Hurricane Sandy And The 2012 Presidential Election
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-10-31/hurricane-sandy-and-2012-presidential-election
President Obama is expected in New Jersey today to meet with Governor Chris Christie and view the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy. New Jersey and New York were hit particularly hard by the storm. Along the East Coast, at least 50 people lost their lives. And millions are still without power. The economic cost has been estimated at between $30 billion and $50 billion. The hurricane placed election campaigning on the back burner as President Obama canceled appearances and Governor Romney altered his event schedule. Diane and her guests discuss the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and how the natural disaster might affect the 2012 election.
Guests
Beth Reinhard
reporter for National Journal.
Ed O'Keefe
congressional and political reporter for The Washington Post; he spent recent years also covering FEMA.
Jackie Calmes
national correspondent for The New York Times.
Comments
Please familiarize yourself with our Code of Conduct and Terms of Use before posting your comments.
As this is being posted prior to the storm's landfall, this question may have no relevance.
I would like to know, if there is too much damage to the polling locations or too much damage to get to a location (no transit system, down lines and trees, crushed cars, etc.), do people not get the chance to vote? How will that be handled by the cities?
I hope that you will also discuss what happens to races for Congress and local candidates. With the presidential race, there are people from other areas who will vote. It seems like a different issue if an entire Congressional district is affected and few people will be able to vote. Also, am I correct that local races can be rescheduled where the Presidential race can not?
I understand that the candidates do not want to campaign on a natural disaster and this puts Governer Romney in a bit of a sticky situation, but c'mon, he is helping out with disaster relief in OHIO?! why not Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Connecitcut, or West Virginia? Places that were actually hit hard with much destruction. Am I to cynical in thinking its solely because he is not contesting those states? I am sure the people of New Jersey would appreciate/need his help more than Ohioans...its to bad that their electoral college votes aren't in play.
I don't Blame Governer Romney, I blame the electoral college system, a Voter in Ohio is more important than one in the Northeast
PhilyeahPhil wrote: "I understand that the candidates do not want to campaign on a natural disaster and this puts Governer Romney in a bit of a sticky situation, but c'mon, he is helping out with disaster relief in OHIO?"
The best thing both of them can do is get the hell out of the way. The last thing they need is a massive presidential security team getting in the way of clean up efforts. In the end Obama can only write checks with borrowed money in the form of disaster relief to local communities. If anyone believes Obama is not "campaigning" and just doing his job, I've got four dead Americans and campaign trip to Las Vegas to show ya.
@Partisan
No, Mitt Romney is the last thing anyone needs. He held a campaign even pretend-dressed as a "relief effort for the Red Cross", wherein canned goods, which the Red Cross explicitly asks not to have, are collected and dumped on them as "help".
Maybe you're just stuck thinking of Bush and Katrina when it comes to FEMA. Funny how when one side doesn't believe in actual governance they project that to the other side.
Why do I never hear anyone talk anymore about the savings from "economies of scale" we get from handling these issues federally? Have basic business principles changed?
Don't fool yourselves. Any part sent to the states would be used by cronies telling cronies what money is coming for what, and 'friends of friends' would get a 'pre-qualified bids' to provide 'facilities' with no standards but whatever the local elite feel 'those people' deserve. ..And then, they would get ten percent on top of ten percent 'overhead and management' fees to send their kids to college. Leaving professionalism to the 'states' is an oxymoron, and no world class first responder would want to be associated with such 'management'. ...Republicans want the local guard to be deployed in wars of choice, so that the emergency generators and large wheeled troop carriers would be away with their units, and 'those people' would be left to their own
resources. Then the good ole boys could order generators etc, and get there just in time to collect bodies for the soylent green farm.
When asked Why FEMA was quicker... why not remind them that under GWB they nearly gutted it and it was ill prepared to deal with it. Mitch Daniel, our gov. here in IN was the budget director and the idea was to cut it back...it was cut back, reduced to a department rather than an agency and tucked into Homeland Security. Katrina happened and it was totally unprepared. Obama has been helping to rebuild it as did Clinton after Reagan and Bush I nearly decimated it. This is important and should not be washed over ...I believe because it is basic to the philosophies of the two parties.
Katrina hit a poorly run highly populated democratic city. Democrat mayor Nagen and democrat Governor Kathleen Blanco were responsible for the ensuing public relations and clean up disasters, not George Bush or "Browny". They lost their jobs because of it.
Romney wants to turn the monies back to the states...they would add the monies to their general revenues and then lower taxes for corporations!!! he also said he would like to take it further back and send it back to the private sector...Halliburton, blackwater, HCA, tyco, union carbide, Enron all run by a Bernie Madoff. Quite a plan!! LOL
Mitt Romney asked for donations of canned goods and clothing but the Red Cross organization wants money. It takes far more labor to process food and clothing. Did Romney not listen to what Red Cross was asking for?
