Your President Joe Biden gettin' her done

Let's just be honest about this. You all would complain no matter what he did.

If he showed up right after the disaster? "Look at this old fool making it all about himself. Doesn't he know how disruptive it is for a President to show up at a disaster area?"

If he gave Hawaii $700 billion (or whatever this dumb Ukraine false equivalency is)? "Why is Biden giving so much of our tax dollars ro Hawaii? Don't they have fire insurance?"

Most of the complaints I've seen are just that he's on vacation instead of being in Hawaii (which would do more harm than good) or that he didn't comment on the spot when a random reporter asked him about Hawaii (would some T & P's brought anyone's house or business back?).

He's doing what a President should be doing. Authorizing the proper Federal agencies to provide aid and do their jobs.

FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration’s Response to the Maui Wildfires | The White House

 

Such petty threads. Righties are imploding.

 

Because it's harder to money launder in our own country than in the Ukraine? Lol...

 

Hawaii isn’t getting support? In what way?

 

dude just lies for no reason and talks about himself after these folks have lost everything. he's a bad person. “We have a little sense, Jill and I, what it’s like to lose a home. […] I almost lost my wife, my ’67 corvette and my cat.”

 

When is the last time Trump gave a speech that wasn't entirely about himself?

 

It's called empathy. And I really don't understand why conservatives fail at understanding the concept so poorly.

Biden's house fire was minor, and he admits he's not comparing the size and scope of what happened to him to what happened in Maui. There is no comparison. But the moments between the spark turned into a flame and the fire department declared all clear in Biden's house fire, I'm sure plenty of awful thoughts were running through Joe's head. What if somebody, including the cat, doesn't make it? What if the house burns down?

Thankfully for Joe, the fire was small and the local fire department was able to contain the fire quickly in the kitchen. But those awful what if questions? Joe understands that feeling during a fire. And in Maui? The worst of the worst did happen. Joe can't completely relate to losing everything, because that didn't happen. But Joe is relaying that he understands what it's like to be helpless, hoping firefighters can save their house. And I bet the locals in Maui appreciated it.

It seems every time a D politician states he went through something relatable, but not completely equitable, we get responses like this. But not going through the exact same thing is required for empathy.

 

it's a lie

 

What part? That there was a fire in Biden's kitchen? That the fire department had to be called to put it out?

Those are the truth. Biden acknowledged the events aren't comparable. Biden's house was saved in what turned out to be minor fire. And Lahaina was destroyed almost completely. Still doesn't mean that Biden can't completely relate. Did Biden know for sure that his fire was going to be minor and nobody was going to get hurt?

Ever been in a car accident? I was in one now about 30 years ago. Relatively minor, walked away, and the car was repairable. Drove it for an additional 8 years after the accident. Some idiot took an illegal left in front of me but I saw it happening, and slammed on the brakes in time where the accident was minor.

In contrast, a daughter of a longtime friend of mine recently got into a major accident where a drunk driver slammed into her, totaled a brand new minivan, and the fire dept. needed the jaws of life to extract my friend's daughter. She luckily survived with only a few broken bones and some glass scratches.

When she got out of the hospital, we visited. Her broken arm was still healing, and she was a couple of weeks away from driving again. Told her the physical injuries will heal, but there's a mental scar that she'll still have to overcome. And that's driving, especially the stretch of road where the accident happened, which was about 1 mile away from her house. I told her that even though my accident was minor, walked away and car was repaired, even to this day, decades later, I cringe when I approach the intersection where my accident happened. I can feel my BP spike and anxiety rise. And I told her if she needs someone to talk to, I could listen, but even better is talking to a mental health professional.

Was I wrong having empathy and understanding even though my accident was a minor fender bender, versus her accident, where her car was totaled, she spent days in the hospital, and the person who caused it was charged with several counts? I don't think so.

I also don't think Biden was wrong. He didn't compare the fires and said he knew exactly what the people of Maui were going through. Only he related a story with a similar premise, and at least has a basic understanding of the fear and emotions, even if he can't fully understand it. That's called empathy. And it's not a lie.

 

Biden's Vacation in Lake Tahoe Now Being Investigated, as People Question Whether He Fell Asleep in Maui

 

Biden took a shot at empathy and fell flat on his face.
He would do better to try to ride a bike without training wheels…and we saw how that worked out.
Joe cannot empathize for those regular folks.

 

Bwahahaha The former guy is in 4 or 5 courts trying to keep out of jail after totally destroying the economy, the credibility, and the health of this country. New guy tells sympathetic stories the right wingers dont like.

lau

 

Sounds like a lot of hawaiians are pissed at his attempts at empathy...did beau die in the house fire or did he just lose the vette and the cat?

 

Here's an interview with three local Maui ladies and their opinion on Biden's speech. They were appreciative of the visit, and want to hold Biden to his promise that the government will help build the island back, but only as directed by the locals. One lady didn't like Biden saying they will build back better, because Lahaina was already a perfect blend that honored the "kupuna" or ancestors.

The only people complaining about Biden's attempt at empathy are right wing news outlets, pundits, and followers. The locals mostly liked what they heard, and the fact Biden took the time after the speech to talk to everyone who wanted to say something. The locals are just wary of of promises, and hope that Biden's promise of letting the locals lead the recovery rings true.

Not the first time the conservative echo chamber criticized a speech that the locals had a totally different response. I remember when Obama spoke in Tucson after the Gabby Giffords shooting. Cons here and on Fox thought Obama was insensitive. But every person I knew who attended the speech, or from Tucson thought the speech was just right.

 

The Hawaiians I know are pissed at Biden.

 

I guess Biden should have performed the "throwing of the paper towel rolls" ceremony.
Puerto Rico: Trump paper towel-throwing 'abominable'