SEND TEXAS THE DAMN FEDERAL AID NOW!!!!!!

[Are_grits_groceries]

I do not give a happy damn about Rick Perry and his shite in the face of the tragic consequences the people of Texas will suffer. As much as I would like to smack him up side the head with a harsh message like no aid, it is not only counterproductive, but harsh and inhumane.

The problem now in the ENTIRE country is that people don't see each other as individuals. They only see monolithic groups that are easily denounced. Until everydamnbody begins to see each other again as people and not ideologies, this country will continue to fracture and grow apart. The whole argument sounds like a childish game of "They started it."

Stamp "FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT" on everything, but get it there NOW. Why do you think Katrina was much more of a mess than it had to be? Mississippi got more aid, and they got it faster. It was the damn political game. The Governor of LA and the Mayor of NoLa were Democrats, and the city was regarded as a 'hellhole of anti-whatever' beliefs by W and all those jackasses around him.

Eric Cantor is playing the political game with aid too. Do you really want to be a part of this game?

It isn't a damn game. People and every bit of land and nature are caught in this firestorm just as surely as the NE was caught in the flooding. One area could be seen as blue and liberal and the other as conservative and red. They are HUMAN BEINGS and deserve every bit of help they can get in both areas.

For gawd's sake, when other countries have disasters do we parse their politics and hold back? As I recall, we are the first in if we can be. And you want to do less for other Americans??????????????????????????????????????????

If Auburn fans can go to the aid of Alabama fans when the tornadoes hit Tuscaloosa, then ANYTHING is conceivable. That is not a joke.

Shylock was a momser, but he had it right in 'The Merchant of Venice.'. His trial was a mockery of justice and those who judged him were no better.
Shakespeare puts one of his most eloquent speeches into the mouth of this "villain":

Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions; fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, heal'd by the same means, warm'd and cool'd by the same winter and summer as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge. The villainy you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction.
—Act III, scene I
http://www.enotes.com/shakespeare-quotes/am-jew-hath-jew-eyes

Send the damn aid or it will justify every heartless act some of those people have committed. Two wrongs........


My damn hair is on fire, and I have to go get some damn water to put the damn mess out. And I was hard pressed not to use a lot of other words besides damn.

grits

[krispos42]

1. That should be the opening statement by every FEMA person and politico...

"The federal government is pleased to..."

"The federal government is sending..."

"I have ordered the federal government to issue..."

"The federal government is loaning..."

"Aid from the federal government..."




Don't treat them any different. Don't give them more than if their governor wasn't a RW asshole. But don't give them any less, either, and make a BIG FUCKING DEAL about it.

Send Joe Biden down there for a month!

[still_one]

2. I would expect the appropriate Texas legislators to bring it up on an accelerated path in Congress.

The republicans have the majority in the house, so I don't think it would be the Democrats in general dragging their feet

[alfredo]

3. Fight their hate with kindness.

It confuses them.

[JuniperLea]

56. It really is the only way...

Only love can conquer hate... kindness is the only weapon I can approve without guilt;)

If you fight fire with fire, you get an all-consuming conflagration and everyone loses.

[alfredo]

61. Hate isn't satisfying.

[LynneSin]

4. Perry calls himself a 'Christian' and yet he forgets anything that Jesus every said like Matt 25:40

‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

[Are_grits_groceries]

5. Put up billboards all over the state

with that message. Drive the point home that we are all in this together. Smack those Leviticans over the head with the part of the Bible they apparently haven't read.

[FiveGoodMen]

37. Christians hate Jesus

They just like his name.

[JuniperLea]

59. That is my all time favorite scripture...

I've used it a lot lately on Fundy cousins and friends.

One cousin spouted off about welfare and the lazy... and I said it's not up to us to judge, only to follow Christ's lead and let him do the judging... he may want "those lazy people" to get a taste of kindness... that might be the lesson they need to learn, and you would be denying them your good Christian love and actions... then I hit them with Matt 25:40.

[blogslut]

6. That's up to Governor Goodhair

FEMA is in the state as of today. The onus is on Perry to ask them for $$$ and assistance.

[Are_grits_groceries]

8. FIND A WAY! Send it to federal land and

set it up ready to give out. If somebody doesn't want it, then they don't have to ask for it or come get it. Land on their property or as close as can be if it has to go to them and get them to sign a note requesting it. Avoid Texas soil if that's what it takes.

