This is a letter to the editor from Rhino Times reader Christian Rice
Monday morning after North Carolina was still fighting to recover from the extreme amount of damage in our beautiful Appalachian Mountain communities, Trump sends a social media message that ends with “…but don’t like the reports that I’m getting about the Federal Government, and the Democratic Governor of the State (North Carolina) going out of their way to not help people of Republican areas….” Only a POS would make up such a bold lie in order to politicize a natural disaster such as NC is facing for his political advantage.
Every citizen of the Great State of North Carolina should be disgusted by this utter lack of respect for us and our leaders who are working overtime to recover from this tragedy. End of the day, we are Carolinians before we are Democrat or Republican. Real leaders need to represent all the people and not just those that sing praise to one party or another.
Yet another reason I won’t be voting for Trump. Reason #346
Christian Rice
*********
I recall that Democrat politicians fell over themselves to politicise the response to Hurricane Katrina, especially when President Bush tried to encourage FEMA boss Michael Brown by saying “Good job… Brownie”.
Chrissy declares that he is shocked – shocked! – that politics has occurred… five weeks before a Presidential Election.
Our Village Idiot needs to stop clutching his pearls. Nobody’s buying his red faced rage.
I don’t recall the criticism being based on bold faced lies as Trump has done in this case? Austin may believe it ok to openly lie to people in a disaster zone that Biden isn’t returning the GA Governors call or that Cooper is intentionally providing less aid to republican communities, but I don’t.
If he had legitimate criticism of a lack of response as many did of FEMA during Katrina, then he is welcome to share his opinion. But that isn’t what he has done. He made up falsehoods to make his political rivals look bad with no concern to the people suffering and the impact of those lies on the hope of people in these disaster zones waiting of aid and support. Only way to go lower than Trump is to defend his actions. Way to go Austin!
Not shocked that Austin is good with his leaders lying to people suffering. I hope others have more heart than Austin.
****
I really bug you, don’t I?
****
Not particularly. Without you I wouldn’t have near as much fun visiting this site. I like showing how I am different than a person like you.
You certainly are. Thank God.
Sometimes, reading some of the stuff in the RT just confirms the scary notion that you should never, ever, overestimate the intelligence of the average American voter. Look what they’ve gotten us into already.
No kidding. Still amazing me that anyone can have any respect for Trump given the person of low character and morals her proves himself to be every day. Not to mention his low IQ and selfish approach to leadership of this great country. Thankfully people came to their senses and fired him in 2020.
— If I were a Kamala supporter, I wouldn’t mention low IQ…
LOL, you keep making that baseless claim that a woman who graduated from law school and achieved the highest level a prosecutor in a State can achieve as is has a low IQ. LOL, your lies bore me.
Make up something you can at least pretend is true because your little boy schoolyard name calling just doesn’t carry much weight in this case.
Look up what Trump did in 2017 after Hurricane Matthew. He denied 90% of the request from NC because we had a Dem governor. Just look it up for yourself because some are determined to believe the worst without checking.
Hurricane who…??
If I recall, he denied 99% percent of the federal aid request.
Austin should move to Austin-sad case- anon
Actually, according to information from the North Carolina Governor’s office, North Carolina received approximately $1.5 billion in disaster relief funding for Hurricane Matthew recovery efforts.
Don, I think you are confusing what the storm recovery actually cost versus what the Trump approved for the recover. It cost 1.5 billion to recover and Trump approved $6.5 million when Cooper requested $900 million.
The actual recovery costs were covered by individual assistant grands from FEMA ($98M), block grants from various other federal resources such as US Housing and Urban Development ($240M), Flood insurance claims ($200M), Public Assistance Grants ($400M), and a handful of other Federal Agencies (~$250).
Trump could have vastly sped up our recovery efforts but elected not to for reasons you can only guess at this point. Luckly Cooper’s office work hard with people in Washington to find the grants, aid and other sources of funds to help the people of the Great State of North Carolina.
Details of Trump denial found here:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/north-carolina-denied-99-percent-federal-recovery-funds-hurricane-matthew#:~:text=North%20Carolina%20will%20receive%20less%20than%201%20percent%20of%20the
Actual sources of Recovery founds found here:
https://governor.nc.gov/documents/files/hurricane-matthew-recovery-fact-sheet/download?2Nmgc61K3xqZDcfelclBtIn9_9agzyTJ#:~:text=More%20than%20$98.1%20million%20in%20grants%20given%20to%20help%20families
From the governor’s website, “Approximately $1.5 billion in federal and state money has been committed for Matthew recovery to date, including funds allocated but not yet received on the ground.” No it isn’t all from FEMA but money is money and FEMA does not have unlimited funds.
