XPost: alt.fan.rush-limbaugh, talk.politics.misc, alt.politics.usa   
   From: X@Y.com   
      
   I hear if they rake the forest floor, the fires will go away.   
      
   Donald Trump Called The Camp Fire A "Really, Really Bad One" During His   
   California Visit   
      
   by Chelsea Stewart   
   November 17, 2018   
   Pool/Getty Images News/Getty Images   
      
   Since early November, large wildfires have been raging throughout parts of   
   California, resulting in more than 70 deaths and forcing hundreds of   
   thousands of people to evacuate their homes. As firefighters and rescue   
   workers continue to fight against the flames, President Donald Trump made   
   his arrival to California on Nov. 17 to survey the damage. While his   
   initial reaction to the fires was a callous response, the president had   
   more of a solemn (and confusing) reaction this time. Donald Trump called   
   for "raking forest floors" during his California wildfire zone visit,   
   which, um, what?   
      
   According to USA Today, on Saturday, Nov. 17, Trump visited a scorched   
   retirement community that was hit by the Camp Fire, which reportedly   
   destroyed more than 9,000 homes and forced 52,000 people from their homes.   
   After seeing the rubble and destruction left by the fires, which Trump   
   referred to as "really, really bad [ones]," he reportedly became   
   remorseful. “Right now we want to take care of the people who have been so   
   badly hurt,” Trump said. He added, “This is very sad to see. As far as the   
   lives are concerned, nobody knows quite yet.”   
      
   Trump, who was accompanied by Gov. Jerry Brown and Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom,   
   declared that the state would "get this cleaned up" and "take care of the   
   floors of the forest." In a CNN video shared on Twitter by @TheContemptor,   
   Trump said, "You gotta take care of the floors. You know the floors of the   
   forest, very important." Referencing a conversation with Finnish President   
   Sauli Niinistö, Trump said, "He called [Finland] a forest nation and they   
   spent a lot of time on raking and cleaning and doing things and they don't   
   have any problem."   
      
   Raking the floors of the forest? Come again? Elite Daily reached out to the   
   White House for further clarification on the comment, but did not hear back   
   by the time of publication.   
      
   According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the forest floor is "the richly   
   organic layer of soil and debris characteristic of forested land." So,   
   President Trump was likely once again claiming that what he perceives as   
   mismanaged forest services were to blame for the devastating fires.   
      
   Aside from that, there was a moment when he also flashed back to his   
   previous comments that forest mismanagement was to blame for the blazes.   
   Under questions from reporters, Trump suggested that not raking leaves   
   contributed to the fires. It's a comment that aligns with multiple ones   
   he's made times over the past week, as recently as Nov. 16.   
      
   Per Newsweek, in an interview with Fox News set to air on Sunday, Nov. 18,   
   Trump said on Friday, Nov. 16 that he'd seen firemen working and raking   
   leaves near the fires. If that had been done earlier, he said, there   
   wouldn't have been fires. When he was questioned on whether he believed   
   climate change contributed to the blazes, he said, “Maybe it contributes a   
   little bit. The big problem we have is management.”   
   Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images   
      
   “You need forest management, it has to be, I’m not saying that in a   
   negative way.... I’m just saying the facts, and I’ve really learned a lot,”   
   Trump said.   
      
   Days before that, on Nov. 10, Trump had also blamed the wildfires on "gross   
   mismanagement" of the state's forests, threatening to withdraw federal   
   funding from the state if something doesn't change in the aftermath of the   
   blazes. "There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest   
   fires in California except that forest management is so poor," Trump   
   tweeted. "Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost,   
   all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more   
   Fed payments!" Elite Daily reached out to the White House for further   
   comment on Trump's tweet, but did not hear back by the time of publication.   
      
   Of course, his assertions have been denounced, with many people pointing   
   out California's vulnerability to fire due to its dry weather conditions.   
   Experts, on the other hand, have repeatedly pointed out that the intensity   
   of the fires has likely been triggered by climate change. Per NPR,   
   scientists say that factors like decreased snowpacks in California's   
   mountains have led to drier vegetation, due to less fog rolling in.   
      
   Although Trump likely won't budge on his belief that the cause of the fires   
   aren't largely related to climate change, at least he's seemingly being   
   sympathetic and is offering a hand to those in need. So that's something.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)