Paul Revere by Cyrus Dallin, North End, Boston

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Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Apocalyptic Devastation in Puerto Rico




The Trump administration has refused to waive federal restrictions on foreign ships carrying life-saving supplies to Puerto Rico – a concession it readily made for Texas and Florida in the cases of hurricanes Harvey and Irma.







'Apocalyptic' devastation in Puerto Rico, and little help in sight



Hurricane Maria whipped Puerto Rico with Irma-level winds, drenched the island with Harvey-level flooding, crippled communications, decimated buildings and damaged a dam that puts downstream residents at risk of catastrophe. 


 But help has been slow to come to communities where the devastation is described as "apocalyptic," officials and residents argue. Gov. Ricardo Rosselló said the island faces a humanitarian crisis. He urged Congress to approve a commensurate aid package as the US commonwealth, already hammered by a prolonged economic crisis, tries to get back on its feet. 

The governor joined others in emphasizing that Puerto Ricans are American citizens. "We need something tangible, a bill that actually answers to our need right now," he said. "Otherwise, there will be ... a massive exodus to the (mainland) United States."


As humanitarian crisis unfolds in Puerto Rico, Trump tweets about island's "massive debt" 

Officials are calling the devastation in Puerto Rico a humanitarian disaster. Six days after Hurricane Maria hit, millions are struggling for basic necessities like adequate food, water, fuel and electricity. Eighty percent of the island's transmission lines are down, and power may not be restored for more than a month. 

 In a series of tweets Monday night, President Trump said the U.S. territory's old electrical grid was "devastated." 

He also appeared critical of the island's financial problems, tweeting they owed "billions of dollars to Wall Street and the banks which, sadly, must be dealt with."





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As American men, women, children, and infants go without clean water, food, power, medical help, and other necessities of life, President Dirtbag choses a humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico to criticize the island's financial woes.

As I've said before, Trump hasn't an ounce of human empathy or decency in him, and he proves that truth again and again. His totally inappropriate twitter rant directed at the suffering men, women, children, and infants is beyond disgusting.

America and the world heard the so-called POTUS over the weekend express his racist and anti-American thoughts on peaceful protests. That was followed by a shockingly callous disregard of the catastrophic human suffering our fellow Americans are experiencing.

Never let them forget:  The rabid right wingers own Trump and all his mental deformities.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

President Donald J. Trump is an incoherent, babbling, foaming torrent of human diarrhea.v

Thank the dear Lord for reducing his followers to the paltry 30 percent that they are. At least we know that a YUUUUGE majority 70 percent of Americans do not support the human diarrhea factory. But that 30 per cent? What is it about Trump's crap that they like so much?

Ducky's here said...

I don't know if president Dirtbag has the power to suspend the Jones Act to allow foreign flagged ships to dock in Puerto Rico.
If he were any kind of leader he could publicize a request to Congress to at least have it suspended during the state of emergency.

They have time on their hands since flaming out trying to cut back Medicaid and deny Americans health insurance.

A leader could get this done.

Anonymous said...


Damn Ducky, we will put you down as a maybe Trump supporter.

Dave Miller said...

Ducky... Trump does have that power but unlike in Texas and Florida decided not to do so with PR. It took til yesterday for the US Hospital ship to be ordered there. With 4 days to get ready and 5 to sail, it will arrive next week! Big help.

No carrier with another hospital and ability to provide fresh water has been sent either. Yet.

Looks like what I'd expect from someone not aware these are US citizens.

Shaw Kenawe said...

Dave, Puerto Rico is an island in the middle of a big ocean -- didn't you hear #45 imply how weak and inept our country is when it comes to saving the lives of its own citizens?

Almost 70 years ago, America flew planes loaded with supplies to Berlin, Germany, in the famous Berlin Airlift. Those planes actually flew across a "big ocean," the Atlantic, and over Europe to save the lives of Germans.

Trump probably doesn't know that history, otherwise he wouldn't have made a fool of himself and diminished America with his foolish statements of why he's failed to expeditiously address the humanitarian crisis in Puerto Rico -- because its "an island in the middle of a big ocean."

Millions and millions of Americans actually understand why the guy who said Nazis and white supremacists are "fine people" is more concerned with P.R.'s financial problems than the lives of its American men, women, children, and infants.

Dave Miller said...

Remember Shaw... "We're getting great reviews for our efforts" from PR...

Like he was reading something in Variety talking about his performance.

