A Historical Convention

With 20 hours until the convention and Senator McCain calling for us to take off our party “hats” and trade them for the American Hat, we see a Convention for the history books. Never before has a Presidential campaign been affected like this from outside forces. This storm, Hurricane Gustav, is having a greater effect than the 1968 DNC protests in Chicago. We are looking at a two and a half hour session tomorrow that will cover “business only”. It will begin about 3pm, and according to the Committee on Arrangements, the start time is the only thing they are sure of. When we wake up, and discover how much destruction has occurred and what the aftermath might become, we will then have a better idea of how the rest of this Convention will play out.

The Convention has two roles; one is a celebration of the Party and the other is the democratic function of the Party (not the Democratic Party). If votes are not counted and Sen. McCain is not the technically elected the candidate of the Party, his name will not appear on ballots in many states. This would be a fatal blow to the Republican Party. There is no question that the business of the Convention must take place.

Even though at first glance this looks like a bad situation, it may just be the opposite. We have some of the most influential people in the country congregating in the same place, and if the convention is cut short, delayed or altered, we have a unique opportunity. If the Republican Party harnesses the energy that has been building in the Twin Cities and re-directs it to disaster relief or fund raising, there is the opportunity to create a patriotic up swell behind the Party. The media is here, the people are here, and as John Stewart puts it, the “Rich White Oligarchs’” are here. So, the question becomes, “what else do we need?” We have the best opportunity in the Nation to recruit support and aide for our fellow Americans at the other end of the Mississippi.

Now, turning to the media, I will relate an interview with Karl Rove (on a cable network that begins with an “F”) that I watched today. He was speaking about Gov. Sarah Palin as the Vice-Presidential choice. He said that this race is much tighter than anyone could have anticipated and this choice will shake it up. He also complimented her on her speaking ability, reminding us that this was the first time she has spoken outside of her home state of Alaska, and to a group three times the size she has ever encountered and that the Dayton area has a similar population to her home state.

Again, this is a Convention for the History Books; keep checking in to see what’s next.