What about the disaster aid that comes from the assets already owned by the federal government, especially DOD? These assets are used in multiple ways for many different needs-not just disasters. By moving control to the local and state levels and even private companies, these assets are not as effective and actually would require more red tape to get into action when needed. A slower response would also result and no one wants that.
Missy
If moving money/responsibilities from the federal government to the states is always a good idea, I've seen no proof of this, then the next step is to move it more local to the county or town level not the private sector. Anyone who has worked or observed local/state politics knows that it is a least as chaotic as the federal level. From the business perspective, that everyone seems to think should be emulated in the government although the two are very different, I've seen few businesses deciding to break up because local control is better, more often you you see businesses combining to improve efficiency and profits. Some things need to be local (fire departments, schools, etc.) and some need to be federal (defense, disaster, etc.).
One the most important factors improving emergency response for hurricanes, floods-- all natural disasters is that the National Incident Management System mandates the use of the Incident Command System to manage the response. This puts the Federal, State and local governments in a coordination structure, working together on a a daily agenda of priorities for action. This is now mandated at all levels of government by Federal legislation.
John Gustafson
Executive Director
National Response Team (Retired)
Incident Command System (ICS) Overview (From FEMA Website)
The Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized, on-scene, all-hazards incident management approach that:
Allows for the integration of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures and communications operating within a common organizational structure.
Enables a coordinated response among various jurisdictions and functional agencies, both public and private.
Establishes common processes for planning and managing resources.
ICS is flexible and can be used for incidents of any type, scope and complexity. ICS allows its users to adopt an integrated organizational structure to match the complexities and demands of single or multiple incidents.
proudliberal wrote: "If moving money/responsibilities from the federal government to the states is always a good idea, I've seen no proof of this"
Have you seen any "proof" the reverse is true? links please!
IN THE FLOODLIGHT OF DAMAGE TO MULTIPLE STATES FROM HURRICANE SANDY, CONGRESS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY ENACT LEGISLATION TO RESCHEDULE OUR IMMINENT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION TO THE FIRST TUESDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING.
STATES AND MUNICIPALITIES SHOULD ENACT LEGISLATION TO RESCHEDULE STATE AND LOCAL ELECTIONS, ACCORDINGLY AS THEY MAY NEED, IF AFFECTED BY DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE HURRICANE.
This should be done in order to ensure the fairness of the elections and in order to preserve the constitutional Right to Vote, that voting may yet occur timely and efficaciously.
CONGRESS AND STATES SHOULD CONSIDER A PERMANENT CHANGE OF ELECTION DAY TO THE FIRST TUESDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING.
This should be done so that electioneering and voting occur under the aegis of the positive physical, emotional, and spiritual satiation of our Nation at Thanksgiving time.
partisan politics wrote:
"Katrina hit a poorly run highly populated democratic city"
You are right-on, pp, and I have written on this subject in another thread recently. Also, due to the simple physical layout, a highly vulnerable city as well.
The biggest problem was Blanco REFUSING help from the Federal Government and Nagan with that "Dear in the headlights look".
But you never heard or read about that. All you heard about was "good job Brownie". A lot of the issue with FEMA was one of misinformation as to what was actually happening and, therefore, public perception.
For example, President Bush did want to visit NO personally, but as another poster has pointed out with respect to Sandy, his doing so would have drawn first responders from the work they should have been doing. So, he elected to fly over to see the damage instead. That was presented by MSM as "Bush doesn't care enough to even touch down". It was a misrepresentation as to what was happening and was simply false.
SASKWATCH wrote:" This should be done in order to ensure the fairness of the elections and in order to preserve the constitutional Right to Vote, that voting may yet occur timely and efficaciously"
No one is fooling anyone with this, you want to give Obama time to recover in the poles and are desperate for a disaster or political opportunity for a game changer. Ain't gonna happen.
John R. Gustafson wrote:
"One the most important factors improving emergency response for hurricanes, floods-- all natural disasters is that the National Incident Management System mandates the use of the Incident Command System to manage the response...."
This was put in place after 9/11. Also, one of the things about Katrina was that Bush wanted to put National Guard troops on the ground, but wanted them to be able to carry arms against looters, etc. Blanco refused. Bush could not override her refusal based on an antiquated law from the 1800s that forbade the President from putting boots on the ground contrary to the Governor's wishes. He was finally forced to split the response into two groups; FEMA to manage the disaster under one command and the NG under a DIFFERENT command, with the guardsmen unarmed to get around the law. That antiquated law has since been struck by Congress and the President has more capability in the case of natural disasters.
partisan politics wrote:
"No one is fooling anyone with this, you want to give Obama time to recover in the poles[sic] and are desperate for a disaster or political opportunity for a game changer. Ain't gonna happen."
Additionally, SASKWATCH's "solution" is unworkable. Unaffected states would have to have TWO elections; one for local now and one for President later in November. I believe the election date is set by law and not part of the Constitution so it could be changed, but it doesn't really matter where you move the date. Hurricane season goes through December and there are potential issues with just about any date you pick. It has to be this time of year because of the January 20th innauguration date which IS part of the Constitution in Amendment 20.
