The latest update from the National Hurricane Center projects that Isaac will become a hurricane later today and hit the southeastern Louisiana coast near New Orleans sometime tonight. The storm surge should be 6 to 12 feet in the New Orleans area, so the levees will be tested. Meanwhile, at tonight’s session of the Republican National Convention, Ann Romney will try to make a strong impression with the American people as part of a desperate effort on the GOP’s part to close the gender gap. Also speaking tonight are Rep. Cathy McMorris-Rodgers of Washington, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. Tomorrow, New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez, New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte, and Condi Rice are scheduled to make appearances.
Depending on how the Gulf Coast holds up, and especially the levees in New Orleans, tonight might be the only real chance the Republicans have to make their case at this convention. They will not want a split screen of wind and water damage on one side and a bunch of conventioneers in silly hats on the other.
Either way, I don’t see the Republicans’ lineup of women doing much to solve their rapey forcible ultrasound problems.
Condi Rice? What appeal does this convention have to her? Is she being groomed for a run in ‘016?
I hope you’re not trying to say that Dick Morris is 8 years ahead of his time. :-/ You know damn well why she was picked. Besides, the Zombie-eyed Granny-starver is now the leading contender for ’16.
I’m not asking why she was picked. I’m asking why she consented. To sell books? That doesn’t seem adequate.
She’s playing the good soldier, so to speak.
Same reason she accepted Augusta Nationals invite to be a member.
Condi has no problem being a token. None of the big Republican African Americans do.
About the only one who I can see actually bristling alittle at being the token is Colin Powell, and that’s cause of his military status and unlike Condi, Powell’s wife Alma if you’ve notice don’t much cotton to GOP events and such.
In fact I rarely see Alma at the GOP things.
I was just thinking: She doesn’t need to do any of this, she has her university sinecure, she has her book, she’s pretty much come out of a potentially career-ending situation with hardly a scratch. Last thing she needs to do is put herself in the spotlight in this convention when every single other member of the Bush administration is scurrying away from it like cockroaches.
Unless she actually has some political ambition left. She’s young enough, and unique in the GOP field in that she’s female, black, and has experience in some of the highest positions in gov’t. Who else can say that? Who else in the history of the party? Doesn’t that carry some obvious value to the GOP king(queen)makers? Not to mention, she very likely passes the Norquist test.
I don’t profess to know the nuances of the Augusta Nationals thing, but I remember that it’s been an issue in the recent past when she and her friend the billionaire were not offered membership. And now suddenly they’re in. Why the persistence? I suppose it could just be personal vanity, but then again she might think she’s establishing money networks. Might even be.
Anyway, who knows. I haven’t paid enough attention to Powell or his wife, all I can tell from here is that he’s retired and doing his damnedest to salvage his reputation for posterity.
It could be more like the same reason aging pop-divas long past their prime want to do special performances on exclusive programs. Even if their “new” song is over-produced garbage and their dance routine is laughable, they get the prestige hit of appearing on a major show.
I actually don’t think the forced vaginal ultrasounds were nearly as damaging as Akin’s comments. For one thing, a lot of people either don’t know what ultrasounds are or don’t realize that “vaginal ultrasounds” go in someone, not on them the way many ultrasound procedures do. It takes a bit of explanation.
By contrast, the problems with Akin’s comments needed no explanation at all. Plus, they demonized not just pregnant women in general, but pregnant women who’ve been the victims of a violent crime. And it wasn’t just a horrific policy – it also revealed a stunning ignorance of female biology that could only come from pure misogyny. Among women (and a fair number of men) I talked with about both, the reaction to Akin was much, much more uniformly and immediately visceral.
Lastly, Akin was closely tied on the issue to the Vice-Presidential nominee of the party. It wasn’t just a handful of state legislatures – it was the national ticket (and platform) that was implicated.
All that is why you had so many Republican politicians scrambling to disavow themselves of Akin, whereas almost none did with the vaginal ultrasound laws. And that, in turn, gave the story far more play among a national political media that care more about horserace shit than actual policies that threaten millions of women.
I think also there’s an element here of the trans-vaginal ultrasounds being perceived as a local issue, which for most people probably equates to having little or no perception at all. A piece of legislation in a state house somewhere doesn’t carry the force of a sound bite from an actual person. One requires explanation, the other explains itself.
that’s why I included the word ‘rapey.’
