The loss of life from last night’s tornado is tragic. But it is fortunate that more people didn’t die, given the amount of destruction. I was personally relieved to learn that Dennis McKinney, the minority leader of the Kansas House and a top-quality person, survived, though his house was demolished. It’s also good that state and federal officials are acting quickly to provide immediate and future aid.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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100 Comments
I’m at awe at the power that a tornado can do.
Like I was saying in another thread, I am very familiar with Greensburg and to visualize it as it is now is just shocking. I was just there a couple of days ago on Thursday.
It will probably be several weeks before I can pass through Greensburg again, since I’m sure it will be closed for 54 traffic for awhile.
When they first spotted the rain wrapped tornado from a storm spotter in Kiowa county and looking at the radar sweep showing it making a b-line to Greensburg, I knew Greensburg was going to get it, but I didn’t expect it to completely wipe out almost the entire town.
Photos on the WE website:
http://www.kansas.com/static/slides/050507tornado/
Did they get any warning? Why the high number of deaths?
My understanding is that they did have warning; it’s just that the tornado was SO powerful that it killed people in their homes. Like Joe, I have been in greensburg many times; have done work out there. And, of couse, as a hydrogeologist the hand dug well is a sort of Mecca.
I just hope the death toll doesn’t rise any higher.
From what I understand, the people died under rubble from homes collapsing into the basements.
We sent two front-end loaders and men to help near Ellinwood. They said the roads are almost impassable in places where trees and debris are scattered, so they are clearing that.
They also said lots of folks are trying to drive by and see the mess, but that they have certain places blocked off.
A mile wide?
That’s not a tornado – that’s a monster!
Good golly.
Red Cross is taking donations.
This has been a difficult 18 hours, particularly the first few hours when we could get no news. Dennis McKinney is my brother-in-law. He and his youngest daughter were at home in the basement when their home was destroyed. Once Dennis and Lindy got out of the basement, they located a baby in the debris that had been their next door neighbors house and kept digging until they uncovered the parents, too.
My heart goes out to Dennis McKinney and his family. I have met and talked with him on several occasions. He is a fine man, and a fine representative. I hope that the baby and the parents that he found were alive.
Looking at radar it looks like there is another round out there – not far from Greesburg. Yipes!
so is the well gone too?
I know the store and starting is gone, but the well itsself?
I think it is.
WTF is Tiahrt doing grandstanding in Greensburg for? It’s not his district. Where’s Jerry Moran?
I stayed up watching this for a long time last night and this morning. I know one of the storm spotters and someone who works with my hubby is a storm photographer that got some pics. Right now, they have tornado warnings for the Barton Co. Comm College (ahem) and Great Bend.
How many people right now have water, radio, batteries, medications and food stored for this kind of emergency?
How many always seem to think this kind of thing will happen to someone else.
Aerial photos
http://www.kansas.com/static/slides/050507tornado/
Tom, Did you ever stop and think that maybe Congressman Tiahrt is a human being and is in Greensburg because he has compassion for fellow Kansas citizens who are suffering. From what I saw of the news reports he stood in the background while Senator Roberts did all the talking, so thats hardly grandstanding.
Nonsense, Tiahrt was front and center, sticking his face into the mike.
“Nonsense, Tiahrt was front and center, sticking his face into the mike.”—————-
He was using his name to ask for Federal Aid for Greensburg.
Heaven forbid someone actually help those folks.
This is a disaster.
Have some respect.
During a disaster is the one time you won’t see me complaining about politicians of any flavor. They need to see it to pull their heads out on the human tragedy of their policies when they vote to underfund emergency funds.
WSClark, I honestly never saw him speak. So you are saying that his comments had nothing to do about the disaster and he was just getting his face on the news?
I was responding to Ron’s statement, GSheridan. As for Tiahrt, he spoke before Roberts and for longer on the station I watched.
I did, however, wonder where Moran was. He is one of the few Kansas Republicans I have any respect for.
WSClark, I get the picture now. Congresman Tiahrt spoke before Senator Roberts, I guess I missed it.
If Tiahrt can actually bring some assistance to the people of Greensburg, more power to him, but I would like to have heard from Moran.
