Everything is Politics

I've heard that all politics is local. But lately, local events are nationally political.

Now, tornadoes are political.

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius says the war in Iraq has exposed holes in domestic disaster response like the one currently under way in tornado-ravaged Kansas.

The governor said about half the state's National Guard trucks are in Iraq, equipment that would be helpful in removing debris. Sebelius, who asked the Pentagon in December to replenish lost resources, said the state also is missing a number of well-trained personnel.

"I don't think there is any question if you are missing trucks, Humvees and helicopters that the response is going to be slower," Sebelius said. "The real victims here will be the residents of Greensburg, because the recovery will be at a slower pace."

White House press secretary Tony Snow said the fault was Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius'.

Has anybody demonstrated that a truch shortage has affected anything? Not that I've heard. This is just a political cheap shot.

"If you don't request it, you're not going to get it," he said.

And, the sniping is not limited to Kansas.

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley is echoing comments Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius made that National Guard resources are stretched thin.

O'Malley said he is very concerned about the amount of National Guardsmen in Maryland who are deployed overseas, calling resources "greatly depleted."

Update: 10,0000 dead? Where have I heard this before?