FEMA has been late to appear during this disaster. And now I hear on the news it is out of funding, having spent it all on illegal immigrant housing and services needs.
FEMA’s declared goal is “Equity”.
That is Leftist code for anti-white discrimination.
So is D.E.I. – “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion”. White people’s problems are of no interest to FEMA.
– And Western North Carolina is overwhelmingly white and Republican.
That’s the truth that nobody’s saying.
Right !
FEMA was on the ground prior to the storm. How much sooner did you want them to arrive.
Not exactly, FEMA *distributes* money to immigrants from the Shelter and Services Program (SSP), not their own budget. SSP had a budget of $650 for fiscal 2024, which ended on September 30. Per Newsweek, “The DHS Appropriations Act 2024 shows that the money is from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) budget, which is then given to FEMA to hand out, “helping to facilitate the safe, orderly, and humane release of asylum seekers and families”.
https://www.newsweek.com/kamala-harris-fema-hurricane-helene-relief-funding-biden-1963998
I have friends up there and they say that there has been no sign of FEMA or any help other than local sources and other communities sending aid. I’m proud that Greensboro sent police, fire, and water crews to help out. Maybe state and federal aid are going somewhere but the people I know haven’t received it. So… Trump might have a point.
The challenge with WNC assistance is that so many roads are without access. There are amazing stories of people helping each other by hiking in over 2 miles to get aid to families in need. But to say that any lack of aid is due to political bias is BS and cruel lie to make to people in need who are holding out hope for assistance.
If you think that is ok. Then you should check yourself.
Yeah, because the government would never target anyone maliciously…. right.
During a crisis. No. They certainly shouldn’t and most often do not. Trump is one of the few to introduce such an awful standard. Only people in the Trump cult would excuse such behavior.
Chris you never disappoint. When I need a leftist lying libtard laugh all I have to do is read your TDS BS! Well they should be biased especially during a crisis…. What a dumb communist libtarded statement. The correct answer would be, THEY SHOULD NEVER WEAPONIZE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGAINST ITS OWN PEOPLE PERIOD!!! How’d that work out for Donald Trump? These crooks you support are literally MARXIST and SOCIALISTS ! READ THEIR OWN OPINIONS! Kommiela Harris’ own daddy was a Marxist ! You’re a [deleted] dolt! Please shut the hell up!
The anger issues with people on the right is stunning. AND exactly what Trump wants to happen. Pathetic.
There’s this really cool invention called the CH-47 helicopter. And you want to know the best part? IT DOESN’T NEED ROADS!!!
Somebody needs to wake up Uncle Joe and remind him he has this group called the 82nd Airborne Division and the U.S. Marines who have a BUNCH of these wonderful inventions.
You are watching the news yeah? Only a goof like you would imply that helicopters are not already in use. What tool. Not shocked you would emulate your dear Trump’s low morals to make such an ignorant statement of misinformation.
Helicopters have been deployed since day one. And they are using as many of them that they can utilize. The challenge of course in the WNC has limited areas they can land for the remote mountain homes often built up on the side of mountains. Uncle Joe is wide awake and has deployed 1,000+ active duty military personal in addition to the national guard. No services have been withheld or expense spared by the federal government.
Word from people is that the response has been impressive (have been reading testimonies on reddit). Several hubs of services are established, and they are reaching out to remote home as quickly as possible and dropping supplies across a very wide swath of our mountains. Florida have even sent up 100s of their temporary bridges. Which is impressive given they themselves have been hit hard by this storm. THAT is how you avoid politics during a crisis.
Happy to share actual stories of amazing work of the teams of rescuers and aid workers in their care for our Great State of North Carolian.
THE government has not allowed the 82nd to send help even though they were ready on “day one”. Civilian craft were there within 24 hours landing in the tricky areas of the mountains (multiple videos are online, many part of Operation Airdrop out of TEXAS). Citizen charitable organizations have been doing the rescue and providing supplies, not our government.
First – people must always be prepared to rely on themselves and to support neighbors, NOT the government.
Second – citizen organizations and individuals should go into rescue and help mode during disasters. Don’t plan on government help. They are not as organized and it will take days. It’s your neighbors and groups from other states that will come to help you. Learn about reputable charities and donate. They will show up within 24 hours.
Chris, I will never support government help in disaster areas, they always disappoint. Civilians show up and do the job. Myorkas has said they have no money to respond, Harris offered $750/claim as did Biden to the people of Maui – for which I have no words. People need to learn FEMA is no longer a resource. They must plan ahead and always be prepared, and rely on each other, not the government.
From Chris: “No services have been withheld or expense spared by the federal government.”
From Mayorkas: We have no money left.
Strike One!
From Chris: “Uncle Joe is wide awake and has deployed 1,000+ active duty military personal in addition to the national guard.”
From news services: Troops have been alerted but have not been given any orders or assignments.
Strike Two!
From Chris: ” Only a goof like you would imply that helicopters are not already in use.”
From me: Nice try, but I never said that. The overwhelming number of the helicopters currently in use are CIVILIAN. VOLUNTEER CIVILIANS!
Strike Three! YOU ARE OUTTA HERE!
You better go back along with the other mindless drones and get your Masters to revive and reissue the talking points they’re issuing you.
______
Alan & Deborah ; Chris lies.
All. The. Time.
More BS from Alan.
If you listen to his full Press conference here is what he is ACTUALLY saying:
“We are meeting the immediate needs with the money that we have,” Mayorkas told reporters on Wednesday, per multiple reports.
He continued: “We are expecting another hurricane hitting — we do not have the funds, FEMA does not have the funds, to make it THROUGH THE SEASON.”
The latest: Asked about Mayorkas’ anticipated funding shortfall Thursday, FEMA Director of Individual Assistance Frank Matranga said “money is an important factor,” but that “the focus remains” on assisting individual communities.
“We know that the needs right now are big and still not fully stabilized,” he added, saying the agency will continue to communicate its funding status to Congress.
My daughter is in Boone volunteering through her place of work handling out lunches to aid workers and was impressed with the amount of effort going on. I follow the North Carolina subreddit that has many testimonies about the wealth of support people are receiving both locally and from State and Federal resources.
You want links showing the national guard helicopters there were there day one? Sure, the grass roots organization Operation Airdrop has turned out for this event as a great service to the people of NC. Note that that group prides itself on coordinating its efforts with State emergency management personnel…..which includes the National Guard.
Don’t blame Joe if the Army takes this long to organize assistance. You should Know what is involved in a deployment of this nature. i can’t imagine it happens overnight.
i get it Alan, you really are not bright. I just stop with your poor interpretation of news events because you want Biden to fail. In this case you are hurting North Carolinas with your BS.
But as always. You be you.
In reply to your statement “Don’t blame Joe if the Army takes this long to organize assistance. You should Know what is involved in a deployment of this nature. i can’t imagine it happens overnight.”
Division can have a battalion, a fully equipped infantry battalion, wheels up, in the air 18 hours after notification so don’t talk about what you don’t know. And you don’t seem to have much of an opinion of the U.S. military and it’s ability to react.
For something like this, in our own back yard, if Sleepy Joe would have given the word there could have been initial military assistance within 2-3 days.
But hey, you just keep commenting on what you don’t know.
Alan, you are the fool that said they weren’t there on the ground as of Oct 2nd.. Check yourself and your own fear monger lies. I would just pointing out that if your lie was correct, that is on the military, not Biden.
My understanding is with Biden’s authorization of national guard troops were deployment ready prior to the storm and once they assessed the recovery requirements after the storm, they requested and immediately received authorization of the 1000 additional US Army troops. As of day one the guard had three dozen National Guard helicopters flying in and out of flood-stranded regions along with a North Carolina Air National Guard C-17 transport aircraft moving in resources and supplies.
As operations stabilize and base of operations are established and expanded, i would expect more military resources to be authorized. If everyone dove in day one, there wouldn’t be the resources to support the aid workers, not the mention the people in help of aid. This type of operations ramps up and has been ramped up as quickly. The State and Local emergency services, the US national guard, US 82 Airborne, and 1000s of volunteer groups and individuals from across the United States are all coordinating together to help the people of WNC. Aid came in so quickly, locals asked that it slow down as they lacked space to store all the supplies this early in the recovery and save it for next week or the next as they will need assistance for quite some time.
How about we give them praise instead your hollow uninformed criticisms in your weak attempt to make ‘gotchas’ at the Biden administration and FEMA. It was wrong for Trump to spread misinformation, and it is just as wrong for you to do the same.
Look at your pocketbook and that will be all you need to know to not vote Harris
Inflation started to Spike in April of 2020….before Biden implemented any of his policies….so yup. Trump spending and COVID was the main starting point for the inflation crisis. I understand you want it to be different and want to believe Donald “the big lie’ Trump so you can feed his ego but that doesn’t make it true.
Also note that Trump’s tax plan increased YOUR taxes while giving a permeant tax break to the wealthy and corporations.
My pocketbook tells me to vote for Harris who will restore taxes on the wealthy and corporations and give the tax breaks where they are actually needed. Young American families!!!
But you be you.
Not so fast on the tax issue. You’re so full of BS. You keep bringing it up, but brackets got lower for everyone and the standard deduction went up under Trump. Additionally, the standard deduction has more than doubled under the Trump tax cuts, he instituted a lower threshold for qualified medical expenses, and doubled the maximum child tax credit
Pre-Trump brackets were: 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%.
Trump reduced them to: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%
He also stretched the brackets out, meaning you can stay in a lower bracket even if you make more money. Pre-Trump, you paid 15% if you earned $9k-$38k. (single filer) Under Trump you pay 12% if you earn $11k -$44k. If you earned $44k pre-Trump, you were in the 25% tax bracket.
https://smartasset.com/taxes/trump-tax-brackets
Even liberal FactCheck.org admits most people did get a tax cut. And they say the law reduced the individual income taxes owed by Americans by about $1,260 on average in 2018. Taxpayers in the middle 20% of earners (those with income between about $49,000 and $86,000) saw an average tax cut of about $800. Get out of here your nonsense bro.
To be fair it depends on whose analysis you believe. The analysis I used in making the comment came from the Tax Foundation and the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) conducted analysis that shows how this increase will occur using analysis results you can view here:
https://files.taxfoundation.org/20171116142502/JCT-Table-Mandate-2021.png
Its shows those in the lower income brackets actually paying more. As the deduction rules change, they increase the actual tax rate again every two years and the effects spreads to the other tax brackets.
Funny, now a conservative wants me to believe a fact checker! That is awesome. Now maybe you will finally stop with the election being stollen lies!
The more I read the factcheckers and other analysis using more recent actual tax payments/refunds, I will stop making that claim unless 2023 actual taxes paid changes the assumptions to validate The Tax Foundation analysis.
Thank you for your reply to my comment. Always good to learn through exchange.
But Don, also wanted to ask your thoughts on the inflation part of my comment. Any thoughts or counter argument?
BUT FEMA has actually done nothing to aid the thousands of victims! That’s all being accomplished by neighbors, including volunteers who operate drones and fly their own helicopters
Not to mention all the food and supplies coming in from churches, civic groups, etc across NC. FEMA spent our tax $$$ on the illegals.
Inflation counter point: Eggs $3.59 a dozen. Nuff said.
Reason number one not to vote for Kamala Harris; SOCIALISM
Reason number 2 is that chris is going to vote for her
Right ! And reason #3; Kamala is a serial liar! She keeps right on telling lies which have been long ago debunked.
Ooooh. You used all caps with your big scary word. Not sure what you mean by socialism. If it means healthcare for all, equal rights for all people and compassion for the disadvantage. Sign me up because that is what Kamala stands for versus Trump who stands for himself and division from those that don’t agree with everything he says.
But you be you.
I am just glad the normal Trumper crowd isn’t defending his awful Lie about the massive turnout of aid to people impact by this awful storm. Politics has NO place in providing aid to those in need.
———
If “Politics has NO place in providing aid to those in need” (your words), why are you doing so?
Hypocrite !
If you view healthcare as ‘aid’ versus a human right. That is on you.
———
You have written a letter that overtly politicizes a natural disaster.
Then you condemn the politicization of the event.
You can’t get more stark and clear hypocrisy than that.
You’re not just a liar, you’re a hypocrite too.
You really struggle with reading comprehension. I am criticizing a leader for their politicization of a crisis. I guess in your world it is ok to ignore a leader’s poor behavior during a time of crisis. In my word it is not ok. But again, not shocked that Trumpers ignore this blatant lying by Trump yet again.
