A friend forwarded this to me. It is reportedly from a county emergency manager who was also quoted in the Denver Post. Whether it was in the Post or not, I agree with the sentiment.

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WEATHER BULLETIN

Up here, in the Northern Plains, we just recovered from a Historic event--- may I even say a "Weather Event" of "Biblical Proportions" --- with a historic blizzard of up to 44" inches of snow and winds to 90 MPH that broke trees in half, knocked down utility poles, stranded hundreds of motorists in lethal snow banks, closed ALL roads, isolated scores of communities and cut power to 10's of thousands.

FYI:

George Bush did not come.

FEMA did nothing.

No one howled for the government.

No one blamed the government.

Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton did not visit.

Our Mayor did not blame Bush or anyone else.

Our Governor did not blame Bush or anyone else, either.

CNN, ABC, CBS, FOX or NBC did not visit - or report on this category 5 snowstorm.

Nobody demanded $2,000 debit cards.

No one asked for a FEMA Trailer House.

No one looted.

Nobody - I mean Nobody demanded the government do something.

Nobody expected the government to do anything, either.

No Larry King, No Bill O'Rielly, No Oprah, No Chris Mathews and No Geraldo Rivera.

No Shaun Penn, No Barbara Striesand, No Hollywood types to be found.

Nope, we just melted the snow for water.

Sent out caravans of SUV's to pluck people out of snow engulfed cars.

The truck drivers pulled people out of snow banks and didn't ask for a
penny.

Local restaurants made food and the police and fire departments delivered it to the snowbound families.

Families took in the stranded people - total strangers.

We fired up wood stoves, broke out coal oil lanterns or Coleman lanterns.

We put on extra layers of clothes because up here it is "Work or Die".

We did not wait for some affirmative action government to get us out of a mess created by being immobilized by a welfare program that trades votes for 'sittin at home' checks.

Even though a Category "5" blizzard of this scale has never fallen this early, we know it can happen and how to deal with it ourselves.

"In my many travels, I have noticed that once one gets north of about 48 degrees North Latitude, 90% of the world's social problems evaporate."

It does seem that way, at least to me.

I hope this gets passed on.

Maybe SOME people will get the message.

The world does NOT owe you a living.

And no Senator that also lost his home got his brother in law to sue State Farm, Allstate, USAA, and some others cuz they wont cover snow plowing under folks' auto insurance policies.

Great post John.

Thanks for sharing this, KG. I agree with your perspective on this subject.

Over here, an inch of snow is enough to shut stations, and stop people getting to work.

Oh, and one year, after having "leaves on the line" it turned out that they were in fact "the wrong typ of leaves".

True story.

Typical Right wing garbage, John. We declared a state of emergency so we could get the National Gaurd (Government) to help find people, feed the cattle the ranchers- strong, self sufficient Marlboro men, just like the author- jes didn't want to, and as soon as the wind died down, we started declaring counties as disaster area's to get FEMA money.

BTW- I read the Post daily- but I didn't get a couple of the papers during the 3 storms. But I doubt that most of that tripe was in any reputable paper, because a small amount of research will show that the underpopulated west received much more government money per person (Interstates, Dams, water projects) than those liberal bastions (also known as effete Easterners:D ) that the sneering tone of that piece was targeting.

Yes, the plains had many feel good stories; as did the Cities, where neighbors dug out elderly neighbors (my back is still a leetle sore), shoveled out cul de sacs and streets, and pretty much did as the Republican Gov asked, and stayed off the highway's so they could keep the plows coming. Some in the Plains didn't listen- and required the government (Gaurd) to come and find them, putting themselves in danger to aid those who knew the storm was coming, but didn't listen.

Nice fairy tale- but a total lie. Now, shall we address how water allowed the Plains to be farmed after the Dust Bowl- and how much money the feds poured into it?

Did someone pee in yer Cheerio's again?

My parents and daughter were stuck in a little town with no gas station, convenience store, restaraunt or gorcery store for 3 days when I-40 closed, who helped them? Not the gubermint, nope, it was truck drivers, other travellers and one very nice, and completely strapped new hotel owner. The Marlboro men (and women) you mock.

