Mitt Romney is getting his 9/11/Katrina type moment in Mass right now

[Sydnie]

There was an explosion last night in Danvers Mass. A chemical warehouse belonging to a company that made coatings and inks, exploded at approximately 3 AM this morning. This building was located in a residential neighborhood, near the point where 3 rivers converge. When this building exploded, it rocked the neighborhood. In fact, reports of hearing the blast have come from as far away as Maine this morning. As luck would have it, no one was seriously injured. However, there is now just a big ass hole in the ground where this building once stood. There is also contamination to the local rivers from the seepage and run off from putting the fire out. Romney is on sight, making his 9/11 type statements about how the neighborhood looks like a bomb went off, how some thought that they were being attacked, and how some thought a plane had crashed into the building. His big concern through out the speech was that a rain storm is coming and he wants them (FEMA and local authorities) to give the homeowners, who lost all their windows in the blasts from the plant, permission to board up these houses, most of which will later be needed to be condemned due to chemical exposure and damage to the very stability of the buildings themselves.

Yes, he has called in FEMA which has already arrived on the scene with cadaver dogs and orange spray paint. Imagine that! MEMA and FEMA are already on the case and all paperwork to be filed for Federal help is in the works. There is also a fund being set up for the families at a local bank where people can send checks for the families effected. Romney states that he means to take "full advantage" of any State or Federal aid that he can get for this problem.

Now, I'm not knocking that the state is responding. Actually, the opposite. I am glad that they are responding as quickly as they are. I am amazed, however, how quickly they got FEMA involved and on scene. I will be less amazed when he plays this for gain if he runs in 08.

For anyone watching this news conference, you got treated to Romney calling this a "Thanksgiving Miracle" numerous times. I don't think there was a special interest group from the republican base that he did not use a buzz phrase for in this presser. Rather than make everyone feel safe by reassuring them that it was an accident, he compared it to dropping a "2,000 lb bomb in the middle of this neighborhood". A dirty bomb at that, because it was a chemical explosion. Thank goodness he didn't go that far any way.

He is slick. He paid close attention to Katrina and the lack of response there. He is not going to make the same mistake. He is going to make sure he gets plenty of face time with this. It sure beats his public response to the disaster known as the Big Dig. That he has passed down the line to others to handle. That potato is too hot for him to handle. There is no way he can come out of that smelling like anything but a failure.

Danvers will be different. He will play this up as how he will respond to "a terrorist attack" or a "natural disaster", should he make it to the WH.

He is currently headed to the local shelter set up at Danvers High School. No doubt he will be there, holding another presser, solving the problem of where these people will be sleeping tonight, as the high school is NOT considered a shelter and has no facilities to accommodate these people for any length of time.

Mass people will come together and take care of these people. We always do. It just galls me that he will attempt to take credit for the generosity of the people of this state. We are used to natural disasters and we always come together to see to those around us in those situations. This one will be no different in that aspect. But, it will be different because we have a "wanna be" as Governor who will use this to exploit those damaged by this disaster and won't be shy about stepping up to the mic to say that he fixed it all by himself.

Details of the blast here http://www.turnto10.com/news/10378569/detail.html

[AllieB]

1. Danvers is also a Republican-leaning town

I'm sure he'll be bending over backwards to help them.

I heard the explosion here in Andover, about 15 miles away. I thought it was an earthquake!

[Sydnie]

2. I didn't know that about Danvers

Thanks for the heads up on their leanings.

Did you catch the presser by any chance? He will be doing another one from Danvers High School soon. Can't wait to hear how he brought Happy Meals for all the people there and gave them all rides in his limo to a shelter located somewhere else in the state.

Actually, they are saying that the red cross is feeding them but there is little housing available at the moment and the high school is not it.

[wicket]

9. I don't recall hearing anything

But suddenly found myself jolted awake at that time. Now I know what it was - hope none of the injuries are too serious :(

[Atman]

3. Why is it considered a "miracle" when lots of people DON'T DIE...

But no one questions why God allowed the place to blow up in the first place? I don't get this shit and never have.

It's like that recent small plane crash in New York, and the maid who pulled her employer out of the room at the very last second. It was "a miracle." God was sitting on her employer's shoulder, she said. But why wasn't God in the plane? Is God just playing "Punk'd" with everyone? The poor pilot and his family must be pretty bummed out that God hurled their son/husband/father into the side of an apartment building just so he could perform a "miracle" for the maid and the old lady.

Likewise with this explosion. It might be miracle-worthy if God had stopped the chemical reaction in the first place, before he allowed a neighborhood to blow up. This is the bullshit that eventually led me to realize that I'm an atheist. No way, no how am I worshiping some sick ass floating ghost who destroys one family just so a maid in Manhattan can perform a "miracle" for her employer, or allows a neighborhood in Danvers to be leveled just so a Republican can cry "MIRACLE!" in a campaign speech.

.

[Sydnie]

5. Of course, you hit the nail on the head Atman

Funny how he didn't mention the miracle of the WAY the plant exploded either. The fire department was letting the chemicals burn off a bit, trying to keep the fire under control, while watching a leaking propane tank that was behind the building remain intact without exploding too. The tank was shown on tv still standing, in the middle of the rubble that was the building.

It's a MIRACLE I tell yah! The building exploded UP and not out, leaving the tank standing. How long before pilgrims begin to appear to pray to the miracle propane tank? :shrug:

[Sequoia]

4. Do you think it wasn't an "accident"?

They're all ready with everything in place and right before Thanksgiving too? I have to wonder sometimes.

[Sydnie]

6. Well, they did get people into the area in record time

and the fact that no one was seriously injured ... and that propane tank that was leaking in the middle of the blast area never did explode ... makes one wonder, doesn't it?

[ArmchairMeme]

7. Surprisingly few hurt

According the most recent news only 10 people had minor injuries such as cuts from flying glass. No one killed.

Surrounding houses were damaged and they will need to check the river to see it has been contaminated by chemicals.

Yeah, I too thought it gratuitous of Romney to refer to repeatedly as a 2000 lb bomb. Terror references seem to work for him.

[Sydnie]

8. I am so glad that someone else heard it too

He makes me want to :puke:

[LSK]

10. is it making national news???

If not, I don't see how it will have much impact on the national electorate.

[Sydnie]

11. It will eventually be reported

if not on the national news regular reports, then by the talking heads. Can you imagine Tweety letting this opportunity go unnoticed? I can't.