Think Progress

White House Blames Gov. Sebelius For National Guard Shortages

sebered.gif Kansas is currently missing approximately 60 percent of its National Guard equipment because of the war in Iraq, hampering its ability to respond to the recent tornadoes.

In a “spat reminiscent of White House finger-pointing at Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco after the federal government’s botched response to Hurricane Katrina,” White House Press Secretary Tony Snow this morning blamed Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) for the shortages, saying he was “not aware of any prior complaints” by the governor about the equipment:

If you don’t request it, you’re not going to get it. … As far as we know, the only thing the governor has requested are FM radios. There have been no requests to the National Guard for heavy equipment. … We are eager to provide what Kansas needs. But again there are also – you also have to go through the process of making the request first.

Snow’s statements are incorrect. On repeated occasions, Sebelius made clear to the White House that Kansas was dangerously low on National Guard equipment:

Dec. 30, 2005: Sebelius writes to Rumsfeld requesting new equipment. “The Guard was critical to responding to recent blizzards and floods in Kansas, yet its ability to respond to similar situations is being diminished by a lack of equipment,” wrote Sebelius. Included with her letter was a list of equipment Kansas had lost to the Iraq war. [Kansas City Star, 1/21/06; Topeka Capital-Journal, 6/29/06]

Jan. 23, 2006: Sebelius personally urges Bush to increase National Guard funding. In an one-hour motorcade ride in Kansas with Bush, Sebelius expressed concern about “a reduction of National Guard troop strength in its next budget.” Bush assured her he was “dealing” with the shortages. [Topeka Capital-Journal, 1/24/06; Kansas City Star, 3/11/06]

June 28, 2006: Sebelius sends Army Secretary list of equipment lost in war. In a meeting with Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey, Sebelius told Harvey that the state had lost about $140 million in National Guard equipment to the Iraq war. Her office then sent him a list of the lost equipment. [Topeka Capital-Journal, 6/29/06]

Sept. 2006: Sebelius lobbies for replacement of National Guard equipment sent to Iraq. “Kansas’ congressional delegation, Sebelius and governors from around the country have been lobbying the Pentagon for increased funding to replace National Guard equipment that has been left in Iraq or damaged beyond repair after repeated use in war.” [AP, 9/5/06]

Feb. 27, 2007: Sebelius pushes White House and Congress for more funding. “Now the Guard needs Washington’s help,” Sebelius said in press conference on Capitol Hill. “The President and Congress need to step up to the plate and give our Guard members the support they deserve.” [Press Release, 2/27/07]

At today’s White House press briefing, a reporter confronted Snow about Sebelius’s past requests. Snow simply replied, “And what happened was, she actually did get — there was not a formal request. But they’d had conversations.” He also admitted that Sebelius did request more than FM Radios.

The Mahablog has more.

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269 Responses to “White House Blames Gov. Sebelius For National Guard Shortages”

  1. Spudge_Boy says:

    Of course they did.

    Republicans + Responsibility = Not a chance in hell


  2. null says:

    lying can’t be good for Tony’s illness


  3. Royston Vasey says:

    Snow lies like a flat fish


  4. Art says:

    “If you don’t request it, you’re not going to get it.”

    Don’t let them kid you. Even if you do request it, you’re not going to get it. Just ask Louisiana.


  5. Republicans are the Fear and Smear Party says:

    That’s it, snowjob, blame the governors. And while your at it, why not call the victims cowards and traitors, just to cover all your bases.


  6. chimpeach says:

    I don’t care if the guy’s dying of cancer. Somebody should punch his f*cking lights out.

    Yeah, Tony, it’s much better to make up some bullshit story and point the finger at someone else than to EVER EVER accept resposnibility for yet another thing that your braindead boss has screwed up.


  7. RoboTroll 3000 says:

    I believe Clinton requested FM radios too.

    Wait, that’s not right, is it… I believe Clinton ignored requests for equipment… Clinton did something bad, at any rate. Something that makes Bush look not so horrible.
    So there.


  8. stopthecons says:

    #1 – you’ve got that right! no responsibility for anything, and that’s just the opposite of what should be happening in America…..where people need to be held accountable for their actions…

    an interesting read on the idea of responsibility:

    “Solving Problems in a Free Society”
    http://www.populistamerica.com/solving_problems_in_a_free_society


  9. lw says:

    Don’t try to contradict Tony with facts. They are irrelevant. The folks in the White House create their own reality.


  10. www.themusicvids.com says:

    You can’t f*ck around with mother nature.

    Is that so hard for them to understand?


  11. hellinabucket says:

    Tony is a sinner for lying. tsk, tsk, tsk


  12. Deniz Yeter says:

    I’m from Kansas and this is just a ridiculous attack.

    Gov. Sebelius didn’t deploy all of our reserve units to Iraq on a fraudulent basis, that was President Bush and his Neo-Con allies in Washington.


  13. lw says:

    And those citizens of Greensburg could have commandeered local school busses to evacuate the town before the tornado. Yeah, that’s the ticket.


  14. Texas Juice says:

    Let a GOP enclave get hit by a storm (as if that will happen), W himself would be out there with his F-950 and SS (sevret service) details cleaning up the mess and pressing the flesh to further their agenda.

    NOTE: I hope al the GOP supporters in Kansas will wake up! God bless those who lost somthing or someone in this horrible storm.


  15. And You Thought REAGAN Was Stupid says:

    Tony Snow added, “Even if you do request equipment, and President Bush promises to deliver the equipment and other aid, good luck actually getting anything. We will forget about you faster than you can say ‘tax cuts for the rich,’ and our promises mean nothin. Now, does anyone from “Bush’s Base” have a question?”


  16. Art says:

    What would happen if all the governors refused to release their national guard troops and supplies to Iraq or Afghanistan?


  17. And You Thought REAGAN Was Stupid says:

    Governor Sebelius responded, “The good people of Kansas request a competent President. Preferably one that cares about the lives of American citizens. And… a shrubbery.”


  18. klyde says:

    snowjob: “Well she didn’t put the requests on the right form.”


  19. chimpeach says:

    Do they only pull this crap with female Democratic governors? I guess we’ll know what to expect when disaster strikes in Michigan, Washington, or Arizona.


  20. gallison says:

    Why isn’t this woman running for president? She should have been the vp candidate last time and she often seems to be the best communicator the democrats have.


  21. bob (not the hacker) says:

    the next talking point: ORielly calling the tornado victims thugs and drug addicts.


  22. Patrick1, Jake, ct, michael, valiant venus, Exley, and Captain Kirk says:

    Clinton did it, too. So did Pelosi.


  23. stevesh says:

    Currently, the Kansas National Guard has 88 percent of its forces available, 60 percent of its Army Guard dual-use equipment on hand, and more than 85 percent of its Air Guard equipment on hand, said Randal Noller, public affairs officer for the National Guard Bureau. Under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which is a national partnership agreement that allows state-to-state assistance during governor or federally declared emergencies, Kansas has more than 400,000 Guardsmen available to it, he pointed out. However, Kansas has not yet requested assistance from other states.

    The National Guard Bureau has offered liaison, operational, communications, contracting, search-and-rescue, public affairs and community relations support, and is prepared to support the governor in any way possible, Noller said.

    http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=33080


  24. Jeffrey Stewart says:

    They know they are lying. This is just a tactic so the capitalist, corporate media can get into a she said, they said story line.


  25. chimpeach says:

    #13 lw

    And those citizens of Greensburg could have commandeered local school busses to evacuate the town before the tornado. Yeah, that’s the ticket.

    Limbaugh will be blaming them for building their houses in the path of a tornado.


  26. Joe says:

    The Governor did her homework well. The administration is certainly to blame to some extent, but I have to ask: ARE there any formal requests on her part other than informal letters? Not that she would get anything, but I’m just asking.

    Well, I’m guessing that Bush didn’t inform her before tapping her National Guard, so why expect the Governor to be so cordial?


