Hurricane Ivan has caused Bush to lose Florida....

[deminflorida]

Reporting from the ground here in NW Florida....you can take that info to the bank.

My wife and I toured through some of the hardest hit areas in and around Navarre, Florida. A drive down through the Midway community of Soundside Drive, will make you want to get of your car and puke. Whole houses washed out, shit stacked up 8 to 12 high, dry-wall, house-whole goods, broken furniture carpet, etc....

No FEMA trailers have arrived yet, and some families are living in tents in the woods near their homes. Areas such as Tiger Point an elite wealthy neighborhood are not much better. Million dollar homes gutted.

Reports in todays Sunday edition of the NW Florida daily news indicated people on Santa Rosa Island, (Navarre Beach) feel they were abandoned with no way to get back and forth other than foot. Due to the in-attention, some homes now damaged with black mold forming inside will have to be gutted due to water damage.

Remember this is the Republican strong-hold in the state of Florida.

The statement Kerry made earlier about building Firehouses in Baghdad but not here at home carries alot of weight now for many people here along the Panhandle. Many however will miss the debates because they no longer have Televisions or if they do electrical power to use them.

[mzmolly]

1. I think it might be good to get flyers to these people about

Kerry's position?

So sorry for my Floridian friends, we have a friend who just moved their and is without power. Thankfully his home was spared, but many of his neighbors weren't so lucky.

[Carni]

28. Forget the flyers

Someone should start a food drive as an extention of the Kerry campaign.

I have no idea how one would go about doing that?

Canned goods/camping equipment/blankets etc would help these people a lot more than flyers.

[mzmolly]

41. Wonderful idea!

Call the campaign.

www.johnkerry.com

Kerry-Edwards 2004, Inc.
P.O. Box 34640
Washington, DC 20043
202-712-3000
202-712-3001 (fax)
202-336-6950 (TTY)

Florida contact information:
Florida
115 E. Broward Blvd.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301
954-848-0053

[LuminousX]

76. Dean's campaign did this kind of stuff and it is a great idea

Public service isn't just about campaigning but providing the public a service.

[cthrumatrix]

79. The longer the power & svcs are out...the more dislike for the govt.

[shockingelk]

2. Biush can't protect FL from God ...

How do people expect him to protect us from Satanic terrorists?

[ClassWarrior]

27. But Junior has a hotline to God. My minister told me...

<jk>

23.

[Kikosexy2]

61. Looks like...

God is mighty pissed with the Satanic Son (Bush). Punishing Fla. for the rise of evil. But I guess OH, CO or AZ will have to pick up the slack since Fla. is all messed up.

[blackcat77]

3. We really needed the NG to help with this problem

But unfortunately, they are busy at the moment a few thousand miles from the people who need them so badly.

[juajen]

16. National Guard units are being sent in from other southern states

to Florida. They announced on our local news that Louisiana would be sending national guard units; that there was an agreement between southern states to help out this way in emergencies. My hubbie says our unit is going to the panhandle, Georgia and Mississippi are also sending units. Please tell any people you can reach that "help is on the way". My God, I feel so for these people. It so easily could have been us. Hurricanes are scarey stuff folks.

Of course, there also will be personnel from our utilities to help them repair lines and such. Honest folks, they will not be alone long.

[Cheswick2.0]

43. three weeks after Frances and the NG isn't there yet?

Good lord, they had tents set up and hot meals for people within days of Andrew. Are all the guards from florida in Iraq?

[myanklesrswollen]

82. Andrew was different...

It was 10 days before Gov. Lawton Chiles requested Federal Assistance after Andrew. I live in Lake Wales... ground zero where Charley, Frances and Jeanne crossed paths. We had National Guard troops on our street within 18 hours after Charley. Frances did not do near the damage as Charley, but Jeanne was a nasty little bastard. A lot of people around us have no homes, but everyone is pitching in and helping everyone else. We have a FEMA station at a local mall helping people with living expense and generator money. Relief trucks are passing out tarps for damaged roofs, water and ice to those that can't travel. I can't say what's happening in the panhandle, but central FL has had excellent emergency response. Most people here are happy with Gov. Bush's planning and response to these three storms. I thought you all should be aware that these three storms are not hurting Bush, but could possibly help him as the relief response was almost instant when compared to Andrew. Again, I can't speak for the panhandle and Ivan, only central Flordia.