Cathy’s my rep. On a good day she is a cold, stupidly calculating and completely personality-less. She’s not the one to warm a crowd, but she has paid her dues in spades by standing up to support Boehner.
Which is an interesting thought. What if Ann also can’t make her own case for the compassionate side of the ticket? If Ann exposes herself and comes across disconnected there’s no fallback for Mitt with women much less families.
The networks are only showing 1 hour right? I expect that no one but partisans will actually watch it. I just don’t see Ann as being that personable on television. She’s probably better in person, but on TV, not so much.
She’s def not as personable on television as Michelle Obama seems to be. But then again from what I understand, Michelle is as personable in person as on screen.
BTW, anyone know when/if Michelle’s speaking and if it’s supposed to be televised nationally?
I haven’t heard. You’d think the Obama campaign would do everything they could to get her featured prominently, since she’s their top asset and all.
She’d either go on Tuesday, I would think, or maybe she’ll be the one to introduce her husband on Thursday?
Ann has not been all that good on TV, and that’s been in closed small sets with controlled lighting and makeup and etc. This is going to be a major speech in front of an arena-sized audience. But, the whole thing is going to be scripted as tightly as possible, so as long as she can stay on message and keep her composure, she’ll be fine.
Where she’s gotten into trouble is in interviews where she can throw in unscripted bits of flouncy pauper-punching. That shouldn’t be an issue at the convention, but neither does it mean that she can pull off that kind of address.
As for Michelle Obama, no idea as to the actual schedule, but you can bet she’ll be placed for maximum effect, and that she’ll be fully capable of delivering.
Like I said, I just don’t see anyone but partisans watching the convention anyway. So most people will see it in clips. I suspect that you’re right, her speech will be geared towards the pundits and the MSM ’cause sadly they are the ones who are gonna be writing the stories and reading the news on the effectiveness of the speech.
So if she hits it out of the ballpark for the pundits and hacks, I suspect that the media narrative will be set.
anyway, other than Isaac coverage, I have absolutely NO PLANS to even turn my television onto any part of the RNC. That’s why I pay the big bucks for premium digital cable.
I confess I’m a partisan (as we all are right), but I just can’t see anyone being swayed by Ann Romney. My whole fam and the majorty of my good friends that I speak to are all Dems or Dem-leaning people, so we are pretty much in a cocoon, so someone who does have more non-Dem friends is gonna have to clue me in?
I can guess. I don’t think Ann’s job is to sway anyone. The bar she has to clear is pretty much the same as Palin vs Biden in the debates, or for that matter W Bush vs Gore: keep your game face on, and don’t fall off the stage. If she manages to pull that off, score.
I’m hoping for at least one “you people” from her.
Everyone at the plant and I mean EVERYONE including Teabaggers and Paulists thinks of one thing when you mention Ann Romney, ” …and my wife has a couple of Cadillacs.” Speaking of the Teabaggers, most hate Romney’s guts and a few offer half-hearted expressions of approval. They LOVED Hermann Cain and Rick Santorum, but they will vote for Romney who is going to cut their throats because Faux News has convinced them that having your throat cut is good for you. A few Paulists threaten to write him in, which I encourage.
Been working on my elderly friend, a rock ribbed Republican who will NEVER vote Democratic. Had a heated discussion about abortion with him the other day sparked by a news story about Akin. The heat was mostly on his side and he really surprised me by saying,” That’s a religious issue and has no place in politics. These religious people are taking over the party and turning it from its roots in personal freedom.” I reminded him that Goldwater objected to abortion laws on the same grounds and he nodded,”Barry was right. That’s all for the individual to decide.” I’m hoping I can get him to stay home on Election day or at least vote Libertarian.
Which makes me think, in addition to having the Presidential candidates debate, and the VP candidates debate, let’s have the First Lady candidates debate. I have a hunch that as much as I expect President Obama to wipe the floor with Romney, Michelle would not only wipe the floor, but the walls and ceiling with Ann.
they’d cancel the convention to go ensure that Americans are safe, fed and sheltered during this hurricane.
Hell, they could even have camera crews following them around as they actually “worked for the people during these hard times”.
Instead of holding a convention, we all went to go help the people of this great nation.
Maybe that’s what the Dems should be doing right now…
I won’t hold my breath.
She’s like Barbara Bush with better personal care professional help and more religion. Should play well with the Osmond Family fans.