Mr. Brownback, follow your own advice and quit the political waltz. You may have asked privately, but you have no problem getting every media outlet in the disaster zone to publicize your selfless, concerned comments, all the while looking very concerned and presidential.

Brownback is a Bush loving republican. Do you expect anything less from this man? Just as this party blamed the Louisiana government (Katrina) they now blame Gov. Sebelius for not asking for support. I wish Tony Snow the best and I know he is only doing his job. But contantley hearing him support this party is sicking. But thats what he is hired to do.

We should enlist the help of Sharry Edwards, M. Ed.; originator of a bioacoustic technology that assists in deep levels of analysis of speech. It is claimed that her software, VioVoice, can detect lieing but better than that it reveals intent of the speaker. She is already doing one on Hillary Clinton and a few other presidential candidates.

And now, the rest of the story: As governor, Sebelius has control over her state's National Guard and has repeatedly raised concerns about shortages caused by the Iraq war. She asked President Bush about the shortages in person last year when he visited Topeka, Kan. "He assured me that he had additional equipment in his budget a year ago. What the Defense Department said then, and continues to say, is that states will get about 90 percent of what they had," Sebelius said. "Meanwhile, it doesn't get any better. I'm at a loss." Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, the state's adjutant general, said the Kansas National Guard was equipped to about 40 percent of its necessary levels, down from the 60 percent it had at the start of the war. About 850 soldiers have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. "It just leaves you pretty tight," he said. "We're fine for now." Since when do Senators have control over a state's National Guard? While Maj. Gen. Bunting may feel he is OK for now, what about another storm? Gov. Sebelius has every right to be concerned, especially given the Bush administration's track record on disaster relief.

Brownback grab a shovel and get the hell home to Kanas. If that is not doable then grab a gun and go to Iraq. Put up or SHUTUP.

The salient facts here: "'So I asked, privately and publicly, the adjutant general, do you have the equipment you need?' Everybody there said no, we have the equipment we needed.'" Aaaaaaaand from that very same adjutant general: "Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting ... said the Kansas National Guard was equipped to about 40 percent of its necessary levels, down from the 60 percent it had at the start of the war." 40 percent - that's great, Sam. Let's trash the governor because she thinks that's not enough. =:-o

Mr Browback, sounds like New Orleans all over again. Your kind are quick to criticize after the fact but, you will never replace the ground equip that has been asked for years. But your imperial goal is to be in command with the Little Emporer in Iraq which has cost us 3,377 military lives and you insist on $104 Billion for the fifth staregy that has failed and even though you voted to confirm Gen, Petraeus as the Iraqi ground commander, your hopes were he could throw the "HAIL MARY PASS" that would save a bunch of your sorry assends. This is '07 not '04 when Petraeus had the right formula in Mosul, that something good happened until the 101st Airborne were replaced this the 82nd Striker Brigade with their Bradley Fighting vehicle. Year to Late and Billions wasted. Now you want to destroy any resemblense of building by sending a 100 mm heavy tank type vehicle that can crush walls for just one City? How are you going to keep peace for nearly 100 years, as that is how long the Irish settlement of power sharing took. With over 100/ mo. being killed just how many of our brave "ALL VOLUNTEER MILITARY AND BACK DOOR DRAFTED CITIZEN SOLDIERS" will lose their lives to protect "OIL" "O" is for oil "I" is for support, protection and defense of Israel, and "L" is for Land and military presence in the Middle East that was lost when Saudi Arabia aske our US military to leave their Holy Land soil. You people said that is O.K. as we have a weaker nation that will welcome the US Military. DU-HUM what a welcone they gave to good ole boys from the USA. The people who needed safety skipped to DUBAI to sleep well.

The governor has repeatedly voiced concerns about our equipment going to Iraq and never returning the general says they are down from 60? to 40% of their equipment. Sorry Mr. Brownback you aren't going to turn this in a photo op. Stay out of it.We all know that this war is sucking the life out of this country, and your support for the pres instead of our governor tells us where you stand.

You can read for yourself where the Kansas National Guard as been deployed. Looks like they've been every where. Even a couple hundred headed to Kosovo soon. http://www.accesskansas.org/ksadjutantgeneral/News-Current.htm

Brown back is a looser!

I suspect that Kansas has been stiffed because its governor is a Democrat. The Bush Administration has shown itself to work for only the Republican States of America, not states that don't vote 100% Republican down the line. Sibelius is being punished for not being a good little Bush Nazi brownshirt.

Go figure, the same crap happened during Katrina. This administration loves to blame someone else for their inaction. The Governor of Kansas was quoted as saying that they only have about 40% of the necessary equipment and the Adjutant General of the Kansas National Guard has said the same. Brownbutt is accusing them of playing politics? They are saying the truth while Brownbutt syas they are full of it. I would have to go with the people in touch with reality. Looks like Brownbutt is trying to pop smoke to blow up someone's rearend.

Brownback is a liar. The situation is BAD.

