In the latest twist of political theater that somehow makes sense in 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris has once again found herself in the eye of a rhetorical storm—this time, Hurricane Milton, the latest natural disaster to wreak havoc on the southern United States. And much like the hurricane, Kamala’s public handling of the disaster relief effort was a whirlwind of confusion, awkward pauses, and just enough word salad to leave even The View panel wondering if maybe they had missed a memo. Spoiler alert: they hadn’t.
As the nation braced itself for Hurricane Milton’s destructive path, many wondered who would step up to lead the charge in disaster relief. Would it be Joe Biden, known for his, um, “active” leadership style? Kamala Harris, the heir apparent to calm the storm? Or would Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida’s hurricane-tested commander, show once again that when it comes to disasters, he’s not just playing politics—he’s playing 4D chess?
Well, the answer came swiftly. President Joe Biden, in a surprising display of self-awareness, let everyone know that this time, he was handing the reins to DeSantis. Yes, you heard that right. Ol’ Joe, with a twinkle in his eye that suggested he had momentarily remembered what was happening, praised Governor Ron DeSantis for his “incredible leadership” in responding to the crisis. The President even went as far as calling DeSantis “the real deal,” marking the first time in history that the phrase “praise for DeSantis” has left a Democrat’s lips without some form of ironic chuckle.
Meanwhile, Kamala Harris—whose role in disaster relief was supposed to be a shining moment—stumbled into the fray like a person who forgot they had a speech that morning. At a press conference intended to showcase her disaster management skills, Harris delivered what can only be described as a train wreck of a statement, which started strong with, “We must prioritize equity in our response,” but quickly derailed into a soliloquy about community values, rainbows, and something about “rain being a metaphor for hope.”
The press, confused but eager for sound bites, asked for clarification. Harris, never one to miss an opportunity to say the most words possible without saying anything at all, responded with, “Well, it’s about, you know, when we think about relief, we have to remember the fabric of America is sewn by the threads of resilience and… and, you know, the wind carries us forward, but it’s the people who decide which way to turn.”
In other words: Nobody knew what she was talking about.
If this wasn’t enough, The View decided to weigh in—because, of course, they did. Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, and the rest of the crew took Harris’s comments and ran with them, producing the day’s most baffling word salad, with Behar contributing a rambling defense that somehow involved the patriarchy, climate change, and her favorite pasta recipe. At one point, someone mentioned DeSantis, and the mood on the show went from bewilderment to mild outrage, followed by a group agreement that “he just doesn’t get it.”
Meanwhile, as Kamala Harris and The View tried to untangle their thoughts, DeSantis quietly went about the business of actually handling the disaster relief. Helicopters were deployed, aid was delivered, and roads were cleared. By the time Harris had finished talking about the “essence of recovery,” DeSantis had already scheduled a press conference to announce that Florida was on the road to recovery—again.
In the end, Joe Biden’s decision to give DeSantis the spotlight may have been the wisest choice he’s made all year. As for Kamala, well, let’s just say she’s left to ponder the weather—and the fallout—from the comfort of the metaphorical storm shelter where bad political speeches go to die.
And The View? Well, they’re still figuring out how to blame all of this on Trump.