One of Gov. John Hickenlooper’s current, favorite sound bites is the one where he talks about how crappy of a hand he was dealt as governor with 13 federally declared disasters happening since he took office.  Yet, from what we can gather, a majority of those federal disasters have been wildfires; and, when given a chance to really confront preventing future wildfires– and not just be Colorado’s crier-in-chief, what were once catastrophes for Colorado suddenly became mere math problems for Hickenlooper.

Now, he never quite spells out what those 13 federally declared disasters were, which, don’t get us wrong, technically he’s probably correct.  But oddly enough, it’s been a little hard to nail down the 13 exactly.  Using FEMA’s website, it’s easy enough to see Colorado has had four major disaster declarations during Hick’s term.  But, this is where things get really odd.  Of the four, three of them are wildfires.

Hick is a man who admits far more children will die from swimming pool accidents than in shootings, but that didn’t stop him from going ahead and passing stringent gun laws, one of which, he now himself admits is unenforceable.  Yet, such sentimentality does not extend to those who have had their lives destroyed by wild fires.

Earlier this year, when a bill was introduced in the legislature for Colorado to have its own air fleet to combat wildfires, Hickenlooper balked at the initial proposition.  As he said during a press conference at the end of January (courtesy of KDVR):

The governor also said he’s not ready to support a Republican proposal to create a state-owned fleet of air tankers to respond more quickly to wildfires across the state.

“The benefit doesn’t justify the cost,” Hickenlooper said. [the Peak’s emphasis]

A man who will infringe upon millions of Coloradans second amendment rights because he is sentimental over something that causes less harm than swimming pools, can’t get beyond his abacus when it comes to something so severe it resulted in a majority of the major federal disasters declared under his watch?  Disingenuous much, Hick?

If Hickenlooper wishes to continue the poor-me, sob story of 13 federally declared disasters during his term, he needs to own up to the fact that given the chance to do whatever he could to prevent those disasters from being repeated, he’d rather pull out his calculator than stand up for Coloradans.

Hick is fine at delivering speeches right after a disaster happens, but when it comes time to lead Colorado months later to real solutions, his leadership fails.  And, everything Colorado has suffered through under his watch becomes nothing more than a talking point he uses to get himself reelected.

Thanks Hick, at least someone is benefiting from Colorado’s misery.