Calif. Fires - Politics

[Mo_Gearhead]

Harry Reid makes a statement that California fires are caused by global warming.

Barbara Boxer says part of the problem with fighting the fires is too many of the Calif. National Guard are in Iraq.

WHAT?????

G. Bush tells of plans to visit Calif. soon. Some other idiot says why?

(wow, I agree with the idiot!)

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Bushy is coming?!?! Oh yay! We're saved. I feel better already.

After "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job", Katrina, FEMA and his other examples of stellar leadership in time of crisis I guess I can sleep easy now.

[kach22i]

We have lots of rain and water in Michigan, but you will have to move here to enjoy it.

Oh, and there is this nasty thing called four seasons, one of them is called WINTER.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I'd rather have the fires. But that's just me. Winter? Forget it. Been there, done that. Never again.

[dd74]

Anything to politically avoid a "Katrina West."

[cairns]

So long as nothing interferes with Hillary's fundraising things will be fine. But heaven help us if Rob Reiner's house catches on fire....

[Zeke]

Maybe Boxer has a point. Never a favorite of mine, she's done some good and some bad. She's said some really stupid things. But this seems like a fair observation, albeit political, as mentioned.

[on-ramp]

I love the snow. Skiing works a little better with it.

[cairns]

I dunno Milt- is there any evidence the lack of NG troops is effecting the fire fighting? A lot of those troops are weekend warriors- no training whatsoever in fire control- although they could certainly help in other areas.

What makes me sick about this is that politicians are so quick to use every disaster to promote themselves or their point of view. What has Barbara Boxer done in her many years as a California legislator to prepare for these fires? I strongly suspect not one d*mned thing.

[Mo_Gearhead]

QUOTE: "...Katrina, FEMA and his other examples of stellar leadership in time of crisis..."
________________

Hummmm..... lets see.

Hurricane approaching: No evacuation by officials. No plans implemented. More like wringing of hands and cries of ... "Oh, poor us, save us Mr. President!"

Fires in Calif: Citizens taking RESPONSIBILITY for there own fate!(gasp!) Officials from the 'Govenator' on down making things happen, doing what they can given the circumstances (winds, numerous fire 'fronts', etc.)

No need to re-hash the absurdly simplistic idea of self-determination.

Guess the folks in Calif. should have stayed in their burning homes and waited for the FEDERAL GOV. to provide busses.

Louisiana ...a long time Democratically controlled mecca of socialist perfection. Tell me again why we all didn't want to live there!!????

[BeyGon]

Originally Posted by on-ramp

I love the snow. Skiing works a little better with it.

But Michigan, what is the highest hill in Michagan? Xcrountry but it is too much work, you need some downhill.

[Mule]

Neil Bortz says al queda had designs on some CA arson. Barbara Boxer says Bush did it. What a stunner!

From Boortz's web site.
Now ... I know I'm not the first person to have thought of this. Do you remember about four years ago ... there was a report that some Al Qaeda detainees had said something about starting fires in a Western state? Here's the story from USA Today, dated July 11, 2003. Well ... doesn't it seam just the least bit curious that all of these fires from north of Los Angeles to San Diego erupted at pretty much the same time? No, I'm not saying they were started by terrorists. I am saying that if terrorists had decided to set the fires it would have been a pretty easy task ... and there is some history here.

[Mo_Gearhead]

Here you go Miss Boxer. As if you don't have access to such info. (or rather, choose to ignore it!)
___________________________
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

Military personnel and assets are helping out in the most serious outbreak of wildfires in California in years.

California National Guard and California-based active duty personnel are providing some of the muscle needed to contain the fires, which have driven more than 300,000 people from their homes in 12 counties.

Officials at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho, are working with representatives from U.S. Northern Command to coordinate requests for Defense Department personnel and assets. Northern Command also has personnel working in Southern California directly with local authorities.

