It seems that as the oil continues to spill into the Gulf of Mexico, there are an ever increasing number of fingers pointed at Obama for failing to "lead" in this crisis. Understandably there are fingers being pointed from the left, who opposed his plan to increase oil drilling (not that it has much to do with this current spill) and offshore oil drilling in general, and somewhat inexplicably there are attacks from the right by politicians whose energy philosophy have been summed up as "Drill, baby, drill!"
Regardless, in this attempt to lay the blame at the President's feet, I've had a few questions that I can't seem to find the answers to.
One: Assuming a failure of leadership, what concrete steps could/should Obama have taken after this oil leak occurred in order to stop it. Is there a proposed way of stopping this leak that has not been planned or tried by BP? So far, the only one I've heard that the President would have to implement would be nuking the oil well (which could cause even more damage and increase the flow of oil pumping into the Gulf).
Two: Which Department of the Federal Government is most qualified to handle an oil leak at the bottom of the Ocean? I understand the Government taking over spill cleanup, that is a somewhat more manageable task that take more time and resources than it does engineering feats. But I'm not sure that there is a Government department that has more expertize in drilling or capping off a well at 5,000 feet below sea level. Perhaps the Army Corps of Engineers, but do we know if that have much deep sea underwater expertize?
Three: Assuming we don't have, within the Government, such experts or materials to accomplish a task that an oil company has been unable to take care of, we'd have to outsource. To whom? The only companies I can think of would be groups like Haliburton, who themselves are implicated in this fiasco. Is there a private oil drilling company we could hire and manage that can accomplish this task better than BP or Transocean?
I haven't been able to find the answers to these questions, but my guess is the answer is more or less no. As much as it may be a feel good measure for the President to "take over" the efforts to plug the leak, we have to wonder what good will come of such an action. To my knowledge, the President himself is no geologist or engineer, so his expertise in Con Law probably isn't going to be of much assistance. What we can expect of him is to appoint and direct competent officials in the various departments tasked with dealing with said problems, and I haven't seen much evidence that he's failed in that area.
People have criticized his "slow" response, but for the most part his administration has been engaged in this situation from the beginning. Yes, there have been mistakes and miscalculations throughout the process, but that is bound to happen when you are trying to deal with a problem 5,000 feet below sea level under over 2,000 PSI of water pressure. Its a rather unique situation, and it unfortunately takes time. I'm sure his advisers and BP thought they would've had this leak capped a week or so after it happened, they were obviously wrong.
Ultimately, you can hate on BP all you want, but they have just as strong a desire to stop this leak as the Federal Government. The more that comes out, the higher the cleanup costs, the lower the profits, and the bigger the chance that offshore oil policy could be changed in ways that would be detrimental to their bottom line. Perhaps this is a situation where there is no real easy solution, and no quick fix. I know we as Americans don't like to hear that, but maybe its the truth.
I don't have faith in or love for BP, but I also don't know that the Federal Government, or as much as I love him the President, is more equipped to deal with this leak than they are.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Too Bad This Photo Isn't Higher Res
Stacey Campfield has posted a picture of a group of guys brandishing their weapons with a sign saying, "Drunks with Guns! U loot, We shoot". Given the context it appears that the two guys on the right are both holding handguns and cans of beer at the same time. If so, Stacey has posted a photo of a crime:
Update:
I should've known better than to take a Campfield post at face value. As pointed out in the comments, it appears that this is a photo from a while back during Katrina. Please disregard...
§39-17-1321: Notwithstanding whether a person has a permit issued pursuant to § 39-17-1315 or § 39-17-1351, it is an offense for a person to possess a handgun while under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance.
Update:
I should've known better than to take a Campfield post at face value. As pointed out in the comments, it appears that this is a photo from a while back during Katrina. Please disregard...
