Anchor Struck

Full disclosure: I have even less objectivity than usual this post.  Jude and I have family in Santa Rosa.  They had to evacuate their apartment because they live in the still endangered Bennett Valley area.  And my daughter’s brother-in-law and wife were on alert to evacuate in nearby Rohnert Park.

We are aghast as we view the photos of destroyed places that were part of our lives: the Applebee’s where I introduced her to my best friends; the Luther Burbank Center where we saw Ellen Degeneres; Annadel State Park where I often hiked.

So I’m maddened by the response (lack of, more accurately) to this ongoing disaster.  It’s bad enough that CNN — which seemingly can’t get enough of the Las Vegas massacre — treats the fires like a red-headed stepchild.  But I’ve yet to see Trump even acknowledge their existence, let alone extend any sympathy.

I understand he’s busy turning every other news story into a personal slight or his Best Accomplishment Ever.  And he has the responsibility to alert the nation again about the bogus War on Christmas.

How can he ignore a catastrophe so ghastly that some of its victims can only be identified by the serial numbers on their hip implants?  Thanks for asking.  Here’s why: Northern California, like Puerto Rico, is of no political value to him.  It’s voter rich, but strongly Democratic.  Texas has 38 electoral votes and Florida has 29.  There’s no talk of FEMA help being temporary there.

We know that Trump makes decisions based strictly on the math, never the misery.  And we know that he read off some sympathetic notes regarding the Las Vegas slaughter.  So maybe a body count of 58 is the Donnie’s threshold point.  Puerto Rico is at 48 and California is at 31, with hundreds missing.

P.S.  For better coverage of the fires, try http://www.PressDemocrat.com.