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Subscribe to RSSHurricane watches are active throughout the Caribbean, and the U.S. Navy has put forces at Guantanamo on alert. Weather Channel meteorologist Jim Cantore reports.
As Tropical Storm Isaac makes its way over the Caribbean on Wednesday, forecasters expect it to turn into a hurricane later this week, sparking worries that it could threaten next week's Republican National Convention in Florida.
The storm is getting better organized as it moves west at 21 mph, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph as of Wednesday morning. Forecasters predict Issac could turn into a hurricane by Friday.
Related: Click here to track Isaac's path
Schools and government offices are closed across much of the Caribbean Wednesday as Isaac was positioned 140 miles east of the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe.
In addition to much of the Caribbean, tropical storm warnings are also in effect for Puerto Rico and the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and the south coast of the Dominican Republic are all under a hurricane watch.
Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit encouraged people to stay home from work on Wednesday, according to the AP.
"I want us all to be safe," he said. "I don't want lives to be lost. I have listened to the advice of the experts and so I am asking all to stay indoors."
TODAY's Al Roker tracks Tropical Storm Isaac as it swirls in the Atlantic and discusses whether or not the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., will be plagued with heavy rains and high winds.
Puerto Rico is also bracing for the worst: Gov. Luis Fortuno activated the National Guard and declared a state of emergency, the AP reported.
By Wednesday evening, the storm's center is expected to be over the Leeward Islands, and it will move toward the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba as a hurricane later this week, according to the AP.
AFP PHOTO / NASA GSFC GOES PROJECT
Tropical Storm Isaac strengthened on Wednesday and looked set to become a hurricane as it churned through the Caribbean.
National Hurricane Center computer models indicate that Isaac could move northwest and eventually reach Florida by Monday morning — the same day as the start of the Republican National Convention in Tampa.
Next week's GOP convention is expected to attract thousands of Republicans to nominate Mitt Romney for president and Paul Ryan for vice president. While it's too soon to tell whether Isaac will hit Tampa directly, senior hurricane specialist Lixion Avila, with the National Hurricane Center, told Reuters that Tampa is not out of harm's way.
"With the convention or without the convention, I can tell you this is August 22, hurricane season, and normally anywhere in Florida or the Gulf of Mexico we should monitor any system that forms," Avila said.
Sept. 1: On the first day of its convention, the GOP tries to prove it is capable of responding to a natural disaster. According to NBC's Andrea Mitchell, the party is confident they can get back to normal after Gustav.
The Weather Channel's Bryan Norcross wrote a warning post on his Facebook page Wednesday: "Okay Florida ... it's time to wake up. Isaac is getting organized and the odds are increasing that it's going to be a problem ... a big enough problem that preparation is likely to be required."
Both Tampa and GOP officials say there are contingency plans in case the storm hits. FEMA has water and meals ready in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In 2008, Hurricane Gustav churning toward New Orleans disrupted the Republican convention that was getting under way in Minneapolis. President George W. Bush Vice President Dick Cheney and Sen. Joe Lieberman canceled Sept. 1 speeches. Bush delivered a speech by satellite the next day. Aides to Sen. John McCain, the party’s presidential nominee, chartered a jet so Gulf Coast delegates could return home, according to media reports at the time. The storm largely spared New Orleans, battered by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, but came ashore as a Category 2 hurricane and spawned damaging tornadoes.
Elsewhere, forecasters are also keeping an eye on Tropical Depression 10, which has formed over the eastern tropical Atlantic.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
blow baby blow...like the republicans
Nah . . . maybe they get sucked-off . . . the face of the earth.
So Isaac is going to rain on Mitten's parade. Is it me or does this just seem like poetic justice? Even more ironic is that illegal immigrant, Tropical Depression 10, has no real name or birth certificate at this time.
LOL, how appropriate! Thank you Lord for making yourself clear on where you stand in American politics, I could not have asked for a better show of wrath on the GOP/TP than a tropical hurricane!
Talk about an omen.
Not sure yet but with Isaac and now another one building just to the South of Isaac I am beginning to think there might be some Divine Intervention going on here. Makes me believe God is a woman and she is upset with Akin/Mitt/Ryan and associates. Oh how I hope so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can hear the Republican survivors (all one of them) now "Slam, Bam, Thank You Ma'am"!- I'm sorry for offending you.
