Obama better be on the ground in ND as soon as it's safe.

[KillCapitalism]

Or else things may end up looking bad for him. Hopefully he will give the ND floods some much needed attention.

Whatever he does, I hope it doesn't involve eating cake with John McCain.

[babylonsister]

1. Good idea, but he's heading to the G20 in Europe real soon, isn't he? nt

[DebbieCDC]

2. I hardly think that eating cake with McInsane is high on Obama's list of priorities right now

[Captain Hilts]

7. Or playing air guitar. nt

[hisownpetard]

3. You're right. I hope he jumps on this situation STAT.

His leadership is needed here.

[Another Bill C.]

4. It won't be cake.

In that area, it will more likely be hotdish made from noodles, canned tuna, cream of mushroom soup, peas, celery, and onions. If they're lucky, it might have some crushed potato chips on top.

[Bunny]

11. And he'd better bring along a supply of fresh Ole and Lena jokes.

[RaleighNCDUer]

17. Ah - upper midwest memories -

my mouth is watering at the thought. Tuna/noodle casserole.

[malaise]

5. He's already involved

A state of emergency was declared since Tuesday.

http://www.takepart.com/blog/2009/03/26/obama-cites-north-dakota-floods-calling-for-climate-change-action/
<snip>
President Obama warned that the historic flood levels in North Dakota today are a clear sign that urgent steps need to be taken to stop climate change. Hopefully he can use that evidence to rally support from Congress so he doesn’t have to delay signing the new international agreement on climate change in Copenhagen later this year, because that would be a terrible set back. Severe blizzards and heavy rain raised the water of the Red River around 33 feet this morning, and if conditions continue to worsen the flooding could threaten the 99,000 residents of Fargo. Obama acknowledged the severity of the situation and what the implications are for the climate crisis overall in an exclusive press meeting:

I actually think the science around climate change is real. It is potentially devastating.

If you look at the flooding that’s going on right now in North Dakota and you say to yourself, ‘If you see an increase of 2 degrees, what does that do, in terms of the situation there?’ that indicates the degree to which we have to take this seriously.
---------
He'll be there - he is no Bush

[Captain Hilts]

6. No. Send Michelle. nt

[Raskolnik]

8. It would go a long way to establishing his admin's credibility and competence

if the FEMA response ran like clockwork and the city was back on its feet asap.

Obviously, the political ramifications are a hell of a lot less important than the practical consequences to the people in North Dakota, so here's hoping all turns out as well as possible under the circumstances.

[Tashca]

9. He needs to wait until things calm abit

President Bush came to Cedar Rapids while times were bad. His entourage tied up the airport for two days before he got here and two days after he left. I could not believe all the cargo planes hauling cars and helicopters it took. He tied up the whole south side of the city the day he came in. It really did hamper people who where the ones doing the work......

He needs to stay away for awhile at least until his presence doesn't hamper work efforts.

edit=spelling

[ellacott]

10. Bush didn't get criticized for not being there

He was criticized for not doing ANYTHING. Obama has been on top of this. They don't simply need a photo op.

[Captain Hilts]

19. Correct. This is what Biden and Michelle are for. nt

[ColbertWatcher]

12. Has he released a statement yet? n/t

[uppityperson]

14. Article...FEMA acting director in Fargo...

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gJjlw_8nCFek_7-48lh_r8NKrBzwD976HKQ00
White House says it's monitoring flooding

27 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says it's actively monitoring flooding in North Dakota and Minnesota, and President Barack Obama has dispatched the acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to the region.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says Nancy Ward is in Fargo and Obama has personally spoken with the governors of both states and with Fargo's mayor.

Gibbs said the federal government is working closely with state and local leaders to give them any help they need. He also implored citizens in both states to be vigilant in tracking flood conditions.
----------------------
http://www.jamestownsun.com/articles/index.cfm?id=82884§ion=News
The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency Acting Administrator Nancy Ward today announced that she is in North Dakota to visit communities impacted by record high flood levels.

Ward is meeting with federal, state, and local officials to view areas and assess the needs of residents affected by the disaster. Earlier in the week, President Barack Obama declared federal disaster declarations for North Dakota and Minnesota. The president's action made federal funding from FEMA available to state and eligible local governments to help save lives and protect property during the flood fighting effort.

“Federal, state, and local partners are working as one to respond to this disaster,” Ward said. “We are committed to providing assistance to ensure communities in North Dakota and Minnesota have the resources needed to recover".”

[ColbertWatcher]

16. Thank you.

I was just hoping he would have spoken out or something.

Sending the head of FEMA is probably better, but I can see how the sheeple will bitch anyway.

[uppityperson]

18. More, met with lawmakers and is monitering, another article...

http://www.wday.com/news/index.cfm?id=9310

Obama meets with ND, Minn. delegation on flooding
KEN THOMAS, Associated Press, Published Thursday, March 26, 2009

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama met with lawmakers from North Dakota and Minnesota on Wednesday to discuss the government's response to flooding in the region and a large ice jam in the Missouri River that has forced evacuations. Meeting in the Capitol Hill office of Vice President Joe Biden, Obama looked at enlarged headlines from state newspapers and listened as the members of Congress described the threatening conditions in Bismarck, N.D., and the Red River Valley.

"The president studied those headlines and those stories on the front pages of the major newspapers all across North Dakota and it really made an impression on him," said Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D. "He said, 'Look, we're going to be with you now in the fight and we're going to be with you throughout all of the efforts and the aftermath,'" Conrad said.

Obama met on Capitol Hill with Conrad, Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D. They were joined by Minnesota Democrats Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Collin Peterson, whose district includes Moorhead, Minn., across the Red River from Fargo, N.D. "He understands what we're facing," Dorgan said following the brief meeting. "He understands the flood fight that we're waging."

Obama declared North Dakota a federal disaster area late Tuesday. That means the federal government will pay 75 percent of state and local government costs for the floods. North Dakota's delegation said it was too soon to estimate how much the flood damage could cost....(more@link)

[ColbertWatcher]

20. Good.

I'm glad we have a leader who acts.

[uppityperson]

13. White House press secretary addresses flooding in briefing

http://www.areavoices.com/springflood/?blog=47000

[Roland99]

15. Clinton wasn't there immediately before was he? But we had James Lee Witt back then.

[uppityperson]

21. Fargo Mayor gets phone call from Obama

http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/235478/group/home/
Walaker gets phone call from Obama

Mayor Dennis Walaker said he “became an Energizer bunny” this afternoon when President Barack Obama called him to wish the city well in its flood fight.

“He wanted to convey to everybody in this area, if there’s anything we need, all we have to do is ask,” Walaker said. The mayor said he congratulated the president and told him that he had attended his inauguration.

Walaker called the experience “moving.” “Sometimes I get a little emotional, but talking to the president of the United States is always a positive for all of us,” he said. “And he wanted to reassure us that this has become a national story.”

When first asked by a reporter what Obama told him, Walaker said with a laugh, “He told me that Duke lost.” Obama is a basketball fan who’s rooting for Duke’s rival, the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, in the NCAA men’s tournament.