[doni_georgia]

64. Everybody I know in the Guard here in GA is in Iraq

That's a REAL problem. With so many National Guard personnel being called to active duty we're REAL short-handed in case of emergencies. Plus, each storm that has hit Florida has come through Georgia too - no where near the damage, but we have had flooding and tornados. What's left of Jeanne is sitting over my house right now. WE still hadn't fixed the roof leak caused by Ivan and now I have a bucket sitting on my mantel.

Doni - wet as a drowned rat in Georgia

[Jade Fox]

4. Thanks for the report...

I've been wondering about just these issues.

So, people are clear that they are not getting Federal assistance because
its all in Iraq?

[farmbo]

5. But, where's the Florida National Guard? Oh yeah. Lliberating Iraq

:mad:

[Wickerman]

6. Another added plus is that Bush can't go a stumping the state

5 weeks to the election and his campaign isn't even active on the ground. Of course, Kerry's isn't so much either, but Bush, rightfully takes the heat for the piss-poor shape FEMA is to handle this stuff and the lack of Guard.

[yardwork]

7. I'm very sorry to hear about your area's pain and destruction

[AuntPatsy]

8. I feel for all of Florida knowing very well what it is like to go without

water and electricity and then have to face the heat each time the sun comes up...they need help now, the heck with all this political bs, these are Americans in need of real help. Bush needs to worry about them and not his reelection status, thats what a real commander in chief would be doing, one that I could admire anyway...

Over two years ago when Texas was inundated with flooding, many people lost everything, no insurance for many and though within a week they had numbers to call the fema etc,and they got small checks for food and clothing within three weeks, it still took a while to get the money they needed to rebuild to move back to thier homes, I had one of those families staying with us for a good two months or more so I know that such is not always there to aid in the aftermath of such devastations...

I honestly feel for them....

[oasis]

9. Some Floridians are likely to be open to a discussion about global warming

in the near future. Methinks. :think:

[slinkerwink]

10. how can they vote if they no longer have addresses?

[Catherine Vincent]

11. That remind me of a news brief after Hurricane Francis hit.

Some local guy was on the tv talking about the destruction of Francis and he said something like "We are thankful for President Bush blah blah blah". I was so darn mad, I switched the channel. The idiot was giving bush as much praise you know he was republican. He said that stuff as if no president would declare that area a disaster area.

[Nordic]

12. hey, maybe both Bushes will be out of a job

I say send them both to Iraq. Let them live there for the rest of their days.

[Zhade]

13. Wow. Right next to my hometown of Fort Walton Beach.

I'm just waiting for them to TRY to steal Florida. The state won't stand for it again!

[SammyWinstonJack]

38. I lived in Ft Walton Beach

during Hurricane Andrew. Very pretty part of Fla. Sad to hear of the destruction. :-(

[Quixote1818]

14. God is punishing Florida for what happined in 2000. Spread the word

to all your fundamentalist friends. I am sure everyone on DU has so many.

[lefty_WOHM]

23. That's my theory as well

Particularly after Ivan reformed over the Gulf of Mexico--something that's never been observed (since they've had the technology to do so) & headed toward Texas.

[freetobegay]

48. Thats Horse shit!

As a Democrat, A floridian & a Christian, I'll say it again, thats HORSE SHIT!

[radfringe]

73. any doubts? check this out

[Nevernose]

15. I'd almost rather we lost than win this way

I don't wish anyone to be in their postition. Then again, if Bush wins, a whole lot more people will be in their position with or without a hurricane...

[Leilani]

17. What a shame!

I am so sorry to hear this.

I know the area well; used to live in Pensacola, & loved it.

I hope the people are able to regroup & rebuild their lives.

[cheshire]

18. I have not heard from the Red Cross are they gone after the mess of 9/11

[Virginian]

19. The American Red Cross is still around.

Too bad about all the heat they took after 9/11, the could have been more helpful now.

