If you've been thru a disaster before...?

[kentuck]

You probably know that it is not cleaned up in a few days. Sometimes it is not cleaned up in a few months or a few years. Sometimes they bring about permanent changes.

I do not know the full extent of the disaster along the East Coast, including Jersey and New York, but from the appearance, it will take a long time to clean up. It may never be the same?

Which brings us to the next President. The citizens will have high expectations of their government to help them in this situation. Mitt Romney may dislike FEMA today but he will grow to love it. This disaster could affect the next presidency as much as this one, or more.

[Skidmore]

1. Are you saying that Romney will win this election?

I fully intend on working to make sure he doesn't get to learn to love anything, especially the chair at the desk in the Oval Offfice.

[darkangel218]

2. +1

[kentuck]

5. Reality dictates the possibility that either of the candidates may win.

To look at it otherwise is delusional. I want very much for the President to win re-election, but there is no guarantee. Those that think otherwise are deluding themselves and not helping the overall cause. I do not think voters are stupid but many of them are ignorant. And I fear our Party is not educating these voters sufficiently.

[bemildred]

4. This will take months, years, and cost trillions. (Yes, with a 'T').

It's a recovery act all by itself. But we should stick with the rescue and support efforts for now.

[TomClash]

6. In New York we will clean it up

and make it better.

It will be easier and better with President Obama.

[kentuck]

7. I would agree with your statement.

It will be better under President Obama.

[KharmaTrain]

8. The Last Thing On People's Minds This Morning...

I just got off the phone with relatives who were in the worst of it last night...right now all they care about is finding a dry and warm place to hang out until the power is restored. I will assume many, many others are of the same mindset this morning. Yes, they're looking to FEMA but also will be calling on their insurance companies and local elected officials as well. Granted, this storm provides a good opportunity for President Obama to show the good the federal government can do in this situation, but for those on the ground, they're only caring about rebuilding homes and lives.

[yourout]

9. Bush...

Both of them.

[clydefrand]

10. No, Romney will be just as he was

as Gov. in 2006, when he did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for hurricane victims in Ma.

[kentuck]

11. This is good info to have before the election.

Don't you think?

[Not Me]

12. What further complicates this

is the fact that Winter is right around the corner and will delay efforts to rebuild in many situations.

[Bluenorthwest]

13. FEMA under Republicans = Katrina

Mitt would be even worse. If you think the botching of Katrina response was not the result of years of Republican policy tearing the agency to shreds you are woefully lacking in information. What you saw was the Republican Response to disaster. Mitters has said he'd privatize FEMA.
Under Clinton, under Obama, FEMA functions well. Under any Republican it will be destroyed. You think Mitters will come to love FEMA? His party is pledged to dismantle it.

[bemildred]

14. Yep, a cash cow for cronies. nt

[kentuck]

15. Whomever is President...

The political pressures will be great to always do more.

[Bluenorthwest]

16. You don't seem to understand. Bush came into office and started destroying FEMA

I had a few friends who left the agency in dispair. When Katrina was still a few days out from land, even I knew that all hell would break lose, because I knew FEMA had been intentionally broken and mismanaged.
What you saw after Katrina was a direct result of decision made by Bush which were the opposite of those made by his predecessor Bill Clinton. It is not a case of 'any President' will do more. Not at all. Bush fired Albaugh at FEMA and put Brownie in his place. Heck of a job!
The way FEMA functioned under Bush is the way it would function under any Republican, for they share Bush's ideology and contempt for the agency.

[kentuck]

17. I do understand that.

The people will suffer more under any Republican when there is a disaster such as this.

[Bluenorthwest]

18. Then why do you say Willard would come to love FEMA?

I just do not agree with that statement, I say the GOP hates FEMA. Mitt called it 'immoral'.

[kentuck]

19. Because he would be politically squeezed to love it...

If he were in the White House. Power and retaining power is of utmost importance to them - even moreso than anything they may have said about FEMA in the past. They would be slow to do it but you know Mitt. He can change on a dime.