Bush Responsible for California Fires?

[pippin]

'The Bush administration took six months to evaluate Gov. Gray Davis' emergency request last spring for $430 million to clear dead trees from fire-prone areas of Southern California.

The request was finally denied Oct. 24, only hours before wildfires roared out of control in what has become the largest fire disaster in California history.'

Two republican legislators had joined Davis in requesting that FEMA declare a state of emergency regarding the dead trees.

"FEMA has the power to declare an emergency — clearing the way for federal relief — if a situation is deemed to be "an immediate threat to lives and property," Kolton said.
. . .( Rep. Mary) Bono added: "Part of FEMA's charter is to mitigate for disaster and in this case they thought it wasn't the case, it wasn't part of their job — and look where we are because of that. . . " Rep. Jerry Lewis added " It's not a Democratic or Republican problem. It's a government problem."

Note: all the legislators quoted are republicans.

Los Angeles Times
October 31,2003
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fema31oct31,1,4116024.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[LunaC]

1. Gotta' punish California

for being Democratic, doncha' know! Withhold funding for basic maintenance and let the bastards burn.

[joefree1]

2. Hope this get some play

So rethuglicans are trying to blame Davis for the fires. This news will get everyone thinking.

"It's not over 'till Arnold gropes the fat lady" —Bill Press, on MSNBC

http://www.recallarnoldwatch.org

[creativelcro]

3. obvious conspiracy plot:

1. Get major CA fires going (it costs only a few matches, after all).
2. Arnold goes to DC and gets big disaster package.
3. Californians are grateful and vote for GWB.

I know, this would be a ridiculous plan, and i just posted it for fun... Yet, I would not be surprised if it were true... -C

[eleny]

4. People can keep their fingers in their ears and...

sing "La-La-La" for just so long. This is nothing short of disgusting in light of the fact that the Repub talking heads are already blaming it on Conservationists.

[creativelcro]

5. agreed

PS. nice witch avatar :)

[pippin]

6. yes, but note the republican

legislators who had joined Davis in asking for funding to clean up the forest. Many areas that have burned down, as in San Bernadino, are republican. These legislators are going to have to answer to their constituents who lost their homes.