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You are here: Home / Politics / Republican Stupidity / On The Other Hand, Maybe We Do Need Some Help

On The Other Hand, Maybe We Do Need Some Help

by John Cole|  March 5, 20128:56 pm| 67 Comments

This post is in: Republican Stupidity, Clown Shoes

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Yesterday, we discussed the foolish decision of Ohio Governor John Kasich to reject federal help for the number of towns in Ohio that were literally wiped off the map by a tornado. “We can handle this ourselves,” he swaggered. Twenty four hours later, we have this:

Ohio Gov. John Kasich on Monday reconsidered his rejection of federal help in tornado-stricken communities and asked federal inspectors to assess the damage as soon as possible.

A team from the Federal Emergency Management Agency is expected to arrive Tuesday in Clermont County to survey the storm damage and determine whether the region qualifies for financial or logistical assistance.

“Hopefully we can get a quick answer from the federal inspectors on what additional resources might be available to help people begin recovering,” Kasich said.

The decision to invite the inspectors came two days after Kasich said he would not seek immediate federal disaster relief because he was confident Ohio could handle the crisis.

Rob Nichols, a spokesman for the governor, said the decision to invite FEMA was made after Kasich reviewed the findings of state emergency management officials and developed “a firm understanding of the problem.” Nichols said Kasich had never ruled out asking for federal help but wanted to wait until state inspectors had done their own assessment.

These are the stupidest damned people on the planet. The entire reason FEMA exists is to handle these sorts of situations because states simply do not have the resources necessary. It’s not something you need to think about, not something you need to have a “firm understanding of,” it’s something you do automatically. The ability of FEMA to do their job requires immediate action and coordination. A hurricane crushes your coast, the first thing you do BEFORE the storm hits is call and plan with FEMA on their possible response and have them pre-position assets. A tornado wipes out multiple towns, you are on the phone immediately trying to coordinate a response. These are your citizens, for christ sakes. This is a no-brainer.

It’s like Kasich is personally trying to prove the old quip that as soon as you make something idiot proof, they build a better idiot. Heckuva job, Ohio!

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Reader Interactions

67Comments

  1. 1.

    New Yorker

    March 5, 2012 at 8:59 pm

    Heckuva job, Ohio!

    I’m confident that there are enough minorities in places like Cincinnati, students in places like Columbus, union workers in places like Lordstown, and Daily Show and Whole Foods liberals in places like Solon to have Kasich’s idiotic antics deliver the state to Obama in November.

    Optimism, John.

  2. 2.

    Linda Featheringill

    March 5, 2012 at 9:00 pm

    I suspect that somebody [or several people] cornered the gov and explained the facts of life to him.

  3. 3.

    iriedc

    March 5, 2012 at 9:00 pm

    As with ‘Brownie’ all the Governor had to do was turn on his TV to CNN or the Weather Channel to see how bad it was. No “review of findings” necessary. Idiot.

  4. 4.

    Narcissus

    March 5, 2012 at 9:01 pm

    You guys should consider scheduling your posts so you don’t do it at the same time.

  5. 5.

    redshirt

    March 5, 2012 at 9:02 pm

    When will they suffer the electoral consequences of their incompetence? Soon?

  6. 6.

    David Koch

    March 5, 2012 at 9:02 pm

    You can’t blame Kasich for trying to stop the spread of Obama’s FEMA detention camps.

  7. 7.

    BerkeleyMom

    March 5, 2012 at 9:03 pm

    You good folks in Ohio know what you need to do.

  8. 8.

    Yutsano

    March 5, 2012 at 9:03 pm

    Apparently he got word of how badly he was looking by turning down the FEMA money, so he chickened out and reversed course. Couldn’t happened to a nicer guv.

    OT: I said something stupid about Canada today, and I apologize for it. No excuses, I was dumb, I know the history, but I aimed for cheap points. That was wrong of me. My ancestors are gonna haunt me for it tonight too.

  9. 9.

    amk

    March 5, 2012 at 9:04 pm

    So how much play is this getting in msm as apposed to the keep off the federal gobinment of our crushed back meme just a coupla days back ?

    It’s the same old stimulus story. Oppose in public and accept in private.

  10. 10.

    Mike in NC

    March 5, 2012 at 9:04 pm

    Maybe Kasich’s first instinct was to consult with Eric Cantor, well-known humanitarian and philanthropist.

  11. 11.

    Mary G

    March 5, 2012 at 9:04 pm

    Probably heard from some people whose house got flattened, telling him they would never vote for him again, because, really, who doesn’t mind having no possessions and nowhere to go for an extra three days while he fiddles around?

  12. 12.

    garbo

    March 5, 2012 at 9:05 pm

    Can you imagine being in one of those devastated towns and hearing Kasich’s bullshit declaration? That’s like the asshole in the front of the half-sunk life raft waving off the Coast Guard cutter cuz he has a tea cup and knows how to bail.

    I’m with TNC. At base, it’s always about cruelty. They thrive on it.

  13. 13.

    Kay

    March 5, 2012 at 9:07 pm

    @BerkeleyMom:

    He didn’t want federal oversight on handing out the contracts, IMO. Kasich is anti-sunshine. That’s his one guiding principle. No oversight. He’s probably setting up a corporate entity as we speak to disburse any funding.

  14. 14.

    amk

    March 5, 2012 at 9:07 pm

    watson – the dumb sidekick of holmes.

  15. 15.

    Felanius Kootea

    March 5, 2012 at 9:08 pm

    And a whole bunch of people in Ohio voted for him to do just this. Scary. I bet they won’t make that mistake again soon.

    (I was reading in the L.A. Times yesterday about rural Ohioans who are just shocked that they are losing their police force, etc., because they thought all the cuts to “big government” that they were supporting would be made elsewhere & they wouldn’t be affected).

  16. 16.

    JordanRules

    March 5, 2012 at 9:09 pm

    Stalker alert, aisle 12

  17. 17.

    jl

    March 5, 2012 at 9:10 pm

    Pride goeth before Destruction.

    You can look it up.

    In the Good Book, as all Christian gentlemen should know.

  18. 18.

    demimondian

    March 5, 2012 at 9:11 pm

    In point of fact, most of the red countiers honestly believe the nonsense about how welfare goes to the “inner cities”. They don’t quite understand how far from true that is. They are even less willing to recognize the even larger fraction of federal transfer payment that go out in the form of Social Security and Medicare — and where those go. (Hint: rural America, thank you very much.)

  19. 19.

    jgaugust

    March 5, 2012 at 9:11 pm

    @Watson:

    No no, please. Explain it to us. If you’re so much more intelligent than us, it is best to share that knowledge and enlighten the masses. We’re waiting with bated breath.

  20. 20.

    cathyx

    March 5, 2012 at 9:11 pm

    @Felanius Kootea: They probably didn’t know that the police force was part of the government.

  21. 21.

    piratedan

    March 5, 2012 at 9:12 pm

    well in all honesty, I’m sure that Gov. Kasich was simply concerned about voter fraud, I mean, asking for federal assistance because you have no home, who are you gonna believe, how can you prove you’re a real resident when your town doesn’t exist anymore? For all we know, you could be illegal immigrants from Canada.

  22. 22.

    RedKitten

    March 5, 2012 at 9:13 pm

    @Yutsano:

    OT: I said something stupid about Canada today, and I apologize for it. No excuses, I was dumb, I know the history, but I aimed for cheap points. That was wrong of me. My ancestors are gonna haunt me for it tonight too.

    I missed what you said, but I know you love us, so you get a pass from me, anyway.

  23. 23.

    El Cid

    March 5, 2012 at 9:13 pm

    I know I sure as hell want to leave the survival of my loved ones around the nation in the hands of whatever tribe of county comissioners and the local occasionally-open office of some state agency which may or may not help them when some gigantic disaster strikes.

    This is good, because it makes life more exciting, all the not knowing whether or not real aid will be available when some huge catastrophe approaches.

  24. 24.

    garbo

    March 5, 2012 at 9:13 pm

    @Kay: Saw over at TPM that Sheriff Arpaio’s birther investigation was a [gasp] profit-making concern.

    Grubbing grubbers.

  25. 25.

    demimondian

    March 5, 2012 at 9:14 pm

    @RedKitten: Oh, really? I’m looking forward to that policy…

  26. 26.

    demimondian

    March 5, 2012 at 9:16 pm

    @El Cid: But surely your loved ones can pull to gether a large enough bribe…I mean, campaign contribution…to guarantee fast service. It’s the American way, you know.

  27. 27.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    March 5, 2012 at 9:16 pm

    @amk: Hey, don’t insult Martin Freeman and Jude Law like that.

  28. 28.

    The Dangerman

    March 5, 2012 at 9:17 pm

    Hey, yo, way to go, Ohio.

  29. 29.

    Watson

    March 5, 2012 at 9:18 pm

    @jgaugust: Ignorance is bliss so you are probably better off.

  30. 30.

    El Cid

    March 5, 2012 at 9:19 pm

    @demimondian: Sure, guarantee some sort of fast service of something or other, but you can bribe all the politicians you want in many spots of the nation and at their most greedy intentions to serve you first, they still won’t come close to possessing the skills and resources of, you know, the federal government.

  31. 31.

    jgaugust

    March 5, 2012 at 9:20 pm

    @Watson:

    I honestly would rather not be ignorant, oh wise one. I want to learn.