Monday, May 24, 2010
The Magical 10th Amendment
Yet another example of teabagger conservatives using the Tenth Amendment as some sort of magic bullet for whatever cause they happen to be promoting or opposing at the time. Apparently, it gives some crazy black pastor in Harlem the authority to hold a trial on President Obama's eligibility to serve in office:
Focusing on allegations regarding Obama's status as a "natural born citizen" of the United States as well as the allegedly illegal "award" of a diploma from Columbia University, Manning insists new legal ground was broken.
The activist pastor says that under the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, citizens can legally hold a trial and arrive at a verdict, with the results turned over to appropriate government bodies for enforcement.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Opposition to Civil Rights Act Will Probably Increase That Lead
Despite initial glee by national Dems at the prospect of a Rand Paul campaign, early numbers indicate that Kentuckians, along with the GOP primary base, likes them some 1950s style conservatism.
| Rand Paul (R) | 59% |
| Jack Conway (D) | 34% |
| Some Other Candidate | 4% |
| Not Sure | 3% |
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
I'd Have Added Birthplace of Obama, but Good Enough
Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner thought that it was unfair for Tennessee to single out Arizona for praise, and introduced an amendment to show Hawaii some love too.
(via Speak to Power)
(via Speak to Power)
National Campaign Committees Lost Last Night
First off, congrats to David Smith and the rest of the Democratic primary winners for the clerk's offices last night. Nothing terribly surprising in those results, all the incumbents sans Vic Lineweaver won. On to the national stage...
It appears that the DSCC and the NRSC are poisonous. In Pennsylvania, despite support from the President and an early lead, Sen. Arlen Specter's Senate career is now soon to be over, as Joe Sestak will be the party's nominee against Pat Toomey. Ultimately, voters want a candidate who has some principles, but as Arlen Specter transitioned from centrist Republican, to conservative Republican, to centrist Democrat, to liberal Democrat...it was clear the whole time that he would say or do whatever he thought it took to hold on to his job, and well that kind of neediness is a turnoff.
In Arkansas, Blanche Lincoln had a slim plurality of the vote, but luckily for Bill Halter you gotta have 50% to win it, and so they will go to a runoff where you'd assume Halter's growing fan base and voter enthusiasm will help carry him over the top against an unpopular incumbent whose made it a career in the past couple years to stifle the Democratic agenda.
Finally, in Kentucky, Democrats have a good candidate in Jack Conway, and Republicans have a good candidate in Rand Paul. Wait, what's that? You mean, Rand Paul isn't some god-send to the Democratic party? Seriously...I understand his father's Presidential campaign attracted a bunch of amateur constitutional historians and young libertarian types, but at the end of the day Rand Paul's views are not that far outside the mainstream of the GOP. He's for the Federal Government legislating away a woman's right to choose, he's against the Federal Government recognizing gays and lesbians, he's for "smaller government," lower taxes, less spending, etc... As far as I can tell, his only real divergence from the GOP doctrine is that he is more of an isolationist, which you'd think would actually be somewhat popular in the hills of Kentucky.
One can argue that his opposition to farm subsidies might hurt him, as in 2009 around 60,000 farms and farmers collected checks from the federal government, but at the end of the day the vast majority of those funds go to large corporate farms, and the bottom 80% of those collecting subsidies get less than one hundred dollars.
Having said all that, Kentucky is not as Republican as the media might believe. Democrats, on paper, have far more registered voters, and they won the governorship just a couple years ago. It'll be hard, but Conway is a charismatic politician and if our jobs numbers start improving as some analysts think they may, he has a shot at picking up this seat.
*p.s., if this story is true, then Rand Paul is a dick, and that may be his downfall.
It appears that the DSCC and the NRSC are poisonous. In Pennsylvania, despite support from the President and an early lead, Sen. Arlen Specter's Senate career is now soon to be over, as Joe Sestak will be the party's nominee against Pat Toomey. Ultimately, voters want a candidate who has some principles, but as Arlen Specter transitioned from centrist Republican, to conservative Republican, to centrist Democrat, to liberal Democrat...it was clear the whole time that he would say or do whatever he thought it took to hold on to his job, and well that kind of neediness is a turnoff.