If I remember correctly, they got so many donations for the victims of 9/11 that they were only going to disburse the standard amount and save the rest for other emergencies like these.
As it turns out, donations are down because people are out of jobs and the American Red Cross doesn't have as much money to devote to these victims because they had to distribute all of what they got to the 9/11 victims.

Correct me if my memory is not accurate.

[RobinA]

83. Sounds Accurate

to me. That post-9/11 stuff was downright disgusting. Frankly, I've always thought it was a nasty little racial incident that no one ever saw through. Or dared report in the "unity" post 9/11.

A friend of mine donated food for 9/11 visitims. Why did 9/11 vistims need food? Apparently they got so much food that they couldn't use, they gave it away to homeless shelters and food pantries. My friend was quite angry that the food hadn't gone the the people she donated it for. Translation: My food went to lazy, African-American welfare queens instead of noble white people with jobs in NYC. Bleeech.

[rullery]

20. Now we have to deal with Hurricane Jeanne as well.

Charley, Frances, Ivan, Jeanne - so much devastation. With so many National Guard now in Iraq, and FEMA and Red Cross resources stretched to the breaking point, it is going to take many months to repair all the damage and rebuild.

Photo ops showing Bush and brother Jeb passing out ice and bottled water to a few folks is simply not going to cut it. Five weeks from now, with little progress in rebuilding infrastructure, I think a lot of Floridians will be voting for Kerry instead of Bush.

[rullery]

21. Now we have to deal with Hurricane Jeanne as well.

Sorry, duplicate post.

[opihimoimoi]

22. God warned Bush early this year and bush said nothing, no warning

relayed to Floridians....same as in 2001

[GOPFighter]

24. Whoa! Excuse me?

I thought conservatives want smaller government. Government is bad, remember? I don't want to hear any whining about lack of government help. We've got a humongous deficit.

People, you can't have it both ways.

That's my sermon for today. Actually, I have no problem paying higher taxes to help those who have suffered a disaster like this. It just pisses me off that so many rubes around the country scream about how bad government is, but scream bloody murder when the government doesn't help them out when they need help.

[Carni]

29. I hear you believe me!

Unfortunately a lot of people in Florida are getting screwed twice--their votes weren't counted and now they are being ignored when they have lost their asses!

[Xipe Totec]

58. No Kidding!

Compassionate Conservatism is the hind tit of human kindness. If it wasn't an election year the Repugs would be saying "Let the invisible hand of the free market work its magic!", or "Nobody told them to build there", or some other horse shit. They think they can hand out a couple of bags of ice and call it a day.

Makes me want to puke!

Hang in there, Floridians, help is on the way!

:mad:

[wysiwyg]

25. Not really...Bush's core is immune to reality.

Like Bush himself, Bush's core supporters are totally immune from reality. Bush is still God's chosen candidate regardless of what he actually does.

[Jacobin]

33. Unfortunately, I suspect you are absolutely right

And welcome to DU :hi:

They are delusional, and I don't care who is/was president, after four hurricanes, there's going to be a lot of bad stuff going on that the government can't/won't/shouldn't have to go fix, or that will take months to fix. Navarre Beach is the Redneck Riviera for upper middle class southern folk. They've already got government subsidized flood insurance to pay for re-building their giant wooden boxes fifty yards from the Gulf. They'll get their money to rebuild. Very few people live year round on Navarre Beach. These are vacation homes.

[newyawker99]

74. Hi wysiwyg!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[MoonRiver]

26. Have the deluded wingers gotten a clue yet about global warming?

:eyes:

[wysiwyg]

30. Caused by trees, don't ya know.

nt

[MoonRiver]

32. Sure. Well now that they're being mowed down by hurricanes

maybe the problem has been solved.

Welcome to DU wysiwyg! :hi:

[ShaneGR]

31. My sister in SW FLorida, mortgage broker, can't write mortgages

Because all of the insurance companies have basically put the word out they are NOT writing any new policies right now. Hence, no one can buy a house down there unless they pay cash.

[ewagner]

34. Insurance companies

are beginning to be a problem.

