Political Storms

Due to Hurricane Sandy and the fact that I'm expecting a tree to crash through my back windows any moment, this will be brief.  First of all, prayers, and good wishes to those in NYC, NJ, MD, DE and all other areas affected by the storm.  Prayers and healing thoughts to the families of the sailor who lost her life, and the Captain of the HMS Bounty, Robin Walbridge, who is currently missing.  Fair winds and following seas...

I've said it before, but I'll repeat it.  At times like this, we are not Republicans and Democrats, we are fellow human beings.  We share this planet, this nation, our communities.  We must be our brother's keeper.  And it sickens me on the deepest level that some would politicize this still unfolding tragedy for political gain.  I've found a bit more respect for Chris Christie who said earlier today, 

“I appreciate the president’s outreach today in making sure that we know he’s watching this and is concerned about the health and welfare and safety of the people of the state of New Jersey,”
Christie is going to have to make some difficult decisions in the upcoming days, and I hope he does all he can for the citizens of his state.  He'll need the federal government's help.  President Obama, at a press conference was asked about the effect of the storm on the upcoming election.  The President was quoted saying, 

"I am not worried at this point on the impact on the election. I'm worried about the impact on families and our first responders," the president said. "The election will take care of itself next week."
Meanwhile, in the height of the storm, Romney's campaign is busy promoting tweets slamming Obama's foreign policy.  Though he cancelled his personal appearances, his campaign carries on.  Today Romney placed a call to Virginia's Republican Governor Bob McDonnell and to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to offer his support and discuss storm preparation.  No such call was placed to states with Democratic Governors (Maryland, Governor O'Malley, Massachusetts, Governor Patrick, North Carolina, Governor Perdue and New York, Governor Cuomo).  I suppose the people suffering in those states don't deserve Romney's feigned compassion.  

Romney also took the time to criticize the President by saying that the states should be left to deal with the disasters on their own, that it was the "moral" thing to do.  I disagree.  The states do not have the resources on their own to handle disasters of this magnitude.  It's just that simple.  It's the reason we have a central-federal government in the first place.  It's the glue that holds us together as one nation, opposed to 50 mini-nations.  Romney just doesn't get that.  He doesn't get compassion either.  Sitting here in my kitchen with the wind howling at my door...I'll take President Obama over Mitt Romney any damn day of the week.

The American Red Cross is a crucial element of disaster relief services.  The agency helps to save lives and offers much needed relief to victims of disasters.  You can donate $10 to the Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy relief simply by texting the word, REDCROSS to 90999  You can also visit www.redcross.org to donate, or you can call 1-800-RED-CROSS begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1-800-RED-CROSS      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

The American Red Cross is also in desperate need of blood donations from anyone who is eligible to donate, especially in areas 
not affected by the storm.  Please support the Red Cross in this time of crisis.