Wow... a tropical storm amidst a topical storm.
As the first potential hurricane of the season, I believe its name will begin with the letter "A". I vote for Hurricane "Aiken".....
Now remember this is the party of Prayer.....and Wall Street will answere.
Ah, I see the idiot trolls are out in force today. I'd love to see if you'd be so flip about this if you had family in Florida. Of course, the Dems won't have to worry about any storms hitting their convention, since St. Bam would divert it with a wave of his hand, right?
Madness:
Don't you mean the party of worshiping false prophets or is that false profits?
Hey Joe:
I live in Tampa and 3 of my 4 kids live in Florida; one of which is in Tampa, as well. So don't try and be so high and mighty on us. Besides, having lived in Florida for the last 26 years I can tell you that Tampa has NEVER been hit head-on by a hurricane in the last 100+ years. Accordingly, no reason to believe it will now. All people are doing is having a chuckle at Mittens's and the GOP's expense. If push came to shove, no one would actually wish members of the GOP or Tea Party die in a storm. Give it a rest.
And yes, our current President has enough good karma that the storm would divert if the Dems were stupid enough to have their convention in the state run by a skinhead who obtained his fortune committing Medicare and Medicaid fraud.
Is the Lord trying to tell the right wing wackos something? Oh well they won't listen anyway...their preachers know better....
Amen "justwrong". Gov. Rick Scott should not even be walking around as a free man. It's funny how everyone gripes about poor people taking advantage of government programs when 1 person like Rick Scott can steal enough money to make everyone else' dishonesty look like chump change. Largest Medicare fraud in history I believe? Yes? How many times did he "take the 5th" so he would have to testify against himself? 20-30 times? I believe he is a guest speaker at the convention.
Connie:
Preaching to the choir. Yes, I believe you are right. The liar-in-chief of Florida stole $2 Billion from the Medicare and Medicaid programs and got off with a slap on the wrist. Ever wonder why he only takes $1 in salary from Florida. It's because he earns over $80 Million on his investments; the investments he "owns" as a result of his fraud.
It is beyond frustrating that people in Florida are so stupid that they voted this criminal into office. But then, Floridians tend to vote against their best interests. Look what happened to our school system when that loser Jeb Bush was elected governor. He copied the horrible education plan his dumber brother put in place when he was governor of Texas. Teacher's in Florida are no longer allowed to teach. They are REQUIRED to teach the F-CAT. You know, even a monkey can memorize the answers if you repeat the same questions over and over again.
Does God hate the GOP ? In Texas, Republican Governor Rick Perry has had prayer services and special calls for rain, resulting in the worst drought conditions in Texas history.
In 2008, the GOP convention was in St. Paul, Minnesota and it was still interrupted by Hurricane Gustov.
Now, here we are 4 years later and the GOP is getting hit by a hurricane again.
Maybe its all the hot air being generated that is causing these hurricanes.
Well, if it does hit (or even just graze) Tampa, at least all the smell of sulfur will be washed out of the air.
Connie, and Just Wrong,
So explain why Obama cut $716 billion from Medicare in order to fund $1.9 trillion in new health care spending? Hmmmm? Read, learn, then talk.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/aroy/2012/08/16/fact-checking-the-obama-campaigns-defense-of-its-716-billion-cut-to-medicare/
(and dirp, too bad you don't have anything useful to contribute. Seems like you're blowing your share of hot air, too.)
Who knows maybe we'll get lucky and it'll blow Biden out to sea.
If they can get the hot air being generated at the convention to blow in a counter-clockwise direction, they will probably be able to neutralize the hurricane.
Kai:
Another happy Repub I see. First of all, current Florida Gov. Rick Scott stole the $2 Billion during the Bush Administration when over-sight was, politely said, lax.
As for the new Healthcare law, most of the Medicare cuts are due to the fact that the increase in premiums the insurance companies will receive will ultimate reduce costs.
