HERE WITH THE WIND – AT 8:04 A.M. ET:  The start of the GOP convention in Tampa is being disrupted by the approach of Hurricane Isaac.  The hurricane, which is a real threat off course, also will affect press converage of the Romney nomination.  What an opportunity for a biased press to take the focus off the GOP candidate.

And...what an opportunity for a biased press to put the focus on President Obama, as he "takes command" of this "Katrina-level" emergency and shows up George W. Bush.  (Am I making myself clear?  I don't think I'm paranoid about this.  It's th way the game is played.)

But Republicans to the rescue.  All five governors in the way of the storm – Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, are Republicans.  Watch Bobby Jindal of Louisiana especially.  He manages things superbly and is outspoken – as he was over federal failure following the Gulf oil spill.  From Fox:

KEY WEST, Fla. – Tropical Storm Isaac churned toward the northern Gulf Coast early Monday and promised to give the Republican National Convention a good drenching after lashing the Florida Keys and Miami area with wind and rain.

The National Hurricane Center predicted Isaac would grow to a Category 2 hurricane over the warm Gulf of Mexico and possibly hit late Tuesday somewhere along a stretch that starts west of New Orleans and runs to the edge of the Florida Panhandle. That would be one day shy of seven years after Hurricane Katrina struck catastrophically in 2005.

A Category 2 hurricane has sustained winds of between 96 and 110 mph and a strong storm surge. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal called a state of emergency, and 53,000 residents of St. Charles Parish near New Orleans were told to leave ahead of the storm.

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley also declared states of emergency, while oil companies began evacuating workers and cutting production at Gulf offshore rigs in Isaac's projected path.

Several area governors have altered their plans for this week's GOP convention in Tampa. Bentley has canceled his trip, and Jindal said he's likely to do so unless the threat from the storm subsides. Florida Gov. Rick Scott gave up a chance to speak.

COMMENT:  We fight the war we're given.  My sense is that the hurricane will actually bring more attention to the convention.  Most important, we hope no one is seriously injured or killed by the storm.  There is ample time to prepare.  There is understandable attention being given to New Orleans, considering the devastation of Katrina.  But Louisiana now has a real governor in Bobby Jindal, and we have a right to have confidence.

August 27,  2012