President Bush visits disaster sites in California, offering federal relief if the state promises to "not be so radical."
INLAND EMPIRE — After winter mudslides, raging wildfires, and now the spread of gay marriages, President Bush declared California to be "a real disaster area, y'know -- in general."
"California is indeed a situation of mass destruction and chaos… it's truly a danger to the rest of the world. But with your help we can make it a safer place to live."—
George W. Bush
While admitting that California is "a very needy state" in terms of receiving federal disaster-relief funding and that he would do his best to assist the state, Bush also hinted that relief might come quicker and in larger amounts if he could "count on California's support" in future elections.
In San Bernardino, near to where fires and mudslides routinely occur, Bush said, "Y'know, there's an old Texas expression, maybe Mexican, that goes: 'Up Shit's Creek once, you're no fool; up Shit's Creek twice, especially without a paddle, and we're all in trouble.'"
The president's interpreter said Bush meant that California was "a big mess."
MUDSLIDES: Heavy rains followed wildfires — causing numerous mudslides such as this one here.In San Diego County, where wildfires blackened the landscape in recent years, Bush said, "California is indeed a situation of mass destruction… it's truly a danger to the rest of the world. But with your help we can make it a safer place to live. I'm reminded of what my friend Kenneth Lay once said: 'Ask not what you can do for California, ask what California can do for you.'"
The president's interpreter said Bush meant that "the destruction was apparent."
WILDFIRES: Fires such as this one typically occur in the late summer or fall.In Paso Robles, where an earthquake destroyed key portions of the historic downtown in 2003, Bush issued his condolences, "Even though you fine people of Bam do not share our religion, still, the point is that we're united with you in spirit, not to mention our physical bodies, which we mourn here today. But rest assured: I had a dream—actually, it was a daydream—that some day you shall be overcome."
EARTHQUAKES: This building was a victim of the Paso Robles quake in 2003.The president's interpreter said Bush meant that "the people will overcome adversity."
And in Sacramento, Bush visited with Governor Schwarzenegger and addressed the state's fiscal disaster. "Y'know… Ronald Reagan once said 'A penny saved is a penny earned.' I encourage you people to keep that in mind. The truth of the matter is that when we talk about deficits, we're really talking about money—and pennies are money, too. So God bless this great state of Carolina!"
Environment & Weather
