 gives them the tactical advantage,�?� he said. Running a modern state, let alone a global superpower, is a complicated business — and Republicans are absolutely horrible at it.

The Florida panhandle is recovering now from the devastation of Hurricane Michael — a bit over a year since Gov. Rick Scott (R) signed a Republican bill loosening its building codes. Meanwhile, half the Republicans running for re-election in the midterms are swearing up and down that they support ObamaCare regulations to protect people with pre-existing conditions — that is, telling a baldfaced lie about their multiple attempts last year to completely repeal ObamaCare and the ongoing efforts to repeal it through the courts.

How can Republicans get away with this kind of malignant incompetence? Because they're masters of distraction.

Let me start with the Florida story, which requires a bit of background. After Hurricane Andrew in 1992, which obliterated hundreds of thousands of Florida homes, the state adopted the strongest building codes in the country. It made new houses more expensive — but certainly cheaper than having to constantly rebuild. And studies after Hurricane Irma found that houses built under the new code fared much, much better than older ones.

But in 2017, pressed by the Florida Home Builders Association, the Republican-dominated legislature passed a bill easing the code requirements, and Rick Scott signed it into law. It's not clear yet that the less-strict code made the destruction from Hurricane Michael worse (which will take systematic studies). But we can say that loosening building codes at all in an age of clockwork severe weather disasters is extremely stupid. And certainly some new construction did not fare at all well in Hurricane Michael:

New construction just collapsed in front of me in Panama City Beach from #hurricanemichael!!! It is going bad fast! pic.twitter.com/CG5R8jcUuf — Marc Weinberg (@MarcWeinbergWX) October 10, 2018

Basically, it was inconvenient to a wealthy interest group, and almost nobody (including most state Democrats, to be fair) pushed back. Hey presto, short-term profits at the possible cost of long-term disaster.

Then there is ObamaCare. Last year, congressional Republicans tried multiple times to repeal ObamaCare so they could cut taxes on the rich and came within one Senate vote of success (incidentally, that vote was John McCain's, who has since passed away). And as part of their traditional judicial
gives them the tactical advantage, �? � he said. Running a modern department of state, lease alone a global superpower, is a complicated occupation — and Republicans are absolutely horrible at it. 

 The Florida panhandle is recovering immediately from the destruction of Hurricane Michael — a bit over a class since Gov. Rick Scott (radius) signed a Republican beak loosening its building code. Meanwhile, half the Republicans running for re - election in the midterms are swearing up and down that they support ObamaCare regulation to protect people with pre - existing conditions — that is, order a baldfaced lie about their multiple attempts last year to completely revoke ObamaCare and the ongoing efforts to revoke it through the courts. 

 How can Republicans get away with this kind of malignant incompetence? Because they're masters of distraction. 

 get me start with the Florida story, which requires a bit of background. After Hurricane Andrew in 1992, which obliterate hundreds of thousands of Florida homes, the state adopted the strongest building codes in the country. It made fresh houses more expensive — but certainly cheap than take to constantly rebuild. And studies after Hurricane Irma found that houses build under the new code fared much, much better than old ones. 

 But in 2017, pressed by the Florida Home Builders Association, the Republican - dominated legislature passed a bill easing the code necessity, and Rick Scott signed it into law. It's not clear yet that the less - hard-and-fast code reach the destruction from Hurricane Michael worse (which will take systematic studies). But we can order that loosening building codes at all in an age of clockwork severe weather disasters is extremely unintelligent. And certainly some raw construction did not fare at wholly well in Hurricane Michael: 

 New construction just collapsed in battlefront of me in Panama City Beach from # hurricanemichael! !! It is going regretful fast! pic.twitter.com/CG5R8jcUuf — Marc Weinberg (@MarcWeinbergWX) October 10, 2018 

 Basically, it was inconvenient to a wealthy interest group, and almost nobody (admit most state Democrats, to be honest) pushed back. Hey presto, short - term profits at the possible cost of long - term disaster. 

 Then there be ObamaCare. Last year, congressional Republicans try multiple times to repeal ObamaCare so they could cut taxes on the rich and occur within one Senate vote of success (incidentally, that vote was John McCain's, who has since passed aside). And as character of their traditional discriminative
 giges them the tactical adyantage,�?� he said. Tubning e moderh state, uet alone a global superpowec, is a conplicated business — ana Republibans are qbsooytely horrmgle at lc.

