Biden in Maui: Let Me Tell You About My Exaggerated Fire Tragedy
[guest post by JVW]
President Joe Biden ventured out to our fiftieth state today to try his hand at consoling the families impacted by the terrible Maui fires earlier this month. As is his wont, he oafishly attempted to interject his own story in there, and it unsurprisingly fell flat:
Biden says "Jill and I have a little sense of what it's like to lose a home" and then tells the story of when lightning struck his house in 2004 and says "I almost lost my '67 corvette and my cat."
According to a report from the time, the lighting strike caused "a small fire… pic.twitter.com/V8IBfoZuEW
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) August 22, 2023
As we’ve mentioned before, Joe Biden is indeed a man whose life has been touched by tragedy, tragedy that none of us would ever want to endure. Yet as we have also discussed, he seems to feel entitled to augment that tragedy through exaggerations and fabrications, a weird personality disorder that makes him at once pathetic and aggravating. He took the horrible death of his first wife and infant daughter and spun it into a self-serving lie about a drunk trucker driving recklessly, and later turned the sad story of his oldest son’s death from cancer into an unsubstantiated tale of being caused by burn pit exposure, adding when he is at his worst repeated false claims that Beau Biden died in Iraq rather than at Walter Reed Hospital in Maryland. Now he is embellishing the story about a small house fire which was contained to one room, the kitchen, and put out within 20 minutes of the arrival of firefighters and comparing it to a raging blaze that ripped through important and historic parts of the island and has killed over 100 people with more than 800 still unaccounted for. He tries to deny the comparison by prefacing it with “I don’t want to compare difficulties,” and then of course delivers the “but” and proceeds to do exactly that, and he fibs about nearly losing his house when contemporary news reports indicate the fire wasn’t a particularly big deal.
As if that is not bad enough, the President makes light of the fire at his home by pointing out that he nearly lost his 1967 Corvette and his cat (after claiming to have “almost lost my wife” who no doubt scurried out of the home unharmed as soon as the fire started). From the video it appears that nobody laughs, but the President immediately transitions to “All kidding aside. . .” and carries on. There were undoubtedly people at that event who lost loved ones in the fire and had to sit through that demented stumblebum joking about the narrowly-missed tragedy of his mid-life crisis automobile. Because Joe Biden is a Democrat and because he is — brace yourself — the party’s best chance of holding on to the White House next year, the media is going to once again give him a pass on his blundering insensitivity and tall tales, because that’s what they do. Indeed, an Internet search at this moment suggests that only the usual suspects — Fox News, the New York Post, the Washington Examiner — have deigned to point out how disgusting this part of his speech truly was. The Washington Times has the best headline: “Biden compares Maui wildfire devastation to that time lightning almost killed his cat.” Somehow I think the big boys at the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, PBS, AP, Reuters, etc., would have a much different reaction had a Donald Trump said something this oafish and obnoxious.
What a complete asshole.
– JVW
“Republicans pounce!”
JVW (1ad43e) — 8/21/2023 @ 8:10 pmI’m guessing you guys might be discussing this in the Weekend Open Thread (I haven’t gone over to look) so feel free to move it here, late though this post may be. We’ll see if tomorrow some mainstream media outlets start to notice how wretched were the President’s remarks and may broach the topic beyond the usual “Republicans were quick to condemn the President. . . “
JVW (1ad43e) — 8/21/2023 @ 8:14 pmA good one here:
JVW (1ad43e) — 8/21/2023 @ 8:18 pmBiden is tone deaf. Drop out and retire. It’s the right thing to do.
AJ_Liberty (da7ad8) — 8/21/2023 @ 8:35 pmYou go to battle trump with the doofus you have not the doofus you want! (rummy) Gavin newsom is doing his best impression of Iago. @1 republicans already pounced ;but they landed on the back of godzilla who turned is long fire breathing neck and said Hi there! I am the abortion issue.
asset (394834) — 8/21/2023 @ 8:43 pmJoe could have compared the Maui fire to burning his finger on a hot stove, and Hawaiians would still vote for him in 2024. It’s a very blue state. The Governor, Lieutenant Governor, both Senators, and both Representatives are all Ds.
norcal (06b1da) — 8/21/2023 @ 8:47 pmThe Governor, Lieutenant Governor, both Senators, and both Representatives are all Ds.
This is true, but the President’s actions reverberate well beyond his audience and tend to make international news. Hawaii might still stick with him as they have every Democrat since Ronald Reagan left office, but I wonder what your average married suburban mom thinks of the President’s foolishness.
JVW (1ad43e) — 8/21/2023 @ 8:51 pmI wonder what your average married suburban mom thinks of the President’s foolishness.
Hopefully not that his foolish VP becomes President
norcal (06b1da) — 8/21/2023 @ 9:02 pmHopefully not that his foolish VP becomes President
Saints have mercy!
JVW (1ad43e) — 8/21/2023 @ 9:14 pmOh.
