# Keep an eye on the Republicans' reaction to the California fires **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [January 14, 2025, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-an-eye-on-the-republicans-reaction-to-the-california-fires/1012984 "2025-01-14T22:28:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-an-eye-on-the-republicans-reaction-to-the-california-fires/1012984/21 "2025-01-15T16:02:34Z")
Actually, they do that already. When there’s a highway project, there will be a sign saying the name of the federal law funding it. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-an-eye-on-the-republicans-reaction-to-the-california-fires/1012984/22 "2025-01-15T16:13:57Z")
> [@survinga](#): > > Being nice is getting us nowhere. I’m not fucking talking about being nice. I’m talking about being smart. Is your goal to build a better nation, or is your goal to beat up people you don’t like? You probably can’t do both. And if you do want to grind people into the ground, the best way to do that is to be smart enough to do it so it sticks, not to spend time and energy whining about how they don’t appreciate you. If all those people are as stupid as we’re always saying they are, prove how much smarter you are. Buckle down and do the hard work. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-an-eye-on-the-republicans-reaction-to-the-california-fires/1012984/23 "2025-01-15T16:16:19Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](#): > > Why not do both? Did you read the post you responded to? To fix the problem means that neither side will be able to affect disaster aid for political reasons. ---
**Author:** ![survinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@survinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/survinga)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-an-eye-on-the-republicans-reaction-to-the-california-fires/1012984/24 "2025-01-15T18:19:37Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > I’m not fucking talking about being nice. Good. Being nice hasn’t worked. > [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Buckle down and do the hard work. Did you see what Obama inherited in 2009? Did you see what Biden inherited in 2021? We’ve already done the fucking hard work of rebuilding this country **TWICE** from inherited GOP disasters. We’ve done the hard work, multiple times. The next time we come to power, we need to have a list of things ready to enact that will help us consolidate our power. That might include statehood for DC & PR. It might include packing the court. It might include nuking the filibuster and passing nationwide abortion rights into law. It might include investments in blue states that match or surpass what we’re already doing in red states. It might include passing Medicare for All. When the GOP takes charge, they don’t worry about what we think. When we’re in charge, we need that same mindset. And the thing is…if we do what we say we want to do, Red States will also benefit. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-an-eye-on-the-republicans-reaction-to-the-california-fires/1012984/25 "2025-01-15T18:26:19Z")
Congress failed to pass legislation by December 31, 2025, for a permanent pay raise for federal wildland fire fighters. I have many fed friends in Southern California on the fire line. - Excruciating, dangerous conditions. - Long hours. - Basically being paid federal minimum wage. You can bet many of them once this is over and they return to bases across the West, they will say fuck this and they’re out. If the summer 2025 wildland fire season gets hot, a lot of acreage and many homes along the urban interface across the West will needlessly burn this year. It’s all on you MAGA. You did this. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-an-eye-on-the-republicans-reaction-to-the-california-fires/1012984/26 "2025-01-15T18:31:15Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > It’s all on you MAGA. You did this. They consider California burning a desirable outcome; they hate us with a passion. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-an-eye-on-the-republicans-reaction-to-the-california-fires/1012984/27 "2025-01-15T19:39:13Z")
> [@survinga](#): > > This is a planned political reaction, and will be repeated anytime a blue state has a disaster. I suspect it’s only partly that. I suspect it’s in large part that they desperately need to blame it on anything other than climate change. > [@enipla](#): > > As H.L Menchen said. “Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.” I note that that’s not what Mencken actually did. Acknowledging the temptation (and I do acknowledge it) doesn’t mean that it’s a good idea to give in to it. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-an-eye-on-the-republicans-reaction-to-the-california-fires/1012984/28 "2025-01-15T19:41:24Z")
> [@survinga](#): > > The next time we come to power, we need to have a list of things ready to enact that will help us consolidate our power. Disagree again. The list should be of things to strengthen the democratic mechanisms of this country, so the other side can’t abuse it when they have the majority. You seem to want to undermine democracy _in exactly the same way that they do_. ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-an-eye-on-the-republicans-reaction-to-the-california-fires/1012984/29 "2025-01-15T19:48:02Z")
I’m not sure if this had been mentioned, but Red states have Blue people in them, and unlike MAGA folk, I doubt they’d want to take a hit for whatever soap opera garbage our Government devolved into. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-an-eye-on-the-republicans-reaction-to-the-california-fires/1012984/30 "2025-01-15T20:01:13Z")
> [@survinga](#): > > This is a planned political reaction, and will be repeated anytime a blue state has a disaster. This is what MAGA-world will do to its fellow citizens. Also what MAGA will do to their own, as California has a sizable right-wing/MAGA population particularly in the rural and Northern part of the state. But Trump is about punishing not governing. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-an-eye-on-the-republicans-reaction-to-the-california-fires/1012984/31 "2025-01-15T20:15:08Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > The list should be of things to strengthen the democratic mechanisms of this country, so the other side can’t abuse it when they have the majority. Except that’s not actually possible. “Democratic mechanisms” are _things_ with no will of their own, and cease to matter when the people put in charge of enforcing them don’t care about doing so. No amount or tweaking or reforming the system can change that basic fact. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-an-eye-on-the-republicans-reaction-to-the-california-fires/1012984/32 "2025-01-15T20:16:12Z")
When Florida and North Carolina both suffered greatly from various hurricanes last year, the US government sprang into action (FEMA, whoever else) and provided aid no questions asked. No Democrats (that I know of) where out there saying that Florida and NC should pay for their global warming sins. Of course, right-wingers immediately started lying about Biden withholding aid from NC. When the Great Recession struck, Republicans sabotaged Obama’s plans to boost spending in order to aid the unemployed. They required austerity measures at exactly the wrong time, in order to hurt a Democrat president, even though it meant fucking over the American public. Conversely, when COVID hit, Democrats in the House and Senate immediately sprang into action to work with Trump and provide relief to the American people, even though it was helping the Republican president. I don’t know what to do about these unbalanced responses. When a Republican is president and Dems control all or part of congress, and disaster strikes, the Dems will help the president. When it’s a Democrat in the WH and Republicans control any part of congress, they extract a pound of flesh, and actively try to sabotage the president, even though it fucks Americans. I don’t know what it is, but it seems like something has to change. Democrats can’t always be the adults in the room, and then get no credit when something goes right. Republicans can’t always fuck the Democratic presidents and the people and face no consequences. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-an-eye-on-the-republicans-reaction-to-the-california-fires/1012984/33 "2025-01-15T20:35:24Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Acknowledging the temptation (and I do acknowledge it) doesn’t mean that it’s a good idea to give in to it. Glad you pointed that out. But the feeling to do it is felt by many. MAGA’s are lucky that we can restrain ourselves. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-an-eye-on-the-republicans-reaction-to-the-california-fires/1012984/34 "2025-01-15T20:37:26Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > MAGA’s are lucky that we can restrain ourselves. I believe that restraint is something they are both aware of and count on. They’ve taken advantage of it to run wild for years now. They _know_ that their opponents would literally rather die than retaliate. ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-an-eye-on-the-republicans-reaction-to-the-california-fires/1012984/35 "2025-01-15T21:00:45Z")
It’s the [paradox of tolerance](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradox_of_tolerance) in action and essentially why I and others here advocate some form of fighting back, though exactly how remains to be determined. ---
**Author:** ![survinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@survinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/survinga)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-an-eye-on-the-republicans-reaction-to-the-california-fires/1012984/36 "2025-01-15T21:02:15Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > You seem to want to undermine democracy _in exactly the same way that they do_. Not true. They tried to overturn elections. I would never want to do such a thing. What I’m talking about will increase democracy…giving DC & PR statehood rights will help our chances in the electoral college & in the senate, which are currently stacked against us because of how electoral votes & senate representation is counted. Tamping down on the abuse of the filibuster - which is an anti-democratic senate “rule”. Getting more SCOTUS judges for a more balanced court is not anti-democratic. Giving women their abortion rights back is not anti-democratic, but supported by every vote that gets taken in any state. You’re completely wrong here. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-an-eye-on-the-republicans-reaction-to-the-california-fires/1012984/37 "2025-01-15T21:28:58Z")
> [@duality72](#): > > It’s the [paradox of tolerance](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradox_of_tolerance) in action and essentially why I and others here advocate some form of fighting back, though exactly how remains to be determined. Excellent. Pretty much sums it up ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-an-eye-on-the-republicans-reaction-to-the-california-fires/1012984/38 "2025-01-15T21:42:50Z")
Agreed. I’ll bet nowhere _near_ enough people on the left are familiar with the concept of the paradox of tolerance. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2025, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-an-eye-on-the-republicans-reaction-to-the-california-fires/1012984/39 "2025-01-15T22:51:26Z")
Conspira-loons (not necessarily Republicans, but likely to be so) have already sprung into action regarding the California fires. Just saw a photo of a house with a blue roof going unscathed in the middle of a blaze that had engulfed neighboring homes (the untouched house had a blue-painted roof, which as you know makes it immune to Directed Energy Weapons 🤪 ). Unfortunately, as the “photo” was going viral, nasty skeptics noticed a Grok tag in the lower right-hand corner of the frame, that the original poster forgot to edit out. AI image. Sorry about that… ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2025, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-an-eye-on-the-republicans-reaction-to-the-california-fires/1012984/40 "2025-01-16T13:51:50Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Also what MAGA will do to their own, as California has a sizable right-wing/MAGA population particularly in the rural and Northern part of the state. Which state had the most popular votes for Trump? In 2020, California. It looks like Texas and Florida both edged it out this time, so I’ll have to figure out how to wield/word this fact in the future. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-an-eye-on-the-republicans-reaction-to-the-california-fires/1012984.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keep-an-eye-on-the-republicans-reaction-to-the-california-fires/1012984.md?page=3)