After Charley awaits Bush-President prepares to funnel aid for disaster in key electoral state

press telegram ^ | Friday August 12, 2004 | Calvin Woodward

[Conservative_boy_in_Bangkok]

By CALVIN WOODWARD, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Once Hurricane Charley is gone from Florida, it's a safe bet President Bush (news - web sites) will sweep in. Natural calamities present political opportunity, and many crucial electoral votes are in the path of Charley's howling winds. Bush swiftly issued a disaster declaration to expedite federal aid as Charley tore into the Florida Gulf Coast on Friday. He was acting on a request that had come from his brother Jeb, the governor, even before the ferocious storm made landfall. The president was expected to visit the area in the aftermath.

Officials are loath to ascribe campaign motives to emergency response, but politics infuses everything this close to an election. No more so than in the state that handed Bush the presidency.

"This provides both opportunities and real dangers for the president," said Dario Moreno, a Florida International University political scientist who was safe from the storm in Miami.

Presidents are measured by the aid and sympathy that follow a big hit from nature, and Moreno said Bush stands to gain as long as he treats the emergency as more than a chance to roll up his sleeves and clear a bit of rubble for the cameras.

"If he looks like he's doing this for a photo opportunity, it's going to backfire on him," he said. "He has to make sure FEMA and the emergency aid responders are working around the clock and without a hitch."

The hurricane bore down not only on the scene-stealing state of the last election, but one of the most politically dynamic parts of it — the western and central counties where both parties are in heated competition for the tens of thousands of non-Cuban Hispanics who have moved there since 2000. Florida offers 27 electoral votes...

[rushmom]

If Bush didn't respond to this with dispatch, he'd be accused of not caring. If he does respond, he's a political opportunist. We can only hope the voter who half pays attention finally figures out what lowlifes these liberals are.

[GailA]

It's all Bush's fault he should have gone out into the gulf and held up his hand and told Charley to stop.

These people make me want to puke.

[Conservative_boy_in_Bangkok]

"peace be still" if Bushed walked on water they would bash him for for scaring the fish.

[GailA]

I know, I'm surprised hanoi john hasn't made statements to the fact it's Dubya's fault.

[Conservative_boy_in_Bangkok]

Oh I'm sure it's coming, some trash like "it was caused by global warming because Bush didn't sign the Kyoto treaty, or he should have hired a Medium to predict the weather...blah blah blah

[IamConservative]

I am surprised we have not heard a Kerry spokesperson say: "The timing of this disaster is suspicious."

[MizSterious]

What I find stunning in this article is the premisse that if President Bush sends aid to the hurricane victims, it's only for political reasons.

Of course, we all know the criticism we'd hear if for some reason, he didn't. Luckily for Floridians, President Bush is a compassionate man who won't care if people make those claims--he'd help them in any event.

[MizSterious]

Be patient. Give them time.

[yawningotter]

I remember that when Andrew hit, Bush 41 wanted to send in federal aid immediately, but that Florida's democrat governor waited several days before making the request, and by then everyone, especially the media, was all over Bush 41 for not responding fast enough. Bush 41 should have sent in the aid immediately and made a big issue over the governor's unexcusable delays in making the requests.

[IamConservative]

I'd bet we will hear Kerry inferring the Bush brothers could have saved more lives with more effective evacuation, etc. I am certain a politician will try to benefit from this disaster and I am equally certain it will be Kerry.

[snooker]

Well sick or not it took CNN 12 hours to start wondering on air about why it's taking so long. GET PREPARED FOR MORE OF THIS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. Kerry will tour the rubble soon, count on it. CNN's news babe-ette was talking about finding bodies. Never mind that most places are under water still, houses are totally collapsed. Reason means nothing at CNN. Power, water and phones are out for large segments of the population. You can draw a line from the landfall of CHARLEY all the way up to Orland 100 miles wide to see where the potential for death and destruction lies.

What does CNN think you can do? Magically sift through the rubble of flattened houses for bodies? Since the magic doesn't exist, they have to go through each site piece by piece to find people who may be still trapped or remove any remains of the less fortunate. Lots of areas are still not passable by emergency vehicles, so aerial survey and help is about the only way ... for now.

Reason isn't going to work with the partisan media. Get used to it. Jeb just held a news conference from Punta Gorda and I can assure you the media will portray the worst they can find when it comes to Jeb and W. Count on it.

Now is the time for Bush to step up and take charge. He needs to say for real HELP IS ON THE WAY, and deliver. What is needed is food, water and shelter.

It looks like Jeb has staged plenty of manpower and supplies, but he has got to deliver as well. Else the Dims will hammer them both.

Words fail when dealing with Dims and the partisan media, but they are what they are, and defeating Bush is all they have in mind.

[Conservative_boy_in_Bangkok]

Bush plans on being there tomorrow, which oddly enough here in Thailand is today. I think he is going to to do exactly what you suggested. I lest help those down in Florida, give them every reason to thank Bush, and really show them how to play politics in the process. It's midnight here and I got Church tomorrow. Later.

[snooker]

Yep, saw the announcement. W is coming Sunday. This is a big deal locally.

Saw Jeb's news conference today at noon after he toured damage in Punta Gorda by air. He said Punta Gorda was destroyed. W should do the same. Take a news camera guy up with him so BUSH can see first hand what has happened. Have some knowledgeable type explain to Bush what is needed.

But ... I also saw the sneers on the faces of the local media. They are loading up for W's head and Kerry is just waiting in the wings to move at the right time.

W can't afford to take this one sitting down. He has got to get up front and move on the relief effort.

Clinton beat Bush 41 over the head on 'why can't we get a plane load of water to these people' and other pandering nonsense.

[Crazieman]

CNN has taken its marching orders from AP and is parroting the "Bush is evil and politically motivated for helping the state so soon"