From bad to worse...

[Frizzle Fry]

actually the coast guard was there on day one, in full force

You picked the wrong person to flap to about the Coast Guard; that is ENTIRELY untrue.

I can tell you with 100% certainty that there was a Coast Guard presence on "day one" but only involved in search and rescue related to the explosion itself, then standard traffic-cop duty. In fact, the "they" were unable to convince the DOHS to send inspectors after numerous seamen on the water sent reports that BPs statements could not be accurate. It wasn't until the 30th that the DOHS even named an incident commander (after the great "revelation" that there was more oil than was originally reported by the criminals who spilled it), until which point response was limited.

Seriously, get your stuff straight. I agree talking about more drilling is not a simple issue and this most recent spill certainly illustrates some of the downsides... But get your stuff straight.

[Fred]

And meanwhile... in Nashville... a totally natural disaster is going almost unnoticed... 1.5 billion in flood damage last I checked...

[Frizzle Fry]

And meanwhile... in Nashville... a totally natural disaster is going almost unnoticed... 1.5 billion in flood damage last I checked...

Yep. A lot worse than we got it up here.

[going_home]

Huffington Post Talking Points

now bush ... he knew full well on day one the extent of what was happening, and he failed. don't even try to pull that fox news talking point here. its a pathetically weak argument.

All you did was show your ignorance of how federal and state governments work.
Its not up to the federal government to help state governments.
Its up to each state to help itself.
The state can however ask the fed for help.
But the fed cannot step in until asked.

The facts are that GWB did step in when he was finally asked to.
Louisiana's governor didnt ask the fed for for help for almost a week after Katrina hit.

The blame lies on her, not Bush, son.
Get your facts straight before you embarrass yourself again.

[BigEvil]

All you did was show your ignorance of how federal and state governments work.
Its not up to the federal government to help state governments.
Its up to each state to help itself.
The state can however ask the fed for help.
But the fed cannot step in until asked.

The facts are that GWB did step in when he was finally asked to.
Louisiana's governor didnt ask the fed for for help for almost a week after Katrina hit.

The blame lies on her, not Bush, son.
Get your facts straight before you embarrass yourself again.

^


To add to that; it is up to the individual to help themselves and NOT rely on any govt agency for anything, in any matters.

[classicmagplayer]

All you did was show your ignorance of how federal and state governments work.
Its not up to the federal government to help state governments.
Its up to each state to help itself.
The state can however ask the fed for help.
But the fed cannot step in until asked.

thats right, federal government wont come to aid victims of natural or man made disasters unless some local form of government asks for you...almost makes sense right?

[vf-xx]

thats right, federal government wont come to aid victims of natural or man made disasters unless some local form of government asks for you...almost makes sense right?

Right, because the federal government is there to help interstate commerce. It's really not supposed to meddle with the affairs of the state unless requested, or it can be proved the state is doing something wrong.

You forget that this is a collection of states that formed a country, NOT a country that subdivided itself for local rule.

[classicmagplayer]

it doesnt matter its purpose or how and why it was formed, the federal government has access to more resources than any singular state government. The entire population falls under federal law, and is represented by the federal government. When part of the population and/or region fall under any sort of natural disaster there is no excuse why there should be a requirement of a formal request of aid from a Governor of a state.

[Fred]

That may be your opinion, but it conflicts with the Constitution.

Thank God for Federalism.

[classicmagplayer]

how does both the federal and state government's use of authority for the citizen/regions behalf fall anywhere outside the Constitution?

[teufelhunden]

how does both the federal and state government's use of authority for the citizen/regions behalf fall anywhere outside the Constitution?

The Constitution (in so many words) tells the federal gov't to stay the f out of the states' business.

Disasters in a state are the state's business.

[drg]

Let's not rewrite history here, shall we? Katrina was an abject failure of the Bush administration to bring the power of the federal government to bear in relieving the disaster. A lot of it stemmed from the systemic shift under Bush of resources to the DHS. http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/....ig/index.html

The state government question is a sideshow. When you have prior warning of an impending emergency, FEMA mobilizes and communicates with state governments like it did several times recently. When the event hits and causes obvious widespread damages, the federal government mobilizes.

Trying to use the talking point of blaming the Obama administration's response on this issue is fallacious for several reasons. First, this is not a predicted disaster, it was a complete surprise. The fire, sinking of the platform, and discovery of the leaks happened over the course of the days between the event and the declaration; this was not an obvious disaster. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_gulf_o...ama_s_response

Perhaps the biggest difference is the type of response the federal government was capable of providing. In the case of Katrina, logistics and population control were needed, which is directly within what the federal government is capable of. In the case of this spill, the federal government response is much more limited The coast guard is doing what it can and until the oil reaches shore, there is nothing to be done on land.

[BiNumber3]

Well, if the article drg linked is true, I'd say the administration is did well enough for what they knew of the situation.
Maybe it's just me, but I feel everyone is expecting Obama to do miracles, n make perfect decisions on any and everything, sadly tho, he's human, as are the members of his administration, and there's only so much one can do with limited information.

Yes, it could have been handled better, but like they say, hindsight is 20/20.

Frankly, Obama's gotten some bad luck if ya ask me, disasters here and there to fix and the public eye on his every move, I wonder how many people could handle the pressure.

(and no I'm not some fanboy, in case anyone's thinkin that:P)

[going_home]

Outta Bullets Half Cocked ?

Let's not rewrite history here, shall we? Katrina was an abject failure of the Bush administration to bring the power of the federal government to bear in relieving the disaster. A lot of it stemmed from the systemic shift under Bush of resources to the DHS. http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/04/....ig/index.html

The state government question is a sideshow. When you have prior warning of an impending emergency, FEMA mobilizes and communicates with state governments like it did several times recently. When the event hits and causes obvious widespread damages, the federal government mobilizes.

Trying to use the talking point of blaming the Obama administration's response on this issue is fallacious for several reasons. First, this is not a predicted disaster, it was a complete surprise. The fire, sinking of the platform, and discovery of the leaks happened over the course of the days between the event and the declaration; this was not an obvious disaster. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_gulf_o...ama_s_response

Perhaps the biggest difference is the type of response the federal government was capable of providing. In the case of Katrina, logistics and population control were needed, which is directly within what the federal government is capable of. In the case of this spill, the federal government response is much more limited The coast guard is doing what it can and until the oil reaches shore, there is nothing to be done on land.

Oh my goodness, you are posting CNN as a credible source ?

That is absolutely hilarious !

CNN is about as credible as the Huffington Post or Daily Kos

And CNN has the ratings to prove their credibility !

You are going to have to do better than CNN talking points

[BigEvil]

Oh my goodness, you are posting CNN as a credible source ?

That is absolutely hilarious !

CNN is about as credible as the Huffington Post or Daily Kos

And CNN has the ratings to prove their credibility !

You are going to have to do better than CNN talking points