BuDuh (3f3b66) — 8/21/2023 @ 9:17 pmBuDuh (3f3b66) — 8/21/2023 @ 9:17 pm
Correct. That’s how bad Trump is.
norcal (06b1da) — 8/21/2023 @ 9:22 pmI’ve never voted for a Democrat nominee for President in my life, but it’s looking like I’ll have to in 2024 so that Trump and his water carriers are resoundingly defeated.
norcal (06b1da) — 8/21/2023 @ 9:37 pmJust when you think that the President couldn’t possibly look any more ancient and out of it.
JVW (1ad43e) — 8/21/2023 @ 10:15 pmOh gee, and he brought up the death of his wife and daughter within the first few minutes of his speech, after the usual banalities of introducing the local politicians. Pathetic. And it takes him around 90 seconds of discussing his heartache and pain before he remembers to bring it back to the suffering of the people of Hawaii, not his suffering from nearly a half-century ago. Nobody has ever told him that sometimes it is sympathy people are longing for, not empathy, or if somebody did tell him then he failed to take it to heart.
JVW (1ad43e) — 8/21/2023 @ 10:27 pmI’m not sure which is worse, JVW, his walking or his talking.
norcal (06b1da) — 8/21/2023 @ 10:47 pmBiden is and always has been a dimwitted fabulist. I reserve as@hole for the malicious, not the brain-dead.
lurker (cd7cd4) — 8/22/2023 @ 12:11 am@7/8/9 The average suburban mom thinks what if my teenage daughter needs an abortion and doesn’t know if the law will allow it. In some blue states have mixed or close legislatures.
asset (394834) — 8/22/2023 @ 12:47 amI reserve as@hole for the malicious, not the brain-dead.
But Biden has been more than something of a jerk from the day he arrived in Washington DC, and probably well before that. Not just the stupidity or the bunkum, but he’s always been narcissistic, tetchy, condescending (even to those far superior in intelligence to himself), and petty. The media’s caricature of an avuncular, lovable, hail-fellow-well-met Joe was always a figment of their imagination.
JVW (842aab) — 8/22/2023 @ 1:51 amOnly Trump could have gotten Biden elected.
nk (a2dabf) — 8/22/2023 @ 3:19 amEngaging asset is like wandering onto the set of Sling Blade.
nk (44d48e) — 8/22/2023 @ 5:06 amGood lord he’s terrible. I understand he’s trying to show empathy through a shared experience. But it’s so ridiculously misaligned it backfires.
We really need some better alternatives for POTUS.
Time123 (dd6608) — 8/22/2023 @ 5:55 amAt least Biden didn’t say something really stupid, like his experience with the lightning being his personal Vietnam.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 8/22/2023 @ 7:01 amBiden will never stop his gaffes and his tall tales and his lies. It’s a minor incursion into America.
lurker, when Biden said that Romney is “going to put you all back in chains”, he was in solid asshole territory. Similarly, his comments about the new Georgia voting law being Jim Crow 2.0, when several blue northeastern states like New York had similar restrictions.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 8/22/2023 @ 7:10 amJVW,
thank you for the post. Biden and his acts deserve to stand on his own.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 8/22/2023 @ 7:14 amDoes this count for “in kind” campaign contribution for the eventual GOP nomination?
whembly (5f7596) — 8/22/2023 @ 7:33 amO.o
whembly (5f7596) — 8/22/2023 @ 7:37 amhttps://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/1693799472118042802
What’s up with Biden’s communication people?! First, why not send the VP out there the earliest it was possible. Yes, she has her own communication challenges, but it’s a disaster area and the federal government should have publicly and clearly pledged all possible resources. It’s PR 101. Second, not everything needs to have a personal anecdote. Read the room….or have advisors and assistants who can read the room. I’m sure this is a case where Joe says “I got this”, but his team should have known better. Now, all of this is seen through a tribal lens. If you hate Biden, this just reinforces your beliefs. If you hate Trump, then this is much ado about nothing. His heart is in the right place even if his anecdote fell horribly flat. In the end, the US will send donations and government funds to help. Both sides should continue to demand better…
AJ_Liberty (ec7f74) — 8/22/2023 @ 8:07 amFirst, why not send the VP out there the earliest it was possible. Yes, she has her own communication challenges. . .
“Fire. . . is what happens. . . when things burn. . . . And people. . . lose their homes. . . which makes them homeless. . . because their homes have burned down.”
JVW (1ad43e) — 8/22/2023 @ 8:37 am“Never meet your heroes.”
Kevin M (ed969f) — 8/22/2023 @ 8:40 amGavin newsom is doing his best impression of Iago.
Trump has already done that to the GOP, and most of them still think he’s helping them, too.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 8/22/2023 @ 8:41 amI’m sure they will then reject the federal largesse (just the cleanup could cost $1B; with full recovery over $5B) and that’s not even counting the cost of military assets used in rescue operations.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 8/22/2023 @ 8:42 amThe Governor, Lieutenant Governor, both Senators, and both Representatives are all Ds.
They elected and re-elected a Republican governor in 2002 and 2006. It’s not out of reach if the Democrat governor screws up.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 8/22/2023 @ 8:44 amI’ve never voted for a Democrat nominee for President in my life, but it’s looking like I’ll have to in 2024 so that Trump and his water carriers are resoundingly defeated.
