Bush Won't Declare Disaster for Levees

[spinbaby]

Looks like they're willing to let levees fail again:

By SCOTT LINDLAW, Associated Press Writer 31 minutes ago

SAN FRANCISCO - President Bush has issued an unusual waiver that will allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to accept state money for critical levee repairs, a senior Bush administration official said Friday.

In a meeting planned Friday afternoon in San Jose with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bush did not plan to grant the federal disaster declaration the governor sought as heavy rains strained the fragile levee system.

http://tinyurl.com/mhvws

[fooj]

1. Oh really?

Saw Arnold on the tube last night saying that he will DEMAND the Federal assistance. Who's you daddy, Ahnuld? LOL!!!!

[Selatius]

2. Is it because San Francisco didn't vote for Bush?

Could that be why New Orleans was left to die?

[XemaSab]

7. Most of the areas under threat from flooding

are in "red" areas. The dateline is just SF.

[Bridget Burke]

9. That's a relief!

Those "red" areas deserve to drown, just like New Orleans.

[XemaSab]

13. When did I ever say the people of NO deserved to drown?

I don't think anyone deserves to drown, and I have many friends who happen to live in red California.

I think fixing the levees in California needs to take into account the fact that the whole Sacramento River area is a floodplain, and not try to channelize such a powerful river with weak earth levees. Areas such as the Yolo bypass, where overflow can flood uninhabited ag fields in the event of high flows, should be more common throughout the central valley, but big business and the developers are greedy and want to build below the crest of the river, which I don't think should be allowed. If a levee broke in Natomas, the area would fill with 20 feet of water, and it would be devastating. However, were such an event to take place, I don't think Natomas should be rebuilt because of the flooding hazards.

Similarly, I think the rebuilding of New Orleans needs to take into account the fact that much of the area is below sea level and try to prevent such a disaster from occuring again. If total rebuilding can't be done safely or in a timely manner, then maybe the rebuilding should be confined to areas that can be made safe.

[Ecumenist]

29. Ain;t that the truth, Xemasab

Sounds like you're in the area or at least familiar with the area. I cannot believe that they are building all these homes in the flood plains and former bypasses and sloughs and they have the nerve to charge a HUGE amount to live in dry lakes. Unbelievable

[Ian David]

15. I'm a bleeding heart liberal, but New Orleans bled me dry

I say let Republicans drown.

[Steve A Play]

16. First, there are no such thing as "red" and "blue" areas

only various shades of purple. Disasters hurt people of all political stripes. Hurting the 49% who are not "red", as you put it, is not worth it just because it hurts a few more people that you are politically opposed to than those who you agree with. :eyes:

Second, those areas that you are cheering for the destruction of are primarily farming areas that feed the country as a whole. Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it. I hope you don't mind paying the higher prices for your food if those farm lands flood.

Kool Aid sucks whether it's red or blue. Try a nice glass of California wine instead! :toast:

[Bridget Burke]

17. I was being sarcastic!

Some people are able to distance themselves from potential disasters in areas they consider not quite up to their lofty standards. Such as New Orleans. And the "Red" areas that feed the country--& are getting less Red as we speak.

We even have vineyards here in Texas. But I'll gladly have a glass of California Zinfandel.

[Steve A Play]

27. Friends don't let friends drink White Zin! (It's a California thing)

How about a nice glass of Merlot? It's my personal favorite, but the Chardonnay isn't bad either. :)

Then again you can hardly throw a stone in any direction around here without hitting a local 'micro brewery' if beer and ale are more to your taste. :toast:

[Ecumenist]

28. Bridget...

IF you were being sarcastic, it went over like a lead balloon. I have had to let people know that it isn't acceptable to make hateful comments about Texas, (because the idiot calims it as his homestate).

You should have included the Sarcasm "smilie" within the body of the text, if that's what you really meant. Linking a wish for drowning in NOLA to happen in California is especially rough for those of us who still have missing loved ones in Louisiana. Think before you post such a thing.

[Ecumenist]

30. AMEN, Steve

:applause: :applause: :applause:

[Ecumenist]

26. Bridget...

I live in the area, (Sacramento) that you just said deserved to drown because of some perception that they are "red". First of all, if this county and surrounding areas were as red as this other person said, then why is it that when Schwarzenegger ran for governor and last november when he had his initiatives on the ballot, not only did he not get ONE OF THE PROPOSALS PASSED, NOT ONE, he didn't even get an appreciable showing of people who voted for him. In fact, he didn't carry ONE COUNTY HERE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, NOT ONE!! He was put over the top, so to speak, due to Orange county, Riverside the greater San Bernardino region. This interior region is more conservative than the coastal areas BUT nowhere near as backwards as Bakersfield in the southern San Joaquin and of course, the regions containing Fresno, Tulare, Madera and Visalia.

