Residents in New Orleans signal for help from a roof-top after Hurricane Katrina hit
NYT Editorial: A Big Storm Requires Big Government
… Disaster coordination is one of the most vital functions of “big government,” which is why Mitt Romney wants to eliminate it….
…. FEMA, created by President Jimmy Carter, was elevated to cabinet rank in the Bill Clinton administration, but was then demoted by President George W. Bush, who neglected it, subsumed it into the Department of Homeland Security, and placed it in the control of political hacks. The disaster of Hurricane Katrina was just waiting to happen.
The agency was put back in working order by President Obama, but ideology still blinds Republicans to its value. Many don’t like the idea of free aid for poor people, or they think people should pay for their bad decisions, which this week includes living on the East Coast.
Over the last two years, Congressional Republicans have forced a 43 percent reduction in the primary FEMA grants that pay for disaster preparedness ….
….. Those in Hurricane Sandy’s path are fortunate that, for now, [Romney’s] ideology has not replaced sound policy.
Full editorial here
The Obama Diary 
Jarring image from the past.
Hi Theo
Hey Proud – welcome!
Wow, that photo really bring back memories. I remember my niece’s mother-n-law telling me the story of how she was trapped in the water and hung on to a pole while the swift water was rushing. She was saved by a drunk guy who was looting and saw her in the water. Miracles come in different forms.
Goodness, gracious…
Yep
Any Manhattan TODers who can help…
Retweeted.
Top 5,
Obligatory Rasmussen mockery:
What do we expect from Rasmussen Republican? The truth. That’s like saying we expect the truth from Mitt Romney.
Be careful if you have to wade through high water…
Whoa…..
Oh, no, Dudette, that’s horrible.
Good point here:
Wow! Watch, both of these…
G’nite y’all. I’m done. Blessings and prayers for protection. {{{{LDS}}}} {{{{Chips}}}} {{{{TOD}}}} {{{{{{{PBO}}}}}}}
Good night everyone. Hope and pray that you are all safe. Especially those the path of the storm. Power out me along with several thousand in Toronto Thanks for everything Chips.
Yup – the storm is already making an impact in Toronto with heavy wind and rain. My family is stocking up.
Endorsement of PBO from Susan Eisenhower (granddaughter of President Eisenhower)
http://susaneisenhower.com/2012/10/29/why-i-am-endorsing-president-barack-obama/
Four years ago, I left the Republican Party of which I was a lifelong member and became an independent. Not long after, I supported Barack Obama in the 2008 election for president. I made this decision determined to look at the issues not as a Republican or a Democrat, but as an American.
It is through that lens that I consider my choice in the 2012 election. Like many other voters who crossed party lines to vote for Barack Obama in the last election, I have watched the 2012 campaign carefully and listened closely to what the candidates have said. I believe that President Obama should be re-elected.
Very few American presidents have been truly prepared to assume that job. Four years ago, Obama, a relatively inexperienced public servant, became the 44th President of the United States during one of the most difficult times our country has faced. The nation’s economy was on the brink of collapse. Our image overseas was tarnished, and our military was bogged down in two unpopular wars. I supported Obama then because I thought that he was unflappable. I saw him as a man with a keen intellect and a cool analytical head. I believed he would also be able to inspire those who had suffered most from a recession unparalleled since the Great Depression. In doing so, I reasoned, he would go a long way towards reuniting a nation deeply divided.
Obama was elected and took office, building on a number of stabilization programs initiated by the Bush administration. He took many other vital steps that reestablished our economic footing, including saving America’s automobile industry.
In the last four years, and despite the global downturn, America has come back from the brink. While pain is still being felt in far too many sectors of the economy, from a macroeconomic standpoint the situation in the United States is better than it is among our allies. According to the International Monetary Fund, today the United States is poised for 3 percent growth, which would make our economy the strongest of the other richest economies, including Canada and Germany. Other influential studies, cited in a recent column by Fareed Zakaria, show that debt in the U.S. financial sector, relative to GDP, has declined to levels not seen since before the 2000 bubble. And consumer confidence is now at its highest levels since September 2007. The housing market is also slowly coming back. While there is still an enormous amount to do to assure a recovery, the president deserves credit for a steady hand during this dangerous and unpredictable time.
