The POTUS is a dumb POS

[SuperScout]

[These are the exact words from B.O. in an interview with Bret Baier.]

OBAMA: So that's not — that's not going to be something that is going to be in this final package. I think the same is true on all of these provisions. I'll give you some exceptions though. Something that was called a special deal was for Louisiana. It was said that there were billions — millions of dollars going to Louisiana, this was a special deal. Well, in fact, that provision, which I think should remain in, said that if a state has been affected by a natural catastrophe, that has created a special health care emergency in that state, they should get help. Louisiana, obviously, went through Katrina, and they're still trying to deal with the enormous challenges that were faced because of that. (CROSS TALK) OBAMA: That also — I'm giving you an example of one that I consider important. It also affects Hawaii, which went through an earthquake.

Somebody please tell this totally uninformed POS that the earthquake occurred in Haiti. I know, I know, both start with the letter "H" and that's just so confusing. And you liberals want to put people like him in charge of your healthcare?

[jriley1349]

Responding to President Obama's March 17 statement that Hawaii "went through an earthquake" and could benefit from a health care reform provision that would help Louisiana cope with Medicaid shortfalls resulting from Hurricane Katrina, Steve Doocy asked, "What Hawaiian earthquake?"

In fact, as Fox News reported at the time, President Bush declared a "major disaster" after Hawaii was hit by a magnitude 6.7 earthquake in October 2006.

On October 16, 2006, the White House stated:

The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Hawaii and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by an earthquake that occurred on October 15, 2006, and related aftershocks.

Federal funding is available to State and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis in the counties of Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, and Maui and the City of Honolulu for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance.

Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
--------

So, who's the dumb POS here, Scout?

[reconeil]

Once again You truly nailed/exposed that Exceptionally Articulate (with teleprompter of course) Phony:
"Messiah". Thanks a lot.

Truths escaping to: "We The (Schnook$)" about Our Omnipotent Rulers are quite rare.

Still and in fairness to: "His Barackness" or current P.T. Barnum (believes an American:
"Sucker is born every minute") type typical Democrat Ruler,...it's easy slithering Hawaii in with
greatly troubled Haiti. Both have a tropical climates, beaches & palm trees.

Though, and about that: "Uninformed POS" part,
I believe that: "Uninformed" not actually so about any of America's Current Ruling Charlatans.

Godly typical Public Servants only try keeping THEIR EMPLOYERS and/or WE U.S. Taxpayers GREATLY:
"Uninformed". Well,...at least until too-damn-late other than just to grimace in disgust!

Old: "UN-Connected" Soviets & Germans undoubtedly must've felt quite similarly.

Whereas with: "POS" describing any of obvious Dem/ACORN/Chicago Corrupt Ruling Elite
NOW ONE PARTY DICTATORIALLY RULING NATIONALLY ALSO,...nothing better than; "POS"
describes such.

Hell,...isn't such actually complimentary...considering how corrupt & crooked?

Neil

[darrels joy]

Two quakes rock islands, disrupt power
By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer

Traffic flows down Kalakaua Ave. in a Waikiki without power. No street lights were on to aide drivers and pedestrians, police presence was minimal. ANDREW SHIMABUKU | The Honolulu Advertiser House on Hamakua Coast dangling on the edge. Hawai'i County Civil Defense The Operating room at Kona Community Hospital in Kealakekua was one of many rooms suffered damage from the morning earthquake. GREGORY YAMAMOTO | The Honolulu Advertiser

A 6.6-magnitude earthquake centered on the Kona side of the Big Island - the largest to rattle the Islands in 23 years - and a 5.8 magnitude quake that followed disrupted air traffic on all major islands today, sent boulders crashing onto Big Island highways and knocked out power throughout most of the state.



Most of O'ahu remained in darkness tonight. Honolulu Board of Water Supply officials urged their more than 166,000 customers to continue to conserve water through tomorrow to ease the burden on the electricity-reliant system.


By 9:30 tonight, more than 151,000 of Hawaiian Electric Co., Inc.'s 291,000 customers were still without power.


But all of Maui's power customers had service restored by this afternoon, HECO said. Some 99 percent of the Big Island had service returned by 9 p.m., according to HECO, citing Big Island power officials.


Until 6:15 p.m., Honolulu International Airport survived on emergency generator power.


Several flights out of Maui, the Big Island and O'ahu were disrupted or cancelled. Thousands of passengers stood in long lines because some security checkpoints lacked power and Honolulu International Airport's agricultural inspection system suddenly had to rely on dogs.

Electrically powered jetways could not be used in Honolulu so passengers had to climb up stairs to board their flights.

Although visitors and residents on all islands were shaken or awakened by the 7:07 a.m. temblor and the second quake, no one was killed.


The most serious injury was a broken arm on the Big Island, Gov. Linda Lingle said. Big Island officials said a survey of emergency rooms showed 25 people suffered minor injuries.


Tomorrow morning, several Big Island public, private and charter schools will be closed. State Department of Education officials said public school teachers and administrators have to report for inspections and clean up, although students are off.


No other islands' public schools are scheduled to be closed.


