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Newsom’s Governorship Going Up in Smoke

Posted on Tuesday, January 14, 2025
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by Outside Contributor
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California’s Democrat Party elites are feeling the burn of their own failures to protect their state from devastating, uncontrolled fires. No politician’s reputation has been sullied as much as Gov. Gavin Newsom’s.

As the wildfires in Los Angeles continue to rage, Newsom has sputtered and flailed—sometimes literally. He’s becoming the object of ire for appropriately irate Californians who are rightly asking why he and the mayor of Los Angeles failed to adequately prevent and prepare for these huge fires.

An angry mother whose neighborhood burned down confronted Newsom about his failed leadership, but Newsom tried to scurry away. He then said that he was “literally” calling President Joe Biden before saying he actually had no reception.

Sure.

The fact is that Newsom can’t answer why his state is so unprepared for fire danger. Nobody is really buying the cries of “climate change!” anymore, much to the legacy media’s shock and confusion.

In fact blaming “climate change” isn’t registering at all with Americans in the wake of the California fires.

Newsom and those who run California really do deserve much of the blame for not just the Los Angeles fires, but the towering infernos that have been ravaging the state for years. They’ve done a poor job of managing state land and a worse job of managing the state’s water resources. They seem uninterested in investing in fire prevention despite the state wasting hundreds of billions of dollars on countless useless projects, like the bullet train to nowhere.

According to Fox News, Newsom cut $100 million from the fire budget this year. Yes, spending on the issue is up from six years ago as Newsom angrily insists, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that Newsom deprioritized one of the most important problems the state has faced in the last decade.

Newsom and his allies in Sacramento would rather spend that money on resisting incoming President Donald Trump.

Left-wing politicians like Newsom insist that they’ve long foreseen the doom of climate change. But if California’s huge fires really are a result of climate change, why have they foreseen this doom and done nothing?

Where are California’s new reservoirs? The state hasn’t built one since 1979.

California Democrats, now so used to operating in a one-party state where the media essentially peddles the party line, haven’t been asked to govern in decades. They are totally unprepared for the storm now that their media allies can’t drown out the criticism.

This is what happens when government leaders only care about ideological pet projects and have no concern with being held accountable for results. California spent $24 billion on combatting homelessness over the last five years, but never bothered tracking the effectiveness of their programs. Is it any wonder this sort of governance extends to other areas too?

The Left cares a lot less about stopping the effects of climate change and a lot more about funding green initiatives—run by their friends and donors, of course—and transforming Western economies. They’ve used natural disasters to keep this scam going as long as possible.

California’s obsession with environmentalism is destroying its environment and making it impossible to fix once disaster has struck. Newsom likely knows this, which might explain why he announced that he’ll suspend an onerous environmental law that would impede rebuilding after the fires. That’s nice, but we’ll see if it lasts.

The last time Newsom committed the state to doing better land management it turned out to be less than a half-measure farce.

“In 2019, Newsom issued an executive order to devote more than $1 billion to wildfire prevention,” City Journal reported. “But a 2021 investigation found that the governor had misled the public about the acreage of fuel-reduction projects completed in the state: just 11,399 acres, versus his claim of 90,000.”

All show and no substance.

So, what comes next for Newsom?

If you recall, during the COVID-19 lockdowns, he was seen dining at a fancy restaurant while his state was almost totally shuttered. Somehow the slick governor wiggled out of that controversy and escaped being recalled.

But Newsom’s failure and lack of leadership this time is even more apparent, and the media environment is less forgiving. He’s getting a taste of what U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing right now with the explosion of anger over Pakistani rape gangs. After decades of having complete media control, left-wing institutionalists aren’t used to having to defend their failures to an angry public no longer accepting the force-fed Narrative.

Newsom may be in real trouble this time, especially given his larger political ambitions. Is this the kind of leadership that can appeal to the nation on the road to the White House?

The editors at The Free Press compared Newsom to another young media darling governor of New York whose career cratered because of failure during a natural disaster.

“In 1969, New York [M]ayor John Lindsay—like Newsom, a young and attractive liberal who dreamed of the presidency—saw his political career effectively end when a blizzard dropped 15 inches of snow on the city,” the editors wrote. “Streets went unplowed for days, leaving the city paralyzed. Lindsay’s White House dreams ended then and there, amid heckles from his constituents.”

Maybe Newsom survives this disaster in California, but his tenure in office will now be defined by his failure on the fire issue.

