Beltway Insider: Biden/Immediate Hawaiian Aid, Maui Fires, DeSantis, Ohio Message

Details: Category: Beltway Insider; Published on Sunday, 13 August 2023 13:41; Written by Janet Walker

President Biden as responded immediately with federal aid to address the catastrophic devastation brought on by the Maui wildfires, citing efforts to rebuild, after the wildfire that has killed 95, is estimated to be in the billions.

The President's job approval rating, according to the website fivethirtyeight.com, for the period ending August 13, 2023 decreased by 1.2% to 40.0% of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President and those who disapprove of his effectiveness increased by 0.6% to 55.0% of those polled who disapprove of his effectiveness. A slight 3% of the population polled have no opinion. Ratings are calculated weekly.

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Deadly Maui Wildfire

The Maui wildfire that raced through the town of Lahaina, located on the western coast, has killed more than 93 people, making it the worst fire in more than 150 years.

"It will certainly be the worst natural disaster that Hawaii ever faced," Gov. Josh Green said as he toured the devastation on historic Front Street. "We can only wait and support those who are living. Our focus now is to reunite people when we can and get them housing and get them health care, and then turn to rebuilding," APnews.com reported.

The governor's ominous remarks have shed light on the devastation which covered 3200 acres or five square miles, in a town that covers less than ten square miles, revealing the catastrophic damage suffered by this historic Hawaiian town.

While a direct cause has not been determined, the most likely cause is the failure of the local power company to shut down electrical power and coupled with the unseasonable high winds the active power lines fells and the sparks ignited the unprecedented inferno.

Deadliest in U.S. History

Before the deadly Maui Wildfire, the 2018 Camp Fire, which killed 85 residents and leveled the town of Paradise, in Northern California had been the deadliest in U.S. history in more than a century.

The death toll in Maui is expected to rise, and residents have been asked to have their DNA registered to aid in the process of identification. However, of those human remains recovered only two have been identified as the fire.

Maui Police Chief John Pelletier said, "identifying the dead is challenging because "we pick up the remains and they fall apart." The remains have been through "a fire that melted metal,"' reported APnews.com.

Cadaver dogs have been brought in to help the search through the area where 2200 residential structures sustained either partial damage or were totally decimated, burned down to the foundation leaving nothing but ash.

Officials have issued statements warning residents that the possibility of reunification with the more than 1000 residents reported missing and yet to be accounted for is slim.

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Cause Examined

With fires still uncontained through the island, finding fault appears to be premature, if it had not been for the 2018 Camp Fire and subsequent investigation into that deadly blaze.

"All evidence — videos, witness accounts, burn progression, and utility equipment remaining — points to Hawaiian Electric's equipment being the ignition source of the fire that devastated Lahaina," Mikal Watts, whose Watts Guerra firm is among three investigating the fire, told Bloomberg," reported The New York Post.

High winds and dry conditions have historically contributed to devasting fires, Pacific Gas & Electric, (PG&E) was ultimately held responsible for the 2018 Camp Fire as it has failed to shut down active power lines in the area, when they fell the ignited what became the worst wildfire in modern U.S. history, until now.

While officials and Hawaiian Electric moving forward with the immediate needs of power restoration and housing those displaced, cause has yet to be addressed. Although with 95% of the island serviced by Hawaiian Electric, and an historic investigation of the same magnitude presenting an eerily similar cause, effects, actions and results a linear, preliminary, conclusion can be appraised.

Satellite imagery shocks the system with before and after photos side by side, picturing the once vibrant coastal town of Lahaina, reduced to slabs of ash, void of any tropical colors, greenery, life.

Tinderbox conditions, little rain, or drought, coupled with high, dry, winds, are ideal for stoking wildfires.

"Worsening drought conditions in recent weeks most likely contributed to the latest blaze. Nearly 16 percent of Maui County was in a severe drought on Tuesday, an uptick from about 5 percent the week before, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Lahaina, where the damage from fires was most concentrated, is on the drier, leeward side of the island that tends to receive less rain," reported The New York Times.