Due to the explosion in building, this area has become and is becoming even more progressive as more and more people are moving here from the San Francisco Bay are because of the better affordability.
So, think before you post such a harsh comment. Some of us here in the Capitol not only are concerned by the possible cataclysmic flooding but many like me, lost people in New Orleans. Bush is absolutely HATED here and for you to make such an awful comment is unbelievable. To listen to the news, you would believe that the country, (at least, until recently), loved bush and his psychotic band. Don't say such awful things because NOONE deserves to undergo anything like flooding and losing everything they own in addition and more importantly, loved ones. For you to say that the we deserve to drown just like New Orleans did is REVOLTING!!

Think about it Bridget... The reason that he refuses to fund levees repairs is because we hate him and refuse to fall for his lies, LONG BEFORE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY DID!!

[Kikosexy2]

23. Well it's ..

California and we didn't vote for Bozo Bush so basically we're gonna get screwed especially when the BIG QUAKE hits. So my fellow Californians the best thing to do is to be prepared the best you can manage. Lords knows this preznut is not going to help us one bit--well maybe just Orange County and San Diego but we're on our own! And Gov. Gropenfuerhrer is of no help--he's pretty much out the door come next election--we want someone who knows how to govern and no more actors wannabe politicians! God help us!!

[LSparkle]

3. Governator is getting his comeuppance

He hitched his wagon to the wrong chimp ...

[Bozita]

4. sounds like an "Up yours!" from GWB to Ah-nuld

[fooj]

6. He perpetually ass kisses this idiot and all he gets is.......

his election team from 2004. Boo hoo hoo. I think Arnold was really looking forward to flexing his muscles........

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[wordpix]

34. Yeah, doesn't sound like * wants Ahny to be pRes anymore. Maybe repukes

are not going to change the Constitution for Gropenator after all. :rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[rodeodance]

5. Clear indication the the Fed $$ has dried up!

....The waiver, plus help with expediting permits and the possibility of future federal funds, were likely in lieu of the declaration, the Bush administration official said.

The kind of pre-emptive disaster declaration Schwarzenegger sought in February is very unusual, and "it doesn't move dirt," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the White House had not announced the decision.

The corps is a branch of the U.S. military and does not often operate with money from states. But Bush has agreed to let about $23 million in California money flow into the corps' bank account to start repairs this summer and fall, the Bush administration official said.

[rodeodance]

8. pre-emptive ---is only for the Leaker in Chief

...The kind of pre-emptive disaster declaration Schwarzenegger sought in February is very unusual, and "it doesn't move dirt," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the White House had not announced the decision.

[cliss]

11. Yes, how true rodeodance.

There's money left. It's all been earmarked

for the wars.

[wordpix]

35. gee, that's big of * that he's letting CA pay $23 million to repair levees

No money for levee protection but plenty for WAR in ME. Sound familiar? :puke:

snip:
But Bush has agreed to let about $23 million in California money flow into the corps' bank account to start repairs this summer and fall, the Bush administration official said.

[tandot]

10. Arnold was playing all "angry" yesterday saying that he'll tell Bush

that we need the money. Yeah, right.

We all know that Bush gives a sh*t about others, especially people living in a State that didn't vote for him.


In addition to all of the rain, we'll soon have the snow melting into the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River. Our levees are already near a breaking point...

Thanks, Bush

[Minnesota Libra]

12. Maybe now the Arnold will see what kissing up to idiot boy got him, I.....

.....just feel sorry for the people:cry: that will no doubt be hurt by this.:cry: The message is, if you don't vote for the neocons:spank: while they are in power you will pay the price.:banghead:

[Pirate Smile]

14. Disasters are the only time Republicans are still big "states rights"

proponents.

80% of your city is under water? Well, then you should be able to handle this yourselves.

[cascadiance]

19. Yeah... Who takes care of federal parklands then?...

That was the question for California with the bark beetles earlier. And if earlier history is any predictor, then perhaps we'll have a disaster shortly that will kill these levees.

Remember that a request to rid ourselves of the bark beetle infestations that were noted as a huge fire hazard in the federal parklands around here in Southern California from a *bi-partisan* group of California politicians sat on the feds desk for months with no action.

Then finally we got a letter back rejecting the request to do this cleanup... The day before the California wildfires hit, and were made a lot worse when going through this forest! Unfortunate bit of irony there!

If they'd at least responded earlier rather than waiting until fire season to respond, perhaps we'd have had time ourselves to find a way to usurp the federal parkland's authority through lawsuits, etc. to do the clean up ourselves or force them to be cleaned up.

But we have plenty of examples of this president's administrations' incompetence screwing us over. Katrina of course everyone knows about. The California energy crisis and the feds allowing Enron to rape us was another example.

We need to keep bringing up these examples to impress the voters out there that we need to make changes in government that will remove these criminal elements of our government! So that we can prevent more disasters from happening.

