White House, Kansas governor argue over storm response

[sinkingfeeling]

Source: CNN.com

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The White House fought back Tuesday against criticism from Kansas' governor that National Guard deployments to Iraq are slowing the response to last week's devastating tornado.

White House press secretary Tony Snow said the fault was Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius'.

In a spat reminiscent of White House finger-pointing at Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco after the federal government's botched response to Hurricane Katrina, Snow rapped Sebelius for not following procedure to find gaps and then asking the federal government to fill them.

"What the Defense Department said then and continues to say is that states will get about 90 percent of what they had," Sebelius said. "Meanwhile, it doesn't get any better. I'm at a loss."

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/05/08/bush.tornado.ap/index.html

[brentspeak]

1. "not...asking the federal government...": The Guardsmen aren't HERE to be requested!!

They're half a world away, in Iraq.

[Monkeyman]

2. More Lies How Do They Sleep when the Country is in danger

[jobycom]

3. More evidence that Bush, not Nagin or Blanco, was incompetent in Louisiana

He blew it there, learned nothing, and blew it in Kansas. Maybe he just hates female governors? I've said it before, pray that nothing happens to your state before Bush leaves office.

[MUAD_DIB]

4. Great. If the WH wants to do another disater relief screw up then the Govenor

should just recall all of the Kansas Nat Gard from Iraq.

[gratuitous]

5. Perhaps it's time for the governors to recall their NG units?

If it's all the various governors' faults that they don't have the personnel or equipment to deal with disaster response, and since the administration isn't able or willing to make good on its promises to the governors, perhaps it's time for the governors to exercise their right to recall their National Guard units from foreign deployments?

It's pretty obvious by now that the Bush administration is allowing its own citizens to suffer, and the governors should take affirmative steps to provide for the common defense.

[Delphinus]

6. Guess I've been away for awhile ...

when did Tony Snow come back?

[xchrom]

7. what? -- i'm sure the state's shortages were well known to the feds.

they after all are in possession of kansas emergency stuff, aren't they?

and i'm just guessing here -- but i can well imagine SOMEBODY in kansas talked to the feds to say they need xyz.

[Tempest]

8. In 2005 Gov. Sebelius wrote to Rumsfeld pleading for the replacement of equipment for emergencies

http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/97938.html

<snip>

The governor’s concerns date to at least December 2005, when she wrote to the then secretary of defense, Donald Rumsfeld, pleading for the replacement of equipment that would be needed in a state emergency.

[kansasblue]

9. We luv the Gov.

[merci_me]

32. As a personal observation, I'm also very proud of her.

When my husband and I were right out of college in 1963, we moved to Cincinnati and Kathleen was the cute teenage daughter of our city councilman, Jack Gilligan. This, of course, was the year of the JFK assassination and VietNam starting to be an issue. Coming from political junkie families, we became involved in the campaign and elected Jack Gilligan to the US Congress. Later we were involved in his other campaigns as he went on became our governor.

Former Governor of Ohio, John J. Gilligan, must be so very proud and confident in his daughter, Governor of Kansas, Kathleen Sebelius. I can see his twinkling blue Irish eyes and gentle smile.

[maddezmom]

10. Brownback disputes Guard shortages(WH aka Tony Snow puts the blame with the Gov)

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - Republican presidential candidate Sam Brownback (news, bio, voting record) disputed claims by Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius that a deadly Kansas tornado exposed holes in National Guard readiness caused by the Iraq war.

~snip~

"The issue for the National Guard is the same wherever you go in the country. Stuff that we would have borrowed is gone. It's gone across the country," she said Monday.

Brownback said Tuesday that local officials and the Kansas National Guard commander all told him they have the resources needed to respond.

~snip~

She asked President Bush about the shortages in person last year when he visited Topeka, Kan.

"He assured me that he had additional equipment in his budget a year ago. What the Defense Department said then, and continues to say, is that states will get about 90 percent of what they had," Sebelius said. "Meanwhile, it doesn't get any better. I'm at a loss."

Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, the state's adjutant general, said the Kansas National Guard was equipped to about 40 percent of its necessary levels, down from the 60 percent it had at the start of the war. About 850 soldiers have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

"It just leaves you pretty tight," he said. "We're fine for now."



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070508/ap_on_el_pr/brownback_tornado

---

White House disputes Guard shortages

By JENNIFER LOVENPublished: May 8th, 2007 08:49 AM


The White House fought back Tuesday against criticism from Kansas' governor that National Guard deployments to Iraq are slowing the response to last week's devastating tornado.
White House press secretary Tony Snow said the fault was Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius'.

In a spat reminiscent of White House finger-pointing at Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco after the federal government's botched response to Hurricane Katrina, Snow rapped Sebelius for not following procedure to find gaps and then asking the federal government to fill them.

"If you don't request it, you're not going to get it," he said.

The enormous twister - the most powerful to hit the United States in eight years - ripped through Greensburg, Kansas, on Friday, razing nearly all of the farming town with winds estimated at 205 mph.

more:http://www.thenewstribune.com/890/story/57414.html

Guess Tony forgot she asked Bush about it when he visited Topeka last year.

[Monkeyman]

11. Republicans Are Brain Dead

[gratuitous]

12. Then where are they, Sam?

Why is Kansas having to hire private companies to get the machinery and the personnel out there to go through the rubble and remove the debris? If the Kansas NG has everything it needs to respond, why isn't it responding?

Heartless in the heartland. Kansas' very own version of the Scarecrow.

[sabra]

13. Brownback disputes Guard shortages

Source: AP

WASHINGTON -- Republican presidential candidate Sam Brownback disputed claims by Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius that a deadly Kansas tornado exposed holes in National Guard readiness caused by the Iraq war.

Sebelius said Monday that Kansas is missing about half its National Guard trucks and many well-trained personnel that could have helped respond to last weekend's tornado in Greensburg, Kan. The twister killed at least 10 people and razed the farming town.

"The issue for the National Guard is the same wherever you go in the country. Stuff that we would have borrowed is gone. It's gone across the country," she said Monday.

Brownback said Tuesday that local officials and the Kansas National Guard commander all told him they have the resources needed to respond.

"That's what really got me, is her saying that," Brownback said in an interview.

Read more: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1131AP_Brownback_Tornado.html

[hobbit709]

14. He believes the Earth was created in 4004 BC too.

'nuff said

[liberal N proud]

15. So where is all the equipment they would normally have SAM?

Denial isn't going to make the equipment appear out of now where. DUH!

[TechBear_Seattle]

21. Denial does so make stuff appear out of nowhere!

Just ask him about Nigerian yellowcake. Or Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. Or God.

[KansDem]

16. Brownback's a Bush tool...

He hopes to win the White House next year running to the right of Il Duce.

And his name is soooo appropriate for this administration:

[Frank Cannon]

17. Like the Gulf Coast hurricanes didn't expose this problem

For crying out loud, I always thought the purpose of our National Guard was to stand at the ready IN THIS NATION to protect it in case of attacks or disasters within our borders. Maybe I was just brought up wrong, but that's what I was always taught.

I've never been able to understand why our National Guard were sent overseas to fight wars elsewhere. Never. I thought that was the job of our Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. Someone please explain this all to me, and try to do it without bringing some fat cat's profit into the equation.

[LiberalFighter]

18. CNN

CNN

"National Guardsmen themselves acknowledge the problem: "The National Guard has said for years that
it is short of equipment at home because of deployments to Iraq.

"We weren't fully equipped with all the resources we need before the war started," said Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting of the Kansas National Guard, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan "further depleted us."

Lt. Col. Eric Peck of the Kansas National Guard said in addition to being short transportation equipment, they also are short of front-end loaders and other heavy vehicles that can move debris.

He said the Guard troops are providing security, generators and water. They're also moving debris, but not as fast as they could if they had a full complement of equipment."

[xxqqqzme]

20. I wonder if the Maj. Gen & the Lt Col

know that brownback just called them liars?

