The Gustav Convention

Democrats have won another propaganda battle:  they have determined the events of the Republican National Convention. 

In 2005, the third strongest hurricane to hit the United States slammed into the Gulf region and created a political tsunami.  In all practical analysis, the state and local governments in Louisiana dropped the ball and the federal government fumbled.  President Bush was accused of mismanaging photo ops by not flying over the affected regions and wringing his hands in a fast enough manner, allowing his political opponents to create a specious complaint that fits in with the perception that the government can control the weather simply by will.   In all reality, the president has never recovered nationally from these attacks (although he polls about 20% higher in Louisiana over the national average) and this week demonstrates further that his legacy will be marred by the notion that by his mere presence alone, the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina would have been manageable if not avoidable.

While Hurricane Gustav's timing would reasonably take convention speakers like LA Governor Bobby Jindal and TX Governor Rick Perry away from the event, it seems rather pointless for President Bush to feign action by gluing himself to a television full time rather than take an hour out of observing the storm to give the last major address of his presidency.

There had been talk of postponing the convention which would seem to me to be an impossibility as thousands have already begun their descent into Saint Paul and hundreds of millions have been spent on an event that is supposed to assist the political direction of this country for possibly the next decade.  That aside, the event is being scaled back, at least for the first day - which I think is a mistake.  Bush's opponents have so damaged his presidency over perceptions that he could actually do something at the height of a storm (in the face of state authority on the issue) that the president himself will not be attending the last RNC of his era.

The convention should go on.  It should be exciting and passionate and with a few exceptions, must maintain it's schedule.  What the convention planners should do, rather than meaningless gestures of having the president skip the event, is to turn the convention into a rally for the victims and affected regions of Gustav.  That's not just about lending rhetoric and acknowledgment of the storm but doing something real that the American public will feel.  This is the time for Republicans and conservatives to show that disaster relief is about more than just government.

Move Over Jerry Lewis

Speeches should include calls for Americans to step up with money and volunteerism - in a sense, turn it into a telethon and take the issue away from Democrats.  A 1-800 number and a website should be on viewers televisions and in the background images, asking people to contribute.  Politicians and wealthy convention-goers should be asked to match contributions.  Challenges should be made to Democrats to do their part as well.  Jindal and Perry should be beamed in to give speeches from their home states outlining the destruction and the safety and recovery efforts.   The RNC can maintain it's spirit and objectives and even strengthen them (as well as conservative principles) by promoting charity - and do so without changing the convention to appease the propaganda in an effort to marginalize the complaints of their opponents.

My Destiny

I viewed both conventions of 2004 from my living room.  I was impressed and energized by each conventions but particularly by the RNC, which featured historical speeches by Governor Schwarzenneger and Democrat Zell Miller, as well as powerful speeches by John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, Ed Koch and even actor Ron Silver.  I noted the deafening roar of the crowd and a sense of unity and determination that is not often on display by the more subdued of the two political parties.  And I wondered how I could ever attend something like this.

Even though I had just voted for my first Republican in 2002, the 2004 RNC helped secure my political changes by seeing the energy and the positives that are often attributed to Democrats.  I felt more upbeat passion and a personal feeling of inclusion coming from the RNC than from the DNC and it wasn't the first time.

Some years back, when I was in the political wilderness, I had a part time delivery job in downtown Saint Paul.  I made several deliveries to government buildings including the Minnesota House building.  In this building, Democrats and Republicans each had a floor to themselves.  My first delivery was to the Democrats.

The floor was quiet and subdued.  Signs were posted everywhere concerning cell phones and other annoyances and people were speaking in hurried, hushed tones.  There was nary a person in the lobby and my drop off was quick and impersonal.  I felt like someone who didn't belong.

A couple of weeks later I had a drop off to the Republican floor.  Here I get off the elevator to find an office that is of hustle and bustle, lively interactions and more smiles, hellos and how-are-you's than I could have expected.  People made what seemed like sincere small talk with me and my contact there (a state legislator) had a friendly conversation with me.  Just as a lowly delivery boy, I felt like I was part of the crowd.  

I repeated these deliveries a few more times in the following weeks and paid special attention to the atmospheres.  It was the same for each visit to each floor.  On one floor I felt like a foreigner and on the other I felt like part of the gang.  

I mention this because some time later,  I had these similar observations of the 2004 conventions and these helped transform my embracing of the Republican Party.

I am beyond excited to be attending the RNC tomorrow and am disappointed that the event is being compromised by the false sense of security that President Bush feels he must impose on Americans, all at the behest of his political rivals.  The show must go on and it can go on in a way that is effective, compassionate and beneficial to Americans who are going to need our help in the coming days.

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