(put your asbestos underwear on)

Inhofe (R - OK) and Coburn (R - OK) opposed Sandy relief.

help immediately, but I would love to see Inhofe and Coburn shamed on the Senate floor.

Get rid of these two asshat fucktards! Yeah, the "I" word!

They are the first to screw the rest of us!

Why didn't you guys build shelters? You had plenty of warning!

You bitch about California and our earthquake regs, yet we are prepared, building code wise!

Poor helpless kids led by religious douchebags die!

I hold them personally responsible!

I was raised in Wisconsin. Every home I was ever in had a basement. Why wouldn't they have them in Oklahoma? I lived in Texas for years and never met or heard of anyone who had even a storm shelter. You Gotta love those rednecks. I'll bet they all have guns in their homes. Guns and no storm shelters.

Don't give up the day job.

Have you considered anger management?

And then another

That'll manage some anger.

Is your anger directed toward Oklahoma Rs, or to random DUers?

An Oklahoma meteorologist was explaining that you would need dynamite to build a basement in Oklahoma.

I find it all very sad and think these people are kind of brave living there. I could not.

At this point in time, I don't like making generalities about "rednecks". Actually, I don't like any kind of generalities. Just remember, Elizabeth Warren is originally from Oklahoma.

I think if a neighbor were building a new house next to mine and had to use that kind of force to put a hole in the ground I might be a little concerned what else it would cause damage to.

mostly

Any new house built MUST have either a basement, or a fortified room that can be used in case of severe weather. And this is Minnesota, which typically doesn't have nearly as many tornadoes as they do further south.

Even acknowledge the conflict between needed public safety and "big government intrusion", and how suprise, suprise, it is needed...

Which means when you dig the foundation for a house, you have to dig down to 8 or 9 feet. So means adding a basement doesn't cost much - you've already dug deep enough for it.

The frost line in Oklahoma is about 18 inches deep, which means the foundation is going to be about 3 feet deep. So adding a basement adds a lot of cost to a house.

Built to specs that allow it to survive a reasonable hit from a tornado.

I've seen people designate a bedroom or bathroom as the safe room in the blueprints before they start putting up the house. If you add structural support to this one area as you build the house, it adds very little to the overall cost (one builder told me it only adds a few thousand dollars to a $300,000 house).

Many have them in the area. Others choose just not to build them.

the Weather Channel and they were showing in Moore, a storm shelter under a house that saved lives. Don't know what the problem is building one of them, and I doubt they used dynamite to do that. Don't need an entire basement.

It comes down to foundation depth.

In Wisconsin, the ground freezes down to about 4 feet. Which means your foundation must be about 6 feet deep. When you're already digging down 6 feet, adding another foot or two to get a basement is not a large cost.

In Oklahoma, the ground freezes down to about 18 inches. Which means your foundation must be about 3 feet deep. Digging deeper in order to fit in a basement is much more expensive.

It has nothing to do with water tables or bedrock. Even if it did, it is not difficult to build an above-ground storm shelter out of reinforced concrete.

We sent people to the moon. We can dig a hole in the ground.

There's real bedrock in New York City, which is why they can build 100 story skyscrapers. But every home has a basement and we're not even in "TORNADO ALLEY" for God's sake.

Every home in Oklahoma should have a basement or at least a storm shelter. And the schools . . . of course they should. That's the easiest no-brainer there is. Make sure school kids have a place to go when tornado season comes EVERY F_ _ kING YEAR like everyone knows will come.

I am only here because I was researching some information, and stumbled upon this discussion.

I believe it was not an Oklahoma meteorologist making those statements about Oklahoma and basements. Someone on some channel I was watching who was not from Oklahoma was discussing the hard bedrock in Oklahoma and explaining that dynamite is required to put in a basement. They were discussing how they must jackhammer through a basement floor and then blast underneath it in order to put in a shelter.

As an Oklahoman, I can tell you that I have never heard of such a thing.

A quick web search will show you that the true reason Oklahomans do not have basement is due to the red clay soil and the resulting water conditions underground. The water table is high, and as the clay absorbs water and then dries out, the ground expands and contracts, and basement walls eventually crack. Then, because of the high water table, leaks develop and mold grows in the walls and in the basement itself. Then it becomes a health hazard.

