Stop looking for politics in a disaster, by Haley Barbour

[DonViejo]

by Haley Barbour, Published: November 1

Haley Barbour, a Republican, was governor of Mississippi from 2004 to 2012.

Having worked as governor with administrations of both parties on several natural disasters, including Hurricane Katrina, I am surprised — to the point of disbelief — at the reactions from both right and left that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) has said favorable things about the Obama administration’s efforts in these early days after Hurricane Sandy.

At the same time, I find it interesting that many in the media act as though it is of great political import that Christie praises Obama for trying to help — when the same media organizations challenged and criticized me for not attacking the Bush administration in the early days after Katrina.

Christie is no doubt operating under the same thinking I learned from my old high school football coach: Praise in public; criticize in private. I knew that it would be unwise to nitpick the people with whom my state would be partnered for years, especially when those people did more right than wrong.

Because of the damage wrought by Sandy, New Jersey and the federal government will work together for years in the sheltering, cleanup, recovery and rebuilding efforts. Really, their working relationship has barely begun.

As governor, Christie’s first responsibility is to the 8.8 million residents of New Jersey. As of Wednesday, more than 2 million homes and businesses did not have electricity. Many people lacked running water. About 6,000 required shelter. While local utilities tirelessly work to restore service, with tremendous support from power companies around the country, New Jersey residents look to state and local governments for help with things they can’t do for themselves.

more
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/haley-barbour-after-hurricane-sandy-stop-looking-for-politics/2012/11/01/44b36e1c-2457-11e2-9313-3c7f59038d93_story.html?tid=pm_opinions_pop

[sadbear]

1. Sounds more like he's trying to defend his own record after Katrina than anything else.

[lunatica]

2. He's a disgusting

piece of shit. That is all.

[Glorfindel]

3. Yes, he is

I live in Mississippi, and I know.

[fleur-de-lisa]

4. Barbour makes me want to puke . . .

It's not the same, you pig!

"The same media organizations challenged and criticized me for not attacking the Bush administration in the early days after Katrina".

You and Shrub were on the same good-old-boy team. And you were both equally useless in the aftermath of Katrina.

Christie and Obama are being praised for 'BIPARTISANSHIP'! Get your dictionary and look it up, since I'm sure you don't know what the word means!