Hurricane Sandy again shows Obama's competence as leader
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Azdak
Posts: 8,281 Member
Hurricane Sandy has provided another example of President Obama's competence as a Chief Executive and a look at FEMA provides an excellent example of his approach to governing.
As Sandy approached the east coast, President Obama cancelled his campaign appearances and returned to the White House to take charge. His actions have even been praised by some of his strongest critics:
Similar remarks came from other Republican governors, such as Haley Barbour and Bobby Jindal, when Hurricane Irene hit the Gulf Coast in 2011.
As a recent article in the Washington Post points out, this effective response is not an accident:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/hurricane-sandy-highlights-how-obama-and-romney-respond-to-disasters/2012/10/29/85ae66a2-21db-11e2-ac85-e669876c6a24_story.html
Current FEMA director, Craig Fugate, was approached by the Bush administration to replace Brown, but
To me, this description sums up not only Obama's accomplishments with FEMA, but his Presidency in general:
As I wrote this, I decided I really wanted the emphasis to be on President Obama's leadership and competence as a Chief Executive, so I have left out contrasting his approach with either Bush or Romney/Ryan. Maybe I will add that later in comments if the subject comes up.
As I have mentioned before, this pattern of leadership has been characteristic of Obama's presidency. Read any book about the 2008 campaign, and any of the (legitimate) books written about the administration and you will see the same theme time and time again, from multiple sources--even in the silly Woodward book. That doesn't mean he hasn't made mistakes or is above legitimate criticism, but it makes the lies repeated about Obama (teleprompter, socialist, radical) even more ludicrous.
As Sandy approached the east coast, President Obama cancelled his campaign appearances and returned to the White House to take charge. His actions have even been praised by some of his strongest critics:
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said that President Obama deserves "great credit" for his response to Hurricane Sandy, during an appearance on "CBS This Morning" Tuesday. He said he had spoken to the president three times, including when Obama called him at midnight. "I can't thank the president enough for that," Christie said, referring to the major disaster declaration Obama signed for New Jersey, expediting federal aid to the state.
"Cooperation from the president of the United States has been outstanding. He deserves great credit."
Similar remarks came from other Republican governors, such as Haley Barbour and Bobby Jindal, when Hurricane Irene hit the Gulf Coast in 2011.
As a recent article in the Washington Post points out, this effective response is not an accident:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/hurricane-sandy-highlights-how-obama-and-romney-respond-to-disasters/2012/10/29/85ae66a2-21db-11e2-ac85-e669876c6a24_story.html
Obama campaigned four years ago on a promise to revamp the federal government’s disaster-response functions and has embraced changes long sought by state governors and professional emergency managers. Since becoming president, he has led the federal response to multiple natural disasters, including tornadoes, flooding and major hurricanes, learning from government stumbles during the presidency of George W. Bush — most notably in the case of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Obama’s posture has been to order federal agencies to aggressively prepare for and respond to major storms and other disasters.
Current FEMA director, Craig Fugate, was approached by the Bush administration to replace Brown, but
Despite working for then-Florida Gov. Jeb Bush as head of the state’s emergency agency, Fugate said he rebuffed overtures from George W. Bush to lead FEMA after Katrina, saying that the GOP administration did not want to rebuild the agency in the fashion since embraced by Obama.
To me, this description sums up not only Obama's accomplishments with FEMA, but his Presidency in general:
Jim Mullen, director of the Washington State Emergency Management Division and president of the National Emergency Management Association, said Obama’s legacy at FEMA has been restoring “strong professional emergency managers who can attract other emergency management professionals and support the ones already there and make certain that on this, at
least, we should all be willing to put everything else aside and do what’s necessary for our country.”
Obama’s changes at FEMA “have been night and day” compared with those under previous administrations, according to one veteran emergency manager who was not authorized to speak publicly for fear of jeopardizing federal disaster grant requests.
As I wrote this, I decided I really wanted the emphasis to be on President Obama's leadership and competence as a Chief Executive, so I have left out contrasting his approach with either Bush or Romney/Ryan. Maybe I will add that later in comments if the subject comes up.
