The wildfires that raced across Maui, Hawaii, on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 8 and 9, driven by high winds across land that had been suffering a drought, have fed a familiar political narrative. That firestorm roared into the 13,000-person town of Lahaina, killing a confirmed 114 people, with more than 1,000 still unaccounted for. It is the deadliest fire in modern U.S. history. While local officials had warned that such a fire was likely, emergency systems were either understaffed or unprepared, or failed for other reasons. Figuring out exactly what happened and why, mourning the dead and injured, and rebuilding, will take years.
The last paragraph says it all. President Joe is a good president and a good man and you are a great professor and thank you for everything you do for us to understand this goofy world we live in. We must always be kind and share. Peace everybody.
tfg's followers are so used to his continual blathering to FOX and on the internet instead of actually working, that they can't understand that Biden doesn't need to be posting every conversation he has in order to be doing his job.
Another important and informative piece. But if you listen to the media or read online papers, you’d think the only important things in our country are trump’s poll numbers, indictment, and truth social posts.
I am beyond frustrated that Biden’s important leadership is buried.
I just posted the letter to my Facebook page with my usual reminder that here is what really is going on and not what the far right wing nuts say is going on. If people want to support dreck aided and abetted by Russia, China, and the dope running X, they are not patriots, Christians, or decent human beings. Biden quietly goes about the daily business of doing what a good president should without bellowing all night on social media. Thank you, Professor, for shining a light on the truth.
Heather, this brought tears to my eyes: “Today the president and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden visited Maui, where after seeing the devastation, President Biden said that “the country grieves with you, stands with you, and we’ll do everything possible to help you recover, rebuild, and respect culture and traditions when the rebuilding takes place.” He promised that we will “rebuild the way the people of Maui want to build.”
What a fine human being Mr. Biden has become. I am so glad he said we will rebuild the destruction as the people of Maui want. Very moving. Thank you, Heather, for your wonderful letter!
I was angered and sickened by today’s coverage of Biden and Maui foisted on us by MSNBC and Chris Jansing. She and MSNBC fell for the right wing propaganda and called Biden’s response tone-deaf. To their discredit, they ended the segment by digging up a total apparently local ignoramus who said that Biden wasn’t wanted on Maui. I knew that nothing they said was true, Heather showed why: it’s pure right-wing propaganda. Msnbc fell for it.
I live in Northern California. We had huge wildfires in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. The Federal response under Trump was abysmal. All those Freedom Caucus members were perfectly happy to ignore what was happening here under Trump. Just another example of their hypocrisy.
Thank you! As the Washington Post exclaims in its title “Democracy dies in darkness.” I am grateful for your dedication to shining a light on today’s history.
OMG! Why should ANY elected US official want to be the apple of Vladimir Putin's eye? His interests are not ours; he is a war criminal.
But tRump is a criminal also, who literally thinks he can get away with anything. (Remember the shooting on 5th Avenue comment?)
Then there is "Freedom" Caucus, who literally endanger the US with its excessive hostage taking of our financial affairs. How many of those who supported the January 6 coup attempt are in the "Fweedumb Cawkus"? (Thanks to TCinLA, may he stay safe and dry)
I am so damn tired of Republicans trashing President Biden for doing a president's job, then wanting to take credit for the good things the Biden administration does while portraying themselves as paragons of virtue. Paragons who would let children go hungry, be vulnerable to gun violence at school, church, the grocery store,etc., who would push children seeking safety at our southern border back into the river. Dear Lord! Their list of crimes against humanity is endless.
Thank you, Professor, for all the ways you shine a light on our real news.
Thank you so much for the detailed day by day accounting of what the government has done. So tired of all the negative reports. Biden doesn’t care, Biden didn’t do this etc. I well tell you what he didn’t do-toss paper towels!
The gaslighting of Joe Biden and his administration's response to the Maui disaster by the GOP right wing was to be expected. Of course, the TFG worked hard with his magic sharpie to turn the direction of hurricane Dorian before it hit Florida. Now, that's what I call a presidential response. Not.
That Republicans are stoking the majority of the negative reports of Biden's response to the disaster in Maui shouldn't come as any surprise. It gets even more pernicious when we start to see some shady foreign involvement behind this as well. It is infuriating. What astounds me is the sheer hypocrisy of Republicans trying to discredit Biden, while at the same time they are working to undermine and scrap all the climate initiatives being built up by the Inflation Reduction Act, which contains the largest climate action legislation in American history. The environment on this planet is screaming at us in the only way it knows how -- fires, floods, droughts, etc. -- to DO something, and fast! Just what we don't need is empty oratory and a President lobbing rolls of paper towels at people. Given the chance, Republicans have gone on the record saying that, if elected, they will scrap any and every clean energy program, will abolish all regulations on the burning of fossil fuels by automobiles, industry, and power plants, and generally boost the production of fossil fuels. Disasters like Maui and the Paradise fire in California, plus an overflowing wealth of other climate calamities, are the virtual "canaries in the coal mine" that we should be taking note of. Republicans will do everything in their power to further blame Biden for any- and everything at any and every opportunity, all, of course, to deflect attention from the other 800-pound Big Orange Gorilla in the room. Many thanks to Dr. Richardson are in order for reminding us of everything Biden and the federal government have done and are doing to help the poor citizens of Lahaina in their time of sheer hell. THIS is when government does what it is supposed to do and ours is responding. This is also one of those Letters I think everyone should be forced to read, lest they fall for the negative reporting on the Biden administration's lack of response!! (And I'm just glad that HCR posted it at an earlier time so the people in the Eastern US can read and respond before midnight!!)