But you be you.
You have written a letter that politicizes a natural disaster, while condemning the politicizing of a natural disaster.
If you can’t see the hypocrisy, you’re even more bovine than I thought.
Your logic is that that only a mindless conservative could use to avoid holding their party leader accountable for their dispicable behavior during a time of crisis.
But you be you
I AGREE 100%, America had better wake up or we will be another Argentina. We are almost there after the past 8 years.
You’re right, Betty.
If the hard Left that controls the Democratic Party wins another term, the US will rapidly become another Venezuela.
That country used to be prosperous and free before the hard Left seized power (Chavez, then Maduro).
Don’t think it can’t happen here….
What is the basis for this BS?
The economy is doing better now than then when the administration started (inflation started to spike in April of 2020 long before any Biden administration policies had been enacted). Just more ignorant fear mongering from the Right. The right has been fear mongering that the stock market will crash, we will fall into a depression “like the world has never seen” if democrats are elected. LOL hasn’t happened then and won’t happen this time either.
We have one of the strongest economies in the world. We recovered from the GLOBAL inflation faster than any other country under the Biden administration. We have our issues, but there is no basis in believing we are going to collapse. More fear monger from a bunch of ignorant sore losers who could not care less about facts, truth, honesty or any sense of accountability to the words spewing from the mouth of their dear leader.
However, Trump was on the ground ( in muddy boots) with the Gov of Georgia last weekend, while sleepy UncleJoe was relaxing on the beach and Kamala was playing up to the Hollywood $$$bags. What does that say about their priorities?
You’re a dumbass [Deleted].
Awwwww, you got nothing other than that? A 2nd grade level personal attack. Makes it obvious who you support….the childish candidate that calls his opponents childish names just like you. How cute.
Do you really want to go there? Shall I list the number of such attacks you have
I give as well as I take with the alarmist conservatives that frequent here. If you can’t take it, don’t sling it.
Chris, I have a full box of tampons if you need them. Since your vp pick feels the need to put tampons in boys bathrooms, you obviously feel comfortable using them yourself or you wouldn’t vote for the idiots. If you’re pmsing, I’ll be glad to send you over a bottle of midol, unless your vp pick wants to provide those for you free as well.
Good point. Reason #346 applies to both candidates, both parties. If you see any media, we are flooded with attack ads from the mud. Lies and deception are everywhere. Do you want someone you like, or someone you dislike less?
The choice is neither, the Democrat Party offers more of the last 3+ years, in spades. Marxist principles. See the “democrat playbook” online, read Saul Alinsky. Donald Trump may be an asshole, but he’s my asshole. He gets positive things done. Our national debt is set to be up over a Trillion dollars this year. Interest on our national debt is around $750 million this year, and growing. All this financed by just printing more paper. A Trillion here, a Trillion there; first thing we’ll be talking about real money.
Gold is up about 45% in the last year. Any idea of the reason for that?
Today, I went to my favorite big box store on Wendover. A bag of walnuts, some garlic & parsley, and jar of honey, & 4 pounds of farmed fish – $62. And these are among the lowest prices you can find around here. Our govt in Washington is responsible for this.
I strongly disagree. It is one thing to exaggerate or improperly frame your opponents during an election cycle. But real leaders set aside politics during a time of crisis. To tell people during a such an extreme natural disaster that the government doesn’t care about them…. damages peoples hope during a time when hope is all that many of them have left. Sadly many Trumpers tend to believe Trumps continuous stream of lies but Trump doesn’t care if his helps him regain power. Power that I say, he doesn’t deserve. He has already shown he is unable able to handle a crisis given the miscommunications he spewed throughout the covid pandemic. This is just another example of Trump putting his desires ahead of American people’s needs.
If you are ok with this than shame on you for being as cold and callous a person as Trump.
A decent human does as Biden did. When he spoke to the Govenor of GA, his only question was ‘what do you need’ and ‘if you need more, let me know and we will get it to you.’
I prefer a leader handle a crisis as Biden has demonstrated and NOT as Trump has demonstrated.
But you be you
Miller,
You say “the choice is neither” and call Tr*mp “my asshole” in the same paragraph.
F+. Please see me after class.
No, before that he said, “Do you want someone you like, or someone you dislike less?”
