Hey Floridians, that's what happens when it's not an election year!

[tjdee]

I was sitting around thinking gee, how come FL didn't have these line problems/no ice issues....didn't they have all those hurricanes before, everything was fine, Bush was there handing out ice....

Then I remembered gee, Bush doesn't have a "reelection" campaign to think about.

And it cracks me up that Jeb is protecting his brother-- "Blame me, not FEMA!" Isn't that precious!

It would be so very hilarious if it wasn't such an embarrassment and irritation for so many people in FL. A lady was just on CNN saying she feels like she's in a third world country--and she came from Venezuela, she said it's the same thing.

[babylonsister]

1. I heard the blivet is heading to FL today to

calm the masses and hand out a bag or two of ice. Again, too little too late for all the people who are approaching dire straits. This is becoming an SOP with him.

[Loge23]

3. where's the worm?

No one is saying where the piece of garbage will be today in FL. Are they afraid of organized protests??

[KitchenWitch]

2. As much as I am inclined to agree with what you say

I have relatives in south Florida that still do not have power.

I think your subject line is a tad bit insensitive.

[Junkdrawer]

4. Yeah. Shhhhhh. let them suffer in silence and dignity...

:eyes:

[KitchenWitch]

6. I am not advocating suffering in silence

but the "you all deserved what you got" tone in the subject line just rubbed me the wrong way.

[wake.up.america]

12. Florida and Texas are full of great people. They do not deserve

the ravages of hurricanes any more than anyone else.

[KitchenWitch]

14. I totally agree with you

I am waiting to hear from my relatives in south Florida...I know they are okay, but they have no phone and no power.

[Mend]

10. agreed, there are poor people with diabetic children

here in Collier County that are having big time troubles....I must admit, though, that perhaps the Cubans who are so right-wing in Miami, now understand: Castro is still in power and governor goober is destroying this state. Americans who base their votes on other countries, be it Israel or Cuba or Atlantis, ruin this country for the rest.

[tjdee]

18. Two of my college friends are in Florida....without power.

Really, I guess my subject line should have said "Republican Floridians"....true enough. (on edit: obviously I don't want anyone to suffer, but you have to wonder what those George/Jeb Bush fans are thinking about while they're standing in line.)

And I did say that that it would be hilarious if it weren't for those poor Floridians dealing with the fallout. I am fully aware that they are dealing with heaploads right now (as I said, I do have two friends there).

[KitchenWitch]

22. Thank you for clarifying

:hi:

[Dhalgren]

5. I guess Florida is just a "dysfunctional state", eh?

[TheCowsCameHome]

7. Amazing what a calendar year can do, eh?

[TallahasseeGrannie]

8. I can't stand Jeb Bush BUT

I have to stick up for my state. They handle these things extremely well, from the top down but mostly down. What I mean is, the state workers at the EOC have plans that they actually put into place. But it is always hard to know exactly where to store the stuff out of harm's way, and where the greatest need will be. When we get hit with one of these hurricanes it is amazing to see the work that goes on. If the power is out, you will see literally 100's of power trucks from all over the country. And while you might have to wait in line for gas and ice, at least there ARE lines for gas and ice.

In this environment you need to have three days' worth of supplies and you have plenty of time to get it together. All the photo ops are BS. The real work is on the local level before the storm ever arrives.

But even FEMA can't make it all disappear, make it so it never happened, get you back to work, get the power back on. You have to slog through. I am not sure where people have gotten the idea that a disaster of this magnitutde is going to be made all better, no waiting, pronto, on my schedule. Isn't going to happen!

Now this is an entirely different situation from the folks in the Dome and the Convention Center. In my opinion, that was negligent homocide.

[DoYouEverWonder]

15. I believe Jeb is doing this on purpose

We know his brother is desperate to put the US under military control.

All of a sudden Jeb just can't handle it. The problem is too massive and overwhelming. Jeb will cry that the states can't do this, only the federal government can. Jeb then hands control of the State of FL to his brother. This is what Bush tried to do in LA and failed. This time Jeb is more then willing to comply.