People sometimes purchase pre-fab fiberglass 'caves' that are buried in back yards or underneath basements in newly-built homes prior to the pouring of a basement floor. Those are made to withstand the effects of the expanding and contracting clay.

My grandparents' home had a basement, and any time it rained, she ended up with water standing in the basement. She had it worked on repeatedly but it simply could not be permanently sealed. It appears that there are a small number of builders (one or two) in the OKC area that will attempt the building of a basement today, but most builders do not want the liability, and from what I read earlier, realtors have a difficult time selling homes with basements because more often than not, those houses have mold problems.

I have not researched this, but I believe further south - in Dallas - the bedrock is an issue. Perhaps the talking head knew about the Texas issue and assumed Oklahoma had few basements for the same reason, but if so, I believe he was incorrect.

and I should probably reveal that I am not a left-leaner in the least. Just an Oklahoman who stumbled on this post who wanted to set the record straight.

Because freedom will not tolerate zoning and building codes requiring storm cellars.

What I don't understand is why help for Hurricane Sandy had to be voted on.

and deals with the initial rescue, etc. What had to be voted on was reconstruction aid. They will have to vote on reconstruction aid for this one as well.

thanks for the info :0)

Bridenstein ( Tulsa) and Mullin - south Tulsa/Muskogee area
The others voted yes for Sandy relief and it just happens that the "yes" votes are in the area hit by the tornado

because I took a mental note about it at the time

....and the neighboring "no" vote districts are still thinking they had it right.

Hope you are well.

Thank you for the additional facts.

I hope you weren't offended by my comments. I am 100% behind immediate relief. (but I hope some of those NO voters get called out)

I don't have any Republican friends to read it though!! lol

I'm going to be certain to call our "representatives" tomorrow and let them know that some of us haven't forgotten their hypocrisy.

you want some of them

be in terrible shape due to a tornado. From what I hear on TV this area got hit badly in 1999. Kind of a "tornado alley." So their congressmen sensibly saw the need and voted accordingly for Sandy relief.

are recovered/rescued before you politicize this event?

They need to be called out on their shortsightedness. THIS is why you support your countrymen, because someday it will be you who needs the help.

They take the high ground too much, only to later find that the Republicans are always waiting to bulldoze the mountain.

Sandy relief was refused by Republicans.

iirc, the relief bill was delayed to get to the House and then when it arrived it contained non hurricane related bullshit. The non-hurricane relief stuff was removed and the bill was passed.

Am I incorrect on this?

Independently I don't oppose any of them.

But do they BELONG in an EMERGENCY RELIEF BILL?

Let's just play make-believe for a moment. The hurricane is in Texas and the Repub Senate drafts a relief bill that gives $150 million dollars to new AR-15 for the Texas State Troopers (or w/e they called) maybe 200 million dollars for a retractable roof for Texas Rangers stadium and 100 million dollars the the GWB Pres library.

Just because something is tied into a EMERGENCY RELIEF BILL doesn't mean it's a priority I guess.
Emergency relief means $$ to FEMA and HUD, the local repair people and the first responders, right?

Bottom line, DC is a cesspool, always has been. Every Senator/Congresscritter is beholden to some special interest that they must serve by bringing back free DC money.

And then the Senators bargain with each other... "Hey I will vote for your bill if you allow my Caribou research project if you allow my Airport expansion project".

It's all a crooked process.

Here: something for you to read, stupid: the National Weather Service, whose actions saved lives because people had a 30 MINUTE WARNING about this tornado, was created by Congress. FEMA and first responders are funded by congress.

Only an idiot would condemn Congress because idiotic repukes are trying to break the government.

There's something crooked here, all right: look in the mirror.

All those "expansions" also repaired the damage caused by the storm.

It would be really dumb to repair a destroyed sea wall, and then come back later and make it taller.

The people in their districts/states SHOULD be reminded of the types of slugs they voted for.

