October 14, 2024

Sunrise — 7:14.

IMG_9452

117 comments:

Bill Crawford said...

Hey Meade, Are you seeing any buses at the Trump rallies?

Dixcus said...

Didn't expect this today: Bill Clinton giving a Georgia audience a rousing speech on why they should reject Kamala Harris and elect instead Donald Trump.

Former President Bill Clinton: "You had a case in Georgia not too long ago. About a young woman who'd been killed by an immigrant. If they'd have all been vetted properly, that probably wouldn't have happened."

Of course, Kamala Harris is the Border Czar of the Biden Administration. She is the one who is supposed to be doing the vetting, but of course, as Clinton points out, they're not doing any vetting.

And young American women are dying because of them. Because of Kamala Harris.

Kinda makes you wonder why any American woman would vote for her.

Dixcus said...

I wonder if Meade is using publicly available cell phone positioning data to determine who exactly is at Kamala Harris' rallies. How many of them have they been to. Are they grouped on vehicles? Are they being transported around to each of her rallies?

Probably not. Meade doesn't seem like a technical type person.

But others are doing that. Technical type people.

Jersey Fled said...

Only the over educated ones seem to want to.

Clyde said...

Althouse, just for a change of pace, you should go out and take a sunset picture over the lake with the comet.

Clyde said...

"Muh 'bortions!"

traditionalguy said...

Winter cometh.

William50 said...

Harmeet Dhillon: The shocking origin story of Kamala Harris and all the crimes she’s committed

Kamala Has a Plagiarism Scandal on Her Hands

Sebastian said...

Hey, did you hear, "Conservative activist seizes on passages in Harris book"! Bad conservative!

traditionalguy said...

Maybe Slow Joe taught her how.

traditionalguy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
traditionalguy said...

We MAGA monsters pounced again. Too bad, so sad.

traditionalguy said...

Ole J D has been pouncing on the MSM lately. He’s practicing for 2028.

Would You Like Fascism With That Hat said...

An armed North Carolina Trump supporter was arrested for threatening FEMA hurricane responders, highlighting political violence in the Biden era.
https://www.fox16.com/crime/man-armed-with-rifle-accused-of-threatening-fema-workers-in-north-carolina/

Trump has been radicalizing his supporters. Now that he’s normalized violence against the government and other citizens he can convince them to do almost anything.

Dixcus said...

Donald Trump didn't radicalize me. You know who did? That guy with the gray hair who boarded up the windows in the vote counting room so that they could steal the election.

I want to find that guy. He radicalized me.

Vance said...

Old Rich here has, let us remember, zero problems at all with Democrats radicalizing their violent supporters against the Supreme Court and Republicans and just plain old Republican voters. Rich cheered, I believe, the far leftist in North Dakota who ran over and killed a teenage boy because he thought the boy was a Trump voter. That didn't bother Rich or Inga any....

Eva Marie said...

The news today is that “Christopher Columbus was Jewish, DNA experts concluded in a long-awaited investigation into the true origins of one of history’s most famous explorers.”
In 1973 Simon Wiesenthal (Nazi hunter ) wrote Sails of Hope: The Secret Mission of Christopher Columbus.
According to one of the reviews of the book on Amazon:
“The real story about Columbus, that you wont find in other history books. Of course, you know that the Italian discoverer didn't speak any Italian, came from a Jewish family in Cologne, Germany, and was trying to find a safe haven for Jews, not a short cut to the West Indies or America.”
The book isn’t available on kindle. Hardback is being sold for over $500.

Vance said...

And I don't think Rich had anything bad to say about an agent of the State calling for the execution of all Trump voters. That professor is one of Rich's heroes, most likely.

And Rich didn't have anything to say when some of his good buddies firebombed the Powerline Blog guys offices in Minnesota. Just like Walz had nothing to say either.

Jim at said...

An armed North Carolina Trump supporter ...

I read the article and nowhere does it even hint the guy was a Trump supporter.

Being angry at slack-assed federal employees isn't confined to one party, boy. Chances are this guy doesn't even vote at all.

Would You Like Fascism With That Hat said...

The NFL and Major League Baseball are running ads calling for a "Timeout Against Hate." Should Trump be offered free airtime to give a rebuttal?

Original Mike said...