I appreciate that Roberts was there, and I hope that the government responds better to this natural disaster than it did during Katrina.
Yes, this is a much smaller scale, but this is what we pay taxes for – for the benefit of Americans in need.
I’ll give Tiahrt the benefit of the doubt on this – Kansas needs all 4+2 of our delegation working to get relief. That said, I do remember meny Republicans pointedly asking similar things when a Democrat has gone to a disaster scene.
Wow, there’s some 24-7 political douchebags around here.
For what it’s worth, Senator Roberts is from Dodge City, about 35 miles west of Greensburg. Congressman Tiahrt is, I believe, from Goddard, about 95 miles east of Greensburg. So based on distance, Senator Roberts should have spoken first.
In my opinion, both are doing the job they were elected to do. If a similar storm hits closer to home, lets hope they are here too.I too have met Dennis McKinney, a member of the Kansas House of Representatives. In fact, I believe he was scheduled to be on Wichita Public TV Channel 8 tomorrow evening, Sunday evening, on “Meet your Legislator.”
Wonder if the show will go on tomorrow evening? Might have been pre-recorded.
I would not be one bit surprised if McKinney invited Tiahrt. Today they are not Dem and Rep; they are Kansans.
I survived Udall as a child and my heart and prayers go out to all there in Greensburg
Shame on you all for fighting over political powers. You should be focusing on the victims and the people who are trying to help. Prayers to them!! My father is out in Greensburg right now working to restore electricity to the town.
I also would like to know how the big well is doing. I traveled there several times while going to high school and college in Pratt, KS and have fond memories of the well.
Our youngest son, wife and daughter were on their way to Dodge City for a softball tournament Friday night. They went through Greenburg less than five miles before the town was destroyed. They almost stopped because the hail was so heavy but decided to go on. We are extremely grateful they were safe. Weren’t able to talk to them until after 7 this morning. Thank goodness for cell phones although they don’t work well in stormy conditions.
My heart goes out to the people of Greensburg. What a task rebuilding will be for them. Glad to see our reps there for them to start the ball rolling for fed aid.
My prayers and love go out to the people of Greensburg. Especially to my dear friends, Gene and Judy McIntosh. Gene is the Methodist minister in town and I pray that they are okay. God is watching over your church and town.
I am quite sure that, with the Democrats now controlling Congress, help will be forthcoming even to a bastion of Republicanism that is rural Kansas. You won’t be ignored and left to die in the rubble like Bush did to New Orleans. The Democrats will see that you get the assistance you need.
This area of the States is so well known for it’s devastations from tornados, year after year, decade after decade.It escapes my understandings as to why is it that developers are allowed to build without providing protection from tornados?It does not make sense that new buildings are being design and built without tornado shelter, today at this very moment.
“Our youngest son, wife and daughter were on their way to Dodge City for a softball tournament Friday night. They went through Greenburg less than five miles before the town was destroyed. They almost stopped because the hail was so heavy but decided to go on. We are extremely grateful they were safe. Weren’t able to talk to them until after 7 this morning. Thank goodness for cell phones although they don’t work well in stormy conditions.”
Actually it is a myth that cellphones work better in a disaster. They don’t. A landline is much more likely to work if anything works. A cellphone call is only a “wireless” call for a short distance until it hits the nearest tower. Then it is muxed on to a T carrier and carried to the phone company Central Office on the same cables that carry your home phone. But the big difference is that your home phone will work without power because it gets power from the Central Office which is ran on 50 volt batteries backed up by a generator if the lights go out. Cell tower sites are rarely backed up with generators although most have battery power that can hold them up for a few hours in a power failure. Even in really bad storms where poles get knocked down, the phones will often still work as long as the cable is still together even if it is laying on the ground.
I am so shocked to see this tornado. I have been praying for the people all day. I really hope there is a great outpouring of love. The people in Kansas, especially the farmers, are some of the nicest people in our country. I could not believe the pictures down the main street with nothing standing, even trees. I don’t know what else I can say.
Tom and WSYou are both jerks.
Todd and Vickie Tiahrt are BOTH graduates of Pratt High School.
