I wonder if Obama and the rest of the Democratic Party on the whole - but especially the bigwigs - realize that if Gustav is half the storm it sounds like it might be, they ought to be not out campaigning early next week, but pitching in in the Gulf states - as true leaders, not to mention intelligent politicans, might.

Particularly if the Republicans go ahead and yuk it up in the Twin Cities. But I’m sure the GOP will express heartfelt concerns in between trying to lacerate Democrats - which will make them look exactly as small as they are.

Or perhaps they can cancel their convention and lose whatever momentum they might have gained with Palin’s appointment.

The first concerns of the country this weekend need to be about the storm, and the people who will be in the way of it. Maybe it won’t be as damaging as Katrina; maybe people will be able to get out of the way, maybe they’ll have something left when they return. You might donate to the American Red Cross or similar groups that are mobilizing to help out. Even if Gustav spares the coast completely - this has to be the most frightening thing that happens to people in their lives (as the Times-Picayune’s Nola.com notes, Ray Nagin is calling this the “mother of all storms,” and evacuees are being told to “prepare as if you’ll never return“).

But as the weather has had an effect on politics in the past, so might it this time. McCain and the GOP may need a bigger umbrella.