  27. klyde says:

    Art @ 16

    Can’t do it. Governors don’t even have control over where there units go for Annual Training. You take Uncle Sugar’s money you dance to his tune


  28. And You Thought REAGAN Was Stupid says:

    snowjob: “Well she didn’t put the requests on the right form.” — Comment by klyde

    That’s funny. The Bush administration seems to be pro-bureaucrat.


  29. FunMe says:

    Oh please.

    EVERY time you have the White House blame someone else, you know that THE WHITE HOUSE is to blame!

    They are so transparent and so pathetic!

    Funny, but more and more Americans know the INCOMPETENCE of the bush criminal administration anyway, so whatever they say, means NOTHING!


  30. raynman says:

    and let’s all remember that part of the ‘pork’ that Bush gave as another reason to Veto the War Appropriations Bill was earmarked to provide supplies and equipment to non-deployed Guard units to help compensate for equipment lost to deployment overseas


  31. klevenstein says:

    …and I suppose they were too intent on their attempted coup, destroying the Democratic party to ensure that the 109th Congress would fund proper replacement of Kansas’ equipment.


  32. david says:

    I want to see an Obama/Sebelius ticket in 2008.


  33. Dabb says:

    I get so angry when I read stuff like this. Tony Snow doesn’t even know what he’s talking about. He somehow thinks that everyone should believe what he says is the truth. Where is accountablity? Where is honesty? Do these people even have a conscience?

    Bush is so hellbent on having his own way that he can’t be concerned about people dying all around him. He doesn’t care about all those brave men and women dying in Iraq including innocent Iraqi civilians. He doesn’t care about the 1000+ who died in Katrina and the many more Americans still without a home after 1.5 years. What makes anyone think that he cares about the demolition of a town in Kansas?

    Nope these people of this administration do NOT have a conscience.


  34. Ben Dover says:

    Is anyone surprised by this?? The trolls will wait for instructions from Rush before responding, but the intelligent among us….is this surprising?


  35. hellinabucket says:

    Kansas. The new Blue State. Thanks George.

    Godspeed to the victims.


  36. Briseadh na Faire says:

    Snow simply replied, “And what happened was, she actually did get — there was not a formal request. But they’d had conversations.”

    Ahh…she asked, she lobbied, she sent lists, but did she use the words “formal request”? If not, then it’s all her fault.

    Note to the other 49 Govenors, MAKE YOUR REQUESTS FOR REPLENISHMENT OF GUARD EQUIPMENT FORMAL REQUESTS ASAP, OR IT WILL BE YOUR FAULT WHEN DISASTER STRIKES!


  37. veritas says:

    Snowjob & Co are really “losing their grip” now. Add Kansas to Katrina and we’ve got a prescription for disaster in this country if we ever believe that we will be aided by our own government. We’ve lost control over our own backyard while seeking to control a country which doesn’t belong to us…..resulting in catastrophe there and awaiting castrophe here. What incompetent jackasses we have in this administration! Incompetent Jackasses is a total UNDERSTATEMENT.

    Guess Bush et al never got the FIVE communications which were sent by Sebulius. It’s the same old lame excuses: Tenet said he never read the state of the union speech (pure bunk!)….and anytime they don’t want to answer something they simply say they haven’t read it yet. Guess Bush never read these memos sent over a two year time frame? He’s out to lunch….totally and unequivocally!


  38. david says:

    Actually, Kansas is historically a Blue State. It’s only been in the past couple of decades that it’s been Red. I suspect they’ll see the light now that they’ve seen the Wizard is just some good ole boy behind the curtain.


  39. Buck Fush says:

    Liar, liar, liar…liar, (one more time) LIAR !!!

    Hating the Repukian Liars dailly, and Valiant douche bag, Patti 1″ and the pervert too


  40. veritas says:

    And Tony Snowjob hasn’t learned a thing being on this “brink of death”, has he? He will soon meet his maker and he’s got the blackened soul of a coal miner!


  41. VerbalKint says:

    Hey, Patrick, you are usually quick to commend the administration for smearing its opponents. Are you on lunch break or something?


  42. Yikes says:


    and let’s all remember that part of the ‘pork’ that Bush gave as another reason to Veto the War Appropriations Bill was earmarked to provide supplies and equipment to non-deployed Guard units to help compensate for equipment lost to deployment overseas

    Comment by raynman — May 8, 2007 @ 2:29 pm

    No kidding? Not surprised.


  43. david says:

    Wouldn’t any written request from a Governor to the President count as formal? Besides, “formal” is a funny word to use about the most informal president the US has ever had. Why, Condi had to beg him to put on a white tie and monkey suit to dine with the Queen!


  44. m12 says:

    The GOP governors don’t need any extra equipment. They have brains and can manage on their own.


  45. Tweedster says:

    Trolls?

    ::crickets::

    Figures.

    Lies on top of lies on top of lies on top of lies, smothered in BS gravy!


  46. RJC says:

    That’s what you get when you have an idiot in the White House; lies, deception, blaming others and incometance.


  47. chimpeach says:

    #23 stevesh

    Currently, the Kansas National Guard has 88 percent of its forces available, 60 percent of its Army Guard dual-use equipment on hand, and more than 85 percent of its Air Guard equipment on hand, said Randal Noller, public affairs officer for the National Guard Bureau.

    Kansas Tornado Victims Need Natl GuardAccording to Reuters, the governor said Kansas lacks about half the large equipment it could use for recovery efforts and debris removal, including dump trucks and front loaders. More than 20 percent of its Humvees and 15 of 19 helicopters were sent to Iraq, said officials with the Kansas National Guard.

    Did Noller happen to mention anything about helicopters, or where the “on hand” equipment is now located, relative to where it’s needed and usually located?


  48. rfinca says:

    What’s new?

    republicans continue to screw the American people.


  49. RJC says:

    That’s what you get when there’s an idiot in the White House; innaction, incompetance, blaming others and lies.


  50. Royston Vasey says:

    #17
    -You must return here with a shrubbery or else you will never pass through this wood alive!
    -O Knights of Ni, you are just and fair, and we will return with a shrubbery


  51. dh says:

    #37 The only way Bush is going to read anything if it is book bound and titled “My Pet Goat – The Sequel.” You may also have to present the book to him upside down before he will read it.


  52. Pete Bogs says:

    it’s quite obvious that the war has strained the National Guard resources across the US… Snow has serious nerve blaming the victim here…


  53. David O. says:

    Snowjob, the lying is _killing_ you


  54. Patrick1 says:

    You mean Governor Blanco of the midwest.


  55. Zimzone says:

    Tony, just back & lying already?
    Geez, you sure know how to pick ‘em, Bushie. Heckuva job!

    So, Bushie will be doing a photo op in Kansas tomorrow. Think he’ll let the Governor accompany the tour? Will Bushie use a prop like the plastic turkey? Hmmm, what would he use?…
    Mr. Clean, the White Tornado?
    ……….David Orek’s vacuum? Sucks ‘em up like a whirlwind
    ……………………….Dick Cheney? I like Ho’s, and I really suck hard


  56. m12 says:

    #46

    Wow. You described the Blanco and Sebelius administrations perfectly.


  57. Bison says:

    The sheer volume of hypocrisy that emanates form this administration/gang makes me physically ill.


  58. Gregor Samsa says:

    From the same people who brought you the sorry response to Katrina:

    Greensburg, KS: New Orleans, the sequel.

    Similar “recovery” efforts will be playing shortly in a community near you.


  59. Not Canadian says:

    Ah, the sweet smell of Republican disdain for any form of responsible, caring Government.

    It’s the Neocon Way.


  60. Zimzone says:

    Can a recovering alcoholic help any recovery?

    Yes, if they’re honest.

    I guess that leaves all the Trolls & the Bush ADDministration out.


  61. Can-O-Whoop-Ass says:

    They’re trying to destroy the national guard, then you know Blackwater can step up to the plate during the next emergency, or peace protest.


  62. jexter says:

    Maybe this is how we get out of Iraq – every Governor in the country requests that all of their National Guard troops and equipment be returned to their home state so that they’ll be fully prepared disaster.


