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Will Yellowstone Eruption Be Obama’s Katrina?
With earthquake swarms rattling Yellowstone National Park, seismologists speculating about whether a mega-eruption is imminent and Wyoming residents raising tough questions about the danger of such an event in local newspapers, I can’t help but wonder why Barack Obama hasn’t told the American people how he’s going to save us from the carnage sure to follow the imminent volcanic eruption at Yellowstone.
Okay, perhaps “imminent” is too strong a word, but a review of three key facts leads me to conclude that now is the time for the president-elect to speak up and allay some fears:
Fact #1 — Some 500 earthquakes rattled the area around Yellowstone between Dec. 26 and Jan. 1. Surely, 500 earthquakes — 16 of which exceeded magnitude 3.0 and 86 of which topped 2.0.
Fact #2 — In much the same manner as meteorologists predicted Hurricane Obama would strike the Gulf Coast in August 2005, Yellowstone-watching seismologists say such an eruption is probable if not imminent.
Fact #3 — In a letter to the editor published today in the Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune, Thomas James Bleming of Lusk, Wyo., asked a question that should have seized the attention of the Hope-and-Changer-in-Chief: “Remember the debacle that unveiled a few years ago during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina that hit the Gulf Coast?”
Since winning the presidency two months ago, Obama has shared his views on several major issues, ranging from the ongoing economic crisis to the terror attacks in Mumbai. Now, one must believe he wants to avoid the kind of criticism that has haunted President George W. Bush after the federal government’s response to Hurricane Katrina was viewed as inadequate at best and incompetent at worst.
Yes, now is the time, Mr. Obama. It’s time for you to tell the American people how you will protect the nation from the carnage that’s certain to follow such a cataclysmic event.



Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (8)
at 15:56 on January 8th, 2009
I can promise you it will be better than Bush handled Katrina. There is still a fall out from that and there are still homeless people from Katrina what a shame. Bush will go home to his nice ranch in Texas while others still have no home to go to.
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jzsoup (not verified)at 15:06 on August 8th, 2009
Maybe the homeless can stay at your place? Shame on you for not offering already.
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Kevin23 (not verified)at 19:58 on August 7th, 2009
There was a Hurricane Obama? (fact 2). Hmmm, never heard of that
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jzsoup (not verified)at 15:04 on August 8th, 2009
I live in Wyoming and can proudly say that the people here have 100 times the ability of those who complained about the "lack of government help" after Katrina. The people here don't wait for others to take care of them. They actually have skills and the ability to put them to use.
That having been said, if Yellowstone does erupt, we're all dead anyway.
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GURRO (not verified)at 05:34 on August 11th, 2009
Fact No. 1: whoever wrote this is completely ignorant of vulcanism. Read National Geographic, man.
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Franky128 (not verified)at 07:20 on August 13th, 2009
You have to love this kind of fear-mongering... grow up.
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pinedale guy (not verified)at 06:35 on August 14th, 2009
Bob McCarty is a moron. I know him. He lives in Pinedale, WY and is a terrible alchoholic.
Hurrican Obama, Bob? How drunk are you?
We all know that if Yellowstone erupts, we are all f#@ked and theres not a damn thing that you, I, FEMA, Obama, Bush, Cheney, Biden, McCane, Palin, the Pope, Jack Daniels, or Jim Beam can do about it.
Bob, lay off the sauce and get a job. You're a disgrace.
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BobF (not verified)at 12:27 on August 15th, 2009
Really stupid proposal. Why not worry about the countless other hazards that could impact our nation. Before Katrina finally hit did you post concerns about the potential devastation that could impact that coastline and cause the immeasurable damage that followed.
You need a vacation! Yellowstone would do just fine.