In Arkansas, Blanche Lincoln had a slim plurality of the vote, but luckily for Bill Halter you gotta have 50% to win it, and so they will go to a runoff where you'd assume Halter's growing fan base and voter enthusiasm will help carry him over the top against an unpopular incumbent whose made it a career in the past couple years to stifle the Democratic agenda.
Finally, in Kentucky, Democrats have a good candidate in Jack Conway, and Republicans have a good candidate in Rand Paul. Wait, what's that? You mean, Rand Paul isn't some god-send to the Democratic party? Seriously...I understand his father's Presidential campaign attracted a bunch of amateur constitutional historians and young libertarian types, but at the end of the day Rand Paul's views are not that far outside the mainstream of the GOP. He's for the Federal Government legislating away a woman's right to choose, he's against the Federal Government recognizing gays and lesbians, he's for "smaller government," lower taxes, less spending, etc... As far as I can tell, his only real divergence from the GOP doctrine is that he is more of an isolationist, which you'd think would actually be somewhat popular in the hills of Kentucky.
One can argue that his opposition to farm subsidies might hurt him, as in 2009 around 60,000 farms and farmers collected checks from the federal government, but at the end of the day the vast majority of those funds go to large corporate farms, and the bottom 80% of those collecting subsidies get less than one hundred dollars.
Having said all that, Kentucky is not as Republican as the media might believe. Democrats, on paper, have far more registered voters, and they won the governorship just a couple years ago. It'll be hard, but Conway is a charismatic politician and if our jobs numbers start improving as some analysts think they may, he has a shot at picking up this seat.
*p.s., if this story is true, then Rand Paul is a dick, and that may be his downfall.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Three of My Least Favorite People In One Clip
Keith Olbermann takes a look at the speeches of Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin. Palin apparently rooted for the hunters in the movie Bambi, and Beck hates that he's been tasked by God to make millions of dollars by making borderline schizophrenic rantings over the past few years.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Election Day is Here
The much awaited and once delayed primary for county clerks offices is here. I'd be shocked if David Smith didn't win the only majorly contested seat, Juvenile Court Clerk, but given the likely low turnout, I suppose anything can happen.
If you're having trouble making up your mind, check out Liberadio which has interviews with 5 of the 6 Democratic candidates for JCC.
If you're having trouble making up your mind, check out Liberadio which has interviews with 5 of the 6 Democratic candidates for JCC.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Change In Rhetoric You Can Believe In!
President Obama's Drug King, Gil Kerlikowske, released the new and improved National Drug Control Strategy for the next five years in trying to stop people from using non-government approved methods of getting high.
For the life of me, I'm having trouble seeing where this "new strategy" is at. Looking at the budget, the numbers are relatively the same for the FY2011 request as they were for the 2009/2010 budgets, with increases across the board.
Ultimately, there is some lip-service to alternative sentencing and drug treatment, but the fact is unless there is a serious review of whether we SHOULD wage this War on Drugs (the phrase is omitted from the document), then nothing has changed.
See Also:
Reason has a write-up on the murder of a dog in Columbia, MO over what turned out to be possession of drug paraphernalia. Along with a map of murders by the domestic branch of the US Military.
Whether struggling with an addiction, worrying about a loved one’s substance abuse, or being a victim of drug-related crime, millions of people in this country live with the devastating impact of illicit drug use every day. This stark reality demands a new direction in drug policy— one based on common sense, sound science, and practical experience. That is why my new strategy includes efforts to educate young people who are the most at-risk about the dangers of substance abuse, allocates unprecedented funding for treatment efforts in federally qualified health centers, reinvigorates drug courts and other criminal justice innovations, and strengthens our enforcement efforts to rid our streets of the drug dealers who infect our communities.
For the life of me, I'm having trouble seeing where this "new strategy" is at. Looking at the budget, the numbers are relatively the same for the FY2011 request as they were for the 2009/2010 budgets, with increases across the board.
