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No. It isn't the national media's fault.
An ode on who is to blame
Par deux
A Thread: https://twitter.com/hinsonashley/status/1295206272200060928
An ode on who is to blame
Par deux
A Thread: https://twitter.com/hinsonashley/status/1295206272200060928
Governor Reynolds was on the ground in Cedar Rapids the day after the storm. She had the tools to eschew the traditional process of getting a federal major disaster declaration - that very day. (See: PARKERSBURG 2008)
My home, my family lives in rural Grundy County. Iowans step up and help one another but there is only so much the citizens can do for their neighbors. Not being able to be home to help (due to the disastrous COVID response in Iowa and having MS) is gutting. Especially the farm.
I am a farm kid through and through.
I am a member of the national media.
I am a fancy city dweller now (god help me)
This is not laid at our feet.
This is a failure of leadership.
I am a member of the national media.
I am a fancy city dweller now (god help me)
This is not laid at our feet.
This is a failure of leadership.
I remember the day the Parkersburg tornado of 2008 hit. Dad was still alive. My husband was riding in the tractor with my brother (he is a city boy and he cannot get enough - side note - he thought potatoes came from seeds. My, how we all laughed).
My SIL and I were hanging out with my nephews/niece and the alarm went up - a major tornado touched down on Grundy County/Butler county line. We ushered the little jive turkeys (the kids) to the basement door to wait (it looked clear)
We called out to mom and dad at the farm (we believe in Iowa that the weather can indeed be different two miles away) and then called my brother/husband in the field
WTF? Is THERE A TORNADO?!
WTF? Is THERE A TORNADO?!
Nope.
Moving on....
Moving on....
Iowans remember that day because it was gut-wrenching to watch our neighbors (Parkersburg was in my HS conference) and friends just....gone.
Now here is the escape hatch Reynolds should have pulled that day on the ground in CR: Request a waiver - leapfrogging traditional route for federal disaster -because of the clear scope of catastrophe was clear literally everyone including the Governor.
But what happened instead was this:
People pitched up outdoors because they had no where to sleep
Any able bodied person with a chain saw came to the aid of their neighbors (from my peeps in Grundy all across Iowa)
People had no power. No food. Nothing.
People pitched up outdoors because they had no where to sleep
Any able bodied person with a chain saw came to the aid of their neighbors (from my peeps in Grundy all across Iowa)
People had no power. No food. Nothing.
Thursday - fourth day after the #derecho hit. Instead of holding the scheduled presser @VP the Governor, Joni Ernst all glad handed and headed over to Living History (not a real farm) Farms for a photo op. Then, to a private GOP fundraiser in Urbandale as people slept outdoors.
All the while there could have been a major disaster declaration as in 2008 Culver (a Democrat) reached out to President George W. Bush (a Republican) because Iowans were suffering deeply at that moment. Asked, answered, 24 hours D & R's taking care of the jobs we pay them for
I am deeply offended by the politicking around this
I am sickened that the administration didn't seize the opportunity to help with the tools at their feet, the VP visited not a single farm. And I think: What would Governor Ray do?
I am sickened that the administration didn't seize the opportunity to help with the tools at their feet, the VP visited not a single farm. And I think: What would Governor Ray do?
Governor Ray - a republican - would have pitched in, asked the VP to kick the visit down the road and asked for a major disaster declaration.
The national media cannot request a federal disaster declaration.
Imagine the magical national media coverage Gov. Reynolds would have gotten if she did her job and screamed from the rooftops "IOWANS NEED HELP!" Then perhaps a photo op that would have mattered = @VP and the governor going to an actual farm.
Let me just let that sit here:
The VP of the US didn't visit a single farm.
The governor didn't use the tools clearly at her disposal (again Parkersburg 2008) and at least -- at LEAST - gotten Linn Co. immediate assistance.
And this is the national media's fault?
The VP of the US didn't visit a single farm.
The governor didn't use the tools clearly at her disposal (again Parkersburg 2008) and at least -- at LEAST - gotten Linn Co. immediate assistance.
And this is the national media's fault?
I for one am done with this. This is pulled from a flailing playbook that passes the buck. And for what it's worth - my grumpy ass old farmer dad would likely kick me in the keister if I tried to make excuses for my responsibilities. (in fact he did so plenty)
I don't know man, that is just how this goddamn Iowan now national media lady was raised.
In a barn
By adults
Who accept full weight of responsibility for whatever they do.
In a barn
By adults
Who accept full weight of responsibility for whatever they do.
