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Thu Feb 28, 2013, 09:52 AM

It's Not The Job of the Federal Government To Deal With Natural Disasters

MSNBC's Martin Bashir invited Republican congressman Tim Huelskamp (R-KS) to discuss the looming sequester. Towards the end of the interview, Bashir questioned Huelskamp on why he (of course) voted against the Hurricane Sandy relief package.


Bashir: But sir, Hurricane Sandy was a once in a life time event. That's what the federal government exists to respond, a once in a life time event.

Huelskamp: That's nowhere in the constitution. The federal government exists for national defense.
Now, it's just my opinion, but I would think that one could make an argument that the federal government could say, defend us against natural disasters without running into any conflicts with the consitution. But whatever, let's try and go at it from another angle and see what the constitution actually says:


to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States;


socialist Thomas Jefferson:

For more than two centuries, U.S. lawmakers have recognized the need for a federal government that helps its citizens in times of disaster. The most significant and earliest instance of such federal involvement occurred in 1803. That was the year when a series of fires swept through the port city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

In response to the disaster, Congress passed legislation that provided relief for Portsmouth merchants. More importantly, the Congressional Act of 1803 contained the first piece of national disaster legislation ever to be passed by a United States Congress.




http://www.readingisforsnobs.com/2013/02/idiot-congressman-says-federal.html


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Arrow 10 replies Author Time Post
Reply It's Not The Job of the Federal Government To Deal With Natural Disasters (Original post)
Ichingcarpenter Feb 2013 OP
ananda Feb 2013 #1
TheCowsCameHome Feb 2013 #2
sinkingfeeling Feb 2013 #3
kentauros Feb 2013 #4
aquart Feb 2013 #5
Ichingcarpenter Feb 2013 #7
1-Old-Man Feb 2013 #6
Hugin Feb 2013 #8
Johonny Feb 2013 #9
Ichingcarpenter Feb 2013 #10

Response to Ichingcarpenter (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 09:54 AM

1. These teabag Reeps suddenly become the whiniest crybabies asking for help ..

.. when it's their district suffering.

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Response to Ichingcarpenter (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 09:59 AM

2. Tell that to dirtbag Huelskamp

the next time Kansas is ripped apart by a tornado.

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Response to Ichingcarpenter (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 11:47 AM

3. Funny, it doesn't say Defense is of a higher priority than General Welfare.

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Response to sinkingfeeling (Reply #3)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 12:01 PM

4. They do seem to ALWAYS forget the "General Welfare" part.

Unless they're thinking that's the name of one of the Generals?

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Response to Ichingcarpenter (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 12:31 PM

5. It really is time to discuss the purpose of a nation.

And please ask that Kansas idiot the difference between a city being destroyed by a bomb. an invasion, a hurricane, an earthquake, or a fire.

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Response to aquart (Reply #5)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 12:41 PM

7. Republican are an UnNatural Disaster

on this nation, a diseased philosophy, a hurricane of malfeasants, a tornado of destruction.

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Response to Ichingcarpenter (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 12:39 PM

6. Is it so hard to understand that disaster response falls under the category of "general welfare"

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Response to 1-Old-Man (Reply #6)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 12:43 PM

8. Precisely. n/t

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Response to Ichingcarpenter (Original post)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 01:52 PM

9. How is it in the interest of national defense to have a large section of the country

without water, food, roads, power, levees... How is it of interest of national defense to have a massive pack of angry, starving, and desperate people.

Has the man ever sat in an actual national defense meeting where people in charge of national defense explain how the importance of being able to distribute goods and services to people is essential to keeping areas at peace. This moran doesn't understand the first thing about national defense.

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Response to Johonny (Reply #9)

Thu Feb 28, 2013, 02:57 PM

10. 'Americans have the right to be stupid'

and elect someone as stupid as them.

John Kerry told the truth.

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