This is stupid. First the governor says "I don't think there is any question if you are missing trucks, Humvees and helicopters that the response is going to be slower." Then the governor's spokesperson says "We are doing absolutely fine right now....What the governor is talking about is down the road." Seems to me that if your country is in a war that was launched and/or approved by the majority of American people and their elected representatives, you should expect just a little sacrifice at home while those you sent are being killed and maimed. Our troops our dying over their fighting this ill-conceived and immoral war, and these people are complaining that they want their helicopters and humvees back in case they need them in the future. If they need more resources to deal with this natural disaster, wouldn't it be better for the governor to spend her engery sucking it up, problem solving, and trying to find the resources rather than complaining about foreign policy. This would allow our troops to try to quell the violence in Iraq, while we try to rebuild the entire civil infastructure (that we destroyed) for the Iraqi people. I wonder how the Iraqi people's resources for natural disaster, let alone water and electricity, are doing. Garbage like this doesn't help anybody. Yes, we would like you to blow up a country in the middle east and rebuild it into a democracy but we do not want more 3000 troops to die, and preferably less than 1 million innocent Iraqi people, and we do not want any inconvenience at home. We'll check back in 4 years and see how you are doing. Oh, and if you borrow our humvees and helicopters, please replace them right away. Thanks.

Hekuva job Brownieback!

Typical Democratic idiot governor, trying to turn this tragedy into some political hay. Unlike New orleans, whre the democrat mayor ran away and left all those people behind instead of getting those buses filled up with people, they got filled up with water. I think people in the midwest are little more savvy and know that the help will come. Kathleen, let the people do their jobs and stand back and stop playing politics

JJ in NJ--Excellent point. It gave me a feeling of deja vu--it's identical to what Bush did to Blanco (another Democrat) and Louisiana all over again.

How many deja-vus will we see until this wacky loser and his attack dogs are out of the white house?Snow is just as bad with his head stuck up the presidential rear end.

Wow Brian , aren't we a partisan hack. Just like Brownback, you go right out and blame other people and things. my Gawd you republicans are so damn predictable. We know kool aid drinkers like Brian are right there to defend his party. Right Brian, you do not give a rats ass about any americans unless they are storm troopin bush bots like you. Blame ,Blame ,Blame, blame, this is the republican matra. Wait, all the national guard troops just magically appeared? No you idiot, the state budgets and is allowed to run their own national guard. You have the guts to tell me with a straight face that 850 guard members gone and loss down to 40 % of equipment is not hurting the relief effort. Again Brian, Blame Blame, Blame, but it is not my fault. There has to be someone else to blame. You are a typical fear mongering republican. Embrace and accept you are a mindless Bushbot and you take your marching orders from Herr Limbaugh. Accept that the rest of america can burn for all you care as long as your party is in power. Brian is a republican who values the party over the constitution, fellow americans and civil rights.

"Deja Vu"--A movie. Also a song by Dionne Warwick.

bobf--Lol....I am not a Republican, have never voted Republican, and I detest the current adminstration and their conduct. Pretty clear where your bias lies, though. Way to think the issue through and thanks for sharing.

I just hope the wildfire season in the west doesn't require massive National Guard support. Oregon will especially suffer because of NG deployments to Iraq. I'm glad the Kansas governor has the guts to speak out, knowing the criticism she'll get.

Olivia-These are totally dissimilar disasters,in type,loss and response.Bush has already been justly faulted for his handling of KATRINA.It is unfactual,however,to attach a dilatory response to Greensburg simply because it is Bush we are talking here.The governor is being tactically dishonest.HUMVEES and APCs are incapable of moving even a single 2x4 out of the way,nor are they of any use in creating centers where people may apply for emergency assistance[again,not the Guards job].FEMA arrived in Greensburg less than one day after the tornado hit.According to Greensburg Mayor Lonnie McCallum,the federal response of food, water and damage/claims assistance was ''rapid''[CNN May 07,2007].More rapid,in fact than the Kansan tornado disaster of Oct.1-8 1998 when it took several days for FEMA and the President to act.Indeed,it is due to the poor response to KATRINA that both the president[who declared emergency in less than two days,as opposed to Clintons thirteen,which thus releases federal funds],and FEMA,under new management,moved so quickly.On the spot reportage from local TV stations from Emporia,Lawrence,Kansas City,and Greensburg shows that assistance is moving at a brisk pace.Further,that the tactical equiptment sent to Iraq does not constitute a majority of what is actually needed in Greensburg.This would consist of skiploaders,bulldozers,graders,tractors,backhoes and other machinery that is in abundance among the civil population[more so,in fact,than the Guard].I saw newsclips of such equiptment being used to move wreckage and clear streets and land areas.It would seem that while some in the Democrat and Republican party resort to political posturing,a bunch of Kansans in Greensburg are getting things done.