    If you’re going to be a troll, at least try and say something with actual meaning…or basic logical consistency.

  32. 32.

    trollhattan

    March 5, 2012 at 9:21 pm

    @Watson:

    You actually think Kasich did this without making a political calculation?

    Asked and answered.

  33. 33.

    kay

    March 5, 2012 at 9:22 pm

    @garbo:

    Sheriff Arpaio’s

    I loathe him. I can’t think about him without getting mad. That politicians will still stand next to that sadistic, sick crook is amazing to me. I will be one happy person when (not if) he’s indicted.

  34. 34.

    Yutsano

    March 5, 2012 at 9:23 pm

    @RedKitten: A foot-in-mouth moment, really. It shan’t be repeated. And I was rightfully schooled by others in the BJ community. I still think I needed to say it though.

  35. 35.

    Marci Kiser

    March 5, 2012 at 9:23 pm

    I guess I’m fundamentally confused. Even if we assume Kasich is a Tea Party, 10th Amendment Galtian overlord, aren’t situations like this precisely why states would be part of a greater federal entity?

  36. 36.

    demimondian

    March 5, 2012 at 9:25 pm

    @El Cid: For heaven’s sake! The *Feds*? Did you see what a mess they made of Ruby Ridge? Waco? Katrina?

    You’d trust the *Feds*?

  37. 37.

    trollhattan

    March 5, 2012 at 9:25 pm

    @Marci Kiser:

    He thinks he’s Chuck Norris. Just spin the world in reverse and stop the tornados before they happen. Simple, really.

  38. 38.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    March 5, 2012 at 9:26 pm

    @Marci Kiser: You’re assuming he’s acting rationally. He’s probably enamored with the idea of directly negotiating Ohio’s trade with England in favor of better tea imports.

  39. 39.

    amk

    March 5, 2012 at 9:26 pm

    @Yutsano: Ill (sic) rushbo effect?

  40. 40.

    jgaugust

    March 5, 2012 at 9:27 pm

    @Trollhattan:

    Actually, if you didn’t see this already: Gotta love crazy Uncle Pat.

  41. 41.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    March 5, 2012 at 9:27 pm

    @Kay: Exactly. He’s a sneaky slimebag, that Fox News Personality Kasich. He and his butt buddies have a plan to make a few bucks on this and FEMA could seriously fuck that up. Not that I have strong opinions about the situation.

  42. 42.

    El Cid

    March 5, 2012 at 9:30 pm

    @demimondian: I’d trust “the Feds” to be able to do all sorts of things locals couldn’t.

    Of course, things like Ruby Ridge and Waco are a bit different than national disasters — and “the federal government” phrase necessarily implies that it be run worth a shit.

  43. 43.

    priscianusjr

    March 5, 2012 at 9:31 pm

    @Watson:

    Actually you are the dumbest person on the planet Cole. You actually think Kasich did this without making a political calculation?

    Sure it was a calculation. Unfortunately for Kasich it turned out to be a miscalculation. The costs exceed the benefits.

  44. 44.

    garbo

    March 5, 2012 at 9:32 pm

    @kay: Agreed. Bet all those stupid birthurs didn’t know they were contributing to his legal defense fund.

  45. 45.

    Throwin Stones

    March 5, 2012 at 9:35 pm

    2010 was bad for Ohio

  46. 46.

    kay

    March 5, 2012 at 9:37 pm

    @a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q):

    Exactly

    Everything he does is to get around sunshine laws, including where he lives. It was the first thing I thought of when he turned it down. I watched the Katrina hearings. It’s all documented, if it’s federal. He won’t like all that “red tape”, um, paper trail.

  47. 47.

    Weaselone

    March 5, 2012 at 9:40 pm

    @Watson:

    Sorry Watson, you might be good at Jeopardy when coupled with a pneumatic button pusher, but you still fail the Turing Test. The anonymous arrogant genius routine isn’t fooling anyone.

    That Kasich’s delay was political in nature is self evident. He’s trying to have it both ways, playing to his “Federal government baaaaaad” supporters while not alienating everybody else in Ohio.

    Of course there is no evidence that Kasich is a master of political calculus or even knows to carry the one, so his little effort at political gamesmanship might still cost him. Plus, unless one is a sociopath, delaying help to disaster survivors to score political points is embarassing to consider and unthinkable to carry out.

  48. 48.

    Chet

    March 5, 2012 at 9:40 pm

    @Belafon (formerly anonevent);

    Meh. Edward Hardwicke’s was the definitive screen Watson, IMO.

  49. 49.

    Bizono

    March 5, 2012 at 9:42 pm

    Maybe Glenn Beck’s fevered FEMA concentration camp conspiracy theories rubbed off on Kasich while they were coworkers at FoxNews?

    http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/glenn-beck-who-me-spread-baseless-fe

  50. 50.