A redounding defeat will just be proof of how rigged the election was.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 8/22/2023 @ 8:46 am#BlindLoyalty.
BuDuh (4214e4) — 8/22/2023 @ 8:50 amWhat’s up with Biden’s communication people?!
He could have sent Obama, too. After all, Obama
Kevin M (ed969f) — 8/22/2023 @ 8:51 amwas bornis from there. HE may also be an assh0le, but he’s not nearly so obvious about it.“It is not the people’s tax money being returned to them. Biden is a benevolent dictator and they should kiss his butt.”
Very instructive, Rip.
BuDuh (4214e4) — 8/22/2023 @ 8:53 amNot sure who said that, but it wasn’t me.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 8/22/2023 @ 9:04 amLOL
BuDuh (4214e4) — 8/22/2023 @ 9:07 amI’ve never understood what people expect from a visit to a disaster area by the President (or anyone). It’s not like they are doing anything constructive except showing up.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 8/22/2023 @ 9:13 am@40
It’s good PR that shows that the government is helping. (when at times, it doesn’t).
But, to me, if it’s just to give a speech and look good “on camera”, I’d agree with you as its almost pointless.
But, if the POTUS arrives and starts demanding agencies to work better, cut through red tape, and pressure surrounding areas to help, I can see value in that.
That’s what DeSantis did down in Florida in the aftermath of a Hurricane and when that apt building collapsed.
whembly (5f7596) — 8/22/2023 @ 9:32 amHumble suggestion:
After a new President takes the oath, the Chief Justice should remind them: “Momento mori”
Kevin M (ed969f) — 8/22/2023 @ 10:26 amHis heart is in the right place even if his anecdote fell horribly flat.
What is the evidence for this? I mean, I can’t presume to know what is in somebody’s heart. Maybe Joe Biden is a compassionate fellow deep down inside, or maybe I am correct and he has this narcissistic personality disorder which resents it when anyone thinks they have a tragedy which surpasses his own. The reality is that people are judged by their actions, not their intentions, and Joe Biden continually fails in this regard.
JVW (1ad43e) — 8/22/2023 @ 10:32 amI’ve never understood what people expect from a visit to a disaster area by the President (or anyone). It’s not like they are doing anything constructive except showing up.
I’ve told this story before, but my cousin lives down in North County San Diego, inland where the temperatures are hot and where wildfires are an annual problem. Some years back, during the Schwarzenegger administration, her area had a significant burn which fortunately for her husband and her did not reach their street. But my cousin spent several days volunteering during the latter stages of the fires, assisting people who had been displaced by the fires, delivering supplies like food and water to them and to the first responders who were helping out.
She told me the story of when Governor Arnie came down to witness the devastation and give a pep talk to everybody. Naturally he arrived with a phalanx of security, aides, and various media jackals. This snarled traffic in and out of the recovery station, and at one point an ambulance couldn’t enter because some jackass media van was blocking an entryway. So yeah, I’m with Rip in failing to understand why politicians do this sort of publicity stunt, other than a pollster telling them it makes them look compassionate.
JVW (1ad43e) — 8/22/2023 @ 10:38 am@42, Unprovable either way. Neither of us know him personally and only see the characterization that his people or his detractors promote. Probably both are selective and wrong. Certainly sincerity can be faked but this does not come out with Biden’s personal relationships with other Republicans over decades. Biden has not had the reputation of being unapproachable or a two-face devil…or insincere. Does he go back to his personal tragedy to try and build empathy? Here, clearly. Should I take that as cynically as possible or launch into “brain dead” this or “brain dead” that? Why? In the grand scheme of things, this will be forgotten…and even by the people of Lahaina once relief arrives and rebuilding starts. I get knocking him for a bad relief policy or FEMA being late on scene, if any of that is the case. The fact that he flubbed the sympathy address seems a little petty.
AJ_Liberty (ec7f74) — 8/22/2023 @ 11:04 amThe fact that he flubbed the sympathy address seems a little petty.
He flubs everything by making it all about himself. Charlie Cooke nails him on it today [I’m not going to make the effort of restoring the supporting links; check out Cooke’s piece for them]:
Why people want to continue with this “nice guy Joe Biden” charade is beyond me. You realize there are people in life who have had very positive interactions with Donald Trump too, right? That doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have something seriously wrong with his personality.
JVW (1ad43e) — 8/22/2023 @ 12:11 pmJVW,
partisans gonna partisan. At least some of us admit what they are.
NJRob (1a903a) — 8/22/2023 @ 2:02 pm45. Charlie Cooke:
I think is that people won’t believe he cares unless he can show it happened to him too…and the reason is because it genuinely doesn’t matter to him.
https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7132775-the-key-to-success-is-sincerity-if-you-can-fake <blockquote
― George Burns
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 8/22/2023 @ 3:02 pm23: Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 8/22/2023 @ 7:10 am
But how many (young) people in Georgia knew that?
People are mostly familiar with ow voting works in their own state in their own time.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 8/22/2023 @ 3:08 pm#18
Correct. By the way no other public figure resembles Donald Trump as much as Joe Biden.
DN (1086eb) — 8/23/2023 @ 11:50 am