Stephen Miller tweets: “Why didn’t the feds evacuate towns in Western North Carolina before the storms hit? We still don’t have answers to the most basic questions. The incompetence is staggering.”
Why didn’t the feds evacuate towns in Western North Carolina before the storms hit? We still don’t have answers to the most basic questions. The incompetence is staggering.
— Stephen Miller (@StephenM) October 10, 2024
Here’s the thing, folks: Miller knows damn well that it’s not the federal government’s job to issue evacuation orders before a storm. He’s not confused; he’s counting on you being confused. He’s banking on the idea that most Americans don’t know how disaster response works, and he’s playing this ignorance like a fiddle. He’s using the aftermath of a natural disaster—when people are scared, angry, and desperate for answers—to score cheap political points instead of doing something useful like, oh, I don’t know, explaining how things actually work.
Disaster Management 101 (That Miller Hopes You Never Learn)
Let’s get real here. Disaster management in the United States is like a pyramid scheme of responsibilities, but not the kind that leaves you broke with a garage full of unsellable protein powder. No, this scheme actually makes sense. It’s built from the ground up, starting with local and state governments. They’re the ones who issue evacuation orders, not the feds. Why? Because they know their communities like the back of their hand. They know which bridges flood, which roads are passable, and where to set up shelters .
Then comes the state government—like the regional manager in this operation. They coordinate across multiple counties, deploy the National Guard if needed, and if they’re in over their heads, they reach out to the feds. But, and this is a big but, they don’t just sit around waiting for FEMA to take over. No, they ask for help when they need it. The feds don’t just swoop in like some all-powerful superhero . That’s not their role, and Miller knows it.
The Federal Government: Backup, Not Big Brother
Now, when the federal government does get involved, it’s not because they’ve decided to take control—it’s because the state has asked for their assistance. That’s how the Stafford Act works. The state’s governor declares a state of emergency, requests federal help, and then the feds roll in with resources, logistical support, and recovery efforts . FEMA’s job isn’t to commandeer state operations; it’s to back them up when they’re overwhelmed.
But here comes Miller, spinning a yarn that makes it sound like the federal government has some magic evacuation button they just chose not to press. And why? Because he’s hoping you don’t know better. He’s hoping you’ll think, “Yeah, why didn’t the feds do more?” when in reality, it’s not even their jurisdiction to begin with .
Remember Katrina? Miller’s Betting You Don’t
And don’t you dare think this is some kind of new revelation. The lessons from Hurricane Katrina, back in 2005, made it painfully clear how disaster response should work. Local and state governments have to be on top of things, and the feds come in for support when asked . In Katrina’s case, it was a failure at all levels that led to chaos and tragedy. FEMA didn’t get involved fast enough, but they were also waiting on Louisiana’s request for federal assistance. It wasn’t a clean narrative of “incompetence” at the federal level, but a mess of uncoordinated efforts, bad communication, and delayed decisions at all levels.
Miller’s gotta know this. He’s not some political newbie; he’s a seasoned manipulator. But why tell the truth when you can use people’s memories of past disasters and their desperation in current ones to sell a convenient lie? He knows that people are scared and looking for someone to blame. He’s just banking on you pointing the finger in the wrong direction.
Miller’s Gambit: Banking on Ignorance
Let’s not kid ourselves: Stephen Miller isn’t some confused civilian who thinks FEMA has its own fleet of evacuation helicopters ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. He’s a guy who’s betting that the American public is clueless about how disaster management actually works. He’s banking on you not knowing that local governments—your mayors, your county commissioners—are the ones who get the first crack at handling a disaster . He’s banking on you thinking that somehow, the federal government just didn’t care enough to step in.
This isn’t about pointing out flaws in the system or trying to improve disaster response. No, this is about using the aftermath of a natural disaster to play political games. It’s about making sure you’re mad at the “incompetent” federal government instead of maybe, I don’t know, being frustrated with the local and state leaders who were actually in charge of the evacuation plans. It’s like blaming the backup quarterback for not winning the game when the starting team fumbled every play .
The Real Incompetence? Thinking People Will Fall for It
But the real tragedy here? Miller’s bet might pay off. Why? Because he knows that people don’t read up on the National Response Framework. They don’t know the ins and outs of the Stafford Act. Most folks have better things to do than memorize the playbook of disaster response. And that’s what Miller is counting on. He’s hoping that you’re too overwhelmed, too tired, or too damn busy to call out his BS. He’s hoping that when he tweets about federal “incompetence,” you won’t think to ask, “Hey, wait a minute, is that actually how this works?” .
It’s like standing in front of a broken vending machine and blaming the delivery truck driver for not stocking it right. It’s not even his job! The local guy was supposed to fill the machine, and now you’ve got Miller standing there saying, “See, the whole system is broken!” when the driver’s still waiting on a call that the damn machine is empty in the first place.
Let’s Call It What It Is: Political Theater at Its Worst
Miller’s not here to educate. He’s not here to make sure the system works better. He’s here to stoke the fires of anger and misinformation. He knows exactly what he’s doing. He’s weaponizing a tragedy, turning a genuine human crisis into a chance to score points. It’s cynicism on a scale that would make a used car salesman blush. And the saddest part? It’s working. People are falling for it, hook, line, and sinker.
So, next time you see someone like Miller railing against the federal response in a disaster, take a second to ask yourself what he’s really doing. He’s not helping. He’s not explaining. He’s certainly not fixing anything. He’s just hoping you’re too busy watching the flames to realize he’s the one throwing gasoline on the fire. As to Stephen Miller: Screw that guy! He can go Trump himself.