If President Obama can sign a piece of paper to authorize the assassination of whoever the CIA or whatever wants, then their can be some hook or crook to get the aid to them. I don't care if it has to go under another FEDERAL name.

There are more ways to do things up in DC than you can shake a stick at if it needs to be done.

[blogslut]

10. You know what?

I'm going to back out of this thread before I say something I'm going to regret.

[Are_grits_groceries]

11. Surely you can say it in a direct , but

acceptable way? If it's personal just PM me.

[blogslut]

16. OK

Back in March, the Panhandle of Texas suffered wildfires - 385,000 acres were scorched. Where was the urgency then? All I remember is a bunch of people saying we deserved it.

Then, the middle of the state caught fire and still, more derision.

We Texans have been telling this board about our extraordinary drought for months and months and it took this long to get collective DU compassion?

I really can't continue with this thread.

[Are_grits_groceries]

18. I didn't say that and I am sorry

I didn't post this thread then. That was a mistake. A big one!

[blogslut]

20. Thank you

I'm sorry for losing my cool but this board has been and still is my oasis. I am a Democrat in the reddest congressional district in the entire nation. It's one thing to face hateful people in real life, every single day. But to come here and experience unreasonable intolerance from the very people I choose to identify with...

It's pretty hard to deal with sometimes.

[shireen]

19. the people who said it are thoughtless idiots

I did not know about the Panhandle fires. That's really sad. I've been there, and it's a beautiful place.

I knew there was a drought but had no idea what it really meant till these horrific wildfires happened.

I love Texas, I used to live in Austin and spent a lot of time in West Texas. That state has a special place in my heart and I'm devastated by what's going on there right now.

[blogslut]

21. Thank you

:hi:

[tularetom]

7. I'll say it again

Send AF 1 to Texas and fly Perry to DC.

Present him with the relief check right there in the Oval Office and get lots of pictures of him shaking hands with Obama as he accepts the check.

It'll accomplish everything we want - provide assistance for the people who have been affected by these fires and pretty much destroy Perry as an anti-government tea bag type candidate.

I don't know why the geniuses in the WH haven't thought of this.

[Tx4obama]

44. Perry has been requesting funds and getting them ALL YEAR this year for the fires. n/t

[tularetom]

45. They made it too easy for him

He should have to publicly acknowledge that he has requested and received federal assistance and summoning him to DC to get the dough would accomplish that.

He'd probably still bad mouth Obama, FEMA and every Democrat in the federal government later on but he'd look like an even bigger hypocrite for doing so.

[Dreamer Tatum]

9. You're not accounting for the widespread hatred of Texas on DU.

Not surprising that some people want to see it burn.

[Uben]

15. As a life-long Texan......

...I don't see hating Texas as wide-spread here. Maybe hating Texas republican ideology, but certainly not the people of Texas.

Had the Bushes and Cheney been associated with Oklahoma say, I feel the sentiment would be same towards them. I don't hate anyone.....but I sure dislike some of their rhetoric!

[shireen]

17. huh? Where did you get that?

I love Texas. Spent 5 years there in college, in Austin. It's an amazing place.

[cwydro]

55. People hate the South. Period.

It's sickening.

[hfojvt]

12. What if they did start it?

This notion that the federal government is broke, and cannot even afford to help disaster victims.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFTLKWw542g&ob=av3e

[scheming daemons]

13. Fine. Tell Perry to come to DC to pick up the check.

[Are_grits_groceries]

22. Use the Sun Tzu approach and

build a golden bridge that allows him to save some face. Does he deserve it? NO! Do the individuals? YES!

The idea is to make it easier for him while at the same time making a much bigger point that doesn't lower your position. It's tricky and it doesn't involve negotiations which are normally used, but it can be done.

If that is done, but the bigger point is swallowed up by his bombast that will be the fault of those who let the moment get away!

Pretend he is Kruschev during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

[A Simple Game]

40. Excellent idea. Perhaps we could kill two birds with one stone and Texas still gets the aid.

President Obama could invite Eric Cantor to the White House to present the check to Perry.

[FourScore]

14. SEND THE DAMN AID!!!

And do stamp it from the federal govt!

