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DEPLETED FORCES. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius noted on Sunday that the response to the deadly tornado that destroyed the small town of Greensburg, Kansas has been slower because many of the troops and equipment for the state's National Guard are in Iraq. Today, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley also voiced the same concern. Traditionally, of course, the National Guard has been used as a state militia to help with natural disasters. Now that the DoD has drafted the state militias to serve tours of duty nearly equivalent to enlisted soldiers, the effects are evident when disasters like this weekend's tornadoes hit.
--Kay Steiger
COMMENTS (15)
Hey Kansas, guess what? You voted for Bush in '04. When you sleep with a dog, you wake up with fleas. You get what you deserve.
Have fun digging out!!
Posted by: scott | May 8, 2007 1:04 PM
scott - yeah, of course, people deserve to die for voting for Bush. Or even if they didn't vote for Bush, but live in a state that voted for Bush.
Creep.
Posted by: RT | May 8, 2007 1:33 PM
And Tony Snow, incredibly, seems to be trying to Blanco-ize Sebelius -- telling the gaggle today that her problem is she didn't request aid properly. This seems to me a hideous mistake. I thought Sebelius came off exceedingly well on TV last night, because she didn't seem to be remotely grinding a political ax -- she's simply a weary leader aghast at what's happening all around her.
Scott's response is slimy, but on the bigger point of Kansas' politics -- I wonder if a state I always considered to be in the bottom 5-10 of those likely to ever vote Dem could actually surprise us. The local revulsion at the religious right takeover of the GOP has resulted in surprising statewide victories for Democrats. Given a godawful-enough electoral terrain next year -- particularly if the economy hits the skids -- I could see this state tipping Dem for the first time since '64.
Posted by: demtom | May 8, 2007 2:02 PM
Apparently Bush took to heart all that criticism about not asking Americans to sacrifice more for the war. He's just starting with Kansas.
Posted by: Glenn | May 8, 2007 2:32 PM
Of course people don't deserve to die for voting for Bush, but people have died because Bush got votes.
Posted by: winer | May 8, 2007 2:46 PM
Hey Kansas, guess what? You voted for Bush in '04. When you sleep with a dog, you wake up with fleas. You get what you deserve.
What an idiot. As if 100% of us voted for Bush.
Are you taking a break out from Congressman Dana Rohrabacher's staff to post here?
Posted by: Max | May 8, 2007 2:50 PM
Surprising that she hasn't been attacked her for being former Ohio Democratic governor John Gilligan's daughter.
Posted by: namvetted | May 8, 2007 3:07 PM
Why would she? Was he a disgrace? I'm not too familiar with him.
Posted by: Max | May 8, 2007 4:22 PM
Not only did we vote for Bush, we voted for a Dem Governor, a Dem Attorney General, and two Dem Representatives in Congress.
For the last four years I've been represented by a Dem in Congress and in the state capitol. You conservative New Yorkers, Californians and Massachusettsans can't say that.
Posted by: Jayhawker | May 8, 2007 4:26 PM
Max, I assume the point was, Gilligan's a Democrat, and therefore to be trashed.
Jayhawker, do you see any sign of what I suggested -- that this sudden Kansas willingness to elect Dems statewide could lead to an unexpected presidential result, given the current national situation?
Posted by: demtom | May 8, 2007 4:44 PM
They deserved it for taking creationism out of the schools.
Posted by: pat robertson | May 9, 2007 9:26 AM
I would guess the GOP would trash her for being a Dem, rather than her dad.
Kansans have three political parties - fundy GOPers, moderate GOPers and Dems. This has often led to either a moderate GOP or Dem being elected Governor. I do think the bungling of the GOP has given the KS Democratic Party new life. I believe we picked up six seats in the state legislature, there was Congresswoman Nancy Boyda's upset and Congressman Moore had his largest margin of victory ever.
Still, its hard to imagine Kansas going for a Dem president. I can't see them voting for any of the current Dem field unfortunately. It would have to be a truly awful GOP candidate - registered Republicans still outnumber registered Dems in Kansas 2-1.
Posted by: Max | May 9, 2007 10:11 AM
I know this is a pipe dream, but the way she's handling the situation reminds me once again why I'd take Sebelius over any other declared candidate for the presidency. I'm just imagining her in a debate slamming the GOP nominee on these lines.
I can't speak too much about Kansas, but the fact they elected her governor proves they're doing at least one thing right.
Posted by: 32_Footsteps | May 9, 2007 11:23 AM
Too bad that Gov. Sebelius turned to be wrong. Kansas has the vast majority of its National Guard troops and materiel available. Over 80k troops from surrounding states are even ready to help out.
She doesn't need anyone to Blanco-ize her - she's doing fine on her own.
Posted by: Brian | May 9, 2007 4:24 PM
I should further say that I'm disappointed that we aren't seeing updates to this post to reflect the truth.
The comments section here still sucks, by the way. Why don't you guys just use Blogger, at least it works.
Posted by: Brian | May 9, 2007 4:27 PM