Oops: Fowler Uses Satire Defense, Blames 'Right-Wing Nutcase'

Ignore everything you hear. It was recorded by a right-wing nutcase.

Good luck selling that, Don.

Former DNC Chairman Don Fowler apologized on Sunday for joking in a private conversation that the timing of Hurricane Gustav demonstrates that God is on the side of the Democrats.

"If this offended anybody, I personally apologize," Fowler told ABC News. "It was a mistake, and it was a satirical statement made in jest. And one that I clearly don't believe."

Fowler was secretly recorded by the person sitting behind him while flying from Denver, Colo., to Charlotte, N.C., following the Democratic National Convention. His conversation with Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., was anonymously posted to YouTube and highlighted by RedState.com, a conservative blog.

"One doesn't anticipate that one's private conversation will be surreptitiously taped by some right-wing nutcase," said Fowler. "But that's the nature of what we're dealing with."

Fowler, a superdelegate who endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2007, was caught on tape saying: "The hurricane’s going to hit New Orleans about the time they start. The timing is -- at least it appears now that it’ll be there Monday. That just demonstrates that God’s on our side. [Laughter] Everything’s cool."

McCain and RNC officials announced on Sunday that they will suspend most of the convention program for Monday, including speeches by President Bush and Vice President Cheney. Republicans will only take up essential business when their convention gets underway on Monday and will not hear primetime speeches.

Fowler sinks further into the abyss and blames a dead man.

Classy.

Fowler said his remark was "facetious" and a "satirical comment" on the late Rev. Jerry Falwell.

Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Falwell told "The 700 Club," "I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen.'"

Another despicable fat slob Democrat is also trying to walk back some ridiculous comments, which were eagerly lapped up by a good chunk of the left.

If all this craziness isn't enough, just soak in some more of the looniness of the past 48 hours.

'They Will Not Crush Our Spirit'

No, perhaps they won't crush their spirit. But if we're lucky, maybe they'll crack a few moonbat heads.

Republican National Convention protesters targeted in a series of police raids Friday night and Saturday say they won't back down from their plans to march on the event's opening day.

Organizers have said they hope to attract up to 50,000 people to the protest Monday.

Four people were arrested at two Minneapolis homes and booked on probable cause of conspiracy to commit a riot, said Gina Berglund, an attorney helping to represent protesters. There were no arrests at a third home targeted. Later, the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office said a fifth person was arrested at an undisclosed location.

"A lot of people in the activist community are really on pins and needles about who's next," Berglund said.

Protester Michelle Gross said a fourth home, this one in St. Paul, was being raided Saturday afternoon. Two people were outside the home in handcuffs while police awaited a search warrant, she said. St. Paul police spokesman Tom Walsh said a search warrant was being executed but could not confirm whether anyone had been arrested.

On Friday night, Ramsey County sheriff's deputies raided an organizing site of a group — the RNC Welcoming Committee — that has publicized plans to disrupt convention activities. No one was arrested.

"They will not crush our spirit," said protester Lisa Fithian from Austin, Texas, at a gathering of about 300 people in a Minneapolis park Saturday afternoon. "Our organization will continue. We will be on the streets."

More on these miscreants here.

In a head-slapping coincidence, Socky McSockpuppet happened to be on the scene. All perfectly innocent, I'm sure.

Anyway, this seems like a golden opportunity for these people to show they actually give a shit about their fellow Americans. Considering how most of them apparently have no lives or jobs to worry about, how about making themselves useful and heading south so they can help out folks displaced by Hurricane Gustav?

After all, those they'll be protesting may well be turning their convention into a telethon as it is.

Speaking of Gustav, the Mayor of Chocolate City has ordered an evacuation. Let's hope everyone listens this time.

Don Fowler was unavailable for comment.

Memo to Chocolate City: Try Being Prepared This Time

The media and Democrats have shamelessly milked the astonishing lack of preparedness prior to Hurricane Katrina and pretended the whole thing was George W. Bush's fault.

Well, you're on notice, folks. If you're told to leave again, get out. Otherwise, I don't want to hear any whining.

"We know it's going to head into the Gulf. After that, we're not sure where it's heading," said Rebecca Waddington, a meteorologist at the Miami-based National Hurricane Center. "For that reason, everyone in Gulf needs to be monitoring the storm. At that point, we're expecting it to be a Category 3 hurricane."

The tentative forecast track pointed Wednesday toward Louisiana and Mississippi, which took the brunt of Hurricane Katrina three years ago Friday. But the average error in five-day forecasts is about 310 miles (500 kms) in either direction, meaning the likeliest targets could be anywhere from south Texas to the Florida panhandle.

The Army Corps of Engineers is looking to guard the West bank levees.

Fortunately, Louisiana now has a competent Governor in Bobby Jindal. Unfortunately that moron Ray Nagin is still in charge of New Orleans.