Althouse: Obama views...

April 29, 2011

Obama views...

... tornado destruction.

And gets criticized for failing to respond to wildfire destruction.

60 comments:

garage mahal said...: Wasn't Perry the gov threatening to secede? Now he is crying that Alabama is getting attention from the feds?; 4/29/11, 6:25 PM
mesquito said...: Is Obama so petty that he'd ignore pleas from Texas for disaster assistance?

Yes, he is.; 4/29/11, 6:25 PM
Anonymous said...: According to Obama if you think Washington DC is overspending, you should be the first to forgo your portion of expenditures, but not your portion of the taxes.; 4/29/11, 6:28 PM
john bord said...: If Texas will sit down and withhold fed taxes from going to DC.... they may get some attention....; 4/29/11, 6:30 PM
edutcher said...: AL, like TX, went for McCain, so there's something else afoot overriding the usual pettiness.

I think Little Zero is starting to realize his ascension to the throne may not be for life after all.

First, the birth cert, now strolling among the bitter clingers, albeit justly smote by Gaia for not believing in global warming.

What's next, eating his hot dog with plain old French's mustard?; 4/29/11, 6:37 PM
Synova said...: I don't know why politicians have to go out rubber necking and photo-op-ing anyway.

They all do it.

Clinton came to view flooding in North Dakota. I'm not sure what he got criticized for.

Palin went to view destruction in Louisiana. She got criticized for wearing disrespectful earrings.

And Obama gets criticized for not also viewing some other destruction.

Can they really not convincingly *care* unless they go disrupt the cleanup and recovery? Really?; 4/29/11, 6:39 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: I think he likes being a partisan jackass better than he likes being President.; 4/29/11, 6:44 PM
Jason (the commenter) said...: Texas has wildfires and Obama takes the opportunity to burn bridges. Obama may be laughing now, but how will he feel if Perry rides this slight to the Presidency?; 4/29/11, 6:44 PM
MamaM said...: Maybe President Obama needs more time to scratch his chin with his middle finger and weigh which silliness and which seriousness he is going to pay attention to after the Oprah gig cut a hole into his think time.; 4/29/11, 6:45 PM
rhhardin said...: "My work here is done"; 4/29/11, 6:47 PM
Synova said...: ""Governor Perry helped balance his budget with about $6 billion worth of federal help - which he happily took - and then started blaming the members of Congress who had offered that help," Obama told WFAA, referring to 2009 federal stimulus funds."

Yeah, that certainly sounds like he's more than willing to withhold assistance to punish Perry for political differences.

Also, just as an aside... how *precisely* was it supposed to fix the economy to funnel money into government services instead of the private sector producers?

And in the end, I blame the people shoving that money out the door and I don't blame the states that took it. They didn't take it at gunpoint. And the ones who *tried* to refuse some of it were politically thrashed for not then refusing all of it. Stupid. The feds want to force money on you, why not take it? But the feds who thought this was a good idea should all lose their jobs.; 4/29/11, 6:50 PM
Anonymous said...: He should be criticized. It's pretty obvious that Barack Obama is not going to help people in Texas because Texans didn't vote for him.

He's a divider.; 4/29/11, 6:52 PM
Jason (the commenter) said...: Freeman Hunt: I think he likes being a partisan jackass better than he likes being President.

I'm sorry, but I think you are completely misinterpreting this. He's making Texas an example to the other states; just like he made the reporter who posted videos of protesters at his fundraiser an example to other reporters. Whenever he supports any law, meets with any person, does any thing, it's about rewarding those who support him and punishing everyone else. He keeps lists and holds grudges.

You're not dealing with a jackass, you're dealing with this.; 4/29/11, 6:53 PM
Sal said...: I don't know why politicians have to go out rubber necking and photo-op-ing anyway.

Oil poured into the Gulf for seven weeks before Obama bothered to get on the phone with the CEO of BP. But he did find the time for a number of beach-walking photo ops.; 4/29/11, 6:53 PM
1775OGG said...: GM: You're really become a pile of stinking feces. Or, are you now simply a ignorant tool for your union DNC bosses.