  63. Briseadh na Faire says:


    Currently, the Kansas National Guard has 88 percent of its forces available, 60 percent of its Army Guard dual-use equipment on hand, and more than 85 percent of its Air Guard equipment on hand, said Randal Noller, public affairs officer for the National Guard Bureau.

    I’d like to see the data to back these assertions. It sound’s like creative statistics to me, given the disconnect between these percentages and the reports from the Governor.

    How about a list of all equipment, and a list of what is categorized as what, and what is available to be put to immediate use in Kansas.

    Could it be that equipment being used by Kansas National Guardsmen in Iraq is listed as being available to the Kansas National Guard? Could the national guard members stationed in Iraq be listed as “available?”


  64. kasinca says:

    Even with his health problems, Tony McSnowjob is still the White House spokesliar. This is the most despicable bunch of worthless matter to ever be in an administrtion…the Bush Crime Family will live in infamy. Impeach and defund…bring them home.


  65. Kay says:

    I’m requesting : Impeachment Against Bush and Cheney.


  66. Dale Austin says:

    By an interesting coincidence, I happen to have a copy of the National Response Plan at my elbow.

    It lists as one of the Governors’ responsibilities:
    “Request Federal assistance when it becomes clear that State of tribal capabilities will be insufficient or have bceom exceeded or exhausted.”

    There is a fair bit of blather in the 1000 or so pages of this thing and its annexes. But nowhere do I find-so far-the definition of what would constitute a “formal” request. Indeed, there is every indication that a pone call to the White House consisting solely of “Help! Send a team to help us figure out what we need!” would be sufficient. Now, if the folks aren’t answering their phone, then she’s well and truly hosed.


  67. kvb says:

    Why are you all wasting your time posting this repetitive vitriol that you have for the last 6 years? With all the energy it took to make this blog page, you could be working towards throwing the Bush admin out. Sure is comfortable to fix things from your comfortable residence via keyboard though.

    Want to know what your future looks like? Squint at this headline until it’s blurry and pretend your looking at a scandal in two days, in two months, in two years.

    The conservatives would have thrown a liberal to the dogs by now. But you’re just too busy.


  68. Sg1234 says:

    The state HAD the equipment but it was sent to Iraq. Even if the war is ended the equipment won’t be returned. I assume that the state paid for the equipment to begin with.

    If so, this has been an unaccounted for cost of the war. Apparently, when National Guard troops are shipped overseas, their equipment goes with them, which I was not aware of.

    The governors need to start speaking up about what’s really happened to state resources. They should get it on record with the bloggers because no one else is paying attention.


  69. Patrick1 says:

    Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sibelius (D) who has been saying National Guard assets don’t exist in other states to help Greensburg disaster victims hasn’t even asked for them yet, according to National Guard sources statements to HUMAN EVENTS today.

    On NBC’s “Today Show” Gov. Sibelius said “Fifty percent of the equipment is gone and we can’t borrow from other states because their equipment is gone.”

    H.E. spoke with Cpt. Spicer of the Missouri National Guard to inquire how much help Missouri would be able to provide. Cpt. Spicer answered that “We have not been asked for help.”

    We asked Cpt. Spicer if Gov. Sibelius was to ask the Missouri National Guard for assistance, would they be able to help?

    “Whenever we are asked for help we do our best to provide it, for instance when Louisiana needed help we sent 2000 soldiers and airmen in, in a period of 72 hours.”


  70. David O. says:

    m12= patrick IQ of1


  71. Dale Austin says:

    Pat;

    Sebelius would not ask the Missouri National Guard-she’d talk to the Governor of Missouri.


  72. VerbalKint says:

    #67 Wouldn’t it be convenient for a blog like this to just go away? But for whom, I wonder.


  73. JTitor says:

    The depth of the lies, scandals, and blatant ineptitude is so astounding that this is far beyond criminal, a new level that moral people can’t even grasp. This administration sets the bar for corruption in politics to a new level daily. What’s so bad is that they do it with impunity. They show us daily thier distain for the constitution, troops, freedom…everything thats good. It’s time to take this country back!


  74. VerbalKint says:

    #72 So where’d you grab that bit of cut and paste propaganda, Patrick? Because you sure didn’t write it yourself.


  75. VerbalKint says:

    Give it up, Patrick. Fighting for Bush on this one is about as productive as denying global warming. It just makes you look mendacious and stupid.


  76. David O. says:

    #69- I was there, Cletus- there weren’t “2,000 soldiers and airmen, in 72 hours”- I was there when the 82nd Airborne rolled into town, north of Lake Ponchartrain. It was LONG after 72 hours, Cletus, or patrick w/ 1 IQ, or m12, or whatever the hell your name is, troll.


  77. GregM says:

    The next comment from Snow is that the victims of the tornado should have left town before the storm hit. Didn’t they see this thing coming.
    It’s thier own fault.


  78. JTitor says:

    Comment by Patrick1 — Can you link your “story” Patrick1. Searched to verify and not finding it.


  79. Patrick1 says:

    Governor Blanco has moved to Kansas.


  80. OxyCon says:

    You’d think a “good Christian” like Tony Snow would refrain from bearing false whitness against another, because of his current health condition.


  81. David O. says:

    #77- yeah, personal responsibility, but if any adults lost their lives, its’ OK, they aren’t fetii, or “little bitty babies”.


  82. marcus robinson says:

    Just like they blamed “Blanco” in New Orleans. ANd of course the liberal media followed their lead. Hey Governor Sebsluis, you’re next, here they come.


  83. Dale Austin says:

    David O;

    Did you guys by any chance roll through Alexandria on the night of September 25 or 26, 2005?

    Notice that Pat’s quote specified a 72 hour period. Not within 72 hours.


  84. And You Thought REAGAN Was Stupid says:

    Barbara Bush was heard to say, “Some of these people were so poor, they’re better off now anyway. Who cares if their homes have been destroyed? Why would I waste my beautiful mind on such things?”


  85. Gregor Samsa says:

    It just makes you look mendacious and stupid.
    Comment by VerbalKint — May 8, 2007 @ 3:16 pm

    Well, he is mendacious and stupid.

    How else could he look? Truthful and bright? Pfff… yeah, right…


  86. Proud Dem says:

    Do they only pull this crap with female Democratic governors? I guess we’ll know what to expect when disaster strikes in Michigan, Washington, or Arizona.

    Comment by chimpeach

    Pretty much, it seems. They (old, fat, white, republiscums) are scared to death of powerful women.


  87. Lee says:

    Wow. This is an area of the country that overwhelming voted for Bush in ‘04, and now Der Chimper is flipping the finger at these folks. Kind of like Norman Osborn advised his son to do to Mary Jane Watson in Spiderman:


    “Do you what you need to do with her, then broom her fast!”

    Bush secured Kansas votes during the last election, and now he could care less. My, how Karl Rovian.

    Do you think the result would be different if this F5 tornado did damage to a few small trees on the outskirts of Bush’s Crawford ranch? (here’s a hint: YES.)


  88. Patrick1 says:

    What’s Wrong With Kansas?


  89. Patrick1 says:

    How powerful a woman can she be when her first act in crisis is to whine?


  90. And You Thought REAGAN Was Stupid says:

    Governor Blanco has moved to Kansas. –Comment by Patrick1

    No, the common theme here is that Bush’s incompetence knows no bounds. Heck, when he’s not f**king up Iraq, he’s f**king up America. He should go back to snorting coke.


  91. Patrick1 says:

    “Boo Hooo….we don’t have any bulldozers…cause mean ole Bush is killing Islamists with our equipment..boo hooo..”..

    Not exactly going to confuse this liberal hack with Churchill.


  92. And You Thought REAGAN Was Stupid says:

    #89. How powerful a woman can she be when her first act in crisis is to whine? — Comment by Patrick1

    I guess Patrick would prefer she sit on her behind and continue to read a children’s book. Now that’s action! Watch out, Bush is on the job! See you in a few minutes, when I’m done with these schoolchildren. “United States under attack”? That will wait until I see what happens to this goat.