In the last four years, President Obama has also had to contend with a rapidly changing international environment. He ended the war in Iraq, was the first Democratic president to ratify an arms control treaty with the Russian Federation, and rallied global leaders to put nuclear security at the top of the international agenda. The Obama Administration has also been responsible for decimating the top leadership of al-Qaeda and introducing biting sanctions on Iran. Today the president has significant experience in managing foreign relations, experience that GOP candidate Mitt Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan, do not have.
As a result of this campaign I am more confused than ever about what Mitt Romney stands for. I know little of his core beliefs, if he even has any. No one seems to agree on what they are, and that’s why I do not want to take a chance on finding out… [more in the article]
Could not have said it better. Tks 9t9.
placed it on my facebook page, waiting for all my Romney-loving friends heads to explode…….
Bringing over from last thread. Face of building coming off.
Just watch the firefighters rushing into the building immediately after the collapse. 0.57 mark. Amazing people.
My dad has been living here for a couple of weeks. He’s watching Fox News and I am getting a little annoyed by it to say the least. He’s a chronic alcoholic that voted for Bush TWICE.
Your house, your rules. I’ve methodically gone through all the religious channels on my TV, as well as Fox News, and blocked them.
It’s so funny cause the man also can’t stand Bush now and his opinion on the man has soured him on everything, including politics. Now he talks about Brazil non-stop and I brought up how the president of Brazil likes PBO, a lot more than Bush in fact and he got very quite.
Ha ha!
Boy are WE on the same page!!
😦 Your house, your rules. No FOX. Detox. Don’t want to sound like I’m making light of this….I really mean it. Hope he gets the help he needs.
my dad get help? Nope still drinks like a fish. I just cant wait till he gets out of here.
Find him a detox place to get into, ASAP. Unless he’s clean and sober, he can’t stay with you. Tough love is hard…you may just save his life.
He’s been this way for over thirty years.
I cant believe he’s still alive and kicking! He also smokes.
House rules……
Jeff
I know your dad has a few problems but, I want you to love him and respect him as best as you can. It seems like he is hurting and don’t know how to help himself. Even in all of your dad’s misery it is you that he has turned to. Thanks for not rejecting him. Love him the best way possible. You will be blessed. Obviously you are a good son, still a spot of love resides in your heart.
Disastrous Response: Romney Campaign Billiing Campaign Events as “Storm Relief” Efforts
This is truly disgusting. As Americans on the east coast are battling to stay safe (and in some cases, alive) in the midst of post-tropical cyclone Sandy, Mitt Romney can’t be bothered to hold off campaigning. His campaign first told us that he’s canceling events tomorrow, but then, they told us, nevermind. Oh, and this time, they are going to insult everybody’s intelligence by holding events in Ohio and Wisconsin, and labeling them ‘storm relief.’
http://www.thepeoplesview.net/2012/10/disastrous-response-romney-campaign.html
I couldn’t resist chuckling in disbelief. Romney is like one of those evil villains I’d read in fantasy novels that would make me laugh because they were so incredibly evil.
Would you believe Snidely Whiplash? A cartoon character at best.
Amazing! What’s wrong with half of the American people who take these despicable men seriously? Now they are trying to exploit this storm. I am so distressed about this storm because many in my family are on the East Coast (NY, NJ, DC, MA, and MD).
WHOAAAAAA, whoa, whoa. I just saw a Romney ad here in San Francisco. WTH is Romney doing wasting his money on CALIFORNIA?????
Sadly, more than a few rich GOPers in NorCal. Getting that last bit of loot before next week’s drubbing.
In Seattle we get Romney ads and asshole McKenna ads saying how he plans on fixing the economy is by cutting taxes and that Inslee is a vile socialist. That sort of bs.
I made that Rolling Stone photo my wallpaper…..rather, my daughter did it for me:) It’s quite nice:)
Isn’t that photo yummy? I keep looking at it and hearing this song in my head — Forgive me… 😀
You are SO bad:) SO SO Bad:)
I knowwwwww… 😉
Yes Dudette is so bad but in a very, very, good way. She brings so much love and energy on this blog.