Our response has been so anemic even Geeez has asked why that is. Facts are stubborn things and the fact is within a few days we had an aid package for Texas and Florida and we've been told it will be weeks for PR. Why is that? At least that's the question of the mayor of the largest city there, who apparently did not see the latest reviews in Playbill.

3.4 million people, without power for 4-6 months. No running water, no hospital care. As they wait for help. What could go wrong? Maybe the Admin thinks they should just pull themselves up by the boot straps.

What will happen is there will be a huge migration to the US mainland leaving only the poor and infirm there footing the bill for a totally busted economy and all of us will be on the hook for a series of unfortunate events from this Lemony Snicket of a President.

Andrew Breitbart Is Still Dead said...


And this is why the current GOOP is an outlaw party of brain damaged thugs!

Re: Roy Moore
A former chief justice of Alabama, removed from the bench twice for disrespecting the rule of law, will soon be voting on federal court appointments.

Shaw Kenawe said...

ABiSD,

The far right wingers are joyous over a law-breaker winning in Alabama, and those same right wingers call NFL peaceful protesters "thugs." None of those NFLers broke any law by kneeling, whereas the right wingers' hero former judge is a law breaker.

The right has lost all credibility with their claim to moral superiority and "family values" mainly because they continue to support one of the most immoral men to ever occupy the Oval Office and now they've confirmed their contempt for the rule of law by rejoicing in Roy Moore's win in Alabama.

When their fellow tribesmen break laws or tell the world that Nazis are "fine people," they're right there cheering it in all its digusting hypocrisy. Like their hero Trump, they act like a malignant narcissist, believing a majority of Americans support their twisted, racist views.

And here's some more evidence that shows their thinking America is with them isn't quite right:

Two districts that voted for Donald Trump in last year’s presidential election selected Democrats for state legislature seats in New York and New Hampshire on Tuesday night.

In a Long Island, New York district that Trump won by 23 percent, Democrat Christine Pellegrino defeated Republican Thomas Gargiulo in the race for a seat in the New York State Assembly.

The seat Pellegrino won on Tuesday had been held by Republican Joseph Saladino, who resigned earlier this year after being appointed to a local office. He had defeated his Democratic opponent in 2016 by 37 points.

Democrats are also celebrating an upset in a New Hampshire district that Trump won by 7 points in November. Democrat Edith DesMarais defeated Republican Matthew Plache in a special election for a seat in the state’s GOP-controlled House of Representatives,

Dave Miller said...

The law and order party has shown itself to be neither. It celebrates order on its own terms, and believes you have to follow all the laws and they can pick and choose the unjust ones they do not want to follow.

Such an interesting viewpoint.

The Real Deal said...

No one is calling them 'THUGS' because they are protesting, We call then THUGS, because they are THUGS!

Shaw Kenawe said...

To "The Real Deal:"

Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys are all "thugs?" Interesting that you label "America's Football Team" as a bunch of thugs. They protested in solidarity with the others on Monday night. Also many military vets joined with the peaceful protesters. Why do you call men and women in our military "thugs?"

Is this some sort of mental condition with all you right wingers? If so, you have my deepest sympathy.

Shaw Kenawe said...

Dave

The "law and order" folks on the right used to be the "family values" crowd, but they can never pretend to any family values or moral values since they support someone like Trump.

One of their excuses for continued support of Trump is they quote something from the Bible that says God chooses imperfect men to do his work. Of course, when Mr. Obama was president the right wingers were all over his imperfections, but NEVER did they once think he was chosen by God to do God's work. Only people from their tribe have that special designation.

It's rather amusing to read their screeds about the "Marxist" left and the "Saul Alinsky"left, while they continue to vote for and put into office the worst sort of hypocrites, cheaters, liars, and law breakers.

Les Carpenter said...

I do believe the NFL has rules regarding precisely what players are required to do during the playing/singing of the National Anthem. Therefore if there is an issue it is for the management of the NFL to handle and ultimately decide. No law was broken, other than possibly contract law. The BLOTUS and elected officials ought to simply STFU.

Ducky's here said...

The hedgies are on the prowl

"Not only would the bondholders’ loan take priority over some of Puerto Rico’s other debts, but it would also offset some losses the bondholders may face if the original debt were not repaid in full."

Such altruists.

Anonymous said...


Rational Nation, the NFL does not have any set or written rules telling the players what to do during the anthem. Only the NBA and the NHL demand the players stand during the anthem's.
A few individual teams have unwritten rules that the players are asked to follow. For instance never has a Dallas Cowboy player not stood for the anthem.

Les Carpenter said...

Previous post inadvertently posted to incorrect thread. My apology for the error.