Bush denies request for federal aid for tornado-ravaged counties (Iowa)

[deminks]

http://www.woi-tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5042132

DES MOINES, Iowa The Bush administration has denied Governor Tom Vilsack's request for federal aid for Iowa's counties affected by severe weather in April.

Vilsack had asked for Johnson, Jones and Muscatine counties to receive Presidential Disaster Declarations after a series of tornados swept across eastern Iowa, killing one and causing millions of dollars in damage. The declaration would have made federal money available for housing assistance and repairs.

Vilsack says he was -- quote -- "extremely disappointed" in Bush and would consider appealing the decision.

[Selatius]

1. Republicans don't like spending money on working class people

Maybe if rich people built expensive neighborhoods in front of tornadoes more often, Bush would be moved enough to grant aid, but I don't think most if not all tornado victims are of the financial elite who run this country. It's probably considered just "flyover country" to most corporate robber barons anyway.

[DBoon]

26. or they could figure out how to sole source Halliburton into this

nt

[saigon68]

56. he OK'd funds for Free pencils in Iraqi schools

And today in the Green Zone, 75 armed and helmeted troops passed out 24 free pencils to school children.

[Blue Gardener]

59. It was downtown Iowa City

That was hit the hardest. Small businesses, restaurants, the county courthouse, plus many houses near the downtown area. One very old catholic church was nearly destroyed. One sorority house was destroyed. A lot of University of Iowa students were displaced by the tornado.

[Olney Blue]

2. I hope Iowa remembers this in the primaries.

Worst president ever.

[Cha]

3. Did Iowa go

go for bush in 2004 or is that my imagination?

[Sanity Claws]

6. Yep

Iowa went for Bush.
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/president/
At least, that's the story on the official count.
Iowa got what it deserved. People should realize what a mistake they made in voting for *. He helps no one except his rich buddies.

[Cha]

8. I was just wondering

because after all that bush vote and then they still get screwed.

[Bluzmann57]

11. Please see my other post here

Eastern Iowa, where the tornados hit, went Kerry. West of Des Moines is red for the most part. In fact, a lot of us here in eastern Iowa consider it a part of Nebraska. Iowa City, which was hit hard by the tornados is as liberal as anyplace you will find in the USA. I just want to stick up for my state. And please please do not take anything that king guy says as being representative of all Iowans. He isn't. He's crazy.

[kestrel91316]

20. So no federal aid for an area that went for Kerry. Why does this NOT

surprise me?

He probably considered doing it to NOLA, but couldn't quite get away with it.

[Critters2]

52. Even my good friends in rural central Iowa think King's crazy.

They must be completely nuts west of Ft. Dodge

[murielm99]

33. I don't think that Iowa got what it deserved.

Do you remember how the vote totals were not available from Iowa until the next day? I think it was stolen by the conservative part of the state. It should have gone to Kerry, by a close but real margin.

There are many good Democrats in Iowa. I think they will remember.

[Critters2]

50. Maybe

but it might have something to do with the fact that polls in Iowa don't close until 9 pm.

[Critters2]

49. It was fairly close, though

My Iowa Dem friends refer to Iowa as "purple".

[Bluzmann57]

7. Iowa barely went bush in '04

But Johnson County is where the University of Iowa is located and it is about as Liberal as anyplace in the USA. Muscatine County, about 15 miles from this computer is a working class area, home to Bandag and Hon Industries, which makes office furniture. Roy Carver was one of the founders of Bandag, a tire retreading company and I believe he was a Democrat, as are a lot of people down there. Eastern Iowa is "blue", and that is where the aforementioned counties are. I remember those tornados and they caused some damage. A lot of damage. Too bad bush can't steer some money this way. Believe me, the people affected will not forget about this. A proud Iowan here.

[Cha]

9. I'm really sorry to hear that..

about the damage and not getting Federal Funds.

I'm betting that's why they're not getting them..cause they're Blue!

We should thrown a freakin' National Blue Fundraiser for those Iowans!

[smirkymonkey]

16. Bush is such a vindictive, childish little PRICK!

god - everytime I think I have reached the pinnacle of Bush Hatred, I am surprised at how much further it can go.

[Sewsojm]

34. Me too,

That sums it up for me, I've hated this little bastard since the first day I ever saw him on tv and wondered what the Repugs were thinking picking this Idiot, now we know it was all Rigged and they didn't have to worry about him being a Retarded Bastard!