Awww, thank you Nath. You’re very sweet!
Assuming everything goes as planned next week, here’s my tweet for, oh, 9 pm PST:
“Obama wins WH. Dems hold Senate. Dems retake House. Somalia about to get a Randian colony.”
works for me!! 🙂
Yes, yes, yes!!
I’ll drink to that!
That is an excellent editorial. I liked the following comment that described Romney as a Wizard of Oz character.
I liked the comment that referred to Mitt’s changing views – “I might have been born at night, but it wasn’t last night”. The way I have heard this “I didn’t come down in the last shower”. Not everyone forgets what Mitt said yesterday, last week, last year, last election.
And many many “keep safes” to those in the storm’s path.
Toddling off now, TODobots. Hey Amk, have a good morning! 😆 Those of you in the east, try and have some rest in between everything else.
I will still be here when you return. Gunnite. Don’t let amk bite you.
Sigh! There’s the explanation for why I kept waking up – only 4 times last night though. Could have been worst.
Because, well, just because.
love them so much!
Bam! Which is a city in Iran.
“Do you need a towel? Because ya face is straight up rainin’!” LOL!!!
“Are we debating or are you trying sell me a Lexus?” 😆 😆 😆 Weepin’ as Miz Chips sez.
😀 😀 😀
Night all…was up at all hours of the night last night…brain refused to shut off….seems to do that a lot lately and now I’m exhausted. Have to get up in the middle of the night and take my husband to the airport…NOLA bound. Chilling seeing that picture in the post knowing he’s going there tomorrow….east coasters…stay safe.
Yup – I haven’t slept more than three hours for several days now. I’ll sleep well on Wednesday next week (after the celebrating).
so… okay…. send it “back to the states.” I’m okay with that as long as my state gets to keep ALL of our tax money, and we stop paying for the rocks and coyote red states to have a better standard of living that those of us who are paying for their nice roads, etc…
In the long run, those red states would see massive depopulation eventually since most of them have tornadoes, flooding, wildfires, drought, and all manner of BAD.
But of course, the GOP are the first in line for disaster relief, like Gov Christie today.
Fucking hypocrites.
Excellent points, Tally! Those red states would be howling in no time.
Oh Sheeeit!
I had a bad feeling with Rick the thief Scott in charge.
Just sent this to OFA Voter Protection Counsel– I’m part that team as well. I know that there are volunteer attorneys that are part of the OFA voter protecton team already in Florida.
RT’d you. Thx for doing that – they need to know. It’s not right.
All right all, time for me to hit the hay. See youse on the flip side.
Nite, LL!
Beautiful.
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2012/10/american-prayer.html
President George HW Bush and President Clinton have developed a respectful relationship. Romney is so despicable and of such deep harm to the Republican Party perhaps President Clinton can convince 41 to do what is morally and patriotically right …
No harm in making the request – perhaps much good …
#TrustBarack
Just watched Tom Hanks on Craig Ferguson, doing an impromptu James Bond villain bit. Comedy Gold!!! 😀
Just gotta say it… Corey Booker is a frickin’ amazing mayor !
Btw, I know this neighborhood in Newark — my cousin used to live two blocks away. Lots of big beautiful old, but dangerous in a storm trees. Hope everyone’s okay.
Wonderful – wow for Twitter and the Mayor. There was also the immediate reply “I’m on my way up there now” !!
Yep, dude is a machine! He needs to create a mayoral training academy, cuz gosh we need more of him around the country!
https://twitter.com/CoryBooker/status/263138625968033793#
Woot! O-H-I-O!
In time, haters always get what they deserve.
Creator, please surround with clamness, grace, and comfort to all those who have been touched by Sandy this day. Watch over the little ones who do not understand; comfort the seniors who have no one; hug tightly the homeless brought into the shelters also;, surround with loving hands the ones who bring food to the mouths of those who can’t lift their hands; hug the First Responders with your Arms of Warmth; embrace the hearts of each neighbor within the communities of each state to reach out in love to others; safely keep our streets from any more harm; and we give thee thanks.