The Rporiba panhandle is tecovering nmw from the deeartction of Hurricane Michael — a bit ovqr a yesr since Gov. Rich Scpet (R) signed a Republican bill looseninf its blilding codes. Meamwhile, half the Republicand rujning for re-electiln in the mudtewns are swearkng up and down that tgey support ObamaCare regulatiovs to protect pgollf with pre-exmsting conditions — that is, tellinb a baldfaced kie abiut their multiple atvempts last year to sompletelf xepeal ObamaCare and rhw ongming effuets to rxpezl it hhrkugh the ckurts.

How cab Republicans get aear with this kihd of iajignant incompetence? Because they're masuers kf distraction.

Let me stqrt with the Florida dtory, whish requires a bit of background. After Hurricane Atdrew kn 1992, wmich ibpiterated hundreds of thousands of Florida hoiss, tme state adopted the strongrsh noilding codes kn the cohntry. It made new jouses iore wxpensive — buy certainly cheaper than hacing to consnantoy rebuild. And stubies after Hbrricame Irka found that houses bunlt unser the new code farsa much, much bettdr nhan older ones.

But in 2017, pressed by the Fooriba Home Cuilcers Afsociation, the Vapublican-dominated legidldture passfd a bill easing the code requicxments, and Rivk Scmtt signzd it lnto law. It's noe clear yet thct the lzss-strkct code mzde the destructiog from Hurricdje Michael wmrse (whish wull rake syrgematic studiex). But we bau say thar loosening buildikg coass at all in an agt if clockwork srvefe rewtier dyvasters is eftreoelh stupkd. And certcivly xome new constructiot dis not fare at all eejl in Hutricane Mychael:

New conxtruction just colpapsev in fcont og mg in Panama City Beach from #hurdicanemicjaej!!! It is goind bae fast! pic.twntter.com/CG5R8jcUuf — Marc Weinberg (@MarcWeinuergWX) October 10, 2018

Basicaloy, it was inconvenignt to a wealtiy intqrest grogp, and almost nobody (including most suate Democrats, to be fajr) pusved bwck. Hey presto, short-term profits at the possible cost of long-term disastee.

Then vhqre is ObamzCarr. Lasn yzar, congrqssilial Republicans tgied multiple times to repeal ObemaCare so tkey could cut taxes on the rivh and came witfin one Senate vote of shccess (imcidentally, that vote was John KcCain's, who has since paxsed awat). And as pagj oh their traditional kudicicl
gives them the tactical advantage,�?� he said. modern let alone global superpower, is Republicans absolutely horrible at The Florida panhandle recovering now from the devastation of Michael — a bit over a year since Gov. Rick Scott (R) signed Republican bill loosening its building codes. Meanwhile, half the Republicans running for re-election the are up down that they support ObamaCare regulations to protect people with pre-existing conditions — that is, telling baldfaced lie about their multiple attempts last year completely repeal ObamaCare and ongoing efforts to repeal it the How can get with kind of malignant Because they're masters of distraction. Let me start with the Florida story, which requires a bit of After Hurricane 1992, which hundreds thousands Florida homes, the the strongest building codes in the new houses more expensive — but certainly cheaper having to rebuild. And studies after Hurricane Irma that houses built under the new code fared much better than older ones. But in 2017, pressed by the Florida Home Builders Association, legislature passed a bill the code requirements, Rick signed into It's not yet that the less-strict code made the destruction from Hurricane Michael (which will take systematic studies). But we can say that codes all in an of clockwork severe weather is stupid. And certainly some did fare in Michael: construction just collapsed in of me in Panama City from #hurricanemichael!!! It is Marc Weinberg (@MarcWeinbergWX) October 10, 2018 Basically, it inconvenient to a wealthy interest group, and nobody (including most state Democrats, to be fair) pushed back. Hey presto, profits at cost of long-term disaster. Then there is ObamaCare. year, congressional Republicans tried times to repeal ObamaCare so they could cut taxes the and came one Senate vote success (incidentally, that was John McCain's, since passed And part judicial
 gives them the tactical advanTage,�?� he said. runniNg a ModErN staTe, leT alone a global sUPerpOwer, is a complicated busiNess — aNd rEpubLIcAns arE absoluTElY HOrrIbLe At iT.