Fires Still Burning/Services

Although the Lahaina West Maui fire is considered under control, fires around the island are still burning. The Upcounty wildfire, located south of Maui, has consumed 544 structures nearly all residential. According to Maui Now news as of Sunday, August 13, 2023, there are two active fires Lahaina and Kula.

Maui Now has provided a complete list of services sites including medical services, water, shelter, missing loved ones, family members or pets access this link for full detailed services. Follow this link.

Coronavirus Totals

Mandates have been altered or lifted in most urban areas with limited exceptions, and the population is encouraged to maintain personal protective practices. Masks are optional and tolerated. Vaccines and boosters are still considered the most effective agents against contracting the Coronavirus.

For the week ending August 13, 2023, the total of confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide reached 769,369,823 confirmed cases, an increase over the past week of 386,728 cases worldwide. The total worldwide death toll increased by 593 to 6,954,336 deaths. (Data from The World Health Organization).

COVID U.S. Totals

Infections rates in the United States are also on the rise. For the 7-day period ending August 13, 2023, the total hospitalizations resulting from new Covid hospitalizations in the U.S. increased by 9,069 to 6,233,900 which represents a 12.5% increase. The coronavirus has claimed 1,137, 057 total U.S. deaths, an increase of 584 over the past week. (Data from CDC).

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DeSantis Attempts to Steady Listing Campaign

Republican President hopeful Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has made major moves in restructuring his team this week in an effort to steady his listing campaign.

The struggling GOP nominee hopeful has continued to run a distant second behind former president Trump, who has been indicated in three separate criminal cases, has become his own worst enemy as he seeks to rebound from his recent stumbles.

James Uthmeier, DeSantis' Chief of Staff will lead his election campaign, a move that many sees as the opportunity for the beleaguered governor to elevate himself in the voter's minds and more importantly secure their confidence and vote.

"Some DeSantis allies welcomed the leadership changes Tuesday as a sign that the governor is taking more concrete steps to change course as the first GOP presidential debate — a crucial moment for the governor — looms on Aug. 23. "James Uthmeier is ruthless," said Dan Eberhart, a DeSantis donor. "This will change the campaign's trajectory,"' reported The Washington Post.

DeSantis who has yet to unleash his secret weapon, Casey DeSantis, has attempted to use his harsh rhetoric and strongarm the people into seeing him as a viable candidate, instead of using a failsafe open-ended slogan that allows people to make up their own minds as to his ideologies, much like when religious organizations attempt to force their ideas and ideologies on others.

DeSantis has yet to allow himself to be humanized, so voters can see a "real" person and not a political, power crazed, individual needing to take on every bully. Wooing the voters is key to winning the White House.

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Ohio Voters Send Big Message

Ohio voters told politicians to keep their strongarm ideologies off the state constitution, as voters overwhelmingly rejected a measure designed to make changing state law more difficult, from a simple majority vote to a two-third margin.

"Republican state lawmakers decided to try to make it tougher to amend the constitution as reproductive rights advocates gathered signatures of support this spring for a November measure that would guarantee access to abortion. Because of those stakes, Tuesday's election became a proxy fight over abortion, which is expected to again be a defining issue in the 2024 election," The Washington Post reported.

With the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade, in what conservative politicians felt was a victory for the right, voters, predominantly led by female conservative voters, have fought back in what has shocked many who believed that with Roe overturned pushing through state mandates banning abortion would be effortless.

Voters, however, are voicing stronger opposition to the changes believing and expressing the belief that America was founded on a simple majority rule.

Altering state constitutions, from simple majority victories to two-third or 60% margins, is usually the first step in presenting legislation that can alter the rights of all citizens. To understand more about the upcoming election and state issues on Abortion follow this link.

For more information on President Joe Biden w ww.whitehouse.gov.