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The politics of weather

Christopher Curran
Posted 2/10/15

In politics, the public’s lasting perception of a particular official can be forever changed by a spin of a weather vane and a politician’s reaction to it. Throughout American history, and more …

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The politics of weather

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In politics, the public’s lasting perception of a particular official can be forever changed by a spin of a weather vane and a politician’s reaction to it. Throughout American history, and more regionally Rhode Island history, office holders have been either vilified or deified by their handing of a storm. In common fleeting conversations, passing people will inevitably discuss the most universal of all daily events: the weather. However, to a politician the weather can become no small matter.

Any Rhode Islander of a certain age retains in their memory the image of late Gov. J. Joseph Garrahy adorned in a white turtleneck underneath a red and black plaid shirt speaking at a podium at the State House. He was the epitome of reassurance, calm and competence during an “Extratropical Cyclone Blizzard” known more commonly as the Great Blizzard of 1978.

For an arduous and laborious week in February of that year, “Governor Joe” filled the role of the state’s Uncle in Chief. Frequent ultra-informational news conferences allayed fears and answered desperate questions from stalled and endangered citizens. Almost 29 inches of snow stymied the state. In the entire New England area, 100 people died and 4,500 were injured. Garrahy’s coordination of resources, visible around-the-clock administration of operations, and earnestly spoken calmative words not only brought great solace to a state in distress, but also saved snowbound lives.

Directly as a result of his handling of this crisis, Governor Joe’s political stature increased, his poll numbers went up, and for the remainder of his political career, he was unbeatable in elections.

Perhaps our new governor, Gina M. Raimondo, had Garrahy in mind when she was faced with a possibly similar storm crisis. Although only 18.5 inches of snow fell in our capital city, the recent Snowstorm Juno was predicted to dump upwards of two feet on the Ocean State. Thus, Raimondo acted on the side of prudence and caution. She ordered a 20-hour travel ban to remove all vehicles except those belonging to first responders, medical professionals, journalists and Department of Public Works. She implored citizens to protect older family members. As an example for Rhode Islanders to follow, she spoke of her family picking up her own mother. Additionally, she conducted frequent news conferences in concert with public safety professionals and exhibited a mastery of the events at hand. She also orchestrated a photo opportunity of her as a passenger in a DPW plow truck.

Nevertheless, she was criticized by some for assuming a maternal ego state. One has to wonder whether acting motherly or fatherly would ever be an accusation against any of our former governors. When specifically addressing the state DPW, National Grid, and state and local police, she stated: “I am very proud of you, and know that as your governor, I am grateful for your service.” She expanded this sentiment later on by saying: “I am proud of all the people in Rhode Island.” That was in reference to the overall compliance to her travel ban. The voters will have to determine whether speaking in a maternal fashion displayed the governor’s humanity or was an act of condescension.

Generally, most have looked upon the new governor’s actions regarding the storm positively. Even her political adversary Robert Walsh, unionist and executive director of the Rhode Island Chapter of the National Education Association, said the following: “Clear communication, a well thought out plan, parental concern, and a little luck combine to make this a win.”

In an obvious attempt at lasting political optics, all camera shots of the governor showed her wearing a bright aqua-colored winter coat. Perhaps she thought the garment might eventually gain the immortalized station that the plaid shirt of yesteryear did achieve. Unfortunately for her political posterity, the storm was much less threatening than that harrowing week in 1978. Alas, Gina’s coat will be rendered just another choice in the closet.

Our capital city did not enjoy the efficiencies that the state did. Several days after the storm’s end, roads were not adequately passable. Many Providence citizens called radio talk shows in droves to complain about the lack of clearance. New Mayor Jorge O. Elorza was seen on the liberal cable news network MSNBC shoveling out his driveway and sidewalks. This odd photo opportunity, in which he instructed those intending to shovel about proper techniques, was comical. The former university professor stated the importance of “using your knees” and wearing “waterproof but breathable gear.” He also advises the importance of having a bag of chocolate cookies for fuel. This attempt at boosting his political profile failed as did his management of the cleanup. How long these failures malinger in his nascent administration no one knows yet.

Also, he was not helped by his right-hand man Brett Smiley. Smiley admonished and threatened with fines residents who had not sufficiently removed snow from their sidewalks. When one couples this scolding of taxpayers with the mishandling of clearing the streets, this situation does not bode well for Elorza.

One of his predecessors, former Providence mayor and now Congressman David Cicilline, took a severe political hit from the mistakes made during the “December Debacle.” A quick acting snowstorm, which occurred in December of 2007, brought 1-2 inches per hour. Workers left businesses early in anticipation and schools had early dismissals. Simultaneously with this concentration of traffic was the onslaught of the storm. As a result, school children were trapped in buses without food, water, or bathroom facilities for as much as eight hours. Besides the poor management of timing these departures, the administration’s response was slow and uncoordinated.

In the aftermath of the Debacle, the former mayor experienced tremendous negative political fallout. Cicilline was thought to have ruined any further political aspirations. However, he managed to rebuild his reputation enough to run successfully for Congress three years later.

Elsewhere in our nation, there have been many examples of political fortunes being reversed by the mishandling of storms. Seemingly entrenched Chicago Mayor Mike Bilandic lost his chair to the relatively unknown Jane Byrne directly because of his mismanagement of three severe snowstorms in 1979. In every speech or forum, Byrne would remind the public of Bilandic’s poor handling of the storms. She was essentially a one-issue negative candidate, yet she prevailed.

Our 41st President George H. W. Bush was criticized by his opponent, future president Bill Clinton, for the slow federal response to the disaster in Florida caused by Hurricane Andrew. One can speculate how much effect this had on the election results, but this issue helped depict Bush as insensitive.

More notably President Bush’s son, our 43rd President George W. Bush, was correctly criticized for the hapless federal response to the category five Hurricane Katrina. This hurricane devastated Louisiana and adversely effected Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. As a result of the storm, 1,836 people perished, 1,577 of which were Louisiana residents. Over $108 billion in damage was inflicted by the storm.

The Bush administration’s response was a cluster of inefficiency. First, they were not prepared even though they were forewarned by the National Weather Service days before. The lack of coordination by Federal Emergency Management Director Michael Brown in distributing resources may have imperiled many lives. Many were stranded by floods, some on rooftops, without food or clean water for days. Citizens were sleeping in makeshift temporary domiciles. Families could not locate their loved ones. Also, people were corralled in the Superdome without enough restroom facilities, cots or basic medical attention.

Bush was accused of being neglectful and a racist, because most of those citizens affected by the storm were African American. His poll numbers plummeted. Further, he was perceived as indifferent and callous to lower-class Americans.

Whether Snowstorm Juno will have a lasting effect, either positive or negative, on our local politician’s political careers will be known in time.

In times of crisis, we look to our leaders for encouragement and readily exhibited strength. On the contrary, in apprehensive times we do not want our elected officials to strut around like proud self-important peacocks portraying their plumage for political purposes. Instead, we want them to show consolation, confidence, and capability. We need our fears assuaged and anxieties lessened by a guiding governmental hand. Sometimes, like in the case of Governor Joe, we find our true leaders. Unfortunately, like in the case of George W. Bush, our supposed leader was found lacking.

While making small talk in the course of our daily lives, most people will invariably converse about the weather. Since we all share the condition, the weather is the ultimate example of a universal commonality. However, to a politician the weather can propel them to deified popularity or the weather can ring the chime of the death knell of one’s political career.

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