  93. Chris L says:

    #

    Comment by Patrick1 — May 8, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
    #

    Thanks for smearing Kansas, Patrick1. We thought they would stay a “red state” forever. Once the people see how they are treated by the republicans they voted for, well let’s just say the 2008 elections will be a “slam dunk”.


  94. tom baker says:

    “How could anyone have known there would be tornados in Kansas in the springtime?”

    “No one could have foreseen that, if we took away all their stuff, they would not have any stuff”

    HFS!!!


  95. toomuchtimeonmyhands says:

    Don’t they always blame their mothers/women for everything they do wrong?

    “Mommy spanked me, so I had to chop the heads off the prostitutes!”
    “She dressed like she wanted it, so I couldn’t help but rape her!”
    “If she would just shut up I wouldn’t have to smack her!”
    “If she hadn’t been governor of the state with a standing National Guard that obeyed the law, I wouldn’t have been able to bring death and destruction with a useless war and now can’t take care of my own people!”


  96. Patrick1 says:

    Hmmm…maybe the Gov. should look at the openning page of the Kansas National Guard website:

    “The Army National Guard is an elite group of warriors who dedicate a portion of their time to serving their nation. Each state has its own National Guard as required by the constitution; in fact, the National Guard is the only branch of the military whose existence is actually required by the constitution”
    http://www.kansasarmynationalguard.com/

    These men and women are Kansans..Sebelius a pathetic weak lefty.


  97. toomuchtimeonmyhands says:

    #96 Comment by Patrick1 — May 8, 2007 @ 3:35 pm

    “Sebelius a pathetic weak lefty.”

    And Patrick1 has a pathetic bent weenky.


  98. m12 says:

    #86

    You know, considering that Barbie Doll Granholm is doing her best to completely destroy what’s left of Michigan’s economy with new taxes, yeah, I think a few people are afraid of stupid blonde powerful women.

    I guess her only saving grace is that she didn’t learn how to destroy economies from Jimmy Carter.


  99. Shane says:

    Funny, Illinois last Republican Governor is sitting in a federal prison for not having enough brains to stay out of prison. I don’t think he could have gotten us out of a natural catastrophe.


  100. chadwick says:

    When’s Snow’s cancer gonna metasticize? Go cancer!


  101. m12 says:

    #92

    Reading a children’s book would actually be more worthwhile than trying to point the finger at our great commander in chief, who spends his time defending not only Kansas, but the other 49 states.


  102. And You Thought REAGAN Was Stupid says:

    #98. Or run up record deficits like Reagan . . . oh, I should change that to Bush now, I guess. Wow, do Republicans have ANY IDEA how to manage an economy??


  103. VerbalKint says:

    See you in ‘08, Patrick, see you in ‘08. Go ahead and mouth off all you want now, you will be out of work by then.


  104. Bernard Quatermass says:

    Please do not distract Patrick1. His thumbs are only _just_ barely opposable, which makes it difficult to grip the crayon — and this makes his drawings of tanks and exploding stuff just that much more smudgy.


  105. VerbalKint says:

    our great commander in chief
    Comment by m12 — May 8, 2007 @ 3:46 pm

    Don’t wear out the knees in your pants, koolaid drinker.


  106. m12 says:

    #102

    Coming from Jimmy’s double digit unemployment and inflation, I’ll take the deficits along with the booming stock market and GDP growth.


  107. margaret says:

    I was trying so hard today to ignore the stupid trolls but really m12! Great commander in chief?! Man that was the best laugh I’ve had in days!


  108. Heyzeus says:

    #98 m12…
    I know a different side of that story.
    Fat Boy John Engler is the governor who gutted the state of Michigan, Granholm is doing a heroic job of trying to keep the state above water.
    If anyone else is to blame, it’s the flood of white collar management level retired auto company execs who drove up the cost of real estate and drove out small business.
    So take your chauvanistic clap trap and jump off the Bridge with it.


  109. goehl says:

    Is this a wake up call for Kansas? Louisiana? Feeling the evils of our present administration? Kansas with your 6 electoral votes and Louisiana with your 9, come join us and let’s get our country back to WE the PEOPLE in ‘08.


  110. Shane says:

    Governor Blanco has moved to Kansas.

    Comment by Patrick1 — May 8, 2007 @ 3:19 pm

    Your brain has moved up your rectum.


  111. Kiki says:

    “more than 85 percent of its Air Guard equipment on hand”…I heard on the Today Show this morning that there were only THREE helicopters available for the entire state! So they originally had what, 5? (dyscalculia, sorry, I’m sure someone who isn’t math retarded can set me straight…it’s pathetic, anyway).

    I’d like to hear what the Governor has to say when Bush desides to show up tomorrow.


  112. m12 says:

    #103

    What’s the point in waiting until 2008? When liberals lose, they do 1 of 2 things:

    Accuse the opponent of cheating (see US 2004)
    Riot and try to vandalize/kill the opposition (see France 2007)


  113. OxyCon says:

    Now, according to that liar Tony Snow, you have to beg George W. Bush for help when you lose an entire town in your state.
    Think about that.
    “If you don’t request it, you’re not going to get it” – Liar Tony Snow


  114. Proud Dem says:

    our great commander in chief, who spends his time defending not only Kansas, but the other 49 states.

    Comment by m12

    HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Oh, that’s rich. Keep ‘em coming! I haven’t had a laugh like that in years!


  115. Proud Dem says:

    Accuse the opponent of cheating (see US 2004)

    Comment by m12

    Accuse? Yeah, we accused you of cheating, because you did!


  116. VerbalKint says:

    #112 What makes you think liberals are going to lose?


  117. 28 Percenter Cult Member says:

    Duh…Sebelius bad…duh Bush good!


  118. shaker o' salt says:

    The out and out lying, without any kind of shame or embarrassment, is just beyond belief. I guess the more you lie, the easier it gets, if you have no integrity, that is. I’m sick of these jackasses.


  119. m12 says:

    #108

    ROFL!!! Blame Engler when he’s been out of office for years! You know, that kind of sounds like the ‘blame Clinton’ strategy that your side ridicules.

    The other 49 states don’t have the same problem as Michigan. Then again, the other 49 states don’t have governors trying to tax businesses to drive them out of the state. The other 49 states don’t have legislatures trying to buy Ipods for kids with state funds. The other 49 states don’t have Democratic teachers shuffling money to union bosses in Detroit.


  120. margaret says:

    Man the trolls are going to go ballistic in ‘08 when they lose.

    Should be interesting!


  121. helenahandbasket says:

    What galls me the most is the utter contempt that snow and the other right wing talking heads hold for those who point out their complete failure, incompetance, arrogance and corruption. These people should be begging the American people for forgiveness.


  122. chimpeach says:

    #67 kvb

    With all the energy it took to make this blog page, you could be working towards throwing the Bush admin out.

    How stupid of me! I could have been impeaching the president right now. Why didn’t anyone tell me sooner?!!!


  123. jp says:

    I wonder if constant deceit and lieing is a health mindset for healing from cancer?


  124. ForTruth says:

    Repukes like Patrick1inch think that dialogue, diplomacy, and consideration of others is a sign of weakness.


  125. m12 says:

    #116

    The fact that the Dims in Congress are incompetent buffoons…You know that 100 hour agenda of yours? It’s been 100 days and none of it has passed the Senate.


  126. margaret says:

    These people should be begging the American people for forgiveness.

    Comment by helenahandbasket — May 8, 2007 @ 4:05 pm

    It’s true! They’re always sniffing about ‘entitlement’ but they seem to feel that they are entitled to their own version of reality!


  127. Proud Dem says:

    These people should be begging the American people for forgiveness.

    Comment by helenahandbasket

    They’ll be saying “I’m sorry I got caught”, nothing more.


  128. truthfairy says:

    tony snow is a sad reminder of how low this administration will go to distort the truth, how does this blowhard sleep at night?


  129. chimpeach says:

    #69 Patrick1

    Since you’re quoting from “Human Events”, we’ll accept your apology for getting it completely wrong in advance. Here’s just a random page from that website, dated 4/7/2006:

    Ranking Ethics Democrat Under Investigation
    Currently, the three congressmen who appear most likely to be indicted are Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.), William Jefferson (D-La.), and Bob Ney (R-Ohio). Add Mollohan to that list, and it could become difficult for Democrats to campaign on the “Republican Culture of Corruption” that has laced their rhetoric for months now.