Him stating that the choice is neither was in answer to that question. He is saying that even though he doesn’t “like” Trump, he is still going to vote for him. Learn to read, dude.
Roy Cooper is a [Deleted]. Period. Move on.
Geez Mr. Rice. If you want to see a [Deleted], look at who is sitting in the White House.
Go ahead and defend Trumps actions during a time of crisis as perfectly acceptable. Bet you can’t. All anyone has done in response to my letter is insult me and weak attempts at deflection. Hmmmm wonder why?
Because that is all conservatives have; lies, fear, and hate. Prove me wrong and help me understand how Trump lying about aid to people suffering is ‘Presidental’. Bet you can’t.
Actually, Trump was right on that fact. After every major disaster, the president and the vice president as well as the governor of whatever state would visit. Trump was the first person to come to North Carolina or Georgia and visit after the hurricane. Neither camel nor Joe bothered to come visit and see about the people or the towns. Not until Trump came and made it clear that he cared and they did not. And he was correct. They did not care and it was only after they were humiliated over it that they decided to come and visit. The president should always care about the people of this country. Trump did that. Kamalla and Joe did not. Kamala could care less about anybody but putting extra money in her pocket. It is what it is. That’s how she got to where she’s at and that’s how she’s staying there. Which leads me to believe that that’s why she is so close to Skippy. I don’t see you complaining about Clinton and his indiscretion in the White House itself while he was president. Nobody is bothering to look at that part of it and the fact that he paid Monica to keep her mouth shut. He was president. Trump was not. You can hate Trump all you want, but he is still the best thing that ever happened to this country and he is the best thing that will happen to this country. He is not a politician. He is a businessman and that is exactly what we need. Running this country is a business. He cannot be bought and that’s what people like you and the demonrats hate him. Kamalla and Joe should have got off their butts and came straight here to tour and talk to people after the devastation and they did not until he came and humiliated them because they did not do their job. You can’t sugarcoat that. There is nothing you can say that will excuse the abhorrent behavior that this President and vice President displayed.
To be clear Trump’s lie was that Biden and Cooper where withholding aid from areas of the state deemed conservative.
But to your silly argument. It is best that leaders wait for disaster areas stabilize and establish bases for recovery operations before a leader comes to visit, otherwise the visit become a distraction form the recovery operation itself. Biden is in the State yesterday and today.
In addition, Biden in his role is needed to be in Washington to make sure the aid and resource as approved a quickly as possible. Again, Trump lied about Biden not returning the GA governor’s call.
You clearly have no idea what you are talking about and seem be much prefer Trumps lies versus actually understanding the Truth. Pathetic but par for the course with Trumpers.
But you be you.
Chris, do you believe the actual victims in western N.C. are lying? They have said “we haven’t seen FEMA…. Or do you believe the mindless old fart who when asked about the response to the storm sleepy says “what storm?” Then when told, The hurricane” he says OOOOOH! That storm …then it takes Kamala Harris a full week to swing by and probably wouldn’t have but since she’s copying off Trumps paper she had to. I’m with you Chris, I believe the feds! I mean, this migrant crisis has to be a lie because how many times has Mayorkas told us the border is secure, the border is closed. Man, you are old enough to have a daughter handing out sandwiches you are plenty old enough to have grown up by now. Wake up man. Socialism has worked nowhere. Dang! Misspoke! Kamala is a Marxist. See! You have to admit that you have been wrong sometimes. It’s called being an adult. C’mon man!
If you believe you or more directly Kamala is going to tell businesses how much they can sell their products for and then tax them into bankruptcy and they will just sit here and take it , you really are a sheep for the socialist party. They will move to Mexico or sub their work to the Chinese and OUR people will be out of work and OUR economy will collapse. It’s very simple. Think man! YOUR party is full of liars and idiots. Just answer a couple of questions. . What is wrong with putting America and Americans first? What is offensive about Making America Great Again? America and Americans first!
See FEMA people? That’s not how it works. It works by FEMA coordinating massive amounts of supplies, funds and people. They in turn provide the aid to State local emergency people who coordinate the thousands of personal volunteers. And it is THOSE VOLUNTEERS who people will see the most. Want to see FEMA, go to a major coordination center in a place like Boone. They are all over the place.
We also don’t need photo ops with senior politicians on the ground disrupting recovery operations with their security requirements and staged events. We need them in Washington working on funding, resource allocations and military responses. You want photo ops go play with all the silly AI pics of Trump climbing power lines and wading in flood waters.