"I read the article and nowhere does it even hint the guy was a Trump supporter."

Holy Cow, it doesn't, does it!

I have a low view of Rich's opinions, but I did not consider him a bald-faced liar. I shall update my database to include this new information.

traditionalguy said...

Christopher Columbus has long been known to be a Jew. The Pope’s guys tried to pretend he was Spanish.

Glen Reynolds has a great article on this over on Substack.

Narr said...

I had a great time with the other old wargaming farts in Belgium. Five days exploring the Waterloo Campaign battles and marches, often on back roads and farm tracks, by car and on foot, in superb weather for it.

It was wet and cold the day we drove through Namur on the way to Bastogne, and was mostly wet and cold for the two days we were thereabouts. The Namur fortress itself was amazing, but we didn't have much time to spend there, or at Eben Emael outside Liege later (a few hours each).

The privately run and public museums in Bastogne were outstanding, and at Waterloo the museum they built for the bicentennial was also very fine--there was a fairly small and tatty museum there in '78 IIRC.

Belgium has clearly decided to capitalize on its heritage as the cockpit of Europe, and the crown jewel is Waterloo. The military museum in Brussels is worth a visit if you like that sort of thing.

The food and drink were excellent and the people friendly, but what is it with duvet bedcovers? What's wrong with honest topsheets and blankets as needed? Duvets are all or nothing--sweating beneath them or being cold above them are the only modes, and I don't like the weight.


Original Mike said...

"but what is it with duvet bedcovers?"

One of life's mysteries.

traditionalguy said...

Belgium is the origin territory of Charlemagne’s fighting guys the Mohammedans bitterly call the Franks.

Lem Vibe Bandit said...

Headline: "CBS Backs Gayle King for Informing Author Ta-Nehisi Coates of Topics Before Controversial Interview"

They sandbag their own news man?

It's like after Charlie Rose went down with #metoo allegations, Gail King is the boss, fresh with a new contract to prove it.

Michael K said...

We were there in 2015 and just missed a big terrorist attack in Brussels. Waterloo was great.

Lem Vibe Bandit said...

Headline: "Indigenous Peoples Day celebrated with an eye on the election"

Joe Biden was unavailable for comment.

rehajm said...

There’s still time to install Hillary! he thinks.

traditionalguy said...

Meanwhile the NFL battle of New York is vicious with up state Buffalo leading the New Jersey Jets. Aaron Rogers is throwing it perfectly but he ain’t beating Buffalo’s QB.

Democratic Paychecks for Perks/ Dems for Demolition of Democracy/ fake-cares 4-U said...

Bich is Maddow. A lying liar who lies. Or perhaps Rolling Stone Magazine. No credibility

Original Mike said...

Once you've been caught lying, that's pretty much it.

Democratic Paychecks for Perks/ Dems for Demolition of Democracy/ fake-cares 4-U said...

"Howell said that while Ashe County didn’t get any threats, FEMA suspended operations in some areas “out of an abundance of caution” to assess the potential risk. "

LOL/ Cautions. Those poor poor Fema gov employees. Under such stress.

Original Mike said...

You know, like, 'I'm a conservative Republican'.

Jersey Fled said...

From Bari Weiss at The Free Press.

https://www.thefp.com/p/inside-americas-fastest-growing-criminal

Iman said...

Herr Biden did a masterful job of radicalizing people with his September 2022 Leni Riefenstahl/NSDAP inspired speech, the rotter.

Original Mike said...

And, Trump's performance at rallies shows him to be feeble and cognitively impaired. Lies.

Humperdink said...

Read on the interwebs today: “Tim Awalz makes John Kerry look like Davey Crockett”.

Democratic Paychecks for Perks/ Dems for Demolition of Democracy/ fake-cares 4-U said...

Iman - yes. Progs forget about their own insular radicalized feedback loop.
Flashback:

The anti-Make America Great Again - Leni Reifenstahl speech.
MAGA evil! MAGA die! Biden trashed 50%+ of the nation.

Democratic Paychecks for Perks/ Dems for Demolition of Democracy/ fake-cares 4-U said...

Inside America’s Fastest-Growing Criminal Enterprise: Sex Trafficking.

