Dressed as Thurston Howell III, and accompanied by his wife, dressed as Lovey, the Romneys sailed through the newly-cut inlet created when Sandy washed away numerous homes on the Jersey coast. A small crowd of Emergency Responders and local residents initially thought this was some sort of Halloween joke.
But the hearty Jersey appreciation for a good laugh soon turned to renewed shock, and then deep disgust as Romney ordered $5,000 worth of dollar Flip-Flops to be dumped on top of the storm debris at the on-ramp to the destroyed Mantoloking Bridge.
Ignoring at least fourteen thousand shouts of "Getthefuckouttahere", Romney raced through a campaign speech in his notorious speed-freak delivery style, insisting that his Flip-Flop stunt proves that private corporations and charitable donations are all that are needed to deal with a disaster of this magnitude.
"What do 'beach people' need more than a pompous flip-flopping politician?", shouted Romney. "Once you have your own Flip-Flops, my Administration will leave you entirely alone to pull yourself up by your own damn Flip-Flop straps!"
Stunned residents in knee-high fishing boots/turned disaster recovery gear shook their heads and turned back to the Obama/Christie heartfelt attempt to address this disaster together.
Mitt and Mrs Howell III were last seen waving the queens wave as they sailed away from the pile of crap they had dumped on the devasted survivors of Sandy. Romney was last heard yelling FEMA/AMEF/FEMA/AMEF!!! AMEF is apparently the inside joke in the Romney/Ryan camp, and stands for American Millionaires to Eradicate all Funding.
Disclaimer: I just spent the summer at the Jersey Shore, burying my Mom with my Dad, who had retired to the place of their happiest days, just across the bridge from Seaside.
I can fully vouch for the deep personal emotion which everyone who has a connection to Seaside feels in seeing the place which holds their happiest memories destroyed. All of the small memories of childhood dreams which came flooding back as we crossed that 37 drawbridge, smelled the warm salt air, and saw the Seaside boardwalk again is lodged in the hearts of generations of families.
There are many devastating tragedies in the greater New York area as a result of this storm. My Dad and Chris Christie had less common ground than Christie and Obama. But when Governor Christie told me that my Dad's favorite sausage and pepper stand was gone, I cried. And I know for a fact that had my Dad met Christie at the Boardwalk, at that stand, that they would have been just two Jersey Dads enjoying the hell out of the day at the Shore.
It means a lot that President Obama and Governor Christie spoke to that pain. There is just no describing how the Jersey Shore brought so much joy and togetherness to so many families from all walks of life, if only for a day or a week in childhood. That hope and joy and happiness resonates deeply in the heart. I loved it so much.
I'm having trouble posting comments; hope the diary gets through. Peace and Love.