Posted on 11/03/2012 10:16:09 AM PDT by monkapotamus
Natural disasters usually follow the same political trajectory: First the incumbent experiences a bounce as he tours the impacted area, shows his concern, and pledges help to his beleaguered constituents. But then reality sets in and the shortages, delays, mishaps, deaths, and devastation becomes apparent and people turn against the incumbent.
George W. Bush had his Katrina.
And now Barack Obama has his Sandy.
Last week, Obama asserted a kind of ownership of the storm by touring New Jersey in the now infamous embrace of Republican stalwart Governor Chris Christie. Now that we are all appalled by the lack of food, gas, water, heat, and the basic essentials of life throughout the storm zone, Obama’s government doesn’t look so good anymore.
Why didn’t FEMA stockpile food, water, and gasoline? We had a week’s notice to prepare for Sandy. There was no shortage of time. Did the government not realize that people needed to eat, drink, and drive?
All throughout America, we are asking these questions of our television sets as we watch the evolving story of human misery.
Meanwhile, Obama has resumed the campaign trail, pounding the opposition in the same relentless and partisan style which he used before the storm. When Obama said that voting was “the best revenge,” he threw away whatever presidentiality he displayed in touring storm damage earlier in the week.
As he entered the last week before the Congressional election of 1994, President Clinton returned to the U.S. after having presided over the signing of a peace treaty between Israel and Jordan. He called me on his return and asked where he should campaign? Which incumbent Democrats should he try to help get re-elected?
I told him he should not campaign for any of them.
“No, you don’t understand,” he explained. I just came back from the Middle East and my ratings are up ten points. Before, I would have hurt the candidates I campaigned for, but not now. Now I can help them.”
“Your ratings are up because your trip hyped your presidentiality. Now, if you start campaigning, you’ll look like a politician and your ratings will come down again. You’ll end up doing more harm than good to those you are trying to help.”
He disregarded the advice and lost both houses of Congress in the elections.
Now Obama is making the same mistake. By campaigning, particularly by using the same harsh partisan rhetoric which has characterized his campaign, Obama is dragging down his ratings and with it his chances of victory.
Particularly when we see the juxtaposition of the mounting disaster in New York and New Jersey and the President out on the campaign trail attacking his opponents, we realize that Obama is a candidate before he is president, more worried about his second term than the welfare of his constituents.
In yesterday’s polling numbers, I saw a rise in Obama’s ratings and warned that the race was far from over. Now, we see him throwing it all away and resuming his crash into a single term presidency.
That is my way of thinking.
Been saying this from 11 Sept: The ambassador was killed!
Team BO shows no respect for the impact of that, but is will come out and it will NOT go away.
It’s beyond their or our control. Our enemies realized they’re getting away with having killed the equivalant of a 4 star general.
It will have consequences.
Back home, the abhorrent actions of the top DOD state and Exec (BO himself) WILL have an impact.
It will impact history, the killing of the ambassador.
I believe the Alamabans were welcomed in NY. I’ll have to research that.
Media and pundits are effective only if they have an audience.
I respectfully propose that FR place a moratorium on Dick Morris. His predictions, prognostications, and readings of entrails can be found elsewhere—Let’s just not afford him the opportunity to sully and distract from the discussions here.
I couldn’t agree more.
Do you ever notice the liberal areas stay “devastated” by natural disasters for years if not decades?
Mississippi rebuilt within a couple of years. The Joplin, Missouri tornado and Tennessee floods happened within the last few years and they’ve already rebuilt.
Huge blizzards pound the Plains states all the time. Here in Texas the forest fires burned millions of acres and yet we’ve already rebuilt and moved on...yet seven years later the Katrina-New Orleans narrative continues.
What’s the common denominator? New Orleans, New York are governed by liberals..areas that rely on the government while the other areas did receive some help from the government to be sure but didn’t just wait for help to arrive while doing nothing.
“We live in a fluid world. Try to keep up.”
Yes, its just how to keep up after Tues that has us concerned.
BO and his handlers will look like a gang of juvenile delinquents having just broken into a manor house.
Dizzying and irrevocable/irreplaceable
FEMA did an excellent job in pre-positioning donuts for Chris Christie.
Work hard to get the vote out my friend. Democrat early voting is way down. They are demoralized. They will not have the numbers they need to withstand the coming wave. There’s no point worrying. It won’t change anything. Getting the vote out will.
I agree Morris made his original comments right after Barry had his big man hug with Christie in NJ.
At that point I too thought Barry finally understood how to “look” presidential and might have made some headway in the race.
But the minute Barry returned to campaigning in that bomber jacket (as if that could make a man out of him) and began his bombastic campaign comments all over again...he squandered any small lift he might have gotten in NJ.
Once again it was business as usual with Barry and I doubt a large number of people will remember that day in NJ now.
That email with the dour news was a fundraising email for the PAC...the typical ‘things are looking tough, but if you can just spare another $50, we will win Pennsylvania’ message. I don’t doubt this storm has affected the race. Romney had taken the reins a week ago before it hit, and for three days Romney had to do low key and Obama got to President. Let’s hope we see Morris back to his optimistic disposition by Sunday. I really hope to see Rasmussen click back up a point to 49% tomorrow for Romney. It would help calm my nerves a little. Can’t wait until this is over.
I believe the people without electricity were happy to see the non-union Alabama electricians. I know I would be happy to see anyone who knew how to return my power to my house.
However, these people are the same people who vote Democrats and Unions into power time after time. You get the government you vote for and that makes them just as responsible for those Alabama electricians being rejected as the Unions.
Barely a year after Sept 11, while parts of bodies were still lying around after the Muslim attack on New York City, New York and New Jersey returned to Congress the same pacifist, socialist, politically correct politicians that so weakened America that enemies thought us vulnerable. No sympathy here for any of them.