At the barbecue joint off Route 75 in Dallas, Lisa pulls out her phone to show me the dozen or so online platforms that traffickers and pimps use to sell girls for sex. The platforms—which include apps like TikTok, OnlyFans, and Facebook—are chockablock with ads of women, usually wearing lingerie, their faces covered to prevent anyone guessing their age. The sheer number of ads is astonishing. “Each week, we track over 12,000 ads for women in Houston, 2,600 in San Antonio, 3,500 in Austin, and 14,000 in Dallas,” says Lisa.

I ask her if the sex trafficking of migrant girls had increased since the Biden administration threw open the border, leading to 8 million migrants crossing the southern border since 2021. “Yes,” she says. “Nearly all of my sex-trafficking rings now are migrant girls. The ads exploded within the first three months of the border being open. We started noticing new sites and ads in Spanish. That was very few before. Then sites dedicated to Latino girls popped up everywhere.” Since the border opened, Lisa added, over 90 percent of the ads are for migrant girls.
Link

“If I wanted to, I could order a girl within 15 minutes,” Lisa says. “It’s that easy.”

Lem Vibe Bandit said...

Yesterday:

via @realDonaldTrump : Thank you to the 16,000 Border Patrol Officers for your COMPLETE ENDORSEMENT and SUPPORT!

Today:

via Newsweek: "Bill Clinton Criticizes Border Security at Kamala Harris Event"

Know your memes

Original Mike said...

Looks like Rich has skedaddled. I'm sure he'll be back, spreading more lies. But we've seen what he is.

wildswan said...

Hey Narr
Try sticking your bare foot out from under the duvet. Cools you right down.

Narayanan said...

clinton reliving sister souljah moment

walter said...

Kamala drank a beer!

effinayright said...

We celebrated Indigenous Savages Day at a nearby archery range, pumping arrows into Colonizer Dummies. We worked off a lot of Righteous Rage against the people who brought us metals, horses, writing and civilization itself. Damn them!

Wa St Blogger said...

What shocks me most about the left is the amount of evil they will sweep under the rug in the name of compassion.

I have ranted about this before regarding illegal immigration. The left thinks it is compassionate to allow it because of the "needs" of the people coming across the border as if there is some either/or condition. Either you allow unrestricted illegal immigration or you are racist. What they miss is all the pain, and misery that this kind of immigration causes innocent people at many different levels. Most especially children.

We do not have but 2 choices. It is not unrestricted vs none. It is unrestricted where the criminal element controls the process, or it is through proper vetting where the people are vetted and protected from exploitation.

The left are the evil people because they turn a blind eye to mass exploitation simply because the right opposes it.

You are EVIL. prove me wrong.

https://www.thefp.com/p/inside-americas-fastest-growing-criminal

Original Mike said...

"What shocks me most about the left is the amount of evil they will sweep under the rug in the name of compassion."

That's a ruse. They're importing voters.

gadfly said...

Trump lost it in Oaks PA last night where he supposedly hosted a Townhall meeting in the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center that seats less than 7500. But he quickly lost interest after reminding everyone to vote on January 5th. So Plan B was to have two attendees feign faints so that he could play songs from his infamous Spotify playlist and bounce around the stage for 39 minutes. His MC was Kristi Noem, who can kill pet goats and dogs in SD but would be in big trouble in Springfield.

“Let’s not do any more questions. Let’s just listen to music. Let’s make it into music. Who the hell wants to hear questions, right?” he said.

Some in the crowd began to leave. Some looked around, wondering if he was done speaking for the night and how much longer the sway session would last. “Nobody’s leaving, what’s going on? There’s nobody leaving. Keep going,” Trump said.

wendybar said...


Jason Howerton
@jason_howerton
·
Follow
.@MarthaRaddatz would like to remind you that it's only a "handful" of apartments in America that have been invaded by Venezuelan gang members.

That's why you shouldn't vote for Trump. It's only a handful.
New York Post
@nypost
Pictured: Aurora apartment worker beaten to a pulp by Tren de Aragua — as owners say migrant gang took over and tried to extort them https://trib.al/8rtS5a7

https://x.com/jason_howerton/status/1845948776038781226

wendybar said...


Jason Howerton
@jason_howerton
·
Follow
.@MarthaRaddatz would like to remind you that it's only a "handful" of apartments in America that have been invaded by Venezuelan gang members.

That's why you shouldn't vote for Trump. It's only a handful.
New York Post
@nypost
Pictured: Aurora apartment worker beaten to a pulp by Tren de Aragua — as owners say migrant gang took over and tried to extort them https://trib.al/8rtS5a7
https://x.com/jason_howerton/status/1845948776038781226

Lem Vibe Bandit said...

Biden ended up in the losing end of another switcharu all over again.

Leland said...

Decided to check the RCP headlines Althouse will have to choose from today. Not many good choices, so it will be interesting if she makes anything of them or goes with NYT/WaPo.

rehajm said...

The sort of Nobel in Economics was awarded to some fellows from MIT and Chicago who say humanity prospers when there exists rule of law and government institutions who don’t take from their citizens. Most of this is within the context of colonization vs the natives but the rules still hold for everyone else. The US has neither at present. Ackman didn’t spell this one out but these principles were taught in the first week of Ec10…

Would You Like Fascism With That Hat said...

Whether it's an armed Trump supporter threatening to hunt FEMA workers, or an armed Trump supporter threatening to harm Trump, Trump supporters are consistently anti-government.

Would You Like Fascism With That Hat said...

"Decided to check the RCP headlines"

I spend very little time looking at public polls. I just don’t. Most of them are crap. This election is very close, it’s a margin of error race, but again, I’d rather be Harris than Trump.

rehajm said...

One good thing about the new format- it makes it easier to spot and skip the leftie talking points since there’s always a long stream of indented reply comments. Simply scroll down until the indent stops….

traditionalguy said...

Patriots fight, fight, fight. Sorry that scares you.

Political Junkie said...

David Brooks (I know, .......) has a nice article in RCP today. He is very honest about his blue/red situation. Encourage all to read it. Lots of good stuff. Cheers all.

Political Junkie said...

Whoever you are - I agree with you. Can't write that often.

Political Junkie said...

One more, then must go earn a living. There is an RCP writer named Adeline Von Drehle. Isn't that the coolest name? Sounds like a sexy, young, aristocrat.

Christopher B said...

Early Voting Down 45% (Rick Moran, PJ Media via Instapundit). Some strong GOP areas showing suprising increases, however.

Rocco said...

“The real story about Columbus, that you wont find in other history books.”

Columbus’ Jewish ancestry is not exactly new information. And he was not a Crypto-Jew; he became devout in his Catholicism later in life.

“Of course, you know that the Italian discoverer didn't speak any Italian”

Technically true. He would have spoken Ligurian and not the Tuscan dialect that we think of as standard Italian today.

“[He] came from a Jewish family in Cologne, Germany”

False. He was born in Liguria, likely Genoa itself where he grew up.

“[He] was trying to find a safe haven for Jews, not a short cut to the West Indies or America.”

While his ambitions were more complex than the “shortcut” meme, a safe haven for Jews - if he even was thinking along those lines - would have been way down on the list.

tim in vermont said...

I have been doing French and Indian War sites through the War of 1812. Fort Niagara, Fort Oswego, Fort Ticonderoga, some of the original forts were destroyed, so there are two forts at Ticonderoga, one a ruin of an old French fort at Crown Point, the original fort at Oswego is long gone, but still, it's interesting to see the locations. This weekend I am headed up to Kingston to look at the site of the French fort, Frontenac.

It really enriches reading about the history when you have a sense of the landscape by being there, and I have been reading Francis Parkman, who is great, even if he is a man of the 19th Century, with all that that entails, both good and, well, regrettable.

tim in vermont said...

We believe you gadfly. Just finally today Trump lost it, not the millions of times before when you posted pretty much the same thing.

Humperdink said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Michael McNeil said...

We worked off a lot of Righteous Rage against the people who brought us metals, horses, writing and civilization itself. Damn them!

You've got one out of four. Written script (capable of recording anything that one could speak) was known to the Mayas (who, of course, also had a “civilization”), while metals in general were ancient in the New World. After millennia of experience with copper, gold, silver, etc. (and various alloys thereof), the “Bronze Age” per se in America began around the year 1000 A.D.—just about 4,000 years after its start in the Old World. (Yes, horses had been extinct in the Americas for about 10,000 years.)

Iman said...

Q: Who is hurting Kamala Harris the most?

a. Bill Clinton
b. Joe Biden
c. Tim Walz
d. Barack Obama
e. Kamala Harris

William50 said...