A friend's parents suffered a lot of damage from Charley and then from Frances. They said something about the insurance company claiming they needed a "double deductible". Even under the first claim, it works something like this:

Say the damage was estimated (by the ins company) at $10,000 with a $5,000 deduct. The ins company will pay $5,000 but doles out only $3,000 up front. The final $2,000 to be paid when the job is finished. The contractor won't do the job on credit AND says the ins company underestimated the repairs...says it's $13,000. The homeowner has to come up with $10,000 CASH ($13,000 less the ins co's $3,000) in order to get the job done. Sure, I've got $10,000 loose cash lying around...with the economy so good and everything...<sarcasm off>

This is a rough example but it's how it was explained to me. Anybody else have experience with this? Does this sound like what's actually going on?

[lefty_WOHM]

54. I also heard a report that the deductible is per hurricane

Now, I don't know how it works if you don't bother doing any work until after the 2nd hurricane. But instead of it being per year, it's per hurricane, so you could have to pay that $5,000 deductible 2 or 3 or 4 times (depending on how many times you have to rebuild).

[Jacobin]

37. Well, if you are going to build a vacation home fifty yards from

the gulf, and flood insurance is a federally funded form of insurance since no insurance company will write it, maybe it would be wise for people who want to build in a dangerous place (right next to the ocean) to pay cash, so when their house is blown away they pay for it rather than the rest of us.

Just my opinion.

[ewagner]

39. This was

inland...near Orlando......

I agree with you, however, that building on a barrier island should be discouraged with high premiums or limited coverage because the risk is taken voluntarily.

[dad]

72. /

Ric Flair is a Republican

[randr]

35. A tie to global warming needs to be made

that wakes up some of the old "true conservatives" to the fact that the * environmental record needs to be looked at.

[blue neen]

36. My parents are in Orlando and just got hit for the THIRD time.

Charley, Ivan, and Jeanne. They are without power for the third time; both are insulin-dependent diabetics. They were without power for a week after Charley, Ivan brought a tree down on their house. Jeanne just finished up there, and right now I can't get a hold of them.

God bless them, they went to the Kerry/Edwards rally in Orlando last week. My dad is a veteran for Kerry. They are still thinking about the election in the midst of all this misery.

[Lancer]

57. My best friend lives in Citrus County,

(about 70 miles north of Tampa on the Gulf side, a few miles inland.)

We have been on the phone after every storm. Last evening, the eye of what was left of Jeanne was passing over her town while we talked. The winds were down to about 60 mph, and she said they had no more branches in danger of falling.

In each of the 4 storms, they've lost power for up to a week. Trees are down all over and there's been major flooding. It's nearly impossible to find gasoline. But they are the lucky ones. They have friends and relatives further south still waiting to see someone from FEMA after Frances hit them.

I asked her how anyone was going to be able to vote in the harder-hit countries, and were people even thinking about the election right now?

She said yes; no one has forgotten 2000, and that before the storms began the election was the hot topic everywhere, but that for some the election is even more important now, even though they can't follow the TV coverage. She said in many counties the schools, rec centers, etc. used as polling places are gone, and that people are encouraged to mail in absentee ballots. She said, WTF? We get our mail only about 4 out of 6 days a week as it is now!

She concluded by saying, if I have to crawl over broken palm trees and store windows on bloodied hands and knees, you can be sure I'm gonna vote for John Kerry.

[blue neen]

67. I finally got to talk to my mom. This time they lost part of their roof.

She says that they were luckier than many people!

[yupthasme2]

40. I completly disagree with you

I believe the hurricanes may have exactly the opposite effect you are talking about. The recovery from Hurricane Charley has been exceptional. I have surveyed the area damaged by Charely and having been through Andrew can tell you that the clean up and recovery efforts far exceed that of Andrew.
The problem with the other Hurricanes is that no one could truly be prepared for 4 hurricanes to hit the same state(first time to happen in over 100 years).

