GOP convention opens, reveals debt clock, and adjourns

(CBS News) TAMPA, Fla. - With several bangs of the gavel, the Republican National Convention kicked off without much fanfare as the first day's session officially lasted less than 60 seconds after the agenda was scrapped because of Hurricane Isaac.

At precisely 2 p.m. ET, Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus called the convention to order and immediately announced that the convention "stands in recess subject to the call of the chair."

Priebus also unveiled two debt clocks that hung from the arena walls. One showed the current amount of the national debt and the second will count the amount of debt accumulated during the convention. The ticker clocked in at $13 million in the first ten minutes.

Convention organizers canceled Monday's schedule due to Hurricane Isaac, which is making its way westward through the Gulf of Mexico. Although the storm blew by Tampa Sunday night and did no damage, the action was a precaution to protect the safety of delegates traveling to the region, ease up Tampa's resources in case of an emergency and ensure images of Republicans partying during a storm are not blasted across the media.

Speakers slated to speak Monday have either been rescheduled to address the convention in the remaining three days or have given up their time slots. Florida Governor Rick Scott and Lousiana Govenor Bobby Jindal will not be attending the convention, instead they're staying home to deal with Isaac.

During the short session Monday, the Tampa arena holding the Republican event was mostly empty with media outnumbering the few hundred delegates who bothered to attend, mostly to pick up souvenirs and see the convention floor.

While the first days proceedings have been canceled, events outside the convention continue, including various political forums and parties.

[HolyHandGrenades]

National Debt Clock at GOP Convention? I think the Dems should have one too. Except theirs would rank modern presidents and the % of debt grown from their inauguration to the helicopter ride home. So, from lowest to highest: Clinton-35%; Obama-41.4%; Carter-42.3%; Bush I-55.6 %; Bush the 'W'-89%, and, drumroll, Reagan, the 'deficit hawk' at 188.6% When the right talks about how the debt has grown as much in 3 years under Obama as the previous 8 under 'W' (about 5 trillion), it might be nice to point out that Obama gets the pleasure of trying to pay an annual interest of about 454 billion accumulated under previous administrations. Or better yet, it would be nice to understand or debate the public policy choices that underwrote all of that debt rather than politicize it to the end of no real understanding whatsoever.

[qyeteye]

w8qf - Republican lies - 716Bil cut from medicare = 1/2 truth. 1/2 truth left out to distort the story is money returned to the people's treasury from the profiteers of privatized Medicare program management and markup.

Sad to see a once decent party prostitute itself for all the corporate dollars flowing in to move a myth.

[nearl451]

SO with the debt clock in the background, is the main theme going to be the debt OR the economy....because in the sort term it cannot be both.

Long term demand growth (like the middle class of the 50'sand 60's) is the key.

[bbglow]

The clock is actually a republican wealth increase meter ... the smaller one is additional wealth anticipated if elected ...

[venusvegasvada]

They should just leave it at that and adjourn.

[ghostcommander]

Those that wear the Republican label on the stage at the convention are not traditional Republicans. They are Lunatics, totalitarian and incompetent with absolutely nothing to offer that is positive for the American citizens.
They wrecked the economy under covert president cheney and his puppet 'duh' bush jr., and increased the National Debt over 100% more than all previous Presidents combined.
Did you think they would co-operate with the Democrats to fix their own mess?
Well, they decided to obstruct and even sabotage the economy to prevent a recovery so they could blame President Obama.

Did they consider the fact they were economically hurting the American citizens, just to be spiteful of President Obama?

Were their efforts of obstruction adolescent? Did their obstruction show they were Sadists?

[TimeToEvo1ve]

Republicons come and then they go. Sounds like what is happening to the whole damned Republicon Party now that their true nature has come out.

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Republicans are rigging the elections trying to steal it with these unnecessary VOTER I.D. LAWS and they have yet to pay the appropriate price for subverting our constitution and democracy. The media print, video and digital are complicit in allowing this. The media and our government would be shouting what republicans are doing at every chance if this were going on in country of one of our enemies. But it's accepted because it's happening here in America?

HELL NO!

Republicans must be held to account for this attack to subvert our democracy. Republicans should be attacked by libertarians, liberals, conservatives, tea partiers and other groups in addition to the media for subverting our right to vote.

[TimeToEvo1ve]

Republicons come and then they go. Sounds like what is happening to the whole damned Republicon Party now that their true nature has come out.

[Filmguy870]

stay adjourned.....please!

[YourRearViewMirror1]

Folks,

Every 4 years we hear the same ideological song 'I will cut taxes, reduce government size and eliminate regulations' to create jobs.

At what point do we stop cutting taxes, stop reducing government and stop eliminating regulations?

Today, American Corporations are creating Millions and Millions of good paying jobs but overseas.

[retmw1]

w8

Actually NAFTA was a republican plan going back to bush 1. Who controlled the congress when NAFTA was passed. Better look it up before you start pointing fingers.