As I have mentioned before, this pattern of leadership has been characteristic of Obama's presidency. Read any book about the 2008 campaign, and any of the (legitimate) books written about the administration and you will see the same theme time and time again, from multiple sources--even in the silly Woodward book. That doesn't mean he hasn't made mistakes or is above legitimate criticism, but it makes the lies repeated about Obama (teleprompter, socialist, radical) even more ludicrous.
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It will be interesting to see how this plays out with the election. I was in Manhattan for it, and aside from being two blocks from the crane, felt it was handled as well as could be hoped.0
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Hurricane Sandy has provided another example of President Obama's competence as a Chief Executive and a look at FEMA provides an excellent example of his approach to governing.
As Sandy approached the east coast, President Obama cancelled his campaign appearances and returned to the White House to take charge. His actions have even been praised by some of his strongest critics:New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said that President Obama deserves "great credit" for his response to Hurricane Sandy, during an appearance on "CBS This Morning" Tuesday. He said he had spoken to the president three times, including when Obama called him at midnight. "I can't thank the president enough for that," Christie said, referring to the major disaster declaration Obama signed for New Jersey, expediting federal aid to the state.
"Cooperation from the president of the United States has been outstanding. He deserves great credit."
Similar remarks came from other Republican governors, such as Haley Barbour and Bobby Jindal, when Hurricane Irene hit the Gulf Coast in 2011.
As a recent article in the Washington Post points out, this effective response is not an accident:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/hurricane-sandy-highlights-how-obama-and-romney-respond-to-disasters/2012/10/29/85ae66a2-21db-11e2-ac85-e669876c6a24_story.htmlObama campaigned four years ago on a promise to revamp the federal government’s disaster-response functions and has embraced changes long sought by state governors and professional emergency managers. Since becoming president, he has led the federal response to multiple natural disasters, including tornadoes, flooding and major hurricanes, learning from government stumbles during the presidency of George W. Bush — most notably in the case of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Obama’s posture has been to order federal agencies to aggressively prepare for and respond to major storms and other disasters.
Current FEMA director, Craig Fugate, was approached by the Bush administration to replace Brown, butDespite working for then-Florida Gov. Jeb Bush as head of the state’s emergency agency, Fugate said he rebuffed overtures from George W. Bush to lead FEMA after Katrina, saying that the GOP administration did not want to rebuild the agency in the fashion since embraced by Obama.
To me, this description sums up not only Obama's accomplishments with FEMA, but his Presidency in general:Jim Mullen, director of the Washington State Emergency Management Division and president of the National Emergency Management Association, said Obama’s legacy at FEMA has been restoring “strong professional emergency managers who can attract other emergency management professionals and support the ones already there and make certain that on this, at
least, we should all be willing to put everything else aside and do what’s necessary for our country.”
Obama’s changes at FEMA “have been night and day” compared with those under previous administrations, according to one veteran emergency manager who was not authorized to speak publicly for fear of jeopardizing federal disaster grant requests.
As I wrote this, I decided I really wanted the emphasis to be on President Obama's leadership and competence as a Chief Executive, so I have left out contrasting his approach with either Bush or Romney/Ryan. Maybe I will add that later in comments if the subject comes up.
As I have mentioned before, this pattern of leadership has been characteristic of Obama's presidency. Read any book about the 2008 campaign, and any of the (legitimate) books written about the administration and you will see the same theme time and time again, from multiple sources--even in the silly Woodward book. That doesn't mean he hasn't made mistakes or is above legitimate criticism, but it makes the lies repeated about Obama (teleprompter, socialist, radical) even more ludicrous.
The sad part is, there is nothing you can do toc change the minds of the people who hate him. I have legitimate complaints about our current president, but they are based in something I would like to call reality. Fact is, I knew Obama was in for a rough ride from the day he was elected. Before he even swore in as President, a type of irrational hatred based on nothing but emotion and conspriracy theories were running rampant. He had not even made a single decision as president yet, had not even entered the White House, and we had the governor of Texas actually threaten succession. And look that everything that has happened since.
He promised to go after Bin Ladin even if he was hiding in Pakistan with or without Pakistan's approval...and he did. His admin and their surge in afghanistan has killed a lot more leaders of Al Queida than previously, and he not only doesn't get praise...somehow the conservatives turned it into a negative because, according to them, he was trying to take all the credit.
