Question about the hurricanes and the election

[PlanetBev]

Talked to my brother today, another true-blue Dem. He is kind of worried about Florida going to the Repigs because of Bush Brothers throwing money at the state and using it for political purposes. Anybody have any info on the impact of the "canes?".

[dflprincess]

1. I think a lot of depends on how quick individuals get help

There's going to be some pretty angry people if they don't get their electricity and water going and find those who need it decent housing.

[graywarrior]

3. No amount of paying off the "victims" can erase poor planning.

Poor and middle class people in Florida live in stucco shacks. Shelters are disgusting. Panic buying is rampid. Imagine being told to leave the state of Florida in order to be safe from a hurricane. Who in hell can afford that unless you're a friend of Jeb's.
The Panhandle and north Florida are all Bush supporters anyway. People here are not as stupid as they look. Plus, memory is short. Nov 2 is still 6 weeks away.

[tedoll78]

2. I have a suspicion.

As time goes on, there is increased risk of disaster victims becoming impatient, disillusioned, angry.. and they often take things out on The Powers That Be. Gas shortages, long waits for reconstruction to begin, etc.. there's plenty of potential for anger towards the Bush Bros. This is just a guess though.

[catbert836]

4. No one in Florida is gonna let it go to *

considering what happened last time around.

[catbert836]

5. No one in Florida is gonna let it go to *

considering what happened last time around.

[uberotto]

6. From someone who lives in Florida...

Charley barely missed me, but Francis got me pretty good. Not too much damage to the house, but went several days with no electricity. Even though most businesses now have power, supplies are slow to arrive. Still lines for gas, hard to find things like bread and eggs, still a lot of people with no power, still a lot of small clean up jobs left to do.

Most people who were affected by Charley, Frances or both are way to busy with the clean up and repairs to worry too much about the Presidential Election.

News of FEMA is common, however, I think that I heard about 10 seconds of local news announcements about Bush showing up to hand out water and ice. Also, I heard about 10 seconds of local news about the recent reports concerning Bush's TANG service.

Most people don't associate FEMA with a President or Congressman. Now, if FEMA runs out of money before Ivan clean up is done, as I've heard rumored by some, then people will care about who is in the White House or Congress.

[AndyTiedye]

7. Repubs Own Florida Anyway

They'll steal it. If they can't steal it, the legislature will
award the electoral votes to Boosh and thumb their nose at the people
(as they were prepared to do last time).

[ItsMyParty]

8. I've been concerned from the standpoint that it seems like the

perfect storm for them to get by with voting murder down there. Things are in a state of confusion. Things are a mess. Easy to disenfranchise voters, lose ballots, move voting places and not let people know where, really really program those machines and swear if caught that it was damage from the hurricanes, swear Bush won because people never showed at the polls because too much on their minds, etc. I think in so many ways Kerry should forget about this state and pour money elsewhere. Jeb was always going to throw it for Bush anyway but now I think he's praying for a hurricane a week so he can do it so much more easily.