Love It.....Love It....Love It ! When will all these ignorant people in Red States LEARN.....that their Sick Minded Reps & Senators....dont' put food on their tables...don't pay mortgages....don't pay their medical bills....don't pay their car notes & gas, and the list goes on. Yet ...their Reps & Senators are more worried about those that don't PAY their taxes !!!!! SLUGS they are.

It's completely political, because Republicans are against relief, until it effects their constituents. That is hypocrisy.

to realize that "gubmint" needs fucking funding to...oh I don't know...FIND FUCKING BURIED CHILDREN!

That fucking "wait til the buried children are recovered before politicizing this event" shit...is exactly the shortsighted shit Repukes have been fucking pulling for fucking years. So I'm sorry if it hurts your feelings for some to point out that REPUBLICAN FUCKERS ARE ASSHATTED HEARTLESS BASTARDS except for when "they" need help, but I will not apologize for pointing out that REBULICANS ARE ASSHATTED HEARTLESS BASTARDS

Take the fucking "concern" for the children to the fucking people who have no concern for the children...THE FUCKING ASSHATS THAT VOTE AGAINST EMERGENCY AID FOR THEIR FELLOW AMERICANS....THE FUCKING REPUBLICANS.

Instead of coming on here and trying to feed on our compassion so we "don't" point out the fucking truth, maybe your efforts would be better spent to tell the fucking Republicans to STOP FUCKING POLITICIZING EVERY-FUCKING-THING and that they have a responsibility to more than just the fucking billionaires.

People need to wake up NOW and realize that these storms are becoming the new norm, and that fucking REPUKES are denying help to people whose lives are ruined by those storms.

Christ on a fucking crutch, GROW UP.

"...before you politicize this event?"

The horrible consequences of this event are maintained and exacerbated by politics. There is no reason to censor oneself to if it can bring greater attention to those things we have ignored for too long.

to vote them out.

If they need help, they're Americans and entitled to federal aid.

If someone else needs help, it's every man for himself.

at least here, are only liberals when they get their way.

They are pulling the bodies of little kids out of a school and this place allows this kind of crap?

I am ashamed and I am done.

disaster relief with their votes AND their Randian philosophy? I don't think it's inappropriate to point out that the number of child deaths is an immaterial fact to Republicans when it come to disaster relief. After all, it WAS their votes that brought the subject up.

for either side to say what is being said here or to vote the way they did. All of it ALL OF IT is fucking disgusting.

Its unfortunate that we can't see our own politicization. How about giving it a day or two?? How about waiting til the kids are out of the school??

really, what the fuck are you going on about? the only CRAP here is republicans voting against Sandy relief. the fact that bringing that up seems to hurt you in some fashion seems like an issue that you need to work through. nobody, repeat NOBODY here is stating that relief funds should be withheld. get over yourself ffs.

Is Keystone XL supposed to be above ground? Is it planned to go anywhere near what's becoming the new Tornado Alley?

And if the answer to either of those questions is yes, why the hell is POTUS even considering approving it???

Having natural gas leaking while live electric wires are around is a disaster waiting to happen.

except for a few random places like pumping stations and terminals.

Where are the shelters in the schools?

Oh yeah! Profit margins don't allow that!

The GOP governors who allowed stimulus money to be spent on highways in their states took down any signs reminding motorists where the funding came from.

The fucking bodies haven't even been FOUND yet and you're patting yourself on the back for having the right politics.

Bet you're waiting for the next gun story with bated breath too, huh slick?

Just like gun masacres.

NO! We do not take ANY satisfaction in this! Just the opposite!

WE feel some of this is preventable!

We are angry and broken hearted and this is a way of coping!

How long can we ignore the triggers for these events?

Stop them? No.

But at least we don't have to stick our heads in the sand.

culprit, what took so long? We can't use climate change (which I agree is happening) as the blame for every horrific weather event that happens.

"Great news, we can now give coverage for as low as 15 dollars a month" And one of the snoopy characters says "It should be 10 cents" and another one says "Yeah, it should be 10 cents" Finally the agent says "Everything can't be 10 cents."

Well, that's a lot like global climate change. We have to be very careful about what we attribute to it. This area has a history of tornadoes and was hit with an F4 tornado in 1999. I don't think it's wise to immediately go the the climate change explanation in these circumstances, especially when there's been a history of this type of severe weather in the area.

