The RNC convention rewrite

The RNC convention could be chaotic. Think about all the changes they're having to make on the fly, just a day before the convention begins.

Rewriting speeches, re-staging, re-lighting, going back through all the music to change the tone, rebuilding the speakers list for topic and tone. Figuring out just what the hell they're going to do instead of the celebratory "balloon drop moment."

That seems like alot of changes to pull of on something that's supposed to be so scripted.

Later: Are they canceling all the speeches Monday?

Also, Notice the recurring language, It's not that they don't want to "celebrate." It's that they don't want to be seen as celebrating.

(NYTimes) "Convention planners and delegates arriving in St. Paul said it would be politically perilous to hold a four-day party as Americans were evacuating New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in advance of Gustav..."

(WaPo) "bowing to the political reality that it could not be seen as celebrating as Hurricane Gustav prepared to delivered a body blow to the Gulf Coast...."

(AP) "also an intense desire by McCain and Republicans to avoid the political damage that Bush suffered from his widely criticized response to Hurricane Katrina three years ago."

I'm not saying they shouldn't cancel, but isn't discussing this in the terms of what it might cost you pretty crass?

Then, of course, there's this....

Republican officials say their radically curtailed convention offers a big political opportunity for the party to redeem itself on the competence issue — and for John McCain to step out of President Bush’s shadow once and for all.

Because people's lives being destroyed is an opportunity for McCain.....

On the bright side, at least we know the hurricane aid will be swift and thorough.

PS. The latest track looks like it may miss New Orleans. (Crap, I'm on the left edge of the cone!!!) If it's only Houma or Lake Charles or Port Arthur, do they turn the convention back on?