If you're running a cult, it's important to get the members of the cult to deny what's right in front of their faces. Once you've got them doing that, you can get them to do anything.
Heather, thank you for tying all this together. The more I read about the plans that TFG and those debating on Wednesday have for this country, the harder it is for me to understand how anyone can want that reality for themselves and their descendants. One “news network “ as well as some politicians are proving every day that the bigger the lie, the more people will believe it when it is spouted often enough. I’m doing what I can by forwarding these letters—thank you, Heather, for writing them.
Dr. Richardson, it’s great to see this all put together for everyone. This spell out exactly what happened in Maui, and the IMMEDIATE response of President Biden, and every department of the United States. It’s great to see this response, this quickly.
People have to remember, Maui, and the Hawaiian Islands, are a good distance from the mainland. It takes the military planes carrying the charge, relief goods, food, medical supplies, to get there and then get it distributed to all the people. Especially those in the remote areas, that think they’ve been forgotten.
As for the Navy, and Coast Guard. It takes a bit for ships to get there too. Yes, there’s a Naval base in Hawaii, as well as a Coast Guard base, but the support ships that will come from the mainland were dispatched immediately upon the Disaster Declaration being signed by the President.
Now, I wish yo discuss President Biden, and his job he’s been doing.
Just in case anyone hasn’t noticed, he’s not a man fur wanting accolades. He’s never sought any, nor has he ever truly ‘boasted’ “look what I did”, or “this us what I have done.” President Biden has always fine his job, taking care of the affairs at home, as well as mending our relationships with all the foreign countries that Frumpy managed to sever ties with (which was every ally we had).
President Biden had stayed on top of everything, every day, and night if necessary, to make sure that this country stays safe.
Every bit if all this has been reported. And, I’m reading this very article of Dr. Richardson’s tonight, it’s quite evident he stayed right on top of everything with the Maui fire, the response of the government, the needs of the people there, and at the same time courting the two countries to make peace with them, again,
I think President Biden is doing an outstanding job, and, he needs to stay in there another 4 years, with a House of Representatives and Senate that will work with him, instead of waste taxpayer money doing nothing, as is what’s going on now.
The last paragraph says it all. President Joe is a good president and a good man and you are a great professor and thank you for everything you do for us to understand this goofy world we live in. We must always be kind and share. Peace everybody.
tfg's followers are so used to his continual blathering to FOX and on the internet instead of actually working, that they can't understand that Biden doesn't need to be posting every conversation he has in order to be doing his job.
Another important and informative piece. But if you listen to the media or read online papers, you’d think the only important things in our country are trump’s poll numbers, indictment, and truth social posts.
I am beyond frustrated that Biden’s important leadership is buried.
I just posted the letter to my Facebook page with my usual reminder that here is what really is going on and not what the far right wing nuts say is going on. If people want to support dreck aided and abetted by Russia, China, and the dope running X, they are not patriots, Christians, or decent human beings. Biden quietly goes about the daily business of doing what a good president should without bellowing all night on social media. Thank you, Professor, for shining a light on the truth.
Heather, this brought tears to my eyes: “Today the president and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden visited Maui, where after seeing the devastation, President Biden said that “the country grieves with you, stands with you, and we’ll do everything possible to help you recover, rebuild, and respect culture and traditions when the rebuilding takes place.” He promised that we will “rebuild the way the people of Maui want to build.”
What a fine human being Mr. Biden has become. I am so glad he said we will rebuild the destruction as the people of Maui want. Very moving. Thank you, Heather, for your wonderful letter!
I was angered and sickened by today’s coverage of Biden and Maui foisted on us by MSNBC and Chris Jansing. She and MSNBC fell for the right wing propaganda and called Biden’s response tone-deaf. To their discredit, they ended the segment by digging up a total apparently local ignoramus who said that Biden wasn’t wanted on Maui. I knew that nothing they said was true, Heather showed why: it’s pure right-wing propaganda. Msnbc fell for it.
I live in Northern California. We had huge wildfires in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. The Federal response under Trump was abysmal. All those Freedom Caucus members were perfectly happy to ignore what was happening here under Trump. Just another example of their hypocrisy.
Thank you! As the Washington Post exclaims in its title “Democracy dies in darkness.” I am grateful for your dedication to shining a light on today’s history.
OMG! Why should ANY elected US official want to be the apple of Vladimir Putin's eye? His interests are not ours; he is a war criminal.
