Romney: ‘We cannot afford’ disaster relief

“I’m not sure what Romney was thinking in those remarks. I suspect, however, that this is what happens when a party becomes so trapped in its rhetoric that it no longer recognizes rational bounds or even basic compassion”

Like Obamacare. Does nothing for the average guy but makes the Health Insurance Companies richer than ever before.

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“It is simply immoral…” says the guy who got rich working at Bain & Co. advising corporations to ship American jobs overseas.

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Well, that’s a democratic campaign commercial that needs to run in every county that has or will declare a state of emergency/disaster
from now until November 2012.

Cantor’s comments can be included as well.

Another GOP “up yours” moment that needs to be driven home HARD.

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It is simply immoral, in my view, for us to continue to rack up larger and larger debts and pass them on to our kids, knowing full well that we’ll all be dead and gone before it’s paid off. It makes no sense at all.

If I had been the interviewer, I would have immediately asked Romney for his views on endless spending on war and lucrative no-bid defense contracts.

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I note that first post, supports the damning accusation of Romney’s foot in mouth disease, or attempts to refute it, rather than just mindlessly spinning off into some unrelated attack on the president in knee jerk fashion.

At this rate, Mitt is going sink himself, before he even gets going…

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Jay, I took his answer to mean that you keep the good things and get rid of the bad things. He never said to get rid of FEMA.

He said try to let the PRIVATE sector do the job, as they usually do it better & cheaper, and he also said to send some of it back to the states.

You must still be squirming about the debates, Obama is done in 2012.

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“The state of Missouri, like most states, is struggling to balance its budget and could not possibly have funded the billion-dollar relief effort launched in the wake of the disaster in Joplin. ”

Now all of the sudden, all this concern for the states? Again, Obamacare and what it will do to the state’s budgets seems to be that old elephant stomping around in the living room.

Let’s lower the amount paid out in food stamps by encouraging job growth. Give companies real incentives for moving to our shores and get the economy going again. Reduce the amounts of money that we are needing to borrow. You know, that capitalist thing, the budget will heal and these won’t even be issues.

Or would you rather have the largest number of people on welfare in history, like the Clown has dumped on this country? Would you rather have sky high gas prices so we don’t buy as much gas, pushing food costs through the roof?

The problem Jay, is that anything like this that you bring up can always be traced back to the incompetence of the community organizer and his Weather Underground friends.

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Jay

Over there is the problem. Get the clown out of the White House and take control of the Senate away from the failed policies of the democrats. We will fix the economy.

One thing is for sure, the democrats who haven’t even submitted a budget for two years HAVE TO GO. they can’t even do their job because they are so afraid of stepping on someone’s toes and losing a vote.

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professional skeptic

Want to see something immoral?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/13/us/politics/13donor.html

The event, organized by the Democratic National Committee, kicked off an aggressive push by Mr. Obama to win back the allegiance of one of his most vital sources of campaign cash — in part by trying to convince Wall Street that his policies, far from undercutting the investor class, have helped bring banks and financial markets back to health.

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Romney’s an idiot for wanting to cut waste and fraud out of disaster relief.

Issue everyone debit cards and be done with it.

Happy now?

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*facepalm*

YES WE CAN AFFORD DISASTER RELIEF.

FFS, we have been in debt for a lot longer than this. Someone needs to just stand up and say when it comes to helping our fellow humans, especially people in our OWN COUNTRY, money is no object. We have billions to send overseas, billions to spend on disaster relief and nation building in other countries, we can build schools, plumbing, etc all abroad, but we can’t afford to spend money helping people during a disaster HERE? No, I dont’ buy it.

If you want to cut spending, cut it abroad first. And raise taxes OR stop proposing ANY tax cuts. Otherwise, I’m not listening, and neither should you.

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Mitt is another dude whose dirty laundry is coming into view. This voter fraud thing, saying he’s living in his kid’s basement while owning multi-million dollar homes in other states? Fantastic. Makes me think he IS like all the other Republicans after all. He thinks we are too stupid to see for ourselves. Like I said, Fantastic.

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professional skeptic

June 15th, 2011
9:02 am

“It is simply immoral…” says the guy who got rich working at Bain & Co. advising corporations to ship American jobs overseas.

Yup, wonder how the moderates will feel when they find out Romney’s “business experience” was as an LBO hatchet man.

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Private enterprise? Oy, gevalt! Have some people completely taken leave of their senses? How, pray tell, can private interprise respond to utter and total destruction on such a massive scale? Charities…yes, they do respond quickly, readily and more effectively in the immediate aftermath, but their resources are even more limited than the public sector here. Food? Yes, I can see agribusiness sending in tons of supplies the next day and doing it as a public service for their fellow citizens in need. Charities,,,yes, Clothing? Right there with food, Shelter? Yeah, private enterprise and charity…they’ll have a roof over the folks’ heads in the next night. Get real, the recovery of these areas IS the responsibility the government.

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Let’s just ditch the whole “United” thing?

If we are paying taxes to be a part of a bigger thing and half rthe people want to be part of the bigger thing but don’t want to pay to support the bigger thing, then maybe we see how they like it without it.

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Good Little Liberal

SHHHHH…don’t tell anybody BUT – his weather underground friends are flown in on AF 1 regularly for a pick up game. It’s them versus Obama, Satan, J.R. Ewing, Ann Coulter and The Riddler.

Please don’t tell anybody – can’t let it get to Matt Drudge.

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Keep Up

Sort of missed the point, kid.

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GLL: Again, Obamacare and what it will do to the state’s budgets seems to be that old elephant stomping around in the living room.

Oh? And what is it going to do to the state budgets, exactly?

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PP
@ 9:13

“Josef & Cowboy will love you for that one”

In relation to what?

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Why josef, I am sure that the private sector can have tons of trucks and equipment just waiting for an emergency. Don’t you understand that GA Power has thousands of trucks and crews. When disasters happen here in Georgia, they dont even have to ask other power companies in other states to lend crews and equipment. It really makes economic sense for them to have all that extra equipment just sitting around in the event of a possible disaster. [snark]

Oy, gevalt is right.

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josef

June 15th, 2011
9:22 am

Private enterprise? Oy, gevalt! Have some people completely taken leave of their senses?

Must be a rhetorical question

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Nonsense GLL child, no you have missed the point, squirt.

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“What should we keep? We should take all of what we’re doing at the federal level and say, what are the things we’re doing that we don’t have to do? And those things we’ve got to stop doing, because we’re borrowing $1.6 trillion more this year than we’re taking in. ”

Wrong Jay….appears you are the one eating the baloney sandwich.

“All of what we are doing”………….you have a new definition for “all”?

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Where to begin on this heaping pile of bovine fecal matter……

Romney needs to be himself and quit parroting party points. The same goes for all candidates. It’s time out for this party first crap. When a candidate answers a question, I want to know what that candidate’s idea is, not what the party’s idea is. We’ve seen that in action for the past 30-40 years from both sides, and that’s why we’re up to our ears in sh*t creek right now.

Disaster relief is best dealt with by the Feds. Contrary to popular opinion, the private sector already has a huge stake and involvement in disaster relief. I don’t think it’s government workers who come in after a disaster and perform all the necessary functions to get communities back on their feet. I seem to recall that there are insurance adjusters, debris haul-off companies, contractors, and other people involved in helping a community through a disaster. If someone can point out the federal employees in that or any group, please do so.

We’ve already seen the effects of “private sector” disaster relief after Katrina. I can recall that State Farm refused to renew insurance for anyone living along the Gulf Coast. Once they made that decision, I dropped my SF homeowners faster than Marion Barry dropping a rock of Crack when he see’s the cops.

People are so damn ate up by rhetoric nowadays, nobody can even see the problem that has resulted. People answer and react to questions like we’ve been invaded by pod people. This country used to be the leader in innovation and adaptation. Now, everybody’s parroting the same friggin’ answers like some alien chorus group. It’s a damn shame.

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Despite the political and even religious diatribe, most of which is innuendo and false accusations from the undereducated against Romney…

It’s still going to be about the economy and who can get the job done!

Romney knows and understands world economics. In the private sector, for most of his life, he successfully and profitably managed large businesses, helped turn around large companies that were sinking and helped other companies get started, saving and creating thousands of jobs, Domino’s Pizza and Staples to name just a few of many.

