Hurricane Gustav is the news

By Pat Rogers

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL — Hurricane Gustav is the news. Sen. McCain immediately asked the conventioneers to “take off our Republican hats and put on our American hats.” Everyone has been watching the weather news. With the exception of the excitement about Sarah Palin and “real change” and “real reform,” the political talk has been very muted. It is difficult to tell someone who spent 5.5 years in prison for his country and a son at war that public service is not convenient.

The opening session will be shortened and limited to procedural necessities only. Some procedural details are necessary and a formal nomination is required.

The plan for the remaining four days is uncertain. The McCain campaign chartered a jet for the Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas delegations, and the mood has been one of great concern for friends and families in these states.

Chairman Weh knows something about logistics, and with Roxanne Rivera and Tiffany Kardeen working day and night, the New Mexico delegation has been everywhere. This is my first convention, so I have little to judge it by. My wife Julie and the boys had but two simple requests — that I not appear on national TV with “one of those hats” or at any time “dancing in the aisles or anywhere.”

Minneapolis and St. Paul rolled out the red carpet. This is an area in the running for a future Olympics, and they are working hard to show they can take care of large crowds. For the Minnesotans, the hurricane is of great concern, and a great disappointment as well. With the Twins just out of first place and the new bridge up in record time (recall the collapse only last year?), the cities look great and the “Minnesota nice” volunteers are actually nice and abundant.

The hot ticket yesterday was the screening of “An American Carol” by David Zucker, starring Jon Voight, Michael Farley (Chris’ brother) and a number of conservative Hollywood stars (OK, maybe the entire contingent).

It was advertised as likely offensive to “children, young people, old people, in-the-middle-people, some people on the right, all people on the left, terrorists, pacifists, war mongers, fish mongers… the ACLU, Conservatives, People of Color, People of No Color, English Speakers, English as a Second Language Non-Speakers… and especially Ivy League College Professors. Native Americans should be okay.”

Well, it’s all that and more. Juvenile, slap-stick silliness by the people who brought us Airplane. Michael Moore, Moveon.org, the ACLU and college liberals take the greatest beatings. As such, I endorse that movie. It opens Oct. 2 unless Michael Moore, the ACLU, Moveon.org or the Democrats obtain a restraining order.

Rogers is the RNC’s national committeeman from New Mexico. He is blogging from this week’s convention.