McCain Tours Flood-Damaged Iowa

Presumptive GOP Nominee Flew to State Same Day As President Bush; They Do Not Cross Paths

(AP)  Sen. John McCain toured flood-damaged southeastern Iowa on Thursday, walking past half-submerged buildings, washed-out roads and thousands of sandbags filled hurriedly in a vain attempt to hold back the waters.

"I know I speak for all of America. We'll do everything necessary to try to rebuild their lives," the Republican presidential candidate said of residents of a town of 1,900 at the confluence of the Cedar and Iowa Rivers.

The town experienced record flooding in recent days, and although the waters have begun to recede, National Guard trucks blocked access to washed-out roads and the municipal water system had not yet been returned to operation.

McCain peppered Mayor Dan Wilson with questions as they walked through town looking at the damage. Wilson said tens of thousands of sandbags had been filled to create makeshift levees that prevented flooding from being worse.

"So you lost the battle but you won the war," said the Arizona senator, looking out at a department store, day care center and motel partly under water.

In another section of town, a shed lay on its top in muddy floodwaters in a store parking lot. Although the water is receding, what is left will have to be pumped out because its return to the river is blocked by permanent levees built after floods struck the area in 1993.

McCain flew to Iowa the same day as President Bush — although the two did not cross paths — and as the White House and key House leaders agreed on $2.7 billion as a down payment for federal flood relief.

Sen. Barack Obama, who will be McCain's rival in the fall campaign for the White House, went to Quincy, Ill., last week, where he helped fill sandbags before the flooding there.

Flooding was visible from McCain's plane as he flew into Burlington, astride the Mississippi River and about an hour's drive from Columbus Junction.

His first stop was at a town hall, where a sign cautioned volunteers about avoiding heat-related illnesses.

The senator also chatted briefly with local health care professionals whose offices have been flooded. "I hope we can get you back in business right away, right away. Whatever assistance you need I'm sure you will get," he said.

McCain also praised the work of volunteers who had filled the sandbags and taken other measures to protect the town.

"Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your service," he said.

He said the town would need long-term and short-term help. "There's a lot of cleanup that needs to be done. There's a lot of water that needs to be pumped out. They've conquered and recovered from the immediate effects but there are long-term effects," he said, adding that state, local and federal assistance would be needed.

For all the damage, though, Sheriff Curt Braby told McCain another town in Louisa County had taken a worse blow. "Oakville is still under water. We have a lot of roads that need to be rebuilt," he said.

[dnsallday]

"I know I speak for all of America. We''ll do everything necessary to try to rebuild their lives," the Republican presidential candidate said of residents of a town of 1,900 at the confluence of the Cedar and Iowa Rivers.,,,,,
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Sounds like he is using Bush''s speech writers and Karl Rove''s advice as well. How familiar does the above sound? Anyone remember the empty Bush promises and Katrina?

[dnsallday]

Posted by TiredoftheBS: And you losers making jokes about depends can only dream of accomplishing what he has (and having a trophy wife). Get you some business, stop playa hatin, and show some respect!
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Do you mean accomplishments like crashing 5 of our planes or accomplishments like not going to jail and understanding how to take advantage and game the system (using taxpayers money) to bail him out and keep himself out of jail after the Keating 5 fiasco?

[zerato-2009]

"article doesnt mention anyone named mcbushes...what planet are you on? "
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Posted by jamesm12341
"make up your mind...is it mcsame or mcbush? either way it just proves how juvenile you are."
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Posted by jamesm12341

Are you "fairand"''s post editor?

Mccain is getting tutored on how to be president from george bush. Show up five days late and make a photo-op, make a promise , leave and forget about it. Lets hear it for the third term of mcbush!

[kofiananimus]

nice of the McBushes to show up for their photo shoot 5 days after Obama rolled up his sleeves and helped with sandbags.

[fairandbal]

Iowa Govenor asked McCain to not come at this time and he showed up for the photo op anyway. Iowa is too strained for resources now.
Iowa governor did the same for Obama who obliged.

McSame voted AGAINST funding on the projects for the Des Moines river which would have helped against these floods. calling them pork.

McBush is at it again! what an exploitive opportunist. no way should he be allowed anywhere near the Presidency. it would truly be a disaster for this country!

[jersupporter]

Well that''''s a good way to look at things. But what if McCain croaks before the election? Posted by dragonwagon5
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What if Obama is assassinated? We can play what ifs, but either way it will be funny hearing you LIBs whine.

[jersupporter]

I will get a laugh no matter what, because -
1. If Obama wins - all the Liberal whiners on here will complain about all the taxes
2. McCain wins and all the Liberal whiners come out in force for a collective crying session.
Either way - it will be funny.

[ramos937]

n interesting note on this, is that both Obama and McCain had Iowa campaign stops planned prior to the flooding. The governor of Iowa made requests to both candidates to cancel their planned visit because he didn''''t want to divert any resources away from victims in order to provide security and transportation for them. Obama complied, but as you can see, McCain just showed up anyway. He is so much like Bush. Bull headed and going to do whatever he wants, no one is going to tell him anything, come h ell, or in this case "high water." Points to Obama on this one.
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If the above is true, then it should be featured in the media.

Question - What possible tangible good did McCain''s visit do?

[sparks224]

Pointing his finger like that is probably really helping.

[trishab4]

-Look at McCane''s picture in top of page. Is he not ugly? Ouch! Mamma!
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-Posted by SgtRDS-E4 at 09:58 PM : Jun 19, 2008,
Yer post was so funny!