    Let me know if you need me to explain how many things are wrong with that paragraph and how they’re wrong.


  130. WaltTheMan says:

    #23 – stevesh(its),
    This link:
    http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=33080
    sucks. Since the population of Kansas is 2.744 million, implying that 400,000 of them are available as guardsmen, representing 88% of the total force implies that 1 in 6 of Kansas’ population (men, women, children and infants) are in the National Guard.
    Somehow, that fails to compute.


  131. m12 says:

    #120

    Even if you’re right, I doubt that you’ll find anything interesting. Unlike the far left, the right doesn’t riot when it loses.

    I’ll leave intimidation and violence to your side.


  132. VerbalKint says:

    Why are you here, m12? Obviously you are trying to convince yourself of something, but I’m not quite sure what. I can tell you one thing, though: this is the wrong place to test your talking points.


  133. VerbalKint says:

    #131 Can you cite a single example of Democrats rioting because they lost an election?


  134. VerbalKint says:

    #131 Can you please give some examples of violence and intimidation by Democrats? Otherwise, can you please stop lying and shut up until you can write something that remotely resembles the truth? And while I am asking questions, why exactly do you lie?


  135. VerbalKint says:

    I would like to make a simple, honest request to all the trolls: please stop lying. Really, please just stop.


  136. margaret says:

    How stupid of me! I could have been impeaching the president right now. Why didn’t anyone tell me sooner?!!!

    Comment by chimpeach — May 8, 2007 @ 4:06 pm

    Too bad we can’t make a “formal” request for that eh?!


  137. m12 says:

    Take a look at what’s happening in France right now. The far left extends beyond the US.


  138. chimpeach says:

    #125 m12

    The fact that the Dims in Congress are incompetent buffoons…You know that 100 hour agenda of yours? It’s been 100 days and none of it has passed the Senate.

    Yeah, those incompetent Democrats. Last I checked, Pelosi was only Speaker of the House and all she promised was what the House would do in the first 100 hours. She kept her promise. Where’s the incompetent part of that?

    And do you realize how silly you look when you’re calling the Dems incompetent after they took back BOTH the House and the Senate from your party, in spite of Bush, Cheney, Rove, and all the little right-wing pundits and trolls saying that there was no way it was going to happen? You’d better prepare yourself for the mother of all ass-whuppins coming in ‘08. Things are only getting worse for the GOP.


  139. hellinabucket says:

    No the right doesn’t riot. They let the loss fester, then they devise plans of spreading false information and make deals with the Big Oil companies. Then they go on tour that only people who sign waivers can come in and hold signs that have been pre written to show only what they want to say.

    No they don’t riot because they never have the numbers or the majority on their side long enough.


  140. VerbalKint says:

    #137 WTF? You have to go all the way to France to find a rioting leftist to pin on the Democrats? Do you have any idea how stupid you sound trying to use this as an example of Democrats rioting? Apparently not.


  141. Joel says:

    in an ideal world, reality would not exist


  142. m12 says:

    #138

    What good comes from passing the House but not the Senate?

    All the leftwinged pundits are saying their victory in 06 will carry over to 08. Well, they said the same thing 20 years ago after 86.

    Look what happened to Dukakis 2 years later. Mother of all ass-whuppin indeed, but it went the other way.


  143. Janeane The Acerbic Goblin says:

    Tony Snow has cancer, might even be dying, and yet he still is a smug, self righteous asshole shilling for his king, George. So much for a death bed conversion, or seeing that life is more than being a prick.


  144. michael says:

    “Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback also disputed Sebelius after visiting the destroyed town on Monday. Brownback, a Republican candidate for president, said local officials and the Kansas National Guard commander all told him they have the resources needed to respond.

    “That’s what really got me, is her saying that,” Brownback said of Sebelius.”


  145. Dale Austin says:

    And now, from the Stafford Act:

    SUBCHAPTER IV–MAJOR DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
    § 5170. PROCEDURE FOR DECLARATION {Sec. 401}
    All requests for a declaration by the President that a major disaster exists shall be made by the Governor of the affected State. Such a request shall be based on a finding that the disaster is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and the affected local governments and that Federal assistance is necessary. As part of such request, and as a prerequisite to major disaster assistance under this Act, the Governor shall take appropriate response action under State law and direct execution of the State’s emergency plan. The Governor shall furnish information on the nature and amount of State and local resources which have been or will be committed to alleviating the results of the disaster, and shall certify that, for the current disaster, State and local government obligations and expenditures (of which State commitments must be a significant proportion) will comply with all applicable cost-sharing requirements of this Act. Based on the request of a Governor under this section, the President may declare under this Act that a major disaster or emergency exists.

    And there you have the substance of a “formal” request. Doesn’t say in writing. Doesn’t say on Form 22J stroke 37 Alpha Revised 12/18/2004. A phone call-those are recorded aren’t they-with the infomration would prbably be enough.


  146. hellinabucket says:

    m12, look what’s happening now. There is no candidate worth Cheney’s buckshot on the Republican side. The lockstep stupidity in fighting fear has damaged the Military, stretched our resources, created a massive debt and hadn’t stopped any real terrorist activity. This will work real well in ‘08. For the Democrats.

    The Republican party is no longer the party of fiscal responsibility, small government and family values. They have proven to be liars on all of this.

    ‘08 will run the republicans nationwide into hiding, to fester and redevise their next coup with the next generation Rove.


  147. VerbalKint says:

    #142 Keep whistlin’ past the graveyard, loser. Your attitude is precisely why your party is destined for self-destruction. Keep up the good work. We could use a few more like you.


  148. lunacy says:

    Lie after lie after denial after denial. Who ARE the 28% that approve of Bush? If there ever was a president and vice-president deserving of impeachment it is Bush and Cheney.

    They don’t answer to the American people and basically don’t give a flying f*&k about us.


  149. xenon says:

    Blaming the victim: how typically Republican.


  150. Raven says:

    #141 Joel………….Good one!

    And as well:

    In the real world, the ideal does not exist.


  151. Spudge_Boy says:

    Even if you’re right, I doubt that you’ll find anything interesting. Unlike the far left, the right doesn’t riot when it loses.

    I’ll leave intimidation and violence to your side.

    Comment by m12 — May 8, 2007 @ 4:17 pm

    Yeah we know, you people don’t riot. You quietly build bombs and blow up abortion clinics or kill students in schools or start illegal wars.

    It’s all because you people are so uptight about sex.

    Go get laid.


  152. m12 says:

    #140

    When did I make a comment specifically about the Democratic party?


  153. m12 says:

    #145

    Uh huh. You would have a point, if the alternative to the GOP was something other than the party for homosexuals.


  154. hellinabucket says:

    NO Spudge, we shouldn’t encourage this genetic reject creating offspring. m12 don’t get laid. Stay right here and blather.


  155. m12 says:

    #150

    If you’re talking about the V Tech shooter, he fits right in with you guys.

    He hates white men and the rich.


  156. barrelhse says:

    Have another shot of Taxol, Tony, with a carboplatin chaser.
    You miserable excuse for a human being.


  157. Vino says:

    If I had to stand up and lie for these crooks everyday I would be full of cancer too.


  158. Heyzeus says:

    m12 is MAF54 after to many hits….


  159. rfinca says:

    You would have a point, if the alternative to the GOP was something other than the party for homosexuals.

    Comment by m12

    LOL! **rollseyes**


  160. Snagglepuss says:

    The Bush administration is a cancer on our nation! EVEN!


  161. hellinabucket says:

    m12 Eric Rudolph staunch republican and bomber.