They BOTH know many people who were affected by this.
Also, the ENTIRE delegation requested a Disaster designation from the White House.
Let me commend Governor Kathleen Sebeleous on this point: She is working with the ENTIRE Congressional Delegation and with the White House, putting partisanship aside, requesting Federal help immediately.
That is something that Democrat Gov. Blanco, in Louisanna, did not do — for a very long, shameful time..
A request from the State MUST be made before the Federal Government steps in.
Ben,I agree.I would be there in a heart beat to dig you out, if you needed me.Even though I would have cotton in my ears so I wouldnt have to listen to you afterwards! (Just kidding.)
Folks, you can’t get mad at goverment not doing enough and also be mad at someone for trying to help. Everyone in Congress votes on emergency funding, FEMA, etc.
My guess is that Tiahrt will be helping, off camera, more than any of us will ever know.
By the way:I saw Congressman Moran more than once, on TV.I am betting that Moran and Tiahrt both wanted to put on a pair of boots and work gloves and do something, anything, besides talk.As one High School kid said, looking at the destruction, “Where do we start?”
I was in Andover right after that tornado. The one that hit Peckhams mobile home park.I remember the smell.Tree sap, rotten egg scent of natural gas leaks.Also, the surreal “Dr. Seuss” looking “tornado trees” — all the yellow and pink and aluminum colored insulation was up in the trees, taking the place of the leaves and twigs that used to be there.It was something out of the “Twilight Zone.”
After that tornado hit, I spent some time in the Court House. The Clerk and the Register of Deeds were Republicans. Jan Kennedy, the Treasurer, was a Democrat.
They all helped convince Sedgwick County Emergency Management to set up a Court House, Tax System booth at the FEMA/Emergency Management Command Center.
I helped run that booth.
We were called “grandstanders” at first.
Until people realized that all of there paperwork had blown away with the tornado.
We could provide Key numbers, Pin Numbers, VIN numbers etc.
We could DOCUMENT losses for the emergency paperwork, on the spot.
Not everyone neeeded our help, of course.
The few that I was able to help had tears in their eyes.
This is what can happen if you put partisanship aside!
If you couldnt follow the time line, Jan Kennedy, Bill Meek and James Alford assisted in the Haysville tornado.I helped run that booth in Haysville.
Econ 101: Being a graduate of Pratt High School and Pratt Community College and life long fan of Pratt, Kansas … I have doubts about whether Todd Tiahrt graduated from Pratt High School. What year did he graduate from there? I have heard Todd’s wife graduated from Pratt High. According to Tiahrt’s biography, they met at Evangel College in Springfield, Missouri, where Todd graduated from college.
“Tom, Did you ever stop and think that maybe Congressman Tiahrt is a human being and is in Greensburg because he has compassion for fellow Kansas citizens who are suffering.”
Isn’t Tiahrt a REPUBLICAN? Then he certainly has no compassion for anybody who is suffering unless it is a rich person- which I suspect most of the people in that town were not. The rich are the only people Republicans have any compassion for. The rest of us exist only for their usage and pleasure.
At every disaster in the country, the pictures are always the same- the Republicans fly over it and then land and talk on TV about it while the Democrats put on hard hats and gloves and start digging.
I really don’t think anyone is polarized in an tragedy like this…how do you know that only Dems are rolling up their sleeves and digging in, Kev? Do they have to show their voter registration cards or something? When it comes to situations like this, we should all be one, not divided into Democrats and Republicans, conservatives or liberals.
That is how these people think. Very polarized. I sarcasm them regularly on this, but not on this issue.
Don’t be a jerk. Give the suffering people of Greensburg and any political representative who are helping the respect they need. This isn’t a political event.
Very typical. If Tiahrt didn’t show up, he’d be criticized, he shows up, he’s criticized. Some of these people around here have a black hole where their soul used to be.
One of the police officers who was warning people is in the Wichita Hospital in critical condition, in a coma because he didn’t get to shelter in time.
This is so sad.
To all of you out there who care…give blood. Please, and don’t just do it after a tragedy. I know that it is time consuming, but it’s the one little thing that you can do.Everytime I go to give blood, there are a bunch of retired people and almost no working age people. Get your kids to give blood. Start that young.
