Graham: Bush has left us unprepared for Hurricane Isabel

[GBD4]

http://www.grahamforpresident.com/news/displayArticle.php?id=30

<<...“As east coast states begin to brace themselves for what could be a tremendously devastating storm on track to make landfall early next week, many have found there are few National Guard troops available for call-up due to deployment extensions in Iraq and elsewhere. Typically these troops are used in the wake of natural disasters to police, clean up and rebuild. For example, South Carolina has only 3,500 troops available for call-up compared to 8,000 when Hurricane Hugo, a storm of comparable size, slammed South Carolina's coast in 1989.

"I know the kind of devastation a storm this size can leave behind. As a former Governor of a large coastal state, I understand the vital role of the National Guard during a time like this. They aid in everything from evacuating people safely, maintaining order, assisting with clean up and rebuilding efforts. States affected by this storm will surely be at a significant deficit without these troops."...>>

(on edit: I added the (...) to alert everyone there is more to the article than what I pasted here, but this is the crux of the message)

[jmcgowanjm]

1. Always thought Poppy lost to Bill on Hurricane Andrew

There is no love lost w/ Poppy in Homestead

[GBD4]

4. hehe

:)

[Cha]

6. What did or didn't "poopy" do concerning "Andrew"?

I was in a hurricane on Kauai two months later that year on 9/11 and it was .5er! $$$$Billions of Bucks! Lots of National Gaurd came to help us! :kick:

[tabasco]

7. Not sure why...

I was regular army at that time and an entire brigade from my division was sent down there to help clean up, etc. I thought we did a lot of good things, especially in the Florida City area. But I admit the high point of my time there was seeing Clinton. He was visiting a medical tent and I was about ten feet away from him. I was surprised what a big dude he is. Looks like a football player.

[ShaneGR]

2. Well, ummm, ok, he's right

I like Bob. He's a good guy. But lets hope Isabel turns south, clears Florida and heads straight for Crawford Texas.

[unfrigginreal]

3. Go Graham!

Glad to see him point this out...This storm looks eerily similar to Hugo. If we're fortunate enough to miss this storms wrath at least he got the point across for how Bush has weakened Homeland(I hate that word) Security.

[Cha]

5. That sounds like Mother Nature could be the one to point

out bush's folly!

Thank you, Bob Graham for giving this a shout out! :kick:

[tabasco]

9. Bush's folly has seriously limited our options

But hopefully the storm heads north soon. But thee fact remains that Bush has reduced our options dramatically for responding to emergencies. Our army is decisiveely engaged in Iraq, for no good reason. We are screwed whan the next big thing comes up that requires a military response.
Grahaam makes a good point. But knee-jerk freepers that don't understand what he's saying wiill say "look-they're blaming the hurricane on Bush!"

[Cha]

10. freepers are hopeless so I don't care what they think..but

you are so right ..we don't have any plan B just like in Iraq!

Or plan A for that matter here at home!

[janekat]

8. maybe we can get rid of 2 Bushs'

.... with that storm. That anger will carry over to Jebbie. He was lucky to win the governorship this time around.

[starroute]

11. If the storm does hit the East Coast, where will Bush be?

1) Crawford?

2) An undisclosed (but probably subterranean) location?

3) Hiphopping around the country looking for a safe haven?

???

[chookie]

12. Oh God -- he's right....

Heaven help the USA if a natural disaster strikes, because the force that we have relied on for so long has been deployed to Iraq to fight for Halliburton contracts.

I am also not sure of FEMA's financial status -- I though before Sept 11, their budget was slashed; now they may have "other priorities" than reacting to devastating natural disasters that may strike the US.

Thank you Bob Graham for *truly* looking after the people.

[madfloridian]

14. I don't FEMA has paid up to Louisiana yet for the TS months ago.

I may be wrong. I heard they were stalling, messing around, and stalling some more. Making people fill out forms, then making them correct them.

Count on Graham to think of such a thing for the people.

He has to be so ashamed of what Jeb has done to us here in Florida.

[GBD4]

13. making me think

The different replies to this thread do make me think of general hypotheticals that could be very problematic situations indeed. Whether it be this hurricane, or another natural disaster, or an attack, having our best defenders abroad really does seem to leave us vulnerable. Would they spontaneously abandon Iraq to attend to a domestic problem? If so, what sort of additional chaos would develop in Iraq, and how would morale and energy among the troops be upon returning home to some emergency? This Iraq War is a danger and quagmire for endless reasons...

[madfloridian]

15. Kick because this is too important to be on page 4 already.

The whole east coast is vulnerable.

:kick: