"Absolutely," he said. "Every time you have an occasion to take something from the federal government and send it back to the states, that's the right direction. And if you can go even further, and send it back to the private sector, that's even better. Instead of thinking, in the federal budget, what we should cut, we should ask the opposite question, what should we keep?"
[..]
"We cannot -- we cannot afford to do those things without jeopardizing the future for our kids," Romney replied. "It is simply immoral, in my view, for us to continue to rack up larger and larger debts and pass them on to our kids, knowing full well that we'll all be dead and gone before it's paid off. It makes no sense at all."
[..]
The Washington Post's Greg Sargent adds: "There’s another nugget here worth highlighting, though. In that appearance, Romney also suggested it would be 'even better' to send any and all responsibilities of the federal government 'to the private sector,' disaster response included. So: Romney essentially favored privatizing disaster response."
"Gov. Romney believes that states should be in charge of emergency management in responding to storms and other natural disasters in their jurisdictions," Romney spokesman Ryan Williams said in a statement. "As the first responders, states are in the best position to aid affected individuals and communities, and to direct resources and assistance to where they are needed most. This includes help from the federal government and FEMA."
Mitt Romney repeatedly ignored questions about his position on federal funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at an event for storm victims Tuesday.
[..]
Several others again asked Romney whether he would eliminate FEMA.
"Governor, you’ve been asked 14 times. Why are you refusing to answer the question?" one asked.
Romney ignored the reporters' queries and continued loading up the truck. Earlier, during the event, he ignored similar queries.
The president has proposed cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for 2013 that would reduce overall funding by about 3 percent, with $1 billion trimmed from the Disaster Relief Fund but more money given to state and local programs.
[..]
An administration official says the drop reflects decreasing tail-costs from Hurricane Katrina and stresses that the 2013 request is $500 million beyond the disaster fund’s anticipated needs, according to a Congressional formula based on the cost of disaster aid.
[..]
Romney and Ryan (in his House budget) also propose deep cuts to domestic spending. While Ryan doesn’t single out FEMA for cuts, he doesn’t exempt it either, suggesting that the agency could still be at risk for cutbacks under the House GOP.
The Ryan budget for 2013 would cut non-defense discretionary spending by 22 percent, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. About one-third of that discretionary spending goes to state and local governments to support activities that include disaster relief.
Ryan’s 2013 budget doesn’t go into much detail about how the big domestic cuts would be distributed, so it doesn’t specify whether FEMA and its disaster fund would be spared. But if they are spared, then other programs in the non-defense discretionary category would have to be cut by more than 22 percent.
Quote by TriSec:
Ah, Peabody...our ancient high-school nemesis. Curious seeing it on a blog not written by me.
I was looking around earlier for some old photos from the incident referenced, but there's not much online.
There is this...from the Peabody Historical Society.
Yay Sachems! Beat Peabody!
*ahem*. Excuse me.
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by TriSec:
Ah, Peabody...our ancient high-school nemesis. Curious seeing it on a blog not written by me.
I was looking around earlier for some old photos from the incident referenced, but there's not much online.
There is this...from the Peabody Historical Society.
Yay Sachems! Beat Peabody!
*ahem*. Excuse me.
So what you are saying is Peabody has a history of flooding, which Mittens didn't want to do anything to mitigate. Was this one of the 800 vetoes that was overridden?
Quote by Scoopster:
Hey guys.. I just thought of this and since we haven't heard anything I'm sure everything's fine..
...but I haven't heard anything during this whole Sandy mess about issues at nuclear power plants.
Quote by Scoopster:
Hey guys.. I just thought of this and since we haven't heard anything I'm sure everything's fine..
...but I haven't heard anything during this whole Sandy mess about issues at nuclear power plants.
Quote by TriSec:
From Blue Mass Group:
PEABODY FLOODING
April 1-2, 2004: A massive storm drops 8 inches of rain in 24 hours, flooding downtown Peabody for the fourth time in eight years. Gov. Mitt Romney declares a state of emergency.
April 9, 2004: Romney asks President Bush to declare Essex County a federal disaster area.
April 21, 2004: President Bush declares Essex County a “major disaster area.â€
May 8, 2004: Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency official suggests trying to get state funding to address flooding problems.
May 20, 2004: Sen. Fred Berry requests state funding for flood mitigation as part of supplemental state budget.
Sept. 9, 2004: State Legislature passes supplemental budget, including $5.7 million for Peabody flood control.
Sept. 17, 2004: Romney vetoes Peabody flood aid. Romney spokeswoman later claims governor was unable to reach city officials. An angry Mayor Michael Bonfanti notes that City Hall was closed for former Mayor Peter Torigian’s funeral.