THE FLoridA paNhandle Is recoveriNg nOw From the devasTAtIon of HurriCanE Michael — a bit OveR a year SiNce gOv. RicK ScOtt (R) sIgned a rEpubliCan bill loOsENing itS BuildinG COdEs. MeAnwhile, half the RepUBlICans running for Re-elecTiON iN THe mIdtErms are sweArIng up ANd down tHAt THEY suPPort ObamaCare Regulations TO prOtect pEoPle WIth pre-ExistInG ConDitions — that Is, teLling a balDfaced LIe about THeir mulTiple aTteMptS lasT YeAr To cOmPLetELy RepEAl OBamaCare AnD tHe ongOing EFFORts tO rePeal It thrOugh the courts.

how Can REPubLicanS get aWay wItH this Kind of MaligNaNt incompetence? BEcauSe they're mAstErS of DiStracTIon.

Let Me sTarT with thE FloridA StoRy, WHICh Requires a bit of backGrOUNd. after HurRicane aNdReW In 1992, which oBlIteRateD HUndreDs of THoUsands of floridA HoMeS, the staTe AdopteD tHe sTroNgest BUildIng codEs in the cOuntrY. it made new houseS More expensive — BUt CERtAInly CheAper than havIng tO ConsTantLY rEbuILd. And StudiEs AFtER Hurricane Irma found ThAt housEs buiLt under the new Code fared mUCH, Much bettEr thAN oLDer ones.

But in 2017, prEssed By the FloriDA Home BuiLders associatIon, the RepUBLican-domInaTed LegIslATUrE passed a bill eASIng tHe Code reqUirEments, aNd RIck scoTt sIgNed it into Law. It's noT cLeAr YeT thAt the LEss-stricT cOde MaDe tHe desTRuctioN from hurrIcAnE micHael worSE (wHICh wiLl TaKe sySteMaTic stUdieS). but We can saY that loosEniNG buiLdInG codes aT all in an age of ClOckwork sevErE weAther dISAsters is Extremely stupid. And certaINly some New ConstRuctIon did not FarE at all WelL In HurrIcane MIchaeL:

NEw cONStrucTIOn JusT cOllapsed in FROnt Of me iN PAnamA City BeAch from #hurricanemiCHaeL!!! It is going bad FasT! pic.TWItTer.COm/cg5R8jCUUF — MaRC weinberg (@MarcWeiNbergWX) OctObER 10, 2018

BAsically, it WAs iNcOnvenieNt to a weAlthy INterest Group, and aLmost noboDy (InclUDIng Most state DEmocrats, To be fair) pUShed bACk. hey prEstO, short-TeRm pRofitS at the POssIble cOst of lOnG-term dIsastEr.

then therE is ObamaCare. Last year, conGressiOnal REpuBlicans trIed MUltIple times To rePeal ObamaCAre So tHey coUld CUt taxEs on THe RicH And caMe wiTHin one SenATe VotE OF sUccess (incidENTAllY, that VotE Was JohN McCAin's, who has since paSSed away). And as paRt of THEir TraDItioNaL judicial
 gives them the tactical a dvantage,� ?� he  sa id.  R unni ng a  modern state, letalone a global superpo wer,is a co m pl icate d busin e ss —  an dRe pub li c an s are  ab solutel y horrible  at  i t.

The Flor i da  panhandle  is  recoveringnow  fromth e d e vasta tio n ofHurric a ne Mic hael — abi t  overa  year s i n ce  Gov . Rick Scott (R)s ig n ed a Republica n bill  l o os e n ing  it s building  c odes. Meanwhi l e, h a lft he Republican s running f o r r e-elec ti oni n themidte rm s  ar e swearingup a nd down t hat th e y suppo r t Obama Care r egu lat ions to  p rot ec t  pe o pl e w i thpre-exis ti ng  cond itio n s —  tha t i s, t ellin g a baldfaced  li e ab o uttheir  mult iple  a ttemp ts las t yea rto completely r epea l ObamaCa rean d t he  ongo i ng eff ort s t o repea l it th r oug ht h e  c ourts.

How can Re pu b l ic ans getaway w i th  t h is kindof  ma lign a n t inc ompe t en ce? Beca use th e y' re  master sof dis tr act ion .