Ultimately, there is some lip-service to alternative sentencing and drug treatment, but the fact is unless there is a serious review of whether we SHOULD wage this War on Drugs (the phrase is omitted from the document), then nothing has changed.
See Also:
Reason has a write-up on the murder of a dog in Columbia, MO over what turned out to be possession of drug paraphernalia. Along with a map of murders by the domestic branch of the US Military.
House Dems Fight Senate Republicans on Budget
The House Democrats are not big fans of the Senate Republican's proposed budget cuts:
According to Caucus Chairman Mike Turner, "We have asked for weeks for the majority party plan. It is here and we disagree.” Remarkably low-key for the outspoken Representative from Old Hickory, but succinct enough.
This is the first real budget fight I can remember, it'll be interesting to see how closely aligned the House Republicans are with their Senate counterparts. House Majority Leader Mumpower has thoroughly aligned himself with the prospects of Speaker Ramsey and his boot-kicking campaign for Governor, so it'll be a real test of whether he has any power left to see if he can keep his members in line.
On Monday, the Republican majority in the Senate offered a budget amendment putting over $140 million in funding on the chopping block. These include $34 million in cuts to teacher pay, $6 million in cuts to agriculture investments in farmers, $100 million in cuts to state employees, and $3.5 million in cuts to public safety.
According to Caucus Chairman Mike Turner, "We have asked for weeks for the majority party plan. It is here and we disagree.” Remarkably low-key for the outspoken Representative from Old Hickory, but succinct enough.
This is the first real budget fight I can remember, it'll be interesting to see how closely aligned the House Republicans are with their Senate counterparts. House Majority Leader Mumpower has thoroughly aligned himself with the prospects of Speaker Ramsey and his boot-kicking campaign for Governor, so it'll be a real test of whether he has any power left to see if he can keep his members in line.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Department of Not Getting It
Stacey Campfield, who thought the flooding of Nashville was quite funny, is one of the many Republicans who didn't then, and still doesn't get why the American people were so furious at President Bush over the flooding of New Orleans and the humanitarian crisis that ensued.
You see, to Campfield, a Presidential flyover or sight-seeing tour is the be all and end all of Presidential involvement in a crisis. To him, all President Bush had to do is give the appearance that he cared, not actually doing anything to make the situation better. This was the operating philosophy of the Bush regime. Show strength, don't be strong. Showmanship over governance.
Here is but one of the many fundamental differences between President Obama and President Bush. When Bush took office, the head of FEMA became Joe Allbaugh, a close Bush ally with absolutely no history in Emergency Management beyond running Bush's campaign. After two years, Allbaugh decided to cash out and use his newfound connections to make money in the private sector. As he left, he suggested Bush replace him with Michael Brown, a Republican hack from Florida who prior to the Bush administration worked as the General Counsel to the International Arabian Horse Association for about ten years. His entire history in emergency management consisted of the two years he worked at the department under his buddy Allbaugh.
As we can tell from the historical record, Michael Brown was an unfettered disaster as FEMA director (or Undersecretary of EP&R). He was too busy discussing his wardrobe to actually lead in the crisis. He was in way over his head, and documents seem to indicate that he knew it. For him, this was supposed to be a cushy job involving traveling to a few areas, surveying damage, and allowing his underlings to handle the actual work.
Fast-forwardten five years, and who does Obama have in charge of this Government agency? Craig Fugate, a 20 year veteran of emergency management. A fairly non-political appointee who worked in under Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist in Florida as their state EMA director and knows how to deal with floods and hurricane problems.
Assistance to state and local agencies has been timely, efficient, and competent.
So, Stacey, that is why people aren't sitting there criticizing Obama. If Bush had made the right decisions prior to the crisis in who he appointed, he might never have come under the level of criticism that he had. But, he didn't. He saw the Federal Government as an avenue to repay those who had been loyal to him. That is why Bush failed, Katrina just brought the failure to light.
