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AP
Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)
GILFORD, N.H. -- After a lunch speech today, Ron Paul slammed the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, and said that no national response to Hurricane Irene is necessary.
"We should be like 1900; we should be like 1940, 1950, 1960," Paul said. "I live on the Gulf Coast; we deal with hurricanes all the time. Galveston is in my district.
"There's no magic about FEMA. They're a great contribution to deficit financing and quite frankly they don't have a penny in the bank. We should be coordinated but coordinated voluntarily with the states," Paul told NBC News. "A state can decide. We don't need somebody in Washington."
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ALL THESE GUYS are unfeeling GRINCHES! I bet if their families are affected FEMA will be on the scene ASAP.
To Jason-3606250:Is helping disaster victims catering to people who think they're "entitled to everything" WHERE DO YOU PEOPLE GET THESE IDEAS? And I bet you're a "CHRISTIAN" too!/snark
Yes, when federal taxpayer revenues are being used it is catering. I would rather prefer that it is done at the local level, with either local tax collection or more preferably with charitable contributions. Why would you call me a Christian tool/snark? You don't know anything about me other than I am a conservative with a stong belief in following the constitution. Why don't you want to follow the constitution?
So Jason...how's that going to work? Every state has it's own emergency plan? How efficient is that? Why not have a federal group who can respond anywhere? Better trained, better equipped...able to respond to multiple disasters here and off our shores. You're slinging around the Constitution and have forgotten all about being practical.
Charitable contributions? Really? Uh...there are 350 million people in this country....nearly 4 million square miles. Those square miles are not islands...it's the UNITED States of America.
they want states to handle it and then when the disaster gets too big for state resources they will,each and every one plead for FEMA to come in.
Vermontgirl- Afraid your wasting your time trying to reason with Jason.
If you think the Federal government is more efficient, then you need to get your head checked. If each state/community had its own plan it would be more customized to the situations that could arise. The Constitution is the law of the land. Disobeying the Constitution is like pissing on America.
Yes, charitable contributions. If we weren't all sending so much of our paychecks to the government to be pissed away, we could focus that money on charitable contributions and rainy day funds in our respective states/communities. A community that is not in need, could help communities that are in need. People need to have more trust that most of us are generally good, charitable people.
@lloyd-3730046
VermontGirl isn't wasting her time. She is probably learning something useful. The argument for FEMA is clearly on the losing side...just look at the federal debt. Wasteful spending through wasteful big government programs is what is killing this country.
Yes, Ron Paul, let's go back to the "dark ages" EVERYTHING was fine then. You are an ignorant hateful person who has NO EMPATHY for anything or anybody
This man is not qualified for any public office!
dog catcher
Please do not insult dog catchers.
Dog waste picker upper then
Why should we help people become middle class? Helping the needed get fed and housed is pretty good but houses for all, college for all, free healthcare for all. Where is the money going to come from.
Redistribution of income takes away the incentive to do more than the next guy. Why should one work harder if everyone gets the same?I am all for giving people a helping hand but only if they are trying to help themselves.
One poster said we don't bring in enough to support the things we want and need. Well then, all you have to do is go out and get what you want and need. Why would you want to rely on someone else?
I wish the real world were as simplistic as the one you inhabit.
You & I are in a position to get what we want & need. Many people are not. I agree that assistance should require the person to do or contribute in some way. Many of our programs allow people to do nothing while we support them - I do NOT agree with that position.
Habitat for Humanity requires the new homeowner to do a lot of work on the home and show a dedication to improve their lives before they are accepted for the program. THAT makes sense.
Absolutely agree with programs like Habitat for Humanity and there are many other programs that are run by people other than government employees that usually have good results. Good point Crock
Maybe- We are talking about mother nature, a storm something people can't control. If your in a national disaster and you lose everything, are you gonna say well it's the luck of the draw? Now in these bad economic times, a lot of people let their insurance slide. If we had single payer health insurance, it would end up saving money, in the long run. You and Ron Paul every man for themselves, you actually begrudge children, elderly and the poor, don't want anyone to get what you don't!! SAD
I agree with you about Jesus & politics. If he belonged to a party I'm sure it would not be Republican.
Wish those religious GOP nut jobs would go open churches instead of trying to replace the Constitution with the bible. God did not sign the Declaration of Independence either. ; )
Sometimes it's interesting to see where common sense good ideas and Ron Paul's reality unexpectedly collide. I'm going to say this isn't one of them. Yeah, I'm sure we should be just like 1900. Good times... women couldn't vote, no airplanes, oh, and "September 8 – A powerful hurricane hits Galveston, Texas killing about 8,000 people". Yeah, I'm sure that would be good, right Mr. Paul?
When the power is out, phones are dead, food is rotting and the potable water is gone in an area hundreds of miles wide, where do you think the "local" help will come from? Don't forget medical care for the injured and shelter for the homeless. We aren't talking about a SMALL PROBLEM here, folks - we're talkin' MAJOR DISASTER, and help will be needed all up and down our eastern seaboard, probably for weeks on end.
"There's no magic about FEMA. They're a great contribution to deficit financing and quite frankly they don't have a penny in the bank. We should be coordinated but coordinated voluntarily with the states," Paul told NBC News. "A state can decide. We don't need somebody in Washington."
I guess with Ron Paul as President if there's a major disaster you're just screwed. Hope your state can help you.
Paul told NBC News. "A state can decide. We don't need somebody in Washington."
YET he took $118 MILLION in assistance from FEMA to rebuild after their hurricane. Why is ok when he clearly needed it to get Galveston rebuilt, but not ok to continue the program for others? I'd guess without FEMA, he would have had his skinny butt kicked out by Texans for failing them.
Are you sure it was Ron Paul that accepted it or was it the Governor, Rick Perry that accepted the money from FEMA? Are you maybe twisting the facts?
Why is ok when he clearly needed it to get Galveston rebuilt, but not ok to continue the program for others?
That's easy, this goes with the Republican reasoning that before the government programs are destroyed they owe it to their constituents to take as much money from the coffers as possible. That's the rational thing to do.
Rational yes, but principled, no.
So this is what we in the middle to poor class have to look forward to if we have a rep. as a president. You are on your own. This along with Eric Cantor's comments about any money spent for disaster relief has to be offset with spending cuts makes me very nervous about the future. I really can not believe he would say something that heartless and stupid. As a liberal, I pray for the safety of all that may be in the path of Irene. Yes, that means conservatives also. You all aren't that bad, you just vote the wrong way. God Bless us all who will be affected by this storm and may there be no loss of life.
Ron Paul is right on this one. I'm a liberal, but of the classical variety who believes in personal freedom, liberty, and who doesn't trust the Federal government to do ANYTHING right. Ever since Bush, I learned better. Don't any of you remember Katrina? Fat lot of good FEMA did for those people, in fact they made it worse by promising to "save" the day but were too incompetent to actually do the job.
Don't chance it on a bunch of clueless bureaucrats in Washington to save your sorry self because you lived in a hurricane zone and couldn't be bothered to prepare/evacuate/whatever. Buy local, live local, prepare LOCAL. Rely on your neighbors as they rely on you. Pitch in and help, don't wring your hands and wait for some government official to tell you what to do. It's pretty simple, and it's the American way.
I'm glad to see that there are still some liberals that do believe in personal responsibility. I take back my comment I made in another post.
I would still like to know why many liberal believe that these federally funded programs and "department" are constitutional. FEMA is not in the constitution.
"I'm a liberal, but of the classical variety who believes in personal freedom, liberty, and who doesn't trust the Federal government to do ANYTHING right."
In a representational democracy, we get the government we deserve.
Ash- Please enumerate the incompetence of the Feds in running the military, Social Security, Medicare-Medicaid and the VA
"FEMA is not in the constitution."
Neither is the FAA. Want to get rid of them, too?
I was quoting Sarah Seven, lloyd. Hence my use of quotation marks.
Sincerely sorry Ash. I didn't see the quotes or I would have responded to Sarah. Still would but no time.
This comment is 100% correct. I read somewhere that " A people generally get the kind of government they deserve."
Ron Paul doesn't believe this. Ya'll on the left are just as gullible! This is a good example of how republicans want to be total opposite to what Obama does, no matter how much sense it makes.
Take note righties! This is another clear example of what Obama has to deal with from the GOP on every issue!
Just like none of them meant anything about their stimulus rhetoric. Every republican who tried to blast it also took significant amounts of it too! It sounds good to their supporters on the campaign trail, but their actual history supports the exact opposite belief.
Many of you said, "How soon we forget." Apparently many of you who posted condescending remarks about RP's comment have forgotten how poorly FEMA has responded in the past....like Katrina. Water trucks driving around the country aimlessly for months or parked hundreds of miles from Louisiana/Mississippi. Temporary trailers contaminated with formaldehyde. Perhaps you've forgotten that the FEMA Czar was asked to remove himself after that boondoggle. Nice job FEMA did cleaning up the Gulf Spill as well. The people in Alabama have done well for themselves recovering from the tornado outbreaks in Spring mainly with State aid. Screw FEMA. Ron Paul is right on the money with his remarks.
FAT22; You have a problem with the IRS doing their job of collecting revenue in order to run this country???
I know how much Righties just love to bash "Big Government" so much, as if they were incapable of doing anything right. Consider this; Big Government fought the most devastaing war in history, and won. Big Government created the Manhattan Project which the developed the Atom Bomb in an incredibly short time. Big Goverment created the Space Program and in less than ten years put a man on the moon. Big Government invented the Internet as well as GPS, neither of which would could live without now. Big Government built the Interstate Highway system under the direction of that no good, Socialist, Commie, Stalinist, Dwight Eisenhower. It also built the Hoover damn and other massive construction projects.
We'll see how much Republicans really hate Big Government after this storm and see if any Republican Govenors come whining to Obama for Federal Disaster Relief. It should prove interesting, to say the least.
Actually, the reason that it was said 'how quickly we forget' was because of situations like Katrina. How inept the repsonse effort was is disgraceful. And might I add, as you republicans would do, ran by a Bush appointee! Yes1 A cluster-fu#@ response under a cluster-fu@% administration. And Ron Paul and you right-wingers are trying to take issue with a disaster response agency readying themselves to respond in soon to be disaster areas. As they should be. But if there were reports 48 hours from now on the people who died waiting for help, you would be blaming Obama and FEMA! You wack-job republicans (not all of you, but you know who you are), are a waste of the skin you're grafted in. I wish you would take all your guns and shoot each other, and allow the rest of us to recognize the present and work towards our future, instead of trying to move us backwards a thousand years. Ya'll are said, sorry, extremely unintelligent people.
BrainCandy- Great post and witty also, thanks! LOL
"Anyone who dies "waiting for help" due to the effects of a hurricane, a weather phenominon that EVERYONE knows is coming for days and days, deserves to die anyway. How about do something for yourself rather than wait for someone else to do it?"
This statement took my breath away at the very heartlessness of it. Obviously you know no one who is elderly or disabled, who is poor and has no money to relocate and no transportation. Wow. It reminds me of a quote from another heartless character.
"Are there no prisons?...And the Union workhouses?... Are they still in operation?... I help to support the establishments I mentioned - they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there...If they would rather die (than go there), they had better do it and decrease the surplus population." --Ebeneze Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol"
Personal responsibility. That sounds like a phrase the "church lady" might chant on Saturday Night Live. All you Easterners in the path of Irene, don't be irresponsible and get hit over the head with a telephone pole. If you do, you will have been irresponsible. And patching up your head would be nothing but welfare - wasteful inefficient welfare.
How is that slamming FEMA, all Dr. Paul does is point out a valid fact. Long before FEMA natural disasters happened in this country and we always rebuilt, why is FEMA necessary?
Long before FEMA, our population was 100 million people.
Do you honestly believe that worked THEN will work NOW?
"Do you honestly believe that worked THEN will work NOW?"
These Paul-bots will believe anything.
It doesn't matter what Paul says anyway. He's not going to get elected. He's not even going to get a nomination. He's a zero. A non-starter.
CJ, the Paul followers are a hoot!! Give this thread another hour and check back in. It will only get crazier.
You all be sure to vote for him in your upcoming primaries.
I would like to know the degree to which he rejects/does not use anything he cranks about. Didn't his Dr. son get payments from Medicare?
My, my, my.... we all know how fantastic FEMA was during - and after - Katrina! They sure were Johnny on the Spot, weren't they?
6 years later, and they STILL can't get their act together in New Orleans.
And almost every one of you are praising these inept bureaucrats?
Makes me wonder if we don't need more chlorine in the collective gene pool.
(sorry for the duplication... slow connection. Must have been FEMA approved.)
I am an American first, before I am a Minnesotan. That means that *I* am willing to contribute to the protection and welfare of the country overall, not paying only for my state and letting the rest of the country go to hell.
MICHAEL: How downright UnAmerican of you. In the Republican America, it's every man for himself and screw anyone who can't cut it. Why should you care about anyone other than yourself??? You must be a filthy Socialist type, a real "do gooder" who can't mind your own business. You probably think that feeding people is more important than starting unnecessary, unfund wars, right??? I just knew it.
Ron Paul is a social Darwinist. He does not support federal government regulations or federal government involvement of any kind in the affairs of citizens. He is giving the response on hurricane Irene that is consistent with his social philosophy. Why is anyone surprised that he said what he said? The man is honest and consistent with that philosophy. I admire Paul for his consistency, but if we implemented his social Darwinist philosophy in contemporary, post-industrial, multicultural, interdependent America it would economically destroy the nation and the interdependent world in which we live. I do, however, wish we had other politicians who had his honesty and openness. It's sad that we don't.
he loves no govermnment so the the rich can steal from the weak legally,, oh they already did (wall street)
The Tea Party is an America hating anarchist group. I was in Galveston with the USCG after Katrina. If this moron thinks a federal response wasn't needed, just look at what happened when the feds DIDNT respond! How'd THAT work out? Paul got his wish: Bush appointed a horse lawyer as head of FEMA. People died. I'm tired of the Hate America First crowd that has captured the GOP
I would like to suggest that when a government agency isn't working as well as it should, the answer is not to @!$%#can it entirely but to work to IMPROVE IT. Get managers in there who know how to manage, directors who can direct, engineers who can engineer, and regulate their asses so the standards stay high, right where our citizens need them to be - especially in cases of dire emergency. If more manpower is needed to make it happen, guess what - we've got plenty of manpower just waiting for work to do.
INDEPENDENT: What a radical concept, improving something which may have a problem!!!! Wow, how come folks like Eric Cantor & Co never thought of that??? I had always assumed it was better to demagogue a program that perhaps had issues rather than trying to fix it. You're ruined my entire philosopy, now what will I do???
"You're ruined my entire philosopy, now what will I do???"
Heh. Good posts, Ozzie Boy, but you need a "snark" tag...
We will see how the people on the East Coast feel about FEMA after Irene sweeps through the East Coast of the United States. I guess Ron Paul's libertarian ideology must say survival of the fittest. If states don't have the monies to provide what is needed before and after this potential large storm, too bad. What a terrible attitude in this time of need by a semi-candidate for the presidency. Why would Ron Paul want to run for President of the United States if he feels that this position has very little responsibilities since most issues in his opinion fall under the states? Is it all about the money?
We will find out in a very short order, how much of a purist both Ron Paul and the rest of his merry band of of crazies in the Congress are, as well as Governors are once this storm is done wreaking havoc along the entire coast. I just wonder how pure their "strict Constutional" philosophy will hold up once the devastation is done.
I can't help but think of Rick Perry who like Michele Bachmann has built his career on disparaging "Big Government" and "Socialism" and yet not that long ago went whining to Obama about not receiving enough disaster relief. Didn't 8 years of George Bush prove once and for all that these so called "fiscal conservatives" are nothing but blatant frauds and hyopcrits. They LOVE Socialism, they adore Big Government, they crave "handouts" and think the world of "welfare". It's merely a question of who the "welfare" is being given too.
It should prove extremely interesting to see what politicians cry out for aid in one breath and then bad mouth government in the next. Governors like Rick Perry who denounced Obama's stimulus plan and then cheerfully took the money allocated to him AND USED IT TO BALANCE THE BUDGET IN TEXAS, and then taking credit for balancing the budget. And you can find the same hypocrisy with dozens of other REpublicans.
Now we learn that Eric Cantor will only allow disaster relief with matching budget cuts. I wonder how the citizens of Virginia, The Carolina's and elsewhere will feel about that. Stay tuned for late breaking developments folks.....
If the communities, churches, neigbors would be doing the right things then we would not need welfare and abortion clinics, but noone helps each other out , churches build bigger buildings and stash there bank accounts full. If TPrepubs hate welfare, FEMA, SS, medicare, unemployment so bad they dont have to sign up for it. Then there would be plenty for the ones who need it.
Amen sam.
That's the problem though Sam we have no choice but to "sign up" for it because we're not allowed to opt out of it. If I could opt out of any of the above mentioned "programs" I would and I'd invest that money all by myself and do a much better job than the Government. That way it would most definitely be there when I need it.
With any luck the storm track will move a little east and all this will just be a drill. I hope so.
I wonder if FEMA has still has those couple of thousand unused trailers left over from their efforts in New Orleans.
the trailers were made in china LOL