The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Staff Reports

Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2018 11:25 AM

OUR VIEW: President Trump's Response To Hurricane Harvey Deserves Praise But He Won' Get It

The last time the United States faced such a horrific storm was Super Storm Sandy days before the 2012 Presidential election that basically wound up getting Barrack Obama re-elected.

Former Republican nominee Mitt Romney led Obama by five to six points in most national polls five days out from the election. Then Sandy hit.

Who can forget the image of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie holding up President Obama's hands in unity. This gesture in the days following the storm caused Romney's lead to shrink faster than Mitch McConnell's popularity ratings and ultimately lead to his defeat to a very unpopular President at the time.

In contrast another storm, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, led to former President George W. Bush going from a rather popular President - at least among Republicans - to one viewed by many as inept and heartless.

To be fair, the Bush FEMA effort in Katrina left a lot to be desired despite many of the problems that occurred were really the fault of local governments in Louisiana, and not the federal government.

So now President Trump faces his first "Katrina" and "Sandy" and we feel he's been more than up to the task in making sure the federal government does what it's supposed to do and that is help the American people, not control them.

Former Republican Congresswoman Nan Hayworth told Fox News late Sunday that President Trump's response to Hurricane Harvey has been excellent.

Hayworth said Trump showed "great leadership and executive qualities" by declaring the disaster in advance, surrounding himself with tremendous emergency management people, and making sure that assets were ready to be deployed to help the people of the Gulf region.

"It's all about logistics and about making sure that there are clear lines of direction and execution," Hayworth said. "And they have pre-placed resources all around the southeast, where they'll be able to mobilize them."

She added that there's been excellent coordination between various departments and agencies, such as Health and Human Services, the Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers.

"There's just a lot of logistics that they've really managed with exceeding competence," Hayworth said.

She said that means that not only will citizens get immediate help in terms of rescue and recovery, but also in the weeks and months ahead.

"FEMA will be there, the flood insurance program will be there, Small Business Administration will be there to aid these residents in rebuilding their homes and recovering what they can of their resources, and rebuilding these communities," Hayworth said.

Former Arkansas Governor and Republican Presidential Nominee Mike Huckabee also praised President Trump's leadership saying the White House showed it was "ready to go even before Hurricane Harvey ravaged Texas."

"This is very important that the president declared the disaster in advance so that they could have assets ready to go," the former Arkansas governor said, as floods submerged southeast Texas a day after the hurricane on Saturday.

Huckabee mentioned Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert and Brock Long, head of FEMA, and White House Chief of Staff Gen. John Kelly as key players helping the Trump administration's response to this tragedy.

In the "truly apocalyptic" situation, the 2016 presidential candidate said federal and local governments seem to be cooperating well.

"You can't have agencies out there battling each other," Huckabee emphasized, adding that there is "no textbook" for this disaster.

And that goes back to leadership and President Trump's business skills in handling tragedy.

Texas Lt. Governor Don Patrick said as much stating, "being a businessman has prepared the President for this moment and it's showing."

It should be noted that both Governor Greg Abbott and Patrick should also be applauded for their leadership too! Abbott warned people for three days out to move to safety and get out of flood prone areas. If they failed to listen to his warning then they have themselves to blame, not the government!

The Houston mayor, on the other hand, was very foolish telling people to stay despite Abbott's warning!

It's in evitable that the storm will be politicized. It already is happening. A black Democratic strategist on Fox News Sunday night was already questioning President Trump's trip to Houston on Tuesday, saying "I just think he shouldn't be going with the threat of more flooding in place."

I would bet you every thing I have, including the $5.00 in my savings account, that had President Trump delayed his trip a few days, this same "strategist" would have been SCREAMING over the television how uncaring the President was to not visit these victims.
 

One University of Tampa sociology professor tweeted already that Texans deserve the devastation and explained why on Sunday as the worst of the storm continued to bear down on Houston.

"I don't believe in instant Karma but this kind of feels like it for Texas. Hopefully this will help them realize GOP doesn't care about them," Professor Ken Storey tweeted and then deleted. "Those who voted for him [Trump] here deserve it as well." The screen shot was captured before Storey could deny he tweeted this insidious comment.

Storey was not the only one with that sentiment over Twitter. Someone named "Ed" felt the need to call President Trump a "racist" and "bigot" while thumbing his nose at the President's advice. That was rampant over the social media network showing that even in the face of utter tragedy Americans find a way to show their stupidity at an alarming rate.

The fact is President Trump asked Governor Greg Abbott was it ok to come and when Abbot said "yes," Trump did not delay. I can assure you there will be no flyover this time like there was in 2005 with President Bush in Katrina!

Mark it down. President Trump will not be able to win with the media no matter what he does.

What DOES count is that many in real America see that the response to Harvey has been well executed and coordinated with state and local officials.

That goes back to leadership. And we have a leader in the White House who, along with the entire state of Texas tonight, deserves and needs our prayers.
 

Christopher McDonald, Publisher, Editor in Charge

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