The Nashville flood is not anywhere near the level of devastation that Katrina, and the subsequent flooding of New Orleans, was. So there isn't really any way this situation could've gotten as bad as New Orleans did. However, had there been real leadership coming from the Federal Government, there is a good chance that a mobilized effort could have saved perhaps hundreds of lives in New Orleans and helped evacuate more quickly those trapped in the city.
August 29, Katrina makes landfall. Water overflows levees.
August 31, Bush surveys damage from Air force one.
September 2, Bush visits New Orleans and aids in disaster relief.
Bush is later chastised for "slow response" and showing he "did not care" by not visiting sooner.
Compared to.....
May 3, Over 13 inches of rain hits Nashville and surrounding areas. Water overflows the banks of the Cumberland river.
May 9, Still no fly over by Obama.
May 9, Still no visit by Obama.
Feel free to justify if you can.
You see, to Campfield, a Presidential flyover or sight-seeing tour is the be all and end all of Presidential involvement in a crisis. To him, all President Bush had to do is give the appearance that he cared, not actually doing anything to make the situation better. This was the operating philosophy of the Bush regime. Show strength, don't be strong. Showmanship over governance.
Here is but one of the many fundamental differences between President Obama and President Bush. When Bush took office, the head of FEMA became Joe Allbaugh, a close Bush ally with absolutely no history in Emergency Management beyond running Bush's campaign. After two years, Allbaugh decided to cash out and use his newfound connections to make money in the private sector. As he left, he suggested Bush replace him with Michael Brown, a Republican hack from Florida who prior to the Bush administration worked as the General Counsel to the International Arabian Horse Association for about ten years. His entire history in emergency management consisted of the two years he worked at the department under his buddy Allbaugh.
As we can tell from the historical record, Michael Brown was an unfettered disaster as FEMA director (or Undersecretary of EP&R). He was too busy discussing his wardrobe to actually lead in the crisis. He was in way over his head, and documents seem to indicate that he knew it. For him, this was supposed to be a cushy job involving traveling to a few areas, surveying damage, and allowing his underlings to handle the actual work.
Fast-forward
Assistance to state and local agencies has been timely, efficient, and competent.
So, Stacey, that is why people aren't sitting there criticizing Obama. If Bush had made the right decisions prior to the crisis in who he appointed, he might never have come under the level of criticism that he had. But, he didn't. He saw the Federal Government as an avenue to repay those who had been loyal to him. That is why Bush failed, Katrina just brought the failure to light.
The Nashville flood is not anywhere near the level of devastation that Katrina, and the subsequent flooding of New Orleans, was. So there isn't really any way this situation could've gotten as bad as New Orleans did. However, had there been real leadership coming from the Federal Government, there is a good chance that a mobilized effort could have saved perhaps hundreds of lives in New Orleans and helped evacuate more quickly those trapped in the city.
Friday, May 07, 2010
If This Crisis Has Shown Us Anything, Its That Government is Bad?
Right now, as the Federal, State and Local Governments are working together to house the newly homeless and help them rebuild their lives, you'd think the anti-Government teabagger crowd would be laying low. Nope. Not gonna do it. No, Jeff Hartline, Republican candidate for Congress, thinks this is the perfect opportunity to show just how having a strong Federal Government (you know, the folks who'll be helping rebuild Nashville) is bad.
Really? At this point in time, who the fuck really cares what "The Founders" thought or wanted about the role of Government? Nashville isn't just a small outpost of North Carolinians in Long Cabins as it was in the time of "The Founders," its an urban/suburban metropolis with over 600,000 residents. If this were a standard run-of-the-mill storm with a few overflowing creeks and maybe some water damage, we wouldn't be asking for Federal assistance. But this is a catastrophe of the once in a 500 year variety. Tennessee didn't budget for this, we can't just shift some priorities to pay for this, we need help, and that is what the Federal Government is there for.