I have a question for you. Why is it that you Republicans get so red-faced over the new Health insurance mandate? I ask because in Florida, we experience more than our fair share of fraud (all types, not limited to medical). Now, as for medical fraud, we have people fly in from other countries and give fake names and addresses, etc. and never pay 1 penny toward the medical bills they run up. We also have a lot of businesses that do not provide health insurance for their employees (DO NOT use the 'it's too expensive excuse', that is B.S. and you know it) and those employees do the same thing (run up medical bills because the E.R is their doctor of choice) and do not pay. So, here's my question: I believe everyone should pay something toward their own health care. Why do you (Republicans) prefer wasting state Medicaid money on people who skip on their bills rather than making people pay something??? Further, if all US citizens had insurance, the foreigners that steal medical services from us would be required to pay via credit card or whatever to obtain services. The current system of requiring hospitals to provide services before finding out if they will be paid anything is just stupid. Why should we (US taxpayers) have to pay someone else's bills when they pay nothing?
Looking forward to your answer.
More like Poetic Justice, since ALL of the GOP are deniers of Global Warming
I know this is not about the above artricle, but MSDNC did not have a comment section for the other article. Seems a D - Rep from Minnessota got in a bit of trouble. NO where in the article did it state his party affiliation. Gotta love MSNBC - always giving them Dems favoratism. Yet an article about the Republicans always has room for the trolls without anything better to do, to jump in and comment.
Get a job.
Here we go...the eternal BS that DEMS do not work. OF COURSE, WE ARE JUST SEATING AROUND WAITING FOR OUR WELFARE CHECK.
Just came from the Walmart, where a number of WHITE people that looked Republican were cashing their FOOD STAMPS, while I was paying with MY HARD EARNED CASH.
This should bring the "Finger Of God" theorists out in full force!
God is a Woman, and she is not happy with the GOTea... lol.
Don't you really mean the Fickle finger of fate award?
Just like the GOP will bring jobs to Florida, so does a hurricane.
We can only hope they get blown out to sea and never heard from again.
A DARK CLOUD is about to cover the GOP Convention, maybe God is trying to tell you something. Love thy neighbor, help those in need, do lie, do not steal, And no I do not wish any harm to anyone, but be aware that lightening is about to strike your souls!
Sorry typo error, should say do not lie
Ominous sign.
Especially for aken a**holes.
One can only hope.
The Dems wish death and destruction on people so they can gain an edge. Goes to show you what kind of people they are low life scum bags. Ihope the dam thing goes out to sea.
It's God's wrath! he is finally fed up with this loony tune party like everyone else!
Joe Scarborough,a republican mouth piece, hit the nail on the head when he said" He was tired of being the party of stupid", they can't help themselves because as any informed,rational thinking person knows, they are and have been stupid for the last fifty years.
If Joe Scarborough is so tired of being with the party of stupid, why not invite him over to join the smart people?
Scarborough is in the company of stupid 5 days a week. He knows who butters his bread and he wants to keep his cush gig by keeping stupid people (Democrats) happy.
Ignorant GOP people. Starting with that jacka*** Michelle Bachman, that is telling "science is on her side"when she is saying that the earth was created in 7 days, and the theory of evolution is trash.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-zimmerman/michele-bachmans-stance-o_b_868771.html
And now we have A POSSIBLE SENATOR, saying tht women can't get pregnant if they get raped, because the body "will shut down"
They deny Global Warming as a HOAX, and GOD will take care of all, drill baby, drill, that stupid asinine Sarah Palin.
The deny the history of the planet, and science. The only TRUTH IS THE BIBLE. How is that different from the Taliban, that says that the ONLY TRUTH IS THE KORAN?
They are embarrasing the Scientific community. Not only they are STUPID and IGNORANT, but the whole world thinks that all Americans are STUPID LIKE THEM.
Mitt Romney etch-a-sketch will change his ideas immediately if he is elected. He will be just LIKE THEM.
"They deny the history of the planet, and science. The only TRUTH IS THE BIBLE. How is that different from the Taliban, that says that the ONLY TRUTH IS THE KORAN?"
They're becoming more and more like the people they hate everyday and taking this country with them and they don't even see it. They call themselves American's but they don't remind me of the America I remember. Who are these people and where do they come from?