What I believe is the massive mountain of supplies and volunteers in the major mountain cities (my daughter is volunteering in Boone for example and noted the number of supplies, trucks, and machinery moving through her community.) I also believe the State emergency Officials who indicate they have what they need right now but worry if the resource will continue to flow through the coming months as this recovery will take a very long time.
Given your silly Marxist remark (bet you can’t even explain what Marxism is), you clearly hate democrats which is your right. Just don’t let that make you wish poor on WNC recovery efforts so you can rant about a !gotcha! on social media and news comments sections. It really does nothing to help those in WNC by spreading your hate. It was wrong for Trump to do it and it is wrong for you as well.
Go find the testimonies of some amazing people who have overcome their own personal loses to help others. The couple coordinating coffee and sandwiches in Boone, had their home flooded out. Yet they are standing up for their community. Thier church is cleaning out their house while they help feed the displaced and volunteers. That is how WNC will recover. Moutain Strong!
Want to yell at someone. Yell at the Republicans in congress that voted against increasing FEMA disaster recovery funds because there is already another major storm about to hit FL and FEMA is already very thin given the scale of the damage in WNC.
But you be you.
We have some really tough choices this time. Do we want higher taxes or lower? Do we want Venezuelan gangs invading our country or not? Do we want to make America great again or do we want to put tampons in boys bathrooms? Such tough decisions!
Great comparisons Wayne, it gives me something to really think about……………………………………………………NOT!!!
Yeah, Trump’s track record of increasing taxes on the middle class while giving permanent tax cuts to only the wealthy it will make sense voting against him if you want lower taxes. Not to mention his idea of across-the-board tariffs that will increase prices of any imported goods and services.
Maybe Chris wants to vote for H&W because he needs a tampon for that time of the month. He seems to suffer from pms quite a bit according to some of his ridiculous rants.
Maybe Chris wants to vote for H&W because he needs a tampon for that time of the month. He seems to suffer from pms quite a bit according to some of his ridiculous rants.
Typical childish quip from a Trumper. Yawn.
Chris-I agree that politicians don’t need to go to a disaster site and create security issues. But Biden and Harris could have had their ass at the White House instead of a Delaware beach and Hollywood fundraiser. For optics sake act like you care. And don’t fake a picture like you are working and your phone is not plugged into the earbuds. Yes, I know they can “work” from anywhere. Lead by example and work from the office we pay and elect you to work from home
Chris, what flavor is the Kool Aid? It seems you been drinking a lot of it!
Yours clearly is the red flavor of kool-aid.
Still waiting for one of you Trumpers to defend his actions in this case as anything close to Presidental? So far it is just personal attacks and deflection. Makes me believe I am right.
This says it all right here: “Emergency management researchers lament that the platform owned by Elon Musk, which was once considered a useful source of information in a disaster, is instead contributing to the chaos in Helene’s wake.”
Thanks Trumpers. Way to make the world worse even after a natural disaster.
I am glad you are concerned for the folks in Western NC SC GA and Tenn. Not sure what national news you follow but I did here FEMA and it’s bulb head leader state they have no funds as close to 2 billion tax dollars have been used for the illegals. Guess we all know where the current Pres and VP and that party stand and it ain’t worrying about Western NC, SC, GA or TENN.
That story has been debunked. Again, this is low moral Republicans attempting to make Biden administration look bad with a care for how this kind of news can impact people attempting to recover from such a disaster. WNC communities need HOPE, not fear mongering from their Republicans.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/false-claims-about-fema-disaster-funds-and-migrants-pushed-by-trump/ar-AA1rI7wh?ocid=BingNewsVerp
This was part of an article in the news: please by all means defend this garbage!!
Update here on site of Asheville, NC. We have powered up two large operating bases for choppers to deliver goods into hands. We’ve deployed 300+ starlinks and outpour is it has saved many lives. The big issue is FEMA is actively blocking shipments and seizing goods and services locally and locking them away to state they are their own. It’s very real and scary how much they have taken control to stop people helping. We are blocked now on the shipments of new starlinks coming in until we get an escort from the fire dept. but that may not be enough.”
Bet you don’t have a reliable source for this BS. This has been debunked as disgusting conservative fear mongering by people who hope WNC recovery fails and people suffer so they can have a ‘gotcha’ against democrats. It’s disgusting and you are a tool of the fools for repeating this misinformation.
i bet you are a fool enough to believe the picture of Trump on the power lines circulating on facebook was real and not AI.
