Rick Perry asks Obama for a ‘quick turnaround’ on federal aid after explosion

[eggplant]

97. I have a problem with him asking because he doesn't NEED to ask.

This isn't some epic biblical disaster. It won't overwhelm the state. It has nothing to do with whether we, as liberals, should kick in or not. That's what charity is for. Federal tax dollars shouldn't go to this.

There is a line that has to be drawn. If one person's house burns down, that clearly doesn't qualify for a declaration as a federal disaster. It's tragic, and leaves people in immediate need.

How is this situation different? Is this event so large that between insurance, neighbors, the town, the state, and national charities (say, the red cross) it can't be dealt with? I'm not suggesting that life won't suck for those folks for a while. I'm suggesting that this event does not rise to the level of requiring federal intervention.

I don't know about you, but if I lose my house, my insurance company will quickly get me the money I need to find immediate temporary housing, etc. If it was me and hundreds of thousands of other homeowners at the same time, that would be a problem. This simply isn't a big enough disaster.