But tRump is a criminal also, who literally thinks he can get away with anything. (Remember the shooting on 5th Avenue comment?)
Then there is "Freedom" Caucus, who literally endanger the US with its excessive hostage taking of our financial affairs. How many of those who supported the January 6 coup attempt are in the "Fweedumb Cawkus"? (Thanks to TCinLA, may he stay safe and dry)
I am so damn tired of Republicans trashing President Biden for doing a president's job, then wanting to take credit for the good things the Biden administration does while portraying themselves as paragons of virtue. Paragons who would let children go hungry, be vulnerable to gun violence at school, church, the grocery store,etc., who would push children seeking safety at our southern border back into the river. Dear Lord! Their list of crimes against humanity is endless.
Thank you, Professor, for all the ways you shine a light on our real news.
Thank you so much for the detailed day by day accounting of what the government has done. So tired of all the negative reports. Biden doesn’t care, Biden didn’t do this etc. I well tell you what he didn’t do-toss paper towels!
Turbulence.
And the connection with E Palestine is flat-out brilliant.
The gaslighting of Joe Biden and his administration's response to the Maui disaster by the GOP right wing was to be expected. Of course, the TFG worked hard with his magic sharpie to turn the direction of hurricane Dorian before it hit Florida. Now, that's what I call a presidential response. Not.
That Republicans are stoking the majority of the negative reports of Biden's response to the disaster in Maui shouldn't come as any surprise. It gets even more pernicious when we start to see some shady foreign involvement behind this as well. It is infuriating. What astounds me is the sheer hypocrisy of Republicans trying to discredit Biden, while at the same time they are working to undermine and scrap all the climate initiatives being built up by the Inflation Reduction Act, which contains the largest climate action legislation in American history. The environment on this planet is screaming at us in the only way it knows how -- fires, floods, droughts, etc. -- to DO something, and fast! Just what we don't need is empty oratory and a President lobbing rolls of paper towels at people. Given the chance, Republicans have gone on the record saying that, if elected, they will scrap any and every clean energy program, will abolish all regulations on the burning of fossil fuels by automobiles, industry, and power plants, and generally boost the production of fossil fuels. Disasters like Maui and the Paradise fire in California, plus an overflowing wealth of other climate calamities, are the virtual "canaries in the coal mine" that we should be taking note of. Republicans will do everything in their power to further blame Biden for any- and everything at any and every opportunity, all, of course, to deflect attention from the other 800-pound Big Orange Gorilla in the room. Many thanks to Dr. Richardson are in order for reminding us of everything Biden and the federal government have done and are doing to help the poor citizens of Lahaina in their time of sheer hell. THIS is when government does what it is supposed to do and ours is responding. This is also one of those Letters I think everyone should be forced to read, lest they fall for the negative reporting on the Biden administration's lack of response!! (And I'm just glad that HCR posted it at an earlier time so the people in the Eastern US can read and respond before midnight!!)
If you're running a cult, it's important to get the members of the cult to deny what's right in front of their faces. Once you've got them doing that, you can get them to do anything.
Heather, thank you for tying all this together. The more I read about the plans that TFG and those debating on Wednesday have for this country, the harder it is for me to understand how anyone can want that reality for themselves and their descendants. One “news network “ as well as some politicians are proving every day that the bigger the lie, the more people will believe it when it is spouted often enough. I’m doing what I can by forwarding these letters—thank you, Heather, for writing them.
Dr. Richardson, it’s great to see this all put together for everyone. This spell out exactly what happened in Maui, and the IMMEDIATE response of President Biden, and every department of the United States. It’s great to see this response, this quickly.
People have to remember, Maui, and the Hawaiian Islands, are a good distance from the mainland. It takes the military planes carrying the charge, relief goods, food, medical supplies, to get there and then get it distributed to all the people. Especially those in the remote areas, that think they’ve been forgotten.
As for the Navy, and Coast Guard. It takes a bit for ships to get there too. Yes, there’s a Naval base in Hawaii, as well as a Coast Guard base, but the support ships that will come from the mainland were dispatched immediately upon the Disaster Declaration being signed by the President.
Now, I wish yo discuss President Biden, and his job he’s been doing.
Just in case anyone hasn’t noticed, he’s not a man fur wanting accolades. He’s never sought any, nor has he ever truly ‘boasted’ “look what I did”, or “this us what I have done.” President Biden has always fine his job, taking care of the affairs at home, as well as mending our relationships with all the foreign countries that Frumpy managed to sever ties with (which was every ally we had).
President Biden had stayed on top of everything, every day, and night if necessary, to make sure that this country stays safe.
Every bit if all this has been reported. And, I’m reading this very article of Dr. Richardson’s tonight, it’s quite evident he stayed right on top of everything with the Maui fire, the response of the government, the needs of the people there, and at the same time courting the two countries to make peace with them, again,
I think President Biden is doing an outstanding job, and, he needs to stay in there another 4 years, with a House of Representatives and Senate that will work with him, instead of waste taxpayer money doing nothing, as is what’s going on now.