I put that quote into Google and nothing came up. I assume you were referring to Elon’s donation of Starlink to people in the area. (I also know other charitable organizations and civilians who have bought them and delivered ones to people in the area.) If Trump calling Musk got that done who cares? If FEMA or civilian or military choppers are now delivering those donated Starlink who cares? If this is what it takes to get agencies working together for people in need who cares? I sure don’t. I want people to get help ASAP.
I don’t see how people using Starlink in these areas without working cell towers could contribute to the chaos. I know that fire and police departments have been grateful, as have small communities without any ability to communicate. One helicopter pilot flying for Operation Airdrop had Starlink and said that he stayed on the ground for over thirty minutes so people could call their families to let them know they were safe. There haven’t been issues with helicopters flying into each other, they have places to land and load up with supplies, which was worked out on the first day with Operation Airdrop at the Lexington Airport.
FEMA is overwhelmed. They obviously haven’t learned since 9/11 or Katrina how to handle disasters by coordinating with local, state, and civilian volunteers or charitable organizations that immediately come together to help during emergencies. They need to get their shit together, as do all government agencies (and I know, I worked for one). Accepting all the civilian and charitable help you are offered should be a priority and never be turned down.
Chris’ quote, ““Emergency management researchers lament that the platform owned by Elon Musk, which was once considered a useful source of information in a disaster, is instead contributing to the chaos in Helene’s wake.” is referring to Musk’s social media platform X/Twitter, which used to be *the* way to quickly communicate during an emergency. Sadly, what might be called “signal to noise” ratio, or even “bot to human” ratio on Twitter has shifted to the negative; it is not the people seeking help or to connect with family that are causing chaos, it is vultures who swoop in and post false information that distracts from people trying to use the space for help.
And FEMA may be overwhelmed in part because Congress has consistently voted against increased funding, though both houses did pass an additional $20 billion last week, just as Helene was cranking up.
Thank you for adding clarity to the quote. You are correct in your reading.
Chris- I’d love to buy you a beer (or beverage of your choice) sometime. This has been a great discussion, at least on one side. 🙂
Single malt scotch and a cigar is the best way to enjoy a debate. Too bad that these days the most energy is in personal insults and attacks versus facts and policy discussions.
Getting all the talking points covered here…
Point blank neither candidate is the best this country has to offer. There is no other argument. With that said, vote your conscious. Having grown up in California I have witnessed first hand the devastation that liberal/progressive policies bring to the table. Crime, drug use, homelessness, illegal immigration, high taxes, general government waste, over regulation prohibiting the free market from optimizing and so on. The current administration and potential future administration under KH will bring more woe to the American public.
With that said, Chris, I do not care about your feelings for Trump. They are yours and yours alone.
Crime, drug use, homelessness, high taxes and general government waste is largely due to massive separation of wealth that has made it impossible for lower income people to get their heads above water and it is conservative federal tax policies and over reliance on big dollar donors in politics to blame. Can’t say either side has the right solution right now but I can guarantee Trump has the worst solution by far. More money in the hands of the wealthy and big business at the cost of middle-class America.
You post as a fool.
When one tries to find fault in others, it’s always easy to do so. I’m guessing this has been a pattern of yours for most of your life.
Thus far we know the response of FEMA & NC has been weak and feckless compare to private groups like Baptist Disaster Relief, Samaritans Purse and many private citizens taking matters into their own hands.
And remember…you were already looking for reasons not to vote for Trump before before Helene happen.
I know many people in life who don’t like success, I’ll just add your name to the list.
You cleary have no basis for your statement as you offered none in your comment. The fact that private groups participate is a sign of a strong community and team work. If you see it as a failing that the government doesn’t handle a disaster recovery as big as WNC if facing, you clearly have no understanding of how disaster recover is managed. First and foremost, disasters are coordinated by local emergency response teams and funnel requests for their needs thru the state who handles requests into FEMA and other federal resources.
Team work. Conservatives like yourself could learn something from the folks who dedicate themselves to helping people during times of such as we are facing now. Those that use it as a time to add to division and fear need to be called out and reminded during times like this misinformation hurts no one more than the people who are desperate to find hope in a time of extreme lose.
But you be you.