GOP stalwarts regroup during Caribbean cruise

[Tab]

Source: AP

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – When Joe Six-pack suffers a severe setback, he might cry in his beer. The Republican elite could be found this week on a Caribbean cruise after being stung in the Nov. 4 elections.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson joined policy analysts and 700 subscribers who want to revive the Republican Party on the cruise hosted by the National Review, a conservative magazine.

Publisher Jack Fowler told The Associated Press during a port of call on Tuesday that their mood is upbeat despite last week's drubbing at the polls.

"No one's jumped overboard," Fowler quipped as passengers disembarked in Old San Juan. "This is a forward-thinking group."

Romney's spokesman dismissed blogosphere rumors that he is shoring up support for another presidential bid, even though he recently restarted his political action committee. The National Review endorsed Romney's 2008 candidacy.

"This is a chance for Gov. Romney to get together with some old friends to talk about the challenges facing our nation," spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom said. "He believes now is the time to call on the goodwill of all Americans to help our president-elect."

Thompson, whose own bid for the GOP nomination was short-lived, tersely answered a few questions from shoreside journalists before walking up the narrow cobblestone streets in shorts and sneakers. He called the cruise a family vacation, and said he is not planning another White House run.

The National Review plays an influential role with Republican insiders. During a 2007 cruise, the magazine called on Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who hosted a reception for editors and guest speakers at the governor's mansion in Juneau.

Liberals also organize political cruises. Last year, The Nation magazine organized an Alaska trip where subscribers rubbed shoulders with left-leaning figures such as actor Richard Dreyfuss.

This cruise, the 21st hosted by the National Review, mixes leisure and politics, but Fowler said there are no panels about John McCain's running mate.

Most of the passengers booked oceanview and veranda cabins at $2,400 to $3,000 per person, according to the Cruise Authority, the U.S. company that arranged the trip. The ship is stopping in Turks and Caicos Islands, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Bahamas before returning to Fort Lauderdale, Florida this weekend.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap_campaignplus/20081111/ap_ca/cb_caribbean_gop_ship

[geomon666]

1. "This is a forward-thinking group."

If that were true, why are you all ass backwards?

[denverbill]

6. My first thought exactly. '?Forward thinking?'

Today's conservatives are, in fact, reactionaries. 90% of them don't want to keep the status quo, which is the definition of conservatism. They want to roll back the progressive things that have been done in the last 100 years, like the minimum wage, 40 hour work week, etc. They want to roll back Roe v Wade, shove gays back in the closet, and make intolerance socially acceptable.

[nichomachus]

2. There's never a pirate around when you need one n/t

[maddezmom]

3. Tab

Please be aware that DU copyright rules require that excerpts of copyrighted material be limited to four paragraphs

[Lerkfish]

4. where's an iceberg when you need one?

just kidding.

:)

[santamargarita]

9. There are more sharks on that ship than in the water!

Hum...

[Lerkfish]

10. they'd be safe, even sharks have standards.

[eleny]

5. Didn't they invite Bobby Jindal?

:rofl:

[PassingFair]

7. 'Pukes Ahoy!

[yardwork]

8. Oh the poor things.

[PittPoliSci]

11. they don't get it do they?

the reason they're on their asses right now is exactly because of shit like the cruise. the line between stupid and arrogant has been further blurred.

[maxsolomon]

21. Air America sponsors cruises

This one is sponsored by the National Reivew. What's the difference? Cruises aren't elitist - they're middle class & lowbrow as it can possibly be. They're about indolence & obesity.

If they had a week-long conclave at a 5-star bermuda hotel paid for by the RNC, that would be elitist.

[FarLeftRage]

12. I wonder if rimjob was there...

Why, with all the $$$ he fleeces from the stoopid freeps, he oughta be there.

[Demeter]

13. "Reviving the GOP" Sounds Like the Terry Schiavo Case All Over Again

Denial just keeps on flowing....

[DallasNE]

14. This Reflects Exactly What Is Wrong With The GOP

How much more elitists could they be than to hold an extravaganza on board a Caribbean cruise ship.

Not too many common people can plop down $6,000 per couple and take a junket through the Caribbean. But that is fine with me. The more they want to estrange themselves from the rank and file American the better for Democratic policies than can actually help those ordinary Americans that they are so unlike as evidenced by this behavior.

[johnnyrocket]

15. There's never a shipwide virus outbreak when you need one.

[SpiralHawk]

16. "I wonder what the proles are doing tonight?" - Republicon 'elite'

[Bushies gotta go]

17. Terrible story, not even a quote by Palin....

... What? You say she wasn't invited? Strange, strange... after all, isn't she in the forefront of plans for 12?

[BadGimp]

18. One well placed torpedo and America will be saved for a generation..

I know what a F%@*!)$ thing to say.

[armed_and_liberal]

19. What do you call 300 Republicans in the bottom of the Ocean ?

A good beginning

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

20. Cruise

It gives new meaning to "Ship of Fools!"

[roseBudd]

22. A HuffPo or Salon journalist was undercover on a recent cruise & reported disturbing table chat