It’s hard not to see what’s happening in the Golden State, which is looking a lot more charred black these days, and not think that the country should avoid this kind of mismanagement at all costs.

Reprinted with permission from The Daily Signal by Jarrett Stepman.

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.

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Charlotte Mahin
Charlotte Mahin
13 days ago

Par for the course for the slime-ball Democrats to lie to everyone about their being the reason these fires have gone so far out of control. It is clearly because of their giving more money to their “green” agenda than to keeping their own citizens (and voters) safe. They have forest fires every year so it was no stretch of the imagination to think that diverting water that should have been in reservoirs and drastically cutting the number of firemen would have a catastrophic outcome. How can people be guilty of aiding in the demise of so much property and lives and not acknowledge it?? Apparently it is not difficult for these heartless, conceited Democrat government officials in CA!! Newsom is a Satan in Democrat clothing.

Kathleen Phillips-Hellman
Kathleen Phillips-Hellman
13 days ago

As a native of SoCal and graduate of Pacific Palisades high school in 1964, my late husband and I hung on as long as we could before creeping socialism and environmental wackoism drove us out…before we lost our minds.
What is particularly galling is Newscum’s completely dumped the rules and regulations for building permits for the newest fire victims, while those who lost their homes in the Woolsey Fire are STILL trying to get permits to rebuild!
To add insult to injury, SOBiden, Harris, and FEMA told victims of hurricane Helene that there was no money for them because it had all gone to the Damnocraps pet illegals, and the Ukraine. Now,SOBiden has promised SoCal fire victims carte blanche in terms of money! Many of the victims of Helene are still living in tents and in their cars and there’s been a lot of cold weather and snow lately!

Jim Johnson
Jim Johnson
13 days ago

California more closely resembles the former East Germany than an American state. The California government routinely ignores the u. S. Constitution. It’s a tyrannical one party state where the press is on the side of the dictators.

PaulE
PaulE
13 days ago

Since Newsom is term limited out, his whole focus is on running for POTUS in 2028. Democrat voters being what a lot of them are, it is reasonable to expect that a good portion of the useful idiots in the Democrat Party will robotically vote for whomever the Party leadership and the MSM tells them to. So, the real question is whether the major financial donors of the Democrat Party want to dump another billion plus dollars to back this clown or look around inside their party for someone else that is equally as bad. After all, if you look at the Democrat Governors of other completely Blue states, they’re all equally destructive in their own special way.

Shuttle Guy
Shuttle Guy
13 days ago

It’s sad it took a Full Blown disaster to wake people see the light!

Loves Dogs
Loves Dogs
13 days ago

It is not a FAILURE of Newscum to contain the fires. It was planned. The reservoirs were emptied in spring even though they had record snow melts and the water level was at an all time high. Newscum cut $40 million from CA fire department budget and did not test fire hydrants this year as usual. People have been caught with gasoline and blow torches. Some were arrested but most let go. 3 days after the fires start Newscum comes out with a plan called LA2050. 6 months ago 69% of home owners insurances were cancelled with no explanation. NOBODY is buying this, it is a takeover by Newscum and his cronies.

USN Retired
USN Retired
13 days ago

Prime example of how the government should stay out of the peoples lives and business. The farmers know how to manage the under brush and prevent fires. The government thinks they know better and ties their hands with unnecessary regulations (in the name of imaginary climate change). Now look where you are at “Socialist State of California.” This is why I moved away from there. Nice weather, but I will never go back to CA.

stella
stella
13 days ago

Here’s the kicker , the illegals & homeless that CA spent the budget on set most of the fires smoking crack in the hills . Defund the fire & police departments & spend twice as much on illegals just came back to BITE THEM ! I wouldn’t send a dime to CA for this mess . Needless to say our tax dollars will go there anyway . Mean while the people in the SOUTH are getting evicted from FEMA trailers & most are sill in tents & its 20 degrees there . What about them ?

Stephen Russell
Stephen Russell
14 days ago

Whod still vote for Newsome Now??
CA Goes RED

Fred Smith
Fred Smith
13 days ago

If the unfortunate people of California, regardless of their political identities, once again elect Gavin Newscum or this mayor of LA, then they 100% deserve exactly what they have, which is inept and incompetent leftists! They completely failed the taxpayers on a grand scale!