Sept. 30, 2004: Bonfanti and other city officials visit the Statehouse; Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey promises to look for “creative solutions.â€
January 2005: Romney unveils budget that includes $2 million for flood aid, but money is later cut by House Ways and Means Committee.
November 2005: State Senate passes economic stimulus package, including $2 million for Peabody flood aid, but bill remains stuck in House-Senate Conference Committee.
May 12-14, 2006: Torrential rains again flood Peabody. Romney visits and pledges state help.
Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Scoopster:
Hey guys.. I just thought of this and since we haven't heard anything I'm sure everything's fine..
...but I haven't heard anything during this whole Sandy mess about issues at nuclear power plants.
Ah here we go.. found an article on ABC News.
Quote by Raine:
I tell ya, Indian Point scares me.
Quote by Raine:Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Scoopster:
Hey guys.. I just thought of this and since we haven't heard anything I'm sure everything's fine..
...but I haven't heard anything during this whole Sandy mess about issues at nuclear power plants.
Ah here we go.. found an article on ABC News.
I tell ya, Indian Point scares me.
According to calculations by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, out of all the nuclear reactors in the country, the one with the highest risk of core damage from an earthquake is reactor number 3 at Indian Point, the facility in Westchester that provides about a third of New York City's power. The risk is still small — a 1 in 10,000 chance each year — but it's apparently large enough to be "right on the verge of requiring 'immediate concern regarding adequate protection' of the public." [snip]
In the 35 years since Indian Point 3 got its license to operate in 1976, the same era when most of today's U.S. nuclear reactors were built, geologists have learned a lot about the dangers of earthquakes in the eastern and central U.S.
Indian Point's operating license expires in 2013, and Governor Cuomo has said he doesn't think it should be renewed. With the plant's potential dangers now in focus because of the nuclear disaster in Japan, that's probably a battle he'll be happy to wage.
Quote by Scoopster:
Well now.. this is quite a rare occurrence! A lunar rainbow!
Quote by Scoopster:
Well now.. this is quite a rare occurrence! A lunar rainbow!
Quote by BobR:Quote by Scoopster:
Well now.. this is quite a rare occurrence! A lunar rainbow!
so beautiful, man... how do they do it?
Quote by Scoopster:
Well now.. this is quite a rare occurrence! A lunar rainbow!
Quote by Mondobubba:
God does it!
Moonbows are most easily viewed when the moon is near to full (when it is brightest). For true moonbows, other than those produced by waterfalls or sprays, the moon must be low in the sky (less than 42 degrees and preferably lower) and the sky must be dark. And, of course, there must be rain falling opposite the moon. This combination of requirements makes moonbows much more rare than rainbows produced by the sun.
Quote by TriSec:Quote by Scoopster:
Hey guys.. I just thought of this and since we haven't heard anything I'm sure everything's fine..
...but I haven't heard anything during this whole Sandy mess about issues at nuclear power plants.
Trouble at five plants
Worth noting, they all seem to be non-nuclear, related to power grid interruptions or flooding, or safety parameters being exceeded. No mutants are expected.
In Hudson, the packing was proceeding too quickly, and the supporters wearing red "Team Wisconsin" t-shirts were given the order to slow down and then to stop to be sure there were still goods to be packed when Ryan entered.
One by one the boxes were filled and loaded into a waiting U-Haul, and then they stopped to wait for the candidate. [snip]
"Go home, and if you can, donate to the Red Cross," Ryan said outside, standing on a metal chair next to the truck. He noted that victory centers across the state and the country are accepting donations of non-perishables.
As Ryan walked back through the office to the motorcade volunteers finished packing the supplies, which are being driven to a Red Cross facility in New Jersey.
As supporters walked out the door they were handed a flier about the GOP's election night party.
Quote by Raine:
Ryan pulled a Romney.In Hudson, the packing was proceeding too quickly, and the supporters wearing red "Team Wisconsin" t-shirts were given the order to slow down and then to stop to be sure there were still goods to be packed when Ryan entered.
One by one the boxes were filled and loaded into a waiting U-Haul, and then they stopped to wait for the candidate. [snip]
"Go home, and if you can, donate to the Red Cross," Ryan said outside, standing on a metal chair next to the truck. He noted that victory centers across the state and the country are accepting donations of non-perishables.
As Ryan walked back through the office to the motorcade volunteers finished packing the supplies, which are being driven to a Red Cross facility in New Jersey.
As supporters walked out the door they were handed a flier about the GOP's election night party.
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Good morning, bloggers!! I am glad to hear that everyone here is safe, but sad that some of us are seeing family still suffer from the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.
I am getting ready for my job interview a little later this morning. I will check back in this afternoon.