CBS news thinks that the Trump plan to make auto loan interest tax deductible will mostly benefit the rich.
Who writes this shit?

Gerda Sprinchorn said...

Yes! A big help for me also!

Humperdink said...

On the plus side, Christopher Columbus brought diversity to the Americas.

Clyde said...

linkedin shows her as a Summer Intern at RCP, her picture shows she is indeed young, and not unattractive.

Clyde said...

Correction: She was a summer intern in 2022, has been a reporter there since November 2023.

wendybar said...

Bill Ayers and Bernadette Dohrn regret to inform you that you are always wrong.

BUMBLE BEE said...

Tim's pheasant hunting - Kim and Matt : Hilarious!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lzua5_Pit70

rehajm said...

It demonstrates just how hollow and pointless these class arguments are. Here CBS defines rich as anyone with enough income to acquire a car loan. Their audience must have been reduced to people only collect public assistance and those who identify as such…

BUMBLE BEE said...

"Having fun while they lose".

tim in vermont said...

Any cut in Federal taxes only benefits the people who actually *pay* Federal taxes, so there's that. Last number I heard was that nobody earning less than $50K pays any Federal taxes at all, beyond Social Security and Medicare, and nobody is getting any cuts in those taxes.

MadTownGuy said...

Gmail Users Warned About New Account Takeover Scam: Here’s What to Look For

"A security researcher and one technology startup CEO have warned that some Gmail users could become victim to a sophisticated, AI-based scam that can lead to their accounts being taken over.

The chief executive of prominent tech-oriented venture capital firm Ycombinator wrote on X late last week that there is a “pretty elaborate” phishing scam that uses an AI-generated voice.

“You should be aware of a pretty elaborate phishing scam using AI voice that claims to be Google Support (caller ID matches, but is not verified) DO NOT CLICK YES ON THIS DIALOG—You will be phished,” wrote Garry Tan in an X post that he termed a “public service announcement,” dated Oct. 10.
"

tim in vermont said...

Shouldn't the comet be in that pic? It's been cloudy here for both recent astronomical shows, unfortunately. The sight of a comet rising over the mountains, maybe even reflected in the lake, if I were lucky enough for it to be still as glass, would be really something. But I have seen comets before, and I have seen the Northern Lights in the past, and I shouldn't be a pig about it, since I got to see the total eclipse.

Aggie said...

There's a short cut. You always know that some kind of Progressive mischief is afoot, when somebody proposes to appoint themselves as savior of a chosen underclass, using your tax money to underwrite it. The Progressive mischief makers have become sophisticated at using NGOs to mask the government resources they are drawing down on, but the drawdown is there. It is a form of thievery, and even more insulting, it's thievery that is aimed at making the situation even worse - for you.

Meade said...

“Hey Meade, Are you seeing any buses at the Trump rallies?”

Yes, but they’ve all been school buses (and farm wagons pulled by John Deere tractors) used for shuttling rally goers from parking areas to the venue — 1 - 2 miles.

Jersey Fled said...

Here is a straightforward explanation of their work. Well worth a read.

https://www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2024/10/popular-economicsciencesprize2024.pdf

Leland said...

It could benefit them too, if they are willing to take the debt. A luxury of being rich is not being indebted to someone. Indeed, it is one of the defining characteristics of being rich. You are poor when you are indebted to others. Easing burdens on the poor such as not taxing the poor on the profits to be given to the rich seems like a boon for the poor.

Leland said...

OMG, the Trump campaign is shuttling in the crowd! Meade says so.

tim in vermont said...

On track to post Democrats' worst presidential-election performance with blacks in 64 years, a desperate Kamala Harris smashed the vote-buying button on Monday, proposing an "Opportunity Agenda" for black men that includes dishing out one million "forgivable loans" at $20,000 each.

The loans would be offered to black entrepreneurs "in partnership with trusted organizations like mission-driven lenders and banks with a proven commitment to their communities," the Harris-Walz campaign said. If these "forgivable loans" are anything like the ones dished out to businesses during the madness of Covid stimulus, they'll be loans in name only -- meaning this is just a blatant wealth redistribution scheme aimed at buying black votes.