Funny. Half of MA loves what Romney did, the other half hate him, maybe because he left after completing only one term. Maybe he is not a “career” politician, do you always need a “career” politician to get the job done?

Yes, he worked as the MA governor for his entire term for FREE!!! Who else would have done that!?

As governor, Romney reduced corporate loopholes and cut state spending in order to cut taxes and increase consumer spending. MA had a huge deficit, about 2 Billion dollars when he started, and he left MA with a 600 million surplus and balanced budget at the end of his term (yes, he raised state “fees”, but still kept them below the national average). He can’t help it if the government screwed up after he left.

MA’s super majority Democrat controlled legislature wanted desperately some kind of Universal Health care program. Romney worked with them to create one that would work, similar to mandated auto insurance (most states have such mandates). It is estimated that 98% of the residents are now covered. It was within projected budget (about 1% of the State budget) until Romney left and MA made changes to the program and now it is costing them. Romney believes that states — not the federal government — should be free to design their own plans for covering the uninsured if that is what they want to do.

He compromised on some political issues in order to keep the state government working together and moving forward.

He turned around a struggling 2002 Winter Olympics with millions in debt and made it into one of the most profitable Olympics in history. And only took a $1 dollar salary. Who else would have done that!?

He is against federalization and big government and believes in state’s rights to govern their own affairs.

He lives the example and believes in marriage and the importance of family.

He is for a strong military and believes the borders should be better protected.

The list of real positives is far greater than the supposed list of negatives.

And the Democrat Party is most afraid of Romney.

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“Do I hate what he is doing to my country. Absolutely”

Hate to break this to you at this late date, but it’s not YOUR country and the world isn’t ALL about you.

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Disaster relief…we can not afford it…but millions to “prevent” non-existent voter fraud (well other than Mitt’s, that’s okay cause IOKIYAR) that we can afford. Let the people die.

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Keep Up

Try to understand. I made the point. So how could I have missed it?

Is it going to be another day of this?

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Diversion trolls are sooo 2006.
Talk about annnnything else but their con draconia.

The people & government of JAPAN, JA-freakin-PAN, sent $200,000
to disaster relief here.

America is sick of these cons.

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The thing is, Romney’s right. We can’t afford. Hell the way the gov’t headed now we can’t afford a lot of things. And everyone here knows it. But we’re still going to help ‘Bama, Missouri, etc anyways.

Now maybe if we got our nose out of other counties business…maybe we afford disaster relief here at home.

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Taking out the King interruption, this is what you get:

“ROMNEY: Absolutely. Every time you have an occasion to take something from the federal government and send it back to the states, that’s the right direction. And if you can go even further and send it back to the private sector, that’s even better. Instead of thinking in the federal budget, what we should cut — we should ask ourselves the opposite question. What should we keep? We should take all of what we’re doing at the federal level and say, what are the things we’re doing that we don’t have to do? And those things we’ve got to stop doing, because we’re borrowing $1.6 trillion more this year than we’re taking in. We cannot afford to do those things without jeopardizing the future for our kids. It is simply immoral, in my view, for us to continue to rack up larger and larger debts and pass them on to our kids, knowing full well that we’ll all be dead and gone before it’s paid off. It makes no sense at all. ”

An honest individual will see that the man is focused on the overall debt…….not disaster relief.

It’s a cost analysis answer from the big picture perspective………………..unless ALL now has a different meaning…..which Jay seems to think it does.

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GLL, apparently you are under the mistaken impression that I read all of your posts and that I believe you have the capability to say anything intelligent that would be a point other than the point on hte top of your hat….move along squirt.

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that’s a democratic campaign commercial that needs to run in every county that has or will declare a state of emergency/disaster from now until November 2012.

Pains me to say this but… by “democratic” do you by some chance mean our surrender-monkey national Dems?

the DNC?

The ones who have allowed the Ryancare Coupon Book to register about 1/37th as high on the public’s awareness level as Weinergate?

GG, I love ya and all that, but you know better by now, don’t you? The fix is in. Tonight ain’t our night, kid. Nor will tomorrow night, nor any night, until we’ve purged the DLC corporatist a-holes and elected men and women who’ll take their own side in a fight, and shove a shiv into the heart of American “conservatism.” I suspect it will get a whole lot uglier before it gets better.

And on that cheery note, I must cease multitasking and devote my energies to producin’ my own little emergency bunker. Later, all.

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Keep Up

When you respond to a post, perhaps you should actually read that post first. You can crow all you want about intelligence, but so far this morning, you are not doing so well.

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josef

I’d agree that the power companies tend to have the best response plans and execute them to the best of their ability. I’m not sure what those recent tornadoes cost them, but I do know that a huge part of TN and North AL were without power for days because of the magnitude of destruction that TVA absorbed. They were back up and running before most debris had been cleaned off.

It may be because of the Southern Co. being the parent company for many of the different utilities. Maybe that enables them to move resources from state to state quickly and efficiently where others don’t have that advantage. You can watch the highways after disasters, or even when hurricanes approach, and you will see lines of bucket trucks heading into the direction of the storm to get ready to repair things once the weather clears up.

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“Never intended to be a factual statement but we’ll repeat the nonsense incessantly because only the gullible believe this.”

Somebody must sit in some dark corner and only view the world from left wing blogs and their leftist propaganda Web sites. “because only the ignorant don’t believe this.” Fixed your typo…no thank you required.

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“The reason the Federal government takes on disaster relief is BECAUSE the private sector doesn’t get the job done in an efficient or acceptable manner”

Yep, hence: government must step in when the private sector won’t step up

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gll

Yes, putting the brakes to destroying the social safety net. You guys crack me up. Lay waste to the economy during your time, then blame the results on the next administration. The bush economy of 05-06 and the real estate bubble got us where we are today – everyone except the rich are broke…

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Jay, we get it. The question is about disaster relief. And Romney’s correct…we can’t afford it. But we’re going to do it anyways.

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Normal: But wait! You don’t suppose it’s because the disaster victims are mostly lower class, do you?

No, I actually think it is because they are completely morally corrupt to the core, and value a dollar more than they value anything else, including human life. If it came down to a choice between spending cuts and ending abortion, they would choose spending cuts. If it came down to a tax hike to prevent the earth from being destroyed by a meteor, they would let the earth be destroyed by a meteor. If it comes to oil drilling versus the destruction of the entire Gulf coast? We already know the answer to that one too.

Private companies and the almighty dollar. Greed. This is all they care about when the rest of the layers of masks and bullsh*t are stripped away.

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Well, up here, when we have a disaster a bunch of us get together and put the trailer back on the blocks. Then we patch the holes and pound out the dents and nobody has to pay nothing. We might pool some money and go to Home Depot to get some stuff to do the patching. I don’t see why that won’t work in Joplin or anyplace else.

I’m tired of being overtaxed every time somebody shows up on TV crying because his property got a little banged up by the wind or floods. If they need to, they could get the property owner to sign for a big loan from Private Innerprize that could be paid off over the owner’s lifetime. That’s better than taxing me to help somebody I don’t even know.

It’s a jungle out there and it’s every man for hisself. We don’t need the do-gooders using guvmint money to help every Tom, Dick, and Harry out. If they need help, they can show up at church and say Praise Jesus and get it. Heck, I’d toss in a nickel or so if the story was sad enough. But it better be good. I’m always on the lookout for people that never took Personal Responsibility.

Have a good Wednesday everybody.

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“we can’t afford it. But we’re going to do it anyways”

Disaster relief isn’t really a question of “can we afford it?” – it’s a question of “can we afford NOT to do it?”

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Mick

Again: So what is so much better now that the Democrats have been in charge of Congress since 2007 and the White House since 2009? Can you name anything?

You can talk the party line all you want. Just answer the simple question. You know that it will be the question that defeats Obama. And it is incredibly telling that you avoid answering the question.

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“And all of that quote, md — every single word — was uttered in the clear and actually sole context of disaster relief. Delivery of disaster relief wasn’t just part of a larger question, it was the entire question.

And you know it.”

No Jay….I don’t know it……what I read shows him starting from a single gov’t expenditure (disaster relief) and continues into the bigger picture with the entire federal budget………….

To read it any other way is being disingenuous…imo

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Peadawg,

“Say that 5 times to a mirror and maybe it’ll be true.”

Is that like the same as saying “we can’t afford it?” Hypocrite.

