The mayor should no have criticized trump.
It takes time to get the help she wanted
There was nothing he could do that would get the aid to her sooner.
She has stated they have gotten more aid as if that aid came because she complained about Trump.
That makes no sense.
I believe the aid did not get there any faster because of what she said.
The aid was already in Puerto Rico.
If anything the reason she didn't get it earlier is because of transportation problems.
She knew this when she made the emarks about Trump.
She is known for making controversial remarks.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-san-juan-puerto-rico-m...
thataid was
3
The President of the United States needs to be:
#1 Not a Jerk
#2 Not Fiddling Around Playing Golf and Watching Golf and Yakking About Football while a US Territory is Drowning and Has Lost Their Infrastructure.
He is Unfit is the problem here. We have a Jerk in charge.
Period.
19
Dr Gupta of TV fame was able to obtain medical supplies for a PR hospital in 2 hours, because those supplies are on the island, ready to be picked up by those who need them.
Why is that not reported?
Obviously, there still many problems, but to blame Trump for all of them is not supported by reality on the ground.
3
Trump would know poor leadership.
7
Let's assume that the mayor is panicking, partisan and completely wrong.
Then--and this is just for funsies--let's assume that Donald Trump has been lucky enough to have taken on the burden of the Presidency of the United States of America.
Okay, seems to me that a real President would be stepping up, standing up, and so on.
7
can't somebody shut him down?
6
Or I want that to happen more than anything
2
He is his own worst enemy. The day will come when he tweets, and no one cares...he swears he is telling the truth and no one believes him. That day is nearer than you think.
6
When has Donald Trump ever done anything for himself? When has he ever thought of anyone except himself? Most incompetent president and worst person ever.
11
Red Texas, Red Florida - both states with plenty of support for Trump, one with property investment at stake. Better be on the ball with FEMA aid. Non-voting Puerto Rico? What? Where? Doesn't even sound American! Don't interrupt my game!
12
If you look Operation Bootstrap, you'll read that the U.S funded a revitalization project in PR. The funding was halted which plunged PR into a decades-old depression. Prior to the pull back America exhibited an attempt to create jobs, markets and a higher standard of living.
All you have to do is print more money. Printing more money for disaster relief is different than dumping more money into a healthy economy. It is not a question of inflation caused by supply and demand. I remember when the AIDS epidemic hit one of the South American countries, the government made replicated American cocktails because the drug companies wouldn't lower their prices. This is a little different than printing more money to help PR but it shows a level of disruption that saved a lot of lives.
What is this resistance to making money work to help people in crisis. The system of money use that runs the world needs revision. The present way isn't working forrthose in need.
1
Comment seems interesting, but I can't say I understand its meaning.
4
It means that we've got together and elected a loser as President. Does that help?
2
Trump has just proved to all us Americans that he is a pitiful excuse of a president. He has absolutely no moral compass nor does he have a shred of empathy and compassion in him. He is nothing but a walking angry revengeful bully
17
No one in the US mainland helps anything by criticizing any person on that dear island right now. Least of all POTUS. Sad and infuriating.
4
Anyone know where the mayor obtained a custom hat and t-shirt at this time?
3
A small shop around the corner with a little gas and a generator. The shop is run by an entrepreneur and good citizen.
8
Best answer. Thanks @Cletus
1
What has happened to our collective humanity? I don't expect Trump to give a damn about Black and Brown people, but I am shocked that so many of his supporters are silent or vocally supportive of his attacks on Mayor Cruz. And, either way all are supportive, because silence equals support.
Just goes to show how when a group of people are dehumanized, anything can be done to them, and anything can be said about them. This is well-known, but what is new is the fact that we have a national leader who is doing this.
9
You do know all those J-Crow folks had offspring(s)?
4
What is black or brown about the mayor? She is white as is the governor.
1
Apparently not, judging by our President's behavior.
2
October 1st marks President Trump's 68th day at a golf course, and his 88th day at one of his Trump properties.
9 full months of treating himself to oodles of time off.
He profits from each of these days, as secret service staffers have to purchase golf carts, and pay other costs for the weekend. As do other staff.
He had a 17 day vacation during this period. And still left the white house for yet another weekend at his property once he returned from 17 consecutive days off.
You know who isn't golfing? Special Investigator Bob Mueller. :>)
25
It won't be long before he demands she produces her long-form BirthCertificate.
11
In his defense he has been busy golfing, having Rallies, and cursing out peaceful (NFL) protesters.
12
There appears to be a brutality about this president, that makes no sense to me but that I find truly frightening. Speech after all is an action, and the savaging of the Mayor of San Juan was an action as the repeated threats in international relations are actions. The seeming strengthening of the presidency in recent years strikes me as indeed regrettable.
7
The assortment of excuses, alibis, rationalizations and hallucinations that attempt to justify Donald Trump's lunatic behavior in these comments is really, truly, something to see.
16
Obviously Ms Cruz would be a better President of the U.S. than our present so-called president. She also appears to be American, not Russian, that is someone who is inclusive and not deliberately divisive in American politics, something Trump and the Russians try to exploit at every moment.
So what happened in Puerto Rico? We used to have two big military bases there with lots of troops, ships, helicopters, and fuel. Where have these troops and National Guards men and women been in the present crisis? In Katrina, over 40,000 were called up to help. Why was fuel and power to hospitals, which have generators, not immediately restored? Was aid withheld?
Then there is the "debt crisis". P.R. is a territory. Any run up in debt is the responsibility of the U.S.Government, which exerts direct control. Cancel this debt, and give them restrictions on future debt, i.e. a balanced budget with reserves and that taxes be spent on good education and adequate. infrastructure.
The hedge fund vultures have descended on P.R. Does GS (responsible for U,S. and Greek debt crises) and our present Sect'y of Treas. have anything to do with this?
I ran a guest house in P.R. in the 60s. American managers sent there told me lack of a work ethic and theft from construction sites was a problem. Hopefully that has changed. At this time a U.S. tax repatriation law mandating that some funds be invested in mfg. in P.R. would help. Also a new grid with roof solar panels that don't blow away.
5
Cannot believe the media, artists, opposing politicians. Cannot believe Mayor Cruz. Hearing the hysteria, seeing a Mayor wearing a t-shirt with the message we are dying, how is that helpful? Our President has directed a full and efficient response. First responders are doing an amazing job. People need to be realistic. Puerto Rico was a complete mess before this disaster. The public utilities, infrastructure, neglected for decades. The government corrupt and bankrupt in that order. During a recent visit, was shocked at the state of the airport, to see so many abandoned properties throughout the island. The toll of a 74 billion dollar debt, 53 billion in missing pension funds, was evident. Mismanagement causing a 13% unemployment rate, more than half the island living in poverty. A mass exodus to the mainland escaping the disarray. Puerto Rico has no real leadership, no emergency response plan, no money to implement one if they did. The Federal government came into Puerto Rico with a plan, cleared the air and sea ports, roads and highways, got the priorities handled, hospitals and emergency services running, provided disaster relief as quickly and efficiently as possible. Know this for a fact, because I myself am a first responder in a supervisory position. Help can never come quickly enough for those in need. Still, being critical of what has been an incredible response to date is unfair, unsettling, and frankly disgusting. Either help, or get out of the way.
2
We obviously read different news sources. I've been reading news on Puerto Rican news sites since the day of Hurricane Maria; there was one that was out covering it and posting, though I don't know how. What you describe is very different from what the photos show and the news stories by Puerto Ricans on the ground from Day One said. You say you know things about Puerto Rico "for a fact," yet your name/city indicate that you're in Manhattan.
8
Rich, I am taking another try at a post which was apparently rejected, in which I simply asked if you actually have anything to contribute to this discussion. I honestly do not see anything in your comment but an attempt to make a dubious political point over the fact that the Mayor was wearing a tee-shirt.
As to the island's long-standing economic woes, we could start by listing objective reasons instead of assuming that it is the predictable result of the people and their culture, as you would imply.
9
Who knew a crisis was a Fashion Show to you?
9
One thing I do not understand is why, when Trump throws out "fake news" to their face, nobody ask him to give examples of what he thinks is "fake news". Nobody is holding him responsible for what he is saying DIRECTLY, they just retreat and write about it afterwards. Afterwards, when it is too late, Trumps words ha already won.
11
Where were the helicopters from day one of this disaster? They could have dropped ALL supplies needed in inaccessible areas. They did it in Viet Nam for years. The order was probably needed from the President, but he was busy criticizing football players.
Military helicopters could have saved lives if this President thought of PR in the same way he thought of Houston, which has lots of oil.
16
I thoroughly agree with you. I like you realize that they could have gotten helicopters to these points of no access with roads. Our president is not a president he is a sorry excuse of a human being
5
Trump is an angry petulant man-child. It is too bad that his parents didn't instill in him compassion and empathy for his fellow human beings.
So sad!
13
Donald J.Trump is a liar as well as the POTUS. As POTUS he has more pressing things to do than tweet about the NFL protest of systemic racism and police brutality. No matter how frequently he says that the NFL players are protesting the flag and the anthem doesn't make it so. He's a certified liar and anyone who still believes he's telling the truth is in denial.
He's put the NFL on notice? Well, let the American people put Donald J.Trump and his family on notice. I wish the USA had the ability to vote "No Confidence."
12
I wish the USA had the ability to vote "No Confidence."
I wish the USA had the ability to vote: "Pack up and go back where you came from."
6
Elin Minkoff of Florida, If I understand you correctly, your wish has come true with Donald J. Trump's immigration program, esp. the part aimed at the Dreamers, a.k.a. DACA.
You're on notice: I'm here to stay.
The appropriate title of this news article should be "Puerto Rico Mayor Criticizes President for his failure to provide adequate relief; Trump lashed back at her." Trump has succeeded in putting new papers like New York Times on defensive who reported his criticism of the mayor as headline (in another news story). But Trump criticizes everyone indiscriminately; that is no longer news. It is his habit. The news is lack of relief provided by the federal agencies for which the mayor of the affected city is calling out the president. NY Times is afraid to report this because it seems, it is afraid of getting Tweeter attack from Trump.
2
I can't help but feel what an utter loser Trump is. Yes, he conned his way to the presidency; but as an exemplar of human decency, the guy is a lout and a loser. Sad, and contemptible!
13
It is amazing that the leader of the most powerful country on this planet can only express himself though tweets. That seems to be the depth of his intellect.
11
23 Tweets about NFL players taking a knee v. 2 about the devastation of Puerto Rico.
This says it all.
22
No one ever got Trumps attention, or the attention of the Republicans, by being subtle. Certainly women don't get his attention - at least the type of attention that is wanted - by being vocal, assertive or confrontive. To blame the infrastructure of the island, or its problems, on the people is no more accurate than to blame Trumps ascendancy on the people who did not vote for him. It's an excuse, and Trump lives on excuses. It is possible to take responsibility for things you had nothing to do with creating - and to solve them. That is, in fact, exactly what Presidents are supposed to do. But I forget, sorry. The man is really about 3 years old in terms of his ability to think and act.
7
Maybe we'll see "Cruz 2028" and it doesn't refer to Ted Cruz.
8
"Trump Lashes Out..."
Well, at least he did SOMEthing
5
Ample proof of Trump dropping the ball:
It wasn't til this past Thursday: It took 8 days to appoint the head of North Command's Joint Force Land Component Command who will be the Defense Department’s primary liaison to FEMA.
It took 8 days after the hurricane hit for a 3-star general to be put in charge of coordinating US military response in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico:
The appointed Army Lt. Jeff Buchanan said the Defense Department has not sent enough troops/vehicles to Puerto Rico but will send more:
“We're certainly bringing in more [troops]," Buchanan stated on CNN.
"For example, on the military side, we're bringing in both Air Force, Navy and Army medical capabilities in addition to aircraft, more helicopters. ... [But] it's not enough, and we're bringing more in.”
See? Are you reading this, Mr. Trump? Did you watch CNN?
We learned the Pentagon originally allocated a mere 4,000 troops for Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands. You owe the mayor an apology.
11
Mayor Cruz could have been in a truck or van with her family and other city workers to distribute vital water and supplies. But she chose to stand in front of the 7 day-old stacked pallets of those goods and cry like a child. Not impressive
2
Greg, I find your dismissive comment quite puzzling.
First, she has been out there, wading through water to distribute food, medicine, etc. If you follow the coverage, you would she has been providing hands-on help.
Second, A good leader wouldn't try to do everything on their own. They'd broadcast the news for help as often as they can. Why are you so dismissive of that, and of her.
3
Such a shame that all the talk is once again focused on the president and not the problem.
There is a bottleneck preventing supplies and first responders from getting to where aid is most needed. What else can be done to get around that bottleneck so that food, water & medicine aren't arriving too late to do any good?
There should be reports coming in from drones / helicopters flying over the island to pinpoint those places that need the most immediate attention. If it's clear that certain crucial roads and bridges will take months to rebuild, what temporary fixes can be put into place?
