NationStates Jolt Archive

We all saw him on TV, smiling and waving to the cameras as he handed out water and ice, twisting his face into what might have been a look of concern, and giving speeches from the porch of damaged homes ... in Florida.

What about Alabama? Did he forget about Ivan, or were there just not enough cameras a little further west? Was Florida sincere, or just a photo op?

I'm confused. Is it because he's a lock in Alabama, so he doesn't need to make appearances there? I guess a disaster in a battleground state is more important than a disaster in a decided state to the President of the United States.

*shrug*

True, but you're deluding yourself if you think any politican, Democrat or Republican, would pass up an opportunity like this. John Kerry would probably do the same if he had the resources of President Bush.

god damn...i cant stand most presidents. No offense to anyone who supports Bush, but he is a retard. He is still the president, so he still has obligations that he swore he would fulfill.

god damn...i cant stand most presidents. No offense to anyone who supports Bush, but he is a retard. He is still the president, so he still has obligations that he swore he would fulfill.

With all due respect, he isn't a retard. He's certainly not MENSA, but he's not the complete idiot he's made out to be.

it's a lack of cameras. He stuck to the coast, but was in Orange Beach just yesterday. The press was kinda kept out of the Alabama jaunt because the folks there were a little too busy putting things back together to need a coupla busloads of reporters getting in the way. QQuiet low key trip, but he was there.

You hit it right on the head Keruvalia. Alabama and Mississippi are locks for Bush, so why spend any real time there? Florida, however--he needs that one to have a chance at repeating.

We all saw him on TV, smiling and waving to the cameras as he handed out water and ice, twisting his face into what might have been a look of concern, and giving speeches from the porch of damaged homes ... in Florida.

What about Alabama? Did he forget about Ivan, or were there just not enough cameras a little further west? Was Florida sincere, or just a photo op?

I'm confused. Is it because he's a lock in Alabama, so he doesn't need to make appearances there? I guess a disaster in a battleground state is more important than a disaster in a decided state to the President of the United States.

*shrug*
Florida is Bubba Jeb's state, and the one that swung the election in 2004. Any other questions?

Timing is everything....he will be in Alabama today. ;) Kerry is supposed to show up in Florida this week. Where was he?

Keruvalia, love the signature! :)

And, do you really WANT Bush to visit?

Timing is everything....he will be in Alabama today. ;) Kerry is supposed to show up in Florida this week. Where was he?

Kerry did spend some time in Florida, but a Massachusetts Senator has no reason to visit Florida. You may as well complain that Texas Senator Kay Hutchison didn't visit.

Bush is supposed to be President of all of the United States, not just the battleground ones ....

I don't count his 5 minutes in Orange Beach.

Keruvalia, love the signature! :)

Thanks! It's a labor of love.

And, do you really WANT Bush to visit?

Well .... all things considered, he *is* President ....

Kerry did spend some time in Florida, but a Massachusetts Senator has no reason to visit Florida.

:rolleyes:

The man is running for President, not the Senate from Mass. He would have been well advised to visit us.....all we have seen is Bush, Bush, Bush. Florida is a swing state....hit by 3 hurricanes in the last 5 weeks....and Kerry has not been here. Thats ok, his campaign is in a shambles anyway.

:rolleyes:

Don't roll your eyes at me, son. :p

The man is running for President, not the Senate from Mass.

Agreed ... but did Nader pay his visit? How about Badnarak (sp)? What about the 20 other Presidential candidates? Why focus on just the one?

He would have been well advised to visit us

He did. His time spent there was very appropriate. It was brief and then he got out of the way.

hit by 3 hurricanes in the last 5 weeks....

That's just further proof that God hates Florida. :D

Thats ok, his campaign is in a shambles anyway.

You're forgetting that the election isn't for another 6 weeks and we still have the debates to go. October is when the campaigns will get going full swing. Everyone knows that Americans have the attention span of insects, so it's best to pace yourself until 2-3 weeks prior to actual election date, then move in strong. By the beginning of October, the Kerry campaign may surprise you. He will go into attack mode.

Agreed ... but did Nader pay his visit? How about Badnarak (sp)? What about the 20 other Presidential candidates? Why focus on just the one?

Nader did....but it was to go to court against the Democrats who are fighting to keep him off the ballot. Stupid 2 party system that has hijacked our government!! :sniper:

He did. His time spent there was very appropriate. It was brief and then he got out of the way.

