Bush accused of exploiting hurricane in Florida as he offers aid to disast

[Nambe]

Independent Digital (UK)

President George Bush flew into south-west Florida yesterday on a mission that was as much about politics as compassion for the area devastated by a hurricane over the weekend.

Accompanied by Jeb Bush, his brother and Governor of the state, and by Mike Brown, the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), the President toured - by helicopter and on land - Charlotte and Lee counties, which suffered the most damage by far from Hurricane Charley late on Friday. ..

Experts also warned that Mr Bush faced a challenge trying to dispel any notion that he was trying to make political mileage out of the human tragedy left by the storm. If he achieves that, Charley may end up helping him recover support in a state which he snatched from Al Gore in 2000 by just 537 votes.

"The most politically useful trips of all are the, quote, 'non-political' ones," commented Larry Sabato, a professor of political science at the University of Virginia. "Presidents never look better than when they appear to be acting decisively in situations such as these."

But with Jeb at his side yesterday, the President faced an uphill task avoiding the impression that he was politicising the storm. Perhaps most critically, however, was the challenge of ensuring that this time assistance gets to the state more quickly. Already, President Bush had declared 20 counties in Florida as federal disaster areas - making them eligible for millions of dollars in help. ..

I didn't find the accusation.

Ride Don’t Drive * * It’s Global Cool

[qanda]

1. You didn't find it, because the press just made it up

Out of thin air.

[Z-E-R-0]

2. To Be Fair

I don't see how Shrub has exploited the hurricane damage...yet. It's the presidents duty to tour a disaster zone and provide emergeny funds. But knowing Rove & Co, we will start seeing the damage caused by the hurricane in Bush's next wave of ads.

[Disturbed]

4. OK

Dunmbass didn't arrive wearing a rescue worker's outfit and handing out money.

[CatWoman]

5. nor a plastic turkey

[MikeG]

8. I heard he knew about it in advance.

[Cat Atomic]

15. I heard he Made It Happen On Purpose.

:P

[Cocoa]

7. Bush has used up all his credibility

ALL he cares about is getting re-elected, it's been years since I've given him the benefit of the doubt.

[mom cat]

9. Bet we see it on the big screen at the RNC

[Rose Siding]

20. With a megaphone, I can hear it now:

"I hear you, the rest of the country hears you and the SOB who sent the hurricane will hear from aaaall of us soon...huh?...what Karl? Karl, wake up"

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

3. As far as I remember...

President Bush visited Florida today, not yesterday.

[CatWoman]

6. your point being?

it's Monday in Europe.

[onehandle]

10. Stoopid Yurpeans.

Don't even know what day it is.

;-)

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

11. Don't freak...

I didn't notice this was taken from a british article.

[Tellurian]

12. All the moneys received in disaster funds, first go thru the Gov's office-

wonder if Jeb will pocket the lion share and split it with *?

They could care less about the people. When $$$$ is involved, thats when they are 'Johnny on the Spot,' with their hand out!

[Spoon]

13. You're right.

Nowhere in the article does anyone accuse Bush of exploiting the hurricane (which would be dumb by a major Dem figure to do at this point anyway, IMHO. Too early...). The writer talks about the uphill battle of avoiding that impression, but that's about it. Weird.

[montana_hazeleyes]

14. What would bush* do

without death and destruction? That is his specialty.

[wtmusic]

16. No accusation, and "Experts also warned"

this is typical journalist-speak for "gotta have five hundred words by tonight and I don't have enough facts"

[Jane Austin]

17. This morning on :Late Edition, Wolf Blitzer despicably

posed the question to the Florida Lt. Governor of what would the President say when the Democrats, as they surely would, accused him of visiting for political gain.

He just freaking put words in "The Democrats" mouths and then asked the state official her reaction to those words.

Un-freakin-believable!

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Jane Austin]

19. That doesn't make it right for Blitzer to just make it up.

n/t

[wtmusic]

22. Wolf is a GOP shill

there are too many instances like this to ignore.

[Jane Austin]

23. Yes, Wolf is a major GOP shill. Also, has little talent for his job.

He speaks in a monotone, phrases really badly, and is just dreary as hell.

Not to mention he just asks the conventional wisdom questions. and if he doesn't get the conventional answer, he provides it!

I can't believe he has his own show.

[Rose Siding]

21. I just read that

In fact, the two of them even cited the previous bit where Bush had said he'd be criticized because he'd been asked about this pretend criticism, which made it seem even more like some criticism had already happened!

They just make stuff up.

Kerry asked for help from his campaign staff for those in need and said he wasn't going so that resources weren't diverted. If the NEWS folks stuck to the FACTS, the people could draw their own conclusions.

*Here's the transcript
http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0408/15/le.00.html

[truthisfreedom]

24. why do i get the feeling bushco used HARP to intensify this storm?

MIHOP overload?