The first quake hit at 7:07 a.m. and was felt as a steady, rumbling shudder that shook houses, cracked buildings, swayed high-rises and knocked artwork from their walls and sent countless chachkas crashing to the ground.


It was located 24 miles below Kiholo Bay on the Big Island, according to the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano observatory.


A second, 5.8-magnitude quake hit just seven minutes later. It was located 13 miles northwest of Kawaihae.


Beginning at 10:30 a.m., a series of 55 aftershocks followed, said Jim Kauaihikaua, scientist in charge of the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.


The largest aftershock struck at 10:35 a.m. and had a magnitude of 4.2. It was located west/northwest of Kawaihae, Kauaihikaua said.


Despite all of the seismic activity, there was no threat of a tsunami.


Sarah Lee of Kailua-Kona was at church at 7:07 a.m. when
"everything started shaking and the road outside was rolling a bit," she wrote to honoluluadvertiser.com.


Driving home, Lee saw "plenty of knocked over rock walls as well as an old coffee shack that was tipped over on the side of the hill."

Jacob Ellis of Mililani woke today to find everything shaking.


"My mom had taken out a bunch of food and started throwing it all on the grill and we all ended up having a really interesting breakfast," Ellis wrote. "I've never seen anything like it before. People who were driving were really careful and let everyone have their turn. It was nice seeing everyone in our community showing so much aloha."


Ke'aka'okalani J. Garay, a CT scan technologist, was working at The Queen's Medical Center when he felt a "completely odd" rumble that quickly caused the department to shake "vigorously and uncontrollable."


"I called my dad in Texas to tell him I loved him," Garay said.

"We now sit here and pray that our services will not be needed."


Hundreds of Hawai'i families experienced something extraordinary unusual today: A quiet Sunday with conversation, board games and no television or Internet use.


Waynette Tsubota of Kahalu'u and her family usually spend their fall Sundays watching football.


Instead, three generations had an impromptu barbecue today in the carport, watching cars drive by on Kamehameha Highway.


Tsubota considered the day a blessing.


"We got to spend time together in the garage with no TV distractions, with the family sharing things," Tsubota said. "This is the closest we've been in a long time."


Today's event shook thousands of Hawai'i residents into the realization that they had not prepared for a major earthquake and could not properly feed their families without electricity.


Just moments after the quake, hundreds of customers began lining up outside O'ahu supermarkets waiting for workers to escort them inside by the light of only a flashlight.


Some stores, such as the Safeway at Aikahi Park Shopping Center, accepted only cash and rang up purchases with paper and pen.


Stores shelves on all major islands were quickly emptied of items such as ice and batteries.


Today's quakes knocked out power on parts of the Big Island, Maui and all of O'ahu.


Unlike the older, diesel-based generators on the Neighbor Islands, O'ahu's more modern, complicated turbine-driven system took much longer to come back online, leaving drivers to navigate busy intersections without traffic signals or street lights.


O'ahu's power grid failed when the earthquakes knocked out generators at HECO's downtown and Kahe power plants.


The downed generators triggered an imbalance in the system, prompting HECO's computer system to shut down the entire system to avoid permanent damage and cause a more prolonged power failure, HECO officials said.


After HECO restarted its Waiau power plant, residents and businesses regained service in parts of Pearl City, 'Aiea, Waikele, Waipahu, Mililani Mauka, the Honolulu Airport area, Makalapa, Kunia, Wai'anae and Nanakuli.


Just over an hour after the first quake hit, half of the Honolulu Fire Department's nearly 50 companies were out on power-outage calls by 8:30 a.m.


Most of the calls were for people stuck in elevators, said Fire Capt. Frank Johnson.


Federal and state officials had no damage assessment today and will send out teams tomorrow, Lingle said.


State officials will seek an emergency declaration that would lead to federal reimbursement of state costs, as well as a major disaster declaration to cover major repairs.


Before today, the last largest quake to strike the Islands was the 6.7-magnitude Kaioiki quake that hit the Big Island on Nov. 16, 1983, causing $6 million damage.


O'ahu's rain-slickened roadways were unusually light as drivers heeded warnings by city and state officials to stay home. Other drivers obediently treated blank traffic signals as four-way stops while others barreled through or skidded to stops.


Honolulu Police Chief Boisse Correa said police doubled the manpower to direct traffic at all major intersections on O'ahu and more officers were brought in tonight.


At least one traffic accident - at Kapiolani Boulevard and Ward Avenue - was blamed on the absence of a working traffic signal, according to the Honolulu Police Department.


While drivers, for the most part, stayed off of O'ahu's roads and highways, thousands of people ignored pleas from government and telephone officials and could not stay away from their cell phones.


Their cell calls - and KSSK Radio - provided the main communication links for most of the day.


The Big Island took the brunt of the damage today as buildings and hospitals suffered structural damage and 3,000 patients had to be evacuated from Kona Community Hospital. The hospital expects to be out of commission for two days.


Lingle was in her hotel room at the Hilton Waikaloa Village this morning when the quake hit, sending the room's heavy, "old-style" television set falling to the floor.


