I'm using Republican standards of fairness with this headline, but -- well, it's literally true. They don't want the storm to veer north. They want it to head west -- where it would hit and perhaps further devastate New Orleans, reminding us all of the damage wreaked there seven years ago this upcoming week on former President George W. Bush's watch.
As Slate reported earlier this afternoon:
Sunday August 26 at 1:15 p.m.: Tropical Storm Isaac began hitting South Florida with rain and strong winds Sunday, forcing the organizers of the Republican National Convention in Tampa to alter the schedule amid fears of widespread flooding. The first day of the convention was canceled, but Republicans were hopeful Sunday that Isaac’s slight shift westward could help them avoid further disruption to the event, reports the New York Times.
Despite some optimism, there seems to be little chance Isaac won’t continue to cause headaches for Republicans down the road as forecasters say it’s likely the storm will strengthen, probably to a hurricane, and hit the Gulf Coast somewhere between Florida and Louisiana by the middle of the week, notes Reuters. That means Isaac could easily steal the limelight from Mitt Romney in what is largely seen as a critical opportunity for the Republican to introduce himself to Americans before the final stretch of the campaign
(My emphasis. And for the record, my position is utilitarian applied to harm rather than benefits; I hope for the least harm to be done to the fewest number. I'm sorry if that strikes anyone as "socialist.")
That "slight shift west" aims the eye of the storm at New Orleans.
These are people who make a great deal of their belief in the power of prayer. The people of New Orleans should take note that the Republican Party bigwigs are praying for them -- or, rather, at them.
Maybe by this time next week, they'll have put Louisiana in play for Obama. The difference between FEMA now and FEMA in 2005 is going to be stark. I hope someone has gotten Paul Ryan on the record as to whether he thinks that FEMA involvement and other government reconstructive aid to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast is ethical and proper according to the precepts of Ayn Rand -- or, for that matter, according to those of Paul Ryan!