About half the time I go, my iron is too low. But I keep going.
I was thinking that it is probably more important to act now on completing the Spirit 54 corridor. Four lane Highway 54 all the way through. Wrapping around Kingman, Pratt and the rest of the towns on it’s path. This would have been a god send to help move emergency traffic through.
Actually, it’s a proven fact that Republicans give more to charity than do Democrats.
Religious Conservatives give the most.
Sorry – that’s just the truth.
Secular liberals give the least.
http://www.philanthropy.com/free/articles/v19/i04/04001101.htm
Paul,
Do you know how to click on a link? If so, you might try the following:
http://usd.edu/polsci/docs/TiahrtFlyer.020604.pdf
“Congressman Tiahrt (R-Kansas) is a graduate of Vermillion High School.”
The only Vermillion High Schools I could find were in SD, OH, and IN. My guess would be it was SD, since he attended the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, before he transfered to Evangel College.Pat yourself on the back for a good (but false) try, Paul.
PM – I think you have to be 18 to give blood.
I also feel that it’s important.
16 year olds can give blood with parental permission. That’s what I meant about starting young.
In all states the age to give blood is 17 and in some states 16 without parental consent. Here from the Red Cross:
To give blood for transfusion to another person, you must be healthy, be at least 17 years old or 16 years old if allowed by state law, weigh at least 110 pounds, and not have donated blood in the last 8 weeks (56 days). “Healthy” means that you feel well and can perform normal activities. If you have a chronic condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure, “healthy” also means that you are being treated and the condition is under control.
“Actually, it’s a proven fact that Republicans give more to charity than do Democrats.
Religious Conservatives give the most.
Sorry – that’s just the truth.
Secular liberals give the least.”
Even if I believe that there are reasons for it. First of all Republicans tend to be the upper 15% of income in the country so of course they might give more in dollars but as a percentage of their income, I doubt it. Secondly many of the so-called “charities” they give to are really political organizations disguised as a charity- things like right to life, religious conservative things like Bob Jones University or Christian missionary organizations where Democrats give to things like United Way, MDA and the Salvation Army. Thirdly Democrats give much more time to charity and community. When was the last time you saw a Republican put a pair of work gloves on and break a sweat? And finally LIBERAL does not mean SECULAR. Most of us do have a God we are in regular contact with. Just not the Republican’s God.
Udall is the worse to hit Kansas and Greensburg will be forgotten just as Udall was :-(
RDMy apologies if I got the biography wrong.My point is still correct:Todd and Vickie Tiahrt have roots in the area.You are being petty.
Kev,
The mere fact that you say you have some generic: “a” God is quite funny.
Jerry Moran was in Greensburg. He was there alone, as this article points out. He didnt need the press corp.
http://online.hdnews.net/content/news/moran050607.shtml
Tiahrt has nothing to do with requesting disaster declarations for Kansas, whether in or out of his district. From the FEMA website:
The Stafford Act (ยง401) requires that: “All requests for a declaration by the President that a major disaster exists shall be made by the Governor of the affected State.”
Good for Jerry – he deserves more respect than the rest of the Republican delegation put together.
WSJerry Moran has a mind of his own, that is true.A case in point is “part D prescription drugs” — but I think he now regrets his vote against that successful program.—However, I think he votes better than 90% of the time, the same as Tiahrt.
You are on a vendetta against Republicans in general and Tiahrt in particular.
TomThe Congressman from New Orleans forced the cops and the National Guard to assist him in his efforts to remove (probably illegal) cash from his freezer.
The Congressman from New Orleans made no attempt to get any cooperation between the State and the Feds. The DEMOCRAT Congressman from New Orleans just took care of his own needs!
TomDeclarations of disaster are rarely declined. However, speed is important.
The Democrat Governor of Louisiana is incompetent. She refused to give Bush the authority to authorize assistance.
You are making my point.
Our Democrat Governor, though I disagree with her on several points, is head and shoulders better than the Democrat Governor of Louisiana!
And,The Delegation, the ENTIRE Delegation from Kansas, supporting OUR Governor, helped get the assistance we needed, even faster.