Should the U.S. connect with trekking companies and bring over donkeys with handlers so that some relief items can be packed in? Can army medics and Corp of Engineers drop by parachute or helicopter into remote locations and set up relief posts?
Is FEMA thinking outside of the box and perhaps resorting to more old-fashioned ways of doing things--military medical field hospitals rather than waiting for modern hospitals to get the certifications needed to reopen?
Is red tape being cut to a minimum?
If I were the president, I would be on the phone around the clock reaching out to people to address these issues and be as creative as possible in overcoming the obstacles.
Yes, it's very difficult to get traction in an emergency when many systems are down. That is all the more reason for people to work together and not against each other.
13
I wish you were the president.
5
Strange that it does not occur to Baker and the editors of the NY Times that these routine wailings of politicians from areas that repeatedly have hurricanes or floods are cowardly attempts to distract most citizens from the obvious - their incompetence and failure to build and maintain infrastructure, building codes and local emergency response systems that can survive and respond to these predictable natural events. But of course this is similar to the long standing Democrat evade responsibility for failed policies strategy that is used by all our major-city, corrupt to the gills, democrat administrations that blame poverty and war zone like conditions they have fostered on guns and false accusations of racism by police.
3
Why aren't Puerto Ricans in the streets of NYC by the thousands?
4
Because they're busy getting aid to Puerto Rico.
13
Deep inside, they probably think mayor Cruz made an error for saying 'near genocide'. This is disgusting behavior. It was reported in news media. I saw on MSNBC I believe about three days ago but so far nobody dare to repeat that as there is bias against Trump. Cruz should apologize to Trump when he go to P R Tuesday for her very rude comment.
3
Well, for one thing many of them observe the sabbath.
THEY show respect.
2
The governor of Puerto Rico is reporting that the Feds have answered his calls, and he's very thankful for that. The mayor of San Juan's breakdown in front of the camera was very disappointing. That city needs stronger leadership than what she's giving it. No time for tears just yet. Thank you first responders!
6
No tears? Hey, we know guys in South Philly are tough. Can the "macho," already?
10
I'm so tired of hearing that when the President feels he's been attacked, he attacks back. That's the excuse Mnuchin gave this morning (on Meet the Press) for Trump's behavior toward Carmen Yulín Cruz. It's not a good enough excuse/reason which allows him to behave stupidly, cruelly, and recklessly. Trump's handling of crisis both at home and abroad clearly and repeatedly underscores why he is unfit. He's running the country just like he ran his crisis-prone businesses, to much greater harm.
24
Yes, he is not behaving like an adult. An adult would realize that the mayor of San Juan is exhausted and stressed beyond belief. An adult doesn't take criticism personally (or imagine that he/she is being criticized when someone complains about a problem) during hard times. Instead, an adult is soothing and works to address the underlying issues. The mayor needs concrete evidence that everything that can possibly be done is being done and the mayor needs compassion if it is simply impossible for aid to come any faster.
13
It's about distribution--FEMA?? Get your act together.........
11
What person, in their right mind, insults someone who is begging? The same person who a few weeks ago used the words "hurricane" and "ratings" in the same sentence. Our president is out of his mind, and it is time to get him out of office. He is morally bankrupt and has no business being in the position he is in. Republicans. Democrats. The time is NOW.
40
Mayor Cruz, we hear you. And we care. Once again, we mainland Americans are ashamed at the ignorance, heartlessness and immaturity expressed by our so-called President. Ignore him. You can count on the rest of us to help.
27
And Mayor Cruz, we are even more ashamed of the people who put Trump in office. Trump Voters are ultimately the cause of the horror your brave people are experiencing. And TrumpVoters -do not- represent the majority. They are the worst of us. And every one of them is to blame for putting an incompetent lying thieving coward in the white house. Shame on you Trump Voters! You are beyond contempt.
13
What is really telling is the silence on the subject from all Republicans in Congress and the Senate. Truly shameful act on their part essentially condoning Trumps inhuman behavior. This is American lives we are talking about.
And those who have come out are only trying to put lipstick on this pig by extrapolating the meanings in Trumps Tweets. Really, no effort is needed there. His words are quite clear.
He is so totally clueless of who he is as President and how he should be behaving. This old dog cannot be taught any new tricks.
Sad. Very sad.
30
Is real leadership TAKING tax payers' money instead of asking for it? Hear our NEW POST-ELECTION Bob Dylan TRUMP PROTEST song on YouTube: Searc
1
Should I tell my unemployed across-the-street neighbor that he has to ask me before he gets his monthly assistance check for October?
2
I am less than impressed by the Mayor of San Juan. She quite deliberately took a less than artful comment out of context to turn the plight of Puerto Ricans into a political rant. Very self-serving, and not very bright, or helpful. This sort of nasty rhetoric accomplishes nothing.
5
I do hope you hold Trump equally accountable for his very nasty rhetoric.
2
"Trump Lashes Out "
Save that headline in the Recycle bin.
You'll be able to print it every day.
17
Let's face it folks Trump is an embarrassment to every American citizen. He is so out of his realm
23
Hmm, so soon POTUS should be having a(nother) rally so he can also curse out the Mayor and their "Demands".
13
Twitter is acting as enabler to a dangerous person in a position of power. Since there are decisions made within Twitter when to ban a user from the service it is not outside of their ability or history to make these decisions. He needs to be cut off from Twitter. For good or bad he has plenty of other options to get his words out.
19
Well the truth is the trucking bosses in PR are and have been in a large dispute and they are using the lack of their truck and drivers for leverage. Don't believe eveything on CNN
3
CNN had the nerve to quote POTUS too?
5
@Alan Einstoss: But to hear you say it Fox News speaks the gospel truth, yes?
11
I saw the same comment on another website's forum. What happened is that right-wing fictitious "news" sites are spreading it around today, no matter that they've given the so-called "union" the name of a political party and completely disregarding that the Teamsters and AFL-CIO are sending drivers from the mainland to help out. The last time one of the unions I was in attempted to break another union was -- never.
6
This mayor may be confused. She's spent so much time looking for cameras, she didn't have time to coordinate with the FEMA command center. I guess the Fed's should have sent a rescue party to find her.
She would make a great Democratic Presidential candidate. She takes shots at Trump and complains America is not doing enough for Puerto Rico. The territory is the largest net recipient (by %) of Federal dollars every year with Federal spending at 290% of Federal taxes collected from 1990 to 2009. In the meantime they have $73bn of debt owed to pensioners and retirees that they recently said they won't pay. Now they are gearing up to request $50 billion from the government for storm repair. She's definitely the kind of leader who could challenge Obama for the Federal credit card record he set of $10 trillion.
6
I'm sure that record will be easily broken by the amount of money borrowed to fund Trump's tax cuts for the rich .
10
Yep, that's the tale the RWNJ so-called "news" is telling today. The truth is very different.
5
It is Way Beyond time to do something about Trump. We need him out of office as president of the United States. This man has no class no tact and no morals
21
Much of what is coming out of the white house about the situation in Puerto Rico is rubbish. A longtime friend has a second home there. Her house and a great many other second houses have their own cisterns. The owners have informed FEMA that their stored water is available for use by the people if FEMA can manage a way to distribute it. Sole response from FEMA - "um thanks." NO ACTION to date.
This IS NOT fake news. This is on the ground fact!
15
To all those who complain about the inadequate response, what are you waiting for? Get on a plane today and go to San Juan. Bring your wallet and a change of clothes. Fix the problem not the blame.
2
Perhaps You (also) prefer we be Presidential and criticize PR and the Mayor in time of crisis?
4
Can a resident of Puerto Rico run for president of the U.S.?
Because if she can, then Carmen Yulin Cruz is exactly the leader the Democratic party needs and our country requires.
29
She's a true crybaby. Sorry. She runs a poorly organized distribution effort and she blames people 1500 miles away. Bringing in truck drivers from the mainland with all the able-bodied residents in San Juan area is amazing.
2
We have an unbelievable response from Mr. Trump. An egoistic fool in my estimation, he crosses every barrier of common decency. His popular support has diminished, and deservedly so. I pray that the wonderful people of Puerto Rico prevail. The nature and spirit of our island citizens is strong, but here we need strong leadership, not a TV clown.
42
Second Submission---One thing is certain, the president is not predictable. Let's see what happens on Tuesday, when he is due to visit Puerto Rico, that is, if he does not cancel his trip, but choses to find more distractions like picking on athletes.
13
This headline exposes the reasons that American citizens should get out on Nov 7 and vote for any officials who understand that Trump is damaging the ethics, the constitution, and the heart of our country.
19
When St. Maarten in the Caribbean was totally destroyed through a hurricane the Dutch King and his Senior officials visited the island in less than a week to show emotional support.
With Puerto Rico the US leader in less than a week managed to destroy unity and inner strength there and all that while playing golf in New Jersey. What a guy.
34
Rudolf, not so loud about the "Dutch King." If Trump happens to read that, he will want to be crowned.
3
"We're gonna do it better." (than Katrina) said Trump on Texas (etc.)
Actually looks pretty much the same here. Sparring between the respective Mayors and Presidents. A very late response and not waking up to the harsh realities soon enough.
The stinky water is on you Trump and W. had Katrina all over him.
17
Is there any ethnic group or nation Mr. Trump has not lashed out at and demeaned? The Mayor of San Juan is dealing with an incredible crisis; people are dying, going without food and fresh water. Yet, Mr. Trump unleashes his ever present mean streak to again castigate and denigrate the Mayor. He would be wise to cancel his visit, for he certainly will not be met with no welcome or adoring crowds as he makes America great again. Trump is the greatest fraud to occupy the Whit House since Richard Nixon.
23
"FEMA chief blasted for calling Puerto Rico mission ‘most logistically challenging event the US has ever seen’. General heading recovery says "This is the worst I have ever seen". Trump? Attacking when citizens are in the depth of despair. His way is attack when someone is down, and least you forget....how wonderful he is.
23
Last time someone said, let them eat cake, it did not turn out so well.
15
Social media has stirred this country into a finger-pointing frenzy. Inflammatory criticisms of everyone, everywhere, for everything, by everyone else, are a 24-7 fact of life, with celebrities, politicians, journalists, academics and other "leaders" increasingly no more responsible than the hoi poloi. All is done in an environment where, increasingly, any criticism that fits into a given dynamic or narrative is acknowledged upon delivery as valid.
Twenty years ago, much of this might have been debated on an editorial page, where there would at least be a semblance of rational argument required to fill the word count.
Today, swept up in ever-grander histrionics, we lob nonsensical epithets at each other in real time, with no one accountable for anything they say, as we've already moved on to the next "scandal" by lunch.
For at least twenty years, the leaders of this country across fields have by and large looked to amp up the culture of inflammatory rhetoric, not temper it.
We are all getting more ignorant with every passing day. People in positions of responsibility should attempt to foster boring old rational discussion. Having a big megaphone comes with responsibility -- and perhaps that responsibility isn't the tingle up the leg of virtue signaling.
We will accomplish far more; dislike each other far less; and create a culture of respect that values knowledge rather than childish insults. Why? Because the alternative, as we see, is ugly.
6
So the Media shouldn't quote people?
Or which quotes are you willing to accept they publish?
9
It is easy to play arm chair quarter back when you are tweeting in comfort from your private golf course.
23
So if the mayor is a poor leader, what does that make Trump?
20
The New York Times gets the story in the first person, again. I want to commend the photojournalism, reportage and editorial management for capturing the stories for "One Day in Puerto Rico."
The scope of the Puerto Rico disaster is beyond sophisticated comprehension even for my neighbor who has worked on FEMA projects for decades. He was sent to Texas after Irma, before Maria hit, and is still there.
21
This brave and truth telling mayor of San Juan should be proud to be bashed by Trump. It puts her in good company. Our appalling American Tsar insults and demonizes anyone who challenges or criticizes him. Yet his critics are only trying to uphold democracy and basic political decency.
All Trump's opposers whether NFL players, mayors, lawmakers, opinion writers etc---everyone--- should convene an event to summarize the harm he's doing to the country, list his outrages and their effect on society, and discuss concrete ways to rescue our democracy.
This event should be televised on all news networks.
31
Whether Donald Trump is as ignorant as he sounds or so cruel that he would play to his base at the expense of human life, who knows ,but I think the media could do a better job of explaining the catch-22 of immediate stabilization after a major widespead disaster. As someone who worked for local government, after category 5 Hurricane Andrew, local government as well as citizens are paralyized by the destruction. It's easy to say Puerto Ricans aren't doing enough to dig themselves out, but local utilities warn residents not to cut or remove road debris where power lines are down and they are likely down everywhere. The public workforce can not get to work because roads and communications are inaccessible and it's likely that local public equipment and vehicles have been destroyed or heavily damaged as most are parked in surface lots. Without water or food within a few days residents are forced to spend most of their time hunting for these things as supplies run out. That' s why heavy equipment and military personnel should have been stationed at sea outside the hurricane zone and prepared to make quick landing after the storm has passed to clear roads with utility crews. Not rocket science, but it is shocking how quickly the entire infrastructure of a civilized society can be wiped away and it can happen to any of us. When it does you learn to love a well resourced and competently run federal government pretty quickly.
73
That is what essentially happened in lower Manhattan after Hurricane Sandy, the entire infrastructure wiped out after one storm. It took months to get it back up. I can only imagine the enormous suffering to come in Puerto Rico as our non-President Trump licks his wounds from the golf course for not having his boots licked by those "ingrates" that live there.
19
Maggie from NC, IMO your comment should be required reading. I found your comment to be a useful reality check. Thank you.
1
It is easy to forget that Hurricane Irma did damage in Puerto Rico before Maria as a cat 4 wrecked the island's infrastructure: electrical grid, cell service, roads and bridges and damaged nearly all buildings especially in rural areas). Those of us in Tampa Bay who were lucky Irma's path and strength meant only a few days without power for us and minor damage adding up to under a billion dollars appreciate what the American citizens in Puerto Rico are struggling with as they try to find fuel for generators and to get to their jobs. They are struggling to find food, water and the basic necessities of life in a hot, humid climate. The elderly, the young and those with injuries or illnesses from storm-related events are threatened by death as Mayor Cruz says.
I have never been so ashamed as I am now to be represented to the world by a president who would dare to call the American mayor of a major city "nasty" and ungrateful as if she is asking Trump for gifts or charity. Her fellow American citizens in Puerto Rico have paid taxes for many years like other citizens who have received help from FEMA. The help received from FEMA is not charity; it is a benefit due in crisis situations to citizens of the US. Help has been given to the poor and wealthy alike who live along the beaches of the US. Help has been given to the poor and wealthy alike who use the flooded subways of NYC or the roads and bridges of Texas, Iowa, Mississippi, and California.
Shame to you, Trump.
47
Trumps thoughts on Puerto Rico:
I don't think there are any Trump properties down in Puerto Rico to worry about. And most of those "US citizens" down there are not really citizens anyway. (They are after all, mostly darker skinned and speak spanish as a first language... so they're not real Americans). Let them fend for themselves...
I'm a mind reader. Right Donald?
31
Reading his mind? You are reading Trump's bigotry and twisted emotions, but Trump does not have a "mind."
6
This President has spent his entire time in office feuding. He feuds with everybody... lashing out at gold star families, the NFL, hurricane victims, and even his own cabinet members just to name a few (and I mean few)!
Oh, my mistake, I forgot he also simultaneously spends time golfing and traveling at huge taxpayer expense to his various golf courses where he charges us the taxpayers lots of smackers for use of golf carts for the secret service to protect him.
Hurricane Maria has destroyed Puerto Rico just as Trump and his tweet storm will destroy our great nation if he is not stopped. House and Senate, are you listening or is all you care about are whopping tax breaks for the ultra rich? You were all elected to lead our nation, yet you just sit and collect good paychecks, enjoy good healthcare, free travel and do nothing (and I mean nothing)!
Mayor Cruz, while your plea to our President has fallen on his deaf ears, the rest of the world is praying for your people and trying our best to help where we can.
34
How dare he criticize this woman who has the weight of her world on her shoulders. He should be ashamed. He cares nothing about anyone but himself and those of us who pay attention know this. Instead of immediately sending the military down there he leaves them hanging. Typical trump.
l
32
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-puerto-rico-power-20170925-story.html
corrupt, bankrupt...
3
I expect this behavior from trump. What I don't understand is how we can
wage wars but we can't immediately help Puerto Rico.
30
Why is it Trump made such a statement “They want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort,” Never made such a statement about Texas or Florida? He always seems to have some kind of racial underdone when People of Color are involved.
39
I would call it less a racial undertone and more overtly racist.
6
Not to defend Trump but there are plenty "People of Color" in Texas and Florida.
1
All I've heard from the Mayor is complaints. She doesn't report on what her administration is doing to help. I see these press conferences with cars driving around in the background so there is gas and electricity somewhere in San Juan. She has failed to explain what she wants, other than to make grandiose claims against the Federal government of not doing enough. The island was hit by two ferocious hurricanes. It's going to take time to work out the problems. She is no leader, just a politician in over her head looking for a photo op. If her staff has time to make those stupid hats and t-shirts claiming they are dying, then they have time to load up a car with supplies and drive them to where they are needed.
9
@Mike; Take a look at the map of Puerto Rico: San Juan is but one small city among 80 or more scattered across the island. As mayor of Puerto Rico's capital city, Mayor Cruz seems to be speaking on behalf of the 80 mayors who for the most part are incommunicado lacking phone service. Remember, 60% of the island is mountainous and those mountain residents are stranded with impassable roads, dangerous mudslides and dwindling, if not, depleted stores of potable water, food and necessities. They cannot reach San Juan where the containers are stored and without the help of military helicopter lifts those supplies cannot reach the mountains and outlying areas.
Mayor Cruz has explained FEMA's ludicrous demands: telling people to register for aid on their website...news flash, there is no internet coverage on the island at this time...or to call back in two weeks in order to register for assistance. Incredible!
The logo hats and t-shirts you disparage were probably manufactured stateside and sent to San Juan among private relief packages in order to publicize the dire conditions under which our fellow American are existing (and provide clothing).
PR needs a Russell Honore, and a bit more empathy from those of us with whom they share this nation,
13
You wrote, "PR needs a Russell Honore." What Puerto Rico needs, in my never humble opinion, is a Fidel Castro.
3
otherwise, what Puerto Rico truly needs is its independence. 119 years of United States colonial control has brought us to this sorry condition.
3
That's right, blame everything on the Democrats.
Trump should save the money it will cost to fly him and Melania to PR and funnel it into the relief effort. Better yet, fill Air Force One (sans Trump) with relief supplies and send it on down.
32
she is obviously motivated by politics now after saying everythng ok two days earlier
11
She never said everything was OK.
12
Alas, this poorly-disguised racism is just what Trump's supporters in the so-called "heartland" want to hear. And you can bet that the media in that part of the country aren't carrying the same kind of coverage of the Puerto Rican disasters that we are getting here...
17
Trump was just joking ... he doesn't know anything about leadership so he was going for irony.
5
2005's Katrina Hurricane expert on response to Puerto Rico:
"General Honore was adamant that as of two days ago there should’ve been over 20,000 U.S. military troops on the ground helping to deliver supplies, clear roads, repair electrical grids, etc.
Honore put it bluntly, “This is a hit on White House decision making.”
https://www.mediaite.com/opinion/trump-to-mayor-of-san-juan-be-grateful-...
19
I hope Mayor Cruz borrows former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's wagging forefinger to use on Donald Tuesday (she who shook her finger in President Obama's face).
8
Cruz is too classy to do that.
4
In the same week he blames then physically mocks an injury received by a war hero for not supporting trumpcare and deny 23million Americans health care, he bullies a female mayor who stands up for her fellow americans and calls for unity he calls for division. She to help save lives him and his cronies so he\they look good. A small city mayor takes on bigly con man from ny via moscow and his band of con men. A small rock was all it took for david to bring down goliath.
20
Trump did not demonstrate at any point of his lifetime in the public eye that he deserved to be elected president, or any office. He has succeeded remarkably in continuing to show my observation to be accurate.
21
This is the time to make Puerto Rico green.
Renewable energy versus fossil fuels should be the basis of the necessary start-from-scratch rebuilding of the power grid in this American territory. A tropical island generating its own electrical power from solar and wind sources should be obvious to everyone.
Solar panels atop new hurricane-resistant roofs on every home and building.
Wind towers with removable blades during hurricanes atop the mountains.
Mountains with emergency bunkers to shelter the Puerto Ricans, equipped with power, supplies, food, medicine and health facilities, and basic necessities for temporary but lengthy residency.
Who can do this? We, the People of the United States, can.
I am with the Mayor of San Juan.
12
Were you able to get a look at post-Maria photos of the solar farm at Humacao? The hurricane destroyed the panels. You say "a tropical island generating ... from solar and wind sources should be obvious to everyone." What's obvious to me is that we need to develop hurricane-proof solar panels. It's also obvious to me that wind farms on top of the mountains would not only cause visual blight but also would come tumbling down no matter that the blades were removed, just as the towers of power did. But these are good ideas; and nothing new ever sees the light of day without visioneering.
5
I have trouble with the fact that only 20% of the truckers have shown up for work. Yes they have families and damage too but it has been long enough. All the truckers know there is a mountain of food that needs transport at the ports. . I can't believe we are sending truck drivers to Puerto Rico. If this a crisis then a crisis requires drastic action. If I was in charge of Puerto Rico I would commander all the trucks and train drivers. It's not that hard to drive a truck. And it is also not that hard to drive heavy equipment. There is enough machines to clear the roads. They just have to use them .
7
It's hard to drive a truck without fuel. People are waiting for five-six hours in line to buy a gallon of fuel to run a generator. A little more than half the fuel stations on the island are operating, but this is not island-wide. Everything right now has to be paid for with cash. The lines are equally long at ATMs, where operable ATMs are available, and there is a $200 limit on withdrawals. There really is a domino effect that commandeering trucks would not solve.
7
Our government's lack of rapid and efficient assessment and DELIVERY of what is needed for the people of Puerto Rico to quickly have clean water, food, medications and housing is so apparent in spite of the lies (back patting) from trump and Elaine Duke (although she offered a luke warm apology later).
Our well funded military can drop tanks, medical stations, food, water. tents supplies by helicopters and transports in the middle of jungles - yet they couldn't launch these air rescue missions 1000 miles away from Miami.
We have a fully equipped hospital ship which left Norfolk, VA on Friday, 9/29 and will take 5 days to reach Puerto Rico. Hurricane Maria hit the island on 9/20. Wait a few days for the winds to pass the east coast and the BIG WATER (aka ocean) and the ship could have been ready to leave in 2-3 days. Add 5 days for travel and it would have arrived before 9/29.
http://wtkr.com/2017/09/28/hospital-ship-usns-comfort-to-leave-norfolk-f...
What an insult and hypocrisy to have trump say how well HE is doing and congratulate himself, FEMA and the administration when the military could have been in PR days and days ago, dropping supplies, clearing roads, helping people.
We do this in a war zone but treat our own citizens - who are not on the mainland - as inferiors.
Kudos to Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz - speaking TRUTH !
And, we need the same attention and rescue help to the Virgin Islands. We aren't hearing about there needs.
21
In this administration nothing is too low. In order to excuse his own ineptitude he must bully others. Yes those in dire straits. Regretfully, you have to jump up and down and become louder over his monotonous bragging lies. What would you do? Oh , excuse me please but would you kindly , and I don't mean to complain, pass us some water, food, electricity. You see my people are only too willing to help themselves but their homes are flattened, their children are hungry, and we have no clean water or clothes. Thank you in advance, sincerely ,Puerto Rico.
19
How typically small and manipulative of Trump. How repulsive to say that the Mayor was told to "be nasty to Trump," thereby using the "nasty woman" insult, and pitting democrats against those making any genuine efforts to help people. Trump is tweeting insults from his own golf resort while the Mayor is dealing with the reality of this crisis. And it's worse than sad that this once great nation elected this buffoon.
29
Martha
The Trump was appointed by republicans in the electoral college.
We The People voted for Mrs. Clinton. Trump lost by 3,000,000 votes.
Also;
We The People had Voted overwhelmingly for Obama, and expected a Supreme court vacancy to be filled by his choice.
republicans waylaid the American people on that one too ! Replacing Obama's choice of "Merrick Garland" with a Trump Crony "Gorsuch"
Nothing is beneath these deplorable traitors as they continue to degrade this once great nation, and destroy what was A Government Of The People..
9
To all those hateful, racist people that want to blame Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican Mayor you should know this. If some day you are the victim of a disaster natural or man made, despite your hateful invectives and careless, thoughtless, cruel and inhuman suggestions about Puerto Rico, the rest of your fellow citizens will do everything we can to help you. You may wonder why we would show you the kind of treatment you cannot seem to show to others simply because they are either the wrong color or gender or whatever . To that all we can say is that should that day come when you are the one needing the empathy, sympathy, care and understanding of others, think long and hard about why others don't treat you the way you treat other Americans. If and when you come to understand that, America will begin to have a chance again.
31
If Trump shows up in Puerto Rico, he better show up in a cargo plane full of supplies for that beleaguered people, not a empty showy Air Force1.
" a new low " for Trump
21
So far, Trump has been a case study in what not to do as leader of a nation. An inept bumbler whose only tool is bombast. He should keep his mouth shut, and his phone off.
17
Carmen's plea for help speech was completely political. The fact is- everyone knew the storm was coming including Puerto Rico - While it's easy to second guess Trump it's also easy to second guess her. Think how much more leverage she would've had if she delivered a "don't forget about us" speech two days before the storm hit. Now that would have been a powerful. Instead she jumped on the anti-trump bandwagon and played the race card like every good liberal always does. This is why the Democrats will continue to lose elections.
11
She never mentioned the man's name. When the acting head of Homeland Security blithely called Puerto Rico a " good news story," I think the Mayor, seeing destruction and need all around, understandably reacted as most of us would. Regardless of how one interprets her words, the President's tweets that essentially called Puerto Ricans lazy and shiftless were unbecoming a head of state and speak volumes about his hostility to minorities.
16
"Poor Leadership" Coming from the man (Trump) who has no idea how to lead.
10
I agree with President Trump in his criticism of Carmen Yulin Crux, the mayor of San Juan. It seems to me based on the reports on this issue, especially those by NPR and other media outlets, that Puerto Rico is typical of most other Caribbean islands, nice places to visit to visit but not to live permanently. By that I mean, the islands are still third, maybe second, world island nation states, with poor infrastructure, especially means of delivering basic necessities such as electricity and potable water. My comments are based on experience from traveling and spending extended periods of time in the islands because of family connections to the region. I don't want to use the term "Banana Republic" to describe the islands, because it is imperialistically derogatory pejorative, but in this case it seems fitting. Thank you.
16
Puerto Rico is a U S territory. These are U S citizens. If this island is considered a second class place to live, then we are responsible. But there are many places in this country which are second and third class places to live as well. Those places are ignored as well, at least until election time.
21
What a dismissive comment. Trump attacked the mayor personally.
The mayor is working hard every day while living at an arena used as a shelter and she's living there with 700 or more refugees.
Her days are spent trying to rescue people and help them. She deserves respect. She should be listened to--you know, she's the boots on the ground.
But you agree with Trump that she is worthless. A president far too defensive who can't take criticism, especially from women, and strikes out. It's sick.
Your judgmental observations lack a human component of compassion for the people there who grew up poor. Who can't escape like you must have.
The place has poor infrastructure, so too bad and who cares, is the message I read in your comment. You're heartless.
We're not doing a travel documentary here. But you are.
12
So we don't help "banana republics"? Leaving aside the question of being an American territory, we don't help people that are too poor? Do we only help rich people, or maybe we compromise and help our golf caddies?
12
Lashing out from the 18 hole at golf course Trump the king of bad debt and poor leadership accuses the Mayor of San Juan ....
23
Trump spends more time on the golf course than in the Oval Office. Hasn't he criticized Obama for golfing maybe 6 times his entire 8 year term. When are we going to demand that Congress get rid of this oaf.
14
Newsweek reports that Obama played 333 rounds of golf over 8 years. That's more than 6.
3
Honestly Josh, I don't care how much golf a president plays; however, I do care whether or not he can run the country effectively, act like a human being, and be a responsible leader. Trump can't run the country and is morally bankrupt. He's truly incompetent, and it's to our detriment.
9
Trump is well on his way to golfing more than Obama, statistically.
1
My advice to the NFL and to all Puerto Ricans: Ignore the silly bombastic tweets from the Fool on the Hill. Consider the source--he may be president but he's still a jerk. Don't get drawn into a slinging match that diverts focus and energy from the real issues
17
Dear President Trump,
Please don't visit Puerto Rico. You just stay in the mainland and play golf at your resort. Don't fly in displacing planes that could be bringing in emergency supplies. Don't visit distracting security forces away from protecting citizens. Melania should stay home lest she soil her Manolo Blahniks with sewage tainted water. Stay home and send in urgently needed resources instead. The situation is dire. To put it in terms you understand-- think of how you look to the world, the greatest country in the world incapable of helping put its citizens back on their feet and making their island whole again.
19
For crying out loud America! How much longer are we going to be humiliated by someone representing us who gets so much joy (and attention) by belittling everyone different from himself while spending such an inordinate amount of time lounging around at his resorts. What has happened to this country? What a disgrace.
23
Ray Nagin is breathing a sigh of relief.
He is no longer the most incompetent mayor in American history.
9
I'm sorry; what was the mayor of San Juan supposed to have done differently, with no federal political participation, obscenely expensive imports due in part to Jones Act restrictions....??
6
Donald Trump Tweets out of his normal ignorant, narcissistic vindictiveness, while Carmen Yulin Cruz, the Mayor of San Juan, pleas eloquently as she valiantly tries to rescue her people--all Puerto Ricans--from this horrendous disaster.
Trumpet assumes that it's just another walk in the park. He'll fly down, praise the people he had just attacked, carry a couple of empty boxes all of ten feet to a truck, get his photo-op, and never get his wing-tips dirty. Meanwhile, all the people of Puerto Rico have been living in misery, and its just a matter of time until deadly diseases start to spread.
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
13
Just one more example of Trump's fragile ego at work. Does this guy need constant self-stimulation? Apparently so. There doesn't seem to be a day that goes by where Trump just let sleeping dogs lie, where he can't simply ignore some perceived slight. Put Trump up against anyone whom he needs to insult and you will to see that person wins hands down any contest of honesty, integrity, just plain niceness. Trump is a horrid monster who preys on all those he feels superior to. What a stain he has permanently placed on the American presidency.
DD
Manhattan
12
Dear NYT:
Another sad example of The Times' political bias and its abandonment of journalistic standards. This lede of the story misstates the target of President Trump's criticism: he did not state that the "people of the devastated island were not doing enough to help themselves." He chided a few opportunistic PR politicians who falsely blamed the federal response for their own failure to mobilize local help, and for exploiting tragedy for political advantage.
The story sets an incomplete and misleading context and omits important information. For example, The Times neglected to mention that this mayor has failed to attend FEMA organizational meetings, recruit local assistance or coordinate with federal officials to distribute all those supplies piled up behind her in CNN interviews, Re her political background, she is described as a pro-commonwealth politician, yet she invited a convicted Puerto Rican secession terrorist to join her administration, and equated PR statehood to former slaves becoming slave owners.
12
should any of that matter when there are millions of Americans who are in desperate need right now??
18
I agree, These political facts and finger pointing do not matter when compared to the humanitarian crisis triggered by hurricanes sweeping across Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico -- twice.
And this is precisely why The Times' reporting is so offensive. This is a story designed to inflict political damage and support a larger narrative of "Trump the white supremacist." Along with CNN, NBC et al, the focus of Peter Baker's story is to tag Trump in a Katrina-style failure, namely, that he is neglecting PR relief because he is a racist..
The degradation of journalistic standards matters because The Times is a journalistic institution, and democracy depends on informed decision-making by our citizens, not click-bait partisan "narratives." We should always hold the media accountable, and especially now -- when it appears the center will not hold. And on a personal level, I am just sick and tired of all the hating.
5
The NYT tees it up and the commenters knock it out of the park. If readers read something besides the NYT you'd know she is skipping FEMA meetings and was a Sanders then Clinton supporter. She's playing politics with the lives of her citizens.
9
OMG she skipped a FEMA mtg!! Everything would be fine in PR now, but for that!
8
Joe: She was a Sanders and then a Clinton supporter? Good for her! The lady has brains. Had it been Clinton or Sanders who won the presidency, (well, Clinton DID win the presidency) she would have seen a lot more help. Those two would not have been playing golf at one of their fancy resorts, or spewing hatred and racism at minorities.
8
Leaving this non story up for more than 24hrs? Click bait..
4
Your presence (clicks) is what (helps) keeps it there.
Isn't Irony,..ironic sometimes?
4
I've listened to Trump's remarks for the past couple of days and cringe when I compare them to Macron's, Rutte's or May's.
Puerto Rico is a US colony and seeing to its recovery in the wake of a natural disaster is Trump's duty. No other international leader would sink so low as to question whether full restoration will be provided, cast blame on the victims and assail the only figurehead who's displaying true leadership in these dire circumstances.
Trump is the scourge of humanity, an international embarrassment. Those who still support him, or worse yet criticize Puerto Rico in these comments, should be ashamed of themselves.
23
should be, but never will be: they have no shame; nothing but false pride and weakness.
6
What no one has said yet is that this is an island with a relatively small population compared to Houston or the state of Florida. The devastation caused by Maria had far more impact than the other hurricanes as this was a direct hit. Logically, even if you had capably trained disaster relief experts in place at the local level, what could they do, especially when their own families were living from day to day. We knew in advance Maria was on its way and we did nothing. Even after it hit, Fema waited for instructions. From day 1 the instructions from Trump should have been, mobilize Fema and the military to drop in emergency supplies and shelter with people to organize distribution, then begin rebuilding critical infrastructure. This is not rocket science.
16
It is increasingly difficult to keep reading accounts of Donald Trump's ongoing diabolical responses to situations which require humanity, and compassion.
Why do people continue to respond with surprise? I personally am suffering from
Compassion fatigue as well as outrage fatigue when reading accounts of the unspeakable utterances he commits.
There are offences against war crimes his offences fall under humanitarian crimes. The feeling he evokes is of despair, and revulsion. WE weep for the US. It is heartening to read all the comments expressing outrage and disgust, but where is leading?
8
Erratum. Sloppy writing.. I did not mean compassion fatigue, this was
not intended. One cannot have compassion fatigue for all the victims of
these catastrophic weather events. One's compassion should be limitless. OUTRAGE FATIGUE. YES!
3
The time is NOW -- not next month, not 2018 -- for all rational, fair-minded Americans to rise up before the stained White House and throughout Trump-polluted America, in One United Voice, our collective cry spewing the power and fury of a hurricane, to demand immediate commencement of a lawful process to remove Donald Trump.
The time is NOW to rebuild our nation -- and Puerto Rico -- from this wholly Destructive presidency.
11
Blame the victim! While the President is golfing and goofing he castigates the Mayor of San Juan and the Puerto Ricans responsible for the catastrophe that has befallen on them. They do not have basics like food and water for survival while the golfing President sends tweets from his 10 star suites in Bedminster. The man is heartless and morally bankrupt. Beating a man when he is down is the ultimate in cowardice.
11
So many comments suggesting that Puerto Rico become a state. Really? Would any entity, no matter how desperate, want to be a part of the U.S. under this deranged president? When the smoke clears after this bomb of a presidency, perhaps Puerto Rico might toy with the idea of a marriage. But nowadays, one must wonder if the smoke will ever clear or recover from this disgraceful president and his one-party Congress. We must face the fact that as a Democracy, we have now hit rock bottom.
6
Too bad trump has to travel to his golf resorts so much rather than saving the money for those in need. 25th Amendment anyone?
7
One commenter claimed "POTUS dropped the Ball".
No that's not what Bullies do,
They Deflate the Ball, purposely throw the Ball in the mud, throw the Ball in your face,..and then take the ball home,..not only to inflict harm on others but also,..
Just to see how many will follow them as they leave.
3
Trump is acting like a dictator instead of a president of the United States of America.
6
[Second Submission] One is hard-pressed to describe the President response to the heartfelt, desperate pleas for additional help by San Juan's courageous Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz. Trump's tweets are beyond awful, beyond boorish, beyond cruel, beyond destructive, beyond egomaniacal, beyond fatuous, beyond gross, beyond heartless, beyond insensitive, beyond juvenile, beyond klutzy, beyond lousy, beyond mean, beyond nasty, beyond outrageous, beyond pathetic, beyond quixotic, and beyond reason. They are sadistic. That is the "truth" of these "ugly" "victim-blaming" "willful" "xenophobic" "yahoo" "zaps."
5
Mayor Cruz of San Juan , Puerto Rico is absolutely correct that the federal Govt's reaction to the devastation on the Island has been very slow and in remote places non-existent.
I read in today's Tampa Bay Times that pallets of volunteered food, toiletries and other supplies sit at the Tampa airport waiting for volunteer planes to take the crucial supplies to Puerto Rico. Military transport could have accomplished this easy task days ago if only the Feds had authorized it which they haven't.
President Trump personally attacking the Mayor who is pleading for water, food ,medicines and generators for electricity shows Trump to be a callous and mentally unstable man who seeks to start a Rosie O'Donnell type personal feud with the Mayor who's wading in waist high polluted water with a bullhorn to rescue and help her fellow Americans on the Island.
This is a new low for Trump.
74
Trump's actions are hard to understand. Traditions, norms, our values and the responsibilities of the presidency demands of Trump to defend and protect the nation and its people. Yet, his actions and words does align with the demands of his duties. I cannot think anything else except that he trying to damage and destroy America as a gift to his boss, Vladimir Putin. Congress, GOP included, intelligence community, media, the military must scrutinize and question Trump's bizarre actions.
19
Hopefully, the reality of Ted Koppel's book, Lights Out, will not occur, but if it does, we can only hope that Trump will not be our president. He would not know what to do if a third of the power of this country went out. What is occurring in Puerto Rico should be treated as a practice case should the power grid in any third of the country be lost.
12
Puerto Rico should become a State of United States. They are already US citizen, like other Americans in mainland US. They should be a full-fledged US State.
9
It's almost morbidly fascinating to watch how a US president keeps topping himself in his inhumanity. The world looks at America's shame.
And now Trump actually plans to show his face in Puerto Rico? Typical clueless arrogance, after he insults its desperate citizens, quote--- "They ... want everything to be done for them." It's unbelievable. Get the TV cameras ready and watch the political optics. Won't be a 'good news story'.
We see how Tsar Trump the Terrible personally looks at anyone's calamity, using it to stoke hostility and to divide citizens.
The pattern is clear. The president has no conception of what a president, his cabinet and public officials owe American citizens as the duty of their offices.
It's past time for Trump's deluded voter fans to face reality. They might look at his insult to Puerto Rico, and to many others, and wonder---how will he react to a catastrophe in my area? Or to my lack of health care when disaster strikes me and my family personally? They must use their imagination.
20
"Trump Accuses Puerto Rico Mayor of ‘Poor Leadership’"
Trump is the last person on the face of the earth to be criticizing anyone on Puerto Rico, let alone the mayor. I never been to that Island, but I have read all the news articles, seen the pictures and the video. I doubt Trump has seen or read anything on the disaster there.
No president in my long life has ever acted the way Trump has to absolute disaster and I am ashamed that we have this one in this time of crisis on that Island. I can not even begin to imagine the human suffering in that place, but Trump obviously doesn't have the capacity to even feel anything for those people. The survivors of disasters in foreign nations have had faster and fuller response from our country, but not from Trump where are own fellow citizens are concerned.
This is not a political issue, but it is an extreme human survival issue and Trump just doesn't get it. Disgusting.
17
"Trump lashes out..." How very presidential! Remind me which former presidents have excoriated everyone who went before them...seems like a perverse inferiority complex to me. Too bad WE all have to pay for the psychoses of our great leader.
10
Retired General Russel Honoré, who took over the federal response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, said: "I have no reaction. The mayor's living on a cot, and I hope the President has a good day of golf," he told CNN.
In response on Saturday to the hurricane that happened many days ago on Sept. 20th, I heard VP Mike Pence say yesterday:
"The USS Comfort (ship) will be there in a matter of days.."
It's clear this administration dropped the ball.
http://time.com/4960647/us-turned-its-back-on-puerto-rico/
20
Once again " the new guy" doesn't have any idea what needs to be done, nor does he understand the dire situation these people are in. His misogyny is glaringly apparent, he can't handle ANY WOMAN TELLING HIM WHAT TO DO! He bluster's like an angry old man and then blames anyone but himself. All of his talking heads are trying to defend him, it's ridiculous.
His swamp is getting stinkier by the minute. The President's job is to unify the country not tear it apart! Does this guy just wait until things are really bad and then say " how can I make this situation worse?!"
he's giving us all Post Traumatic Trump Stress Disorder!
19
There is something massively wrong with this puerile, small-minded President. This guy prefers to send out cheap little Tweets aimed at his enemies, real or imagined, and tee up at one of his golf courses than to act like a president while the Puerto Rico and the V.I. go to hell in a handbasket.
By the way, there's just something about golf and Republican presidents, I guess. Who can forget Bush's famous "Now, watch this drive" comment at a golf course while talking about Middle East violence.
The Republican political gene pool is massively short of "common sense" DNA.
17
"America First! Except for the Puerto Rican part. For them, maybe later. You know because they owe us money."
Sheesh! You would think the military could set up or fix the power generating system so power (at least it's source) could be restored within days/weeks rather than the months predicted. Just the effort alone would go along way to suggest our president cared. Could the military act independently?
10
Islands are not always surrounded by water.
Puerto Rico is as Trump pointed out.
An oasis is an island in the middle of the desert.
Times Square is an island unto itself.
A winter's day
In a deep and dark
December
I am alone
Gazing from my window to the streets below
On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow
I am a rock
I am an island
I admire your effort. But Trump is far from being a poet laureate despite the liberties he takes with language.
3
trump's reply: WHAT!!!!!????
The response to this poetic flourish in the Trump mind?
".... the Sound of Silence."
Trump's sitting there commenting on PR's debts as if that justifies his nastiness. People who bought up PR's debts should understand that THERE'S NO GUARANTEE THAT WHEN YOU INVEST THAT YOU WON'T LOSE MONEY.
8
You'd think Donald would know about reneging on debt, the Bankruptor-in-Chief.
8
I hope that Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz and the courageous people of Puerto Rico understand that our thoughts and prayers are with them during this crisis. Trump in no way represents us. We wish you the best, and strongly support efforts to push through disaster aid in Congress and through charities.
Trump's tweets will live in some collection of grotesque expressions of how a leader should never act.
A better observation for this situation was made by Eleanor Roosevelt: "You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along' "
Personally I think that Mayor Cruz deserves an award as a profile in courage and strong leadership.
17
Listening to the FEMA director Long this morning on one of the Sunday morning political shows, there is no doubt in my mind that Long was on top of the Puerto Rico disaster. In fact, the good news is FEMA did learn from Katrina. Mayor Cruz, rightfully, was not happy with what is going on on the ground because life is still horrendous for most people in Puerto Rico. The Democrats, however, should be very carefully not to politicize the Puerto Rico too much if FEMA is doing a good job. One, the Democrats are terrible at exaggerations. They are not in the same league as Price, Hannity (and most of the crews on Fox except for Shepard, Wallace, et al. ), and the Christian Fundamentalist businessmen. If FEMA is doing a decent job- just let it go. Two, by politicizing the Puerto Rico disaster, the Democrats are just pushing the 60% of voters who already don't like Trump to give Trump a second look. Three, by making an issue out of a non-issue, the Democrats are destroying the little bipartisanship that is left. By now, every reasonable person in this country should cherish bipartisanship with all reasonable efforts. In this digital age where every citizen just focuses on the media conforming with his political belief, let's not let bipartisanship die with John McCain. That would be a tragedy in the Shakespearian proportions.
4
Puerto Rico has the population of Connecticut with 3.4 million people. The area is 3500 sq miles. 94% of the population has no potable water. The food, shelter, and medical needs are huge. This disaster is bigger than Texas and Florida but the federal response has been but a fraction of the aid to those disasters. So, one has to wonder if the response is political in nature. After all, Puerto Rico has no votes in the electoral college.
16
The vast majority of the American people could care less what Lady Gaga or the creator of a play in NYC have to say about the President, much less the mayor of San Juan. US relief efforts have been there, working diligently, just not to her satisfaction. The bigger question why wasn't the island better prepared to react to this disaster? Stockpiling MREs, water, fuel and medical supplies in secured bunkers for use in such conditions isn't that big of a step for 3.4 million people.
3
Donald Trump set the pace for response, and it was slow and without any sense of urgency.
There was little medicine and supplies at hospitals this weekend to treat people that have been without insulin, oxygen, inhalers and heart meds..
This is a disaster. The Navy has two huge ships that are hospitals, both docked at Virginia----and one finally got moving this weekend.
It's over 10 days since the hurricane hit the island this gov't deployed the ship.
Helicopters aren't arriving until three days from now. The US could've dropped supplies, water, food, tarps, diapers. It did not. It's another Katrina, where people are stranded without help.
Dr. Sanjay was on the ground, and described the situation. He went to a makeshift medical set up underneath an overpass that had shade. He got a bag of a few things, and took them to the hospital, where he was hugged by the chief doctor there. He showed how woeful the situation is.
I have watched the news all week, and day after day people are without what they need. Sitting in the heat. Unable to sleep in their homes. Nothing covering them. No tents, no lean to's, no tarps.
I saw many incidents of elderly humans suffering on the news channels this week and still this weekend and today.
5
At the risk of sounding presumptuous, I would argue that most intelligent, fair-minded, and adorable Americans (and there are lots of us) care what Lady Gaga, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hillary Clinton, Cher, and others, celebrities or not, have to say about the president and the mayor of San Juan.
No state, commonwealth, territory, or principality can ever be adequately prepared for a storm with the destructive power of Maria, bunkers or no bunkers. (Example: Florida, where I live half the year, would be unlivable today, October 1, were it not for all states that sent power-company convoys to Florida to get the lights and the A/C back on after Irma, a "lesser" storm than Maria. Floridians would be one sweaty, mosquito-bitten mess without that help!) Federal relief efforts should have been in place before Hurricane Maria hit PR. The Trump administration had days to prepare and knew that the storm would be catastrophic. That the administration was not prepared is nothing short of malignant negligence.
10
I personally believe most Americans should be nasty to Mr. Trump.
He has failed, and continues to fail us, as chief executive of the United States. It appears he's utterly unqualified to hold the office.
After all his administration is falling apart, hardly a week goes by without another resignation by a senior staffer. How can our people get the services they require from their government, when the president can't fill or keep senior positions filled?
Many of his picks have left the administration because of ethical failings, some lied to congress during their confirmation hearings, and others left because of major policy differences with the president or his close advisors. There's obviously a big problem here.
So what should we believe? That a man who ran based on a platform that he had expertise in how to hire, who to hire, and who to fire. However, it appears he does't have a clue as to where to find a pool of applicants that might serve as quality choices for the most important senior positions in our federal government.
Or should we invoke Occam's razor, that being the precept that the simplest answer is often the most likely to be correct. In this case it's pretty obvious that Donald J. Trump doesn't have a clue as to what he's doing and is consequently not competent to be the President of the United States of America.
14
This is not about rocket science. Puerto Ricans need shelter (tents or temp. housing); water; food; medicines; fuel and communications. These things can be dropped in along with people to organize distribution. A population that is worried about surviving to the next day is not capable of providing disaster relief, nor should they be. Wake up America, your Commander in Chief's tweets show a lack of leadership and frankly are un-American.
13
Erik Erikson's American profile from "Children and Society"
Erikson. Page 322
"For the old autocrats have disappeared, and the new ones know how to hide behind the ambiguity of language, which fills the legislature and the daily press, industrial strife and organized entertainment. “Bosses” are self-made autocrats and, therefore, consider themselves and one another the crown of democracy. As far as is necessary, a “boss” stays within the law, and as far as is possible he enters boldly into the vacuum left by the emancipated sons in their endeavor to restrict themselves in fairness to others. He looks for areas where the law has been deliberately uncharted (in order to leave room for checks, balances, and amendments) and tries to use it and abuse it for his own purposes. He is the one –to speak in highway terms- passes and cuts in where others leave a little space for decency’s and safety’s sake."
Good luck America.
3
“They want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort,” Trump Tweeted.
Trump is a resident and landowner of Florida. Where is his involvement in the "community effort" as a resident and landowner of Florida? I don't see him down in Southern Florida on the weekends with waders on, helping his fellow community members in need.
Instead, he relocated his weekend golf game to NJ, which wasn't hit by a hurricane this season (so far, anyway).
15
The resources wasted on a Trump trip to PR could be better used filling a c-5a or five with earth moving equipment and operators.
Police resources needed to protect him could be better deployed elsewhere.
One not be an accomplished seer to predict a riot of rage.
Stay home and play golf Mr, Trump. You will do more good.
By doing less harm.
12
Trump is to Maria what W was to Katrina- Just hope it costs him and his enablers. Attacking people when they're in a crisis takes a special mindset.
13
Several commenters have blamed the Puerto Rican truck drivers and their union for the slow distribution of hurricane relief aid, citing reports on CNN.
So I went to CNN to find out for myself. Seems the situation is more complex.
Here's the web page:
http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/27/us/puerto-rico-aid-problem/index.html
Here's a quote:
"Part of the reason for the distribution backlog is that only 20% of truck drivers have reported back to work since Hurricane Maria swept through, according to a representative for Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rosselló.
'When we say we that we don't have truck drivers, we mean that we have not been able to contact them,' Rosselló said.
On top of that, a diesel fuel shortage and a tangle of blocked roads mean the distribution of supplies is extremely challenging. Even contacting drivers is a problem because cell towers are still down."
Sounds like Puerto Rico could really use some outside help to clear the roads and bring in needed fuel and restore cell communication.
Anyone listening at FEMA?
13
Trump would be more than happy to hand PR over the Putin as payment for his debts. Putin is already putting the moves on Cuba....
2
They don't vote for President. So, of course, he doesn't care what happens to them.
10
What are all the cranks and conservatives going to do when, in the words of Mitt Romney, Puerto Ricans "self-deport" to the continental USA? Their hatred and animosity will escalate, just as it's escalating against players who kneel at football games. It's time for these squalling toddlers/fans to grow up and take responsibility.
Puerto Ricans are US citizens and, more to the point, human beings with 'dignity and worth'. We must stop making non-whites the enemy. We must stop this racism and animosity. Yet it's clear that even if DJT is impeached and thrown out, the hate he stirred up and amplified (it was already there) will continue.
Let's get this straight: Carmen Yulin Cruz is a Leader by any definition of the word Leader. She had gone the extra miles in water up to her chest. She has wears herself out helping her people while DJT plays golf. She's a national hero --but since she's a woman, and since she showed our president-in-name-only for who he is, he reacts by heaping scorn and ridicule on her and her battered island.