    Jay C

    March 5, 2012 at 9:43 pm

    More likely:

    a spokesman for the governor, said the decision to invite FEMA was made after Kasich reviewed the findings of state emergency management officials and got a shitstorm of embarrassing negative PR, and then developed “a firm understanding of the problem

  51. 51.

    freelancer

    March 5, 2012 at 9:45 pm

    @Yutsano:

    No worries.

  52. 52.

    Irving

    March 5, 2012 at 9:45 pm

    I’m increasingly convinced that a generation of conservatives raised on Rush Limbaugh have decided that conservatism consists of making money off of taking outrageous positions. There doesn’t seem to be even an attempt at substance anymore, just shock value and grifting. In between Aropio, Americans Elect, and all the other shenanigans the whole enterprise looks emptier and emptier.

  53. 53.

    PTirebiter

    March 5, 2012 at 9:46 pm

    Rick Perry’s M.O. was to tell supporters on the stump he’d refuse fed money knowing they wouldn’t notice when he did when it became avai
    able. Then Rick would simply lie about it whenever he was back on the stump. John Kasich is dumber than Rick Perry.

  54. 54.

    trollhattan

    March 5, 2012 at 9:50 pm

    @jgaugust:

    Aw, damn, we can always count on Pat!

    I don’t know how he ‘splains all the gawd-botherer states getting hit this time–even the Creation Museum’s home state.

    Pat’s world is shrinking.

  55. 55.

    demimondian

    March 5, 2012 at 9:50 pm

    @priscianusjr: You missed the point, didn’t you? Kasich didn’t miscalculate. He had *the Math*.

    Just like he had on SB 5. You libs kept saying how unpopular it was. Was that what the good people of Ohio said in November of 2011? Huh? Remember that election?

  56. 56.

    Svensker

    March 5, 2012 at 9:51 pm

    @jgaugust:

    We’re waiting with bated breath.

    My breath is baited. I find old rotten shark bits drive the stalkers wild.

  57. 57.

    Russ

    March 5, 2012 at 10:05 pm

    He wrote the script for an upcoming Democratic campaign ad and then takes the Federal assistance.

    OOOOOPS?
    MY BAD!

  58. 58.

    Mike G

    March 5, 2012 at 10:20 pm

    Republicans claim that government doesn’t work, then they get elected and make sure of it.

  59. 59.

    gnomedad

    March 5, 2012 at 10:54 pm

    They’ll just use the FEMA trailers to have sex with government money.

  60. 60.

    CaseyL

    March 5, 2012 at 10:58 pm

    @gnomedad:

    They’ll just use the FEMA trailers to have sex with government money.

    Paper cuts, yikes, and you really don’t want to know what happens to the coins.

  61. 61.

    p.a.

    March 5, 2012 at 11:05 pm

    Possibly Kasich is so stupid he still thinks ‘Heckuva Job Brownie’ still runs FEMA, and didn’t want him 9th Warding Ohio!

  62. 62.

    Amanda

    March 5, 2012 at 11:06 pm

    @demimondian: Thanks for mentioning — just checked out that article — fascinating and depressing. Left unsaid in the article is that I imagine a lot of the folks who voted for Kasich thought that the budget cuts would fall disproportionately on “others” is cities and black/brown people. I don’t know if this was stated outright by Kasich, but I imagine it’s what a lot of these folks heard. When will we ever learn eh? First they come for the urban/people of color…and next they come for you (white rural/suburban). See: foreclosure crisis.

    Here’s the link to the story if others want to read.

    Oh and I just have to add — the optics of Kasich spitting on these poor folks when their entire communities have been gutted…just disgusting. I sure hope voters in Ohio are paying attention..and will vote accordingly in November.

  63. 63.

    Celine

    March 5, 2012 at 11:53 pm

    So then it’s fair to say that he was against it before he was for it?

  64. 64.

    alex milstein

    March 5, 2012 at 11:57 pm

    “Hopefully we can get a quick answer from the federal inspectors on what additional resources might be available to help people begin recovering,” Kasich said.

    Of course, NOW he wants a quick answer. Not two days ago when he was playing politics instead of Governor.

  65. 65.

    red dog

    March 6, 2012 at 12:21 am

    NO NEW TAXES….to pay for all this aid that these GOP states need…the FEMA fairy will arrive. Two faced a$$hole

  66. 66.

    debbie

    March 6, 2012 at 5:45 am

    Nichols said Kasich had never ruled out asking for federal help

    Lying liar. The first time I heard this news, Kasich said Ohio didn’t need the federal government’s help.

  67. 67.

    brantl

    March 6, 2012 at 7:52 am

    John Kasich, grand-standing dick.

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