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Doggone: Disaster relief isn’t really a question of “can we afford it?” – it’s a question of “can we afford NOT to do it?”

IMO, it shouldn’t be a question at all.

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the facts are that more “private” resources not only contribute more to disaster reliefs but they come faster than what the government is going to do

there is little reason to believe that politicians are more compassionate or caring than the population that elected them. there is little reason to believe that politicians know the severity of the situation better than the community members who know the families affected . there is little reason to believe that politicians spend other peoples money more effectively than to those who it belongs to in the first place. therefore, when government gets involved, there is good reason to believe that much of its effort simply displaces what private people and groups would do better and more cost effectively if government stayed home.

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“It shouldn’t even be an issue”

And really, it isn’t. Some people just like to think they sound big by trying to make it one. It’s not really an issue until they get off their lazy backsides and go picket to stop the relief from being supplied to the victims. Which they’ll NEVER do.

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Joe Mama: It’s true. They ARE afraid of losing, due to being fed so much misinformation that Obama is “destroying” our country, when he isn’t. One thing I find funny is how everything is his fault, even stuff that happened when he wasn’t even in office.

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Good Little Liberal

I for one do not believe you.

You literally radiate hate, as Good Little Liberal, and all your previous iterations.

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gll

I’ve answered your silly question, bush and repubs wreck the economy (remember sept 08?) then in comes obama and the repubs demand that their mess be fixed pronto. I’m not saying that mistakes haven’t been made but the repubs have offered nothing but tax cuts, we know how well thats been working out…where are the jobs boehner?

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Bookman, you are a piece of “work.” Nowhere in his comments does he say we cannot afford disaster relief. You are making things up and twisting comments in a sad attempt to put down someone who might bet your beloved BHO in 2012…but then again, I expect nothing less from you.

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md

If Romney’s gonna take every question that asked about one area and try to expand it to the “big picture”, we’re gonna hear we can’t afford to breathe by the time November 2012 gets here. That’s what I don’t like about politicians. Just answer the damn question instead of trying to achieve world peace anytime somebody asks you something.

Anybody who thinks the fed government should not be involved in disaster relief has probably never had their home mowed down by a hurricane or tornado. They’ve probably never had to swim or boat to their home to try to save what little they can. It’s “we can’t afford it” until it happens to you. Then it becomes, “Where in the hell is the federal government?”

Enough of this, y’all have a good day…….

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“Nowhere in his comments does he say we cannot afford disaster relief.”

KING: Including disaster relief, though?

ROMNEY: We cannot — we cannot afford to do those things without jeopardizing the future for our kids

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And also, how am I a hypocrite? lol

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“It’s “we can’t afford it” until it happens to you. Then it becomes, “Where in the hell is the federal government?”

Yeap, just like the Obama haters who just last summer were blaming him for the oil spill. Consistency isn’t their thing.

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Allen Hughes: “What about WE ARE OUT OF MONEY do you people not understand. Until we take in far more than we spend, there is no money, so quit stealing it from future generations to fund excesses and comforts today”

Who’s the WE here, Allen?

Who told you “we” don’t have the money? Your GOP leaders? But how are they getting their figures? Are you SURE “we” don’t have the money? Do you think “we” might come a little closer to having the money if our governments had taxation levels more in line with historical levels and more like that of other industrial countries?

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They understand that if they help their brothers and sisters today, their brothers and sisters will be there for them tomorrow.

A novel concept for the “Me” generation.

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@@ — “I’m always amazed at the little things that provoke someone to file a claim.”

“Rock breaks a window? File a claim. A limb damages a small portion of the roof? File a claim. The neighbor’s dog pees on your rhododendron and it dies? File a claim. Wind turns over a glass top table…breaking the glass? File a claim. Water pipe breaks…damaging the sheetrock? File a claim.”

“Is there such a thing as self-reliance anymore?”

Surely you are not likening these minor mishaps to the sort of destruction folks experienced during the recent tornadoes, for example?

I honestly don’t think that’s what you mean to say, but you certainly do seem to be saying it. Could you clarify your position, please?

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Disaster relief, Medicare, Social Security, and Public Education are programs “for the People”,and should be considered untouchable. There are plenty more ways to cut our deficit without hurting those.

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“Yeap, just like the Obama haters who just last summer were blaming him for the oil spill.”

Yup and like the Bush haters who blamed him for Katrina. Let’s don’t rehash this stupid argument again….

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Interesting how the topic has morphed from “transferring the relief to States and Private companies” to “how dare him not wanting to provide relief”………….

No wonder we have problems……………

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“Which would apply to just about every major city in the country”

and not just major cities…try EVERYTHING. There is nowhere that is 100% disater free.

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@@,
“Is there such a thing as self-reliance anymore?”

Insurance is all well and good for the things you site, but in a disaster, Home Insurers will dance like the devil to try to pay as little as possible, just like health insurers do when you are too sick for them to make a profit. Then they will raise prices on all of the rest of us to pay for their losses.

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Peadawg,

I’ll be glad to rehash that argument if you will stay within the goal posts. The discussion is about whether or not we can afford disaster relief on the national level. And Katrina and the oil spill are an apple and orange scenario. So, rehash away if you dare.

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It’s now come to these pathetic attempts by the left to take what a candidate says out of context and paint the individual as cold and uncaring toward those who’re victims of disaster. The reason of course is that there’s no accomplishments or even a plan they can point to that this president and his administration has put forth. They can’t brag about how Obama has turned the economy around or how he’s handled the war on terrorism or how effective his foreign policy has been or how his stimulus program has produced jobs. Can’t do any of that, so all they can do is attack the opposition with exaggeration and supposition.

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Interesting how the topic has morphed from “transferring the relief to States and Private companies” to “how dare him not wanting to provide relief”………….

Because there’s no need for a transfer when things are already done that way. The only other transfer would be to transfer the bill to the private companies. Do you think they will pay for disaster mitigation? Contrary to popular opinion, the feds don’t have contractors, haul-off companies, or any of the other companies that actually do the work of rebuilding communities after a disaster. All the government does is provide the funds to do it. All the work is done by private companies. Are you suggesting that after a disaster, the people themselves should pay the companies directly?

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joe: “Bookman, you are a piece of “work.” Nowhere in his comments does he say we cannot afford disaster relief”

That’s BS, Joe. Romney said “We cannot afford those things without jeopardizing our kids future” and you know perfectly well that in saying it he was attacking the very idea of the community, the nation as a collective, an entity that takes responsibility for the entirety of that community.

@@: “Our church has an ongoing fund/food/clothing drive to help the folks in Sunnyside.”

You seem to be implying that private charity is the answer to the problem of calamity relief. But I don’t like that idea a bit, and one big reason is that that logic provides ideological cover for the capitalists like Mitt Romney, the strip miners of human lives (and if you like, go ahead and put Bill Gates, and why not, even George Soros, in that category, that’s fine with me). You see, I don’t like the idea of our nation having conversations about disaster relief in which responsibility gets discussed in the measly terms of private or faith-based relief efforts when we have alchemists on Wall Street (hedge fund manipulators) pocketing billions, sometimes in a single year, based only on their ability to manipulate alchemy-based mathematical calculations.

And also, another problem with relying on faith-based charity for disaster relief is it doesn’t take into account the atheists. The atheists ought to be supporting disaster relief, too, don’t you think?

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josef:

Speaking of things that the feds are good a regulating :

Does this surprise you?

“Just 13 percent of high school seniors who took the 2010 National Assessment of Educational Progress, called the Nation’s Report Card, showed a solid grasp of the subject. Results released Tuesday showed the two other grades didn’t perform much better, with just 22 percent of fourth-grade students and 18 percent of eighth-graders demonstrating proficiency.”

http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/report-students-dont-know-976575.html

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soco,

And I don’t necessarily think the feds are best equipped to handle all disasters……..what’s wrong with a conversation about each State gearing up for their own disasters with fed assistance when needed??

Most States have certain types of disasters over and over……hurricanes in FL, earthquakes in CA, tornadoes in the midwest………seems logical that the States would be the experts having to deal with those disasters on a yearly basis……….having the feds do it is a bit like the jack of all trades….master on none………….maybe it’s time to let the experts handle it………

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Joe Mama:

I’m saying that, as far as the homeowner is concerned, major disasters are covered under homeowners insurance. Don’t abuse it by expecting coverage for what, you, yourself can do.