I don't give a damn about what role the founders envisioned for the Federal Government some 220+ years ago...I care about reality. And the reality is, I'm sure many Nashvillians, Republicans and Democrats alike, will be grateful for the FEMA assistance they need because they never thought they'd need, or perhaps couldn't even purchase, flood insurance.
Yes, individuals and community groups will help...but to say that is all we need is preposterous and the sure sign of a destined loser electorally.
(h/t JRLind)
The Founders expected individuals to be connected within their individual communities through neighborhoods, churches, or other organizations in order to encourage good citizenship and dependence upon others. Such a paradigm requires a certain expectation of individuals to behave in a way that does not alienate them from their neighbors. The Founders never intended for the Federal Government to provide one single solitary thing for any individual. The Enumerated Powers expressed dealt with regulating a level playing field for individual rights and for the ability of commerce to flourish. They would have bristled at the thought of a powerful federal entity picking winners and losers either through the tax system or through entitlements to certain individuals or groups. These powers were reserved to the States and to the People individually.
Really? At this point in time, who the fuck really cares what "The Founders" thought or wanted about the role of Government? Nashville isn't just a small outpost of North Carolinians in Long Cabins as it was in the time of "The Founders," its an urban/suburban metropolis with over 600,000 residents. If this were a standard run-of-the-mill storm with a few overflowing creeks and maybe some water damage, we wouldn't be asking for Federal assistance. But this is a catastrophe of the once in a 500 year variety. Tennessee didn't budget for this, we can't just shift some priorities to pay for this, we need help, and that is what the Federal Government is there for.
I don't give a damn about what role the founders envisioned for the Federal Government some 220+ years ago...I care about reality. And the reality is, I'm sure many Nashvillians, Republicans and Democrats alike, will be grateful for the FEMA assistance they need because they never thought they'd need, or perhaps couldn't even purchase, flood insurance.
Yes, individuals and community groups will help...but to say that is all we need is preposterous and the sure sign of a destined loser electorally.
(h/t JRLind)
Thursday, May 06, 2010
To Keep You From Falling Asleep
The Nashville JC has announced that the Gubernatorial debate audience will be polled during the festivities:
NJC is excited to announce that Turning Point Technologies' audience response tracking system will be used for the debate! Similar to what is seen on the national stage, forum attendees will be a part of a diverse group of participants responding to the candidate's answers using a handheld device.
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
Gubernatorial Debate Still On
I checked in with the folks who are hosting the Gubernatorial debate tomorrow Monday at the Collins Auditorium at Libscomb, and the debate is still going forward.
The forum will be held at Collins Alumni Auditorium on the campus of Lipscomb University on May 10th at 7:00. The event is free to attend; however, please reserve your seat in the auditorium by RSVP at our website http://futurefocustennessee.blogspot.com/ .
We'll Takes What We Can Gets
It now appears that every national story about the Nashville floods has to be prefixed with a mention about how little the national media has covered the story...here's Jon Stewart's brief take on the matter:
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Nashville Flooding | ||||
| ||||
Monday, May 03, 2010
Nashville's Katrina?
I knew it wouldn't take long, but at least one conservative has begun the politicization process by comparing Obama (in a negative light) to Bush's response to Katrina.
The difference, of course, is that Bush visited New Orleans two days after the levees topped. Nashville is wet, its now muddy, we have our issues, but for the most part, people are going to be fine. New Orleans, and the Lower 9th Ward in particular, was an isolated soup bowl with absolutely no way for residents stuck there to get out. Most parts of Nashville have running water, although we are being urged to conserve it, and all but about 14,000 residents have electricity. New Orleans, many portions at least, were completely cut off from any sort of civilization, clean water, dry land, or any sort of news about what they should or should not expect in the way of help.
Basically, Katrina was a clusterfuck of "epic" proportions, much of the damage of which didn't occur until after the water stopped falling from the sky. In our case, the danger was in large part during the rainfall period. Now that it is over, I have every confidence in the ability of our state and local entities to provide any assistance necessary to the Nashville community. At some point in the near future, I'm sure the President will declare this area a major disaster area...but that process can often take days or weeks.