Yeah, standing behind a podium and saying I authorized this raid and we got Osama is taking all the credit. Well if the raid had gone badly, who do you think they would have blamed. Besides, I have a hard time even comtemplating the level of hypocrisy that it would take to level that Obama was stealing our troops thunder when these same people cheered when GWB prematurely announced that all combat missions in Iraq had ended, and did so by flying onto an aircraft carrier inside a fighter jet. And that's not showboating for political gain in their eyes?
I'm sorry, but if it were legal, and GWB had been elected for another term and in a matter of months was able to orchestrate the death of Bin Ladin, Ghadafi, Al Queida's second in command and more, the conservatives would have been clamoring to put his head on Mt. Rushmoore. But since a Democrat did it, they **** all over it. They also crapped all over him when he authoriezed those Navy Seals to blow the heads of those Somali Pirates.
I think I almost threw up on my mouth the day we found out that the First Lady failed in her bid to bring the Olympics here, and there was captured video footage of the neo-cons cheering in celebration.
Sorry Adzak, I don't mean to rain on your parade...but the far right has literally lost it's mind and the chance of you having a legit debate are slim to nil. It is not a coherent politcal movement anymore. It's a haven for people who have strange persecution complexes, can't think longer than it takes to read a bumper sticker slogan, and whose primary and often most passionately help beliefs are based on half-truths and outright lies. And when you confront them with overwhelming evidence based on facts, they'll just call you a liar, a socialist, or whatever else Rush Limbaugh has taught them. All you need to know about the mental state of the republican party and far right is this, after years of hating communists, draft dodgers, and hating Obama because in their eyes, he wasn't a real christian, they have nominated and just might get a man elected to office who got FOUR deferments from Nam after protesting for us to get into it, as CEO of Bain Capital, bought trouble American companies, fired the american workers, and outsourced those jobes to Mexcio and COMMUNIST China, and is 100% admittedly not a christian. I mean really, what the ****?0 -
It will be interesting to see how this plays out with the election. I was in Manhattan for it, and aside from being two blocks from the crane, felt it was handled as well as could be hoped.
Obama looks to have handled it well, but I don't think this changes anyone's vote.
However, Romney has some catching up to do, and the storm took away a precious half week of media coverage.0 -
Doesn't change anything.
It will be viewed as a purely political move on his part.
Or sarcastically. "Oh finally doing his job one week before election!"0 -
He is doing his job. I know some on the left will hate this but Gov. Christie is doing his job too.
Anyway... I am really curious how this disaster is going to effect the election. I am not talking about people making decisions based on how the candidates react. I am wondering how many people will either not vote because there are more important things going on in their lives or not be able to vote due to the damage to the infrastructure. Many of my friends and family are getting estimates of a week to 10 days before their electricity gets restored. This could be well after the election. It would be a real shame if people that want to vote are unable due to this.0 -
He is doing his job. I know some on the left will hate this but Gov. Christie is doing his job too.
Anyway... I am really curious how this disaster is going to effect the election. I am not talking about people making decisions based on how the candidates react. I am wondering how many people will either not vote because there are more important things going on in their lives or not be able to vote due to the damage to the infrastructure. Many of my friends and family are getting estimates of a week to 10 days before their electricity gets restored. This could be well after the election. It would be a real shame if people that want to vote are unable due to this.
Sounds like this will be in Romney's favor too since the parts that were are in the blue territory on the electoral map. But really speculation is kind of pointless since it's less than a week until election day.0 -
And yet Michael Brown (of Hurricane Katrina infamy) criticized Obama for responding to Sandy "too quickly". Sigh.0
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He is doing his job. I know some on the left will hate this but Gov. Christie is doing his job too.
Anyway... I am really curious how this disaster is going to effect the election. I am not talking about people making decisions based on how the candidates react. I am wondering how many people will either not vote because there are more important things going on in their lives or not be able to vote due to the damage to the infrastructure. Many of my friends and family are getting estimates of a week to 10 days before their electricity gets restored. This could be well after the election. It would be a real shame if people that want to vote are unable due to this.