If you don’t have homeowners insurance, then you gambled and lost.

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Presidents don’t decide these things. This would be something Congress would decide anyway. This is a pointless post. Now that Romney is the front-runner, Jay and others will try to find absolutely anything to get people to dislike him.

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Somewhat off topic: Beware the Pirates of the Disaster….free “hail” inspections are often scams. The contractor scammers show up right after the tree removal scammers.

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Your headline should read: “JOURNALIST PLAYS ‘GOTCHA’”.

So Romney agrees with John King’s premise that perhaps, in some instances, states could shoulder more responsibility in disaster relief. Ever read about “enumerated powers”? Romney also pointed out that we don’t have the money to do everything–repeat everything–that people want to do. And you disagree with that?

Nowhere did Romney say there is never a federal role in disaster relief.

And to think you stayed up late poring over the whole transcript in order to find a single “gotcha”.

How sad.

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O.K. you liberal lock-nuts what say ye now that the shoe is on the other foot?

Wilt thou be honest and consistant or wilt thou find an excuse for El Jefe (”Oh, it doesn’t apply to him in “this” situation”?)

HEADLINE: “Stepping up a simmering constitutional conflict, House Speaker John A. Boehner warned President Obama on Tuesday that unless he gets authorization from Congress for his military deployment in Libya, he will be in violation of the War Powers Resolution.’

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First of all we are the richest nation the world has ever known. The concept that “we cannot afford to do those things” — “those things” being assisting our fellow Americans in a time when they have lost everything as a result of natural disaster — is unacceptable.”

First, we are the largest in debt nation the world has ever known. Second,we cannot afford to assist our fellow Americans without going further in debt which we are unable to repay. We are in hock beyond our eyeballs. We have put ourselves in a financial position where we have no financial reserve for natural catastrophes. We have put our selves in this position through lack of planning. Our politicians have determined that it is more important to fund NPR, ACORN, bail out Unions, give money to political supporters, give money to our enemies and other useless ptograms rather than be prudent with our financial future. This stupid, short sighted, lack of planning continues and any suggestion of minimizing future insanity is met by derision from the big spending and borrowing left. We are in fact broke. Your attempt to make Romney seem hard hearted actually makes puts him a step above those in our government who don’t have enough sense to plan ahead. I saw our President, Barack Obama campagne in Joplin after his ping pong tour of Europe, tell the people of Joplin “we will not leave” and then he left. By the way. The people of Joplin should have insurance. And if they don’t, why should we borrow money from China to cover their poor planning. I have insurance in the event of fire or tornado. Should I pay for my neighbor’s fire if he doesn’t have insurance? H-ll no!

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Soul, God, Christian country, pro life all in one post. Impressive, Normal.

But in the real world that we live in, we need money to do those things(Medicare, SS, food stamps, defense, foreign aide). And notice I never ever said to do away with those…so please don’t exaggerate and act like I did. Cutting/reforming/restructuring the programs so we can actually afford them(there’s that real world money issue again) is what I’m talking about.

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Sure let’s increase funding to every program that we have. And let’s pave the streets with gold, and give everyone a white unicorn. After all, it’s free, we know that the Gov’t has plenty of money. It comes from Fairyland.

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md

That’s already the case. Georgia has GEMA as other states have their own EMA groups. They work with the Feds in getting things going. If I’m not mistaken, the new FEMA director is pushing the effort of having the state EMA more involved in disaster mitigations and FEMA serving as a supporter for whatever they need.

I agree with you, though, that the conversation needs to be held. I’d also add that partisaned agendas should be checked at the door. We’ll never get to the solution otherwise.

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The commentary is a little deeper than you portray Jay. You are doing the normal “republicans want folks to die and suffer” worthless dem talking points. I took the comment as states need to continue to get their act together so that they are more independent. Remember these are the same states yelling “don’t tread on me” re: healthcare.

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“You seem to believe that homeowners insurance will make you whole after a major disaster. I think we’ve seen in the last 10 years that it will not.”

I’ve seen in the past two years. To the tune of my homeowner’s insurance going through the roof during that time.

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He got too caught up in selling his soul to get elected that rationality went out of the window. The sad thing is that he is basically for implementing more tax, but there is no way that his base sees it that way. There is no scenario it doesn’t cost more unless you are in a state that never has disasters.

1. If the responsibility gets rolled down to the states, we aren’t going to cut the federal budget because that in no way helps our deficit problem. We’d keep the money and raise taxes in the states to balance the transfer of power.

2. The private sector would take their normal premium, plus they would put an additional premium (aside from the premium they get from being a contractor) onto the part they take from FEMA.

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Recon: “Faith based response to disaster events is an inconvenient truth that the left tries to ignore.”

But what if I’m looking forward to a day of mass secularism, a world of grey and dreary non-belief where people pass by old churches and wonder what all the fuss was about? How will we manage charity when that day comes, Recon?

BADA BING: “Sure let’s increase funding to every program that we have. And let’s pave the streets with gold, and give everyone a white unicorn.”

Sarcasm aside, I think you’re on to something. No, really. We actually have streets that really are paved with gold that we can take as our model to extend to other places. Wall Street being the best example. Let’s mine some of that gold and export it to other places with potholed streets in need of a little gold therapy. Now that’s some strip mining I can really get behind.

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@@…..THANK YOU for helping, some people here have to question your motives, when a Thank You would be the proper thing to do. After every disaster close by, I sit in my chair and say that I should go down and help. But I DON’T. You are an inspiration, again, some do and some talk.

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Fact: Romney never said “we cannot afford disaster relief.”

Why do you think Jay’s headline only has “’s over half of that statement?

okay…partisan hackery can now resume.

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The picture for this article should have included a photo shopped Romney standing behind the embracing couple with an M4 pointed at their heads.

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Scout, technically, the WI Supreme Court simply ruled that the passage of the law did not violate the state’s Sunshine laws, therefore, it can be implemented.

However, there is a still a Constitutional challenge in place moving it’s way through the courts. This thing isn’t settled yet, but it does look more favorable given the makeup of that court.

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Joe Mama, “Fixed that for you.” Nope, you only fixed it for yourself because evidently the truth hurts. You see the public’s focus is on the President sitting in the White House whose party also controls the U.S. Senate.

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You have a white unicorn? What’s it really like in FairyLand?

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moonbat betty,
or better yet, Jay could’ve photoshopped a picture of Mitt pushing a wheelchaired Joplin, MO over a cliff…

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“get Congressional assent or else be in violation.”

The Congress already GAVE their assent. “Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists” passed in 2001 & “Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002″

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Disaster Relief

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWHL8MXlRes

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As global warming changes our weather patterns and strengthens storms, floods, and fires, we are going to need an even greater capacity to help our fellow Americans who randomly suffer these disasters. (Remember, it could be YOU in the next storm.) So, the GOP tells us that global warming is a hoax and that if you suffer the consequences of natural disasters (intensified by global warming) that our government won’t be able to help you. They don’t seem to want to take responsibility for the real consequences of their policies. For instance, their “pro-life” stance. Protect the fetus even if it means killing abortion doctors. Then, when the child is born to an unprepared mother, make sure the child has no adequate health insurance and no good schools to attend. Tell that little 9 year old to shut up, go out and get a job if he wants to eat! Little freeloader! These hate-filled ignoramuses would be funny if the consequences of their policies weren’t so sad.

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Left on its own, what kind of disaster relief would Mississippi have?

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How can you have disaster relief when you give Billions away to foreign countries to protect corporate America…….. Please be real, Republican’s believe Corporate America is more important than US Citizens !

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md: Interesting how the topic has morphed from “transferring the relief to States and Private companies” to “how dare him not wanting to provide relief”………….

Morphed? For me this has ALWAYS been the issue. The feds SHOULD help, and any argument that they shouldn’t or can’t is STUPID.

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All this “insurance doesn’t cover floods or earthquakes” is just so much nonsense. In a flood zone, you can and should buy flood insurance. many companies insist that you do depending on how low to the water you are. In California, for instance, you can (and should) also buy earthquake insurance.

These are personal decisions that, once again, have consequences if you fail to plan accordingly. If you want to buy your insurance form a company that might not withstand the fiscal assault of a major disaster in order to save a few bucks each year, that is also a poor personal choice.

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BADA BING: here is an idea, if you are in Tornado Alley, and your house has been destroyed before, rebuild with a tornado RESISTANT house to limit future damage and for safety.

