Staff Reports
While Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc across western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, killing over 100 people and leaving many regions completely inaccessible, President Biden enjoyed some quality time at his beach house in Delaware. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris was busy collecting campaign cash in California, seemingly unaware that disaster was unfolding back home. This charming contrast between the leaders’ leisure time and the catastrophic events happening on the ground could prove problematic for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as he prepares for a vice presidential debate against Ohio Senator JD Vance.
With the vice presidential debate looming, Walz should be ready to defend himself against a barrage of critiques regarding the Biden administration’s disaster management. The absence of Biden and Harris during this crisis is already drawing comparisons to the Bush administration’s infamous handling of Hurricane Katrina. It’s almost as if they’ve taken a masterclass in ignoring their duties while hoping everything will sort itself out. Walz’s challenge will be to explain why he’s allied with leaders who seem more focused on fundraising than on addressing the needs of Americans affected by a natural disaster.
Kamala refuses to take questions on the hurricane response as the press is forced out of her staged FEMA briefing.
America wont survive another President that is 💯incompetent.
— Spitfire (@DogRightGirl) September 30, 2024
In addition to Hurricane Helene, the nation is facing its first coast-wide port strike in decades, which could strangle the economy, costing up to $5 billion daily. This strike is the result of stalled negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance. While Americans prepare for potential goods shortages, Biden seems blissfully out of touch, excitedly blabbering about Yemen when discussing the strike. His Commerce Secretary, Gina Raimondo, compounded the issue by admitting she hadn’t been focused on it, leading to further outrage from those wondering if this administration is more preoccupied with progressive policies than with basic economic stability.
In an ironic twist, Trump’s remarks regarding Harris’s fundraising jaunt during the crisis have hit a nerve. While the former president was actively distributing relief supplies, Biden was likely sunk deep into a deck chair, and Harris was nowhere near the disaster zone. Trump’s disastrous hurricane remarks echo the sentiments of many Americans frustrated with leaders more concerned about their political career than the people they serve. Biden’s hand-off comment about there being no additional resources for recovery further fuel the perception that the administration is dragging its feet in times of need.
As if things couldn’t get more cringe-worthy, FEMA, the agency supposedly designed to manage emergencies, has been accused of prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion over immediate crisis response. This administration’s “strategic plans” seem to reflect a disturbing trend of focusing on social agendas instead of delivering real relief when disasters strike. It’s hard to see how equity initiatives equate to helping those trapped in flooded homes or unable to secure food and supplies in the wake of disaster.
Overall, the juxtaposition of a leisurely Biden and busy Harris will undoubtedly haunt the Democratic ticket as they attempt to defend their record during the upcoming debate. With every awkward misstep and glaring absence from crisis zones, the Biden-Harris administration increasingly resembles a real-life reenactment of the infamous Hurricane Katrina mismanagement. A realization settles: the Democrats may need to brace for a rough night in the debate as they face a storm of their own making.
