Staff Reports
In the latest installment of “Disasters under Biden,” the President found time, amidst his jam-packed schedule of appearances, to connect with Hawaii’s Governor Josh Green and Maui County Mayor Richard Bissen. This much-anticipated chat occurred on the first anniversary of the devastating wildfires in Maui, which left 102 people dead and wiped out the historic town of Lahaina, claiming the title of the deadliest wildfire in U.S. history. One might wonder if the President has finally managed to grasp the urgency of addressing such catastrophes, particularly after the midterms revealed a dwindling voter base.
During this high-profile meeting, which the White House labeled an extraordinary partnership moment, the trio seems to have engaged in some earnest back-patting. They revisited the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to “sustained support” for the affected communities. Perhaps they’ve taken a page from the “How to Look Busy While Handling a Crisis” handbook—a lecture on optics that Biden seems to have mastered. A White House spokesman was quick to highlight the presence of an extensive federal team working diligently alongside local partners. It’s heartwarming to see that someone is pretending to work side by side, even if reality tells a different story.
Washington Examiner: Biden speaks to Hawaii leaders on anniversary of Maui wildfires https://t.co/WUFf9zPyTf
— Ian’s Newsfeed 🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@IanHNewsFeed) August 8, 2024
Meanwhile, over in Lahaina, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is gearing up to read a letter from President Biden at a memorial service for the wildfires. Now, reading a letter hardly constitutes hands-on leadership. But then again, maybe this is the administration’s version of “support”: sending letters while the community grapples with the aftermath of a fiery disaster. One has to appreciate the irony of such a display, with the President’s correspondence potentially attempting to soothe the wounds left by his inefficiencies.
Wildfires in Hawaii haven’t just marked Biden’s term; it seems to feature a parade of natural disasters that occurred under his watch, including Hurricane Debby’s recent antics in the Southeast. As predicted, Debby has downgraded to a tropical storm and is currently making its slow exit up the East Coast, possibly in search of warmer political climates. Anyone keeping score on the administration’s disaster response management might find this a rather grim tally, as it reflects not only on climate resilience but also on the President’s overall popularity, or lack thereof.
In a world where Americans expect crisis leaders to step up, President Biden’s performance has raised several eyebrows. Whether it’s through letter-writing campaigns or delay tactics, the folks in charge seem more interested in maintaining an image rather than genuinely addressing the wounds left by disasters. As the nation watches the administration grapple with calamities, the need for strong, decisive leadership could not be clearer—instead, we have a comedy of errors that would make a great sketch on late-night TV if the stakes weren’t so high.