And above all, we humbly ask dear Creator, for your wisdom to be given to our beautiful president, and his entire team during these times. Hold his heart full with love and calmness each moment of his days to come as he deals with each aspect of this storm; give him rest, give him physical strength; give him a steady hand in each decision that he will make tonight and the days to come; and may we all remember to say a prayer, a moment of meditation, a voice of encouragement for each of our families who are in the path of Sandy. We humbly, and lovingly lift up this request for those we love so much. We light our candles until our families can relight their homes and businesses. Keep us calm, rest your comforting spirit within our hearts and minds and please give President Obama, FLOTUS, VPOTUS and the entire team wisdom and peace.
AmenHZ
AMEN!
Amen
Amen.
thank you HZ for that lovely prayer.
Well whadduyaknow… Gramps Grassley figures he can pre-empt the delay that’s likely due to Sandy with some political B.S. Despicable bastard!
Chips and Bobfr, thanks for all that you do for all of us. (((((((((( Hugs with much love))))))))))))) and a goodnight to my TOD family. I love you all so much. I am going to be just fine. We still have work to do, and we will finish the job.
I sign out before I turn 68. (((((((((((((((((((Love you all.))))))))))))))))))HZ
Birthday today HZ?!! Hey, Happy Birthday! 😀
I hope the day lifts your spirits and kicks up your skirt! This is for you!! Love you, dear!
Dudette9t9 love your for your gift. I love that movie. Dudette, I always love your musicial selection shared here. ((((((((((((((( Thank you so much )))))))))))))))))HZ
Happy Birthday Sweetie!
Hope you have a joyful day…..((((HZ – Happy Birthday?))))
Thank you jojo. ((((((((( Lots hugs to you for your wish on my birthday. HZ
Happy Birthday HZ and thank you for your kindness and all the goodness you bring to everything you do!
#FORWARD
Huffpost and Dkos off the air…… interesting.
I thought it was my computer or something! Wonder what happened?
OMG< it's not just me then!! Very odd.
Same for Crooks & Liars and The Raw Story. Kinda hard to run servers without power.
Yes. God is the great eqaulizer LOL!!
DKOS said that they would be off if their servers (which are in NY) were affected by the storm.
Lol seems like Christie is scrambling to appear bipartisan.
Politico quoting Gallup, no party has advantage in early voting.
Good old Gallup, heavily skewed toward Republican prospects.
Watching BBC. Looks like NYC is hit pretty bad. Any TOD’ers from there ?
We might have to push election back a week.
Just saying.
Is there any such provision to postpone the elections in case of natural calamities like these?
Never heard of it. Maybe in 1864?
None.
I read that there is….the clincher is that Congress has to do it. They haven’t done squat, why would they do this ?
I didn’t know that. But if repubs can keep the Northeast, OH and PA from voting, that’s what they’ll do.
Traitors. Every effing one of them.
Gooood Morning…everyone….
i hope everyone is ok….
GM pf – your hope x 2
NY subway report – worst ever disaster
http://alert.mta.info/
wow
Everybody okay?
Okay here, lisa. How are you & yours?
Need to check on family in Philly and NY. But I think they weathered it fine.
Everybody is abusing Nate Silver this morning.
No- it’s Tied up, give Him a call, didn’t he get the memo?
LOL!
What’s good ole Nate saying today that’s got the wingers up in alt?
72.6%chance of Obama winning!
To TOD Family here on the East Coast just outside of Richmond,VA Can Tell you as a old Trucker who has seen a lot this storm SANDY really raised HELL But have no fear Our President Obama is on the job 24/7 you all would be surprise the amount of emergency equipment that is lined up along I-95 ready to go. They even have some of our vacant trucks lined up for use if need be.I know of a lot of trucking companies ready for loading if need be for supplies to travel where needed.SO FOR EVERYONE WHO WORRIES REMEMBER AS THE SAYING GOES CHILL THE HELL OUT OUR PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS GOT THIS! ALSO If Our President can tell the world in advance that if I have actionable information I will take out Osama Bin Laden out and he did SANDY the Storm and got nothing on him. Because as He says Obama cares and covers all pre-existing conditions,and he sure as HELL does not have no Damn Romnesa and the country can see we a Real Leader lead.SO STAY FIRED UP READY TO GO WE HAVE GOT HIS BACK ALL THE WAY TO 4 MORE FOR 44!! So to all hang tough and it will be all right and don’t let the Talking Heads get to you.