Unsurprisingly, the campaign provided few details about the program's requirements -- such as just how black one will need to be to qualify:
- ZeroHedge.

De Tocqueville was dead on about how democracy will come crashing down.

tim in vermont said...

"in partnership with trusted organizations like mission-driven lenders and banks with a proven commitment to their communities,"

AKA, Soros funded NGOs.

Scott Patton said...

...if you smoke enough weed Kamala Harris will appear... like the eagle in that Carlos Castaneda book... happened to me, she appeared in the form of a squirrel...
David Burge @iowahawkblog

planetgeo said...

My favorite response to anyone who asks me if I support "indigenous people" is: "Indigenous as of what time period?"

Christopher B said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Christopher B said...

Two people fainted about 30 minutes into the event. Trump and Noem complained repeatedly that the room had inadequate ventilation. The event was suspended while those affected received medical attention.

Dixcus said...

And vaccines. Well, diseases ... but they acted like vaccines (COVID19) by infecting everybody, killing the weak and leaving the strong surviving and thriving, ensuring mankind's future.

Political Junkie said...

Interesting, but the devil is in the details.Who is up, who is down?

Narr said...

Not really. I've been a foot-exposer all my life, and while it can be effective with a sheet or blanket, a duvet still keeps me too hot everywhere else.

Down with duvets!

Democratic Paychecks for Perks/ Dems for Demolition of Democracy/ fake-cares 4-U said...

"Kamala Harris Mocks Trump for Stopping Town Hall…After 2 People Needed Medical Help
So much for providing context."

Gadfly - seek help.

Narr said...

I've been to Fort Ti and nearby several times, especially the AmRev sites; Parkman's "Montcalm and Wolfe" is a classic for a reason. Archer Butler Hulbert wrote a series of books on "Historic Highways of America" more than a century ago that still provide some insights into pre- and post-Rev events.

The Waterloo museum made good use of photographs of the 2015 event to make it look much bigger than it was. There was a crowd on the stands--maybe you were in it, Doc K.

To be frank, I know a lot about Franks/Ferenghi. Trust me on this one.

Jersey Fled said...

This is a tough one. Can I use a lifeline?

Steven said...

This begs the question of what it means to be Spanish. By 1492 Jews had lived on the peninsula for many centuries and were clearly part of the local population along with the pre-Roman, Roman, Visigothic, and Moorish populations. However, the population was also divided into religious communities, Christian, Moslem, and Jewish. Obviously many people from each of the ethnic groups changed their religions over time either from sincere belief or due to political pressure (but even in this case, later generations could have become sincere believers of the faith adopted by their ancestors). The long history of the Conquest and the Reconquest shows that the political loyalty of these religious communities could not be assumed by the local rulers (whether Moslem or Christian). Not surprisingly, both Moslem and Christian rulers targeted religious communities which there felt were not loyal to their rule.

Regardless of Columbus's DNA heritage, I am unaware of any evidence that he was secretly practicing Judaism or that he was not a sincerely Christian. I have long felt that a lot of the Jewish antipathy towards Spanish culture originates not so much in its expulsion of the Jews in 1492, but anger over the many members of their own community who chose to remain in Spain and become Christians.

Clyde said...

It's currently visible after sunset, not around sunrise.

tim in vermont said...

"Opportunity Agenda" for black men that includes dishing out one million "forgivable loans" at $20,000 each

$20 billion dollars + the vigorish that goes to Democrats administering the program to fix up Harris's black male voter problem.

I guess that the lesson for blacks is that they need to withhold their support for Democrats until the Democrats come forward with something for them. Of course a handout program like this will only make problems in the black community worse over time. $20,000 is not life changing money unless you have a plan for it, you are prepared, and it comes along at exactly the right moment, and you catch a few breaks along the way.

Original Mike said...

You're a disgrace.

MadTownGuy said...

What does Lahaina look like today? The progress of debris removal 1 year after the fires (Hawaii Public Radio. August 8, 2024)

"Lahaina resident Ashley Kahahane remembers the first time she visited her home after the fire.

“I was dreading to walk to see it burned. And, you know, it was a hard time to come with the Samaritans and look through, sift through things, and pick up pieces that we never, ever gonna get back," she said.

Her house used to stand on her ‘ohana’s generational land near Puamana. Now, with their debris cleanup complete, the family is awaiting final word from the county that their property is ready for rebuilding.