But protecting lives requires the evil big government to come in and create things like building codes.

that would work, but one size fits all would be hard to do. I do agree that state and local codes should incorporate much higher standards for those affected by this type of severe weather.

States such as Oklahoma and Texas feel that the state and local governments can also be big evil government.

be in favor of strong codes that protect the health and safety of residents. For example, hurricane straps were mandated for new buildings in Florida after the damage from Hurricane Andrew in '92. I didn't hear any complaints at all from anyone after the regulation went into effect. As a matter of fact many said it was about time. That's just my experience.

funds global warming denial AND half the Republicon party itself.

ass at all. For pointing out the brainwashed Hypocrisy.

By all means give Oklahoma Fed Money.. but, do note their votes on other Disasters that aren't their own.

Will it have an impact on the Next Disaster in other parts of our Country?

The Dems are too soft and will let them forget. We need to go Bengazi on them.

Not Us!

We rugged individualists are entitled to all the government aid we can get.

Wolf

Just kidding. Send them aid, they're our countrymen. Just make sure they know their congresscritters voted against aid for others.

hem find a voice that helps

because some douche Republican voted against disaster relief. How "liberal" of you.

not at ALL

You are juxtaposed from reality. People are in need, and that should come above politics.

i am too tom

[div class= "excerpt"]
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/15/sandy-relief-measure-passes_n_2480328.html

"There's clearly a federal responsibility to act," said Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.). "We have a national interest in getting this region on its feet as quickly as possible."



If you live in an area prone to tornados you probably have more sympathy for other disaster victims.

He was on Tweety a while ago and he was all I was so sympathetic to the Sandy victims

should have a label BIG GUMMINT brand

That would ROCK. the 'baggers would all have heart attacks, but fuck 'em.

I'm sure the Koch brothers will step up and fund all the relief and rebuilding efforts. Each of them is worth over fifty billion bucks, right? They should take this opportunity to show big government how the job should be done. It's not like they couldn't afford to foot the bill, especially if it's divided between the two of them.

it'll happen to you someday...

if the FEMA response were led by Brownie?

Yeah! Heck of a job asshole, but it was good enough for New Orleans, right?

some people cannot learn this otherwise. or they've lived surrounded by evil, brainwashing bullshit too long. but it must be taught regardless of sensibilities. people die otherwise.

voting attitudes determines politics, and therefore who lives and who dies and who gets help; there's never a moment that politics does not affect all we do.

politics is the distribution of the power of cooperation. if you live in, or benefit from, society in any way, you must understand this lesson. there is never a moment that this teaching lesson should be neglected, especially during emergencies.

id sue the lot of them. on edit: what has the republican party done for you today?

I realize that the headline was deliberately misleading, but I wonder how many people just glimpsed (or will glimpse) the headline and immediately conclude that Oklahoma Republicans actually said NO to disaster relief from this particular disaster.

You make a good point, but I don't like the potential for confusion with this one.

If I might make a minor suggestion... alter the headline to reflect more accurately what it is that you're talking about. Or don't. It's up to you, but at the moment, I think we need to go for accuracy.

I'm with you on sending disaster relief immediately.

Some of the responses to this one really made me grimace... we're democrats, progressives, independents, whatever. We're the people that are supposed to give a shit. So let's stop being petty and throwing feces at each other and focus our energy where it belongs in this case... supporting the victims of this disaster.

people in need elect to office must be called out. We are either a country that shares commonwealth with those in need, or we aren't. Oklahoma politicians must be brought to understand their proper role in society, or the people that in the past tolerated their bullshit must vote them out of office.

All of the Obama-hating, government-bashing slime will be re-elected next year and in 2016 and for the foreseeable future. Your post sounds great and touchy-feely, but it's nonsense in the real world.

But even so, its no excuse to deny or withhold aid from people based on their votes. That's not how civilized people behave.

Then the president and DC Dems could be magnanimous while we bombarded the airwaves with hatred for the OK Repukes.

Actually if we had balanced media in the US there would be no Repuke party, and the Cock Bros would have joined Mussolini in hell years ago