Mark
Mark
13 days ago

GAVIN NEWSCUM – THE WORST, MOST INCOMPETENT, UNQUALIFIED, CORRUPT, ARROGANT, AND HYPOCRITICAL GOVERNOR IN AMERICN HISTORY.
AND THIS DISASTROUS JOKE WAS ELECTED AND RE-ELECTED BY THE MOST IGNORANTLY ARROGANT, LEFT-WING, DUMBASS CA VOTERS IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

Susan
Susan
13 days ago

why do democrats keep voting for the same failed people?

Leslie
Leslie
13 days ago

He should have bene gone in the last recall. Even more of CA is going blue, not red, since those people are likely the 200,000 per year leaving CA. I hope this is the end, although I’m sure Aunt Nancy has a rabbit to pull out..like getting Biden to empty the 900 billion just approved for disaster relief into CA coffers. 6 more days.

stella
stella
13 days ago

Newscum , Nancy Pelosi’s nephew .. Need I say more .

lindylou
lindylou
13 days ago

TIME FOR HIM TO RESIGN!

mikel
mikel
13 days ago

Incompetence, serial lying, paying homage to “climate change” (which is a euphemism of how to steal tax payers dollars). These are the “qualities” that the evil party requires of their “leaders”. This loser, upchuck Scummer, Nazi Pelosi, Adam Schiff for brains, Killary, Obomber and Jerry Swallowswell, all have one thing in common. Every word out of their vile mouths is a lie. They lie so much it is literally second nature to them. Oops I almost forgot the demented Liar in Chief, Traitor Joe.

SAW
SAW
13 days ago

Newsom can now kiss his presidential aspirations as being up in smoke also…

Ed J
Ed J
13 days ago

Governor Gruesome has always been a hollow shell with just a pretty face. Many Californians are only now waking up to this fact due to the tragic wildfires that have wiped out thousands of homes. Hopefully, the kickback will be that Gruesome is put out to pasture PERMANENTLY!

Joe
Joe
13 days ago

And this Marxist sack of crap has aspirations on running for president. God forbid that he succeeds!!!

Morbious
Morbious
13 days ago

He will emerge unscathed because over decades the political powers there have selectively’bred’ a combination of well to do lefties and legions of welfare recipients. Even as more and more stakeholders depart for colorado or texas, they are being replaced by illegals from sh thole countries offered a free life by the California dem party. Some folks chuckle at California insanity but thats like laughing about riding in an overloaded canoe in choppy seas. Theyre creating liabilities that the rest of the country will end up paying for, like it or not.

Bacon Nivison
Bacon Nivison
13 days ago

Seems par for the course for demonic rats whose only ambition seems to be personal profit and restriction of freedom (outside of perversion, which they support). What’s going on in Commiefornia should be illustrative to the rest of the nation. Maybe there’s hope. Trump won in a landslide. Hopefully leftists are waking up to the fact that they live in an impossible dream world.

anna hubert
anna hubert
13 days ago

California seems to be another planet. There are plenty of people who get it but not enough. Bums don’t care, rich are a different specie and an ordinary mortal can’t overcome that.The effort to recall Newsom did not get enough support. There is the problem. Adapt or get out seems to be the motto. Green are the lawns in Beverly Hills, no shortage of water there But all those “stars ” care for the environment. More they care, louder they are.

Michael J
Michael J
13 days ago

Let’s be clear, Newsom didn’t save money by not spending it on the fire budget, he just spent it elsewhere on social issues. The fact that his incompetent policies have finally caught up with him and his veto proof democrat controlled cabal is poetic justice. No one cares about someones else’s issues especially when peoples lives have burned up. I have learned firsthand that a fire destroys everything in it’s wake but the rebuild is a constant reminder that someone else’s policies are responsible for their demise.

uncleferd
uncleferd
13 days ago

Those who tend to lie and obfiscate more than the rest of us, are generally unhelpful and unwilling to help anyone but themselves. This shouldn’t surprise anyone, by the way….

Sharon
Sharon
13 days ago

You reap what you sow.

Oliver
Oliver
13 days ago

The people that left Ca.would be the ones that would remove Newsom,the ones that are still there are “SHEEP”

Erleebird
Erleebird
13 days ago

Just like the dems to “pass the buck!” They never take responsibility for their failures. Will the residents of California do something about it? I doubt it, but I’d like to be proven wrong!!

michael
michael
13 days ago

newsom is a politsi with a thing. mafia underling? maybe. narcissist, oh yea?

caseyp
caseyp
10 days ago

Will people in California ever bite the bullet, do the right thing, vote in Republican leadership and return California to what it once was?

