Jim Cole/AP Photo
Rep. Ron Paul
Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul trashed FEMA today, just hours before Hurricane Irene is scheduled to make landfall in the U.S. Approximately 65 million people are in the storm's projected path.
While giving a speech in Gilford, New Hampshire, the die-hard libertarian said no national response to Hurricane Irene is needed. "A state can decide," Paul said. "We don't need somebody in Washington."
He cited the deadly hurricane of 1900 that leveled Galveston, Texas and killed more than 6,000 people as an example of a better life before FEMA.
"I live on the gulf coast, we deal with hurricanes all the time," said Paul. "The local people rebuild the city. Built a sea wall and they survived without FEMA."
"We should be like 1900, we should be like 1940 1950 1960," Paul said. He argued they only make a "great contribution to deficit financing."
Fellow Republican hopeful Rick Perry, who also vows to slash the scope of the federal government, flip-flopped on his stance when the a natural disaster ripped through his own state. The Texas Governor Rick Perry was furious with the Obama administration back in May for not getting an federal funds to help with relief after heavy wildfires.
"I think we've had 9,000 separate fires in the state of Texas, The federal government has only helped us with 25 of them. That's inappropriate," Perry told reporters.
Perry asked for federal money 25 times prior and in each of those cases, FEMA said yes.
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Thats why Ron Paul will NEVER be elected President. The same goes for Slick Rick, the tea bagg'in gov that wanted to secede from the Union but whinned about not getting federal aide for the wildfires here in Texas fast enough. Fakes, phonies and frauds. It's unbelieveable what morons the reichwingnuts have to offer.
Ron Paul did not mean the government should not rescue people physically....He ment that a big government program like FEMA should not rescue (usually Washington's favorites) financially......FEMA would most likely bail out a big corporate farm, and leave the little guy floating down the river....
I am a lifelong conservative.
I have voted Republican my entire life.
I am the CEO of a business (128 employees).
I am a husband, and father of 3.
I am a Christian.
I am voting for Ron Paul.
Wow! What a surprise!
I am insane
You forgot...I am a fool!
sounds like a 12 step program to me :-)
Ron Paul 2012
are you saying that because you are a christian that you have inside information on the "right" way to vote?
Well John your SOL, Ron Paul will never get the nomination. G.W. Bush the II Rick the phony Perry will.
Yeah, right. Things were much better after Katrina. Thank goodness for FEMA!
Here are a few headlines from that 2005 FEMA fiasco.
"Flooded and forgotten"
"FEMA to ask for return of millions in Katrina aid"
"FEMA covered up cancer risks to Katrina victims"
"Is FEMA its own disaster area?"
Ron Paul 2012!
You DO know that FEMA has been changed entirely since Katrina don't you? Hmmm...guess not. Glad you're voting for Ron Paul, of course it will be as a write-in, since he doesn't have the proverbial snowball's chance of being nominated. I personally think dementia set in early like with RR. Of course, he'd be thrown out of the GOTP these days.
Jenny you sound like someone who works for the feds. How has it changed? can you clarify? didnt think so. It is just a useless branch off we dont need. What are they doing the rest of the year? besides making it harder for people to get in and out of disaster zones. lets not forget all the money the wasted needlessly on ordering- then turning back all those trailers for Katrina? Where did all that money come from? He was also talking about how IN DEBT FEMA is. what can you say about that? going to bail them out of 20 million are you? what a blind idiot.
FEMA is a joke and a waste of money, the people of New Orleans know better than anyone.
No, Bush was a joke for naming a moron city manager from Edmond Ok aka 'Brownie' as the head of FEMA who coincidently contributed $200,000 to bush's re-election and asked if he could 'quit' a day after Katrina hit. As they say, 'There's your problem'.
Exactly. If you haven't Molly Ivins's Bushwacked or Russ Baker's Family of Secrets, PLEASE DO.
There you go, Texans who does not need who? Do you need this kind of politicians, lets think about this two again, and...
FEMA is a joke and a waste of money. No one knows this better than the people of New Orleans.
Citizens helping each other with the support of local government is far more caring and efficient than the huge corrupt bureaucratic mess know as FEMA
Americans are the most charitable people on the planet, in spite of all that government takes from us we still manage to donate en mass to disasters like Katrina, Haiti and the Tsunami victims. No government force needed.
Most charitable? What evidence do you have to support that claim?
Per capita there are many countries with higher charitable contributions, and they are not even paid by the government to do it like in the US which skews tax policy to reward the rich for donating. Despite those incentive the rich still do not contribute at higher rates than in countries where the only incentive is to benefit others.
"despite all that government takes from us"...If you have not noticed you paid one of the lowest federal taxes in the developed world, and corporations pay even less. That, alone is the reason for the debt.
Really??? Wow, ignorance sure is bliss on this site. Have you ever considered the "spending" problem Washington has? Your always welcome to volunteer more taxes, you know this right?
"We don't have a revenue problem, we have a spending problem."
(Like, Ryan "Let's throw Granny from the train and cut Medicare.")
OR
"We don't have a spending problem, we have a revenue problem."
(Like, "Let the rich pay their fair share.")
Wanna take bets on what wins next year?
BTW, what "ignorance," exactly?
We all agree the country needs help in this time of need, don't we? So I guess you'll be volunteering to help the country with your contribution, true patriot that you are. Right again?
The nation eagerly awaits your pledge.
Trivia question: Who said, "You're doing a great job, Brownie." Hmmm?
george,
i believe the exact quote was, "you're doing a heck of job, brownie".
:)
Do you think FEMA has not helped with the Texas wildfires because Texas has a large Hispanic population and FEMA is racist?
I'm not sure why you're asking me. I haven't commented on the Texas wildfires one way or the other. But the story we're commenting on claims that Perry asked for help 25 times and got help 25 times. So?...
Does that mean Perry is racist because he didn't ask for more help? I'll answer my own question and maybe save you the trouble and say probably not. But he is a politician and politicians (yes, of both parties) will say things that they think will help their campaigns, especially against big bad D.C.
FEMA was a joke after Katrina because it was RUN BY A CRONY OF PRESIDENT BUSH -- a man who had absolutely no experience with emergencies and disasters. Like Bush, he was a dodo, in way over his head. For goodness sake, they weren't even AWARE for over a week that people were stranded in N.O. Since that time, FEMA has been run by professionals and they have been beneficial in every natural disaster.
What is wrong with you people? It's just like when Pres. Obama offered stimulus money and was put down by all the redneck politicians, who quietly took the money -- AND THEN THE CREDIT -- for helping their state's economy. I hope another hurricane doesn't hit Texas, but I bet my social security check (which is NOT an entitlement - I paid into it for 42 years) that if it happened, Texas would be begging for federal aid for the clean-up and rebuilding.
On paper FEMA looks great. Problem is it doesn't work. Paul is correct the States and local government are much better at this.
Did anybody watch Al Sharpton's show? He showed a clip of Ron Paul to prove how "bad" Ron Paul is. Here is the transcript of the clip: (Ron Paul) "FEMA is not a good friend of most people in Texas because all they do is come in and tell you what to do and can't do(clip muted and ends)"
Really??? That's the liberal tards proof of how "bad" Ron Paul is??? The left AND the right is a JOKE. If you can't understand that then you're not listening or don't want to.
Ron Paul 2012!!!
Prove to me that FEMA is the most helpful way of dealing with disasters before you tell me why Ron Paul is wrong.
Because I've never seen anything good from FEMA.
And don't give me the blaming it on the president stuff either please, I'm not stupid. Even if were the fault of the president, it only goes to highlight that once you've given these people the power, it's only another GWB away until we have another Katrina.
Atleast nobody is doing the other stupid stuff I saw on another article and attributing the technological advances of the past 100 years to FEMA.
You are so stupid you should win a Darwin award so we can keep your genes out of the gene pool.
Lots of people in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas do not exactly hold FEMA’s effectiveness in responding to disaster in very high regard. When FEMA can out do Wal-Mart in the efficiency and efficacy of its response to disaster, we can then discount the initiative and cooperative efforts of private citizens and private organizations, as well as the effectiveness multi-state cooperative compacts, in favor of a FEMA-type response.
Read Paul’s whole statement instead of repeating other reporters who have also not read Paul’s full statement. The sea wall in Galveston was not built by FEMA, but by the community of Galveston.
After you read Paul’s full statement, then listen to “Big-Box Stores' Hurricane Prep Starts Early” by Jon Hamilton (8/26/11) and “Wal-Mart Aid Outpaced Some Federal Efforts” by Frank Langfitt (9/9/2005) both on National Public Radio.
Some may recall that there was a lot of finger-pointing at the time about the mismanagement of the response to the Katrina disaster. Some said it was the fault of the Feds - FEMA - some said it was the fault of the state government.
At that time, the federal government was headed by a Repub president, and the state government was headed by a Democratic governor. Care to guess which party spokesmen blamed which entity for what?
So, the logical conclusion, based on the previous positions held by some condemning the Democratic-led state government, and Mr. Paul's latest statement putting faith in all state governments, it is safe to abolish FEMA in favor of the 50 states as long as all those 50 states are run by 50 Repub governors. Some may believe this is desirable, but I doubt many believe it is probable.
Logic is a beach.
Libertarianism sounds great for about a minute and a half. I've been kind of fascinated by Ron Paul for a few years now; so many times I've said to myself, "Thanks, Mr. Paul, for what you believe" and then he'll move to another subject and sound as loony as Perry or Bachmann. Thank you, Deborah, for pointing out the obvious; FEMA didn't work well after Katrina because it was set up to fail by the people in charge. History is a wonderful teacher, and overall, FEMA has a proud record--with that one awful, ongoing exception that,yes, lies at the feet of the incompetent and criminal Bush administration. How big should government be? As big as it needs to be--and right now it needs to be big enough to reign in the rampant crookedness that has all-but taken over the running of this once-great country. Crookedness that was not caused by big government--not in this case. That having been said, a pox on both "houses"--the Republicans for being downright evil, and the Dems for being downright stupid and cowardly! Hmmm... how about an independent ticket for prez in '12--Bernie Sanders and Ron Paul? Both are actually Independents, as Paul will never be accepted by today's Republicans. I'm only HALF-joking, as these seeming political opposites hold positions on important issues that cross paths fairly often; for example, the stupidity and criminality of our so-called "wars", the need for honesty and integrity in gov't,, and though I don't want to think about it any more just right now, I'll bet there are other areas of agreement between those two that, if given a chance to take charge, they could go a long way toward saving this country from the out-of-control greed and general lack of ethics that characterize our so-called national "leadership". As FDR said in the middle of his 12-year stint as prez, "This is a big country; we can have several systems going on at once". And, whether you like FDR on the whole or not, history has judged him to be one of our all-time greats. Capitalism, socialism, and libertarianism? If you take a really good look and a good understanding of all three of these philosophies (which, admittedly, I still need to do more of), we just might be able to come up with a helluva hybrid; personally, I think the traditional, two-party system we have has been poisoned beyond healing, so I'm for some serious experimenting!
Yeah, FEMA did such a great job during hurricane Katrina! How dare anybody criticize this incompetent group of morons that just cost Americans money, for no benefit?
FEMA is run by a bunch of incompetents, and it simply costs money. Aid should be provided by the state national guard.
The national guards shouldn't be over in Iraq and Afghanistan nation building.
If anybody recalls, the mission in Iraq was to disarm Saddam Hussein and end his Weapons of Mass Destruction program - mission accomplished.
The mission in Afghanistan was to kill or otherwise bring to justice Osama binLaden, well mission accomplished.
Won't see that mentioned anywhere. US media is a joke.
What Paul isn't telling you about the 1900 storm is that Galveston, a major port & one of the largest cities in the country at the time, never recovered. It's a sleepy resort town now. Indeed, there were heroics performed by the locals. They built a seawall & raised the city's elevation by 17 feet. But Galveston's economy, 111 years later, never recovered. Most folks moved inland to a little backwater town on Buffalo Bayou called Houston.
Oh the, horror.
They moved to a place that wasn't as likely to kill them, and was less likely to be destroyed by a storm.
What an awful thing to have happened. Galveston could today be a major metropolitan city that is regularly being destroyed causing millions if not billions of dollars of damage today. Instead, the town has basically been moved to Houston where operational costs and threats to lives have been greatly reduced.
Truly, this shows how flawed Ron Paul's thought process is. If only the FEMA was around then so this could have never happened.
I am convinced.
Providing no incentive at all to do an intelligent thing is the smart thing to do.
All you retirees that bought a little piece of paradise on the Atlantic coast, if you're within a couple of miles of the water, you're going to have to move.
Oh yeah, all those who live on the Gulf Coast, you've got to move, too.
Near the banks of the Mississippi? You're outta there!
Couple of miles from the San Andreas fault, sorry, you can't stay.
Tornado Alley - bye, bye.
Guess we're all moving to France.
Try again- Rachel showed a hurricane predictor map that had one possibility of Irene hitting France.
Now you're just trying to confuse me. I think it might be working.
Nah- look at Rachel's blog. She has posted a mapping of potential paths of Irene. One path cuts east and goes direct to France.
OMG! I thought you were kidding! I started considering that with the FEMA/racist post, which also seemed like it might just be yanking and not meant to be taken seriously.
Looking at the storm track graphic on RM's page, as well as Hogtowner's dissertation there, post #14, one begins to wonder about the accuracy of any and all computer-generated models, for example,
global warming, er, I mean climate change.BTW, talk to the people in Joplin, MO, or many OK counties and see how they feel about FEMA tornado response.
"You're doing a great job, Brownie."So Ron Paul thinks ( and Eric Cantor, I might add) that especially now when the states are doing $O well financially that the Feds should not send them any money for relief. So basically we have no government, no laws, hey, it's the wild west again. You know, this isn't some futuristic disaster TV show or movie, this is reality. Hello?
Why should Indiana. Missouri, Wisconsin or Nevada be bailing out NY State?
NY State should be bailing out NY State. Nobody else should be paying for the damage done to NY City. Just like nobody should have been forced to bailout a bunch of corrupt banking institutions other than the owners of them.
The Federal government just rewards bad decision and poor judgment, and no, criminal behavior. Nobody owes NYC anything.
That is not an American statement. In America we support and help each other because we all AMERICANS. I wasn't raised that way and believe there is a lot here on this blog who was not raised that way. We take care of each other. From 9/11, to Katrina we have seen our first responders, doctors and nurses from across the nation go to other states and HELP when they did not have to. They gave of themselves. That is what America is. I know that when this hurricane passes you will see ordinary citizens going to these regions to help out. Your view is sad and tragic but its not American.
It seems your getting the charitable actions of individuals confused with the forced coercion of the state.
It good that you haven't lost faith in people to do the right thing, Ron Paul hasn't either and that's his main point. We've stopped depending on our self and except government to do everything for us.
I haven't confused anything. Government hasn't forced us to do anything. There were first responders who came as far as CA during 9/11. They did that because they wanted to help. You have gotten your facts wrong. You seem to have become a bit pessimistic. People are better than you give them credit for. They are stronger and they do work together. They do come together when disaster strikes. Rachel has them on her show. So has Lawrence and Ed Schultz. The Tea Party has made you into a bitter person with those hateful statements. I do just fine without the government. That is just mean thing to say. Statements like that undermine the hard work of first responders whom we take for granted.
What ever happened to United We Stand Devided We Fall? What doesn't get mentioned enough is that if your state is hit by fires, storms, tornados, earthquakes, floods etc. it uses up all of your state rescourses sometimes preventing the local agencies from digging themselves out. Yes people come from all over the country to help fellow COUNTRYMEN not just statesmen. Someone on the federal level needs to help coridanate all the agencies ie federal, state and local governments, aid agencies, hospitals and nursing homes and I'm sure many other things. I couldn't believe my ears and eyes watching these republican gov's on tv saying how great the federal gov has been, they've issued state of emergancies to open up federal funding. FEMA has improved dramaticly over the years altho I'm sure not perfect, but improve it don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. On a side note I would rather not go back to anytime before 1992. If we went back to the 1940's I'll have to spend a lot of time keeping my hair straight so I can "pass" when I go visit my mom in Idaho.
Turtle- someone on here does indeed seem bitter about everything. And it is you.
Americans have always pitched in and helped one another in times of need. I'll give you a recipe for ending that practice: Make it a governmental function, then people won't have to step in and help. If there is no void, there will be no perceived need.
We do have a government program that helps its called FEMA. Your statement is FALSE. People still got there and help. Habitat for Humanity, Free Clinics and Red Cross. Your an idiot who don't know a thing about the American People. You are rude. These people saves lives. HOW DARE YOU DISGRACE THEM??!!!
FEMA did a fine job after Hurricane Ike hammered Houston. We were without power for 2 weeks. It didn't get much attention because it the recovery went smoothly. Our city & county leaders (dems & repubs) worked well together, folks were prepared & neighbors helped each other. Of course, we’ve learned that the Governor (Perry) usually drops the ball. So local leaders just plan around him. The recovery went like clockwork for most folks. I shake my head as the media reports that a major storm hasn't hit a major city in decades. Ha. Honestly, if Bloomberg hasn't contacted Bill White (D)(former mayor) & Ed Emmett (R)(Harris Co. Judge) he is in for an unnecessarily steep learning curve. Washington could learn a lot from these 2 men.
Ron Paul supporters will still have him running for president even after he is dead.
The guy is a joke as are most politicians from Texas!
LOL Your probably right. I am surprise he is not broke by now, and I thought he was dead to be honest.
Nah, just the Constitution is dead.
It's just a goddamned piece of paper, as the Patriot Act, Warrantless wiretapping, and the wars in Libya, Iraq, and Afghanistan proved.
@!$%# it, it's just the basic document that outlines the limitations of the Federal government to protect your individuals rights. Who cares about that today?
You don't.
Enjoy your next feeling up by the TSA when you travel anywhere.
The Constitution is not dead. We place our liberties in the hands of people who do not know what Liberty is. Republicans created all that. Republicans do not care about Americans or the Constitution. Perry proves this with his comments about secession and repealing Amendments. Ron Paul is the same way. We have just misplaced our trust in the wrong people. The Constitution is alive and well and its all we have going for it. We must protect it from destruction by the Republicans. If we fail to do that than we lose everything the Founding Fathers set out to protect FOR US. They looked forward to this day and they knew people would try so hard to change it for their own greedy agendas. So they made it almost impossible to change. The Republicans know they don't have support or votes but they are going to try anyways. They must be stopped.
Which ex president..and most recent said' (The Constitution) 'Is just a piece of paper'?
Don't care. They are simply wrong. Most Democrats, the Supreme Court, our justice system, many professors and the people believe it is a living document. When it was signed several countries sent ambassadors including France and Prussia. It was a document unseen in the world then. It was paid for with the lives of signers and their families and their fortunes. They knew how sacred and unique the document was. It was moved several times to different locations ahead of the British in 1776 and 1812. They knew it had to be protected at all costs. If you knew the history of it, you would appreciate it more. It would help you to understand it and how it applies to you and your families. You will gain a new appreciate it --dare I say love for it. I believe just as the founding fathers believed that we are screwed with out. No one on earth's governments come close to the liberties we enjoy. It is truly unique. I can recommended books if your interested in learning more.
I am socialist as is most Native Americans. We believe in working together for the benefit of society. When food was needed, one group hunted, another farmed and another gathered but EVERYONE ate. These tea party and Libertarians really bother me. They enforce this ME ME ME ME mentality which has had a negative impact on our culture. We need to start caring about each other and helping each other if we are ever going to succeed as nation. "No one is an island." unless the Tea Party says we are. We need to get away from this isolationist attitude. FEMA did not work for Katrina because the wrong person was running it. I promise that won't happen this time. No matter what Eric Cantor will not get his way this time. If we want better education and universal health care ( a health care for everyone) then we need to come together and make that happen. We can do it if we don't let people like Ron Paul, Michelle Bachman and Rick Perry divide us. We need to stop being capitalists and start being HUMAN. The things that this country needs is not going to make money. They will cost money, but in the end make us a better people. We need update our infrastructure which has not profit in it. We need to make sure no one goes to bed hungry (unless this has happen to you, you don't know what its like) and let people die from curable diseases. We can make this country great but we need to stop listening to the Libertarians, Republicans and Tea Partiers. We can be great IF WE PUT AMERICANS FIRST!
Standing Turtle, this is the most reasonable and sane, intelligent comment I have heard anywhere - thank you!!
Thank you for your kind comments.
Ron Paul is the only politician I can remember with a SPINE, and I'm pretty old. Do you want some craven in the office, licking the hands that bought the office? Wouldn't you rather have someone who will STAND UP for you, having stood up for himself all these long years?
Does it bother you, the million or more people that have died in the last 12 years, died for nothing? Does it bother you knowing that YOU could change it, but are too busy and can't be bothered?
Do you mind the trillion dollars that goes overseas each year, when it could be spent right here and cure the Depression? Do you mind the trade agreements that send our jobs over there? Do you mind the tax policies that prevent the trillions made overseas being used to create jobs here?
It's time to show YOUR spine and stand up for The Man With A Spine. He's done it for you these past 20 years - now it's your turn.
Vote Vertebrate - Ron Paul 2012!
I would rather have real American who believed in the Constitution. Not someone like Ron Paul who is trying to destroy it.
Exactly how is Ron Paul destroying the Constitution??? You're just like all the other liberals/Democrats. You don't want to hear an opinion unless it is your own. You're not even listening to Paul and his points of view. You just hear the word 'Republican' and then argue against anything and everything said. You talk about being human but I find your stubbornness most inhuman. You're exactly like everything/one that you're supposedly against.
Please, enlighten me with your wisdom, Standing Turtle.
The next time two commercial planes collide on a runway, undoubtedly Paul will say that the FAA isn't needed and is just a waste of money. After all, why should people who never fly be forced to subsidize those that do. Idiot Paul should list all the agencies that aren't needed, FEMA, FAA, FBI, Coast Guard, weather service, etc. - go ahead Paul and tell us what you really think. The one thing that people are agreeing on is that paying for a dysfunctional Congress with Paul in it has become a waste of taxpayers money.
While we're at it, let's get rid of cops and make people carry guns and hire armed guards - if they can't afford it, too bad. You'll get a bill if your house catches fire and the FD shows up. Just toll roads or dirt streets from now on. Your sewage is your problem.
If you don't agree with any of this, you must be a socialist.
Did you know that even high grade morons have spines?