My in-laws in the Springs - nobody.

Businesses here in NM - nobody.

The point is that finger-pointing did not occur.

There were no questions about snow fences or snow plows or sand piles or debit cards or FEMA housing. People just got on with what they had to do and for the most part took care of themselves and each other.

I pulled people out of ditches with my evil 4x4 pickemup my damn self.

Disaster area declarations were after the fact, with no drama, and simply to pay for cleanup.

The Guard was not activated in advance (as WAS the case in Katrina and see how well that went).

Same magnitude as Katrina, no not really, but totally different approaches, totally different results.

As I said, I don't know if was in the Post but I agree with the sentiment.

I am only saying this because I care Base, there are decaffeinated brands that taste just as good as the real thing.

BTW, got this from a left-leaning, earring wearing Liberal friend of mine who lives in Sedona, AZ with the crystals and the vortexes.

Have a good one!

BTW, got this from a left-leaning, earring wearing Liberal friend of mine who lives in Sedona, AZ with the crystals and the vortexes.

I've gotta make a trip out there to Sedona....that place keeps coming into my consciousness, and there must be a reason for that to be happening. Maybe I'm destined to meet Glenn Scarpelli (and his life partner Jude.) He lives there and runs his own TV studio, Sedona Now.

You're attempt at sneering- while noted- is still wrong. The government plowed the roads, and provided all the other suport I mentioned. Your attempt to pretend that did not exist brands you a hyprocite- which is a surprise. You usually aren't that obtuse; But I guess that you really, really want to believe your little myth, and ignore facts that are easily verifiable and were reported as the events occured. Enjoy!!

You're attempt at sneering- while noted- is still wrong. The government plowed the roads, and provided all the other suport I mentioned. Your attempt to pretend that did not exist brands you a hyprocite- which is a surprise. You usually aren't that obtuse; But I guess that you really, really want to believe your little myth, and ignore facts that are easily verifiable and were reported as the events occured. Enjoy!!

You missed the point of KG's post, baseline. He is not a hypocrite. He is talking about the people who feel that the government owes them 100% support and more. While I realize that KG will respond to this post himself, I just want to say that I do understand where he is coming from. I live in an area where there is rampant abuse of medicaid, food stamps, welfare, etc. It gets very tiresome when people continue to live off of government funds because of poor choices. It's is very tiresome indeed. It's a mentality that says, "they owe me."

You're attempt at sneering- while noted- is still wrong. The government plowed the roads, and provided all the other suport I mentioned. Your attempt to pretend that did not exist brands you a hyprocite- which is a surprise. You usually aren't that obtuse; But I guess that you really, really want to believe your little myth, and ignore facts that are easily verifiable and were reported as the events occured. Enjoy!!Man you are in rare form, did I kick your dog?

I am neither a hypocrite or obtuse.

Of course local government plowed the roads, along with a cadre of volunteers, at least that was FACT here in NM.

Local governments also opened dozens of shelters along the closed highway to house the thousands of stranded travellers who could not get into fully booked hotels.

Will they ultimately be reimbursed by the Feds, probably so.

Fact remains that my folks received and asked for NOTHING from the gubermint.

Fact remains that businesses which lost revenue will not be reimbursed.

Fact remains that individuals and businesses which opened themselves and their homes to total strangers will not be reimbursed.

I said I agree with the sentiment of what was said, that sentiment was a call to be self sufficient and NOT rely on the gubermint for everything.

The real sentiment of the piece, I think, was that there was a significant difference in the media treatment (true), significant difference in the response from civil rights and other community leaders (true), and especially as pointed out in the piece, signficant difference in the behavior of THE PEOPLE (true) - even though hundreds of thousands of people were effected.

I think maybe you are reading a little too much into the post and my replies, but thanks for the discussion nonetheless.

John

I am neither a hypocrite or obtuse.

I always think of you as more of an icoceles guy. :rofl:

Here we go- time spent finding, 30 seconds......

http://www.topix.net/content/ap/1197253002369507033623953198820722849409

Just pointing out that there is a lie in the ass-umption of that piece-
"FEMA did nothing.

