ArcaMax

When a politician says “don’t politicize” a significant event like the fires that have swept Los Angeles County, it’s a good bet they are attempting to divert attention and shield themselves from the consequences of their inaction.

Such is the case with California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who seem to be blaming others.

Bass traveled to Ghana for a wedding after the National Weather Service issued a fire watch, citing “critical fire conditions.” The following day, the watches were upgraded to warnings. Meteorologists advised that a “particularly dangerous situation” was developing. Upon her return, Bass refused to answer a reporter’s questions. At a news conference she read a statement, saying Angelinos need to stay united. The first responsibility of government is to preserve lives and property. By that measure, Bass failed. She also has deflected questions about budget cuts to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The New York Post, citing “sources,” reported Bass rejected offers for help from the FDNY, despite LA not having enough firefighters to battle the out-of-control blazes.

Gov. Newsom, a Democrat, tried to shift blame for the lack of water to extinguish the fires on “local” authorities. Newsom appeared more focused on DEI, sanctuary cities, “Trump-proofing” the state and protecting a fish than protecting lives and property. Newsom has also given into pressure from environmentalists who don’t want the removal of forest underbrush, which serves as fuel for this and previous fires.

Newsom and the Democrat legislature might also be blamed for placing caps on insurance premiums, causing several big companies to quit the state, leaving many without adequate and affordable fire insurance.

The Daily Mail reports that Janisse Quinones, the city’s water chief, “knew about empty reservoir and broken hydrants months before the fires started.” Quinones is paid $750,000 a year. The Los Angeles Times reported a major Palisades reservoir was offline and empty when fires broke out.

In 2014, voters approved a measure allowing the state to borrow $7.5 billion to build reservoirs to store water. They were never built.

As for the voters, it would be interesting if a network or newspaper reporter asked this question of people who complain about the lack of leadership in California: Did you vote for Newsom and Bass? Must I repeat the definition of insanity about repeatedly doing the same thing, while expecting different results?

Hollywood celebrities, some of whose homes have been destroyed, have overwhelmingly supported Democrats. Not this time.

Typical of the outrage was Actor James Woods, whose house was left standing in the Palisades fire. Woods wrote on X that the wildfires weren’t caused by “climate change” but by “liberal idiots like Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass.”

Actor Mel Gibson, whose $14.5 million house was destroyed, told podcaster Joe Rogan: “(Newsom) didn’t do anything, I think all our tax dollars probably went to Gavin’s hair gel. It's sad; the place is just on fire."

"Shazam!" star Zachary Levi appeared on Fox News to voice frustration with California politicians: "This is just incredible mismanagement, incredibly poor leadership; I would go so far as to say that it's criminally negligent.” The actor has previously described himself as a Libertarian and backed Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s presidential campaign before switching his support to Donald Trump.

What will happen to the Olympic Games, scheduled for 2028 in Los Angeles? What will happen to the political careers of Bass (petitions are circulating calling on her to resign) and Gavin Newsom’s fading presidential prospects? The LA fires may have also damaged their political futures beyond repair.

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Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com. Look for Cal Thomas’ latest book “A Watchman in the Night: What I've Seen Over 50 Years Reporting on America" (HumanixBooks).

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