Did you type that with a straight face?

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“How about you stop the silly overgeneralizations that are just absurd.”

What’s absurd is a blogger who can’t simply ignore posted opinions that conflict with his own. I have no problem ignoring the absurdity of your posted opinions. Move along.

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“Are they subject to leash laws?” – Unicorns are friendly creatures. They would never hurt anybody. Kinda like pitbulls.

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Joe Mama
June 15th, 2011
10:25 am

“Oh, that’s right. Isn’t any. Truth hurts, doesn’t it?”

Yes, the truth hurts. Must have hurt Obama that he had to admit there were no “shovel ready jobs”.

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Adam, yes there are wind resistant houses. Most houses are built to code, but there are steps to improve the survivability. Construction is a science, read about it.

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“For instance, their “pro-life” stance. Protect the fetus even if it means killing abortion doctors. Then, when the child is born to an unprepared mother, make sure the child has no adequate health insurance and no good schools to attend. Tell that little 9 year old to shut up, go out and get a job if he wants to eat! Little freeloader! ”

Wouldn’t it be easier to just whack the 9 year old? What’s the difference………isn’t the easy path what you are looking for?

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Look, @@ and I may disagree on any number of points, but I will say that her and her husband’s response by getting out there and doing their own “little” part in helping their neighbors in need does give her a certain right to say something…and I say the same thing about Sean Penn, Brad Pitt, et al. in New Orleans..it doesn’t give carte blanche, but it DOES show a moral compass accompanied by thought, action and deed…

So, @@, how does it feel to be put in the same crowd with Sean Penn? ISH

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Peadawg
June 15th, 2011
10:28 am

So maybe Michael Vick has a unicorn as well……

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Mitt Romney is a capitalist. Which is his problem. Our problem too.

Each morning when he rises he kneels to say a prayer to the idol that is his real god: capital. Balance sheets, ROI, M&A, Six Sigma. He and the Jack Welches of the world are good lieutenants for their master.

If push came to shove he’d have his own mother sent to her resting place in a cardboard box, if that were the wish of the all-powerful god of capital. But then, he doesn’t have to make such unpleasant choices since he’s gotten his, played the numbers and stashed away his booty. So it’s all golden for him, he can leave such unpleasantries to the millions who get the shaft when the mad dance of capital swings the other way.

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Hey lock-nuts ……… you’re halarious this morning!

Mick: Don’t forget Detroit and the auto industry !!! Union strong !!!

Off to the dog park …………. be nice to each other !

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BADA BING: here is an idea, if you are in Tornado Alley, and your house has been destroyed before, rebuild with a tornado RESISTANT house to limit future damage and for safety.

Did you type that with a straight face?

Nope. Same face that the guy used in saying that I should take my paralyzed wife around while shopping for a doctor who will sign the handicap placard without charge.

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Time: “Belguim goes 249 days without a government”

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2052843,00.html

If only we could do the same thing . . . . :sigh:

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Dave — “All this “insurance doesn’t cover floods or earthquakes” is just so much nonsense.”

Given that we were specifically talking about HOMEOWNERS insurance, your contribution is both inaccurate and unnecessary.

Reading is fundamental, Dave. So’s reading comprehension.

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“Haven’t you ever seen one in person?” – Actually no. I also haven’t seen on of those trees that grow money. Maybe the Democrats can help me out on that one…sense they apparently think they exist.

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No, he’s right. We cannot afford it. That’s what state funding, churches, and NPO’s are for. And unlike FEMA they won’t make ridiculous judgements about who to help? Not a federal issue.

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“Did you type that with a straight face?”

I’m sure he did Adam….are you really that dense. We change building codes all the time to create better “resistance”……..another words have meaning lesson……he didn’t say “proof”……..

No different than strengthening the codes in FL for hurricanes and CA for earthquakes………

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Bosch
June 15th, 2011
10:33 am

AWESOME!!!

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Mighty Righty: There are people in New Orleans still waiting for help.

Not Intended to be a Factual Statement.

BADA BING: Please do explain how making tornado resistant houses would have helped in Joplin?

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This is really great stuff!

Watching the apologists try to spin Mitt’s words into something a little less repulsive.

As always, you neo-cons take a stand for the average Joe and the working class American family.

Well played…

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Joe Mama
June 15th, 2011
10:34 am

You mean vote for Obama again and he’ll make it a “top priority” like so many other of his failed initiatives?

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“I don’t think you have any standing whatsoever to assert what the public is and isn’t focusing on. You can assert your opinion, but at the end of the day, you’re only speaking for yourself.”

It’s not my standing. You can spend your time how and where you wish but if you’re going to attack my opinions you should get better connected with what the public’s thinking. I get informed through news media reports and opinion tracking polls. If you spend all of your time on here, Jay and the liberal bloggers aren’t going to help you keep in touch with the real world because you’re only going to here their opinions. You need to take initiative on your own.

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Righty — Joe, I am absolutely certain that you have never seen our government “make you whole” after a disaster.”

And I made no assertion that they should, would or do. I was responding to a poster who *appeared to me* to be under the impression that *insurance* would make you whole.

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Dead unicorns shot in the head by Romney should also be photoshopped into this article’s photo.

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Peadawg……. I am interested in buying a ‘money tree’. How much should I pay for one?Do they come in different denominations?

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Look for Huntsman to jump on this obvious mistake.

The Mormons will battle for the gop nod.

It will be a friendly battle with willard winning then losing to our President.

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Bing….if your house if destroyed in a tornado, it must be rebuilt to minimally meet the state building code which incorporates any required building methods to reduce damage (see Florida code for example). That does NOT change what prior housing stock exists and builders will generally only meet code on these issues. Most homeowners, other than in a remodel, do NOT set the standards for the construction of their homes. In remodels, most homeowners believe that government codes cover. Very few homeowners have the knowledge to understand the code requirements, what to exceed and the money to retrofit and incorporate additiona safety, like safe rooms.

Lets also be clear. Although codes are updated nationally every 4 years by applicable groups, Georgia only updates their state codes every 8.

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md: His comments are as good as “I take Obama at his word.” He wasn’t as clear as Cantor, but he’s pandering and winking at the GOP narrative by saying what he DID say, which is basically “we need cuts” while ignoring other aspects of the situation. Joplin is being used as an example to advance that same narrative, but it’s not a good political move to do so.

Did he say for sure that he thinks that we can’t afford any disaster relief? No, I think he said that doing so would cause problems for the country financially. It’s a little bit different, but it’s only an acceptable stance if you’re willing to find some way to pay for it that isn’t stupid (like let’s give tax cuts to billionaires so they can create jobs – that’ll pay for it!)

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Listen folks, there are things going on that are one h-ll of lot more important than exagerating what Romney said two nights ago. For one, Obama wants to give our missile defense technology to Russia. Two, Iran is talking to Russia about a new anti-american alliance. Can you connect the dots? Three, pay attentiona to the Issa hearings into whether or not our Justice Department and our ATF agency conspired to make it look like legal gun dealers sold guns to Mexican Cartels. Keep your eyes open and your ears tuned. This administration is trying to take away our gun rights.

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Leg Lamp — “You mean vote for Obama again and he’ll make it a “top priority” like so many other of his failed initiatives?”

I don’t think I’ve encouraged you to vote for or against anyone, have I?

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“How’s that apply to Libya?”

We are no longer directly involved in military action in Libya

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“…can go even further and send it back to the private sector, that’s even better.”

Absof8ckinglutley, Willard!

BRING BACK ARGENBRIGHT SECURITY! (That’ll show them terrorists a thing or three.)

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“Please do explain how making tornado resistant houses would have helped in Joplin?”

All a matter of making them stronger………if I live in tornado alley, I’m pouring walls with concrete and making a nice little safe room for the occupants………just like I did here in Atl………..

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Pea,

I don’t have a money tree, but I can tell him where to get a sweet unicorn. Sorry.

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“I think the whole poutrage over bin Laden yesterday was better. Any thoughts?”

I remember when the cons believed cheney with his lie about aq and Iraq and now they are against ki lling obl?

Typical hypocrisy from our cons.

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Recon — “It’s not my standing.”

You have no idea what I said, do you? (laughing)

“You can spend your time how and where you wish but if you’re going to attack my opinions you should get better connected with what the public’s thinking.”

(laughing)

I’ve heard this before.

