Dear Teabaggers: This is how a president acts when the country is faced with a natural disaster

[LynneSin]

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/26/obama-warns-of-historic-hurricane/?hp

Obama Warns of ‘Historic’ Storm; Cuts Short Vacation

VINEYARD HAVEN, Mass. – President Obama will cut short his Martha’s Vineyard vacation because of Hurricane Irene and return Friday night, as he urged Americans along the Eastern Seaboard to take precautions against the potentially “historic hurricane” making its way toward the coast this weekend.

Mr. Obama, his wife and two daughters were to leave Martha’s Vineyard, just off Massachusetts, on Saturday but he decided “it would be more prudent” for him to get back to the White House to monitor events by returning Friday, said spokesman Josh Earnest. Island authorities had begun their own preparations for the storm, including canceling some ferries to the mainland.

Immediately before directing his aides to prepare to depart, Mr. Obama appeared before cameras at his rental farm property to warn that Hurricane Irene, which on Friday was barreling toward North Carolina on a path that threatened all the way through New England, is “likely to be an extremely dangerous and costly storm.”

“All indications point to this being a historic hurricane,” he added.

I still remember what Bush did when Katrina was barrelling towards New Orleans - he stayed on vacation, strummed a guitar and celebrated John McCain's birthday. What he didn't do was go back to DC and stayed on top with what was happening in the Gulf.

I realize that there is nothing that any president can do when a hurricane is about to make major impact on the country but it does help to know that the president is at the the White House ready to make decisions as needed and deal with the situation at hand.

[Scurrilous]

1. K & R

:thumbsup:

[classof56]

2. I recall Bush didn't even know about Katrina, because his staff didn't tell him

Guess he didn't want to hear any negative news that would spoil his fun. Glad to know President Obama is stepping up to the plate and especially glad he actually cares about the citizenry, no matter their politics.

Thanks for posting this.

[SpiralHawk]

14. George Bush (R) stayed AWOL - as usual

Republicon chickenhawks are justly infamous for QUITTING or going AWOL when they are supposed to be responsible for something important.

[tanyev]

15. Well, when your chief of staff is off in Maine and a bunch of your aides are in Greece

for somebody's wedding, it's just so hard to keep up.

[RockaFowler]

3. And of course the TP still complains

They complain that he was even on vacation. I just hate that group with a passion.

[LynneSin]

5. Of the last 5 presidents he's taken the 2nd lower amount of vacation time per year

Only Bill Clinton did better then him.

And seriously, doesn't any president deserve a vacation time each year? I mean heck that's why we have a Vice-President isn't it? The forums for our local paper questioned why he didn't leave after the earthquake but what could Obama do? But I'm glad he's leaving early before Irene hits - it looks good.

[lunatica]

19. I remember Bush saying the American people wanted him to go on vacation

Because he needed to rest from working so hard.

Yup. One of the many famous things he said. Now watch my drive. HeckuvajobBrownie.

He's probably the most quoted president ever.

[givemebackmycountry]

4. HEY! quit critizin' me. Imma aloud to takes a baycation!

Monkey Boy.
Biggest fuckup ever.

[LynneSin]

6. It's a reminder to me that I do NOT want a republcian to win 2012

Even on Obama's absolutely worst day ever he's still a better choice over any of those dingbats running for president on the GOP ticket. And although I do respect the right to run candidates against Obama in the primaries when it's all done I'm on board 110% for the democrat nominee

[FLyellowdog]

7. Same here.nt

[Bobbie Jo]

16. LMAO

:rofl: Thanks, I needed that.

[Ter]

8. I agree Obama's been wonderful on this, and Bush was awful...

But Bush wasn't a Teabagger.

[LynneSin]

9. Teabaggers didn't exist back then

But I've seen all the griping from them about 'What's Obama doing on vacation?' meme crap.

[ProgressoDem]

11. Oh teabaggers existed...

They were just the 25% that approved of Bush and now they want people to forget they were his most ardent supporters.

[Ter]

12. The Pat Buchanan/Ron Paul wing of the real teabaggers never seemed to fully support him

They may have voted for him, but I worked with many who always said they were unhappy with Shrub. Now though, more and more keep saying "Bush expanded government" yada yada.

[Merlot]

18. Exactly. Same people, different name. republican rebranding at it's worst.

[Tarheel_Dem]

10. Where are the folks who were polling DU about whether the president should return to DC?

No Comment? Is this enough, or doesn't it "go far enough"? :shrug:

[LynneSin]

13. Thing is I knew he would return

But there was no need for him to leave that early.

The earthquake caused damage but wasn't like some of the massive ones they have in California. The Hurricane was days away from making landfall.

I'm sure he's received dozens of reports on both subjects so he's ready to get the job done.

[GSLevel9]

17. oh BTW it's not going to be much of a disaster, lol...

The hype over Hurricane Irene is overblown, predicts the CEO of Advanced Forecasting Corporation.

The demise of Irene has already begun. There is no visible eye. The storm intensity is down to 99 mph. This would be a low-end category 2 or a strong category 1 storm, while 36 hours ago some predicted a catastrophic category 4 storm. Air Force Reserve aircraft have found that Irene's eyewall has collapsed, and the central pressure has risen -- rising pressure means a weakening storm.

<snip>

2) With 90% confidence, we predict a total damage bill below $1 billion. Unless there is an unexpected secondary or tertiary event, this is not going to be a huge-loss storm.

[lunatica]

20. That's good news but I'd hate to try to stand in 99 mph winds!

Just because it's diminished doesn't mean everyone is out of danger and that everything will be fine.

[otohara]

21. So Many "Historic's" Lately

aren't we lucky to be living in such historic times? or NOT?

[PM Martin]

22. K/R