[Wednesdays]

35. They're just a couple of wild-eyed lib'ruls, don'tcha know?

nt

[deminks]

19. Smirky has declared war on democratic governors.

Sammy is just a foot soldier. Katrina/Greensburg. Deja vu. Ask Iowa about their disaster declaration in the past that was turned down. KKKarl leaves no disaster unpoliticized. And the people scatter.

The media has already said this town will not be rebuilt, from the minute the tornado left the town limits. "It will be too hard to rebuild" "The odds of rebuilding are insurmountable"

[rkc3]

36. My thinking too.

Further evidence is out there - for instance, Gray Davis couldn't get federal funds to assist in wildfire control prior to his removal as governor of California. Arnold gets elected and bush shows up with a check to help with wildfires.

I've read the assistance to Louisiana was a long time coming but other states affected by Katrina (with repub governors) received their aid much more quickly.

Some astute researcher here at DU can provide links to this.

[Roland99]

22. Of course, it's a Democratic Governor's fault. I bet the Limbaughts are going nuts today.

[progressoid]

23. Bah, who need the NG? Just call Blackwater.

[maddezmom]

24. 2005 Gov. Sebelius wrote to Rumsfeld pleading for the replacement of equipment for emergencies

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x846081

thanks to sabra for the link in GD :)

[tavalon]

25. If Brownback said the sky was blue

I would begin doubting my eyes, he's that unreliable and just plain wrong.

[Justitia]

26. Brownback also "disputes" evolution, so why would anyone believe this nutter? -eom

[Old and In the Way]

27. Keep defending the indefensible Sam!

While you're safe and comfortable in DC, your constituents know who's speaking on their behalf. Keep talking the Party line Sam and pray to your God that s/he'll deliver what Republicans can't....help to the people of Kansas.

[Mabus]

28. Brownback also talks to Snowflake babies and they talk back to him

:eyes:

:banghead:

[tblue37]

29. Twin Towers. Big city (NOLA). Small town (Greensburg).

Under this administration, whole towns and cities get wiped off the map with no useful response from the federal government.

The BushCO administration started by letting two iconic towers (as well as a third smaller one) get obliterated. At this rate, huge chunks of our country might well just disappear within the nex 20 months, before we can finally escape their misrule.

[AnneD]

44. Who needs Al Quida terrorist....

we have the Bush Administration.

This government has been asking the National Guard to do something they weren't meant to do....fight a protracted war. That is why we have an active military. Even in VN, the guard was not pulled like this. They never have been fully equipped, funded or staffed.

Bush's poll numbers have NEVER recovered from Katrina, and it just wasn't the DEM vs GOP govs either. Bush's government is flat out incompetent PERIOD. Of course they want to push this off on the local government. With NOLA there might have been a few seeds of doubt-but not with Kansas. Kansas is not NOLA. If he thinks his numbers are in the toilet now-they'll be in the sewer system tomorrow and he'll wish he had bitten the impeachment bullet when he had a chance. I look for the Kansas to be a major thorn in his side.

[LuckyLib]

30. Somebody's lyin', Sam. Hmmmm.

[Bleacher Creature]

31. The WH is in for a rude awakening this time around.

First off, nobody is going to buy their attempts to shift the blame after Katrina

And second, Kathleen Sebelius is no Kathleen Blanco. Sebelius is an unbelievable politician and will absolutely crush them if they start trying to pull this crap again.

[DURHAM D]

33. I am glad the WH is this stupid - keep it up.

Everyone in Kansas knows everyone else. The folks in the central and western 2/3s of the state know the facts. This can not be spun.

This could have three effects -
(1) If it does not turn the state blue it will make it less red.
(2) Senator Roberts is up for reelection in 2008. Gov. Sebelius will be a real challenge to him.
(3) This will make the Governor a regional hero and catapult her into serious consideration for V-P.

Keep it up fools.

[LiberalFighter]

34. Is there any way Sebelius position can help Kanasa Democrats in 2008?

Any way a Republican Presidential candidate would have to give Kansas serious consideration in their campaign?