Texas put in its request almost 2-weeks ago and Obama still hasn't responded. Guess Obama's applying his "hit'em harder" tactics to states needing emergency responses now. Maybe reporters in Alabama were told to "behave" or "your state" gets nothing.; 4/29/11, 6:56 PM
traditionalguy said...: More Obama Mafia 101 lessons. Texas did not pay its protection money like GM's UAW Unions did. GM's unions gets laws broken for their extorted happy ending, but Texas gets their Federal Disaster declaration stolen from them. Obama's message is straight out of Blago's Chicago, " A federal disaster declaration is too valuable a thing to be given away.... so what am I bid"?; 4/29/11, 7:00 PM
garage mahal said...: Maybe reporters in Alabama were told to "behave" or "your state" gets nothing.

More likely, this is another shameless way to attack someone who you HATE, and will use any means necessary to do so.; 4/29/11, 7:11 PM
1775OGG said...: GM: Facts are stubborn things and you still do not understand that simple fact! Of course, your point of view is that facts don't exist, only your "Party Dogma" is important. Well, be very careful around your fellow travelers when they have ice picks.; 4/29/11, 7:17 PM
Anonymous said...: Maybe Alabama has better golf courses; 4/29/11, 7:21 PM
traditionalguy said...: Garage...President Obama got himself hated by many Americans the old fashioned way, he earned it. But this kicking of Texans while they are down has awakened a resolve that he is a real monster to any rational observer. A Certificate of birth will never wash that stain off his hands.; 4/29/11, 7:29 PM
garage mahal said...: GM: Facts are stubborn things and you still do not understand that simple fact!

What fucking facts! You've offered none. Nobody here has, aside from more loopy conspiracy theories. A fact is not some statement from a politician, in this case, Rick Perry. Lots of states apply for federal aid and don't get it. Explain to me why TX should have recieved it in a factual way.

ANd I suppose you see no contradiction Perry asking for federal help when he says the federal government is our problem? Not to mention taking billions from Obama to shore up his budget shortfall? No, I'm sure you don't; 4/29/11, 7:32 PM
1775OGG said...: GM: My my, you're taking this a bit harshly, aren't you! Gee, your Messiah FU'ed and you don't understand on us Hoi Polloi would ever object to his wondrous pronouncements of love for those he's honored with his presence and disdain for those who asked impertinent questions of his gracefulness; like that reporter at that Dallas radio station did about 2-weeks ago.

Give it up, little union DNC child and admit to your failure to learn how to be an adult. Of course, for you Socialists, remaining childlike might have some benefits when you're sucking at your Messiah's hind teats.; 4/29/11, 7:45 PM
garage mahal said...: GM: My my, you're taking this a bit harshly, aren't you!

No! This is just how I talk in real life.; 4/29/11, 7:53 PM
Seeing Red said...: Via Instapundit from the NY Post:

...So, thanks to a Nixon-era regulatory agency, our dependence on foreign oil will rise and gas prices will continue their relentless climb.

* Continuing President Obama's war on domestic oil production, the Fish and Wildlife Service is considering the three-inch Dunes Sagebrush Lizard for inclusion on the endangered species list -- a decision that could spell doom for two of Texas's top oil-producing counties. And right behind the lizard is the Lesser Prairie Chicken....; 4/29/11, 8:11 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: I suppose you see no contradiction Perry asking for federal help when he says the federal government is our problem?

No. I see no contradiction. When you are forced to pay into the pool or the slush fund, you are entitled to your fair share in return.

If the US Government is not going to provide support to the Sovereign States when they have an emergency need, then the Sovereign States should not be obligated to provide money to the US Government nor should the Sovereign States be required to adhere to mandates upon those Sovereign States (Medicaid quotas come to mind).

The States are United but are also severable.; 4/29/11, 8:18 PM
edutcher said...: Jason (the commenter) said...

Freeman Hunt: I think he likes being a partisan jackass better than he likes being President.

I'm sorry, but I think you are completely misinterpreting this. He's making Texas an example to the other states; just like he made the reporter who posted videos of protesters at his fundraiser an example to other reporters. Whenever he supports any law, meets with any person, does any thing, it's about rewarding those who support him and punishing everyone else. He keeps lists and holds grudges.

I think Freeman's right in the sense that Little Zero is extremely petulant, but Jason's point has merit.

Zero acts like an emperor.

