Bush pledges help for tornado victims"There's a certain spirit in the Midwest of our country — a pioneer spirit that still exists, and I'm confident this community will be rebuilt," Bush said. "To the extent that we can help, we will."The most important thing now, though, is for our citizens to ask for the good Lord to comfort those who hurt."I love how Bush promises to help "to the extent that we can..." Is he going to "help" the tornado victims "to the extent" that he helped the Katrina victims (tens of thousands of whom are still without homes)?!?

What a piece of crap. The most important thing now is for him to get off his lazy butt and push the gov't into action - to help the town repair, rebuild and recover.

I'm sure what he meant to say was "To the extent we can cut income taxes for rich people..."

So, just like with Katrina. The National Guard are in Iraq rather than at home where they should be.

so much for the term NATIONAL. Now they are the Corporate interest guard.

I hope that the fact that 60% of the Kansas National Guard's equipment is in Iraq rather than in Kansas available for the tornado aftermath becomes common knowledge in Kansas (and Oklahoma and Nebraska - who could easily be next). My guess is that Gov. Sibelius will try to make sure it does.

"...will really handicap the rebuilding effort."

i hate to say we told you so... this was already the concern years ago. with the surgin' expect less national guard ... besides they're busy being targets over there. as to the reference to katrina, one might add the trailer debacle. yep, ol' GWB is sure goin' down (in history...)?

Bush Sr. neglected the victims of Hurricane Andrew, too; and many believe that's why he lost to Clinton. You'd think Karen Hughs was sharper than this. Don't these people ever learn their lesson.

Junior is walzing around with the richest woman in the world tonight while there isn't enough National Guard equipment in Kanass to look for survivors because he sent it to Iraq to be blown up? I hope all this talk of death and destruction doesn't dampen the mood tonight...or maybe they aren't even aware of it?

Oh, my. The Garden Party has started at the British Embassy. I hope the Twins are enjoying themselves. Does this woman have any idea how many Americans will look at this frivolous publicity tour during a time of tragedy and wonder what is her problem? She didn't get it when Diana died either.

Typical response by a rich person who lives in a bubble.

Well, it just goes to show you. Anybody who gets involved with this administration is setting themselves up for a fall.

Is this a Marie Antoinette moment for the Queen or for our King George?

Governor Kathleen Sebelius visited the devastation of Greensburg, KS after one of the largest tornadoes in many years destroyed the town. In an on-the-scene interview, she made a point to say that half the Reserves who would normally be there to help the clean-up as well as most of the Humvees and other clean-up equipment were all gone to the Iraqi war.

So as she subtly pointed out, once again, the involvement in the Iraqi civil war is leaving us in danger here in our own country.

Brava, Kathleen!

My sister just told me that a friend of hers in CA said her son's girlfriend went to court to get emancipated since it is apparently legal at age 14. Then they are going to sign up for the army. And apparently this is a fad going on there.

Fourteen year olds in Iraq???

Can anyone tell me if this is really going on? I also read in a group at Care2.com that the recruiters are hitting the high schools before the kids even hit their senior years!

What is this? Population control? Or race control? What's going on?

btw, the death toll in Greensburg, KS is up to 10. They found one alive under debris after 2 days.

Does this woman have any idea how many Americans will look at this frivolous publicity tour during a time of tragedy and wonder what is her problem? She didn't get it when Diana died either. SandyH

Haven't seen the movie "The Queen" yet?

Have you seen the pictures of the Queen when she was sitting with Cheney? If looks could kill, she looked like she was staring at the Devil himself. She's not stupid. But she has to do the PR thing. I bet you anything she has bush and cheney's numbers pegged.

Haven't seen the movie "The Queen" yet?

Have you seen the pictures of the Queen when she was sitting with Cheney? If looks could kill, she looked like she was staring at the Devil himself. She's not stupid. But she has to do the PR thing. I bet you anything she has bush and cheney's numbers pegged.

WatchfulEye,

Haven't seen the movie yet.

But I hope she demands that Bush doesn't bomb Iran while here grandson is serving in Iraq.

The Queen had to slept in a palace shelter as a child when Hitler bombed London. I think she's sized then both up pretty well...from personal experience.

They said Bush insulted her today at the press conference which surprises no one. At least he didn't try to give her a back rub. Or Cheney didn't shoot her...yet.

Take your crown and run for the nearest shelter, Queen Elizabeth.

Governor Sebelius is great. She's more interested in helping the people of Kansas than she is in catering to Beltway insiders and
special interest groups like the PNAC.

