Obama on Colorado wildfires: "Devastation is enormous"
President Barack Obama talks with firefighters as he tours the Mountain Shadow neighborhood devastated by wildfires, Friday, June 29, 2012, in Colorado Springs, Colo.
/ AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster(CBS News) President Obama traveled to Colorado on Friday to see the impact of the wildfires that have swept through parts of the state. After his visit, he said "the devastation is enormous" but praised residents and government officials for "pulling together."
"We've got to make sure that we have each other's backs," the president said in Colorado Springs. "And that spirit is what you're seeing in terms of volunteers, in terms of firefighters, in terms of government officials. Everybody is pulling together to try to deal with this situation."
The Waldo Canyon fire has forced tens of thousands to evacuate an area south of Denver. At least one person has died and nearly 350 homes have been destroyed. Officials say 15 percent of the fire has been contained as of Friday morning.
During his visit, the president promised the federal government's support.
"I think what you see here is an example of outstanding coordination and cooperation between federal, state and local agencies. We have been putting everything we have in trying to deal with what's one of the worst fires that we've seen here in Colorado," he said. Mr. Obama declared a major disaster in the region Thursday, making federal funds available to fight the fires.
Western wildfires
Added the president: "But because of the outstanding work that's been done, because of not only the coordination but also some unprecedented arrangements that have been made with military resources combined with the civil resources, we're starting to see progress."
Mr. Obama cautioned, though, that there is still there is still a long way to go before the fire is under control.
"Ultimately they're going to need a little bit of help from Mother Nature in order to fully extinguish these fires," he said.
Finally the president praised the firefighters for their "determination" and "professionalism."
"And they are genuine heroes. And so we want to just say thank you to all the folks who have been involved in this. We're proud of you," the president said. "And so for folks all around the country, I hope you are reminded of how important our fire departments are, our Forest Service is."
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He fiddles like Nero another tyrant while Ameica's economy and burns.
We haver never seen anyting like it.
I see the right wing obsessive-compulsive, no life, ideology only, teeth gnashers are out in force......goosestepping on the computer.
geez
they must be miserable people
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/04/14/158424/republican-leaders-debt-limit-hypocrisy/
(now ask why we have to cut costs everywhere... but the number of related issues goes back for decades and isn't merely limited to Republicans...)
He has spread the misery since he and the left love misery.
They slither to the computer to post.
I don't always agree with politicians' politics, but unless politicians are putting on an empty show then I will side with either Obama OR Bush.
Rebuilding and what happens afterward is more apropos anyway...
Get a new sorry excuse toad, to justify the worst president in our history as a free nation.
You sound like a broken record.
to support victims it is good, provide to them quickly a necessary help is better.
"au revoir"
Yes, even the car companies - before Obama, in December 2008, Bush did sign a stopgap measure to bail them out.
Now consider GM and Chevy management using lower quality parts to cut costs, offshoring to cut costs, and other things to (at least in the short term a long time ago) to APPEAR more profitable...
I wish the issue wasn't as simple or one-sided as you suggest. And you're right - the US does have plenty of jobless and homeless... as a reminder this is one a one-sided issue, check up on this:
http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Rick_Santorum.htm#Corporations
http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/mitch_mcconnell.htm#Corporations
http://www.ontheissues.org/john_mccain.htm#Corporations
http://www.issues2000.org/senate/Judd_Gregg.htm#Corporations
http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/jim_demint.htm#Corporations
http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Orrin_Hatch.htm#Corporations
(amongst others, and from both parties...)
"Voted NO on repealing tax subsidy for companies which move US jobs offshore. (Mar 2005)"
You will find Obama voted YES to repeal the anti-free market bill... so question those dudes on the issue and stop thinking everything going on is solely Obama's fault. Good grief.
*zing!*
Great retort, thank you.
Grow up, kid.