When a candidate is forced to clarify anything they have already suffered significant damage.
Zero would have been better off to stay on that boate with Christy and keep the motor throttled over the sound of his own voice
The wicked dig pits for their enemies only to turn around and fall into it themselves.
I say give the man a microphone and some blow and let him have at it.
That revenge comment will be the third strike against him.
1. You didn’t build that.
2. The first debate.
3. Get your revenge by voting; and/or
4. Mr. Photo op blew in and out of disaster relief and people had to eat out of dumpsters because FEMA is a horrendous and inefficient beuracracy.
When a candidate is forced to clarify anything they have already suffered significant damage.
Zero would have been better off to stay on that boate with Christy and keep the motor throttled over the sound of his own voice
The wicked dig pits for their enemies only to turn around and fall into it themselves.
I say give the man a microphone and some blow and let him have at it.
That revenge comment will be the third strike against him.
1. You didn’t build that.
2. The first debate.
3. Get your revenge by voting; and/or
4. Mr. Photo op blew in and out of disaster relief and people had to eat out of dumpsters because FEMA is a horrendous and inefficient beuracracy.
The Storm exposed the limitations of ‘Big Government’, contrary to the NYT telling us ‘Big Government is needed for these crises’.
I believe that Zero was enjoying a bump from running around in his presidentin' jacket. But Dick's right. His histrionic campaigning is dissipating his presidentin' bump.
Zero looks especially weak, when his rhetoric is compared to Romney's talk of bipartisanship. Zero looks small and petty.
It wasn't the single photo op. It was 72 solid hours of mediagasm. And it worked, until Zero reverted to Larry the community-organizing lounge lizard.
LLS
LLS
Can I just say that the New Yorkers, Jerseyans and Conn.s I know and have spoken with through this last week (from last Saturday) do indeed rely on their neighbors and churches.
They stocked up on firewood, gas, water, food, have generators, chainsaws, axes and have enough for their neighbors.
Every one of them has been through numerous blizzards, hurricaines and non related power outages. They are out and about and helping.
It would make them sick to think of relying on the Feds for help. It would signify social isolation.
They have insurance, they evacuate with weather predictions and indications and they rebuild.
I don’t know whom they vote for, we don’t talk politics, never did. I can guess.
They are out there.
They are stuck in that place that voted for Reagan but went liberal over the years. You all hear them on Rush (who has a wide audience there)
Here is a probably typical conversation between family in all three of the tri state areas:
Tue, October 30, 2012, 11:43 AM
A: News?
B: We’re good...pretty crazy here, but we got lucky (no power, probably for weeks), could have been much worse. Keep you posted. Thanks for checking in, love,
C: Hi all,
Out in town and found wifi!! Don’t know how??
Hope all is well with you all and that there is not too much damage. None to us, have generator and hot water... So, could be worse. We think this is going to be a long recovery though. Stay in touch
C
Tue, Oct 30, 2012 at 10:12 PM
A: Any news from D or E?
D: Hi A, finally getting plugged back in/and went to work today - Lost a couple big trees otherwise we are ok - hi to F
Wed, Oct 31, 2012 at 10:51 PM
A: Anything we can send you guys from down South?
D: We’re hanging in there A - nothing needed now, but thanks for checking in (gas is becoming and issue - so if you can figure out a way to ship a couple gallons - let us know - Haha!)
Friday, November 2, 2012, 8:13 AM
B: Thanks for offering to help. We can use big unscented candles, in jars would be great but not necessary. I guess some batteries would be good too, C & D size. Thanks!
xo
Fri, 2 Nov 2012 12:02:47 -0700
A: Hi. Sent 7-day candles (unscented) in plastic sleeves. Enough for some neighbors as well. Sent also a few batteries C & D - 1 pkg each.
They might be there Monday but they don’t know. They have tracking No’s.
Let me know if another need arises. Happy to help.
Any other takers?
Oh, and B,
Going to the PO this am with this. Am out & about, pls. give me your address.
A: Good. It’ll be in separate pkgs
B: We’ll catch up soon
Friday, November 2, 2012, 11:18 AM
C: Thank you so much, but town has power so we can get goods. The only problem is gas, which runs the generator. Gas stations are running out of it only after you wait on lines for four hours. Hopefully, this wont last too much longer.
Thankfully all the marathoners will have all they need.
Love,
C, G & H
C: Good to hear, B, Probably same situation here. All is well. I has left me vmails but can make calls. So, if anyone speaks to her say thx for me. My service comes in and out sporadically.
Thanks, A, for your thoughts and offer, but we are managing fine thanks.
Love to all,
C
Sent from my iPhone
A: Yes, we’re looking at that marathon deal. It’s not playing well, here either.
Hope this is appropriate; a comment from my local paper:
“Give each runner a full gas can and let those without fuel chase them.”
Fri, 2 Nov 2012 13:10:25
Horray for Mayor Bloomberg ...
D, J etc.
(B, I just left a msg on K’s phone if you run out of generator gas and want to stay warm come on up we have the woodstove - That goes for you too C, of course you’ll need gas in the car to get here - but like you said hopefully it wont last much longer - and of course you can go to E’s they are up and running - full power) Im heading back from CT with extra gas today stay in touch
On Fri, Nov 2, 2012 at 12:55 PM
B: Oh yes, those runers will be safe! K has a trip from JFK Sunday...should be no problem getting over the Verrazano, right? Guess he better leave now.
Date: Friday, November 2, 2012, 2:51 PM
Thank you! Keep you posted
Sat, Nov 3 at 08:00 AM
C: Totally appropriate! Word is that he got pressure from Cuomo and its off. Good idea. Ya think?
A: Yes, please keep us posted.
I’ll share a conversation from yesterday:
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