[Name removed]

42. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Cheswick2.0]

44. WRONG

Sorry, but I really did live through Andrew and it was only a matter of days before Fema and the National guard had tent cities set up and were delivering hot meals and a place to shower and clean clothes. It is three weeks since Frances and the debris isn't even off the streets yet and the government has done NOTHING to help anyone except get the electricity back on.
In addition Andrew was a much stronger storm than either Frances or Jeanne. There were miles and miles of flattened homes. As bad as this situation is, even with two hurricanes the devastation doesn't begin to equal Andrew.

[Name removed]

45. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[yupthasme2]

46. The fact that I have only 2 replies

has nothing to do with my disagreement of the hurricane situations here in Florida.
The fact of the matter is that the hurricanes have a much greater chance of helping Bush.
I felt compelled to respond because I do disagree so strongly.
I have been reading this website for well over a year and have never felt a need to respond to other posts,but when I feel one is so far off the mark then I need to speak up.
Anyone who believes that Kerry will win Florida due to a percieved poor response to the hurricanes is wrong, much like a boxer's trainer that tells him that he is doing fine and can win the fight when everybody else knows that fighter needs a knockout. I feel that deminflorida's post is misleading much like the boxer's trainer.
The hurricanes only give Bush a better chance to win Florida, there is still plenty of time for him to buy Floridian votes with the help of FEMA.
Mark my words Florida has become Bush's to win or lose because of the hurricanes.

[wadestock]

80. The fight at this point is too close to call.....

I would call the fight like this.....

The champ (Bush) makes a couple jabs.....the crowd goes ew...ah....they were looking for something....but it's just not there.

But it's 4th round and already the champ looks tired, not up to his usual form. The opponent is holding it even on points, and if the champ slips up....it looks like the opponent can take it to him.

Round 6...the champ has no where to run and the opponent is scoring some good points.

It looks like the champ will need a knock out to win....

[freetobegay]

49. Well, I am not a newbie

& I happen to agree with this person.

[Cheswick2.0]

52. well you happen to be wrong

I survived Andrew and the person is completely off on what happened after Andrew.

[freetobegay]

53. I survived Andrew also!

Hartford square across the street from the Homestead Air force base. I have now survived Charley North Fort Myers. I happen to think I'm right.

Want to try to match me hurricane for hurricane? Go right ahead.

[texas is the reason]

63. your freep-dar is malfunctioning. this person is absolutely right.<eom>

[deminflorida]

50. First of all your talking about Charley, and I'm talking about Ivan.

Charley was a different Hurricane altogether. As a matter of fact all hurricanes are different in one way or another. The only one in recent memory to compare this one to is Hugo based the wide area of damage it caused.

I had another die-hard Bush supporter tell me to stop talking about how bad it was here this morning. "Those people have it made, FEMA will even pay their deductibles." Of course he failed to mention that on Soundside drive many of the homes were above the flood survey, therefore these folks that suffered surge damage have no flood insurance.

I'm telling you the relief stations in Navarre are packing up and moving on. The Navarre Primary School is no longer handing out ice and MREs and people are living in the woods in tents around here.

If you don't believe me then get your ass in a car and drive down here yourself and look. I'd send you a map, but since you know how to use a computer I suggest www.mapquest.com, look for Soundside Drive in the 32566 zip code.

There is absolutely nothing misleading about anything I've posted. Why doesn't Bush come down here now for a photo op among the campsites that are springing up in Santa Rosa county. After all the majority of people here support him, and I hear the perception is that he would nice to have over for a bar-b-que. Maybe he wouldn't mind discussing everyone's future here over a cup of camp coffee.

[freetobegay]

51. Not to mince which was worst but

Charley was a 4 boarding on a 5. We are still trying to recover from Charley. Don't make light of Charley.

[deminflorida]

55. Oh, no don't get me wrong...I'm not making light of Charley...

But Ivan appears to have caused way more extensive storm surge damage than Charley. Not only people who live on the water have lost everything but the folks across the street have lost everything to surge as well and this is after the surge breached the barrier islands!

The I-10 bridge has broken off and fallen into Escambia Bay for God's sakes!!!

Our area is totally devestated....