:kick:

[KamaAina]

23. And then send Rev. Goodhair the big, fat bill!

With interest!!

[Uncle Joe]

24. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Are_grits_groceries.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

25. Texas is getting the full FEMA treatment.

We also have gotten aid for our previous fires. The delay then was that Texas had already received 25 FMAGs (Fire Management Assistance Grants) for those fires before Texas was given a major disaster declaration.

Trust me, the Feds are not playing politics with us down here. Only our governor.

[Are_grits_groceries]

26. Good!

I'm just tired of the squabbling over it. I'll squabble with the best of them, but not about this.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

31. I really appreciate your caring.

I meant that. It hurts watching people I know lose their homes, pets, livestock and then having to listen to people who are supposed to be like myself say, "screw Texas!" However, FEMA was already on the ground and making rounds in Bastrop yesterday when Perry was making his speech saying he expected them to arrive tomorrow (today now). He's either lying or clueless, or knowing him, both. Washington hasn't turned a blind eye to we here in Texas, though. They're treating us the same as any other disaster situation across the nation.

Thanks again! :hi:

[Are_grits_groceries]

32. If I don't care about you now,

who's going to care about me at some point?
:hi:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

34. I'd have cared even if you didn't reciprocate the feeling

That's what being a good citizen is all about. :hi:

[yellowcanine]

27. Already being done.....The ball is in Gov. Goodhair's court on this.

http://www.kvue.com/news/local/FEMA-aides-fire-victims-in-Central-Texas--129352373.html


Note last sentence....

"Perry plans to assess the damage with FEMA before asking for any further federal aid."

FEMA has to follow the lead of the state governor. They cannot act on their own. That is the law.

[Are_grits_groceries]

28. See post #8. nt

[yellowcanine]

35. Already did. I disagree. We are a nation of laws. Trying to weasel around them is not acceptable.

The governor has his responsibility. Let him exercise it and if he doesn't the Texans can hold him accountable. That is the only way this kind of thing can work.

[JustAnotherGen]

29. Amen

As I said in another thread? I live in NJ where our Good Guv'nah is an asshat. Just because Guv'nah Perry is an ass clown does not mean people should have to suffer, be homeless, etc. etc.

[mainer]

30. But it's OK to withhold disaster relief to Vermont.

According to Cantor.

http://dccc.org/blog/entry/republicans_run_from_cantors_plan_to_withhold_disaster_relief

[Zorra]

33. Texas republicans need to pick themselves up by their bootstraps!

And start voting Democratic so that when disaster strikes, they are equipped to deal with it as a community.

Yep, we need to again, *sigh*, take care of republicans that don't have the foresight to provide for themselves in the face of disaster.

Send them the money, and hope they learn something by this and grow up instead of voting like selfish toddlers.

[nadinbrzezinski]

36. FEMA is already there

Perry will scream until his hair is on fire, but the help is already going, as it should.

[Drew Richards]

38. WHAT IS YOUR MALFUNCTION?

Perry requested aid 5 days ago...FEMA was on the ground and in the air that afternoon...

Just how the fuck more does Obama have to do to get a thank you?

You want more?

Perry cut vol fire depts 75% and then has waited to contact FEMA for support until just LAST THURSDAY...don't believe go look it up im not your daddy.

The wild fires PLURAL ET ALL have been burning in drought ridden Texas for 3 months...

He is only now calling for aid and is already bitching that the military didn't stop fighting their own fire outside their base to come hold his fuckin hand...

Sheesh drop your rant or take it to the Red State.

[Drew Richards]

39. unrecced

For fostering untruths.

[Logical]

41. -1 because I am so SICK of drama here on the DU!

[bigwillq]

46. Aww

So sad for you.

You can choose not to post on DU, hide threads and ignore users.
I'm sure all the folks affected by the fires in Texas feel so badly for you because you're "sick"

BOO HOO Hope you feel better. :rofl:

[Logical]

48. Your laughing icon proves my point.

[bigwillq]

49. ...

:rofl:

Save your drama for Obama. :rofl:

[Logical]

51. ...