  162. liesliesliesliestheregoingtogetya says:

    – Dec. 30, 2005: Sebelius writes to Rumsfeld requesting new equipment. “The Guard was critical to responding to recent blizzards and floods in Kansas, yet its ability to respond to similar situations is being diminished by a lack of equipment,” wrote Sebelius. Included with her letter was a list of equipment Kansas had lost to the Iraq war. [Kansas City Star, 1/21/06; Topeka Capital-Journal, 6/29/06]

    What is T. Snow talking about? She asked for items over a year ago…And he says there was never a “formal” request!? What is it going to take for these crooks to not lie? Impeachment!


  163. goehl says:

    m12
    rape public cans know the only way they can ‘win’ is to cheat, lie and steal. They fear and probably expect future retaliation as their deeds are not only selfish but evil. Why do you think there are gated communities?????

    We all know the lying, cheating and stealing has been going on… why do you think they want their own kind as attorneys to over see their future election fraud and crime???? It has been in the news for quite awhile.


  164. chimpeach says:

    #152 m12

    Uh huh. You would have a point, if the alternative to the GOP was something other than the party for homosexuals.

    Jeff Gannon, Mark Foley, Jim Kolbe, Ted Haggard…don’t make me list them all. You can’t possibly be that far removed from reality that you think the Republican party is a safe haven for homophobes like yourself. Have you not seen all of the bible-thumping conservative “Christians” getting outed in the past few years? Where do you live that nothing can reach you but Fox Noise?

    Seriously, you think that Republicans are the ’straight’ party? What a joke.


  165. elle c says:

    The Iraq war is affecting the progress of many things in the world today, which unfortunately includes Kansas. This war has cost over $340 billion and it will only continue to rise for as long as we continue on this same failed path. Fighting a war that we were misled into fighting and causing more tumult in the Middle East is not going to ensure national security. We have spent over $340 billion in Iraq, with the price tag rising, and no good has come out of it. There is no peace, no end to terror and now it is directly affecting Americans.

    According to the Borgen Project, $340 billion has already been spent in Iraq and we have a $522 billion military budget. What has resulted from that money? Aside from spending it domestically, the money would be better spent on plans such as the UN Millennium
    Development Goals to end global poverty. Just $19 billion annually can end starvation and malnutrition. Issues such as poverty foster a lot of the tensions that exist in the world today.


  166. Miro says:

    Have we heard anything closer to “Let them eat cake” than this?


  167. proud liberal says:

    Kansas helped elect George Bush two times.


  168. Stay out of the Bushes says:

    m12,

    The “centre-right” in France (Sarkozy) is to the “left” of the “left” in the U.S.

    Deal.

    LePen lost (you’d probably get along quite well with his supporters).


  169. Jim Wolf359 says:

    Man I’d love to a “fly on the wall” tomorrow when Chimpy meets with Gov. Sebelius in Kansas. That boy is gonna get a beatdown (I hope).
    Give’em Hell Kathleen!


  170. valiant venus says:

    Kathy Sebelius is did a great job politicizing the tornadoes in her state!! I think she should be a keynoter for the Dem CONvention…..

    m-12 – Can you IMAGINE the Royale supporters here in the US crowing if she had won?? The sad truth is: Progressives like to think their policies help” the disadvantaged. The best thing for the poor and jobless in France is a robust economy – not another welfare check. Royale didn’t understand the reality of wealth creation – she has the re-distribution part down well – but the funadamentals elude her. Funny, it’s hard to imagine the conservatives of France or the US RIOTING should they lose……


  171. Frank says:

    #164 – You got it!

    That’s the main point that people miss – ‘desperate people do desperate things’. If the world were a just place, if powerful people didn’t use their power to maintain it, and instead HELPED people, the world would be a much healthier place.

    Don’t get me wrong – I don’t feel that all people will be “good” if we let them (there are plenty of selfish, greedy humans among us), but most people are just, most people are good (-ish), most people like helping others.

    Why do we spend lives/money/health to destroy people and things, as opposed to helping people? Think what we – as a nation – could have done to reduce our dependance on “foreign oil” with $340 Billion in the past 4.5 years. Or what would have happened if we spent $340 Billion in basic nutrition/healthcare/financial services in the past 4.5 years.

    Probably, we would come out looking like some good people with money and power trying to do good things for people without. And it’s very likely many “terrorists” would have less reason to “hate” us.

    You can’t force someone to like you, you have to earn their trust.


  172. Lora says:

    Kathy Sebelius is did a great job politicizing the tornadoes in her state!! I think she should be a keynoter for the Dem CONvention…..
    m-12 – Can you IMAGINE the Royale(SIC) supporters here in the US crowing if she had won?? The sad truth is: Progressives like to think their policies help” the disadvantaged. The best thing for the poor and jobless in France is a robust economy – not another welfare check. Royale(SIC) didn’t understand the reality of wealth creation – she has the re-distribution part down well – but the funadamentals elude her. Funny, it’s hard to imagine the conservatives of France or the US RIOTING should they lose……
    Comment by vile venus

    Governor Sebelius merely spoke the truth: that resources that could have helped her state have been sent for a endless and fruitless war in Iraq.
    Since you neoCONs are crowing about Sarkozy’s victory in France, you try to project what progressives/liberals would do if Royal had won and even ridiculously try to link Democrats to the riots occuring in another country. But don’t crow too much, dearie. Sarkozy is not quite like you American CONs: he doesn’t deny global warming and isn’t likely to attack various arts nor preach abstinence while acting otherwise.


  173. Devil's Advocate says:

    Snow is hopelessly despicable. Because Sibelius is a Democrat, he will smear her.

    Some people, when confronted with their own mortality, reassess their beliefs and actions, and become better people as a result. Clearly, that is not the case with Snow. He is just as obnoxious, deceitful, mendacious, and a shill for Bush as he was before his cancer reappeared. I suppose some people simply are evil and nothing will ever change them.


  174. $$$$$ says:

    DON’T LISTEN TO VENUS HE’S JUST LICKING SNOW’S ANUS


  175. ChuckG says:

    Why is anyone surprised when the White House defends itself with a pack of lies? It is really a shame when the greatest country on earth cannot trust what our White House says.


  176. Lescoeurs says:

    I am stunned beyond comprehension at how these people lie. Psychopathic. No guilt. No remorse. Scary at how easily they all do it. Poor Governor of Kansas; how can she respond except to call Snow a bald-faced liar. It is said that Satan doesn’t lie; he is lying incarnate. I’m not a particularly religious person, but I find myself asking for divine help in getting through these last two years.
    Jeff
    Valencia, Ca


  177. burro says:

    I don’t know why people are so conciliatory to Snow. There are plenty of good folks out there who are sick with cancer but who don’t spend their workday lying their asses off and playing the faithful BushCo Bob role. Snow is a lying sack of shit and screw him and his sycophantic dishonesty regardless of his disease.


  178. Exley says:

    Sebelius is now backing away from her earlier remarks:

    ‘Snow recounted a phone conversation on Tuesday between Sebelius and Bush’s White House-based homeland security adviser, Fran Townsend, in which the governor said she was pleased with the federal performance on the tornado and had everything she needed.

    About the same time, Sebelius was doing her own backpedal from across the country.

    Her spokeswoman, Nicole Corcoran, said the governor didn’t mean to imply that the state was ill-equipped to deal with this storm. Sebelius’ comments about National Guard equipment were, instead, meant as a warning about the state’s inability to handle additional disasters, such as another tornado or severe flooding, she said.

    “We are doing absolutely fine right now,” Corcoran said. “What the governor is talking about is down the road.”

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070509/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_tornado


  179. big papa says:

    Kansas went for Bushiva and L’il Dick…

    …TWICE!

    …their Karma is fu*ked…


  180. Eargy Earp says:

    Yes, it is her own fault.

    That’s what she gets for starting an endless war in a foreign country that has no end in sight and refusing to enstate a draft.

    Oh wait. She isn’t the President is she.


  181. Karim says:

    When all else fails, blame the victim.


  182. Gimlet Eye says:

    Hey, let’s face it. The tornadoes are Bush’s fault too.