[WhiteTara]

18. but this will affect the central valley

which is heavily puklican. He just went down in the polls again! and when the levees fail, and we lose the growing region for the COUNTRY, it should be even worse.

[EFerrari]

38. He just screwed his base.

What an idiot.

[uppityperson]

20. well, that's really just too bad. (Actually I mean it really is)

Hey Arnie, just because you are a repub being groomed for repubship, your buddies, the good old boys network, is failing you. This disaster is really too bad, this is one of the things we need a working government for.

[EFerrari]

41. We've had a REALLY wet couple of months. There was

already one flood from levy failing near Merced, CA.

As usual, the people will pay for these @ssholes playing politics with our safety.

[pinto]

21. (aside) San Joaquin Valley/CA exports $10 billion in food goods

(vegetables, grapes, nut and berry crops, processed food, etc.) around the world annually...that's a whole lot of food.

http://tse.export.gov/SEDChartDisplay.aspx?UniqueURL=23qcu4rkjqlqkezrv1wfcnew-2006-4-21-16-10-30

(on edit) Stats include Imperial Valley and other smaller production areas. Stats don't include beef and other animal products.

[EFerrari]

39. There's also a concentration of the most affordable housing

in our Central Valley.

All I can think is BuchCo wants to barter for a political favor that El Gropisimo doesn't want to hand over. Just can't figure out what that would be . . .

[tandot]

43. If the levees fail, our water supply will go to hell, too

http://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/testimony/detail.cfm?RecordID=582

The importance of the Delta to Californias complicated water supply delivery system cannot be overstated. Water pumped out of the Delta provides drinking water for two-thirds of the states population, and supports one of the most productive agricultural regions in the nation. The Deltas channels convey water from upstream reservoirs to the south Delta, where the Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP) facilities can move water into the CVPs Delta-Mendota Canal and the SWPs California Aqueduct. The stability of the Delta levees that contain the water in these channels is paramount to protecting the Delta infrastructure ensuring a reliable supply of fresh water to the Federal and State facilities.

[WhiteTara]

45. George Bush hates all people

and it doesn't matter what political party. Damn us all.

[spinbaby]

22. Gotta love the Fox spin on this

"Bush Issues Waiver to Help California Levee Repair"

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,192625,00.html

[wordpix]

37. as usual, the repukes' network sees * as hero no matter what he does

[bluedog]

24. and this is a suprize?....

You can plainly see the "I don't give a shit attitude" with everybody in this whole damn administration!

this boy idiot had a plan from the beginning, that is to SHAFT the american public for as much as humanly possible, and to persuade the MAJORITY OF SUCKERS, using religion as a way to gain popularity & votes.
....................and where will bush be when the levees break....strumming a guitar ...eating cake or reading "my pet goat"

[elehhhhna]

25. Tell the SF'ains to flee to Houston. They'lll "lik eit here.

[Coastie for Truth]

31. Bush issues directive, but not disaster declaration for levees - CA

President Bush does not plan to declare the pre-emptive federal disaster Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sought for California's fragile levees, but he issued an unusual directive letting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers help with urgently needed repairs.

"This is an emergency situation," James Connaughton, chief environmental adviser to the president, said Friday. He spoke hours before Bush was to meet with Schwarzenegger in San Jose to discuss the issue.

Bush's move allows the Corps of Engineers - a branch of the U.S. military - to accept $23 million in California money for repair work on 29 critically weak levees. That work is scheduled to start in June and end by November.

It is a down payment of sorts on federal money that Connaughton said will flow to California at some unspecified point in the future, contingent on congressional action. Ultimately, the administration expects the federal government to pay three times as much as the state for the projects, he said.

<<<snip>>>

Democrats, however, criticized what they called an inadequate response.

"What part of 'emergency' doesn't President Bush understand?" said Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles. "The headline on this story should be: 'Bush to California: Drop Dead.' California needs federal money to prevent a Katrina-like emergency, and we need it now."

<<<snip>>>

Bottom line in Plain English - California - Screw You.

And this is after he came and screwed up our traffic.

[MADem]

32. More to the point--Screw U, California, and the Ahnuld you rode in on, too

[liberalnurse]

33. That is like asking a fox

to guard the hen house...........

[EFerrari]

40. I made my mom promise to shake her fist at him for me.

She stopped work early to go protest his "visit".

[alcibiades_mystery]

36. Silly Librul Media: He's the DECIDER, not the DECLARER

:rofl:

[Sapere aude]

42. Silly California ! Disaster funds are for red states.

[kineneb]

44. no fixie levees, no sendie taxes

CA gets back 79 cents back for every federal tax dollar collected from those in the state. I thing we ought to figure out how to get some of that back and fix the levees.

(don't have citation for dollar stat, but heard it on the radio recently)