Not too many of them around, are there?; 4/29/11, 8:26 PM
garage mahal said...: No. I see no contradiction. When you are forced to pay into the pool or the slush fund, you are entitled to your fair share in return.

Texas receives more federal money than it pays in. Like a lot of Red State Governors that quietly take the billions and bitch about intrusion publicly.

Obama sent 6 billion of the dreaded Porkulus to Perry who used it to make his huge deficit look better and save his Rainy Day Fund. And I found this pretty interesting: since FEMA's record-keeping began, Texas has received federal disaster assistance more times than any other state. From FEMA's website:

And this Late Friday, Perry said the U.S. Department of Education had approved the state’s application for $830 million in federal funding for Texas schools No thanks from Perry of course, just crying why it took the federal government so long.

Sovereign my ass.; 4/29/11, 8:37 PM
Sal said...: And I found this pretty interesting: since FEMA's record-keeping began, Texas has received federal disaster assistance more times than any other state. From FEMA's website:

More times than even Rhode Island? Wow, that's hard to believe, considering RI is so huge and Texas is so tiny.; 4/29/11, 8:41 PM
MadisonMan said...: How much damage, in dollars, did the wildfires do, and how much of that was to infrastructure, and how many people were killed?; 4/29/11, 8:51 PM
MadisonMan said...: Perry sounds like a whiner, but sometimes squeaky wheels get their palms greased.

Mixed Metaphors "r" Us.; 4/29/11, 9:00 PM
Fen said...: Obama hates white people.; 4/29/11, 9:01 PM
Fen said...: Garage too. He's just another racist bigot, dreaming about the deaths of those he hates.; 4/29/11, 9:05 PM
Sal said...: How much damage, in dollars, did the wildfires do, and how much of that was to infrastructure, and how many people were killed?

At least enough for Obama to answer the phone.; 4/29/11, 9:09 PM
Fen said...: Garage: ANd I suppose you see no contradiction Perry asking for federal help when he says the federal government is our problem?

Yes, libtards really are this stupid.

Garage complains that the local police department is corrupt and not efficient. But he still dials 911 in an emergency.

Libtards. Really. This. Stupid.; 4/29/11, 9:11 PM
MadisonMan said...: The latest from the Southern Region of the NWS is that 321 people died. There were 134 tornadoes (that total will likely drop) 289 (!) tornado warnings were issued, with a preliminary lead time of 27.1 minutes.

Something like this happens every 30 or 40 years.; 4/29/11, 9:11 PM
Synova said...: "Lots of states apply for federal aid and don't get it. Explain to me why TX should have recieved it in a factual way."

Don't you think that it was Obama's job to explain why not Texas? Was the damage less than some threshold? Had he intended to approve a declaration of a state of emergency and just hadn't yet?

But when asked, this is what Obama said..."Governor Perry helped balance his budget with about $6 billion worth of federal help - which he happily took - and then started blaming the members of Congress who had offered that help," Obama told WFAA, referring to 2009 federal stimulus funds."

Am I mistaken in that the article directly linked that statement to Gov. Perry's complaint? Am I not supposed to go by what Obama himself says about the complaint?

How is it that someone *else* is required to explain why Texas deserves the state-of-emergency status instead of Obama explaining why he didn't respond to the request?

Only... he DID explain.

So why is Obama's explanation not good enough for you?; 4/29/11, 9:13 PM
Sprezzatura said...: "The States are United but are also severable."

As Perry has noted.

I believe (based on the way cons sometimes respond to libs who question the decisions of our country) that the appropriate response, "if you don't like it, leave."

BTW, Texas has a lot of poor people. Sure, they have decent GDP, but look at the per capita. It does seem like Texas implements a lot of dream policies as specified by many con/libertarian types. Presumably, many Rs would like to make all of us like Texas. As if W didn't do enough already. Yippie!!; 4/29/11, 9:17 PM
Synova said...: I'm coming to the conclusion that garage agrees with Obama's punitive attitude.

Or else why go on about Perry's accepting of the stimulus money as if accepting the stimulus money is relevant to a natural disaster?; 4/29/11, 9:18 PM
Cindy Martin said...: Chicago politics.

That is the Obama way.; 4/29/11, 9:19 PM
Sal said...: Presumably, many Rs would like to make all of us like Texas. As if W didn't do enough already. Yippie!!