Obviously if this storm prevents people from voting, then the election should be extended. Those who have a vested (real or imagined) interest in preventing people from voting don't want this extension to happen, obviously.
What ever happened to the separation of chuch and state? In 2005, Governor (and concurrent LDS/Mormon church Bishop/Pastor) Mitt Romney appointed his wife Ann Romney as head of an unpaid and new special office (did he create this office with his powers of Governor?) whose purpose was to help the state's faith-based groups gain more federal monies in association with the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (do I sense a church vs state boundary issue?). This was a result after the state had seen its share of faith-based grants decline over the previous three years. Ann worked directly with Jim Towey, director of the White House office. Just how are all these US federal tax payor monies being allocated to the thousands of organized religions? It is noted the LDS/Mormon church sent 450 semi trucks of food and supplies in response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The LDS church in 2012 formed an offical partnership with Gail McGovern of the American Red Cross. Is it the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiative program that enabled the LDS church community services to grow to this size to provide national emergency and social services of this magnitude?
@ partisan politics: your response to SASKWATCH is correct. I distinctly remember Rahm Emanuel saying "never let a crisis go to waste"... "Looking presidential" and "talking presidential" are not "being presidential". You gotta love the window dressing thats going on here... however; like my 'ol grandpa used to say... "you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear"!!!
After the OKC bombing in 1995, the worldwide response was immediate and generous beyond measure. Officials in Oklahoma made a decision to lump all donations into a single fund.
How would you feel to know that today, 17 1/2 years later, a balance of more than 10 million dollars remains? Victims are routinely denied requests funding for services, while the foundation director lists her salary at $232,217. One family with two injured children lost their home. Two more families use the welfare system to care for the needs of their injured kids.
It's unconscionable to think my donation to relieve victim suffering never made it further than a cushy office in downtown OKC. Sadly these days, I am apprehensive about offering a donation anywhere beyond my own faith home.
@ Church State: you wrote ". Is it the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiative program that enabled the LDS church community services to grow to this size to provide national emergency and social services of this magnitude?"
Answer: The LDS Church works with and supports relief organizations that are already in place, like the Catholic relief fund, Red Cross and many, many others. You also have to reallize the the membership of the faith numbers more outside the U.S. than inside the U.S. which moves it's relief efforts to a world-wide scale.
The LDS faith receives exactly -0- in federal monies for their efforts...the goods and supplies are generated by contributions of the church membership. Once per month, the membership "Fasts" for 2 meals and the equivilant of the cost of those 2 meals is donated to a fund that can only be used to provide for the poor and needy.
I know that it's hard for you to comprehend that an organization can accomplish this work without government assistance or oversight....but it is amazingly TRUE...
I understand that John C. Calhoun first raised the idea of "states rights" and "less government" before the civil war (which only proves that they've seized onto a bad idea for the wrong reasons). However, the idea of "less active federal government" seems more to reflect the Articles of Confederation (the failed first attempt of a Constitution) than the actual Constitution itself. A lot of cities have declared bankruptcy, and states are hemorrhaging money, with some being in the red. (1) What makes these people think state/local government (officials) is/are more nuanced, smarter, wiser, more "in-touch" with the spending money and convey services than the federal government to spend money? (2) Does that mean they want smaller federal government, but larger, "more bloated" state governments...even with their comparatively limited resources and budgetary restraints?
http://beyond-dollars-and-sense.blogspot.com/
Governor Chris Cristie is a Republican who was even involved at the RNC and says that Obama (specifically) has been "exceptional" and that everything is going as good as they could have hoped, given the situation.
FEMA came under fire recently where a Bush era admin said FEMA acted "too quickly" in this situation alluding to Katrina being better run. Rrrrrrrrright.
The states that are hardest hit are/were always going to elect Obama in the general election so this won't affect the election there. Meanwhile in Ohio, Romney is doing a great job with the relief effort by collecting supplies the Red Cross doesn't wan't or accept; helping those briefly without power rather than those without houses in New York or New Jersey where he has no hope of winning votes.
Church State wrote:
"What ever happened to the separation of chuch and state?"
What happened was, you do not understand the First Amendment and seem to have no desire to as I have explained it to you in other threads on this very mb.
Where’s that pesky welfare work requirement when you really need it?
Those who like to be seen being good find it easy to go thru their goods and get clothes and canned goods, not that they might not be needed, but the Red Cross likes to buy what they need at that moment, which may be work gloves, buckets to clean, to help those out there trying to clean up. A kit to help them assembled by the closest HQ or Lowes, is more appreciated. The right tool at the right time at the right place. This is what 'thoughtfulness' is all about and why they ask for money and allow those on site to call in for what they need at the closest place. Yep, this is not the 'American Way' always, but it is the way things work most effectively. Don't take offense, just be a 'thoughtful conservative''.