He has not been here in over a month....and the last hurricane here in Orlando was 2 weeks ago. Where is he? Not that I really care. The longer he stays away the better. ;)

That's just further proof that God hates Florida. :D

Maybe....but I love it down here.

You're forgetting that the election isn't for another 6 weeks and we still have the debates to go. October is when the campaigns will get going full swing. Everyone knows that Americans have the attention span of insects, so it's best to pace yourself until 2-3 weeks prior to actual election date, then move in strong. By the beginning of October, the Kerry campaign may surprise you. He will go into attack mode.

Maybe......or he might lose the debates. Many are still trying to get him to answer how raising taxes on dividends is going to be good for the economy. He says it will, but he avoids the question like the plague. :rolleyes:

Maybe......or he might lose the debates. Many are still trying to get him to answer how raising taxes on dividends is going to be good for the economy. He says it will, but he avoids the question like the plague. :rolleyes:

Politicians avoiding questions?! Who'd have thunk it. ;)

I don't know what the outcome of the debates will be, but I'm sure they will change the face of the election. They always do. I'm just glad I'm alive and healthy and able to follow this whole mess. I will be able to tell stories to my great-grandchildren about what will be called the "Decade of Insanity".

No matter what you believe, you have to admit it's an interesting time to be around in.

He's on vacation again. (:

Politicians avoiding questions?! Who'd have thunk it. ;)

I don't know what the outcome of the debates will be, but I'm sure they will change the face of the election. They always do. I'm just glad I'm alive and healthy and able to follow this whole mess. I will be able to tell stories to my great-grandchildren about what will be called the "Decade of Insanity".

No matter what you believe, you have to admit it's an interesting time to be around in.

Thats true...it is a wild time. I am neither a Republican or a Democrat, but Kerry just scares the hell out of me. Bush does not win any prizes either...but Kerry is just too much for me to accept. He is "almost" to the point that Gore was when he said he "would do anything to be your president." Talk about dodging a bullet! Gore has clearly gone insane.

Thats true...it is a wild time. I am neither a Republican or a Democrat, but Kerry just scares the hell out of me. Bush does not win any prizes either...but Kerry is just too much for me to accept. He is "almost" to the point that Gore was when he said he "would do anything to be your president." Talk about dodging a bullet! Gore has clearly gone insane.

*snicker* ... Gore was ever sane? I'm a screaming liberal hippie and even I thought that guy fell a couple sandwiches shy of a picnic. Although his post election lumberjack phase was fun. The beard, the extra 30 pounds, the tan. It was a hoot.

If the debates even occur of course. Considering that Bush has stated that he is going to refuse to participate in the one debate where the questions aren't staged. Big surprise that Bush is afraid to answer questions that he hasn't already been coached on the answer.

The sad thing is that now that my state has been declared a disaster area from the flooding, Bush will end up coming here....again....on the taxpayer's dollar. That bothers me that he's using the guise of presidential visits to campaign. If he chose to be honorable, he'd call those visits what they are. Of course he can't do that because if that were the case, Kerry would actually have more money than him (saw the money breakdown from the FEC).

On another note, there was a big newspaper article run here this weekend about how much its costing West Virginia to be a battleground state. Sure, we get a ton of attention, but its also costing us a fortune because of the extra pay required for security. Kerry's campaign has stated that they would pay for the security they require (typically an additional 25 state troopers) but Bush's campaign has said that they would not do the same for what they require (typically an additional 100 state troopers in addition to city and county officers). So as Bush and his campaign has been here 20 times this election, we're getting shafted.

On another note, there was a big newspaper article run here this weekend about how much its costing West Virginia to be a battleground state. Sure, we get a ton of attention, but its also costing us a fortune because of the extra pay required for security. Kerry's campaign has stated that they would pay for the security they require (typically an additional 25 state troopers) but Bush's campaign has said that they would not do the same for what they require (typically an additional 100 state troopers in addition to city and county officers). So as Bush and his campaign has been here 20 times this election, we're getting shafted.

Yeah....and if this was not an election year, the security costs would be the same but you would not have mentioned it then though would you? ;)

Being from Florida, a little flooding would not be so bad.

*snicker* ... Gore was ever sane? I'm a screaming liberal hippie and even I thought that guy fell a couple sandwiches shy of a picnic. Although his post election lumberjack phase was fun. The beard, the extra 30 pounds, the tan. It was a hoot.