Funny.While it would be no loss if somehow the whole lot of them were wiped off the face of the earth,the same could be said of dems.ALL of our govt,both parties are derelict in their duties to the American people.Just think,if the govt did its' job,we wouldn't even HAVE a debate about illegal immigrants
For all those people who deny science and scoff at climate change - can't really wish you lots of luck on this one. Just deny Isaac even exists.
Take a leisurely walk on the beach. Catch some rays. Grab a tan.
These clowns don't exactly live in reality, anyway.
Also, if a hurricane were to hit, Willard "tricky dick" Romney would say "don't call the government, let the private sector take over"
Obama/Biden 2012
Oh, the private sector will be out in full force all right. Every fly by night, unregulated, rip off artist "contractor" and construction worker in the US will be making a bee-line for Florida to help "create jobs" while ripping off hurricane victims. Seen it a hundred times.
Just remember Connie, the Republican party is against government regulation of any kind.
well sure, EXCEPT when it involves semen and vaginas
Dirp
Not of any kind. Republicans understand moderate regulation but they also understand that over regulation is a curse that will kill incentive and production.
We will see what all of the "this is God's punishment" people will say now. I think that they will probably get very quiet!
@PatB
God does not work in that way.
mike: well, if He hits Tampa in the midst of Romney saying God is on his side, maybe God will work that way.
We can only hope :)
They are very quiet. There usually out in full force here.
Wouldn't it be funny if Isaac picked up the convention building and they all floated away and never returned? Awesome.
The Wizard of Oz was a fairy tale, not real life. In real life, hurricanes, much like tornadoes destroy property and kill people. I don't much care for the GOP and would like it if they got 'hell scared out of them'; however, wishing them to be hurt or killed, not so much. That will only bring about bad karma.
Maybe it would just be a cleanse of the Earth!
Well isn't this ironic.....The party that just recently stopped believing in Climate Change will now get up close and personal with some.
It will all work out though...just like gay-dom they will just pray it away. You know b/c God loves all war- mongering, classist, racists who hate women. Good times will be had
Oh yes... a hurricane in Florida during hurricane season is indicative of climate change. Idiot.
Quite a "coincidence" I must say.... On the other hand,...
I hope it's a "legitimate" hurricane.
Yes and as we all know Florida has a way of keeping hurricanes from actually doing any damage once they make landfall, oh... I'm sorry I really didn't mean to say that, I believe I read it in a book some where.
@Robert:
WELL SAID! Ok, but seriously, if it just takes Akin, we'd all be better off with one less village idiot who thinks women's personal rights belong to a man's rule. Let us women rule on jerking Viagra off the market and see where it lands! I think it might come up a little short.
Oh my my, oh hell yes...
almost time to put on your party dress?
It's not nice to fool with mother nature!
Not very damned smart either!
Only the science-illiterate GNoP would schedule a major event in the southeastern US during the height of hurricane season! Maybe this is karma to cull the herd...
While some of the political jabs you're making are extremely funny, please keep in mind that there are residents of Florida that will be affected by a hurricane, and they'll be the ones to deal with the aftermath long-term when the conventioneers are long gone.
@lawful
THE Dems don't care who gets hurt as long as they benefit.The proof of that is just look at the past 33 months
This is just a sign of the times!
I think that the "Tea Baggin", "Welfare Collecting", "Hypocrites", should scrap the Convention and try to find a viable candidate for 2016!
They could save their money and give to all of their "Government Assistance Relatives" who are on the GOVERNMENT'S payroll!
Willard Mitt Romney, instead of the Covention, do a Power Point Presentation of 5 years of your most recent tax returns! That would be more interesting that listening to you and your Racist followers!!! Crisco Christy would look better on stage in 2016 if he lost about 150 pounds!!!!
Lyin Ryan would realize that he is an empty suit and Georgie Bush can give the keynote address because in 4 years most people won't remember how he screwed-up the economy!!!!!
MITT THE TWIT TRICKY DICK AND LYIN RYAN (AYAN RAND) WILL LOSE BY A LANDSLIDE!!
OBAMA/BIDEN 2012
Savannah, savannah...