[yupthasme2]

56. the part that is misleading

is where you believe that Ivan will win the election for Kerry.
Hurricane Charley will ahve a greater effect on the election here in Florida.
Charley was a more devastating storm for Florida, in a greater populated area. Charley hit first and hardest and will be remembered more by those not directly affected by the other hurricanes.
I remember a lot of public outcry after Andrew for the failures of FEMA and that has not happened after Charley.
Ivan will not have the impact you are stating on the election!

[texas is the reason]

62. the noob is right!

i live in orlando, and let me tell you, fema is kissing our ass, big time. this will either have no effect on the elections, or will help out bush. people seem to be very appreciative of fema (they are reinbursing people 100% for generators, chainsaws, etc.. no questions asked). this gratitude will either extend to bush or it won't, but in no way at all does it help kerry. BTW, welcome to DU- don't let the postcount nazi's get to you-lol!

[texas is the reason]

65. could be so in pensacola right now, but have you seen the news...

fema is planning "the largest mobilization ever" for all of florida. bush will do whatever he has to do to kiss our floridian asses, because if he loses florida, he loses the election, period.

[Kool Kitty]

60. Call my Mother-in-law in

St. Lucie country and she'll tell you just exactly what the effect is. Oh, gee-you can't. She doesn't have phone or power or water. From the last hurricane. I haven't even been able to talk to her to see how she made out in this one. Maybe Jeb and W will make the prople wait for water and ice again, just so they have a nice pic for their latest horseshit photo-op.

[noamnety]

47. What's going on with the gas shortages?

My mother (in florida) was talking about that, saying everyone followed along like sheep accepting the reality of having no gas ... but then in the last few days a decision was made to bring gasoline in afterall - implying that the option had always been there.

And the way it will work is they will "borrow" gas but have to pay back more than they borrowed (if I got the story correct from my mom) so the result will be a tidy little profit for the gas companies.

Is there any truth to that? Anyone know anything about it?

[juajen]

59. Sounds like some kind of scam to me

As to politics and Florida, IMHO, neither should be discussed right now; but, HELP from everywhere needs to converge on Florida. I know Louisianians are already helping, with crews of electrical repairmen and Louisiana Nation Guard troops heading there as we speak, if they were not already there. I am doubtful that everyone will be covered, for this is a gigantic disaster, and minimizing it certainly will not help.

Btw, my own experience from FEMA sucked. We went through all the red tape to claim our losses from Lily, and were then turned down for assistance. This put our finances in a tailspin. Later we were told that they always reject you the first time; that you have to appeal. Well excuse me folks, after being traumatized and going through all of this red tape, you really don't have much energy to do more except clean up and do the best you can. I was paying for those expenses for over a year.

I AM SO VERY SORRY, FLORIDA. GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU. EVERYBODY SEND AID.

Also, Theresa was right, send money, water, food, cleaning supplies, medicines, bandaids, etc. Clothing you were going to throw out anyway, is not needed as much as these very real necessities. Right now, most of them would be more comfortable naked.

[fishnfla]

66. I'll have to regretfully disagree

having witnessed the results of 3 hurricanes now, i just dont see it that way for several reasons. I think the chimp gets a boost

1. JEB!'s performance has been real strong. He's had plenty of practice. Look,I hate the guy, but he has done well in these storms and the press is gushing over his performance. the chimp gets a coat-tail ride from his sober brother's praises.

2. Most folks set politics aside during these disasters, and even afterwards. Its kind of like we're all in the same boat together, man against nature. Neighbors help each other, communities,media and churches and civic groups reaching out beyond class, racial or ethnic, and political boundaries

3. The political campaign news has almost taken a back seat in this state for 6 weeks. People have other concerns. reading LTTE and listening to talk radio, have not heard any dissing of the feds

4. Fema's response in Central Florida (the i-4 battleground) has been prompt.

5. Someone has to point out to me how FEMA or the NG can prevent black mold, as the original poster decries. Water meets warm air, and you get mold within hours. There is nothing anyone can do to stop it, you cant blame the president for what nature has caused.

I wish it were different, but mostly I wish there were no storms and nobody would benefit politically. But the fact of the matter is, compared to Andrew, one storm, the response to the four storms has been much better.

