Just A Note On Disaster Aid....

[Laxman]

for the folks in South Carolina. There's no doubt that we have to step up to the plate as a nation and provide assistance to the people who are suffering. That's what being part of a nation means. We all pool our resources to make a better society in times when we just can't go it alone. And believing that is probably what separates me and most here from the modern republicans. But I don't forget what happened the one time that I and my fellow New Jerseyans needed help. We got our assistance, but it wasn't easy and it wasn't without a number of insulting and derogatory comments from the republicans in the senate and house-including 5 members of the South Carolina delegation who now need help for their constituents.

Lindsay Graham says he "can't remember" why he voted against Sandy aid. Well I do remember and I remember clearly. I would never advocate leaving fellow Americans who are suffering from the effects of a disaster to fend for themselves but here are the folks who did. And for those who say its just the words of "politicians"...remember, these representatives weren't voting "no" just to satisfy themselves-this satisfied their constituents back home who voted them in to office and who enthusiastically supported their statements like "we shouldn't have to bail out people in the northeast", or "if we give them aid what programs will be be cutting to pay for this?" or "the relief bill is full of pork". So don't say it's just the politicians. I say give them the aid they need but it shouldn't be without a clear reminder of where they stood when others needed help. This coming from the resident of a state that ranks 50th in terms of what gets returned in Federal funds compared to what we send in revenue. AND YOU BASTARDS HAD THE GAUL to hesitate when we needed help.

It's personal to me because I was impacted, members of my family were impacted, my friends and neighbors were impacted by Sandy and the state that is my home was devastated. Even today there are people who still are not back in their homes 3 years later and the scars from Sandy are still visible. So send every dollar that the people in SC need, but let it be clear they're being treated much better than what they advocated when it "wasn't their problem" Don't just put this on the politicians. They reflect their supporters and constituents as well as themselves and I remember what they said when it was time for them to step up to the plate. Oh and here's the list of who didn't think it necessary to send help after Sandy:

From the Senate

1. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH): Requested disaster aid after Hurricane Sandy.
2. John Barrasso (R-WY), Republican Policy Committee Chair: Requested disaster aid after flooding.
3. Roy Blunt (R-MO), Republican Conference Vice Chair: Demanded the Senate be called back from recess to pass disaster aid during a drought and boasts: “When a disaster surpasses the ability of states and communities to rebuild, Senator Blunt believes the federal government should prioritize spending to help the people whose lives and livelihoods are impacted. During his time in the Senate, he has fought tirelessly to ensure that Missouri gets its fair share of those federal resources specifically dedicated to disaster recovery.”
4. John Boozman (R-AR): Requested disaster aid after snow storms in January 2013.
5. Richard Burr (R-NC): Requested disaster aid after severe storms.
6. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA): Requested disaster aid after flooding.
7. Dan Coats (R-IN): Requested disaster aid after tornadoes.
8. Tom Coburn (R-OK): Requested disaster aid after winter storms and for extreme drought.
9. Bob Corker (R-TN): Requested disaster aid after flooding and asked for supplemental emergency flood relief.
10. John Cornyn (R-TX), Republican Minority Whip: Demanded drought relief aid and requested disaster aid for wildfires.
11. Mike Crapo (R-ID): Boasted of obtaining a FEMA fire safety grant and pushed for a bill providing emergency drought relief.
12. Mike Enzi (R-WY): Requested disaster relief after flooding.
13. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): Requested disaster relief after freezing and boasted of obtaining emergency drought relief.
14. Chuck Grassley (R-IA): Requested disaster relief after severe hail storms.
15. Orrin Hatch (R-UT): Requested disaster relief after flooding.
16. James Inhofe (R-OK): Boasted of obtaining disaster relief after severe storms and drought.
17. Johnny Isakson (R-GA): Requested disaster aid after flooding.
18. Mike Johanns (R-NE): Requested disaster relief after flooding and blasted Democrats for “inaction on disaster relief” for drought and wildfires.
19. Ron Johnson (R-WI): Requested disaster relief after a blizzard.
20. Mark Kirk (R-IL): Appealed after FEMA denied assistance following severe storms and tornadoes.
21. Mike Lee (R-UT): After calling federal disaster relief unconstitutional, endorsed relief aid after flooding in Utah.
22. John McCain (R-AZ): Endorsed disaster relief after flooding.
23. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Republican Minority Leader: Requested disaster relief during a drought and after tornadoes.
24. Jerry Moran (R-KS): Requested disaster relief after tornadoes.
25. Rand Paul (R-KY): Requested disaster relief during a drought and after tornadoes.
26. Rob Portman (R-OH): Endorsed disaster relief during a drought and after storms.
27. Pat Roberts (R-KS): Boasted of obtaining disaster relief after drought and wildfires and criticized the Bush administration for inadequate emergency relief after a blizzard.
28. Marco Rubio (R-FL): Requested disaster relief after severe freezing.
29. Jeff Sessions (R-AL): Requested disaster relief after tornadoes and during a drought.
30. John Thune (R-SD), Republican Conference Chair: Requested disaster relief after flooding and snow storms.
31. Pat Toomey (R-PA): Requested disaster relief for Hurricane Sandy before it even hit landfall.