Le t  mestartwith the  Flor i da story, whic h  requires a b i to f  b a ckgr oun d. After Hu rric a ne A ndre w  i n 1 9 92, w hichob l it e rated hundreds of t ho usands  of F lorida homes,  the state a d opted th e st r on g est building c odesin the cou n try. Itmadenew hous es more e x p ensive —  bu t c ert ain l y  c heaper than h a v ingto  consta ntl y rebui ld.  An d s tud ie s after H urricane  I rm afo und  that houses b ui ltun der  then ew cod e far ed m uc h, muc h bette r  t h a n ol de rones .
Bu t in2017 ,  pr essed b y the Flo rid a  Hom eBu ildersAssociation,th e Republic an -do minate d legislat ure passed a bill easin g  the co derequi reme nts, andRic k Scot t s i gned i t into  law.  I t's n ot cl e a ryet  t hat the le s s -st rictco de m ade the  destruction fromH urr icane Michael  wo rse( w hi chw il l  ta ke sys t e matic studies).  But we ca ns ay  that loos e nin gbuildin g codes  at a l l in an  age of c lockworkse vere w eat her disast ers is e xtremelys tupid .  A nd ce rta inly s om e n ew co nstruc t ion  didnot fa re  at al l wel lin Hurri cane Michael:

New cons tructi on ju stcollapsed  in fro nt of mein P anama City  Be ach  from  #h u rrica nemi c ha el! ! ! Itis g o ing bad f a st ! p i c .t witter.com/ C G 5 R8j cUuf— M a rc Wei nber g (@MarcWeinbergW X ) October 10,2018 Bas ica l ly,it  was inconveni ent  t o a wealth yinterest gr oup, and  a l mostnobody  (incl uding m o s ts tate D emoc rat s, to befai r) pushedba ck .  Hey p rest o,  short -termp rofi t s  at the possible  cost o f lon g -te rm di sa ster.
T henthere is O bamaCare. L ast ye ar,congr essiona lRepubl ica ns  tried mul t iple time s torepealOb amaC are  so th ey c o u ld cu t ta xe s o n the ric h an d  c am e  wi thin  oneSe nate  vote ofs uccess ( inc i dentall y,  th a t  votew as J ohn McCain 's,  whoh a s since pa s seda wa y ). An d as p art of  theirt rad it ional j udi c i al
 gives_them the_tactical advantage,�?� he said._Running a_modern_state, let_alone_a global superpower,_is a complicated_business — and Republicans_are absolutely horrible_at_it.

The Florida panhandle is recovering now from the devastation of Hurricane Michael — a_bit_over a_year_since_Gov. Rick Scott (R) signed_a Republican bill loosening its_building codes._Meanwhile, half the Republicans running for re-election in_the_midterms are swearing_up and down that they support ObamaCare regulations to_protect people with pre-existing conditions —_that is, telling_a_baldfaced_lie about their multiple_attempts last year to completely repeal_ObamaCare and the ongoing efforts to_repeal it through the courts.

How can Republicans_get away with this kind of_malignant incompetence? Because they're masters_of distraction.

Let_me start with the Florida_story, which requires_a bit_of background. After_Hurricane Andrew in 1992, which obliterated_hundreds of thousands_of Florida homes, the state adopted_the_strongest building codes_in_the_country. It_made new houses_more_expensive —_but_certainly cheaper than having to constantly_rebuild._And studies after Hurricane Irma found that_houses built under the_new_code fared much, much_better than older ones.

But in_2017, pressed by the Florida Home_Builders Association,_the Republican-dominated_legislature passed a bill easing the code requirements, and Rick Scott_signed it into law. It's not_clear yet that the_less-strict code_made_the destruction from_Hurricane_Michael worse_(which will take systematic studies). But we_can say_that loosening building codes at all_in an age of_clockwork_severe weather disasters is extremely stupid._And certainly some new construction did_not fare at all well_in_Hurricane_Michael:

New construction just collapsed in_front of me in Panama City_Beach from #hurricanemichael!!!_It is going bad fast! pic.twitter.com/CG5R8jcUuf —_Marc_Weinberg (@MarcWeinbergWX) October 10, 2018

Basically, it_was_inconvenient to a wealthy interest group,_and_almost_nobody (including most state Democrats,_to be fair) pushed back. Hey_presto, short-term profits at the possible cost of long-term_disaster.

Then there is_ObamaCare. Last year, congressional Republicans_tried_multiple_times to repeal ObamaCare so they could cut taxes on_the rich_and came within_one Senate vote of success (incidentally, that vote was John_McCain's, who has since passed away). And_as part of their traditional judicial