[deminflorida]

68. No matter what you THINK is going on in Santa Rosa County...

you need to be here to and listen to the radio broadcasts of complaints....

Maybe reading the community board at the Pensacola paper would help...

http://community.pensacolanewsjournal.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=navarre;action=display;num=1095947045


"In my opinion, Santa Rosa (SR) County Commissioners' after-hurricane response was dismal at best.

For almost 3 days after the hurricane SR citizens called radio talk shows begging for information on SR hurricane relief. Radio hosts pleaded for "someone" from SR to call the station to answer questions. While surrounding counties were flooding the airwaves with information, it appeared that the SR Commission disappeared--our ship was sinking and the Captain and crew were nowhere to be found. FINALLY at 6pm on SATURDAY.... Chairman Salter came over the airwaves to do some damage control and pass on info. Mr. Salter is up for election this November, two commissioners are lame ducks (Mr. Lee & Mr. Hilliard), and two commissioners are not up for election (Mr. Cole and Mr. Goodin). In reference to some above posts, I should point out that Navarre Beach's commissioner (Goodin) is not an "Elected Official" per se, he ran unopposed."


Not everyone is having an easy time with Insurance Adjusters just to add more shit to the pile....

http://community.pensacolanewsjournal.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=navarre;action=display;num=1096242826

[Phelan]

69. My primary residence is in Okaloosa County

My primary residence is in Okaloosa pretty close to Ft. Walton Beach.
With Eglin AFB, Hulburt Field and Duke Field right here the chances of a dem carrying NW Florida are non existent.

Lets be realistic, one of the primary employers in NW Florida is all three branches of the military with Pensacola and the Naval Aviation School as well as relatively few minorities.

It also doesn't matter that Democrats are actually better for armed forces personal than Repubs. The democratic parties image has been feminized over the years to make us look weak on defense even when its not true. The armed forces will vote overwhelmingly for Bush, as will most of the rest of NW Florida. Ask yourself how many southern pride things you come across on an average day, now ask yourself how many of those would vote for a man from Mass. over someone that has them convinced he is actually from Texas.

[deminflorida]

71. It doesn't matter that the majority of people here in NW Florida

vote Republican. The number of votes go towards the total state-wide count in a Presidential election. Whether they be Democratic or Republican. The state wide total is what matters. Counties do not have electoral votes. Many more people will vote democratic up here in 2004 than they did in 2000.

[rpannier]

70. Very Tragic...

but did they save lush rimbaugh's house. That's what drudge would want to know.

[ArkDem]

75. Not to mention that this mis-administration's climate policy

is one of the reasons for 4 hurricanes in 6 weeks.

[V Lee]

77. And Bush promotes global warming ...

My heart goes out to everyone in FL!!!

Someone needs to get the message to the people of Florida that voting for Bush means voting for less pollution controls, causing more global warming and more violent storms. If they like what they've just been through, then Bush is their man, he's working to make it the "new normal."

I recall that the official Bush response to global warming was that people would adapt.

"So, your house has been devastated by repeated hurricanes? George Bush says you need to adapt! Millions of people have learned to live in rubble (look at the Iraqis, they're happy), and so can you."

[AnIndependentTexan]

78. well on factor in this was providing money for recovery

Due, to the amount of hurricanes that have hit in Florida. They don't have enough money that they promised everyone when Bush visited. This works in Kerry's favor especially with talking about how the work in Iraq is wrong.

[jab105]

81. I was in Navarre Beach all weekend...

not so sure of that...I thought it was pretty organized (at least for the hardest hit)

They had military and FEMA out at the bridge to keep looters out, and had ferrys going across, and 4 wheelers on the weekend. We signed up for the Blue roof FEMA people to come by and put tarps on the house (which they did on Saturday), 4 military from Eglin came around and knocked out the wet drywall so that the mold would go down...

We got MREs and as much water as we could carry when we went over the bridge. And, the community center which we were at had warm showers (w/soap, towels, sanitizer)...and warm meals and even peach cobbler...

The area is devastated (I was helping my motherinlaw)...all things considered, I was pretty impressed with how it was being handled...