‘Fear me, librulz, for I speak for THUH PEEPLE!’

Yeah, you’re not all that, Dudley. But keep aiming for the sky. (laughing)

“I get informed through news media reports and opinion tracking polls.”

Ooh, I bet no librulz EVAR read “news media reports and opinion tracking polls.” (laughing)

“If you spend all of your time on here, Jay and the liberal bloggers aren’t going to help you keep in touch with the real world because you’re only going to here their opinions.”

I don’t SPEND all my time on here, pal. Boy, you sure do leap to a lot of conclusions.

“You need to take initiative on your own.”

And you need to stop speaking for others and presuming to know what others are thinking. You’re not all that, pal.

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I firmly believe that when Mitt is our next president he will gladly provide the needed assistance after a natural disaster. So all you vengeful liberals can stop the nonsense of your pack attack on Mitt and find something more productive to do with your time. Nice try, Jay.

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Keep up….good points. however, the house that you live in right now, any house, can be made more resistant to wind by adding truss strapping underneath your roof, roll down window and door shutters, stronger doors and windows, etc. Anything to keep the structure together and giving your family a chance.

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Well of course he will Donovan, so why is he trying to say the feds shouldn’t do it now?

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Concrete walls dont help much against earthquake disasters, and they have limited use in a fire (or rather smoke).

Anybody know what it costs to “retrofit” an existing home with a safe room? How about the cost of putting one in new construction.

Should landlords be required to construct safe rooms for all tenants? How about office buildings?

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Doggone — “We are no longer directly involved in military action in Libya”

Respectfully, the War Powers Resolution is very vague on what constitutes “military action.” I’ve pointed out here before that supporting OTHER NATO nations’ military operations could be considered — broadly — a form of ‘military action,’ but the Resolution doesn’t speak specifically to that point.

I’m a stickler for what things do and don’t say, so I am wary of people making categorical assertions about what is and isn’t permissible under the Resolution.

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Hey, brad pitt donated 500k to joplin, anybody else from the private sector stepping up? Didn’t think so…

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Bada, yes you can remodel the house and replace windows. Do you know the cost differences? Do you know the position of the GAHBA on updates to code on these issues for new construction? Who resisted installation of fire suppression sprinklers in new single family residences recommended by fire marshalls last year in the state legislature and why did the Republicans not pass the bill?

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The Libyan opposition promised to reimburse our costs for saving the slaughter with oil money.

cons want daffy to win to lose that money.

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Joe Mama
June 15th, 2011
10:52 am

Based on your response, I hit my target dead center.

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Am Vet, no arguing here. Anything can kill you, do you want some sort of guarantee?You gamble every day you wake up, in your car, in the shower, on your stairs. You getz your cards and you playz them, thats all you can do.

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“Concrete walls dont help much against earthquake disasters”

Actually, they do……..a lot of neat studies out there indicating that solid concrete structures built as a whole do pretty good in an earthquake………read that in popular science……the concept seems logical….the whole box moves as one vs pulling itself apart………..

As for minimum codes…….that is where choices come into play……..take all the money one wastes on conveniences – tv’s. ipods, iphones, etc etc….and put it into a safer house for the family. But most don’t think long term…….and the short term purchases remove the option when the money is gone…………

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AmVet
June 15th, 2011
10:55 am

“AmVet”….Whenever I see that, I am dead certain that nothing but bullsh*t is gonna follow…

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Keep up, don’t know anything about the costs. I am not formally trained at construction, just read about it and watch science shows. My house is not reinforced here in ATL, but would be interested if I was in Tornado Alley.

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Right on, BADA. I’m just joshin’ ya.

I am all for taking preventative measures and doing everything possible to minimize risks, but color me dubious on *anything* that will stand up to that kind of power.

Look no further than the recent disaster in Japan. They built seawalls that were predicted to withstand greater than even the highest recorded surges.

Ooops…

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Maybe his sons can help out!

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But as always, you’ll keep on reading every one of my posts, just as you did yesterday.

Isn’t that right, meat?

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BADA BING
June 15th, 2011
10:59 am

Costs are always a factor. I have a “safe haven” room in the basement with poured concrete reinforced with rebar. The rebar cost a little more, and I may never need it, but thought I’d give my family the best chance of surviving a disaster.

I did read about a company, their stock code is grps (less than a penny so it wouldn’t even qualify as a “penny stock” ), and they make panels that are earthquake “resistant”. Seems they are entertaining some opportunities in Japan and South America.

I’m aware of another company who is developing “fire resistant” sheet rock.

Technology on the move…

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Jay

June 15th, 2011
10:50 am
Mighty Righty: For one, Obama wants to give our missile defense technology to Russia.

You mean, just like Reagan promised to share missile defense technology with the Soviets? You mean like that?

YES, thats exactly what I mean. It was stupid then and it is stpid now.

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josef,

I buy Tide detergent simply for that reason alone — plus it smells dandy.

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Bing, you do know we have tornadoes here in GA right? You dont have to live in tornado alley.

md, properly reinforced concrete may help in some cases but only to a limit. Did you custom buld your home? Remodeled and incorporated all the safety systems for possible disasters (earthquake, tornado, hurricane, terror and nuclear)? Do you update annually? Do you remove all the drywall to install straps and the latest equipment including reinforced plywood and home wrap?

DaveR…do you have earthquake coverage? What about terrorist attack? Nuclear fallout? You do know that your homeowners does not cover sheeting water coming in, oh say, by your front door or under the sill. You have coverage for code updates?

“Personal responsibility” is a silly response for disasters. Make every effort to be responsible, you likely will still have some gaps. Probably will never be a realistic problem. Insurance does not bring food to your door or provide you shelter when the hotels are wiped out, bridges are gone and cars missing.

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You can bet everyone’s insurance rates will go up as a result of the storms…you can’t take it with you.

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Doggone/GA

June 15th, 2011
10:41 am
“How’s that apply to Libya?”

We are no longer directly involved in military action in Libya
ed drones
Killing people with unmanned drones is not military action? If it’s not it’s just plane murder.

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Righty, in the mother of all ironies, I think you just broke Ronnie’s 11th Commandment!

Keep swinging as hard as you can, meat. One day you’ll move up to AA ball…

(CNN) – It may be his home state, but a new poll indicates that Rick Santorum is not on top in Pennsylvania in the fight for the GOP presidential nomination.

According to the poll, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney leads the Republican field at 21 percent, followed by Santorum at 16 percent and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin at 11 percent.

How long before the cons get to quit singing Crappy Days are Here Again?

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getalife
June 15th, 2011
11:11 am

“It’s the failed ideology again.”

Of course Obama’s ideology, which has us in debt at $14 trillion and rising and staggering unemployment, has been successful.

(I’ll be waiting on the blame Bush response).

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Mark in mid-town
June 15th, 2011
11:13 am

Ha! Good one.

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“Of course Obama’s ideology, which has us in debt at $14 trillion and rising and staggering unemployment, has been successful”

Because of course the world began on 1/20/2009

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“So, Jay, when can we look forward to all of the above happening?”

Easy. When taxes are raised enough to cover them all. We want all those things, we need to be prepared to pay for them.

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Mark — “Did the instructions to attack Romney over that come from Soros or the DNC?”

Soros. He signed all our checks.

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Yes disasters worry me, but I will die a thousand different ways before a tornado kills me. More people die in a shower fall every week than a tornado. Cars, stairs, buses, trains, all are death traps. The most dangerous place for us is our homes. Don’t run with scissors.

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Which part of losing a decade do you not understand leg?

Why do you vote gop to lose another one?

See, I did not blame bush because his rubber stamp congress was needed to collapse the global economy.

Also, the dems that voted with him are to blame too.

Feel better?

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Ahhhh, more drivel from the Keepster:

“DaveR…do you have earthquake coverage?”

Nope. I live in North Georgia. Not likely to need it.

What about terrorist attack?”

Again, North Georgia. Not likely to need it.

“Nuclear fallout?”

See above.

“You do know that your homeowners does not cover sheeting water coming in, oh say, by your front door or under the sill.”

Yes, I do. And your point being? Some of us also know about a little-known invention called “sealant”.

“You have coverage for code updates?”

No, nor do I need coverage for code updates. I pay extra for replacement cost insurance.

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As if I needed further reasons not to vote for Romney…

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Mike,

Fema’s response to disasters has improved since Katrina.