and From the House

Justin Amash (R-MI)
Andy Barr (R-KY)
Dan Benishek (R-MI)
Kerry Bentivolio (R-MI)
Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
Jim Bridenstine (R-OK)
Mo Brooks (R-AL)
Paul Broun (R-GA)
Steve Chabot (R-OH)
Doug Collins (R-GA)
Mike Conaway (R-TX)
Tom Cotton (R-AR)
Steve Daines (R-MT)
Ron DeSantis (R-FL)
Scott DesJarlais (R-TN)
Sean Duffy (R-WI)
Jeff Duncan (R-SC)
Jimmy Duncan (R-TN)
Stephen Fincher (R-TN)
John Fleming (R-LA)
Bill Flores (R-TX)
Virginia Foxx (R-NC)
Trent Franks (R-AZ)
Louie Gohmert (R-TX)
Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)
Paul Gosar (R-AZ)
Trey Gowdy (R-SC)
Tom Graves (R-GA)
Sam Graves (R-MO)
Andrew Harris (R-MD)
George Holding (R-NC)
Richard Hudson (R-NC)
Tim Huelskamp (R-KS)
Randy Hultgren (R-IL)
Lynn Jenkins (R-KS)
Jim Jordan (R-OH)
Doug Lamborn (R-CO)
Kenny Marchant (R-TX)
Thomas Massie (R-KY)
Tom McClintock (R-CA)
Mark Meadows (R-NC)
Markwayne Mullin (R-OK)
Mick Mulvaney (R-SC)
Randy Neugebauer (R-TX)
Steven Palazzo (R-MS)
Steve Pearce (R-NM)
Scott Perry (R-PA)
Tom Petri (R-WI)
Mike Pompeo (R-KS)
Tom Price (R-GA)
Phil Roe (R-TN)
Todd Rokita (R-IN)
Keith Rothfus (R-PA)
Ed Royce (R-CA)
Paul Ryan (R-WI)
Matt Salmon (R-AZ)
David Schweikert (R-AZ)
Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI)
Marlin Stutzman (R-IN)
Mac Thornberry (R-TX)
Randy Weber (R-TX)
Brad Wenstrup (R-OH)
Roger Williams (R-TX)
Joe Wilson (R-SC)
Rob Woodall (R-GA)
Kevin Yoder (R-KS)
Ted Yoho (R-FL)

[Andy823]

1. Wouldn't it be nice

If he MSM would point this out on their news shows? Of course we know that won't happen. In another thread someone commented that people should write letters to the editor in their local papers about those republicans who wouldn't vote for aid after Sandy hit, but are always there holding out their hand when it's their state that needs help. I think it's a good idea, though I am not sure how many right wing papers would print the list.

[Laxman]

3. They Would Like Us To Forget....

or maybe its that they count on us forgetting what they said when it was politically expedient. Tom Cotton actually had his staff scrub statements about his opposition to Sandy relief from his website. Fortunately, they still exists elsewhere:

“I don’t think Arkansas needs to bail out the Northeast,” Cotton once said of his vote against the Hurricane Sandy relief bill.

It's always us vs. them with these clowns. And to think, this is a Harvard man.

[Thinkingabout]

2. We have seen over and over Republican Congressional members who votes against providing aid

to national disasters, I doubt it is they never think it is going to happen in their districts but sear hate for providing what they consider as "freebies" which is total nonsense. It shocks me to see members who represents coastal regions voting against disaster assistance for other areas. Just dumb, dumb, dumb. Having lived in the coastal area all of my life by choice I might add I know this can and does happen and there will be a need from time to time to give assistance. It is very tragic for victims in disasters, loss of life, loss of homes, loss of income and so many more. I remember after Katrina seeing an article written by a Emergency Relief worker talking about how in his area they went out and brought food and helped every one shoveled the snow so as to provide roads for travel, guess what, in flood water I would like to see this person shovel water.

[stage left]

4. What these Republicans did during Sandy

Was despicable and anyone who supported it is despicable.

[Laxman]

5. And There Will Be No Consequences....

for their behavior. In fact they are rewarded by their constituents.