Had this been an ongoing emergency, with tens of thousands of people stranded and in need of assistance, I would be first on the bandwagon to blame the President if he were off delivering birthday cakes to Senators or learning to play the guitar with country singers. But we aren't in that place, and so its in poor taste to the memory of the 1,800+ people who died as a result of Katrina to make the comparison.
Update:
President has spoken with Governor Bredesen and pledged whatever support. (Via @LoweFinney)
Robert Gibbs announcing that FEMA director is coming to the area.
Former President Bush and former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff – for all their policy shortcomings – visited New Orleans two days following Hurricane Katrina...
...All I’m asking for is a statement from the White House – a mention in a Rose Garden speech about something else would suffice at this point – that says that the President and his Administration are aware of the situation in my home state, that federal resources are ready and waiting to help if called upon, and that my family and friends are in his thoughts and prayers.
The difference, of course, is that Bush visited New Orleans two days after the levees topped. Nashville is wet, its now muddy, we have our issues, but for the most part, people are going to be fine. New Orleans, and the Lower 9th Ward in particular, was an isolated soup bowl with absolutely no way for residents stuck there to get out. Most parts of Nashville have running water, although we are being urged to conserve it, and all but about 14,000 residents have electricity. New Orleans, many portions at least, were completely cut off from any sort of civilization, clean water, dry land, or any sort of news about what they should or should not expect in the way of help.
Basically, Katrina was a clusterfuck of "epic" proportions, much of the damage of which didn't occur until after the water stopped falling from the sky. In our case, the danger was in large part during the rainfall period. Now that it is over, I have every confidence in the ability of our state and local entities to provide any assistance necessary to the Nashville community. At some point in the near future, I'm sure the President will declare this area a major disaster area...but that process can often take days or weeks.
Had this been an ongoing emergency, with tens of thousands of people stranded and in need of assistance, I would be first on the bandwagon to blame the President if he were off delivering birthday cakes to Senators or learning to play the guitar with country singers. But we aren't in that place, and so its in poor taste to the memory of the 1,800+ people who died as a result of Katrina to make the comparison.
Update:
President has spoken with Governor Bredesen and pledged whatever support. (Via @LoweFinney)
Was w/ Gov. Bredesen when he received call from POTUS b4 our flyover. Pres pledged to help in any way & w/ fed declaration of emergency.
Robert Gibbs announcing that FEMA director is coming to the area.
The Venice of the South
In case you missed it, we had some rain in Nashville yesterday...as in three times our monthly average in the course of 36 hours. I don't really have much of anything to add to the situation other than I hope everyone out there made it through safely and with as little damage as possible.
The metro elections appear to be postponed for two weeks, until 5/18. Otherwise, its just going to be a long haul for most folks, and the city, to clean up this mess. I've seen a few people starting to point fingers at the Dean administration via The Twitter...personally, I think its way too soon to start that. Wait until everyone is safe and dry and then assess who could've done what better. This is more rain, perhaps by a factor of two, than we've ever seen in Nashville, so I think everyone deserves a little leeway as they work to figure out how to deal with this disaster.
Thanks go out to all the Fire and Rescue workers who've been working non-stop to help rescue people, put out fires, etc...visit Hands on Nashville if you'd like to volunteer once the city deems it safe for civilians.
The metro elections appear to be postponed for two weeks, until 5/18. Otherwise, its just going to be a long haul for most folks, and the city, to clean up this mess. I've seen a few people starting to point fingers at the Dean administration via The Twitter...personally, I think its way too soon to start that. Wait until everyone is safe and dry and then assess who could've done what better. This is more rain, perhaps by a factor of two, than we've ever seen in Nashville, so I think everyone deserves a little leeway as they work to figure out how to deal with this disaster.
Thanks go out to all the Fire and Rescue workers who've been working non-stop to help rescue people, put out fires, etc...visit Hands on Nashville if you'd like to volunteer once the city deems it safe for civilians.
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