Trump vs. Harris: The “October surprise” is already here

Sara

The infamous “October Surprise” – the black swan that could change the arc of the 2024 presidential election – is here.

Hurricane Helene, which recently devastated the Southeast, is no surprise; After all, October is hurricane season and we expect big storms. Rather, it is the shameful aftermath — the appallingly poor and tone-deaf response from Vice President Kamala Harris and the White House, the administration’s lies about FEMA spending hundreds of millions of dollars on illegal immigrants, and then warnings about the possibility of emergency funds being provided for hurricane victims could become scarce. Liberal news organizations’ desperate warnings that complaints about the government’s relief efforts are “misinformation” and speculation that the delayed recovery efforts could deter Trump voters from participating in the upcoming election.

It was the perfect storm for Harris’ campaign. And things could get even worse when massive Hurricane Milton hits Florida, posing even greater challenges to the inept White House.

KJP criticized Hurricane Helene for mixed messages about whether FEMA resources would be used for migrants

As the initial rescue effort began, Department of Homeland Security chief Alejandro Mayorkas announced that the federal government would soon run out of funds to support hurricane relief efforts. He said that FEMA is “meeting the immediate needs” but that “FEMA does not have the resources to get through the season.” This is despite President Biden recently signing an emergency funding bill that provided an additional $20 billion for FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund. And even though Mayorkas assured the nation three months ago that FEMA was “tremendously well prepared for hurricane season.” Now, with more damage looming over Milton, the question is: Where will Mayorkas find the resources he needs to reboot another blockbuster storm?

Soon after, Mayorkas issued the ominous warning that federal funding was running out as bodies continued to be discovered in western North Carolina cities and thousands were without power and water. Harris posted this on To this end, they will provide the Lebanese population with additional assistance amounting to almost $157 million for vital needs such as food, shelter, etc. Water, shelter and sanitation…”

Talk about tone deaf!

The idea…the ideaAs an angry Joe Biden would say, the idea that suffering Americans could take second place to the victims of war in the Middle East is repugnant and sparked a firestorm on social media. Yes, the federal budget is huge — too big — and the agencies that send aid abroad are separate from those that help with emergencies at home. But those trying to get Helene out feel her needs were not Kamala’s priority.

That impression was reinforced by the fact that it took Harris and President Biden five days to finally visit the storm-ravaged Southeast. That’s the same number of days it took President George W. Bush to travel to Texas after Hurricane Katrina. Voters interpreted Bush’s delay as a sign of indifference; his popularity never recovered.

When Kamala Harris finally arrived at the scene of the accident, she announced that FEMA would be issuing $750 checks for emergency relief. Families whose homes and lives had been swallowed by a tsunami of mud were in disbelief; $750 doesn’t go very far. Additionally, FEMA was ridiculed for issuing a statement urging people without electricity or cell service to apply for help online or by phone.

Critics were outraged by the small amount. Donald Trump Jr. posted on What for? Enough of this madness!”

To be fair, Harris also announced that the government would provide “tens of thousands of dollars more for people to take care of home repairs” and other needs in the future. In the future.

Not only is our government spending billions on the people of Lebanon and the war in Ukraine; It also supports the millions of migrants that border czar Harris allowed to enter our country illegally. The Biden-Harris White House and sanctuary cities have rolled out the welcome mat, encouraging illegal immigration with free housing, free food, cell phones and other goodies. FEMA has helped fund these efforts, leading critics to charge that the Biden-Harris White House is putting the people of the country illegally ahead of our own citizens.

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White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre has strongly denied that FEMA funds were spent on illegal immigrants. But there is a video of her saying on September 16, 2022 that funds were available “through FEMA’s Emergency Assistance and Shelter Program… to support humanitarian assistance to migrants.” In fact, the agency’s Shelter and Services Program (SSP) spent $650 million in fiscal year 2023 to support migrants.

Unfortunately, it’s not just money that’s tight. Aid is coming too slowly, and some blame the federal government. Reports circulated of hundreds of GIs arriving in North Carolina but remaining idle, awaiting orders from FEMA. Some, including Elon Musk’s team, have complained that FEMA officials have barred them from delivering critical supplies to stranded cities without water or food. The tiny town of Bat Cave, which was almost completely destroyed, was told by FEMA that it was on its own because rescue workers could not get around a sign that said “road closed,” although many responders managed to do so.

As the complaints poured in, panicked legacy media figures rushed to defend the White House, accusing critics of spreading “misinformation.” Amazingly, they even blame “misinformation” for hindering relief efforts!

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None of this is surprising. There are few people in the Biden-Harris White House with private sector leadership experience; Stories about $8 billion spent to build a charging station, or Harris receiving $42.5 billion to provide broadband to rural communities but failing at a single one, are instructive to lay the foundation for the project. The Biden-Harris White House is fundamentally incompetent.

Will Biden and Harris’ response improve if Milton falls ashore in Florida? Or will this be another perfect storm for Harris’ campaign?

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