Try to keep up with current events Mike.

Why do you cons come here to get destroyed in debate everyday?

Do you like to lose or what?

You sound silly.

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getalife
June 15th, 2011
11:20 am

As I expected, you’re still pointing the finger at Bush. But hey, it’s what you do.

Aside from expanding the expensive wars, please elaborate on how successful Obama’s “ideology” has impacted the trade deficit, the budget, the national debt, unemployment, etc. Let me go get some popcorn because this could be good.

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Good morning all. Romney is more correct than not, in that funding FEMA bureaucrats ought not be the focus of those distressed by nature’s calamities. But, of course, FEMA bureaucrat-funding is the leftist measure of “compassion,” without regard to the efficacy of the taxpayer-largess.

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“md, properly reinforced concrete may help in some cases but only to a limit. Did you custom buld your home? Remodeled and incorporated all the safety systems for possible disasters (earthquake, tornado, hurricane, terror and nuclear)? Do you update annually? Do you remove all the drywall to install straps and the latest equipment including reinforced plywood and home wrap?”

Good list of choices………choices being the operative word……..

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I have fallen down a waterfall, been thown off a galloping horse, riden m/cycles for 40 years, raced dune buggies, hiked in the Andes, swam in the Amazon River,wakeboarded, and jet skied.

Damn y’all, BADA’s the Dos Equis guy!!!
j/k

That really sounds like some fun stuff. Swimming the Amazon isn’t as scary as people try to make it sound. You just don’t wanna go swimming in the ponds that are formed when the water level goes down. That’s when that water gets all frothy and dangerous.

If a tornado wants me, it will have to find me, and it better bring friends.

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The Republican nominee said on TV that we can’t afford disaster relief.

Yet we can afford billionaire tax cuts
Yet we can afford “azalea funding” for golf courses
while we cut $832 million from WIC
and privatize Medicare
and privatize Soc Security

Please – dear God, please keep this up.
Cons will need witness protection before they go extinct.
But hell no, we can’t afford it.

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Dave R,
Question for ya. You said you didn’t have earthquake insurance, etc because the risk is low. Sounds reasonable, nobody can eliminate risk they can only manage it. So what about someone who lives in a 500 year flood plain? Is that a level of risk that requires “personal responsibility” or is that acceptable risk? Before you answer, consider the estimation that if an earthquake occured in New Madrid as strong as the one 200 years ago, masonry structures as far away as Atlanta would be seriously damaged.

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mmm, mmm, mmm, Barack the Liar Obama – BEND OVER, Here comes the CHANGE!

June 15th, 2011
11:33 am

What’s wrong with that? Back when they had the San Francisco Earthquake/fire there was NO federal (taxpayer) aid. It’s up to the city, church, family, community to help.

lol, How’d that work out? Sometimes this is just too easy.

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St Simons – we’re on Island time

Oh, you are one of those bleeding heart liberals. God willing one day you will see the light. Next you’ll say seniors are eating dog/cat food, yet there are PLENTY of dollar items on fast food restaurants.

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DAVE R, BADA

But can you speak Russian in French?

Grew up in tornado alley myself and have plenty of experience in dodging the b*stids, but I don’t tempt them…

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Don’t Forget

I belive SF is just fine, except for being LIBERAL. It’s like the dumbass that tweeted during the Republican debate that there was too much privatization,that NO business would have built the Golden Gate bridge. What she failed to realize is that taxes on gas or hotels could have paid for it.

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And like you BADA, I’ve lived a wild and active life. Mountain climbing, rappelling, scuba diving, skiing double black diamond “trails” in the back country.

I ain’t skeered of checking out, I’m just not in a hurry to do so!

LOL, Bro. One of THE great ad campaigns of all time…

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If you read Romney’s comments without the interjection by King in the middle, he was still making the same point that he started up above. He wasn’t answering King’s question because he was still focused on what he was saying at the time, and when he said “we cannot” that should not be read as “we cannot continue down the road of excessive spending we are currently on”. I think this whole article is based on a comment taken out of context.

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I beleive that the United States is better served with a federal disaster relief program. One event could emcompass an entire state, or effect mulitple states within a region. And NOT providing some kind of assistance, be it FEMA or the national guard, could be a threat to our national security. A colera outbreak does not know a state boundary. Do we really want California, Texas, Louisiana, or Florida looking like Haiti?

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So let’s start accepting foreign aid for disaster relief or infrastructure rebuilding? The US gives aid for these projects around the world, what is wrong with America accepting such aid?
I’m really surprised that none of the presidential wannbes didn’t suggest this the other evening.

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SF, is liberal for the same reason that all of the cool places in this country are.

They are the centers of culture and the arts, education and fiance.

(You guys to to keep Oklahoma, Tennesee, North Dakota and Montana!)

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Romney is right. We cannot afford disaster relief in the way that FEMA has been delivering it.

I have no problem with emergency federal relief. But there are STILL people in FEMA trailers in Louisiana after Katrina. FEMA is EMERGENCY relief. It is not “make the victims whole” relief. It is not “rebuild the town” relief. It is not “undo what the hurricane/tornado/flood” has done relief. When the emergency is over… days or weeks or (in very few cases) months, FEMA should be gone.

The day after the tornado… the weeds after the tornado.. in Joplin, FEMA needs to be there to supply food/water/body recovery/road clearing. Their job is to fix the immediate problems and supply the immediate needs of residents. I can see them having ANY business in Joplin in 6 months as whatever needs doing in 6 months is not an emergency. It is not the responsibility of the people of the U.S. to make Joplin whole or to rebuild their city. It is only our responsibility to give them a safe place to stay and something to eat while they regain their composure. After that, they have to do the business of rebuilding their own lives.

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“let em eat cake”

and it fits on a bumper sticker, so cons will love it.

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Am Vet….about our exciting lives, I hope you didn’t take that as bragging, just pointing out how many ways I could have died. I have never even been injured badly, just bumps and bruises. I sometimes wonder if there is such a thing as a charmed life, as even my natural stupidity and carelessness hasn’t done me in.

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“and it fits on a bumper sticker, so cons will love it.”

Like “Hope & Change” St. Simons?

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If a tornado wants me, it will have to find me, and it better bring friends.

Those of us who have actually experienced a tornado (2, for me) know that only one will do the job.

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http://www.wkrg.com/alabama/article/people-angry-over-trailer-ban/1207231/May-29-2011_5-18-pm/

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EntKammie….yes, one could do the job. But don’t you think it’s friends would enjoy watching?

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Why do tornado chasers drive all over the country in their fancy vehicles? Why don’t they buy a trailer and just wait for one?

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Montana is a fairly liberal state imho…

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No worries, BADA, I didn’t take it that way at all.

Lots of us have been blessed more than we can ever say. And as you note. lucky! As a small child anxious to learn how to swim, I nearly drowned. As an adult I saved somebody from doing so. Good karma.

And I plan on getting lots more of that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness stuff!

But for now, duty call,s and I get to what I love, even if I’m not a huge fan of the process. (Where IS that damn money tree?!)

Go make moolah.

Late, peeps…

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Gordon — “Where does private insurance figure into all this? How big does a disaster have to be before the burden shifts to government? The tornadoes last month seem like they should be covered by private insurance. Why isn’t that true?”

I have a two-part answer that’s going to sound snotty, but it’s not really not meant to be.

1) Private insurance will not, in the vast majority of cases, make you whole, even in catastrophic cases like Tuscaloosa and Joplin. Government steps in to breach the gap.

2) I suspect that the point where private insurers stop covering losses is the point where government has to step in.

Years ago, I sat next to a reinsurer on a Delta flight. His division of his company reinsured commercial aircraft (cargo and passengers). For those of you who don’t know, reinsurers take some of the risk of insurance off the original insurer; there can be multiple reinsurers taking some of the risk on a single insured item/life/piece of property.

Anyway, he said that an crash of individual aircraft (and its contents, pax or cargo) would be such a huge loss on most insurers’ balance sheets that they’d probably go out of business. Consequently, those insurers built up a reinsurance network so that *many* reinsurers would split the risk — thereby making it more likely that they’d all stay in business even after such an event.

I *suspect* that in such a case, the government would step in as well (again, to bridge the covered-uncovered gap), given the huge potential cost of such a loss.