  183. Michael says:

    Dale Austin @ 66

    I would recommend reading the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Public Law 93-288. The Stafford Act (§401) requires that: “All requests for a declaration by the President that a major disaster exists shall be made by the Governor of the affected State.” The Governor’s request is made through the regional FEMA office. As part of the request, the Governor must take appropriate action under State law and direct execution of the State’s emergency plan. The Governor shall furnish information on the nature and amount of State and local resources that have been or will be committed to alleviating the results of the disaster, provide an estimate of the amount and severity of damage and the impact on the private and public sector, and provide an estimate of the type and amount of assistance needed under the Stafford Act. In addition, the Governor will need to certify that, for the current disaster, State and local government obligations and expenditures (of which State commitments must be a significant proportion) will comply with all applicable cost-sharing requirements. Based on the Governor’s request, the President may declare that a major disaster or emergency exists, thus activating an array of Federal programs to assist in the response and recovery effort.

    Something Sebelius said in 2005 does NOT constitute a request for federal relief after a tornado in 2007.


  184. Wretched Refuse says:

    Snow should drop dead. I hate the fucking scumbag. Get your tumors over with already and die.


  185. Wretched Refuse says:

    When will DOBSON condemn them for getting Gawd’s wrath?


  186. mike valentine says:

    Twisters in Kansas will have to wait until N.O. is low and dry.

    Silly red states voted for Bush.

    Where is Brownie when you need him?


  187. deport neocon filth says:

    yet another instance of “compassionate conservatism” from president dummy and his entourage


  188. Jo-Ann says:

    Um, let’s see…the Governor of Kansas is a Democrat and a woman….this is starting to look like a White House trend. Trash her and show that women leaders always fail. Sorry, but it’s justs another show about the blame game Bush Co has elevated to a high art. Give Kansas what it needs!!! We ‘ve done the Katrina thing already, and readiness lapses sit on the doorstep of this White House.


  189. Jay Evans says:

    Snow recounted a phone conversation Tuesday between Sebelius and Bush’s White House-based homeland security adviser, Fran Townsend, in which the governor said she was pleased with the federal performance on the tornado and had everything she needed.

    About the same time, Sebelius was doing her own backpedaling. Her spokeswoman, Nicole Corcoran, said the governor didn’t mean to imply that the state was ill-equipped to deal with the storm. Sebelius’ comments about National Guard equipment were, instead, meant as a warning about the state’s inability to handle additional disasters, such as another tornado or severe flooding, she said.

    “We are doing absolutely fine right now,” Corcoran said. “What the governor is talking about is down the road.”

    No big deal


  190. A REPUBLICAN and a CHRISTIAN says:

    There was an accident recently. A democrat stated a “fact” that was correct, but it did not remain true for very long, as the democrat “corrected” the “fact” so as to continue the democrat pattern of DISTORTIONS, TWISTED facts and outright LIES. The MSM, aka the “news controllers” were right there to attack REPUBLICANS, CHRISTIANS and CONSERVATIVES based upon the “newly created FALSE fact”. When challenged on this “false fact”, the MSM pretended not to hear and simply repeated the LIE.


  191. JT says:

    HERE ARE THE FACTS:

    According to Randal Noller, public affairs officer for the National Guard Bureau, the Kansas National Guard has 88 percent of its forces available, and 60 percent of its Army Guard dual-use equipment on hand, along with more than 85 percent of its Air Guard equipment. If the Kansas National Guard were short-handed in any way, it could have asked for assistance from other states under a national sharing agreement. It did not do so.

    Gov. Sibelius has backed off of her comments according to news sources.


  192. Common Sense says:

    Now that Gov. Sebelius has backed off her comments, I wonder how many of the idiotic Dhimocrats in this blog will rip her apart for politicizing a disaster in her own back yard.

    And by the way: Hello! People of Kansas! You live in “tornado alley”! Tornados are those big storms that do a lot of localized damage – especially during the late spring season. You may want to PREPARE for them yourselves! Just like those clowns in New Orleans should have realized that living below sea level will result in eventually getting flooded!!! Hello!!!!!!

    Is there any common sense left in this world?


  193. Capitalist Infidel says:

    Does this site repeat every lie uttered by a democrat?


  194. Brian says:

    Wow 60% thats a high percent there buddy….. and then 60% of what? we have 60% of our shovels available but all of the humvee’s and construction equipment are gone? She is asking specifically for heavy equipment that is not currently available because it is in Iraq. Tell people to quit reading and posting talking points and spin factor.


  195. Brian says:

    They have been trying to plan for them but with all the unfunded mandates and emperor in chief took the equipment from Kansas that they use. What state do you live in that doesn’t plan to use national guard equipment and staff for emergencies? – idiot quit spewing unfounded rhetoric.


  196. JT says:

    Brian

    The facts belie your posts. Do those of us who rely on facts a favor and quit this thread.


  197. Kansas RPh says:

    Listening to morning radio this AM in Wichita, the vast majority of the calls were not in support of what the Govenor said. You can drive around Wichita and see heavy green equipment at a couple of the NG sites. Never mind what is at the Air Guard site in town. FYI, when the guard did get into town, a couple of them were arrested for looting. When the Haysville tornado happened, the Guard provided security, closing roads and such, the city and county did the rest. My question to the good govenor is, if the guard is short, where are the other state assets in the short term? I think that it is much easier to get the feds to pay the bill than have the state do it.

    Sebilus stepped in it 2 days ago, and will be paying for insulting W for a while in this state.


  198. absurdist says:

    I think Tony should have stopped at “I am not aware.”


  199. Wilbur says:

    re #23:
    The National Guard offered PR and community relations? I think he confused Kansas with New Orleans. Kansas doesn’t need “community relations” assistance, it needed physical assistance. Then again, if you can’t distinguish between the two, you’re ready for a job in GWB’s new and improved FEMA.
    Perhaps Congress should remove 60% of the military’s equipment in Iraq and see if President Bush will place a request through channels for assistance with equipment when they need it?
    Perhaps it’s time for namecalling: “Knuckleheads.”


  200. Michael says:

    Brownback said Tuesday that local officials and the Kansas National Guard commander all told him they have the resources needed to respond.

    “That’s what really got me, is her saying that,” Brownback said in an interview.

    “So I asked, privately and publicly, the adjutant general, do you have the equipment you need?” he said. “Because if you don’t, we’re going to hit Fort Riley and McConnell (Air Force Base) and other places to make sure we have all the equipment we need to respond to disasters. Everybody there said no, we have the equipment we needed.”
    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070508/ap_on_el_pr/brownback_tornado_2


  201. Mike says:

    #130
    ” This link:
    http://www.defenselink.mil/ news/ newsarticle.aspx?id=33080
    sucks. Since the population of Kansas is 2.744 million, implying that 400,000 of them are available as guardsmen, representing 88% of the total force implies that 1 in 6 of Kansas’ population (men, women, children and infants) are in the National Guard.
    Somehow, that fails to compute.”

    Your correct. 400,000 sounds like the average number of overall Guardsmen for the country. http://newsbusters.org/node/12559


  202. Mel says:

    Most people inflammed here are consistently calling Bush a liar, and denegrating him for his, or Tony Snow’s alleged lies. Have you not read the news, and noticed that the governor was putting forth false figures?

    If you’re going to be self-righteous, then do it properly and with facts to support you. Otherwise, you’re killing yourselves in the credibility department.


  203. Eric Paulsen says:

    Come on folks, we all know that the residents had a 15 minute window after the warning system sounded. If they were too stupid or ambivalent to get out of the way is that really Bushs fault? Maybe god just forgot to brief him.


  204. Paul says:

    Comments come from a retired army officer. Active duty units receive 90% or more of authorized equipment. Reserve and guard receive 70% or more. Units scheduled for deployment are bumped up in priority, and ship with 100%. No army unit anywhere that is not in combat has 100% of authorized equipment. What the governor isn’t telling you is that she has enough trucks to move the town of Greenburg to hell and back 10 times over. She also has the option of asking neighboring states for assistance, which she has not done. All governors ask for more equipment, all the time. And every state gets treated equally. By the way, very few guard units have managed to recruit more than 70% of the authorized soldiers, so why would they need more than 70% of the authorized equipment. So quit whining, governor, and do your stinking job.