If nothing else, maybe her words about what happened in Kansas would help in other states.

[truthisfreedom]

37. Typical. Insults and lies, but no help. The bush administration is like a childhood bully who hits

you in the face with your own hands, the whole time taunting "Stop hitting yourself! Stop hitting yourself!"

[mnhtnbb]

38. Too busy dining with the Queen.

[rodeodance]

39. White House rebuts Guard shortage claim

Source: ap

Read the whole article. Both are backtracking

White House rebuts Guard shortage claim

By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 12 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration and Kansas' governor started Tuesday pointing fingers at each other over the response to last week's devastating tornado. By lunchtime, both sides had backed down.

With President Bush set to travel to now-razed Greensburg, Kan., on Wednesday to view the destruction wrought by Friday's 205 mph twister, Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said she planned to talk with him about her contention that National Guard deployments to
Iraq hampered the disaster response.

"I don't think there is any question if you are missing trucks, Humvees and helicopters that the response is going to be slower," she said Monday. "The real victims here will be the residents of Greensburg, because the recovery will be at a slower pace."

Sebelius said that with other states facing similar limitations, "stuff that we would have borrowed is gone."

White House press secretary Tony Snow fought back aggressively.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070508/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_tornado;_ylt=AqJ_Y0qEC3bI4ZvkT0fA7P6MwfIE

[AndyA]

40. I'm shocked! Who could have possibly anticipated *ANOTHER*

natural disaster that we aren't prepared to respond to due to Bush's "leadership"? :eyes:

If he's such a great President, why is it whenever something big happens, be it natural disaster, terrorist attacks on 9/11, unsafe food, shortage of flu shots, whatever, we are never prepared?

Has there been ANYTHING that's been handled well since this dolt got into office? Refresh my memory if there has, because I'm challenged to name anything at this point in time. :shrug:

[catmandu57]

41. And it's always somebodies elses fault

no responsibility, no buck stopping always pointing the fault finger elsewhere.

[maddezmom]

42. Kansas disaster renews National Guard debate

Kansas disaster renews National Guard debate
08 May 2007 20:23:59 GMT
Source: Reuters
Alert Me | Printable view | Email this article | RSS <-> Text <+>

Background
Iraq in turmoil
More By Carey Gillam

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., May 8 (Reuters) - Critics of the Iraq war said on Tuesday the Bush administration's failure to replenish vital National Guard equipment sent to Iraq caused Kansas to fall short in responding to last week's tornado disaster, and other states were equally vulnerable.

The White House and the Pentagon rebuffed the criticism, saying Kansas and other states had adequate resources that they could share in event of disasters like the Kansas tornado that leveled one small town on Friday and killed 10 in the area.

The debate was ignited by Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, who said on Monday the federal government had failed to replace state National Guard equipment deployed to Iraq and the lack of equipment was hindering rescue and recovery efforts after a weekend of violent weather in the Midwestern state.

Tornadoes on Friday and Saturday were followed by widespread flooding, exacerbating the need for National Guard resources, according to the governor.

Groups opposed to the Iraq war added their voices to the debate in a news conference on Tuesday, saying diminished domestic capabilities of the National Guard, whose 460,000 citizen-soldiers have a dual mandate to protect the nation at home and abroad, is hurting states like Kansas.

mpre:http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N08483659.htm

[huskerlaw]

43. Good thing we're fighting them over there

so we don't have to fight them over here. Because if "they" struck here again, we be completely fucked.

Meanwhile, I hate to point it out, but hurricane season's right around the corner... :grr:

[pacalo]

45. The governor was "rapped" for "not following procedure to find gaps & then asking fed. govt. to fill

them"?!

Only those who have suffered from a natural disaster, particularly those who have lost everything they own, could appreciate the audacity & coldheartedness of that line of thinking, not to mention the timing of that statement. Devastated, not knowing which way to turn, not knowing which end is up, hopelessness...& to hear such a political statement coming from a very political, partisan, punitive administration.