[BOSSHOG]

16. Good Morning TG

Let me share a bit of NOLA perspective. Bottom line, the republican governor of Florida would do it right and the reason things faltered in New Orleans was because of democratic incompetence. jeb bush and fema would work like a well oiled machine when and if another hurricane hit and all would be good in Florida because of their competence. Low and behold here comes a hurricane out of the Gulf, hits Florida and things are not all good. And to compound the injury to the leaders of Florida, Wilma wasn't near as destructive as Katrina. I love the citizens of Florida, my step-mom lives there, but the "better than you rhetoric" didn't sit well with Boo-dro! And, Michael Brown, whom you so aptly suggested should be charged with negligent homicide, wasn't "in charge."

I hope all is well in Tallahassee. TS Beta is lurking about and trying to get in the gulf this AM.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

17. Hey, BOSS. I was horrified

when I heard newscasters compare the readiness of FL to NO. How ridiculous and unfair. Katrina was a 100 year storm and the whole levee situation is unique to NO.

If FL has developed any level of competence it is on the local level. Jeb is a clown.

[lentalbot]

9. blame me not FEMA.

Sorry, tjdee

I gotta follow you with a very UNPOPULAR VIEW.

I've lived in Pensacola for 30 years. I've been through a number of hurricanes. I have learned to listen to the weather forecasters and the warnings published in the newspapers.

When a hurricane heads my way, I line garbage cans with plastic trash bags and fill them with water. I, also, use duct tape, just before the hurricane hits, to seal the bathtub drain. (plenty of water for flushing). I fill milk jugs with water and stick them in the freezer section of my refrig. I go to the market and buy cans of beans, chicken, tuna, and have enough on hand for a week without electricity. I also saved enough money to buy a generator and I stock several 5 gallon gas cans.

Sure! Not everyone can take all the precautions I take, but JEEZE! at least have bottled water and some canned goods on hand. It's only prudent. I'm afraid a lot of Floridians along the East coast were not very prudent.

I'd love to see Jeb with a couple of black eyes. Not my favorite kind of Govenor. I'd love to see FEMA SCREWED UNTIL THEY BECOME USER-FRIENDLY.

LEN

[babylonsister]

11. lentalbot, welcome to DU! nt

[BOSSHOG]

13. Welcome Lentalbot

I'm west of you over in Mississippi and the pre-hurricane preparations are not that difficult. We maintain 5-gallon plastic jugs of water and the milk jugs full of water in the freezer work great. Two tubs full of water for flushing. Both vehicles topped off with gas and an extra five-gallon container in the garage. Unplug everything non-essential prior to getting "hit" and everybody takes a long hot shower before the hurricane. We got the routine well oiled.

Also, have a mapped plan out of town and THE BEST TIME OF DAY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT AND A PRE-DETERMINED DESTINATION.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

24. I do something kind of strange

before hurricanes. I vacuum the floor and clean up, run the dishwasher, etc. And I wash up a whole LOT of laundry.

Now, if I lived at the beach I probably wouldn't bother vacuuming! But I'm 20 miles inland and the biggest problem here is trees on your house (we try to keep them down around the house) and the power out. Our well is run on power, so if there aren't any clean clothes there won't BE any clean clothes.

It's just easier to stay sane if the house is somewhat straight and organized. Of course it is hard to keep it clean when the roof blows off, but that hasn't happened yet!

[tjdee]

19. Indeed--but what I'm struck by

is that we didn't see these lines/etc. when the Bush boys were trying to get themselves re-elected.

That is the difference, IMO. Unless the difference is due to media coverage.

[KitchenWitch]

23. I would guess the lines were there

but the media was blocked from them (due to election year wrangling).

[TheCowsCameHome]

20. Welcome! Enjoy your stay at DU.

[Lochloosa]

21. Ditto from a Native Floridian...

It's not hard to fill some jugs w/ water and cold pork and beans are really good when your hungrey.

I have been in several hurricanes and the only line I stood in for days after them was the one to the bathroom.