Great report!!! Thank you and I agree #TrustBarack!!!!!
https://twitter.com/GOTTDAMNNWRiTE/status/263222422872915968
I just saw him, not that I like him, but giving the President praise is classy and necessary.
Christie was on Morning Joe doing the same and Joe cut him off, asking him if he had enough first responders.
Christie actually complimenting the Prez. this morning. Good to see I guess.
Pissed off at Matthews talking in circles again.
Weather Channel says nearly 8 million w/o power.
And I’m one of them. Thanks to Panera Bread restaurants for free wifi…at least for a few minutes. Hope all beloved TODers are safe.
Glad you’re okay Susan. Stay safe.
Stay safe, Susan!!
Stay safe.
Dear Susan – stay safe – having spent days without power after a flood – it is not where anyone wants to be – hope all else is OK
I have an idea. Maybe we can put veterans and those out of a job to work with this clean up. All hands on deck…then we can send the bill to the states, because, you know, they seem to hate that “big, bad, Federal govt”….
This is amazing!
He agrees with PBO – it seems crazy to be talking politics when 8 million have no power – don’t remember any politics chat after 9/11
Then again – don’t think he cares too much for Mitt.
The worst of the storm is over for MD, and thankfully I still have power (although the lights went out briefly for a couple occasions last night). Some parts of MD did lose power but not to the same extent as the Tri-state area. Hope everyone else in Sandy’s path continue to be safe.
Thank goodness. I hope the worst is over for all.
Those polls don’t calm my nerves. But then I remind myself they’re all suspect—-as Pew reported a 9% response rate. What truth can be gleaned from such a tiny slice of the electorate? Others have to have a similar response percentage. Not trustworthy.
Real Clear Politics is a conservative pollster owned by Steve Forbes. They use mostly RW polling in their estimates and have been known to drop polls that give PBO a big lead. So if even they are showing PBO up then that suggests that his actual lead is wider.
Exactly why I’m trying to ignore all polls positive or negative. Too much of a roller coaster. Not worth the headache.
I am with you. Screw those polls and their 24×7 yanking our chains with questionable polling tactics and polling pool.
DAVID BROOKS IS A TOOL!
Saying that Flip Flopping would help Romney if he is POTUS on Morning Joe. It doesn’t get more ridiculous than this.
What? Who would trust a flip flopping president? Certainly not our allies. 🙄 what bullshit!
Good Morning everyone,
So it looks like the advance preparation and evacuations made a big difference to deal with this monster of all monsters storm. It’s not over yet…
I saw these tweets last night about how much the pollsters underestimated POTUS support in swing states in 2008. You gotta see this! Crazy, I didn’t recall that they were predicting McCain in Florida. Seems CNN and PPP were the most accurate. Click on this link and look at his last 5-10 tweets from last night.
https://twitter.com/electoralvotes
President Obama worked on Sandy response through the night. Heard Christie say he got a call from Obama at midnight and then a call back about some concern at 2:00 a.m.
Good Morning TOD. Power has been restored and the worse seems to have past here in the DMV area.
Thank goodness you are all alright. What a day in the history of our country. I hope all TODers are safe and sound.
Excellent news, Donna!
Good News from SCOTUS:
U.S. Supreme Court declines to review Oklahoma personhood decision
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx
I remember the devastation, tragedy and heartbreak of Katrina. I remember the arrogant complete disinterest of Bush. Obama has not been like that, at all. I am so glad he is president right now. If my late mother were here, she would be glad too. We can not let those two monsters Romney and Ryan into office.
I would think this would be getting more attention, but then…….not shocked any more by all the startling issues that the MSM chooses to ignore these days.
So Harry Reid was right along. A corrupt collusive msm enabled mittbot,
aww. how very kind of them.
Morning everyone:
http://theobamadiary.com/2012/10/30/morning-24/