PLZ1123
PLZ1123
11 days ago

Such a disgrace. My thoughts are they wanted to get rid of this area for some reason. Perhaps a major developer was eyeing it up?
I also believe God is telling these folks to “come to Jesus”. They believe they are untouchable. But surprise!! Hopefully they will be more willing to help the less fortunate or maybe not?
God bless America! We need REAL leaders who care more about their constituents and the quality of life. F#^* all their policies that only add to the dilemma.

Robert
Robert
12 days ago

No point in California building no reservoirs if they won’t put water in the one’s they already have! The Weather Channel tried to blame people using their water hoses for the empty fire hydrants but the aerial photos of the empty reservoirs were too well popularized. Before the day was over they dropped that narrative in favor of one praising someone who did just that and managed to save his property!

NinaRae
NinaRae
11 days ago

It’s mind-boggling to think that this person continues to be re-elected! THE PEOPLE need to wake up & do some investigating of their Political System! I have friends who live in CA that are astounded when the voting closes & the Liberals won again…when all of their neighbors hold conservative values similar to theirs!! What’s your first Clue something’s wrong?? Wake up & Do something about it!!

uncleferd
uncleferd
13 days ago

The “Up in Smoke” theme adds a nice little hint of Cheech & Chong… which is well matched to the slapstick in stupidity that created the current wildfire predicament…

Robert Zuccaro
Robert Zuccaro
13 days ago

I’m just happy when he photo-op-ed an LA appearance on-scene, a hot ember didn’t fly into his hair and cause an explosion.

Mike L
Mike L
9 days ago

Unfortunately; there is blood on newsom’s hands this time, 27 (at latest count) died in these tragic fires. Hopefully the people of California will remember 2025 fires when newsom runs to replace pelosi or other seat in California on his bid for president.

Pete
Pete
9 days ago

torpedoing Newsom’s career is the silver lining to this storm…

Jackie
Jackie
9 days ago

California’s problems are definitely due to mismanagement of resources with a little bit of climate change in there but mostly mismanagement!!! Cutting that much funding for the fire department of LA was a ridiculous thing to do!!! Emptying the reservoirs – also a ridiculous thing to do!!! I hope this has put to an end to Newsom’s Presidential hopes!!!

Rich
Rich
9 days ago

The true breath of fresh air for Californians and the rest of the country will come when Newsom is GONE. Then hopefully those who vote in California won’t repeat the same thing over again.

Robert Zuccaro
Robert Zuccaro
10 days ago

How do these ppl continually deny culpability when, as fervent believers in Church of Climate Change, they cut fire department funding, deny overtime to keep them on-station after being warned of very high fire risk, empty a 117M gallon reservoir, refuse to divert Northern river water to the south, cut control burns and leave dry underbrush fuel? The only thing they admit to is their PRONOUNS at every press conference!

Sissy
Sissy
13 days ago

What a moron.

Avoter
Avoter
9 days ago

This scenario plays out in countless Democrat strongholds. I mean how long will the voters in cities such as Chicago, Detroit and others continue to vote democrat before they finally figure out ain’t no democrat going to help the situation? I mean yes it is the fault of the democrat leadership, but they didn’t put themselves there, the voters did that. Until he voters wake up, my sympathies are off limits to them. WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!!

Old Man
Old Man
10 days ago

Governor Newsom is trying to figure out what he needs to do to ensure his run for the presidency in 2028.

SD Bordertown
SD Bordertown
9 days ago

Wake up and smell the aftermath!! You liberal commies..

Chuck
Chuck
10 days ago

This cracks me up. A CA friend told me gleefully yesterday that “Newsom’s on his way out now!” So I asked politely, “Do CA Republicans have a single strong candidate with Statewide name recognition?” Silence. If this is the case, please expect Newsom II. Don’t expect anything different.
The CA GOP has been moribund forever, never a Party able to or even desirous of governing, except during the Reagan years. What century ago was that?

Sam
Sam
9 days ago

It is about time. Even CALIFORNIA can’t be dumb enough to back this cretin for anything else, ever!

Margaret White
Margaret White
10 days ago

I’m surprised the article didn’t mention that in the interest of saving the delta smelt water was not diverted to the very areas that burned.

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