Republicans press Obama to back FEMA $$ bill as storm nears

The House voted Friday to fund the Federal Emergency Management Agency amid the partial government shutdown, with Republicans casting the bill as an emergency measure to help Americans threatened by the approaching tropical storm. 

The bill was one of several House Republicans have pushed in recent days to fund chunks of the government. 

They've been pressuring Democrats, with little success, to support these mini-spending measures while the budget impasse drags on. Republicans upped that pressure on Friday, saying disaster response is critical as Tropical Storm Karen tracks toward the Gulf Coast and is poised to hit this weekend. 

"When you've got a storm in the Gulf of Mexico, this is not a time for partisanship," Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., said after the vote, flanked by Gulf state lawmakers. Scalise called on President Obama to remove his veto threat and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to pass the bill in the Senate. 

"This is about people's lives, people's businesses," Rep. Randy Weber, R-Texas, said. 

The House voted 247-164 to approve the FEMA spending bill. 

The chamber plans to vote later in the day on nutrition services for low-income women and children. 

Via: Fox News

Continue Reading....

OBAMA CAMPAIGNS AS RED STATE DROWNS; SEVEN RALLIES BEFORE LOUISIANA VISIT

As you all probably know by now, as of this morning, President Obama had no scheduled plans to visit Louisiana -- the state hit hardest by Hurricane Isaac. That is, until newly minted GOP nominee Mitt Romney announced immediately after his convention that he would visit the storm-ravaged area. Romney's there now as I write this and not long after his trip was announced, liked a jilted suitor on the chase, President Obama announced he would squeeze in some time for a similar visit.  

Obama obviously didn’t care about visiting Louisiana because it can do nothing to help his reelection bid. Obama is nothing if not mercenary when it comes to holding on to power, so why visit a state stupid, racist, and misguided enough to give Romney all of its electoral votes.

But as he's done for the last 20 days; today, Romney out-flanked Obama, announced his visit, and forced Obama into a defensive crouch where he had to change his selfish plans.

Bottom line: This morning, Mitt Romney led and President Empty Chair was forced to follow.

And it's a beautiful thing.

But why doesn’t Obama visit right away? Today? There's no doubt a presidential visit would put a spotlight on the disaster, which in turn would likely boost donations to the Red Cross when those donations are needed most.

Answer: You remember that whole mercenary thing I mentioned earlier about Obama? Here's the president's schedule as of now -- here's a look at President FailureTeleprompter's priorities during and after a storm the took lives:

Tuesday 8/28: “Obama To Discuss Cost Of Education During Fort Collins Visit At CSU”

Tuesday 8/28: “Obama Reaches Out To Students In Ames [IA].”

Wednesday: 8/29:  “In Charlottesville [VA], Obama Makes Appeal To Young Voters.”

Friday 8/31: “Texas Bound” -- To be fair to the president, this is an official visit with the troops marking the two-year anniversary of the end of the war in Iraq. How fortunate for Obama this opportunity arises to play Commander-in-Chief the very day after  the close of the GOP convention.

Saturday 9/1: Iowa again for a campaign stop.

Sunday 9/2:  Campaign stop in Colorado.

Monday 9/3:  Campaign event in Ohio.

Until FINALLY….

Via: Breitbart

Continue Reading...

Katrina Anniversary: Obama Plans to Campaign in Va. While Isaac Lands in La.

=(CNSNews.com)   – The White House announced on Monday that President Barack Obama plans to campaign in Charlottesville, Va., on Wednesday--the day the National Hurricane Center predicts Hurricane Isaac will hit the Gulf Coast.

Wednesday, Aug. 29, is also the seventh anniversary of the day that Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Gulf Coast in 2005.

According to the center, Tropical Storm Isaac is predicted to become a Category One Hurricane by Monday night and will make landfall along the Louisiana and Mississippi coastline late Tuesday or early Wednesday.

According to the center, Isaac will have maximum sustained winds of 70 miles per hour with storm surges up to 12 feet.

National Hurricane Center and National Weather Service fall under the umbrella of the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration.

The National Weather Service issued a hurricane warning at 1:42 p.m. CDT for New Orleans, stating that Isaac was strengthening and becoming more organized. It advised New Orleans residents to "rush to completion of preparations for the protection of life and property. Evacuate if directed to do so by local officials ... or if your home is vulnerable to high winds or flooding."

Isaac "is currently forecast to make landfall as a Category One hurricane near the southwest pass of the Mississippi River Tuesday night," said the warning.

The warning had not been updated at the time of publication.

Via: CNSNews

Continue Reading...