Gore did have impecible timing.....the "global warming" speech on the coldest day on record, growing the beard just in time for 9-11. The weight gain in the middle of the Adkins diet craze. The man is amazing....and quite completely insane. Say what you will of Bush....it COULD have been worse.

Yeah....and if this was not an election year, the security costs would be the same but you would not have mentioned it then though would you? ;)

Being from Florida, a little flooding would not be so bad.

Number one, being from Florida, you wouldn't know a real flood if it snuck up behind you and bit you on the ass. Wow, you get flooded for a day or two from the hurricane. Big freaking deal.

Number two, I mentioned the security costs because one campaign has offered to pay for the additional costs while the other campaign has refused to do such.

Number three, I also mentioned the security costs because Bush is shielding himself from the cost of the security by making "presidential" visits instead of campaign visits.

Number three, I also mentioned the security costs because Bush is shielding himself from the cost of the security by making "presidential" visits instead of campaign visits.

Well, he IS the President. Were he NOT to visit during a time of need, people would say he did not care. He will show up, promise some aid, maybe toss some sandbags, and then leave. Kerry will show up, make some inane speech about what he is going to do while conveniently failing to say HOW he is going to do it except by raising the taxes on the "rich."

As for floods....you might want to come down and see all the water we have here. A 40 foot wave makes quite an entrance when it washes entire neighborhoods down to nothing more than concrete slabs. It is bizarre to see all these streets with no trees or houses left. Of course they did not wash down the mountain, but they washed away all the same.

Come on, guys ... let's not turn this into a "my weather is worse than yours" debate ... cuz I'd win.

Compared to an East Texas thunderstorm, all your hurricanes amount to is good kite flying weather. ;)

Come on, guys ... let's not turn this into a "my weather is worse than yours" debate ... cuz I'd win.

Compared to an East Texas thunderstorm, all your hurricanes amount to is good kite flying weather. ;)

I don't know....that Frances was the size of Texas. It could support a huge assed kite though.

I don't know....that Frances was the size of Texas. It could support a huge assed kite though.

I really would like to see that kite.

And a 40 foot wave is an awesome sight....now picture it rushing through a valley where it can't disperse widely and slow down. Picture that wave getting narrower along with the valley, forcing that wave to speed up. Picture being in the path of that wave....that's called a flash flood.

Once you've finished that, imagine that same type of force coming down a mountain side. If you want, you can take a look on the web about Buffalo Creek and what happens when this occurs. http://www.wvculture.org/history/buffcreek/buff1.html Circumstances for that one was a broken damn, but you get the picture.

And yes, I fully expect the president to make such visits when there is a need. I don't fault him for that. I fault him for making a presidential visit on July 4th and then spending his entire time campaigning. There's a big difference between the two. Bush, as president, is supposed to make such visits to disaster sites. Hopefully he chooses to show some dignity while doing such to not take the time to campaign.

I really would like to see that kite.

And a 40 foot wave is an awesome sight....now picture it rushing through a valley where it can't disperse widely and slow down. Picture that wave getting narrower along with the valley, forcing that wave to speed up. Picture being in the path of that wave....that's called a flash flood.

Once you've finished that, imagine that same type of force coming down a mountain side. If you want, you can take a look on the web about Buffalo Creek and what happens when this occurs. http://www.wvculture.org/history/buffcreek/buff1.html Circumstances for that one was a broken damn, but you get the picture.

And yes, I fully expect the president to make such visits when there is a need. I don't fault him for that. I fault him for making a presidential visit on July 4th and then spending his entire time campaigning. There's a big difference between the two. Bush, as president, is supposed to make such visits to disaster sites. Hopefully he chooses to show some dignity while doing such to not take the time to campaign.


He did not campaign when he was here. He helped out and got his hands dirty, made some statements about FEMA helping out and left. Kerry did not show up and get his hands dirty, nor did he issue a statement of support either.

Kerry has some real problems. He has stated that he, as a member of congress, voted for and has the best medical plan in the world and now he wants everyone else to have the same kind of plan. Now, for 20 years he has had this wonderful healthcare plan and showed no concern as a Senator for anyone else. Now that he wants to be the President he all of a sudden has some concern. If he had such a great idea for 20 years, he, as a Senator, could have sponsored a bill to provide for such a plan for everyone. Even if the bill had not gone anywhere, he could at least point to his efforts on our behalf, but he really did nothing for those 20 years.

He did not campaign when he was here. He helped out and got his hands dirty, made some statements about FEMA helping out and left. Kerry did not show up and get his hands dirty, nor did he issue a statement of support either.