With 11 fires burning out of control from Los Angeles to the Mexican border, some Defense installations are themselves in danger from the wildfires. Camp Pendleton, the San Diego Marine Recruit Depot and Miramar Marine Corps Air Station are among the installations asking only essential personnel to come in.

A total of 17,031 California National Guardsmen are available for employment if the situation calls for it, said officials at U.S. Northern Command. Some 33 active duty, 79 Defense civilian personnel and 1,500 California National Guardsmen are actively engaged or directly supporting firefighting response, security and relief operations.

Another 550 Marines from Camp Pendleton have volunteered to help local authorities fight the fires in San Diego County.

California authorities have requested and the Defense Department has sent significant firefighting assets to the area. Helicopters are the most effective airborne asset, as the Santa Ana winds – which are driving the fire – make flying fixed-wing aircraft dangerous. California Guardsmen are flying a CH-47 and five UH-60 helicopters in the effort.

[dd74]

All that separates Katrina from the SoCal wildfires is leadership. Here, we have Schwarzenegger immediately on site, giving direction. In Louisiana, particularly New Orleans, there was an absentee governor, and a mayor rubbing his hands, thinking, I'm going to make this a chocolate city.

Otherwise, the loss is the same in the reality of tens of thousands of displaced people.

The truth is this: California is simply a better, more aptly managed state than Louisiana in light of a disaster. It has nothing to do with politics, but everything to do with revenues, leadership, and execution toward resolutions.

[nostatic]

California has the best fire service in the country (no offense to other states). Firescope California (the field operations guide) served as the blueprint for the National Incident Management System. The level of cooperation and collaboration between agencies in this state is quite amazing. This infrastructure was built out of necessity and smart leadership. They know there is no way to deal with large scale brush fires without resource sharing and management. So the CA fire service figured it out.

Now if we could only get other agencies across the country to become NIMS compliant...

[Rikao4]

If B.Boxer was on fire..I would offer her gas...

noticed last night..you folks out there are so civil..I mean no rapes at the Q-center, no cops taking cars from the Volvo lots,
but then most of you work,have common sense,insurance...self-reliant/made.

Rika

[Racerbvd]

Doesn't that dumb c*nt know there were fires before we had cars?? Could be that all the wild fires in the past are the true cause???

[island911]

let me know when Mr Freeze makes an appearance, and blows all the fires out.

Seriously, those helicopter & tanker plane pilots are impressive. Those looking to this sad event for political fodder are such losers. --no wonder congress has lowest marks EVER.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by dd74

All that separates Katrina from the SoCal wildfires is leadership. Here, we have Schwarzenegger immediately on site, giving direction. In Louisiana, particularly New Orleans, there was an absentee governor, and a mayor rubbing his hands, thinking, I'm going to make this a chocolate city.

Otherwise, the loss is the same in the reality of tens of thousands of displaced people.

The truth is this: California is simply a better, more aptly managed state than Louisiana in light of a disaster. It has nothing to do with politics, but everything to do with revenues, leadership, and execution toward resolutions.

This is true

This is utter nonsense

Interesting thought about the potential terrorist/arsonist angle. I would be doing this if I were a terrorist. You spend 15 minutes to start it, and $10 million later the fire is out.

BTW, when has Barbie Boxer done or said anything worthwhile? I need some evidence of this before I buy it

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by dd74

All that separates Katrina from the SoCal wildfires is leadership. Here, we have Schwarzenegger immediately on site, giving direction. In Louisiana, particularly New Orleans, there was an absentee governor, and a mayor rubbing his hands, thinking, I'm going to make this a chocolate city.

Otherwise, the loss is the same in the reality of tens of thousands of displaced people.

The truth is this: California is simply a better, more aptly managed state than Louisiana in light of a disaster. It has nothing to do with politics, but everything to do with revenues, leadership, and execution toward resolutions.

+1

Arnie is on the job. It really does contrast with the pathetic whinning we saw down in LA.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/61533