TCTI: Too Crazy Too Ignore
 Dave Ross
sandyfire2.jpg
Dave Ross says when you profess a small government "go-it-alone" philosophy but then every time there's a super storm - and there seem to be more of them these days - you accept big government help, it's called denial. (AP image)

The political storm surge

BY Dave Ross  on October 31, 2012 @ 7:47 am (Updated: 9:18 am - 10/31/12 )

The Superstorm has started a raging online fight over whose side this helps - the big government types or the small government types.

It's the philosophy Mitt Romney expressed two years ago:

"Every time you have an occasion to take something from the federal government and send it back to the states, that's the right direction," Romney said.

That's versus Obama handing out his phone number:

"I told the mayors and the governors they can call me personally at the White House," Obama said in a press briefing.

The Wall Street Journal Wednesday came to Mr. Romney's defense, pointing out he was not saying abolish FEMA back in 2011, he was just saying the states themselves should take more responsibility for disaster relief.

And in fact it's the local county executive, the local mayor, the state's governor touring the damage and making decisions.

But red states and blue states alike still demand that the federal government write the check. They could tax their own people; pay for this stuff on their own, but they don't.

So what's to debate?

It's obvious that no one wants to drown government in the bathtub, or I guess the subway would be the new analogy.

The Red Cross is not going to rebuild the Jersey shore, that's going to be the Army Corps of Engineers.

And people will say, "well, this is an exception." But as climatologists have noted, these exceptions are coming every year now. And when you profess a small government "go-it-alone" philosophy, but then every time there's a super storm - and there seem to be more of them these days - you accept big government help, it's called denial.

Yes I know. "What Superstorms? This is normal." I rest my case.

Dave Ross, KIRO Radio Talk Show Host
Dave Ross is co-host of The Ross & Burbank Show on KIRO Radio (weekdays 9-Noon) and never too far from the spotlight.
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Comments (19)


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  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Dave, you let Romney off too lightly...he was *specifically* calling for disbanding FEMA
    October 31, 2012 7:32 am
    If you look at the quote in its full context, Romney was specifically responding to a question about federal disaster relief.

    After his remark that it was always a good thing to take responsibilities away from the FEDGOV and give them to the state, and it would be even better to transfer those government functions to private industry, the moderator asked for clarification. "Including disaster relief?"

    Romney affirmed his position, responding with a talking point about the immorality of passing the national debt on to our children.

    I wonder if he thought that letting the kids in the disaster zones catch malaria or go without drinking water is more moral?

    It's no surprise the Wall Street Journal would lie for Romney. A week before the election, Romney has abandoned any pretense of honesty.

    In Ohio, the Romney campaign has been hammering the theme, "Obama sold Chrysler to the Italians, and they are planning to move all production to China!"

    Dozens of people have called out Romney's lie. Even Chrysler Corporation took the very unusual step of publicly rebuking a statement made in a political campaign. They publicly announced that Romney was "mistaken", and that there were no plans of any kind to move production to China.

    Romney's response, rather than pull the ad that was quickly proven to be total BS, was to order his campaign staff to run it twice as often. Looks like the old strategy of telling the same lie over, and over, and over again until stupid people accept it as the truth is the backbone of Romney's campaign.

    Are there enough stupid people to elect Romney? Or, are there enough stupid people to re-elect Obama? How can anybody suggest, with a straight face, that these two clowns were the best we could find to run for POTUS? The system obviously isn't working.

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  • ron prevost wrote...
    No, Chuck, No. .......... NO CALL for FEMA to be disbanded.
    October 31, 2012 8:23 am
    Dave, you actually state "So what's to debate?". ... And there really ISN'T anything to debate, except some on the left trying to believe that conservatives would let people fend for themselves in natural disasters. .. and even IF you can twist a word or too, at least give the right the same break you always give the left when Oz needs to 'clarify'.

    Earth to Dave - and the rest of the more liberal side. Disaster relief IS FEMA'S job. And after a disaster of the magnitude of Sandy, any governor or state would be foolish not to apply for and accept federal help. And if Obama did NOT forcefully respond, he would be remiss to act otherwise. .. It's his job !

    .

    But, Dave. So far as Obama handing out his phone number. ... What good does THAT do? ... Even watching in on 'real time', if you get a phone call, you actually need to answer. Domestic AND foreign.

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  • maplefish wrote...
    Answer the phone call for help
    October 31, 2012 8:31 am
    Even if you are too busy watching the events unfold right in front of you on television.... Obama will investigate & get back to ya after he's consulted with the woman on " The View"
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  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Yes, Ron, Yes....and here's a link to the video:
    October 31, 2012 10:42 am
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm-etszRF3c

    According to Romney, the ideal response to emergencies like this would be a response from private enterprise.

