Might Ike change the entire calculus of the election in ways we can't imagine?

[villager]

Or in ways that either campaign -- or perhaps the media -- can control?

All these speculations are, of course, absolutely secondary to wishes/Godspeed (Goddess speed?) to everyone for safety, speedy recovery, etc.

But we're talking as if the national dialogue/ news cycle(s) will be the same next week, and from current indications -- they won't.

[TornadoTN]

1. I can tell you that the gas situation nationwide is going to be a major issue

It's already started here in NE Tennessee - people are already questioning Bush, the government, and everyone else associated with it for not being prepared for this beforehand.

Beyond that, I don't know and I'm not sure I want to know at this point.

[villager]

2. especially since it's spiking in red areas, in particular...

And yes, would we even want to know at this point?

Well, soon enough, in any case...

[peanut2010]

4. KY. is a mess right now people lineing up to get gas

Causing traffic jams and accidents

[R. P. McMurphy]

5. The most tolerable republican I work with...

here in Bristol, TN, has been on an all-day rant about "why doesn't the government do something?!?!" I reminded him of the senate hearings where the repugs refused to require the oil executives to give sworn testimony.

[guitar man]

16. send him this quote and remind him

of what the core beliefs of the people he supports are,, then ask him why he believes the government should do anything to help out? And tell him to give his bootstraps a healthy tug while he's at it, that'll probably git-r-done for him ;)

"Government is not a solution to our problem, government is the problem."
-- Ronald Reagan

[underseasurveyor]

3. The human impact factor

Yea I'm sure you're correct. Next week we will be talking about the devastation caused by Ike and relief efforts.

[malaise]

6. People aren't totally stupid

They must have noticed that McPOW et al haven't arrived in Texas or anywhere else along the Gulf.

[Dover]

7. Maybe DU will lose interest in Palin posts!

Now that would be something.

[Javaman]

18. Dream on, she's the new pee wee herman show on here...

not the funny one, the one in the adult theater pee wee.

[Pathwalker]

8. There is a gasoline PANIC in Michigan right now - gas at $5.00 a gallon!

Cars are lining up around the blocks, rumors are spreading that there will be gas RATIONING effective Monday. They are forecasting 3" or more of rain here from Ike. People are rushing into my husband's store totally freaked out, buying gas additives. Hubby is now sending his employees to the gas stations so they can fill up their autos before the prices rise even further.
Everyone's freaking out!

[malaise]

10. $5.00 in Florida

$5.37 in South Carolina
$5.00 in Tennessee
let's have prices from everywhere.

[ITsec]

12. I'm a long ways from the south.... South Dakota....

But here in Rapid City, it's unphased as of around noon. Still around $3.58 - $3.65.

Edit: No lines. Pretty much another quiet boring day in Bumphuk Egypt.

[RollWithIt]

13. It was $3.59 this morning in Ft Myers FL... nt

[SammyWinstonJack]

17. Just went out. I am in San Antonio. Price yesterday was $3.47 now $3.56 so not much of an increase.

[ddeclue]

20. Where in FL?

Doug D.
Orlando, FL

[Hugabear]

11. There's already rationing in parts of Florida

They were reporting on the news yesterday that Citgo was limiting customers to 10 gallons.

[radfringe]

15. and where's bush in all of this?

this would be perfect opportunity for him to be PRESIDENTIAL show some LEADERSHIP and calm down the nation...

if anyone has contacts to Obama's campaign - tell them to get Obama out in front of cameras and ask for people to calm down and not to panic... take the lead that bush/mccain are too out of touch to do

[knitter4democracy]

21. Not in our area yet, and I thought B.C. had the highest gas prices.

We were at $3.95 this morning. Rationing wouldn't surprise me, frankly. I'll tell Hubby to fill up at the cheaper station by his office.

[robcon]

9. All four: Obama, Biden, McCain and Palin will show up there soon.

All will show sympathy, and make a speech, and tour the area. It'll probably be a wash, politically.

[radfringe]

14. yes

consider where it's going to hit, how many people who will lose their homes. Less than 2 months before the election, no way are they going to be able to find new places to live and register/change registration to vote in time

I'll bet ya now, that because this is a big "RED" zone, the repubs are scrambling to figure out how to get the rules bent to allow these people to vote

[guitar man]

19. it just might

I'm afraid it might be viewed as a big "do over" after the catastrophe that was Katrina. I'm hoping for the absolute minimum loss of life and suffering from this storm, even if it does cost us the election, but it would just be a damn shame if people in this country are so short sighted in that regard.

[tsuki]

22. Why? Is the RNC going to challenge voters whose houses were

washed away?