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@St. Simons

This guy is a typical lib… Every post is some sarcastic remark, nothing has any substance or real meaning behind it, just whining and complaining…

I’m so happy that I don’t sit back and complain and whine my life away blaming everyone else for my own problems…

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New this Fall on FOX
” BADA and the Tornado”
Join us every Thursday night for this season’s new hit series.
Every week, BADA is threatened by the same tornado that follows him from town to town.
How will he escape? Will the tornado ever do him in? You got to watch it, suckers. We ain’t gonna tell.
Thursday at 8:PM
Check your local listings.

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Kammie….. maybe if that tornado would try harder and stop being so critical, it would get some friends. You have to work at relationships.

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Insurance companies are regulated – we have an insurance comissioner.

The one who ran for Governor got many donations from insurance companies, including some from out of state.

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Funny how the commentator says “KING: Including disaster relief, though?”, I don’t see where Romney ever said or singled out disaster relief. But the loony left will make up things and attribute them to who they see fit. If you keep repeating a lie it does not become a fact, unless you are a liberal….

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Dear Finn, just give all the money to the welfare queens . It is not fair to make them support their own kids.Let us bring every Mexican to the USA.They need welfare too !

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Joe I understand all about risk and pools making it cheaper. However, in this case it is not just being made cheaper by a larger pool, but by a larger pool that includes people who will never receive a benefit. Again I use Wyoming as an example. In the nearly 60 years FEMA has been around, Wyoming has received about $22 million out of $148 billion. Now Wyoming has a small population, but its not THAT small. And Wyoming may very well have a large disaster in the future. I’m willing to bet that it is either not a hurricane, or, if it is, other states are going to have a much bigger problem than whatever happened in Wyoming from the storm.

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“Like “Hope & Change” St. Simons?”

no, Rush’s parrot & diversion troll extrordinaire, not “like” anything

“let em eat cake” Own it.

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Leg Lamp – Made the change. Thanks for noticing my spelling error. Curley was my favorite Stooge and sometimes the banter on this blog reminds me of the Gentlemen.

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[...] Jay Bookman explained that states can’t afford to tackle such a burden on their own — “A state suffering destruction on such a scale cannot be told to suck it up and pull itself up by its own bootstraps,” he said — and that the very idea is at odds with who we are. After all, it is moments such as these that put the “United” in the United States. We are not self-contained human units each out to maximize individual wealth and consumption; we are Americans, and we help each other out. The notion that disaster relief is among “those things we’ve got to stop doing” is nonsense, and to base that suggestion on grounds of morality, as Romney does, boggles the mind. [...]

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Oops! My 1:47 should’ve been addressed to Joe Mama.

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To a certain extent, he is correct. The federal government should be asking, “What does it have to do and what can other do?”, and thus, reduce the deficit. However, helping natural disasters on that scale, in my opinion, are something the federal government should do as it has logistical capabilities that states do not. However, the federal government is never a substitute for fellow citizens helping suffering citizens through charities and private non-governmental relief efforts.

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How is this the “responsibility” of the government? The people who had insurance will receive their payouts and be able to rebuild. Those who didn’t will have to find a way to make a new life. People talk about the “Americanism” of helping your fellow man…but how about the “Americanism” of resilience and self-reliance? The infrastructure is wiped out? Yes, it is. It will have to be rebuilt. If there isn’t a stock of money…if the government DOESN’T swoop in, if “Daddy” doesn’t help, THEN what happens? It’s a tough question, and one many people don’t have the sack to answer. The answer: some people will toughen up, do what’s needed, and survive. Others will whither and die. That’s life, folks, and like it or not – that’s the mentality that built this country. America has definitely become too soft – a nation of whining babies raised by overindulgent parents. I know – I was raised by parents who DEFINITELY gave me more than my needed share.

The real problem isn’t the lack of Federal Funding to support those in pain and loss. It’s the lack of support from individual AMERICANS to help their fellow man. Appropriating borrowed funds (which is essentially what our national coffers are filled with) isn’t “Americans standing up for Americans.” You know what is? Taking your two-weeks vacation RIGHT NOW and getting your tail to the disaster sites and helping out.

But, how many people are gonna do that? Not many. Not when it’s far easier to just take some of our non-existent budget and throw cash at the problem. All of these politicians are politicians, and nothing more. If Leadership were oil, it’d be $10K a barrel, because it’s truly in short supply.

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I agree that we are the “United” States and that we should help our fellow Americans, but the problem is that too many of us shirk our individual responsibilities because we know that the “government” will take care of it.

What is the government? Is it a building? Is it an entity without body, parts, or passions? How exactly is this “government” going to save us? The truth is that each of us needs to feel an individual responsibility to take care of ourselves as much as we possibly can and then help others who are in need. We absolutely cannot have the idea in the back of our mind that the government will take care of us and our neighbors. We need to take care of ourselves and then we, as individuals, families, churches, and other organizations, need to take care of our neighbors.

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Jay

Thanks for addressing my concerns this morning about the abusive language coming from yet another liberal toward a conservative. You did exactly what I and most of the conservatives on the blog expected: nothing.

Now maybe you will understand why we all have a nice big belly laugh when you claim to be fair.

Thanks again for being the liberal that you are.

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“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

What a bunch of darn socialists those framers were! All this stuff about “common defence (sic)”, “general welfare,” “Justice,” …. We can’t afford any of this now and Mitt knows it. It’s every man for himself!

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Since private sector involvement is Mitt’s choice for disaster relief, let’s help these “government is evil” folks remain in the private sector and create just such a program.

Mitt, with your wealth and executive experience, why don’t you spearhead this effort?

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

What Romney is saying is contrary to this confession of American beliefs. We are “one nation under God, indivisible”. Where are the Sons of Confederate Veterans, VFW, military families who honored their dead on Memorial Day? This is what we stand for and if a candidate for the President’s seat thinks that order of sovereignty is #1 the private sector, #2 the state, and #3 the United States, then he is unfit to call himself an American much less to serve as it’s leader. (and that goes for the rest of you folks above who put the Almighty Federal Reserve Note above the citizens of this country)

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Will make this statement again, the GOP folks are getting very stupid every minute they get a chance to open their big mouths. America will never be debt free and this is since WWI. Hope Mr. Romney gets the nomination to the GOP ticket and Obama will take him and the GOP to the cleaners.

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“This is what we stand for and if a candidate for the President’s seat thinks that order of sovereignty is #1 the private sector, #2 the state, and #3 the United States, then he is unfit to call himself an American much less to serve as it’s leader.”

In case you aren’t aware, WE are #’s 1, 2 and 3……each and every one of us…………..

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Common Cents,

The private sector includes more than just businesses. I don’t believe that Governor Romney was suggesting that businesses should be in charge of disaster relief, but rather that non-profit organizations like the American Red Cross or the church to which the Mr. Romney belongs would be in a better position to provide fast and effective relief after a disaster. Consider how quickly such organizations can approve funding and rally volunteers–much faster than a grid-locked congress.

Additionally, such organizations are not 14 trillion dollars in debt, or 60 trillion if we consider medicare and social security promises to the baby-boomers. Mitt had it exactly right when he said it would be immoral for the government to provide relief to disaster victims if that mean further contributing to the financial crisis that our country will surely face in 30 years if you do not take drastic measures now. Tornados are scary, but a 45% general income tax just to fund the basic necessities of government is much scarier – and that is what we will have if we don’t make some tough decisions.

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Romney supported the disaster relief for the bankers (of course he wanted to help his bankster pals on Wall Street), but doesn’t support natural disaster relief?

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Some states are humane and generous, as a matter of policy, and others, like Georgia are so constantly, and stubbornly backwards, they have to be forced, and or, shame into “modern times”.

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I want to help you Jay. To paraphrase……..’Mitt Romney…blah……blah blah……blah…..is completely irrational and hates you which is why he doesn’t want to help all of you who need help’.
Fyi….the issue is not about assisting or not assisting Jay, the issue is about HOW to do the assisting. The actual issue is also not about how liberally biased you are in your writing……but at least it lets me exercise my conservatism…….enjoy your day…..

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“Where to begin?”
How about right here.
“FEMA is about to run out of money,”
When you start with a loaded question. There is no good answer. He answered as he did and you write a blog about it. He answers in a liberal, feel good manner and you still get a blog on him not answering the question with specifics. No way to win.
“After all, we are the richest nation the world has ever known.”
We were. Now we’re broke.

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