Quote by Mondobubba:
Can't go see FLOTUS tomorrow. Event is during the day and it neigh impossible for me to get time off on short notice. :kick:
Quote by Raine:
So, this is just the damn cream on top of a shitpile.
Empty-handed supporters pled for entrance, with one woman asking, “What if we dropped off our donations up front?â€The volunteer gestured toward a pile of groceries conveniently stacked near the candidate. “Just grab something,†he said.
Two teenage boys retrieved a jar of peanut butter each, and got in line. When it was their turn, they handed their “donations†to Romney. He took them, smiled, and offered an earnest “Thank you.â€
Quote by Raine:
So, this is just the damn cream on top of a shitpile.
This is an announcement from David Burleson, Superintendent of the Avery County Schools and Kevin Frye, Avery County Sheriff. Due to the cold weather, hazardous conditions which remain on the side roads and the possibly of deteriorating conditions as temperatures fall afte
r dark, we are asking all parents and children to postpone Halloween until Friday night. Many towns, communities and churches in our area have already postponed their activities for these reasons, and we feel it is in the best and greatest interest for the safety of our children and motoring public to follow this action county wide. At this time it appears the towns of Newland and Banner Elk will hold Halloween festivities on Friday evening as was planned for tonight. We urge everyone to contact the various churches and other organizations for their scheduled events, as these may be set for different dates. Again we are asking all parents and children postpone Halloween until Friday, November 2nd, so please help us to keep all the children and citizens safe by following this request.
Quote by Raine:
Where is Mala?
Quote by Mondobubba:
Hmmm when I go to alternet, I get a message that says "not found"
Quote by Mondobubba:
In seriousness, when I was checking FB at lunch she showed as being on her mobile book of faces. So, maybe out doing errands?
Quote by Raine:It's possible their servers are in NYC.Quote by Mondobubba:
Hmmm when I go to alternet, I get a message that says "not found"
A few sites have been down I believe due to power outages.
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:It's possible their servers are in NYC.Quote by Mondobubba:
Hmmm when I go to alternet, I get a message that says "not found"
A few sites have been down I believe due to power outages.
That's what I thought, but they are based in Cali.
Quote by Raine:Quote by Mondobubba:
In seriousness, when I was checking FB at lunch she showed as being on her mobile book of faces. So, maybe out doing errands?
Ahh that makes sense.
Quote by BobR:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:It's possible their servers are in NYC.Quote by Mondobubba:
Hmmm when I go to alternet, I get a message that says "not found"
A few sites have been down I believe due to power outages.
That's what I thought, but they are based in Cali.
For me, the site comes up, but there is a message in the center which says "AlterNet is down because of problems related to Hurricane Sandy. You can find us at our temporary home at http://alternetnews.tumblr.com."
Quote by BobR:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:It's possible their servers are in NYC.Quote by Mondobubba:
Hmmm when I go to alternet, I get a message that says "not found"
A few sites have been down I believe due to power outages.
That's what I thought, but they are based in Cali.
For me, the site comes up, but there is a message in the center which says "AlterNet is down because of problems related to Hurricane Sandy. You can find us at our temporary home at http://alternetnews.tumblr.com."
WCVB-TV in Boston has reported that NEC president Greg Coniglario hosted a fundraiser for Sen. Scott Brown, bringing in $37,000 for the Brown campaign against Elizabeth Warren. Conigliaro and members of his family have reportedly given $10,000 of their own money to Brown.
In July, Brown was one of 10 senators to sign a letter to the Drug Enforcement Agency arguing that regulations on the compounding industry should be loosened.
Quote by Mondobubba:
Here is an article on the menegitis outbreak. Check out the two last paragraphs.WCVB-TV in Boston has reported that NEC president Greg Coniglario hosted a fundraiser for Sen. Scott Brown, bringing in $37,000 for the Brown campaign against Elizabeth Warren. Conigliaro and members of his family have reportedly given $10,000 of their own money to Brown.
In July, Brown was one of 10 senators to sign a letter to the Drug Enforcement Agency arguing that regulations on the compounding industry should be loosened.
Quote by Raine:Quote by Mondobubba:
Here is an article on the menegitis outbreak. Check out the two last paragraphs.WCVB-TV in Boston has reported that NEC president Greg Coniglario hosted a fundraiser for Sen. Scott Brown, bringing in $37,000 for the Brown campaign against Elizabeth Warren. Conigliaro and members of his family have reportedly given $10,000 of their own money to Brown.
In July, Brown was one of 10 senators to sign a letter to the Drug Enforcement Agency arguing that regulations on the compounding industry should be loosened.
Massachusetts needs to make this go viral. (poor choice of words perhaps...)