Yet again, we see how vicious and craven he is. She is a beacon of hope and perseverance for our whole nation. She demonstrates what good leadership is while he gets bored and tweets. Her goodness and dedication are in high relief compared to DJT. She is heroic while the nation and world sees DJT as irresponsible and dangerous. Verbal attacks are not leadership. And for that he should be ashamed.
10
He should be ashamed.
Agreed,
But let's not hold our breath.
This guy is shameless
4
Trump will only listen to white males. So probably FEMA told him Mayor not saying "Mother May I" in correct order since is Puerto Rico after all, not an American State. Hence her frustration with "red tape" and Trump frustration with "not pulling weight". They need help, Government should give it. Touted simplicity with Tax Proposal--no different.............
4
How easy is it is to attack the people of Puerto Rico from the comfort of your Golf Course Donald. We spent Billions in Iraq and Afghanistan. My Grandfather, Father, Brother, and a multitude of Uncles and Cousins and I served in US military as Proud Puerto Rican Americans. Did you serve? So is it too much to ask that you repay their service and the blood they shed with a little compassion and humanity in this time of need. Hard to believe we salute the same flag...
10
I have just reread this piece as well as perusing many of the comments. What I want to call attention to is the many, many caring Americans with whom I am privileged to call my community as a citizen here in the US. And I am certain that the attention and concern for this mayor and her country crosses party lines. So many of us, thousands and even more, are reaching out to Puerto Rico and saying the same thing, "We are not like this president. We want to help. We care."
I hope that Ms Cruz will find some consolation in knowing how her country is in our hearts and on our minds, that far from forgetting, we instead are determined to help rebuild this our territory. As one commenter asked, and I paraphrase, what will it take before Trump comprehends this catastrophe, cholera or other deathly epidemics? Trump is truly a shameless human being who lives a shameful life.
6
Well.
Inconvenient facts - well documented and freely available - include that all those pallets of relief supplies behind the mayor, are not being delivered because she has not marshaled an army of local truck drivers.
They aren't even reporting in, in most cases. Of course this is certainly affected by their own personal tragedies, but it doesn't speak well of her grasp of the situation.
Dock workers aren't showing up either.
That only 1/3 of the National Guard has been activated is equally absurd.
She seems to have plenty of time to talk with left leaning news outlets, but she's been skipping the FEMA planning meetings.
The scoping process itself has taken a lot of time due to the sheer magnitude of the damage.
Maybe you should all get your facts straight before you go off on a whining, partisan, and childishly motivated rant.
3
Your source(s)?
5
She's the mayor of one city, you're saying she should have the capacity to mobilize and save the entire island? That's FEMA'S job.
6
You've made a number of statements and it would be helpful for the rest of us if you can provide the source material for what you have presented.
This request is related to your statements about local truck drivers, dock workers, and the national guard.
Thank you!
5
This is not a political issue as Trump and His Government Controlled Network, Fox News, continue to aver.
Our democracy is being shattered by Trump who uses political division to protect his glaring incompetence.
Whether someone voted for Trump or not, it would serve us all to remember that WE all are Americans.
We should not fall prey to the division stoked by our racist, over eating golfer in chief.
Puerto Ricans are American. They are dying even as we discuss their lives. Politics aside, we should ALL be enraged at this man who epitomizes and encourages the worst in us. We should be compassionate not condemning.
America HIRED Trump for a job that he CANNOT do. We should not reward him by giving in to his efforts to obscure his vile and FAILED governance. He is grossly incompetent!
We should not forget that there is more that unites us outside of skin color and political preferences, thrust on us by Trump even in times of national disaster.
His hate of all non Male, non White folks, and disdain for those who are not reveling in the hate he spews should be rejected.
We are Americans, and many of us are GOOD people. We should not be so easy to,manipulate Trumpism is the policy of hate, bullying and division. We must learn to reject it. We are The United States of America, not the Disunited States Of Trump!!
15
I honestly hope people boo him when he shows up Puerto Rico on Tuesday.
19
This is a real tragedy and the President is a very real disaster. I wish someone had or maybe has a video of him eating his chocolate cake at his elegant resort while the people of PR are dying.
This is disgusting.
This is an impeachable offense . He is unfit to lead or have any sort of compassion for others.
11
...from a golf course, on vacation...
9
It seems clear that the only reason we'd hear faint praise from Mayor Cruz for our lying sleezebag prez is to win favor. Maybe a spot on his to-be resumed TV show once impeached?
4
Donald has found a new "Nasty Woman" to replace Hillary. But unlike Donald, this nasty woman is actually doing her job.
Too bad the two real nasty women, Irma and Maria, didn't pummel Donald's Mar-A-Lago estate. Maybe then he would acquire a trace of empathy for the suffering of others. No, he'd only identify with his own loss because he can never see past himself, but it would be satisfying to see him join in the misery.
When Donald visits the island this week, will he praise the size of the crowds who turned out to see him?
13
For those wondering "why don't the people help themselves and start fixing all that stuff? Aren't they just being lazy?"
Imagine your house was destroyed and all the means you use to physically survive have been damaged or destroyed or have blown away. You are a municipal worker. Shouldn't you be out fixing infrastructure? Well, sure, but wouldn't you need to help your family survive? It might take you all day to find a few gallons of water to wash and with which to cook. It might take you all day to find a small amount of food. You might need to scrounge materials to build something to keep out the rain temporarily. Etc. This person does not have the ability to go to a city nearby to pick up everything they need, because no city was affected and roads are damaged. It takes every adult in a family to get basic supplies for each day. How is one of the adults supposed to leave to take care of public infrastructure? They do not have enough surplus time or goods to do something for someone else. This is not the US, where millions of unaffected people live 1 hour's drive away. Think about Houston. Just 1 mile from people whose houses were flooded to the rooftops are tens of thousands of people that suffered no impact at all.
I can't believe I have to explain this to conservatives. The whole notion "why can't they help themselves" is rapidly becoming the conservative news ecosystem response, but it just shows how desperate they are to excuse the US reaction.
17
Trump and FEMA did a wonderful job with the two previous disasters. Thank you first responders! This would be going more smoothly, too, if the mayor of San Juan would start participating in the process and stop panicking. Resources are pouring into Puerto Rico. Lives are at stake here; this is no time for political nonsense. Things might still be bad there, but even the Governor of Puerto Rico says the Feds have been helpful. In the end, Puerto Rico is going to benefit from having a President like Trump who knows how to build!
1
You're right, Mark: lives are at stake here, and this is no time for political nonsense. Would you mind passing that sentiment along to the Donald? It seems that it's he, and not San Juan's mayor, who needs to hear this because it's him, and not her, who is actively engaging in political bullying and reprehensible behavior that most of us wouldn't tolerate from children.
And would mind telling us exactly what the Donald is going to build in Puerto Rico? Considering that he has a history of bankruptcies and stiffing his contractors, I wouldn't put too much stock in his ability to build anything or successfully see a project to a conclusion that benefits anyone other than himself.
Lastly, the San Juan mayor has every right to panic. Homes and infrastructure on her island have been destroyed, her people are suffering, and Trump himself appears to care less. She has every right to be upset and critical of the situation.
4
All of the US "responsibilities" are always held at arms length by Republicans. Include DC in this but not so dramatically, they can at least vote. (but they don't matter anyway since Republicans will just over rule the actual vote if they don't like it) This is part of a long term 2 pronged effort to degrade Puerto Rico designed to keep it from Statehood. The first prong has already been accomplished, cynical and nasty vulture capitalists are at the door. The second prong? Relief from a hurricane that was mere hours away takes weeks to get going, a major legislative stock on the neck of Puerto Rico (the Jones act) is not rescinded until people have already died from want of bare necessities that could have easily been provided from the mainland if only the fear of their votes did not cloud the minds of Republicans. This is the greatest voter suppression scheme in our history and it was accomplished by doing nothing at all. Republicans all over are breathing a sigh of relief.
6
The Puerto Rico mayor needs to get working and stop trying to get people to do everything for them.
These people live on an island paradise year round, few people here can claim they get a vacation for 3 days there.
People here pay income taxes, Puerto Rico does not.
Regardless, we are sending medical, food, and water... now they need to get to work. Put on some hard hats and boots, take off the sandals, and get to work on rebuilding. This time put some power lines underground with the money instead of stealing the money. Trump is no dupe.
2
You people seem to forget that we have PR as a territory to keep hostile enemies like the Russians from getting too close the the US shores. That's its purpose. I'm sure Trump would be more than happy to turn PR over the Putin as payment for his debts, and Putin would be happy to accept it. Oh and we should actually care about the wellbeing of people in need anyways.
6
How much more effective Mayor Cruz' statement would have been if she had announced Puerto Rico's declaration of independence from the USA, flanked by other Puerto Rican mayors?
The USA would be falling all over itself to send Naval flotillas, Marine landing brigades and Army paratroopers jumping out of planes to help secure Puerto Rico.
6
The Mouse that Roared scenario.
I think that Mayor Cruz has done an amazing job of getting out the SOS for her island. She is the human voice of Puerto Rico rich now. As many others are doing, she is living in a shelter with her family, dependent on the help of others. I have more resect for HER than Ive had for anyone in a long, long time. I wish I could do more than send money; if anyone has suggestions, please post them.
Mrs. Trump needs look no further than her husband as the King of CyberBullies. I can't imagine a more obvious correlation. He's at his golf course, tweeting about how these Americans should take care of themselves, and that Mayor Cruz is a shill. My contempt for his narcissistic 10-year-pld nature grows stronger every day.
13
Trump's ego smarts from any criticism at all. I would tell the major of San Juan to ignore his comments since they are only his knee jerk reactions to any criticism. I am beginning to totally ignore is comments myself and have totally stopped clicking into news stories that feature him. He does not have the maturity to rise above criticism and evaluate it or research it for accuracy. I used to wonder just how much worse he could be but I stopped doing that since it only serves to irritate me. So, my advice is to ignore his comments and not allow them to diminish your self esteem. You just have to consider the source and move on.
10
OK, everybody ready? 5-6-7-8...
Puerto Rico is treated like Cinderella while Texas and Florida get to go to the ball. Throughout history we have always abused the Caribbean islands, and even today we are still at it. From an article in The Guardian by Jon Henley: "Haiti has had slavery, revolution, debt, deforestation, corruption, exploitation and violence," says Alex von Tunzelmann.
All the islands have been punked by the colonialists, most recently, Cuba in the pas few generations, and Puerto Rico has never been more to the US than an exploited step sister unworthy of statehood. Of course Donald Trump, a mean farmer is going to sell Puerto Rico down the river.
I knew Trump was a narcissist, an impulsive man set on his own personal gain at the expense of all others, but I did not take him to be a cruel man as his denigration of the Mayor has proven.
11
Brave lady to speak out. Most leaders in Puerto Rico would fear saying anything against a President for fear of retribution.
11
“Results of recovery efforts will speak much louder than complaints by San Juan Mayor."
will they ever, dude. and so far they're saying you are failing.
10
Trump is a small, small man. I truly hope that Mueller and his investigation uncover something that allows us to be done with Trump.
He has sullied the Office of the President, sullied our Country's good name, and done everything he could to do Putin's bidding to destroy the United States.
10
45 has no conscious, friends, soul nor heart...
8
Donald, you may not realize this, but you are such an embarrassment to our nation. Once this horrific era is behind us (and you) I STRONGLY urge you to start reading. Catch up on history, and even the news (i.e.,actually READING more than the headlines), albeit that would even be a step in the right direction.
4
To paraphrase Joseph N. Welch, "Mr. Trump, have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last?
6
We have the Eighth Amendment which prohibits cruel or unusual punishment for crimes. Otherwise (ahem), I would suggest that Trump and his whole collection of hangers-on and enablers deserve to be flogged.
4
And the pattern repeats, endlessly. It always will when one is dealing with a pathological narcissist and serial liar, a.k.a. Our Fearless Leader.
He and his minions always, without exception, accuse others of the exact things they themselves are guilty of. It's known as "projection." The avatar of "poor leadership" accuses the mayor of San Juan of poor leadership simply because she very rightly criticized his administration for its weak (at best) efforts at helping her destroyed city and country. Also, how do you "do enough for yourself" when your water supply, power grid, livelihoods, and homes are utterly destroyed?
Where are those bootstraps that the Puerto Ricans so desperately need? Perhaps Our Fearless Leader could send a few of those to those poor people.
He should be ashamed of himself. But then, having a sense of shame would imply that he has an ounce of compassion or human-kindness. Yeah, no.
What a tiny, despicable man he is. Also a bit slow-witted, yes? (Who *doesn't* know that the ocean is very big?)
6
He is just an evil man, devoid of compassion or care. All he cares is about his brand name, making money, and making more money now with a tax bill that will enrich himself and his family. Human suffering is not something he has ever experienced or knows an iota about. His heart is even small than his hands.
6
The news is that he's started a tweetstorm against his own Sec'ty of State, re: N. Korea, right after the racially-tinged attacks on San Juan. This is all Bannon. It goes beyond Trump as Queens-born bigot, which he is, and tends to show the Bannon firing was a fake. Trump is the Bannon megaphone and Bannon programs him via Breitbart. Trump watches the propaganda and repeats it. The goal is to destroy the Republicans from within, and it's working.