I am really worried about this. A huge % of NJ is without power and everyone is being told 7-10 days from today for restoration. Large swaths of NJ have literally lost their polling places. Public transportation won't be fully restored for weeks. Gas is already unavailable to most NJ residents to power their cars and generators.
So polling places will have to be moved, if they can be opened at all if power is restored in time. People dependent on public transportation won't be able to get to the polls--assuming they even know their new/temporary polling place. People with cars may not have gas to power them. People still in shelters will have to figure out what to do with their kids while they attempt to get to a polling place.
I'm very concerned.0 -
He is doing his job. I know some on the left will hate this but Gov. Christie is doing his job too.
Christie earned some of my respect for the way he's handling things. He is doing his job. He's not grandstanding or playing politics. He's working as a bipartisan to cooperate and work together for the betterment of the people. Sure would be nice if the rest of the GOP saw how much can be accomplished by doing that.Sorry Adzak, I don't mean to rain on your parade...but the far right has literally lost it's mind and the chance of you having a legit debate are slim to nil. It is not a coherent politcal movement anymore. It's a haven for people who have strange persecution complexes, can't think longer than it takes to read a bumper sticker slogan, and whose primary and often most passionately help beliefs are based on half-truths and outright lies. And when you confront them with overwhelming evidence based on facts, they'll just call you a liar, a socialist, or whatever else Rush Limbaugh has taught them. All you need to know about the mental state of the republican party and far right is this, after years of hating communists, draft dodgers, and hating Obama because in their eyes, he wasn't a real christian, they have nominated and just might get a man elected to office who got FOUR deferments from Nam after protesting for us to get into it, as CEO of Bain Capital, bought trouble American companies, fired the american workers, and outsourced those jobes to Mexcio and COMMUNIST China, and is 100% admittedly not a christian. I mean really, what the ****?
I just thought that bore repeating. Spot on. And that's coming from someone who voted McCain in 2008.
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It kinda helped that the State governments forsaw the problems and asked for federal help... Oh, I don't know... before the storms hit the coast.0
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You think Louisiana was surprised when Katrina suddenly appeared out of perfectly calm waters?It kinda helped that the State governments forsaw the problems and asked for federal help... Oh, I don't know... before the storms hit the coast.0 -
You think Louisiana was surprised when Katrina suddenly appeared out of perfectly calm waters?It kinda helped that the State governments forsaw the problems and asked for federal help... Oh, I don't know... before the storms hit the coast.
Mayor Nagin issued a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans less then 24 hours before landfall of Katrina. Either he was surprised or incompetent. You chose!
The failures of every level of government are well documented for Katrina. Feel free to look em up.0 -
He is doing his job. I know some on the left will hate this but Gov. Christie is doing his job too.
I don't hate that, I love that Gov Christie and Obama are doing what these guys are supposed to be doing. Respect them both.0 -
It kinda helped that the State governments forsaw the problems and asked for federal help... Oh, I don't know... before the storms hit the coast.
Not sure what your point is. Your tone suggests an attempt to diminish the Federal response ("the Seals were responsible for bin Laden--Obama had nothing to do with it").
If you read my OP, you noted that the federal/state partnership is essential to an effective disaster response. You also noted that a fundamental difference between the response to Katrina and the responses to Irene in 2011 and Sandy in 2012 was the ability of states to ask in advance for FEMA assistance, and for the proactive pre positioning of supplies, manpower and resources.
I also mentioned that Craig Fugate, current FEMA director, refused to join the Bush administration after Katrina because the Republican administration refused to implement the changes recommended by professional emergency managers.
He was asked to become head of FEMA by President Obama-- and he accepted.
And it seems I need to repeat the final quote I listed earlier:Obama’s changes at FEMA “have been night and day” compared with those under previous administrations.0 -
Completely and totally incompetent. I thought everyone knew that. 2+2=4 too. Oh, and the sky is blue, bears crap in the woods, and ducks quack.
You think Louisiana was surprised when Katrina suddenly appeared out of perfectly calm waters?It kinda helped that the State governments forsaw the problems and asked for federal help... Oh, I don't know... before the storms hit the coast.
