posted November 03, 2012 09:00 PM            

Obama Refuses to Answer About Storm Victims’ Frustrations
Keith Koffler
November 3, 2012

President Obama this morning ignored a reporter’s question about the mounting frustration victims of Hurricane Sandy are having with the response to the storm, refusing to let a question from the press interrupt a FEMA photo op in which he was on display taking action.

An excerpt rom the press pool report, which starts with a quote from Obama:

“There is nothing more important than us getting this right. And we’re going to spend as much time, effort and energy as necessary to make sure all the people of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut know that the entire country is behind them in this difficult recovery effort.”

He spoke for about five minutes. Pool asked about frustrations of people, particularly Staten Island. He did not respond.

No doubt aware of the political perils – and potential benefits – of the fallout from the hurricane, Obama arrived at FEMA with multiple members of his Cabinet in tow in a massive display of presidential concern. Even Cabinet secretaries you wouldn’t expect to be involved in hurricane relief – such as the Secretary of Labor and the Small Business Administration Administrator – have been enlisted and were at this morning’s meeting.

Obama’s effort will indeed have some practical effect – anytime a president shows he is personally engaged in an issue, it helps get the various agencies involved into a higher gear.

But with scenes of devastation proliferating on voters’ TV screens around the nation and evidence mounting of an insufficient response, Obama obviously felt he had to be seen at FEMA for a second time this week before heading back out to campaign.

posted November 04, 2012 07:52 AM            

Romney would have a bigger foot in the door with Christie as veep choice.

posted November 04, 2012 02:02 PM            

Where's the food, water, clothing, blankets and other aid disaster victims need after Sandy?

Maybe Chris Christie spoke too soon. Promises are easy to make in a photo op but it's what's happening on the ground that's important and O'Bomber's FEMA isn't getting the job done there.

And, it's not just in one area where FEMA is asleep at the switch, it's all over.

Devastated Rockaways residents lash out at Bloomberg during unannounced visit
By SALLY GOLDENBERG, DAVID SEIFMAN & PEDRO OLIVEIRA JR.
November 4, 2012

Storm-ravaged and weary Rockaways residents cornered Mayor Bloomberg yesterday to angrily demand more aid for their devastated neighborhood.

“When are we gonna get some help?” blasted one desperate woman, who had to be held back by the mayor’s security detail as Bloomberg stood by with a deer-in-the-headlights look.

“When are we gonna get some f--king help?” she demanded.

“There’s old ladies in my building that don’t got nothing,” lashed out a man on video caught by a NY1 reporting crew.

Bloomberg’s trip to the Rockaways wasn’t announced and wouldn’t have been caught on cameras if the news crew hadn’t happened to run across him. Back in City Hall, he expressed sympathy with the residents’ plight.

“I spoke to many people who were worried, frustrated and cold,” Bloomberg said. “There’s no power there and temperatures are dropping. Even those who have generators are having a hard time getting fuel.”

The Rockaways’ situation is among the most dire of any of the city’s seaside neighborhoods.

Hundreds of residents continued yesterday to dig out of the wreckage of their wiped-out homes — if they still had homes; 80 in the Breezy Point area were destroyed by fire.

Garbage and debris were everywhere, and the smithereens of the boardwalk were washed far inland.

Cops yesterday uncovered the body of 90-year-old George Stathis, who was found dead in his home on Beach 121st Street.

There was mud on streets where lights weren’t working, sand dunes in front of homes and piles of rubble all over.

“I knew it was going to be real bad, but I never expected this devastation,” said resident Ned Morgan, whose basement flooded up to 6 feet, destroying furniture, family pictures and electronics.

“They’re looting cars all over the place,” Morgan said. “This is New York City. They have to help us.”

Some Rockaways residents who work as firefighters in The Bronx and Manhattan were fuming yesterday — sitting idly in their firehouses while their neighbors and family members miles away struggled to get help.

“We’re all going crazy,” said one firefighter, who asked his name not be used for fear of retribution. “They’re not deploying any extra resources, and we’re just sitting around.”

Bloomberg later told reporters dropping temperatures are “dangerous” and the city is sending 25,000 blankets to the Rockaways, where it could be another two weeks before power is restored.

“Just have some patience,” the mayor pleaded. “The people working there — the National Guard, the federal people — they’re all trying to do the right thing.”

Bloomberg also blasted the Long Island Power Authority, which powers the Rockaways, for not acting “aggressively enough.”

Yesterday, an astonishing 25,562 LIPA customers were still without power in the neighborhood — 75 percent of the total.

“You’ve got to understand people’s frustration,” the mayor said. “They’re cold, they’re tired, they lost a lot. Sometimes we all get a little bit overanxious, if you will.”

The National Guard has been stationed in the neighborhood, handing out food. NYPD cops were stationed on street corners.

Still, Councilman James Sanders said the city’s response has fallen short.

“They are helping to serve food, but no one is directing traffic,” Sanders said.

posted November 04, 2012 02:28 PM            

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Public Advocate Bill de Blasio added, “We have never seen anything like this in our lives. It’s a kind of destruction you think happens in other parts of the world but not here. This is definitely one of the hardest hit areas in the whole city. It’s like civilization has come undone.”

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posted November 04, 2012 04:44 PM            

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And the negative implications for Obama's followers are not part of the equation right?

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Right.

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I think he meant in general terms that two people of different ideologies can get along and be cordial. That goes for Democrats too. It is so funny that he as a Republican figured this out and made it public and you as a Democrat chose to ramp up the argument and difference. Good for you.

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I agree that they can indeed (a Republican didn't "figure this out;" this is the way it's traditionally been in the Unites States' history). However, in this instance, considering who might follow Governor Chris Christie, the implication is quite explicit that it's people within his own party that seem to take issue with him working with Obama, and it's been quite apparent to people that pay attention to politics that Republicans and Conservatives have gotten more and more anti-Democrat at all costs over the last several years.

posted November 04, 2012 11:11 PM            

"After" disaster aid relief with food, water, clothing, blankets, shelter and other essentials is the reason for FEMAs existence in the first place.

posted November 05, 2012 07:46 AM            

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NEW YORK (Reuters) - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie defended his praise for President Barack Obama after superstorm Sandy, but said he would stick with his fellow Republicans and vote for Mitt Romney in Tuesday's election.

"I endorsed Mitt Romney 13 months ago because I thought he was the best guy for the job," Christie said on Sunday during a news conference, reaffirming his support for the Republican candidate.

But support for Romney does not mean that he cannot appreciate the "good job" that Obama did while responding to the historical storm that hit the U.S. Northeast last week, Christie said. Sandy knocked out power to some 2.4 million New Jersey residents

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http://news.yahoo.com/jersey-governor-pledges-vote-romney-despite-plug-obama-200509536.html

posted November 05, 2012 08:06 AM            

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Originally posted by jwhop:
Where's O'Bomber's FEMA?

"After" disaster aid relief with food, water, clothing, blankets, shelter and other essentials is the reason for FEMAs existence in the first place.

Where is O'Bomber's FEMA? They're sure not on the ground in the disaster area..where the people are who need help, doing what they're supposed to be doing...a week after Sandy.

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I wish there was enough money, equipment, supplies and responders to go to each person in each devastated area

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Lockwood said Fugate's philosophy has been that FEMA "is not the team -- they are part of the team."

"That's one of the biggest things that has come out post-Katrina," he said. "There is a cooperative relationship now between local, state and federal agencies to meet the need and fill the gaps."

"I think the most important thing that FEMA has already done is to have people in the emergency operation centers, and the prestaged equipment, and following whatever resources the states are going to need to start the process of recovery,"

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