Sebelius Dissembles: Has She No Shame?

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius knew precisely what she was saying when she criticized the Bush administration in the wake of a devastating tornado that hit Greensburg, KS..

Governor Kathleen Sebelius said much of the National Guard equipment usually positioned around the state to respond to emergencies is gone. She said not having immediate access to things like tents, trucks and semitrailers will really handicap the rebuilding effort.

via The Topeka Capitol Journal on line

“We are doing absolutely fine right now,’’ said the governor’s spokeswoman, Nicole Corcoran. “What the governor is talking about is down the road.’’

Why, then, was the issue brought up so early? This is the time for rebuilding, healing and grieving, not for politics.

She won't back down? Since when does immediate equate to down the road? Aside from the fact that she has backed down from her malignant mis-characterization, in the after math of a terrible storm that devastated an entire town, rather than give hope, Sebelius opted to play politics, instead. And for that she should be truly ashamed.

"I appreciate the President's help, quick response and concern in dealing with the tornado damage in Greensburg. But I will not back down on the issue of replacing our National Guard equipment throughout the country. As Governor and a commander-in-chief, I have a solemn responsibility to protect the people of my state and provide for the men and women of the Kansas Guard."

Sadly, Governor Sebelius appears to know nothing at all about being responsible, or providing needed leadership at a critical time. Why do that when playing politics is so much more fun and earns you points among your party's leadership?

Comments

[Fred Beloit]

"...malignant mis-characterization..." I like it. Just despicable of her is all I can say.

[Kelvin]

Haha. The cons are declaring victory in Iraq AND Kansas. Amazing that they are only at 28%. Hahaha!!

[Phoenix]

I heard this on the news the other day and almost screamed at the tube.

So Bush can make tornadoes as well as hurricanes. Simply amazing how god-like he is.

I'm glad she said it. More proof that democrats are insane.

Maybe the next tornado will suck her up and dump her in Oz. From Kansas, the Land of Ahh's, no less. Wouldn't it be funny if a gazillion people sent her red shoes instead of money to the Red Cross. "Here - click these, you ungrateful witch."

[southdakotaboy]

Now this is just me and tell me if I'm wrong on this if she knew that a crippling amount of the National Guard equipment was gone shouldn't she have planned for it. I mean it isn't as if the whole idea of tornadoes in Kansas is, well new or anything. Didn't they make a film about a girl a dog and a tornado?
If she knew thet were short and didn't plan for it how is it Bushes fault? She is the one in charge of Kansas it is her job to make sure that things get done. Aren't the Dems the ones raising a big stink about having a plan "B" for things. What was her plan "B"?
How long has the Kansas Guard been over in Iraq? Is this something brand new or did she know about it for awhile?
I hope the peolpe of Kansas don't give her a pass on this and just nail her to the wall for saying something this stupid.

[jong]

There's actually a number of serious issues here, but, as usual, Dan would rather point fingers. Should we really be relying on National Guardsmen to fight wars?

– Dec. 30, 2005: Sebelius writes to Rumsfeld requesting new equipment. “The Guard was critical to responding to recent blizzards and floods in Kansas, yet its ability to respond to similar situations is being diminished by a lack of equipment,” wrote Sebelius. Included with her letter was a list of equipment Kansas had lost to the Iraq war. [Kansas City Star, 1/21/06; Topeka Capital-Journal, 6/29/06]

– Jan. 23, 2006: Sebelius personally urges Bush to increase National Guard funding. In an one-hour motorcade ride in Kansas with Bush, Sebelius expressed concern about “a reduction of National Guard troop strength in its next budget.” Bush assured her he was “dealing” with the shortages. [Topeka Capital-Journal, 1/24/06; Kansas City Star, 3/11/06]

– June 28, 2006: Sebelius sends Army Secretary list of equipment lost in war. In a meeting with Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey, Sebelius told Harvey that the state had lost about $140 million in National Guard equipment to the Iraq war. Her office then sent him a list of the lost equipment. [Topeka Capital-Journal, 6/29/06]

– Sept. 2006: Sebelius lobbies for replacement of National Guard equipment sent to Iraq. “Kansas’ congressional delegation, Sebelius and governors from around the country have been lobbying the Pentagon for increased funding to replace National Guard equipment that has been left in Iraq or damaged beyond repair after repeated use in war.” [AP, 9/5/06]

– Feb. 27, 2007: Sebelius pushes White House and Congress for more funding. “Now the Guard needs Washington’s help,” Sebelius said in press conference on Capitol Hill. “The President and Congress need to step up to the plate and give our Guard members the support they deserve.” [Press Release, 2/27/07]

[Fred Beloit]

Erica. What a master stroke! You hit the nail right on the noggin. "Should we really be relying on National Guardsmen to fight wars?" I never thought of that, and nobody I know ever has either. Tell you what. Let's recommend we institute a standing army, navy, air force, marines, and coast guard. Then we could form reserves around some of these organizations in case the regular forces were not enough. The National Guard would then be free for each state to use in emergencies. They could relieve suffering caused by hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, droughts, and dust storms. They could heal the sick, bail out failing banks, build bridges, plant trees, teach school children, train local police, save endangered species. Oops. I forgot. They are only really trained for one thing. To act as military forces. Never mind.