Brian, Seattle, If you are not a Republican, then what are you? Seeing 3,379 troops killed in a senseless war and all you can complain about is governors asking for the replacement that was asked for before the last election,'06. Get a life as McCain says, well Brian 3,379 of our, and again I'll say it, "ALL VOLUNTEER MILITARY AND BACK DOOR DRAFTED CITIZEN SOLDIERS THAT ARE BEING EXTENDED FOR 15 Month" just to protect you who are couch potato and drink your Perria and say this is awful, but, let Petraeus throw that "HAIL MARY PASS to save your "ELITE ASS" How many draft dodgers do you know that are living high while these men and women die for what you take for granted. I expect that many military personal are saying "What and Who are we fighting for and what is this country going to do about the Iranian backed government taking over Iraq. Where are the help that those bended knees of Rice and other asking for the Arab Sunni Nations to pitch in and help. I'll tell you where they are, they are building a 562 mile fence along the Iraqi border and turning back "SUNNI" refugees. Some friends these Arabs are? Watch the Cheney/Bush come back for another 100+ Billion at the end of the fisical year on Sept. 30, 2007, for another effort just to calm just one section of Iraq. What do these people think Petraeus is a miracle worker that can bail these lame-ducks out of the sinkhole they keep digging. Clinton said "when you find yourself digging but not digging threw, you don't ask for a bigger shovel" Does that mean that if you can't do the job with 140,000+ troops against someone in four years (4) then try a different approch other than "I want my bases (6) and my Colossal Embassy on top of your oil. WAAAAAAAAA. Brian why not bring something constructive to the discussion instead of insults?

jerry/corpus christi texas, Just watch how gov. Perry reacts when 100 yards are washed away as was the case of the rich and famous in West Palm beach and Jupiter Florida. Watch the Latinos beg Perry to help them as everything got wet from the storms. You in Brownsville and Corpus Christi have been lucky and sometime in the future you will be saying "Where is HomeLand Security and FEMA to bail us out. Luck will not always be with you on the Mexican border. So count your blessings as it might happen to you sooner than you might want.

Why is MSNBC wasting time on a loser like Brownback when Ron Paul has raised more money and is winning all the internet polls?

Bob, its not all I can complain about. In fact, the point was exactly what you said. We are stuck in an awful war with no viable solution for getting out, and these people are complaining about not having their humvees and helicopters because they might need them in the future. That was exactly my point. Sorry that the fact I do not agree with you that this kind of selfish complaining with the stakes so high in Iraq is good, or that I do not agree that everything that happens should be used to politicize the Iraq war. But that does not mean I am a Republican. Perhaps rather than trying to label people you do not agree with and engage in personal attacks, you should should put some thought into the idea. I guess you two Bobs think that everybody that does not agree with you must be an ignorant Republican when the fact is, at least speaking for me, that I am very liberal but I do not agree with this kind of grandstanding and politicizing of the situation in Iraq. I personally believe this country made a disasterous decision to invade and destroy Iraq and that we are stuck in what could, at least according to the Iraq study group, have disaterous consequences for the middle east, the global economy, and our country, not to mention the troops and civilians who are enduring that horror everyday. I also do not like this idea that we can send troops to fight a war, and not feel any sacrifice here. And, as soon as we do not have our humvees that we might need in the future we complain. I think partisan hackery, as evidence by both of you Bobs, is not limited to Republicans; see for example your two posts. How does the Kool Aide taste?

SO much for this post. She called the white house and said everything is great and they have all the equipment they need. NEXT!

Gee, isn't someone going to respond to Lee Holmes? Maybe for once someone without a partisan political axe to grind makes a good point. Unlike the lazy population and corrupt politicians of New Orleans and Louisianna, middle americans know that when a disaster strikes, it's time to strike back on your own. Take the lead and use what help is offered. That's how things get done in real america.

In my experience with Brian from Seattle he is a thoughtful independent. He has been critical of the Bush administration on many items especially on their handling of the Iraq war but he actually thinks things through and usually posts very logical and well written posts. I don't agree with him much of the time but almost nothing of what bobf said about Brian is true as far as I'm concerned.

Gotta love this Senator and his allies. Even as they are waist deep in water, they will still be screaming that the Titanic is unsinkable.

Lee Holmes--Thanks for the informative response. It's good news that "a bunch of Kansans in Greensburg are getting things done." I'll have to admit that based on what I've seen on the news so far FEMA under new management appears to be doing a better job than it did during Katrina. What had gotten my goat was the business about the National Guard (about which, by now, I've heard several different things) and the political finger-pointing which reminds me of Katrina.

Longtime--the populations of New Orleans and Louisiana are NOT lazy. Please do not perpetuate those stereotypes--which are often spread by those who've an ax to grind, namely not wanting New Orleans and Louisiana to recover. The people of New Orleans and Louisiana have been doing the best they can to rebuild, no thanks to the Bush Administration which has refused to cut red tape to free up ALREADY-ALLOCATED funds for use in rebuilding. I hope Greensburg, Kansas doesn't have the same problem.

Wow, gee willickers. It seems that the Governor has called Brownback and apologized for her remarks, saying, in effect, that the DNC forced her to make the comments.

YEAH!!!Isn't it amazing how quiet all those loud mouth socialist got? It won't stop them for long though, they will just regroup and figure a new way to spin there hatred of America. Just the same way A.I.D.S. works. The immune system attacks everything it is supposed to protect. That is what these Liberal...Socialist...Progressives do.

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