2
He's just trying to deflect from his utter failure there. Can the man get any smaller?
2
Thank God Trump and Melania are going to roll up the sleeves on their official POTUS and FLOTUS jackets and help restore the infrastructure, repair the electrical grid and save lives in Puerto Rico on Tuesday. What's that? They're only going to drop in for a couple of hours to make a speech, hand out bailing buckets, and smile for selfies? Well, the citizens of Puerto Rico will be grateful, I'm sure, because they'll be doing everything they can to help the great people of PR... MAGA.
6
Trump is an embarrassment to America.
Trump suggest that the Mayor of San Juan has poor leadership?
This comment is outrageous because it comes from a man who has an abysmal track record with women and probably knows no women's issues of concern. He'd prefer to grab them by the you know what as he told Billy Bush.
This comment is doubly outrageous because it comes from a man who helicoptered to one of his many golf courses yet again (after complaining that Obama plays too much golf!).
This man has no scruples, morality or ethics.
5
It's desperation time. FEMA needs to step it up. Frustration is understandable as unprecedented disaster but it's your job to deal with it. It's save lives not save face for President. Amp Up FEMA--it's your job.............
3
This so-called "President" is an embarrassment to the world and nation!!! What is wrong with him!!?? Attacking the victims of a disaster? Even George Bush, in his anemic response to Katrina, didn't insult the people he was supposed to be helping!!
3
Well, there is another instance of the pot calling the kettle black.
2
Trump would kick a dying man to the curb if he were in his way. It would not surprise me at all to learn that Trump does not even know that Puerto Rico is part of the United States.
6
Trump attacked Puerto Ricans and said they want everything done for them. In short, Trump dog whistled to his crowd that Puerto Ricans are shiftless. Perceive them such, why bother to help them in a timely manner.
Attacking brown people is nothing new for Trump. The man caters to the worst elements in this country.
6
Mayor Cruz showed unbelievable courage & leadership to face the world and relay what the people of Puerto Rico were really enduring,,while Twitter Twit Trump tweets from his crumbling "white ivory tower"endless insults to all asundry. We should all be sadden by this pathetic man.
2
Poor darling. Someone (and it was a woman!) forgot to gush.
6
He hosted the wrong TV show. He is The Biggest Loser. His staff should lock him in a room and force him to watch films of President Obama acting with compassion and understanding.
2
While he rests comfortably in his plush room at his posh club in New Jersey, he might do well to read up on King Louis XVI of France...and his lovely wife Marie – "Let them eat cake – Antoinette. The Hoi Polloi have a nasty habit of rising up and throwing out the privileged who distain them.
4
Every morning America rises with the Sun, not to see IF Trump attacked and offended someone the night before, but WHO Trump attacked and offended...
At what point will the corporate owned Republicans disgracing OUR Congress do the right thing?
Will it be after Trump has signed their bill that gives away another multi-trillion dollar hand out to their billionaire donors disguised as "tax reform"? At that point, what else would they have to gain from this sociopath in the White House? Another war for profit? Heck, they can rest assured that the False Christian Nutcase Pence would provide them with that....
6
Suggestion -- when you rise with the sun to catch up on Trump's ranting and raving, please go to one of the respectable news organizations for the report. Do NOT go to Twitter, which should be boycotted.
1
The President is a world class embarrassment. It is just one incident of bad judgement and lack of leadership after another. America has never witnessed such an inept, narcissistic leader. The San Juan Mayor is a far better example of leadership.
9
So. Very. Small.
10
Donald's "working weekend" consisted of a phone call to Puerto Rico and to FEMA?
Our president: toiling incessantly for his people... while charging the Secret Service rent for golf carts to keep him in sight on the links.
9
A Constitutional amendment, extending the Uniform Code of Military Justice's "conduct unbecoming of an officer and gentleman" to suitable grounds for impeachment of our Commander in Chief, is warranted.
Should this cretin be permitted to continue to embarrass the people of the United States with his rude, flippant incompetence? No - too much at stake.
6
What a pathetic man is our president. How did this become remotely normal in our country? Immediate action to help make rich white people who build in flood zones whole ASAP, while poor non-white Americans are left without power, water and sanitation indefinitely while Trump plays golf. His moral bankruptcy on earth and in the next world is clear to see. The remaining question is: who is brave enough to bear witness to his depravity here and now?
5
Trump really hates smart women who speak their minds. Women should be decorative and submissive and keep their thoughts to themselves. Strong women are a threat to his fragile male ego.
6
I hope the fools who wasted their vote on trump are realizing that they have been had by a con man. How can they sleep at night? This goes for you too, members of the "Electoral College", you have blood on your hands for elevating a completely incompetent, ignorant, rude, self-obsessed charlatan to our highest office!
5
Projecting again. What a vile excuse for a human being. Trump should fall on a golf club in shame.
3
Well Mr. Donald "Bone Spurs" Trump, almost 48,000 Puerto Ricans served in that Vietnam War that you managed to miss and 345 of them died during the conflict. Many were decorated for service and sacrifice to a nation that was busy back home in the 1960's treating them like second class citizens...
In fact Mr. Trump if you read a little history, main reason that the US granted Puerto Rico citizenship rights in 1917 under the Jones Act was so that Puerto Rican men could be conscripted into the US Army and sent off to fill the trenches in Europe during WW I ...
Puerto Ricans have done a much better job of serving this country than you and family have. You and your posse are all about self aggrandizement not about public service, so spare us your analysis of other public servants. Try to do you job for a change, Mr. Trump. Puerto Rico is now just one more F on your first report card... And that's being generous...
10
American federal aid is dispatched; American federal bureaucracy does its job to bottleneck progress; a relatively free American press reports on it; American charities supported by American citizens try to supplement the rescue efforts of fellow Americans; the "president" (unsure which country he serves) thinks it's all about him; American citizens exercise their right to tell him he is going straight to hell in a golf cart.
There's still much good in our country.
6
Trump's immature need to get into name calling is typical of a bully. The problem is that Trump is staying a luxury golf course and Puerto Rica is caught by a giant natural disaster. Trump's thin skinned blather is outrageous.
4
One of the definitions of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results. Trump keeps lashing out at mayors of cities during times of challenge - Chicago, London, and now San Juan.
What will it take to wake people up to the fact that not only is he insane, but he wants everyone else to be, too.
17
The mayor of San Juan and governor of Puerto Rico should simply call Vladimir Putin to call Donald Trump for action. Trump would jump so fast it would make their heads spin!
Better yet, the mayor and governor should seek a permanent solution by seceding from the Dis-United States as a territory and join The Russian Federation. Trump might then get the message. But then again, he would see the huge ocean in which Puerto Rico the island is located and think "who cares."
While it would be a tragedy to have Russia just miles away from the USA, maybe the American people would finally realize what a dangerous, crazy person we have as our president. - who needs to be locked up in an insane asylum. Though that would be a shame for our citizens who are being treated there.
2
Poor leadership is something that Trump knows a lot about, but it seems wrong-headed in this case and about as unhelpful as a (putatively) Presidential statement could be.
6
I'll need to take a really hot shower after this remark, but I think people are giving Trump too much grief over his "island surrounded by water" remark. They act like he is explaining to us what an island is. I think he was emphasizing that. being surrounded by water, you can't just drive relief in like you can here in the states. It will take longer to get supplies there by the very nature of their location.
1
It didn't take longer to send an exponentially larger disaster response to Haiti, also an island surrounded by a big ocean, but which under President Obama sent for more ships, hundreds more helicopters, and some 22,000 or so troops - so much more, and much more quickly - than the anemic slow pace of the Puerto Rico response under Trump who has added insults to injury now. He is unfit for office, and should be locked up in one of his luxury golf resorts without twitter being beaten constantly by wet toupees.
3
I can just see Trump, who sees only dollars and cents, selling Puerto Rico to another country (maybe China) for something like $200 billion – maybe some extra to pay for the recovery in Texas and Florida – just as the US bought Alaska from Russia and Louisiana Purchase from France. That way he takes Puerto Rico’s dire situation off the national ledger, can advance his tax “reform” that will cut significantly into federal revenues and its ability to fund the infrastructure rebuilding necessary after these now epidemic climate catastrophes. Indeed, Trump has hinted that he may not seek the money to rebuild Puerto Rico, and that Puerto Rico, already in dire fiscal straits, is on its own. Maybe Puerto Rico would seek its own buyer.
8
and puerto rico, as we usually forget, is on one of the three gateways to the caribbean, and hence the panama canal. so it has a slight strategic value. china would jump that.
1
Considering the way she has handled the situation in Puerto Rico, I would very much like to see Mayor Cruz run for President of the U.S. She has done more for her people in so many ways than Trump has done for anyone other than for Trump. Mayor Cruz is a real leader!
16
One thing we did learn from President Trump: An island is surrounded by water.
And, yes, that does make it more difficult to come to the aid of storm victims.
But the big problem for the islanders was the fact that, for a time, the island was under water.
The storm lashed the island--and the president lashed out at mayor. He seems to have two responses to almost everything: to storm or to lash out. He needs to widen his behavioral repertoire. But the big question for the welfare of the country: can he learn? One last question: Where's B. F. Skinner when we need him?
4
He really does sound like that (bitter, bullying, can't handle the coursework,..) 12yr old in a 5th Grade class, when he supposed to be in the 7th Grade.
And his supporters are his parents or teachers that are retiring at the end of the school year.
4
Donald cannot take criticism especially from a women.
Florida wasn't hit nearly as hard as Puerto Rico and, like Texas, much of the state was unscathed.
Puerto Rico has had total devastation.
The Federal response should have been and could have been more robust and more immediate. Responsibility for the slow response is all because of Donald.
12
We have a thin-skinned insecure man who would be President, sitting in his luxurious country club this weekend, tweeting nasty disparaging insults to mayor of a community that has been devastated by a category 5 hurricane, without power for at least a week, people dying in hospitals, people without adequate food and water, saying that the response doesn't' match some of the rhetoric coming out of the Whitehouse.
Instead of the insecure man who would be President, showing some compassion and empathy, by admitting there are some logistic issues, but promises to improve the response, he seems to bring out his old trusty dog whistle.
I wish Donald Trump would learn to commutate with a little more tact and caring, rather telling America what he really thinks of Puerto Rico and Puerto Rican's themselves, "they want everything done for them".
Donald Trump, the real Donald Trump talks about the Puerto Rican's as lazy, and takers, but I sure the Puerto Rican community in New York City already knew this about Donald Trump, but were hoping he would show a little humanity...rather just continue to brag about himself.
13
President Trump's poor leadership has undermined the USA's response to this disaster. Trump has clearly prioritized Texas and Florida above the needs of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Puerto Rico's health and security is expendable under the Trump Doctrine which capitalizes on the unfortunate US history of racist colonial and domestic politics. In a fair and just world we would be witnessing the US, Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba, and all the other countries that are touched by the Caribbean Sea, collaborating in assisting Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to cope with the hurricane disaster. Unfortunately the Monroe Doctrine colonial history of the region has had the Caribbean islands divided up into colonies of the US and Europe. Due to century old Jones Act restrictions on trade with Puerto Rico and cold war politics that attempt to isolate Cuba, Puerto Rico is economically and politically isolated from its own regional neighbors.
Puerto Rico is treated as a second class citizen because Puerto Rico is still a colony. Being a colony is not in Puerto Rico's best interest.
Puerto Rico should now be able to reconsider their relationship with the US and enter into peace and security treaties with their regional neighbors such that they would be more secure in the event of a disaster, and less prone to treatment by the USA that relegates Puerto Rico to a status of a colonial mistress.
I daresay Cuba would have acted as the better neighbor for Puerto Rico than Trump's USA.
9
What will it take to get this man out of The White House? This sorry excuse for a president derides the mayor of San Juan who is working night and day to help her people. Puerto Ricans are our brothers and sisters in desperate need and and all Trump seems to be concerned about is his massive yet vulnerable ego.
10
When will Republican Senators speak to this madness? Their silence is worse than Trumps outburst.
When will a journalist ask McConnell, or Ryan, or Rubio, or one of the people in his cabinet when they are being interviewed " If Hillary Clinton did or said the same exact things, would you also be silent? If Obama reacted like this to criticism would you be silent? If your child lashed out at criticism would you be accepting of it? If a teacher in your child school or your minister of your place of worship, your community leader , if any one in a position reacted like Trump is now to criticism ( justified, polite criticism ) would you be calling for their ouster?"
The list goes on. The shame remains
9
Okay, no one is non-politically-correct as far as I've read; Puerto Rico is by definition an Hispanic territory. How does Trump treat Hispanics?
He wants to build a wall to keep them out.
He turns the bulldogs loose to terrorize them and deport them.
He blames them for all the crime in America.
AND THE MAYOR OF SAN JUAN IS FEMALE!