[Phoenix]

Good for Sebelius! Turns out, she has everything she needs plus some. Bravo! clap clap clap. Give that woman a pair of red shoes.

[Kelvin]

Only dumb cons think that weekend warriors should be fighting failed wars in the ME. That's why they are at 28%. Keep up the good work, clowns!

[Fred Beloit]

Yea, yea, rah, rah. That's right, Phoenix. Wonder why Erica didn't mention that Sebel and her spokes-people now say they have had what they need as of 5/8 and 5/9 2007. (Dates for the exclusive use of Erica. She likes dates.)

[Fred Beloit]

Never test the depth of a pond with both feet. Rim shot badap bap kabop.

[Phoenix]

Sigh. Sad again. I spoke too soon. The monster under the bed is back. Time to sign off for a while. :(

[Fred Beloit]

It's no monster, just Henny Youngman wannabe, zerodegreeskelvin.

[Kelvin]

Kindly do not confuse the resident cons with facts and dates. They prefer to think in slogans like 'mission accomplished' and 'turning the corner'.

[southdakotaboy]

Who is the monster under the bed?

[Fred Beloit]

Date: 5/7/2007. Sebelius: We don't have enough resources for the National Guard to help in the disaster. The resources are still in Iraq. Date: 5/8/2007. Sebelius spokes-person: We have what we need. ??????????????????

[Fred Beloit]

I believe she meant zerodegreeskelvin/BoobinBridgeport, Dakota. It seems he wrote something really nasty, nasty in sensitivity terms, that had to be expunged form the comments. I didn't read it. Came too late. Just as well.

[Phoenix]

The 'monster' is Kelvin/BobinStamford.

I had to sign back on. Just heard this on the news. Last night in Richmond, Obama, "Oh Mama", gave a speech and said TEN-THOUSAND people died in the Kansas tornado and that Gov. Sebelius had tried and tried to get help from the government but couldn't get any. ! Greg Jarrett then gave a quoted response from the government or somewhere where he stated that Kansas had all the help it needed and that Bush had declared it a disaster within 18 hours. FEMA, etc., everything in place so fast they ended up having to turn some help away! That "10,000" will haunt Ohmama. 12 deaths. He was only off by 11,988. To say nothing of the federal response......

[southdakotaboy]

Imagine someone from the left has to write vile things in order to feel fulfiled and all self estemeee (I know not a word but you get the point).
Libs are rather vile people.

[jong]

Fred, being ingenuous, who'd of thunk it? In the old days - that would be when George Bush was in the National Guard - they pretty much stayed in the US. Getting into the National Guard was ticket out of Vietnam. They were called weekend warriors for a reason.

But Fred knows all that. He just doesn't want to admit how badly Bush has screwed up the National Guard and the military.

[K]

This flap is unusual only because the immediate pro forma denunciation of Bush after any unhappy event was not universally accepted as gospel in the media.

The readiness of the guard and any effects that had after the tornado can be figured out w/o partisan tirades. But that might take a few days or weeks, so it isn't good enough for those on both sides who know it all.

[bloodrage bob]

oh, c'mon, people. this stuff should be old hat by now: when boneheads sebelius and obama trot out gigantic whoppers while pandering for votes....

we've seen all this before. they're *democrats*. lying through their teeth - crying wolf to scare women & old folks into voting for them so's they can be "saved" - that's what they DO.

their ideological cousins, the german national socialist party, called this technique "the big lie". lather rinse repeat. repeat, repeat, repeat. i can understand responding to the "BL" with contempt; or scorn; or vitriol; or even amusement. but who's really *shocked* by democrat big lies nowadays? it's not like it's a new tactic.

[Fred Beloit]

Erica writes: "He just doesn't want to admit how badly Bush has screwed up the National Guard and the military." Admit it? I don't even know what you're talking about. The National Guard is serving admirably in Iraq as is the rest of the military. One way to note this is to recognize how low the casualties are in light of the size and scope of the challenge and the politically correct ways the war has been fought.

[jong]

Shorter Fred: The war's going ggggrrrreeeaaattt. Exactly as planned.