Kerry has some real problems. He has stated that he, as a member of congress, voted for and has the best medical plan in the world and now he wants everyone else to have the same kind of plan. Now, for 20 years he has had this wonderful healthcare plan and showed no concern as a Senator for anyone else. Now that he wants to be the President he all of a sudden has some concern. If he had such a great idea for 20 years, he, as a Senator, could have sponsored a bill to provide for such a plan for everyone. Even if the bill had not gone anywhere, he could at least point to his efforts on our behalf, but he really did nothing for those 20 years.
lol....
Ask Kerry about his retirement plan that he voted for as well. That one's a hoot.

I remember, back in the latter part of the 80's, the congres voted for a 2.3% pay raise for the military. Of course, the same vote garnished themselves a 23% payraise. I think they "mistakenly" left out the decimal point on their pay raise. :rolleyes:

We all saw him on TV, smiling and waving to the cameras as he handed out water and ice, twisting his face into what might have been a look of concern, and giving speeches from the porch of damaged homes ... in Florida.

What about Alabama? Did he forget about Ivan, or were there just not enough cameras a little further west? Was Florida sincere, or just a photo op?

I'm confused. Is it because he's a lock in Alabama, so he doesn't need to make appearances there? I guess a disaster in a battleground state is more important than a disaster in a decided state to the President of the United States.

*shrug*

It's all part of Bush's Oedipal complex. A major factor in Bush the First's defeat in 1992 was that Florida, a perpetual swing state with a nice pot of electoral votes, felt that El Busho the First didn't respond well enough to the mess wreaked by Hurricane Andrew. In his fervor to not repeat any of his father's perceived mistakes, El Busho the Second, the next King George who's rule will be shrugged off like a bad case of the fleas, is making sure that his response to the hurricanes is seen as good enough to keep his Florida votes.

Not that he needs to, since Florida is rigged anyways. And he's not paying attention to Alabama precisely because it is a lock and not important enough in the electoral college.

He did not campaign when he was here. He helped out and got his hands dirty, made some statements about FEMA helping out and left. Kerry did not show up and get his hands dirty, nor did he issue a statement of support either.

LOL, Bush came down. That you're selling to people that he lifted a finger to help out is amusing.

But here's the point you're missing. You're stating (as well as myself) that this is a matter for the president. Therefore, it should not be made into a campaign issue. Then, in the same breath, you are accusing Kerry of not coming down to do the same that Bush did. Well, as you are well aware, Kerry is not our current president. As someone else has said, Kerry is currently a senator from Massachusetts. How many senators from Oregon came down to help out in Florida? How many came down from Pennsylvania? Kerry did exactly what your own standards would expect him to do.

LOL, Bush came down. That you're selling to people that he lifted a finger to help out is amusing.

But here's the point you're missing. You're stating (as well as myself) that this is a matter for the president. Therefore, it should not be made into a campaign issue. Then, in the same breath, you are accusing Kerry of not coming down to do the same that Bush did. Well, as you are well aware, Kerry is not our current president. As someone else has said, Kerry is currently a senator from Massachusetts. How many senators from Oregon came down to help out in Florida? How many came down from Pennsylvania? Kerry did exactly what your own standards would expect him to do.

Not really....Kerry is running for President. He could have come rolling into town with a truckload of ice or water, dropped it off, said a few words of encouragement and been on his way. Thats pretty much what Bush did. Had Kerry done that even I would think better of him. However, he still has not been here a month after Charley. People here are beginning to wonder about his sincerity. You know what happens when people start talking....;)

It's all part of Bush's Oedipal complex. A major factor in Bush the First's defeat in 1992 was that Florida, a perpetual swing state with a nice pot of electoral votes, felt that El Busho the First didn't respond well enough to the mess wreaked by Hurricane Andrew. In his fervor to not repeat any of his father's perceived mistakes, El Busho the Second, the next King George who's rule will be shrugged off like a bad case of the fleas, is making sure that his response to the hurricanes is seen as good enough to keep his Florida votes.

Not that he needs to, since Florida is rigged anyways. And he's not paying attention to Alabama precisely because it is a lock and not important enough in the electoral college.
Do you have any clue what an "Oedipal complex" is?
So, he's not paying attention to Alabama because it's, in your opinion, a lock.
He doesnt need to pay attention to Florida because it's rigged.
So by your reasoning his visit to Florida has nothing to do with votes or photo ops, so it's purely for humanitarian reasons.

Another reason to like Bush :D