If the Kansas Governor had refused to make the request, had refused to do the paperwork, we would not have any Federal help.
She made her request.
Our Congressional Representatives supported that request.
Grow up.
You look cheap, petty and heartless.
“You are on a vendetta against Republicans in general and Tiahrt in particular.”
Tiahrt is, unfortunately, my Congresscritter. His response to every correspondence I have ever had with him is “it’s the Democrats fault.”
Every time.
His response to the DeLay/Ney/Cunningham corruption issue was……. it’s the Democrats fault.
It’s not a vendetta, it is just a desire to have something other than a partisan hack as a representative.
Econ,
Louisiana’s dysfunctional government has nothing to do with Tiahrt’s media grandstanding outside his district. He has nothing to do with securing Federal disaster aid. Why you’re bringing Louisiana politics into this is beyond me – I never mentioned it, nor is it relevant.
Sebelius, as always, did exactly what she’s supposed to do. She immediately deployed the Kansas National Guard to the area, sent General Bunting to assume direct command, and immediately requested Federal disaster aid, which Bush promptly granted.
Are you trying to imply that Tiahrt somehow pressured Sebelius into doing her job, by making fatuous comparisons to Blanco/Jefferson/Nagin?
TomYou are wrong.
The partisan Democrats want to blame Katrina response on Bush.
The fact is, the NO Mayor did a terrible job, ahead of the storm, and the LA Gov did a terrible job, after the storm. Both were Democrats.
In Kansas, I think ALL of our leaders, in both parties, deserve praise.
I am big enough to give that praise to all involved.
Are YOU?
Compare our Governor to the LA Governor.— I guess you already have!And, the LA Governor comes up short doesnt she?Also, if the Washington DC Delegation had done more to pressure THEIR Governor, instead of trying to get illegal cash out of a freezer, maybe things would have been better, post Katrina!
Jerry Moran doesnt have one TENTH of the arrogance of tiahrt.
By the way, Bush can authorize disaster assistance, but the actual size of such help depends on Congress.You look very petty and small.Those without homes will accept help from anyone, at this point.
A Congressman can cut through mountains of red tape and get things done. People answer the phone when such an official calls. It is entirely possible that Roberts and Moran have asked Tiahrt and his staff to cover a few details for them. That is true “teamwork.”
I can think of lots of things that Congressional pressure could improve:Get cell phone companies to fix towers.Get cell phone companies to cooperate on technology so that they can share towers, in an emergency.Get the US military to assist with K-9 crews and heavy lifting materials.Coordinate municipal funding issues. Disaster relief can help, when the tax base is destroyed, like it is in Greensburg.Push for blood donations.Push for better cross-referencing of missing persons and those in shelters.Request contributions to private charity.
The list goes on.
I bet Tiahrt and Moran and Brownback and Roberts have ALL done these things.
I would not be surprised to learn that out Governor was working WITH them on several of these issues.
Econ,
Why do you keep pretending I’m talking about Katrina and the idiot trifecta from Louisiana? I’m not. I’m talking about Tiahrt grandstanding outside his district, pretending he’s accomplishing something he doesn’t have any statutory involvement with.
Good grief.
Well you know Tom, it’s always easier to switch subjects than to face the music :)
Typical republican tactic. Very close to “Bill Clinton! Bill Clinton!”
“Get cell phone companies to fix towers.Get cell phone companies to cooperate on technology so that they can share towers, in an emergency.”
Nothing wrong with the towers. Cell towers will withstand very high winds. What brings the cell network down is the loss of AC power or the loss of the cable feed to the local phone company. Each cell site has a rack of batteries but they can only hold the site for a few hours. Also, the few sites that have back up generators will become so clogged with people on the phone, it will be impossible to get through. Also, the cell phone providers already share towers and rooftops- the towers being owned by third parties such as American Tower and Spectrum. But they cannot share technology because the providers all operate on totally different technologies except for Cingular and T Mobile which both use GSM (this is why you can remove a SIM card from a T Mobile phone and use it in a Cingular phone). Verizon, Sprint and Nextel are all totally incompatible technolgy wise. And if you have not figured out- YES this is my area of work!
