for pointing out the thoughtless and weak strategy of offshore drilling.
I would love to see Obama & McCain supporters working side by side to help these people out. As Obama has been trying to relay that we can agree to disagree and still get things done!
Thoughts of safety and renewal to the Gulf Coast!

Why is this unfortunate disaster happening just during the Republican National Convention?

The guy upstairs is not pleased.

McCain does not care about the country. Why else would he put someone on his ticket that could be President at any time. What would that 3am phone call sound like? He threw Romney under the bus just to pander to us, we are not amused and are insulted!!! Does he think we would follow him blindly just becasue he put a woman on the ticket? Sorry, it won't work wil only result in a more unified Democratic party.

Obama/Biden 08/12

The Republican Convention should cancel or postpone due to Gustav.
Then the Obama supporters will SHUTUP!!!!!

Lets join Senator Obama and contribute to help our fellow citizens who are suffering or have been rendered homeless by Gustav.

McCain HAS to do the right thing because the WORLD IS WATCHING since his CURRENT PARTY messed up so badly 3 yrs ago...

Beyond that, as an American this is NOT a political issue...he should do the right thing because that is the RIGHT THING TO DO...

Put off the convetion, delay formally accepting the nomination, continue to accept the growing private contributions to his campaign, and get the public financing when he does accept. Beet Obama at his own game.

Go McCain.

Bad timing....this event will over-shadow in the headlines. Im worried the republican messages from the convention wont be put across to the same extent that the democrats had.

As usual the people criticizing Obama have no name. Faceless shameless people.

Our prayers are with the good people of Louisiana.

The only change the convention really needs is to replace Palin with Romney.

Hard to know which is worse, Gustav or Palin.

I think credit will be given where it is deserved. People have learned from the mistakes of Katrina. Though Bush might do a good job now, it in no way makes up for the catastrophically bad job done the first time. I'm sure Obama and even McCain would do the right thing in the event of a disaster on the Gulf. What I'm not sure or is what criticizing Obama on this subject is meant to do "No Hillary" because we all know you are Republican anyways. Don't worry either I'm a Republican too. I just don't think you should be politicizing a situation like this.

As Gustav threatens the off shore Oil Platforms in the Gulf. We are reminded what a weak strategy McBush has proposed for relieving our energy crises through off shore drilling.

Using the Red Cross to hold "hurricane benefits" so the Republicans will look warm and fuzzy (and maybe draw more votes) is unethical.

I hope the Red Cross won't allow being used like this.

The fair thing to do is let both parties be involved in a national benefit involving all Americans.

For post by "Pat," it is "foul," not "fowl." Fowl is a chicken-type critter.

today, obama is sending e-mails to all of his supporters to volunteer in support of helping those evacuees...

i think it's important for all of us to get involved in any sort of way to help people out either thru donations, shelter aid, clothing or can goods and ect.

The only reason we have the Republicans paying attention to Gustav is because the Repugs paid no attention to Katrina. We will not forget McCain's birthday party on the day of Katrina, nor Bush's flyover of NOLA. Shameful people.

republican were praying for a flood in Denver, God has decided something else

well...this time bush and cheney are doing the right thing. The Republicans are really taking a step forward. They have my vote.

wait… didn't the Republicans "pray" for rain…. O wait those prayers where for last week in Denver…. wow….

poetic justice!!!!

That being said…. I truly pray no one has to die due to this storm… this is a serious event… God be with the GULF

-V

That convention needed MAJOR changes anyway. Believe me a hurricane can't make the changes it so DESPERATELY needs.

RNC is a JOKE!

I hope its not a severe hit to the south again and we certainly don't want a repeat of Katrina. However, if this administration handles this storm perfectly and comes out shining, I'm sure the democrats and conspiracy enthusiasts will call fowl and try to say that Gustav was a planned event and won't give credit were credit is due.

John McCain will do the right thing, not the opportunist thing which Obama has perfected. As for Bush and Cheney they should go hide under a rock where they both belong.