“It's clear, we ready for come home. We ready for rebuild. And, you know, it's a light because it is clear, and go get our family back to where we need to be," Kahahane said, as her voice cracked.

Most residential sites have already been cleared. Neatly spread gravel indicates the debris cleanup process is done.

However, a lot of commercial properties are still untouched. There are piles of ashes, mangled metal, charred wood and half-toppled cement walls. Black smoke clings to peeling paint. Grass and weeds are growing up through the ash.

The rumble of debris cleanup equipment is a constant reminder of the work underway in Lahaina Town. Despite the ever-present sound of machinery, there’s a silence that transcends audible noise. A heaviness in the ashes.
"

More at the link.

MadTownGuy said...

Agencies answer how $3 billion in recovery aid being used on Maui
Nicole Napuunoa (KHON TV) September 4, 2024

"The Lahaina Civic Center was packed Wednesday as a congressional hearing on the federal governmentʻs response to Maui wildfires commenced.

The meeting was less about reprimand and more about recovery and how to move forward.

All involved agencies were invited to provide an update on whether the $3 billion that the federal government has provided to aid in recovery efforts is being spent efficiently.

But much of the discussion revolved around housing.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said they cleared fire debris from the last residential property this past week.

The EPA reported on their efforts to test drinking water and sewer lines.

But the discussion centered greatly on FEMA and how to provide quicker housing solutions to streamline the building process and provide permanent housing.

“The cost our here to build is over $900K per square foot to build. So itʻs a million dollars per house to rebuild out here which does not make it feasible, within my authority right now, to do that. Our authority right now focuses on temporary solutions,” FEMAʻs Bob Fenton told the committee.


Integrating FEMA and HUDʻs role in disaster recovery was also discussed, as well as the importance of community engagement in rebuilding Lahaina.

“If we donʻt recognize the faces of our friends and our family as we repopulate then we will have lost this battle for our people,” Mayor Bissen said.
"

Is this what the residents of western NC will be dealing with for the next year, or even longer?

Jersey Fled said...

Roughing 45% of Americans pay no federal income taxes. It’s therefore really hard to cut their taxes.

MadTownGuy said...

Also, $900,000/sf? Probably a typo, or the FEMA spox misspoke.

Rusty said...

Working class people take out loans for cars. If rich people take out a loan for a vehicle it is a business loan and therefore a writeoff.
People in the media are especially dumb.

tim in vermont said...

So I long since missed it. Oh well, maybe I can see it set over the Adirondacks.

tim in vermont said...

Rusty, that depends entirely on interest rates vs realistic available rate of return on investments. Sometimes it makes no sense to pay cash, and they won't offer you the *true* cash price, where it would make sense, because it would wreck the illusion of the true price of the car for the rubes.

Michael K said...

Yes, they brought horses back after we ate all the ones we found here when we arrived.

Michael K said...

Liar once, liar always.

Michael K said...

Liar.

john mosby said...

Rehajm: Ec 10? Are you a Harvardian?

JSM

Christopher B said...

Based on my, admittedly arms-length, experiences with flood damage and repair, I'd say yes. Considering that events like the fire in Hawaii or Helene wipe out a century or more of construction in a few hours, it's not too surprising that the cost to rebuild equivalent housing to modern standards is astronomical, and in most cases is never fully replaced.

Iman said...

😆 just sayin’…

Narr said...

Related perhaps to the von Drehle who wrote light verse for Nat Rev back in the day, or the one who writes for WaPo, or both?

Wholesome looking . . . my Oma was an Adeline, but she was a peasant, and never very attractive.

MadTownGuy said...

It took over a year for the Corps of Engineers to clear the fire debris. Presumably, many of not most of the residents had fire insurance which could pay the cost of replacement, or at least defray the cost, depending on coverage. A settlement is being considered that could abrogate the insurers' right of subrogation against defendants, including the electric utility, which could in turn result in higher insurance rates or in some insurers' leaving the market.

Hawaii $4B fire settlement would prevent insurers’ clawback claims
A deal to resolve hundreds of lawsuits from the devastating 2023 Maui wildfires could collapse without a resolution on insurers’ recoupment rights against defendants.

walter said...

" I've been a foot-exposer all my life" I knew it!