Farmgrrl,
The most offensive part of Tiahrt’s grandstanding is his use of a tragedy to keep his blow-dried mug in front of Wichita tv crews. The wind was blowing 40mph, the humidity is close to 100%, and he’s standing in the middle of a disaster zone – yet he looked like he’d just stepped out of his stylist’s salon.
It all struck me as very exploitative.
Paul F. Rosell,
“That is something that Democrat Gov. Blanco, in Louisanna, did not do — for a very long, shameful time…..The Democrat Governor of Louisiana is incompetent. She refused to give Bush the authority to authorize assistance….The fact is, the NO Mayor did a terrible job, ahead of the storm,……And, the LA Governor comes up short doesnt she?”
Looks like Paul F. ROSELL loves to believe urban legends.http://www.snopes.com/katrina/politics/blanco.asp
Or does Paul F. ROSELL define between “early afternoon” and sometime later that same day as a “very long, shameful time”.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Hurricane_Katrina#Friday.2C_August_26.2C_2005
“Kev,
The mere fact that you say you have some generic: “a” God is quite funny.”
Yes but it is true. The God of the liberal is Jesus Christ- the ultimate liberal who teaches up peace, tolerance, forgiveness and love. The God of the conservative is the God of the Old Testament which teaches us that we should be stoned to death for certain sins, we are condemed to Hell and “an eye for an eye”. I decided that I would rather follow my God Jesus.
I think that whether your Republican or Democrat, your American and at this point, we all want to help these my home town of Greensburg.
I grew up in Greensburg and love my home very much. When I left my home town and joined the Navy, I soon became ill with cancer, and my home church, Greensburg First Baptist Church put me on their prayer list. They sent me get well cards and showered me with love. I graduated in 1990 from Greensburg High School and we just celebrated our 15th reunion in Greensburg.
My home town is a small town and we all care for each other. We follow each others live’s and continue to love and support one another. We are primarily Christian community; however, we have a mix of all faiths. We have different political views and various races in our community. But what draws us together is our audacity to actually care for one another. My home town is about football or basketball on Friday, Church on Sunday, looking forward to hunting and fishing season. We are the flag waving fun loving crowd. We have a strong patriotic spirit.
This town has many war time veterans from all major conflicts and not too long ago, Jesse Davila of Greensburg died on February 20, 2006 as a result of a road side bomb in Iraq. Jesse is an example of what this town has offered to this country. We miss and love you Jesse This town gives so much to our country; I wander if our country will come to help my home town at their deepest time of need.
As I watch my home town on the news, it became a very sobering thought that my home would never be the same again. In the back of my mind I always told myself, if I ever fell on my face out here in Connecticut, I could go back home where I am always accepted and cared for. But now, these people who I love dearly and deeply have lost everything. I wandered, since Greensburg is such a small town, whether the nation would even care. So I started to look at blogs to see what people are saying. I was very happy to see people praying and caring for my home, but then I saw some posting declaring my friends and family members deserved this as a result of voting for Bush, and other nonsense, like choosing to live in Kansas.
So, as you guys continue your politic debate, can each of you step back and say some words of hope and let me and my friends and family members know you care?
The very first thing that must be done is to bring in the Army National Guard to secure the town and use heavy equipment to locate any survivors and to clear the roads. The next thing to do is have FEMA bring in about 200 trailers to temporarily house people and for the military to bring in a mobile hospital/clinic to care for those left behind. Contract with Wal*Mart or some other retailer to open a “tent store” to sell essential items like food. Since school is almost over for the year, we don’t need to make that a priority right now. Once the roads are clear, bring in the utility crews to start putting the power and phone service back together and bring in people to bulldoze and remove the rubble. Get the inurance people there and FORCE them to pay claims within 30 days so the people can start the process of rebuilding the town. Offer the city and businesses low interest disaster aid to rebuild the public infrastrcuture and bring jobs back. Accomplish all this within 30 days and the town can be saved. If not, most of the residents probably will relocate and not return.
“So, as you guys continue your politic debate, can each of you step back and say some words of hope and let me and my friends and family members know you care?”