    "Attention everybody who used to live in the two square miles just wiped out this disaster. We are bringing in relief supplies. Please form an orderly line. Bottles of water will be $25 each. We will rent you a generator for $600 per day. Food is available as well; milk is $15 a gallon, bread is $12 per loaf, and a pound of hamburger is $40. Cash, or American Express only. If you don't have sufficient funds, please get out of the line to permit faster service for those who do."

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  • logical open mind wrote...
    Dave R dont citizens pay for FEMA? If taxed we then our privy to it.
    October 31, 2012 10:46 am
    If up to the states, then let the states know this in advance and stop taking fema tax money. DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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  • logical open mind wrote...
    big government for natural disasters not for a Fed health care, certainly not for the poverty creating welfare, not for a variety of departments that the states should handle
    October 31, 2012 8:46 am
    Why is hard for you libs to grasp?
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  • SeattleD wrote...
    So logical open mind
    October 31, 2012 6:55 pm
    I just want to make sure I've got this perfectly clear. You do not consider an uninsured child getting cancer to be a natural disaster?

    I think that poor, sick kid would disagree.

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  • logical open mind wrote...
    seattleD the sick kid has medicaid insurance if he is from a poor family. No you know this?
    November 2, 2012 8:28 am
    Plus hospitals do not turn away people. Rich people fund hospitals thru charitable giving.
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  • logical open mind wrote...
    Dave Ross-your straw man arguements are becoming more and more predictible and lame. When a person wants to LIMIT THGE GROWTH OF THE FEDERAL GOV IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THIS PERSON
    October 31, 2012 2:28 pm
    want zero federal gov. You like the Dems and Obama merely try to influence the stupid, the uniformed and the fool!!!!
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  • anotherfencewalker wrote...
    Dave...
    October 31, 2012 9:11 am
    Why didnt you answer John Curleys question this morning? You went into politician backpeddle mode. Come on. You're better than that.
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  • logical open mind wrote...
    what was john curley's question?
    October 31, 2012 10:41 am
    Dave is not good at debates, he needs his audience to be in his liberal bubble. I called in before and when I make too good of point, he moves on.
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  • clevesside wrote...
    Obama is doing everything....
    October 31, 2012 9:55 am
    ...politically possible to avoid the Bush/Brown Syndrome. Nasty disease for the politically afflicted characterized by ineffectual back-slapping. States, as we all know, will only do so much, like Olympia does during flood season. A once-in-a-lifetime event like Sandy should not only cry out for fed help, but also beyond our shores, if we have what "friends" of nations we have there.
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  • mnpat wrote...
    "But red states and blue states alike still demand that the federal government write the check. They could tax their own people; pay for this stuff on their own, but they don't.'
    October 31, 2012 10:01 am
    The federal government is taxing the people of the state for FEMA Mr. Ross, and as long as they do each state has every reason to ask for it back from FEMA....do you honestly believe everything is free that comes from the feds? Are you so naiveté to believe we don’t pay, this was your diatribe from the past when you stated we the people didn’t pay for the freeways, you declared the feds did at no cost to us. I don’t like to be blunt but it appears you need some serious help because you can’t seem to see the forest from the trees. I can’t help but believe when you retire and start collecting social security, you won’t be asking for it back….you, the tower of liberalism and socialism will gladly tell the government….”Naw that’s OK, you keep it.”
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  • cdbtx wrote...
    Ah.. the storm relief
    October 31, 2012 11:04 am
    from the political rhetoric only lasted for two days..

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  • Forrest wrote...
    The storm is perfect to contrast science and religion.
    October 31, 2012 12:55 pm
    With science, we able to see the storm coming with our satellites and evacuate many citizens saving their lives. With religion, many prayed, and accomplished nothing. With science in a secular government, we can continue to monitor our environment and come up with solutions. We can use our resources to help people rebuild and relocate. With religion running government, we can have our religious leaders blame gay marriage for pissing off God and that we deserved to be smitten by Sandy.
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  • sportsguru wrote...
    Forrest
    October 31, 2012 6:03 pm
    Ouch!!!!! That hurt.
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  • Forrest wrote...
    The truth always does
    October 31, 2012 6:25 pm
    Sporty.
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  • Cbrew wrote...
    Forrest... what's that about?
    November 2, 2012 10:36 am
    People praying for folks to be safe is a bad thing? You're a psycho dude. whether you believe or not, it's not up to you to sit here and judge people for their beliefs.
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  • SeattleD wrote...
    If Dumney throws the cost of disaster recovery to the states Colorado makes out like a bandit
    October 31, 2012 6:47 pm
    No hurricanes, no tornadoes, no earthquakes, no floods, no volcanoes, occasional snowstorm...

    In the meantime Washington has a 9.0 earthquake just off the coast that's overdue.

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