  205. rvail says:

    Never let facts get in the way of bashing Mr. Bush…

    ” According to Randal Noller, public affairs officer for the National Guard Bureau, the Kansas National Guard has 88 percent of its forces available, and 60 percent of its Army Guard dual-use equipment on hand, along with more than 85 percent of its Air Guard equipment. If the Kansas National Guard were short-handed in any way, it could have asked for assistance from other states under a national sharing agreement. It did not do so.”

    go figure!


  206. rvail says:

    Hey guys, never let simple facts get in the way of bashing Mr. Bush…after all EVERYTHING is his fault…

    “According to Randal Noller, public affairs officer for the National Guard Bureau, the Kansas National Guard has 88 percent of its forces available, and 60 percent of its Army Guard dual-use equipment on hand, along with more than 85 percent of its Air Guard equipment. If the Kansas National Guard were short-handed in any way, it could have asked for assistance from other states under a national sharing agreement. It did not do so.”

    …so go figure.


  207. nikolai says:

    Snow said he “was not aware of any prior complaints” by the governor about the equipment; what does this mean? “Not aware” = can’t recall = bulls*it. Guess what Tony? Everyone KNOWS that this corrupt administration is illegally using the National Guard THROUGHOUT the 50 states thereby SHORTCHANGING we the people WHEN THERE’S AN EMERGENCY LIKE IN KANSAS. Tony, you and your lying crooks aren’t fooling anyone, we are just trying to figure how to get you out and restore our constitution, so why not just please your base, and say something like, “Well yeah we short changed Kansas, but we needed men, armor, equipment and guns to kill those evil Islamic militants and to secure (or try to anyway) the second largest oil filed in existence, so CRAM IT, you commie libs! They have NOTHING TO LOSE so why not just admit it?


  208. Joe says:

    Now that the Governor has been proven wrong will all of you Bush haters retract your comments? I don’t think so, hating Bush is more important to you than helping anyone.


  209. Joe says:

    I understand from the leading democrat Presidential candidate that 10,000 people were just killed in Kansas, and that rotten Bush is covering it up by claiming it was only 12.


  210. T Boy says:

    They also deployed the Company from SE Kansas that has been back for a few months. We have plenty of heavy equipment available. Live here for awhile and see just how “great” our governor is…I was born and raised in Louisiana and know the culture and the people. I have now lived in Kansas for 14 years and love the people as well. So a quick jab at the waning reputation of our president. Isn’t it time we stand up and support him, but continue to scrutinize his actions in an intelligent manner.


  211. Mike says:

    Isn’t the Democratic motto suppose to be “ask not what your country can do for, ask what you can do for your country.”……..so then why do the Dems always have their hands out?……..Your all just hate-filled, uneducated, hypocrites and this misguided, ignorant blog is proof of that. The Democratic leaders of our past including the beloved JFK would be ashamed of what their party has become.


  212. Josh says:

    Notice this Democrat governor didn’t request anything before Katrina. But, nah, watching another incompetent Democrat female governor whine wouldn’t have given her any ideas would it?


  213. twodown says:

    According to Randal Noller, public affairs officer for the National Guard Bureau, the Kansas National Guard has 88 percent of its forces available, and 60 percent of its Army Guard dual-use equipment on hand, along with more than 85 percent of its Air Guard equipment. If the Kansas National Guard were short-handed in any way, it could have asked for assistance from other states under a national sharing agreement. It did not do so.


  214. AbsurdParadox says:

    Haha I like that people think that only big-government republicans are bad, and that big-government democrats will save us all. Thats cute.


  215. Tony Rohl says:

    Now it turns out that howard Dean told the mayor to hold off asking for help for the tornado victims until he heard back from him. Durbin and Leaky Leahy were in on the use of the disaster to make a political statement. In other words, screw the victims, everything is made political. The mayor admitted as much to Senator Brownback.


  216. Disgusted says:

    Hmmmm, so far, what I’ve read is a bunch of people complaining about how the federal government (President Bush in particular) is to blame for a slow response in disaster recovery.

    OK, let’s look at some facts. I’ll try to keep it simple for most of you.

    Tornado hits Greensburg Kansas on Friday night. Classified as a F-5 (strongest classification possible) with a destruction path approximately 1.5 to 2 miles wide at points.

    Now, that’s a lot of damage. But the people in Kansas have been dealing with tornadoes for a lot of years, and while it’s devastating, it’s not unheard of. Here’s what happened immediately following the tornado.

    (from a blog of a Kansas resident not located in Greensburg) Wichita and Sedgwick County crews were already on standby because of the storms sweeping the state, and were in Greensburg within two hours. It’s a hundred miles away. Do the math.

    Acquaintances on one of those first teams told me that when they got there, the highway in had already been cleared and locals with chainsaws and pick-ups were well into clearing the streets so that rescue vehicles could go anywhere. By dawn heavy equipment from the region was already pouring in, and they had to start cordoning off the town because there were too many volunteers there with equipment. By Sunday when Sebelius made her insulting remarks, there were traffic jams on the highway from utility crews piled up, coming in to “safe” the gas and electric.

    If no agency at all above county level had showed up, Greensburg rescue and recovery would still have been in full swing at dawn Saturday. And it would all still get done, at about the same pace.

    This is what responsible people do. They don’t wait around for “assistance”, they roll up their sleeves and pitch in. Governor Sebelius remarks on Sunday morning were pure politics. Using a natural disaster as a way to discredit the White House and Bush adminstration. Now, was there any truth to what she was saying about shortages?

    resources available: 83,000 National Guard units in the region, 99 bulldozers, 61 loaders, 246 dump trucks, 59 graders, 228 heavy expandable mobility tactical trucks, 2,243 2.5 and 5-ton trucks, 70 palletalized load systems. There’s a lot of stuff available. So, again, I think this is one where the equipment was available and everybody was moving as rapidly as possible…

    And what about the “shortage of trained personnel” well, it seems that only approximately 10% of Kansas National Guard units are deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan at this time(according to CNN). Kind of deflates that argument too, doesn’t it.

    So, it appears that the whole finger pointing, whining, tantrum throwing antics of Governor Sebelius was all for political profit which is about to backfire in her face.


  217. Norman Emerson says:

    This article and the liberal comments here are so typical of their advanced stage of BDS…truth does not matter…truth being that Howard Dean set up Gov. Sebelius to lie about this entire matter thus turning it into a Katrina type story. The difference though, is that the residents of Kansas are responding in the American way, rolling up their sleeves and trying to get on with their lives, not standing around whining, with their hands out like the ‘po ‘po people of ‘Nawlins.
    The main stream media has given all of this their “ho-hum” treatment since even the residents of Kansas are calling their Governor a liar and can not not spin this into their anti-Bush sentiments.
    Liberals just continue their downward spiral into the world of low-life forms.


  218. Guard Bureau Staffer says:

    Interesting and disheartening seeing a couple of you bash my colleague, Mr. Noller for being truthful.

    Total Air and Army Guard personell in KS at the time was about 6800. Of this, at one point 560 were activated to deal with the problem. That is all they wanted.

    There were roughly 83,000 Guard personell available to KS from its neighboring states through something called EMAC. The Emegency Assistance Management Compact which allows Governors to cross level assets in time of emergency. The Guard is just one facet available per this agreement. It includes assets from several other state and federal agencies. No EMAC requests were placed. None were needed. The state’s Adjutant General was confident his resources were adequate for the job.

    The 1st Guard assets in place – a Civil Support Team – was in place 6 hours after the tornado went through.

    The soldiers caught looting were active duty soldiers from nearby Ft Riley, not KS National guard. They deserve what they’ll get.

    Yes, even LTG Blum, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau has said that Guard equipment has been depleted by overseas efforts. He has even managed to secure funding for its replacement seperately from the active component’s military funding. Regardless, the governor’s existing assets in KS are currently more than adequate to deal with her existing problem.

    Please stop looking for boogeymen where there are none. The kneejerk “don’t believe the White House at any cost” mindset is counterproductive. learn to put things in context and don’t trust that all the soundbites you hear are the complete story.


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