[Kelvin]

The 28%ers continue to declare victory.

http://www.11alive.com/news/article_news.aspx?storyid=96667

Gotta love them!!

[Hard Right]

Ah yes, the left says the NG and military are screwed up and it's a fact...simply because they claim it is.

Iraq is a disaster...because the left says it is. You know, they're the same people who say Bush was behind 9/11, the "(non)suppression of votes" in the two presidential elections, Global Warming, the existence of terrorists, chemtrails, and the extinction of the dinosaur.

Yeah, you strait-jacket escapees have soooooo much credibility. (roll eyes).

[jong]

Here's what George Will - conservative commentator - says about Iraq.

Will: Absolutely. They do not want to have, as they had in 2006, another election on Iraq. George, it took 30, 40 years for the Republican Party to get out from under Herbert Hoover. People would say, "Are you going to vote for Nixon in '60?" "No, I don't like Hoover." The Depression haunted the Republican Party. This could be a foreign policy equivalent of the Depression, forfeiting the Republican advantage they've had since the '68 convention of the Democratic Party and the nomination of [George] McGovern. The advantage Republicans have had on national security matters may be forfeited.

[jong]

So Fred and Hard Right, what do you think of this guy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMPIi03wSfY&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Evotevets%2Eorg%2F

[Kelvin]

Batiste is only a 2 star general. Not a patriot and war hero like GW and Captain Deferrment. Dismissed!!!

[templar knight]

Hahaha...keep wasting your time, K-E-L-V-I-N. The hairy gay guy. You should have your own tv show, Kelvin. Let me see, you could call it...."Hairy backs are kewl".

[charles]

it must make the left proud to know that individuals like bobinkelvin are out there every day representing them on the internet

just look at the cogent topical spew it seems to think is timely and relevant

keep up the good work you vile infantile one trick pony, you are a shining example of liberal tolerance and logic

[jong]

Again, Fred and HR, what do you think of Batiste's comments?. Batiste, an infantry general that served in Iraq, doesn't seem to agree with your assessment that the NG and Army are fine and Iraq's great.

[Hard Right]

He is an old school general. All he knows is that you send in a massive, overwhelming force to attack. Batiste has invested a large part of his life in fighting and believing in that method of warfare. So it is no surprise when someone comes along who doesn't feel a war should necessarily be run that way, he becomes upset and attacks the person in charge of the change. It doesn't mean that Rumsfeld was wrong or that Batiste is right-it's simply a different view.

As for his assesment, his isn't the final word. In fact, his claim that the majority of our "National Guard brigades no longer combat-ready" is is a self serving lie. In his zeal to attack Rumsfeld and others in the administration he distorts what combat ready actually means during wartime. Do some research on it rather than ASSUMING you know what it means. He also feels we are LESS safe since 9/11. The lack of terrorist attacks in the U.S., and the many foiled plots prove otherwise. He may or may not be acting with good intentions, but I disagree with him and so do others in the military.

Lastly, he was of the Generals the Dems tossed in the trash bin recently. Why? He's against cutting and running from Iraq. In other words, you lefties only support Generals like him when they are useful to your agenda.

[jong]

As opposed to a New School General - ala Rumsfeld - who doesn't send in enough troops, doesn't plan and screws everything up?

I think the Iraq fiasco speaks for itself - Rumsfeld was wrong. You can pretty much go through the pre-war predictions, which Rumsfeld helped manufacture - and basically none of them have come to pass.

And Batiste actually resigned his job as a general to speak out. Personal integrity, whatta concept.

The ad series has two more generals to come. Gen. Wesley Clark, the former NATO commander, and Maj. Gen. Paul Eaton, who served in Iraq. I can hardly wait for your arm chair dismissal of them.

Lets all chant together: Iraq is going great, Iraq is going great, Iraq is going great....

[Hard Right]

I see. Becuase YOU think that Rumsfeld didn't plan, then he didn't? Jong, you are pathetically transparent. You hate Bush and his circle so you latch onto those with either an ax to grind or partisan political loyalties. Yet you deliberately ignore tany General who have defended Bush. Not to mention ignoring the Generals who many times pointed out there was in fact a plan. Talk about armchair dismissal.

As for Batiste, instead of staying and fighting for the soldiers, he bailed out and threw a tantrum. Yeah, he's a role model all right. (roll eyes).

Wesley Clark. Do you really think he's a good example. The man who was fired for "for lack of integrity and character issues"? The man whom (IIRC) Tommy Franks called incompetent, arrogant, and guilty of not giving him any actionable intelligence the entire time he dealt with him?

Bong, you want to believe Iraq is a disaster and make it a point to ignore evidence to the contrary due toy your BDS. It may not being going perfectly, but it's hardly the quagmire you leftists desperately want it to be.