I never knew I could ever Hate Anyone so much, especailly someone I've never met!

[saigon68]

57. He is a CHIMPANZEE

[Olney Blue]

18. And Iowans aren't the only Americans who have been screwed by

the worst president ever.

How can he turn his back on people in need like this?

[Lars39]

24. Katrina was practice.

[MaineDem]

32. Maine just got Federal aid and we are a blue state

Our southern county was badly flooded and they just approved federal aid for that disaster.

I hate this administration but at least they approved our Democratic Governor's request.

[nealmhughes]

47. Mama must have called some friends in Kennebunk.

I'm sure the Bushes couldn't care less about anyone else in Maine.

[Cha]

4. bush has bankrupt the

county..they don't have no stinking money..all the lucre goes to Iraq.

[OwnedByFerrets]

5. We are financially as well as politically bankrupt. n/t

[jean]

12. he'll give money to FL or any other repub state in the event they're

"hit" by Mother Nature. Can't waste what little money he has, his 'political capital," on Dem states.

[Cha]

15. And another $66 Billion

is approved for Iraq. I don't like to say this but Vilsack is a dlcer and they approve of the War On Iraq and what now Tom..all the money goin' over there and none for the emergencies at home?

[HereSince1628]

10. Welcome to our world. Wisconsin's swarm of tornados last year

was one of if not the worst in its history. State got rejected for federal aid.
Why? The only sensible answer is the state apparently wasn't red enough.

NY and DC get told they have no national sites worthy of protection? Huh??????
Why? The only sensible answer is the state apparently wasn't red enough.

[acmejack]

13. People don't realize just how dire our financial situation really is.

We are 9 trillion dollars in debt! There is NO Money for anything, war, defense, social security, anything. Yet we persist in giving it to Countries that have their economies in the black-like Israel (2.4 Billion this year). We are simply STUPID!

Hard times are coming soon enough, we will all soon learn what it is like to be very, very poor. We'll have to go low tech for our military-lots of guys with guns, low paid guys, drafted guys. The old way, no more gee whiz, gold plated weapons systems...

[Acadia Blue]

36. Rich little boys think they can just put it on dad's credit card. Bush

does not have a clue about financial responsibility. And they are bankrupting the country on purpose to easily install their corporatist fascist dream land.

[Telly Savalas]

61. Our debt-to-GDP ratio has been worse in the past.

This doesn't excuse Bush's abhorrent fiscal policy, but it's important to keep perspective.

This "we're broke and can't afford to do anything" line is false, although you can expect to hear it a lot more in the future from Republicans after Democrats are running the show again.

[MasonJar]

14. Isn't Iowa at least purple? The Iowans won't like this.

[JI7]

17. cold, disgusting , hateful asshole

[bluestateguy]

19. All 3 are blue counties

This administration does not apportion federal aid without looking at the electoral data first.

JOHNSON

Kerry 64.0% 41,847
Bush 34.7% 22,715
Other 1.2% 811

JONES

Kerry 50.7% 5,054
Bush 48.4% 4,834
Other 0.9% 90

MUSCATINE

Kerry 51.0% 9,542
Bush 48.2% 9,020
Other 0.8% 155

[Sadie5]

21. People should realize what a mistake they made in voting for *

Some have already had the pleasure of experiencing first hand how *treats those who have voted for him. Their jobs are gone, his friendship with the CC industry has bankrupted them and on and on and on. Billions will be spent on a senseless war which will maim and kill thousands, but there isn't enough to help tornado victims out. Something is wrong with this picture.

[Cha]

23. That should be a Dem

campaign slogan.."WE'LL TREAT ALL AMERICANS THE SAME..RED, WHITE, AND BLUE!"

I'm wondering what Vilsack thinks of his dlc loving bush policies NOW?

[jbnow]

22. Unbelievable!

That's a horrible response and I hope it gets a lot of news coverage and bush is shamed into reversing his decision.

I have never heard of that happening when the need was so clear. Not that I really know when it's been turned down, maybe it's more common than I know.

[goforit]

38. Time for all the states except a few to secede from the Union!

This marriage of the so called "United" States is over.

Are YOU going to continue to pay FEDERAL TAXES after this kick
in the face.

