THE ROAD TO the White House cuts across many swing states including Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Under intense speculation and never-ending polling, these states are hot, so to speak. But only one is really hot, literally hot, actually on fire. Blazing Colorado is finding that the politics of a campaign are made more caustic by the politics of disaster.
As President Obama visited Colorado on Friday, it was clear these are fires of historic proportions. The Waldo Canyon blaze has forced the evacuation of 35,000 people and burned 18,500 acres. The tragedy has required calling in firefighters and equipment from around the nation. It has also engendered questions about the sanity of building residential developments in areas prone to fire.
Comments
As a reliable Obama apologist, Jules glosses over the budget issue. The point that the House Republicans pressed in seeking budget offsets for disaster relief is that the federal government pays disaster relief money every year because there is always a disaster somewhere. By treating disaster relief as a one-off and exempting disaster spending from the budget offset rules, the deficit is increased. The government should budget for disaster relief every year. It would be like municipalities not budgeting for snow plowing and then borrowing to pay for snow plowing because clearing the roads was an emergency. It's that obvious, and that dumb. The Dems naturally paint the issue as the Republicans lacking compassion for disaster victims instead of the Democrats lacking compassion for taxpayers. Not that it matters since Harry Reid's Senate has refused to pass a budget for three years now.
You know jspencer, I agree budgeting for disaster relief. It should be the same for the military too. Think about it, there be no Iraq or Afghanistan war, not in the budget offset rules, sorry. Your sword cuts both ways.
too bad Obama's visit was hastily planned after it was discovered that he had not even been in contact w/ the governor for a few weeks. Just like hios awful, slow response to BP
can you explain what begolfing means? I don't understand the reference.
rather be golfing
the reference is to me but I guess it could apply to Obama too
very cool. I don't golf, but I'd much rather be playing one of my musical instruments.