No one howled for the government. "

They did. Buts its OK, Fonzie (never w-w-wrong), we know it was really a swipe at Katrina, and the truth has no bearing when you're trying to spread propaganda...oops, a political message. That particular one (Catagory 5 is a tornado reference to wind speed-a Blizzard is already defined BY its wind speed, otherwise it is just a snow storm) has been around in various versions since at least the 70's (I read things like that in various clubs and blue-collar bars back then), except the more racist portions of those have been modified and updated. But it still gets its point across- talking about the Jesse, Sharpton and the Mayor of NO (gee, wasn't he black?) and not the white governors and mayors who also requested aid. But NNNOOOOO- its not racist!!!:cookoo:

This is the sort of divisive drivel that is constantly circulated around the Internet as "fact", with an aside referencing a reputuble source (Denver Post? County Emergency manager?) in an attempt to confer "legitimicy" to it. This is a typical right-wing one- the left is busy trying to make 9/11 GWs fault, or some other conspiricy. Which is why, anymore, I usually stay out of these so-called discussions. They are really not discussions; a smart aleck response (my dogs and cheerios are fine, thank you) will supposedly "win" points. And the truth is immaterial, if it doesn't match the agenda.

BTW- the Marlboro Man reference came from a conservative piece decrying how much Westerners were taking from the guv without putting as much back in. A true fiscal conservative would know the numbers.....:D

Actually agree about personal responsibility, and I know that people everywhere usually pitch in and help whenever there is a crisis. I've been a recipient of such help, and I have dispensed help in such cases as well. When the chips are down, people put aside minor differences, political disagreements, and even personal dislikes to weather the storm (pun intended). In that respect, John, you and I are in complete agreement (OK, the Fonzie swipe was a cheap shot...:lildevil: ). I just wish you would use your considerable wit, intelligence and charm to promote POSITIVE change instead of repeating the negative nonsense like that.

Now, back to work.... I've lost many days of work thanks to these 3 storms, and since its below 0 again this AM, I'm gunna be a cold little surveyor out there.......


Have a good day!!!!(Done in my best Paul Harvey voice).....

Yes, it was a huge snow storm. I was snowed in for four days and then a week a later, snowed in for two days. I didn't get mail for a while and my trash wasn't picked up for two weeks.

But there was running water, shelter, food, and heat and electricity in most of the state. People weren't stealing food and survival gear from stores. Dead bodies weren't floating down the street. Hospitals were operational.

Don't get me wrong; it sucked...but it wasn't that bad.

Yes, it was a huge snow storm. I was snowed in for four days and then a week a later, snowed in for two days. I didn't get mail for a while and my trash wasn't picked up for two weeks.

But there was running water, shelter, food, and heat and electricity in most of the state. People weren't stealing food and survival gear from stores. Dead bodies weren't floating down the street. Hospitals were operational.

Don't get me wrong; it sucked...but it wasn't that bad.

Glad to hear you came out OK, Merry. :cheerlead:

KG, isn't it pretty hard to riot and loot when you're snowed in without snowshoes?! :p

:popcorn2:

:popcorn2:

You've been eating a lot of that, think you could pass the bag? :wave:

Jennifer

Drive-by snowmobile shootings- its a new crime catagory that the FBI is intending to track verrryyyyy carefully, as there are rumors that, since you are SUPPOSED to wear ski masks, that the terrorists are infiltrating these gangs for the purpose of bank robberys of Drive-Through Lanes. They have already set up training camps in the Sahara, but the darn sand keeps getting in the track and ruining the machines- so these blizzards have allowed them to utilize the most desolate, unpopulated portions of the known universe (anywhere in North Dakota- sorry, Fargo) for there nefarious plots.

But then they run into a Militia Camp where everyone is sitting around the chanting the 2nd Amendment to a Johnny Cash song, and holding the slightly modified Uzi's that they got off Ebay. The night erupts in a hail of misfires, accidental shootings of hunting partners in the face, and they have to call in Jimmy Carter to mediate. Tis a sad state of affairs, I tell ya......


Have a good day!