Now I thought I just read that Texas students do better than Wisconsin students when comparing kids within the same ethnic group.

Maybe you should be a little more like Texas.; 4/29/11, 9:22 PM
garage mahal said...: Garage complains that the local police department is corrupt and not efficient. But he still dials 911 in an emergency

Actually cops and hippies in Madison are getting along a little too good, remember? Roll that one around in your head.; 4/29/11, 9:23 PM
Fen said...: garage: Roll that one around in your head.

More deflection from our resident Bigot.; 4/29/11, 9:33 PM
Sprezzatura said...: "Maybe you should be a little more like Texas."

I would NEVER live in WI. Sometimes it's too cold, and it's always too small. I don't even want to visit.

BTW, I do like visiting Texas. There are great people in Texas--on average, the best in the country. In fact, I almost bought a vacation home there about a year ago. But, I ended up buying in another state. Even so, I'm still thinking about getting a place in Texas, but I want to be sure that I'll be in one city for about (cumulatively) a month per year, otherwise hotels are best because I can hit many cities. [I already have one house that I've only been to one time (and I didn't even stay overnight) in the last ten months. So, I don't need another one of those--property taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs are not nothing (not to mention that I own (w/o mortgages, hence I really take the hit) depreciating assets).]; 4/29/11, 9:43 PM
Synova said...: That's definitely deflection.

The analogy is a good one and it would be nice if garage addressed it.

If someone is critical, even highly critical of the police department, are they wrong to call 9-1-1 and expect emergency response?; 4/29/11, 9:45 PM
Fen said...: Its been an hour. Maybe he's still thinking about it.; 4/29/11, 9:55 PM
garage mahal said...: The analogy is a good one and it would be nice if garage addressed it.

If you call cops and firefighters parasites, and yes, you call for their help, I don't know what the hell you're talking about.

[Fen calls public workers parasites].; 4/29/11, 10:44 PM
Dustin said...: With Rick Perry, democrats jump into lying that he threatened secession to attempting to prove he's some kind of hypocrite if Texas gets any tax dollars from the federal government, as though Texans don't pay income tax to the feds.

It's sad, because Texans have died in this disaster. these fires are enormous.

FEMA responded to Hawaii's needs, thanks to the Japanese meltdown. Seriously. But Texas? A long pattern of us getting the short end of the stick from this administration.

It sets a wicked precedent. Democrats will probably not be in power for very long. Keep that in mind.

This reaction from democrats and Obama shills is the pettiest and nastiest stuff I've seen in a long time. Bush was there for Louisiana, even when accused of racism and the rest of that, but some democrats have a very different attitude.

Just nasty. Shame on some of you. We're talking about women and children who need help, and have for weeks.; 4/30/11, 1:23 AM
Fen said...: Garage: If you call cops and firefighters parasites, and yes, you call for their help, I don't know what the hell you're talking about.

[Fen calls public workers parasites].

More deflection from the lying little weasel.

And no, just because some firefighter pulls me from a burning building doesn't mean I have to support the scam of PSU parasites laundering stolen money into corrupt Democrat campaigns. Its a racket that Micheal Corleone would envy.

Here's the pitch a 3rd time:

"Garage complains that the local police department is corrupt and not efficient. But he still dials 911 in an emergency"

Your "logic" that criticism of the government and its spending means you must refuse disaster relief is absurd.; 4/30/11, 1:56 AM
Alex said...: Obama subscribes to the "Chicago Way". You put one of ours in the hospital, we put yours in the morgue, or so I've heard.; 4/30/11, 2:18 AM
master cylinder said...: Gosh, maybe it's because so many people DIED in Alabama?; 4/30/11, 7:20 AM
Seeing Red said...: Don't I pay for those services in the form of property taxes over a long period?

So why can't I use them when I need them?; 4/30/11, 9:35 AM
Synova said...: "Gosh, maybe it's because so many people DIED in Alabama?"

Not a single person has suggested that Alabama shouldn't get federal aid. Not one. Not a single person has suggested that the fires in Texas are a bigger disaster than the tornadoes. (I have no idea what the total economic loss is or the cost of fighting the fires over time.)

The fires can be less of a disaster, with fewer lives lost (the tornadoes are unprecedented, practically) and a lower economic impact and still warrant a federal declaration of emergency and FEMA assistance.