Unlike Gov. Sebelius, Sen. Pat Roberts is just a rubber stamp for the Bush administration. The man is incapable of thinking for himself. He supports torture (he voted against John McCain when McCain sponsored a bill to ban torture). He
used his intelligence committee leverage to suppress the investigation of NSA's warrantless wiretapping.

I hope that we can find someone to take him on in 2008. In spite of solid wins on the part of Gov. Sebelius and Rep. Dennis Moore last year, a lot of Democrats around here are still intimidated by him.

Wow, I can't believe the DNC is telling the people to capitolize on a tragedy for political gain. Its a sad state the party has come to, when they must stoop to such low standards and tactics. I am saddened by this. Lord, have mercy!

Jack

It seems the Governor, and a lot of other people are IGNORANT that the role of the Guard and Reserves CHANGED as a consequence of the "peace dividend" we accrued in the early 1990s.

See the following summary of the Gurd's NEW role:

Testimony Before the Subcommittee on Readiness, Committee on Armed Services U.S. Senate. March 21, 1996
DOD RESERVE COMPONENTS Issues Pertaining to Readiness
Statement of Richard Davis, Director, National Security Analysis, National Security and International Affairs Division G A O years
1921 - 1996
“The Guard and Reserve comprised about 35 percent of DOD’s total military force in 1990, and they are projected to comprise about 38 percent of the force by the end of fiscal years 1996 and 2001. However, the active and reserve composition of each of the services differs considerably. For example, the Guard and Reserve are projected to comprise slightly over 50 percent of the total Army for fiscal years 1996 and 2001.”

“The reserve components are expected to provide critical capabilities that are projected to be needed for two major regional conflicts, the military strategy articulated in DOD’s 1993 bottom-up review. Examples of these capabilities are as follows:
• The Army reserve components provide all or significant portions of many of the Army’s support functions, including 100 percent of the forces that provide fresh water supply, over 95 percent of the civil affairs units, about 85 percent of the medical brigades, about 75 percent of the chemical defense battalions, and about 70 percent of the heavy combat engineer battalions.”
•
So.. if the combat functions of the Guard has changed, and the active duty force no longer has the support units it once had, when Congress [sic!!] authorizes the President to use force if necessary to ENFORCE EXISTING UNSC RESOLUTION vis a vis Iraq [and THAT IS WHAT CONGRESS AUTHORIZED--YOU can look it up!] then the Guard MUST be mopbilized for the duration of the conflict!

Dont complain about the units being in Iraq--complain about how Congress permitted the military to be reorganized and reduced in the 1990s and for authorizing force to enforce UNSC resolutions!!!

Any interested Kansans, I have a petition out there asking Gov. Sebelius to Endorse Barack Obama for President. Please read this, sign this and send it to all your enlightened Kansas friends. Thanks to all who believe in a better tomorrow. Heres the address http://www.petitiononline.com/ks1234/petition.html

you may need to copy and paste to your browser. Once again ....Thanks.

Absolutely correct. If the military cuts of the 1990s would not have happened this would not be an issue. However, there is the National Guard also saying that they have plenty of rescources. Sounds like a Dem Governor trying to make something political.

You dems, are typical of trying to make EVERYTHING look political, sort of like the
Reps as well. If the clean up in Kansas is too slow, then the Governor of that state is accountable, just like Louisiana with Katrina. If a Governor cannot have a clear cut procedure for natural disasters, then you got the wrong Gov in office.

Hey Terra

Shows your ignorance. The Governor is reponsible for calling out help and the guard. If they need more help they have to request from the Fed Government. They don't want Bush to help, because they are afraid he will get some credit for it, and in the process, ignorant people like you will believe what the Liberal press post on the Tornado issue. The stupid Governor of Louisiana did the same. but you would not just research a little, you will only go with what you see on cnn.

Hey Sandy H, be happy you live in a country where you can say what you did. Typical person with a political agenda. Look at things rationally instead of emotionally. Life is full of surprises, afterall, you never know what you are going to get. You cut Bush, but if a Governor in Kansas cannot handle a town of only 900 people, then sounds like to me, they have the wrong governor.

But you would rather make a political story for something that is now popular to do, instead of asking yourself, a town of 900 getting wiped out by a Tornado, is that a Federal problem? South Texas flooded years that put thousands in several counties out of their homes and houses floated down rivers. That was not a Federal disaster. Cmon, get real. That may be a little hard for someone trying to make a political deal out of a Tornado.