Daily Threat Assessment
WITH US
FEMA has gotten its act together
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is getting high marks for its handling of Hurricane Irene. On Meet the Press on Sunday, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) and Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) praised the agency, whose name became a byword for incompetence and bureaucratic dysfunction after its disastrous response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. O'Malley called FEMA “much better … than [in] the old days." He went on: “The federal response was excellent. They were with us since day one.” [The Hill]
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AGAINST US
Even Cheney's dog is a jerk
Among the revelations contained in Dick Cheney’s new memoir is the news that the former Vice President’s Labrador Retriever, Dave, launched an unprovoked attack on then-President Bush's dog, Barney, at Camp David. Soon after, Cheney was told that his dog was no longer welcome at the presidential retreat. [TNR]
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WITH US
Gingrich organization goes bust
A fund-raising organization that Gingrich formed in 2007 to finance and promote his speaking and traveling schedule, has gone bankrupt and closed its doors, the Center for Public Integrity reports. In four years, the group raised more than $50 million, with much of it going on charter flights for Gingrich as he traveled the country, keeping his political profile high. "Had Mr. Gingrich’s presidential campaign started strong," notes the New York Times. American Solutions might have been helped by his candidacy. Instead, Mr. Gingrich quickly stumbled over verbal gaffes and revelations about his lavish personal spending." The group spent $2.9 million in the first six months of the year. It raised only $2.4 million during the same period. [NYT]
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AGAINST US
Climate change causes war?
The weather phenomenon El Niño – warmer temperatures in the Pacific Ocean that cause higher temps and decreased rainfall every few years – may cause wars and civil conflicts, according to a new study. Researchers from the Earth Institute at Columbia University posit that the climate change doubles the risk of conflict in 90 tropical conflicts. What's more, it may have been a factor in 21 percent of the world's wars over the last 54 years. The weather shifts were not the only cause for the conflicts, but, one of the researchers said in a statement, "if you have social inequality, people are poor, and there are underlying tensions, it seems possible that climate can deliver the knockout punch." [Mother Jones]
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AGAINST US
Apartment drives NYC women batty
Two women in Washington Heights filed a lawsuit against their landlord after discovering a family of bats sharing their rented pad. After paying over $35,000 for a full year's rent, the women encountered a bat just two days after they moved in.The suit seeks a refund of their rent, plus $1 million in damages for their "emotional distress," "severe anxiety" and trouble sleeping as a result of the unwelcome visitors. [New York Post]