You are far to upset over this. Don't worry, the smart people will vote and Pres. Obama will get re-elected, of this I have no doubt. People will vote for Pres. Obama if for no other reason than it will cause the GOP-Tea Bagger's racist heads to explode. Name one person who isn't waiting for all those tea-party "journalists" (you know, Larry Kudlow, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly and their ilk) to go completely bat-$hit on the air when Pres. Obama's re-election is announced.
Relax and enjoy the ride.
Mainline Conservative Christians oughta see this as a classic "Biblical Jonah and the Whale" prophecy, and well...warning.
I don't scoff at climate change because the climate changes all the time. I scoff at the folks who rail and rant about the forces of nature like they can change things when climate change and variations have been going on since this earth was formed. We have always had hurricanes, floods, tornados, earthquakes, blizzards and other forces of nature. Mankind cannot control it, doesn't contribute a whole lot to its effects and is very poor at predicting weather.
Stop and think, millions of years ago when the dinosaurs and huge water reptiles ruled the earth the general agreement among most scientist is that the earth was considerably warmer to support the plant life and the creatures that survived on it. There is no known plant life or large reptiles today and it has been said that those plants and animals cold not survive in the colder climate that we have. We will always have cycles of hot / cold, wet / dry periods but it seems to me that our climate has gotten colder.
The problem today is that we have so much instant information at our fingertips we base the present on our narrow view of the present and forget that there were probably more extremes in the past. The problem is that there was no real reliable way for the past generations to accurately record events and no real time comparisons.
Unfn' believable that you could actually put this out for others to see how ignorant you are.
jdaniels1 A**hole.
There is no known plant life or large reptiles today and it has been said that those plants and animals cold not survive in the colder climate that we have???????/What is this supposed to mean?Crocodiles and ferns and the like survived and are still here in basically the same form from 100 million years ago...I am glad to see at least you don't think that the earth is only five thousand years old like some of the GOP.....Maybe the large reptiles you are talking about didn't want to get on Noah's Ark...HAHHAHHA
One big bag of wind ( Isaac ) supplants another big bag of wind ( Mitt ).
Isaac for President in 2012 !
Oh I'm so hoping this will happen so it will be the same weekend as the DNC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Has anybody asked Pat Robertson, John Hagee, or Michelle Bachmann what this means?
All you people( and I use that term sparingly ) that think "Barry the Happy Kenyan" is the Savior of the free world, are all really F""ked in the head. He is the worst piece of dog sh*t that has ever walked the face of this earth. And don't even fu**ing start with the racist bullsh*t, because I am a minority. You stupid idiots who voted for that rag-head loving socialist are the reason why unemployment is still over 8%, why people have lost their jobs, houses, and life savings. That f**king jack a** hasn't earned any respect, and will be just another morning flush come November.
Just because your a minority doesn't mean you can't be a racist, but one thing is very obvious,you are a foul mouthed half-wit.
@ Karl
WAY TO GO.Best post of the day and so true.
@Karl, at least you made me truly laugh out loud.
As an Independent I've come to the conclusion that the currrent cadre of politicians on both sides are nothing but a bunch of carnival barkers mouthing their intractable 'schtick' outside the circus tent to lure unsuspecting passerby into their lair. At this point I can only hope that enough sanity pevails with both parties to stop the finger pointing and begin a real and honest dialogue regarding the many problems that this nation now faces.
For starters, the GOP needs to understand that the Victorian Age of steam engines and gas lamps is long past and that 150 million women and the GLBT community are not second-class citizens. They also need to own up to the fact they want to skewer SS, Medicare & Medicaid for the many seniors and disabled who need some reliance that the benifits that they worked for will be there for them. On the flip side, the Dems need to get a clue on immigration and actually securing the border, getting the hell out of 'Afghastlystan', and growing a pair by getting the very profitable Fortune 500 corporations to pay their fair share, re-invest here in America and stop the continued offshoring of industry and precious jobs. Just sayin' ..
Peace to all ~
The darn religous right have really pissed off God. Wondering just how are they going to keep their silk suits and barbie hair from getting all messed up. Somehow they will blame this on Obama. Just wait a couple days...
Obviously, this is God's punishment for homophobes.
i live in fort lauderdale, not looking forward to this storm. but i do think it is "God" trying to tell them something.....!!