Mayor Nagin issued a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans less then 24 hours before landfall of Katrina. Either he was surprised or incompetent. You chose!
The failures of every level of government are well documented for Katrina. Feel free to look em up.0 -
Completely and totally incompetent. I thought everyone knew that. 2+2=4 too. Oh, and the sky is blue, bears crap in the woods, and ducks quack.
You think Louisiana was surprised when Katrina suddenly appeared out of perfectly calm waters?It kinda helped that the State governments forsaw the problems and asked for federal help... Oh, I don't know... before the storms hit the coast.
Mayor Nagin issued a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans less then 24 hours before landfall of Katrina. Either he was surprised or incompetent. You chose!
The failures of every level of government are well documented for Katrina. Feel free to look em up.
2+2=5!0 -
RE: the election.
In my NJ county, the election is on, although the polling places could change or be consolidated THE NIGHT BEFORE. Yeah, that will work out well when 60% of people will still not have power and have no way to learn their new (as of 12 hours ago) polling place and no way to get there.0 -
I guess NJ is doing better then I thought. They are turning away non-union volunteers with 1.9 million people still without power.
http://nj1015.com/report-non-union-alabama-utility-workers-turned-away-from-new-jersey/
Also, it looks like they are forecasting a Nor'easter for election day. Not good for the area.0 -
This is leadership:
President Obama and Governor Christie tour New Jersey
This is not:
Romney campaign workers staging groceries they bought at Walmart at fake "storm relief event" in Ohio
Not this either:
Romney "collects" fake food donations from attendees at fake "storm relief event" in Ohio. The kicker, of course, is that even if the donations were real, the Red Cross has stated for years that they can't accept donations like this -- it impedes the real relief efforts.
This stuff writes itself.0 -
This is leadership:
President Obama and Governor Christie tour New Jersey
This is not:
Romney campaign workers staging groceries they bought at Walmart at fake "storm relief event" in Ohio
Not this either:
Romney "collects" fake food donations from attendees at fake "storm relief event" in Ohio. The kicker, of course, is that even if the donations were real, the Red Cross has stated for years that they can't accept donations like this -- it impedes the real relief efforts.
This stuff writes itself.
Obama did what he was supposed to do as President. Romney did what he was supposed to do as someone with no power or authority.. stay out of the way. Seriously, what did you expect Romney to do? Do you really think Romney wouldn't have done what Obama did in response to Sandy if he were president and had the same resources available?
As far as the Obama leadership goes... you pointed out that he has made some mistakes and I wasn't going to bring them up but if you want to keep up with the day one Sandy photo ops how about we talk about his leadership or lack of leadership with regards to Benghazi?0 -
id like Romney to win but i think Obama is doing a great job with this disaster. he is in a tough position. if he is too visible people will blame him for politicizing a disaster if he isnt visible enough they will yell at him for that.0
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This is leadership:
President Obama and Governor Christie tour New Jersey
This is not:
Romney campaign workers staging groceries they bought at Walmart at fake "storm relief event" in Ohio
Not this either:
Romney "collects" fake food donations from attendees at fake "storm relief event" in Ohio. The kicker, of course, is that even if the donations were real, the Red Cross has stated for years that they can't accept donations like this -- it impedes the real relief efforts.
This stuff writes itself.
Obama did what he was supposed to do as President. Romney did what he was supposed to do as someone with no power or authority.. stay out of the way. Seriously, what did you expect Romney to do? Do you really think Romney wouldn't have done what Obama did in response to Sandy if he were president and had the same resources available?
As far as the Obama leadership goes... you pointed out that he has made some mistakes and I wasn't going to bring them up but if you want to keep up with the day one Sandy photo ops how about we talk about his leadership or lack of leadership with regards to Benghazi?
Benghazi is a red herring. He did exactly what a leader should do, gather all information while reporting what they know so far during a fluid situation without jumping to conclusions. Other than for political reasons, I see no reason to make this big a deal about Benghazi. It is an unfortunate incidence executed by a group that is unaffiliated to a government that is currently fighting a battle against the new and quite weak democratic government that we have been fostering. Can you please tell me what could have been done different while remembering that hindsight is 20/20.