[Rocknrule]

25. And this man is supposed to be a shining example of Christianity?

:puke:

[mvd]

27. I guess the damage is just another number

:grr:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

28. We can't afford aid...We've got to save the institution of marriage!

[Doremus]

29. Is there precedent for this? I don't recall a president ever turning down

a state asking for disaster relief ...?

[HuffleClaw]

30. a clear example of bush's petty politicking

i guess only republicans need apply

[bling bling]

31. Bush only helps his buddies.

That sounds like a one-liner. But it's true. If there is a political reason for him to help, then he'll do it regardless of the cost. But Iowa, with a Dem Governor and a Dem Senator who's critizing the Iraq war, Bush has nothing to gain by helping. So he'd rather be a childish bully about it and play a power-trip over the "librals". He's an immature frat-boy turned alcoholic turned oil tycoon business man. He doesn't give a shit about Americans unless there's something in it for him.

[Iowa]

55. "...a Dem Governor..."

Yes, Vilsack masquerades as a Dem, but he's a corporatist at heart who has Dem presidential aspirations. After he gets his ass handed to him in the 2008 primaries (if he's dumb enough to continue down that ridiculous path), he'll find some other way to serve his corporate masters.

I agree with your sentiments about Bush. Vilsack is better than Bush, but only a little better. We haven't elected a real Dem as governor of Iowa since Harold Hughes.

[Acadia Blue]

35. Hope this registers with the idiots who supported him. He does

not give a damn about them anymore than he does Katherine Harris who stole an election for him. Its all about loyalty for him, but one way only.

[Cha]

41. I'll second that "hope".

I would hope other Iowans who voted for bush would see this and be disgusted for their fellow Iowans who are in trouble because of all the tornadoes devastating their environment.

[goforit]

37. Incredibly CALLOUS! Depopulation is their motto.

Y'all are on your own!

[spotbird]

39. Vilsack is punished

for being a Democrat.

These people are beneath contempt.

[lovuian]

40. Middle America is totally screwed and all America

is screwed except Florida where Jeb...his brother is or where the Oil companies are

but the rest of America screw you... but Pakistan if you need help george is there with OUR MONEY!!!

Why pay taxes???

[truthisfreedom]

42. GOOD. this will wake up the Iowans who were foolish enough to fall for

the pretzeldent.

[Amonester]

43. The Lie$, Murder$, Robberie$ in Iraq Co$t$ . . .

http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182

The taxpayers in the Divided States of America only paid, pay, and will pay for quite a long time, because the Republican Oilgarchy doesn't give a f**k about them.

[KansDem]

44. I thought granting requests of this nature were automatic...???

I don't ever recall US presidents playing politics with people's misfortunes caused by natural disasters, but I could be wrong.

edited for spelling

[libodem]

45. Vilsack must be a Democrat

partisan politics

[Critters2]

51. He's chair of the DLC

So, technically, he's a Democrat. ;)

[mbee]

46. Guess they should pull themselves up by the ole

bootstraps like their leader tells them to do!

[robbedvoter]

48. Another dem governor being prepared for scapegoating

The victims of the tornado are mere collateral damage. This is all political chess for the BFEE.
Of course now, if Vilsack would agree to let the National Guard take over, and step down for a GOP replacement....

[CatholicEdHead]

53. What if it would have been western Iowa?

Western Iowa tends to be red and eastern Iowa is mostly blue closer to the Mississippi.

[Minnesota Libra]

54. Could it be that Iowa isn't completely in lock step with neocons?? nt

[pinniped]

58. Sorry, all the money has gone to war and got stolen.

.

[zann725]

60. The more FEMA and this Admin. denies aid to natural disaster victims

nationwide (which will soon encompass MOST states in this country in one form or another). .....

the more displaced, unable to afford the repairs on their damaged homes...the more these victims will be forced from their homes as "unsafe" by Officials of Admin....VASTLY EFFECTING NOT ONLY THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF '06 AND '08 elections, but also creating roving thousands, and millions of displaced, hungry Americans (which brings to mind ALL those "detainment camps" built across this country...not yet used...at least to our knowledge).

Will most of us soon be evicted due to natural disaster, "put up" in Detainment Centers, utilized as low-paid or NO PAID "serfs")...as time passes, and our land (due to laws of Eminent Domanin...is sold UP to Gov't and huge corporate development entities.

I see nationwide potential disaster, and roaming homeless displaced victims as the result of this FEMA, Admin. failure to do their job (as paid for by OUR taxpayer dollars...NOT theirs).