Lingle later surveyed the Big Island in a Drug Enforcement Agency six-passenger helicopter where she saw rocks and earth falling into Kealakekua Bay near the Capt. Cook monument and witnessed the evacuation of Kona Community Hospital.


On O'ahu, the loss of electricity caused an estimated 15,500 gallons of partially treated sewage to spill into Lake Wilson when the ultraviolet disinfecting unit at the Washiawa Wastewater Treatment Plant lost power, according to the city's Department of Environmental Services.


Before emergency generators could kick in at the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, a "clarifier" overflowed and spilled an estimated 1,200 gallons of partially treated wastewater within the plant.


Advertiser staff writers Eloise Aguiar, William Cole, Rick Daysog, Derek DePledge, Mike Gordon, Mike Leidemann and Christie Wilson contributed to this report.
Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8085.

[reconeil]

...how far back in history can natural disasters determine which states:
"Could benefit (BIG U.S. Taxpayer BUCK$) from a healthcare reform provision"?

America has had quite a few national disasters over the years.

Neil

[darrels joy]

Fact Check: Is Hawaii Eligible for ‘Louisiana Purchase’ Provision as Claimed by Obama?


Morgen on March 18, 2010 at 6:00 am

One of the more notable exchanges during the President’s interview with Fox News today was when he surprisingly claimed that

Hawaii was also eligible for additional Medicaid reimbursement funds under the much aligned “Louisiana Purchase” provision in the Senate health bill.

The provision is related to disaster relief and the President’s assertion was that Hawaii is eligible due to a past earthquake. I suppose the President should be in a position to know whether this is true, but in looking at the relevant text of the Senate bill, and the facts surrounding the earthquake in question, I’m not so sure this is the case,

First, there was indeed a relatively significant earthquake in Hawaii in 2006 – magnitude 6.7 on the Richter scale. In fact, as chance would have it I was actually in Honolulu at the time for a friend’s wedding. The epicenter of the quake was a relatively uninhabited section of the Big Island, and fortunately there was no loss of life or even major injuries. However, there was some relatively significant damage to roads and structures, and economic disruption due to widespread power outages. (The only personal impact was an extra day in Hawaii due to the closure of the airport.)
Now here is how the Senate health bill defines eligibility for the Medicaid relief provision (Sec. 2006 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act):

(2) In this subsection, the term ‘disaster-recovery FMAP adjustment State’ means a State that is one of the 50 States or the District of Columbia, for which, at any time during the preceding 7 fiscal years, the President has declared a major disaster under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and determined as a result of such disaster that every county or parish in the State warrant individual and public assistance or public assistance from the Federal Government under such Act…

President Bush and Obama declared many “major disasters” in the 7 years preceding the possible commencement of this bill, so the key provision is the one limiting applicability only to such states where the Administration determined that EVERY county or parish within the given state was eligible for public assistance from the Federal Government.

As a relatively small state Hawaii has only 5 counties:

1. Hawaii County
2. City/County of Honolulu
3. Kalawao County
4. Kauai County
5. Maui County

Now here are the details of the disaster relief declaration from FEMA:

Disaster Summary For FEMA-1664-DR, Hawaii
Declaration Date: October 17, 2006
Incident Type: Earthquake
Incident Period: October 15, 2006
Individual Assistance
(Assistance to individuals and households):
Hawaii County

Public Assistance

(Assistance to State and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities):

Hawaii, Maui Counties and City and County of Honolulu. (Categories C-G).
Debris removal and emergency protective measures (Categories A and B), including direct Federal assistance, for the counties of Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai, and Maui, and the City of Honolulu.

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

(Assistance to State and local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations for actions taken to prevent or reduce long term risk to life and property from natural hazards):

All counties in the State of Hawaii are eligible to apply for assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

Other:

Additional designations may be made at a later date after further evaluation.

I’ve highlighted what I assume is the key section in bold – notice anything missing? Kalawao County – on the small island of Moloka’i – is not included on this list. But here is where it gets a little interesting. Apparently Kalawao County is the 2nd smallest county in the U.S. (only an est. 117 residents in 2008), and was originally founded as a leper colony. Notably, however, it is officially recognized as a county by the federal government (or at least the Census bureau). Thus it’s omission would seem to be an automatic disqualifying factor based on the text of the Senate bill.

Even more significantly, it looks like the fact that Kauai County was only designated for public assistance under “Categories A and B” may also be a disqualifying factor . Why? Because if this distinction is not a disqualifying factor, then Mississippi would also fall under the provision of the Senate bill. As you can see by this map, every county in Mississippi was declared eligible for public assistance after Hurricane Katrina, but 8 of the counties were designated for “category A & B” assistance only. (You can see the report in text format here.)

So presumably this distinction between categories is what made Mississippi ineligible for the “Louisiana Purchase” when this provision was first inserted into the bill, and then reported in the media. It is a pretty sure bet that given all the media attention and controversy over this, that it would have been reported if Mississippi was also eligible.

So given all available facts it sure looks to me like the President’s assertion on Fox News was not true, and that Louisiana remains the only state eligible for this payoff. Either that or the bill is about to get even more expensive in adding not only Hawaii to the mix, but Mississippi as well.

http://www.verumserum.com/?p=13366