Oh, also 43 Americans were killed in consulate and embassies during the Bush Administration....where was the outrage then?0 -
This is leadership:
President Obama and Governor Christie tour New Jersey
This is not:
Romney campaign workers staging groceries they bought at Walmart at fake "storm relief event" in Ohio
Not this either:
Romney "collects" fake food donations from attendees at fake "storm relief event" in Ohio. The kicker, of course, is that even if the donations were real, the Red Cross has stated for years that they can't accept donations like this -- it impedes the real relief efforts.
This stuff writes itself.
Obama did what he was supposed to do as President. Romney did what he was supposed to do as someone with no power or authority.. stay out of the way. Seriously, what did you expect Romney to do? Do you really think Romney wouldn't have done what Obama did in response to Sandy if he were president and had the same resources available?
As far as the Obama leadership goes... you pointed out that he has made some mistakes and I wasn't going to bring them up but if you want to keep up with the day one Sandy photo ops how about we talk about his leadership or lack of leadership with regards to Benghazi?
Ah, the classic: deny, distort, divert--a little light on the distort, but I'm going to give you credit for all three.
You are welcome to start a topic on Benghazi--lay out a narrative, organize your thoughts around a theme, present your facts and your research, etc. You tend to prefer the "chuck and duck" method of response, but you could always try something new.
But, in specific response to "what did you expect Romney to do?", I suppose he could have:
Suspended his campaign as he said he was going to do--but didn't
Held a true "storm relief event" -- which he didn't
Contacted everyone, as he said he was going to do--but didn't (he called only Republican governors)
Actually held an event to raise money (which the Red Cross asks people to do)--but he didn't.
Does the President have a built-in advantage during events like this? Absolutely. But character is always revealed during times of crisis--and once again, this event confirmed Obama's character and exposed Romney's lack thereof. The choices we make reveal who we are -- if someone is sincere about wanting to help, about caring about other people, they will find a way to express that--they don't need handlers and consultants to tell them how--and it will be obvious.
The plain truth is that Romney consistently does the wrong things because he believes the wrong things.0 -
http://news.yahoo.com/detailed-account-benghazi-attack-notes-cias-quick-response-020906681--abc-news-politics.html
CIA says their was no "stand down order" from the President. Next conspiracy please.0 -
http://news.yahoo.com/detailed-account-benghazi-attack-notes-cias-quick-response-020906681--abc-news-politics.html
CIA says their was no "stand down order" from the President. Next conspiracy please.
what about this...seems like they dropped the ball but we will probably never know what really happened.
Sources: Key task force not convened during Benghazi consulate attack
"The CSG is the one group that's supposed to know what resources every agency has. They know of multiple options and have the ability to coordinate counterterrorism assets across all the agencies," a high-ranking government official told CBS News. "They were not allowed to do their job. They were not called upon."
Another senior counter terrorism official says a hostage rescue team was alternately asked to get ready and then stand down throughout the night, as officials seemed unable to make up their minds.
"The response process was isolated at the most senior level," says an official referring to top officials in the executive branch. "My fellow counterterrorism professionals and I (were) not consulted."
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57544026/sources-key-task-force-not-convened-during-benghazi-consulate-attack/?pageNum=1&tag=page0 -
He is doing his job. I know some on the left will hate this but Gov. Christie is doing his job too.
I don't like Gov Christie. I find a lot of his policies disgusting. During the storm and the continuing aftermath he has been brilliant. He is doing his job and trying to get relief to as many people as possible. He has ignored party politics and got on with it. The sad thing is that it's considered a good thing that someone has ignored party politics instead of being their damn JOB!Suspended his campaign as he said he was going to do--but didn't
Held a true "storm relief event" -- which he didn't
Contacted everyone, as he said he was going to do--but didn't (he called only Republican governors)
Actually held an event to raise money (which the Red Cross asks people to do)--but he didn't.
I don't think the storm made a lick of difference in the result, but Romney's response was a perfect illustration of why he was not fit to be President.
The fact that he only contacted Republican governors and not the Democratic ones shows what an evil, evil person he is. Who the hell is thinking about party politics when something of this magnitude happens?0
This discussion has been closed.