President Obama visits FEMA command center for storm update

[cal04]

http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/obama-visits-fema-command-1147859.html

President Barack Obama is visiting the Federal Emergency Management Agency's command center for Hurricane Irene.

The center helps coordinate the government's response to natural disasters such as this weekend's hurricane.

Earlier Saturday, Obama got a fresh update on the storm from his emergency management team.

He's asking to be kept alerted to developments throughout the day and overnight as the storm makes it way up the East Coast.


(snip)
The president told workers that "everybody here, you guys are doing a great job."

Dozens of workers were at their computer work stations. The workers wore red or blue vests with their job descriptions on their backs.

With Obama were Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and his assistant for homeland security, John Brennan.
http://www.chron.com/news/article/Obama-visits-FEMA-command-center-for-storm-update-2143991.php

[Tarheel_Dem]

1. K&R (nt)

[nmbluesky]

2. everybody here, you guys are doing a great job. Obama said

not like 'heck a good job, brownie"

[Igel]

4. If you were working there and the president showed up with his SS detail,

how would that go? Esp. if he has reporters, as well.

Would it make you more efficient, tell him stuff that he couldn't get otherwise?

Or would it be a special event, but ultimately be a distraction?

It's a photo op, it's for PR. He'll see all kinds of equipment that he can't read nearly as well as those 10 pay grades below him and learn little new. If he wants a tour, he should schedule one during downtime.

At least my boss always knew that when we were really busy he should stay out of the way.

This isn't Obama bashing. I had precisely the same attitude about PR intrusions by *, Clinton, Bush I, as well as local officials.

[alp227]

3. remember where Bush was during Hurricane Katrina?

Meanwhile, what was Bush doing on August 29, 2005?

"11:06 a.m . - Bush promotes his Medicare prescription drug benefit at a 44-minute event in El Mirage, Arizona. He devotes 156 words to the hurricane, among them: 'I want the folks there on the Gulf Coast to know that the federal government is prepared to help you when the storm passes. I want to thank the governors of the affected regions for mobilizing assets prior to the arrival of the storm to help citizens avoid this devastating storm.'"

"4:40 p.m. - Bush appears in Rancho Cucamonga, California for another Medicare event. He again devotes a few words to Katrina: 'It's a storm now that is moving through, and now it's the time for governments to help people get their feet on the ground. . .For those of you who are concerned about whether or not we're prepared to help, don't be. We are. We're in place. We've got equipment in place, supplies in place. And once the -- once we're able to assess the damage, we'll be able to move in and help those good folks in the affected areas.'"

"Time uncertain - Blanco calls Bush, saying, "Mr. President, we need your help. We need everything you've got." Bush later assures her that 'help is on the way.'"

The next day:

"11:04 a.m. - In San Diego, California, Bush delivers a 31-minute speech marking the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. Of Katrina, he says, 'we're beginning to move in the help that people need.'"

At San Diego, Bush did this:



Today, Obama actually visited FEMA headquarters. Even if his leadership skills may be flawed, this man has class.