GOP Heads Out On Caribbean Cruise To Re-Plot

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.

Comments

[Apis]

Just somethings that popped into my head:

Are they trying to escape the reach of the NSA? Thinking that maybe Obama may use the power like Bush? Paranoia of losing?

[Steamboater]

The SS Titanic sails again.

[Ljeff79]

I love how the top of the GOP is on a luxury cruise trying to figure out how to regain political power.
Meanwhile most of us are just trying to figure out where the rent is going to come from.

Maybe instead of focusing on the politics they should be discussing how they messed up the economy and what to do to fix it.. I doubt that's ever gonna happen, though.

The economic meltdown is Bill Clinton and Barney Frank's fault, after all.

[collegemadhous]

um correct me if I'm wrong..but Bill Clinton balanced the budget and brought the National debt to zero, whereas boy George has taken the National debt into the trillions.

[Ljeff79]

I was being sarcastic :)

[rw97]

Caribbean Cruise? Sounds like a remake of The Love Boat with Fred Thompson as the Captain and Romney as the purser.

[bored2tears]

Where is Willem Dafoe when you need him?

(That was a "Speed 2: Cruise Control" reference. Too obscure?)

[BlackJAC]

Requesting Anthony Heald--and thereby referencing DEEP RISING--would've been even more obscure.

[mrasgram]

political outsider the following sounds like a new world order thing. In 2007 Palin was lobbying. Veery fishy.... 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....

[unhhockey]

I bet Mitt wears a speedo out on the deck.

[reggieb]

They went to the Caribbean to visit the money they've squirreled away to avoid paying taxes. While high on the smell of money, they will discuss politics.

[avon96734]

OK...so the National Review had an influential role regarding Sarah Palin; maybe not such a good idea to go on a cruise sponsored by them to plot their "comeback," hmm?

[groucho]

This is an article about the Republican elite. They called on Sarah at her mansion in 2007. She said she was an outsider, new to the ways of DC, a maverick. And yet these people broke bread with her. Sarah is a pathological liar. And Mittens is going to take her down for us.

[olgraydawg]

No pole dancers? No Palm Beach Boys Choir? No place for Palin? Must be ready for the rapture...

[mapleaforever]

These people are too much; expensing it, no doubt.

Can't help but think of South Park "Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride" episode every time I see this headline.

[firewmn]

**
So Gilligan & The Skipper set sail but they forgot... Mary Ann..!!
**

[bored2tears]

You are too funny. Love it!

[causticgit]

...you know, guys, most people just RENT A HALL. When the nation's drowning, you don't sail by on your private yacht and then ask the deceased to toss YOU a vote. ALL parties should stop this kind of thing, shame on both Dems and Repubs.

At least Thompson's honestly taking it for what it's worth: vacation.

[ElBruce]

"At least Thompson's honestly taking it for what it's worth: vacation."

Except that that's also how he took his presidential campaign.

[athenasword]

You'd think they would be concerned about a hurricane.... seems their luck isn't so good in the natural disaster-type-weather department.