We do care. I care deeply about everybody that suffers a disaster and every family that loses a loved soldier in Iraq. And I would never say that, just because you voted a certain way, you deserved any of this. I am just making the point that we Democrats care more about the poor and working class folks than do Republicans. I would never attempt to minimize your pain in any way and I do pray for you at this time.
TomYou are wrong.Tiahrt DOES have oversite authority over EVERY Federal department involved.Many of the wounded are now being cared for IN Tiahrts district.Tiahrt knows many of those affected by the tornado.And, Tiahrt is making phone calls and assisting in the Federal response.You are a very petty person.
Cosmos,The Gov in LA could have signed that request in ADVANCE of Katrina.That is what Bush asked her to do.She refused!
Think so, Democrats want to take money from me (raising taxes) and give it to the poor. Republican believe that we citizens are mature and intellgent enough to give to the poor where it is most needed in a much more timely manner. Somewhere in the middle of these two extremes, we can create a good tax system.
Right now, my home town friends and family are getting their support from other citizens who are giving them clothes, shelter and food. Many of the them want to go back into town and continue the search. Having some help from the government to rebuild in the future is great, but we do not expect the government to meet the immediate needs. The Red Cross (a non-profit organization not government) for example is generally the first to really help meet the immediate needs in situations like this, not government.
This is not a political issue. You can’t raise taxes enough to meet this need imediately. Even if Democrats had all the taxes they want and all the power, they could not meet this kind of need immediately after a disaster like good hearted American’s can through Red Cross and churches and family and friends etc. I think there is value in leaning on one another once in a while rather than having all our needs met by a government.
I appreciate both sides of political parties, but the bottom line is niether side has all the answers. The willingness to step back at a time like this and just work together in the system we now have is what matters. To argue that some politician is only saying good or nice things for political gain and not because he cares does little to fix the problem or identify means to improve our current system. All this does is demonize one side to win the political debate, which is rather ignorant to the real difference between the two parties and gets everyone attention off of what really matters. Discuss how to make it better rather than attack the politicians involved, that is where the true debate lies.
Yeah, we don’t have the money to address the need in Greensburg, but we have the resources to spend $8 billion a month on a failed policy in Iraq.
Paul F. ROSELL,
Blanco issued a state of emergency on Friday Aug 26, ‘05, BEFORE Katrina hit.http://www.gov.state.la.us/index.cfm?md=newsroom&tmp=detail&catID=1&articleID=776&navID=3
I thought that allowed federal action.
Did Bush ask her to sign something else? If so, did she refuse? And why?
WS I guess I missed the press release about not having enough money to help out in Greenburg.
Gump you are so right in what you are saying. We had friends living there. He managed a grocery store there and she was in Wichita for the weekend. He was safe but when she finally got in touch with him he had to tell her that the entire back side of their house was gone. Everything gone just like that.
Our prayers are with the town, two neices from Russell who are volunteers with the Red Cross are there helping in whatever way they can. They are both republicans but don’t tell Kev that.
Pmom made a very good point about donating blood. The last few years there have been several times when donations failed to meet the need. Volunteers then get on the phone and beg donors to come in. We can all do a better job on this.
I can’t imagine loosing an entire town. Together the folks of Kansas can keep this from happening.
WS I guess I missed the press release about not having enough money to help out in Greenburg.
Gump you are so right in what you are saying. We had friends living there. He managed a grocery store there and she was in Wichita for the weekend. He was safe but when she finally got in touch with him he had to tell her that the entire back side of their house was gone. Everything gone just like that.
Our prayers are with the town, two neices from Russell who are volunteers with the Red Cross are there helping in whatever way they can. They are both republicans but don’t tell Kev that.
Pmom made a very good point about donating blood. The last few years there have been several times when donations failed to meet the need. Volunteers then get on the phone and beg donors to come in. We can all do a better job on this.
I can’t imagine loosing an entire town. Together the folks of Kansas can keep this from happening.
“You can’t raise taxes enough to meet this need imediately. Even if Democrats had all the taxes they want and all the power, they could not meet this kind of need immediately after a disaster like good hearted American”
I was responding to this statement, GRM. Read before you comment.