It's up to Obama to explain why they are not, how they compare to other fires that were, and why he decided not to respond.

Instead he seems to be saying, "Perry is a dick," and his supporters here seem to be saying, "Yeah! Perry is a dick!" as if that has anything to do with Obama's decision and if it's acceptable that it have anything to do with Obama's decision.

And I do have to wonder, really, if a culture of playing games like that from the oval office is where the country ought to go. Sure, Obama can protect his friends and punish his enemies now, but he can't stay president forever and what if the next guy is a Republican and does the same thing?

Would that be okay with anyone?

Or do we just trust that Republicans are decent human beings who wouldn't do that?; 4/30/11, 11:02 AM
master cylinder said...: I wish Perry could have timed his comments differently, and not brought up Alabama......
makes him look petty, at best.; 4/30/11, 11:34 AM
Cedarford said...: master cylinder said...
Gosh, maybe it's because so many people DIED in Alabama?

----------------
The notion of the President as the Great Healer is media "we demand a flight to any disaster to show the Disster Consoler In Chief CARES!!" is bunk.

Given Obama will not resurrect the dead or make the "wounded warrior" walk again, what is the point??(another media sideline of demanded empathetic bunk that ONLY the President can succor the wounded and families of war dead); 4/30/11, 3:43 PM
MamaM said...: The ones who look petty here are garage for terming the gov's statements of need and desparity as "crying" and Master Cylindar for acting as if the number of dead as opposed to the extent of destruction is the key factor for determining aid to an area whose infrastructure, business and housing has been compromised.; 4/30/11, 4:05 PM
master cylinder said...: Uh, okay Mama M, let's leave dead kids outta this.
Do the numbers on destruction of inanimate objects only, still no comparison. You guys are priceless!; 4/30/11, 4:52 PM
Synova said...: New Mexico sometimes gets federal "state of emergency" funds for fires.

How does the scope of those or other fires compare? If the fires in Texas are actually minor, so be it.

Or perhaps the standard should be Katrina? Any disaster less than Katrina and you're just a whiner. Certainly Katrina should be the standard for what a disaster involves. FEMA can just go on vacation until Yellowstone blows.

After that the standard for a natural disaster "emergency" will be the Yellowstone caldera.; 4/30/11, 7:16 PM
MamaM said...: Uh, okay Mama M, let's leave dead kids outta this.
Do the numbers on destruction of inanimate objects only, still no comparison. You guys are priceless!

Uh...I didn't bring dead kids inta this.

If a local government determines that effects of the emergency are beyond the capability of local resources to mitigate effectively, the next Step is to issue a declaration of local emergency.

Governor Perry did what was necessary on his end. The failure of Obama's administration to respond with acknowledgement of receipt appears to be the result of poor business practice or pettiness. This lack of courtesy and follow through is worthy of mention, regardless of how many people died, how many inanimate objects were affected, or what decision the administration makes with regard to the request.; 4/30/11, 9:58 PM
dick said...: This is nothing new for Zero. Remember when Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and other states in that area had the terrible ice storms where they lost electricity for weeks in the middle of the coldest part of the year. Zero visited all the states around that area to old fund raisers for candidates and yet even though he flew right by the damaged states he did nothing for them and paid no visits at all. He did not even speak of the problem. It seems to me that his attitudes on natural disasters are based on whether he can take advantage of the situation. He feels he can with New Orleans or Alabama since the MSM will be there taking photo-ops and writing stories about wonderful he is doing all this great stuff so he shows up there. Same with the gulf oil visits. He shows up, takes a stroll around, schmoozes a bit, for an hour or two and then flies off to Martha's Vineyard for his vacation where he stayed for a few days. It is all based on what he can make the most use of. This despicable LITTLE man that we unfortunately have in the WH is beyond contempt and the sooner we can get him out of there, the better.; 4/30/11, 10:27 PM
Fen said...: Synova: And I do have to wonder, really, if a culture of playing games like that from the oval office is where the country ought to go. Sure, Obama can protect his friends and punish his enemies now, but he can't stay president forever and what if the next guy is a Republican and does the same thing?

Not even that. I've already made an "enemies list" of sorts from watching Obama Cronyism.; 5/1/11, 4:36 PM