:) :-) x( :-( :( :( ;-) ;) :D }( ;( :P :9 :* O8) :evilfrown: :evilgrin: :hippie: :party: :toast: :bounce: :mad: :puke: :eyes: :smoke: :think: :wtf: :argh: :freak: :dunce: :hangover: :nopity: :hurts: :scared: :nuke: :beer: :wow: :spank: :hi: :dem: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :hide: :hide: :hide: :hide: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :rant: :rant: :blush: :dilemma: :banghead: :radio: :daily: :graybox: :redbox: :bluebox: :patriot:

[PufPuf23]

42. The damage and extent of wildfires would be so much cheaper

and less damaging with more wildland vegetation management, more local fire supression infrastructure, and common sense on the urban-rural interface.

We had more wildland vegetation management and more local fire suppression infrastructure but beginning with Reagan the effort was reduced.

Put back what was occurring pre-Reagan and I'll back of the envelope bet that the total costs of wildfires in suppression and damage is reduced by 50% or more.

[Tx4obama]

43. Unrec. - Texas HAS been getting federal aid all year for the fires.

If ya want to holler at someone then holler at Perry for cutting funds to fire departments by 75%.

The fed has sent money to Texas when Perry has requested it.

The fake outrage towards the federal government is misplaced.

[McCamy Taylor]

47. Is someone threatening not to send aid? Or is this just oil poured on the fire?

[Tx4obama]

50. It's just oil being poured.

Perry/Texas has been getting aide/funds from several agencies over the past year.
And FEMA is in Texas now.

[cwydro]

57. I think the OP is in reference

to all the nasty posts about Texas "deserving" the fires...or at least "not deserving aid" because of their stupid governor.

[Are_grits_groceries]

52. I was ranting in response to all the people

who are demanding or suggesting that Texas not get any any federal aid. That is the primary thing that set me off.

I'm glad that the aid is being sent. If there is a lot of coverage of the aid that is being sent, then I have missed it.

As far as my peeves about the federal government and the rule of law, I don't usually advocate a wholesale disregard of the law. However, the law is apparently being ignored such as my statement about signing something to approve the killing of people in other countries who are a danger to the US. I'm still not sure what that particular document allows.

I do believe that there are times where emergencies occur and take precedence over an Alphonse and Gaston routine about accepting help from the federal government. The federal government isn't forcing states to take money for a lot of programs that could use it. As much as I wish they would, there is a point where it isn't good policy to go around a state government.

In the case of emergencies such as the fires and other disasters that have occurred, I do believe the federal government should respond immediately. There isn't time to argue nuance then. I kept being told in some posts that it was up to Perry and people were waiting on him.

It is apparent from some of the posts that some would let the entire state burn down and happily get the marshmallows.

So to those of you who decided that I was intentionally spreading untruths, I wasn't. I also was responding to the posts that said people were waiting on Perry. Thank you for so graciously pointing out that the aid is and was being sent.

I hope you get a lot of rain soon!

[Tx4obama]

53. President Obama called Perry today - see below

President Obama tells Perry the govt will continue to make federal assistance available


The White House

Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
September 07, 2011
Readout of the President's Call to Texas Governor Rick Perry

Today the President called Texas Governor Rick Perry to express his concern for citizens of Texas impacted by the unprecedented fires. During the call the President extended his condolences for the lives that have been lost as a result of these events, and made clear that the federal government, through DHS/FEMA and the U.S. Forest Service, will continue to make federal assistance available to state and local officials as they fight the fires. The President also assured the Governor that requests for additional assistance, including as recovery begins, would be quickly assessed. Following the call, the President directed his national security staff to continue to work closely with FEMA, the Forest Service and the State of Texas to ensure we were making all resources available. Over the last several days, at the request of the Governor, the Administration has granted eight Fire Management Assistance Grants, making federal funds available to reimburse eligible costs associated with efforts to combat the fires. FEMA is actively working with state and local officials to conduct damage assessments and to identify areas where additional federal assistance may be warranted.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/09/07/readout-presidents-call-texas-governor-rick-perry



p.s. Now let's see if tonight in the debate Perry bitches about aid, if he does it will be a lie.

[cwydro]

54. Recced.

Thanks fellow Southerner.

So sick of the regionalism on here.

[Taverner]

58. Yes. And send those socialist firemen...

[Drew Richards]

60. I don't wish or want all of Texas to burn Just Rick Perrys ancestral home

Because I guess I am not as nice a person as I hoped to be...