WS I referencing your dig about Iraq as the reason we wouldn’t be able to help out.
If indeed you had referenced that statement I would have felt no need to reply.
I was responding to the post immediately before mine – too tough to figure out?
Lika I said above … today we should all be Kansans; not Dems, Reps, whatever. that said, I fail how to see bringing up a much more severe devastation (as Paul gratuitiously did) brings anything to the discussion.
BenIf you follow this thread, from beginning to this point, you will see why I mentioned Katrina.I was not the first to bring up Katrina.I mention the difference between out political leadership, and that in Louisiana, for good reason:We have done a much better job here in Kansas, across the board.I have given compliments to our Dem Governor.Others simply want to attack Republicans.I stick up for Tiahrt and other Republicans, and I am partisan?Oh well.
I will try to give blood tomorrow.I am B-Negative. They call me all the time. Rare type.(That is my blood type, not by personality)
Paul – I stuck up for Tiahrt too as you will note. However, no blood from me this time – they won’t let me. :(
Blanco refused to nationalize the Guard, something even Mayor Nagin thought would be a good idea:
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050918/OPINION04/109180009/-1/OPINION01
If you scroll down on this link, you will see that Nagin asked Bush, in front of Blanco, to Federalize the Guard, which would have authorized Federal troops as well.Blanco did not want to speak to the President in front of Nagin. Blanco asked for “24 hours to think about it” and Blanco eventually declined the offer to Federalize the Guard.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathleen_Blanco
Granted, our disaster is a bit different.However, Our Governor, or any one of our Washington delegation, (even that guy in KC, lol) Could do better than Blanco. She was a failure. Everyone pretty much gets that point!
Paul F. ROSELL,
Are you referring to this Sat. Aug 27 request? Again, BEFORE Katrina hit.
‘Governor Blanco asks President to Declare an Emergency for the State of Louisiana due to Hurricane Katrina’http://www.gov.state.la.us/index.cfm?md=newsroom&tmp=detail&catID=1&articleID=778&navID=3
By the way Paul – when you are down at the Red Cross check their wall. You might see a name you recognize …
BenI am closing in on 10 gallons, having given over 60 units.They dont count the blood I gave in the service.Of course, that wasnt to the Red Cross.Not bragging.Many people have a better record than me on this score.
Paul F. ROSELL,
According to your Nashua op-ed link:”Blanco, after consulting with her legal counsel, said no.”
Just because you disagree with her, and her legal counsel, does not make her wrong.
Sounds familiar – having lived all over the country I have bits and pieces all over. Don’t even remember what the number they have here is. Of course, I have a few more years than you to have built them up! ;^)
Did anyone else hear about the 2 regular army guys looting in Greensburg today? They were dressed in uniform, anyway. The Adjutant General of the Kansas National Guard confirmed it during a weather report on KSN. The one or two men were taken to jail.
Econ said “Others simply want to attack Republicans.”
Did I attack Senator Roberts? No. Did I attack Congressman Moran? No. Last I checked, they were both Republicans. Last I checked, Greensburg is in Moran’s district.
I would have said the same about Boyda or Moore as I did about Tiahrt if either of them had shown up all blow-dried and coiffed for the cameras.
8 Americans blown up today in Iraq, our prayers should be with them and their families also.
Steve, talking about this tragedy doesn’t take away from the tragedy of Iraq. But this is local, it affected many people in Kansas. I’m a staunch supporter of removing the troops. We’ve had a million threads on Iraq. Can’t we have just one on this one?
By the way, 36 homes and a woman lost her life in BENNINGTON last night due to a tornado. Something Wichita media seems to be ignoring.
You know, I really don’t like that Matt Macon from KAKE. He seems rather arrogant.
“Did anyone else hear about the 2 regular army guys looting in Greensburg today? They were dressed in uniform, anyway. The Adjutant General of the Kansas National Guard confirmed it during a weather report on KSN. The one or two men were taken to jail.”
In a disaster looters and lawbreakers should be shot on site no questions asked.
Sigh. . .brings back bad memories of Andover and Haysville/South Wichita. Loss for words.