From Global Research
By Michel Chossudovsky

The Republican Party has decided to scrap the first day of its National Convention, prior to an impending humanitarian and environmental disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

“The program for the first day of the Republican National Convention has been canceled in the wake of Hurricane Gustav, the first dramatic change as planners scrambled to cope with political and practical implications of the mammoth storm.”

No political speeches are scheduled on the first day of the Convention. Both Bush and Cheney have called off appearances scheduled for Monday in St. Paul, Minn.

The initial political speeches of the National Convention have been replaced by the flow of TV network interviews, from the theater of national emergency operations, in Southern Louisiana, Texas and Alabama.

The Republicans are intent on using the hurricane as a public relations stunt to boost the waning image of Republican candidate John McCain.

John McCain, in a statement on Sunday underscored his intent to contribute to emergency relief operations:

“As you well know, I, uh we are facing a great, uh, national challenge and the possibility of a great national natural disaster. … I’m happy to report to you that the coordination and the work that’s being done at all levels appears to me to be excellent. …

So of course this is a time when we have to do away with our party politics and we have to act as Americans. We have to join with 3 million other Americans on behalf of our fellow citizens. It’s a time for actions. So we’re gonna suspend most of our activities tomorrow except for those absolutely necessary.

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