I would not be surprised if Trump sponsors a bill to deport all Puerto Ricans of Spanish, i.e., Hispanic, or Caribbean descent from U.S. property.
THESE FOLKS ARE U.S. CITIZENS.
Come on Texans - come on Floridians - come on every citizen of the United States who has any vestige of conscience; flood the White House and Congress with calls and letters demanding relief of equal measure for Puerto Rico. Greater would be better since the devastation is so complete.
Send a couple of aircraft carriers in to provide electric power as the Enterprise did in California years ago. Send in the Army Corps of Engineers and the Sea Bees (the Navy's Construction Battalion). How about some Virginia Power and Light and other electric company forces who are used to rebuilding power infrastructure after devastating storms.
There are so many fairly quick and effective solutions available to help the "thousands" of federal workers on-site who are trapped by destroyed roads limiting their mobility.
A thinking president and staff (particularly a staff top-heavy with generals and admirals) should have already taken these steps.
Oh, I forgot, thinking may verboten
9
Rather than lead and help fellow Americans in need, Trump blames Puerto Ricans for creating their own misfortune. What an untimely distraction for our poor, misunderstood president! How dare those democrats interrupt his rallying the base around the ratings-driven, faux NFL controversy! While It's heartbreaking to see Puerto Rico utterly destroyed, it's maddening to see the highest office in the land so utterly desecrated. We will rebuild Puerto Rico; we cannot reform Donald Trump.
5
Trump is so suddenly concerned with the symbol of the flag, yet time and time again he flouts American values and common decency. Another powerful symbol is the tradition of POTUS showing up at the scene of tragedy. Instead he phones in vitriol to a leader who is standing in waist deep water desperately crying for help. He is the very symbol of 'bully'.
8
It’s surrounded by big water in a big ocean
Is that why the response came in slow motion?
Trump says rebuilding will be hard because you’re deep in debt
So Puerto Rico will be a debtor prison who America will soon forget
And so he blames the victims for their ill fate
Scolding them about borrowing with a double dose of hate
From the man who went bankrupt not two times but three
As he supervises disaster relief from the green on the eighteenth tee.
6
Even poor leadership from Trump would be a huge improvement. Every time he opens his vile mouth he proves his incompetence and complete lack of morals.
13
How could the American people Vote for such a Despicable Cad ? The peoples of Democracies around the world can only cringe at this horror.
17
The lady mayor of San Juan Puerto Rico does not resemble the women donald Trump knows and loves best like # 1-3 wives Ivana, Marla, Melania and 1st daughter Ivanka. Nor does she resemble the men that Trump knows and loves best like Vladimir Putin, Benjamin Netanyahu, King Salman, Recip Erdogan, Abdel el-Sisi, Rodrigo Duterte and Shinzo Abe. Trump is a "Jet" from "West Side Story" but the lady mayor looks like a "Shark" moll,
How many beauty contests the lady mayor has been in and how long she has been a model are the questions that are most relevant to Trump. Along with the partisan political reality that Puerto Ricans are separate and unequal Americans the lady mayor has the temerity to wear a light sky blue baseball cap instead of a fiery red MAGA Trump "crown".
11
"Trump lashes out at . . (insert name and title here) . . who criticized . . (insert relevant object phrase here) . .
So what else is new? The NYT and other news outlets need only to keep a template on hand and fill in the blanks. (This is a criticism of Trump, not the news outlets.)
8
This man continues to prove he is not FIT for the office he holds.....This bully on the block looks more and more crazy and overwhelmed each passing day. To take on someone literally BEGGING for help on camera is not the behavior of a real leader..He can take his twitter tantrum and stick it....
I am not used to feeling like the President of this nation is a giant piece of nasty crud. He shames himself with his behavior and his racist language on a daily basis......He insults us and our Constitution with his lack of respect of others. Puerto Rico needs someone COMPETENT right now. Anyone other than him would be an improvement.
I am an American and I believe I am a patriotic person. There is nothing about taking a knee that is a gesture of anything but peace and respect. I suspect our brave military would prefer to take a knee than salute this clown.
12
He IS going to Hell. But, WE are already there. Thanks, GOP.
18
President Trump is a careless selfish president who has called the Puerto Ricans "lazy" for not curing the disaster there themselves. Meanwhile the president ,lazier than any Puerto Rican, golfs each weekend and takes little interest in our country's welfare. Pure evil!
11
"The perfect example of an opportunistic politician" is not Ms. Cruz who is working around the clock to help her people but the President who is sending surreal twits from the cushioned comfort of his golf club.
Well, at least he has something to do while he golf carts around the course. What's that he said about his working full-time? Oh: just another lie.
8
Sadly most NYT readers are more passive aggressive towards President Trump in the wake of Hurricane Maria rather than offering helpful information that someone might find useful to ease the living conditions Puerto Rican’s have been facing and will endure for a longtime.
Offering assistance, donate clothing and other basic necessities and / or provide contact information to organizations that can help would be of more of a better use of this social media platform the New York Times has become than to use this space and other people’ s time poking at the President
1
There should be no doubt that Trump is the Charlie Manson, Helter Skelter racist reincarnated.
The KKK-endorsed, neo-Nazi ally Trump incites violence and spouts his hateful remarks against people of color whenever he has the opportunity.
Puerto Rico and its human tragedy in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria are made-to-order for the despot and totalitarian occupant of the Oval Office who has simultaneously seized on the NFL national anthem protests and the beaten-down Puerto Rican people to rally his racist voter base.
He thrills and whips them into a frenzy with each incendiary tirade he unleashes at the Puerto Rican people and the tens of thousands who will remain homeless and helpless for months and years.
Yes, they are U.S. citizens despite Trump's contempt and loathing for them. But, for now, Helter Skelter Trump is basking in his rotted America First wall of lies depicting Puerto Ricans as a lesser form of humanity than the Anglo-European heritage (read white) cult who got him into the Oval Office.
Trump's Potemkin Village has been collapsing with each day that the scales fall from the eyes of Americans who are finally getting it that Trump is all about Trump and his fleeting facade of self-glory.
Helter Skelter Trump. That was his legacy long before he wormed his way into the White House but now it will be burnished into the history books.
5
Such a disgusting little man we have as president. I'm embarrassed for those who try to defend him.
8
My partner and I tried to thing of a single word to describe trump. Embarrassing, sleazy, lying, incompetent, traitorous, imbecilic, fraudulent, thieving.. doesn't begin to describe the derelict masquerading as a president. There isn't one single word to describe that fool.
8
Would it have made a difference in his response if Mayor Cruz was wearing a MAGA hat, her U.S. birth certificate visible in her pocket, while holding a dehydrated baby and on her knees begging in sewage in the dark?! This President is the definition of vile.
9
Trump is a truly miserable human being. Never smiles, always frowning, scowling. A mean, insecure bully and a horrible role model.
6
Heck of a job, Donnie.
8
This woman is out of control acusing POTUS of murder. She is a disgrace. Someone put her in a safe corner
1
Steve, there don't seem to be many safe corners left in Puerto Rico. Perhaps our government could work a bit faster to do something about that.
And "this woman" as you call her has a name and my respect.
3
First off Trump described PR like a 4th grader would have, "PR is an island surrounded by water" isn't that the definition of an island? Secondly, who wants or deserves praise at the beginning of humanitarian relief after an island has been decimated, much too early to make any assessments. Our whack job leader's ego is so fragile it must be stroked on a daily basis. Trump wouldn't know how to take the "high" road if he was lead on a leash! What a complete excuse for a human being.
4
"And you are killing us with the inefficiency." The NYT did not report this comment that started the whole dust up.
Why did Cruz say that? Killing us?
She said it because it is true...
1
How ironic that the mentally ill one twittering and tweeting from the White House would suggest that the mayor of San Juan is showing poor leadership. Trump is the poster idiot for poor leadership.
4
Here's San Juan Mayor Carmen Cruz wading in water, leading rescue efforts, as President Trump insults her by tweeting----from his golf club----------->
https://www.inverse.com/article/36980-puerto-rico-photo-shows-san-juan-m...
4
25th Amendment now. No fan of Pence, but he owes it to the American people to get this ball rolling. 9 Months of sheer hell and dysfunction.
2
I am nauseous from this story... only one thing to say:
Cruz and Trump are made for each other. Gross.
They are playing politics with a massive tragedy.
Shameless.
PLEASE stop the politics and help the people, we are desperate!!!
2
And exactly how is Cruz "playing politics" here?
7
The Mayor of San Juan is begging for help, Puerto Rico is a war zone, American citizens lives are at high risk and our president is not listening. Unbelievable!
5
Ahh the liberal base, you've been lurking for a month waiting to somehow pin a reduced level of support following natural disasters on the President. You couldn't do it on Harvey, couldn't do it on Irma, but AHA, let's get him on Puerto Rico. So you line up some low end mayor political hack from San Juan. Never mind that this "country" only wants the benefits of being part of the USA and Zero of the obligations, nor that the governor of PR has not backed up any of her claims. As Texas and Florida demonstrated recently and Mississippi demonstrated during Katrina, the difference between successful recovery and one that drags out is the people and effective local planning. PR and Louisiana show how not to do it because their local leaders are / were too busy blaming others for their own inability to plan for these predictable storms. Pathetic boldface politics at a time of crisis.
1
Any concrete evidence to back up your claim that the people of Puerto Rico "only want the benefits of being part of the USA and Zero of the obligations"?
6
Puerto Rican born and raised, Colonel Michael A. Valle (”Torch”), Commander, 101st Air and Space Operations Group, and Director of the Joint Air Component Coordination Element, 1st Air Force, responsible for Hurricane Maria relief efforts, has the following comment:
...They have the generators, water, food, medicine, and fuel on the ground, yet the supplies are not moving across the island as quickly as they’re needed.
“It’s a lack of drivers for the transport trucks, the 18 wheelers. Supplies we have. Trucks we have. There are ships full of supplies, backed up in the ports, waiting to have a vehicle to unload into. However, only 20% of the truck drivers show up to work. These are private citizens in Puerto Rico, paid by companies that are contracted by the government”..
The ports are so full of relief supplies they can’t fit any more on the available space. CNBC ground report confirms Colonel Valle’s ground report.
The reason for truck drivers not showing up? The Puerto Rican Teamsters Union, Frente Amplio, is refusing to move the product.
The reporter CONFIRMS that the truck drivers are refusing to work in order to get revenge on the governor because of a law that the governor passed three weeks ago.
They say that the governor’s policies have impacted truckers, so now truckers will show the country THEIR OWN suffering.
3
So, this colonel never heard of helicopters?
2
So get soldiers to drive the trucks! It ain't rocket science.
2
So gauling to be criticised by Trump on matters of leadership.
4
These narcissistic antics from this clown no longer surprise anyone. The amazing and very sad fact is that 30-35% of the country do not care at all about his lack of empathy, humanity, leadership, or really any positive aspects whatsoever. This group includes all nationally elected Republican officials who have turned their back on the United States in the continued act of treason. I really wonder what has happened to my country.
3
Let there be Payback! Every occupant of Trump's clown car belongs in prison. Every Republican member of the House and Senate who continue to support him belong in prison.
1
Oh, that's rich!
He, who has no leadership skills at all (as evidenced by the many failures thus far in his administration), has the gall to criticize someone who is actually living in the trenches along her people . You know, those in need?
Mr Mueller, please, PLEASE, let's end this abomination of a presidency asap
7
America needs more benevolent leaders like Mayor Cruz to replace the malevolent disgrace occupying the White House along with his disgraceful Republican brethren currently occupying our corrupt Congress and Courts.
4
People are dying needlessly because of Trump's ineptitude, inattention and utter unsuitability. NOW will the Senate please impeach him?
5
Trump and Puerto Rico = Bush and Katrina. The loss of life will stun us and we will ask ourselves "how this can happen", etc all over again. If we had made the effort to show up to make sure Clinton had been properly elected and was in office, this would never have come up. Every time some of us have a complaint about this ongoing disaster from Trump/McConnell (the all corrupt, special-interest run GOP), look in the mirror. If you did not show up to vote, you are responsible. People and animals are suffering and dying for no reason whatsoever, as usual, and we are all responsible for getting them help. If we don't force our own government to do the will of the people, we are all done for. Instead of complaining, contact your public office occupants about this issue: find the contact information at www.USA.gov
3
Can we swap Ms. Cruz for Trump? Just asking....
6
What is the man doing at a golf club in times like this? Methinks t'would be proper to talk less about poor leadership and instead start showing some good leadership himself.
1
Seems like the Mayor has too much stacked against her. She's a woman, she's non-white and she doesn't have a vote. Isn't it obvious?
5
Over 95% of Puerto Ricans speak Spanish.
Less than 10% of Puerto Ricans speak English.
We have seen that in Trump World, these are two strikes.
4
The mayor ought to stop her crabbing at president and marshal volunteers to take down the electric gates that won't open and drive trucks to distribute the thousands of tons of food, water and medical supplies piled high on docks in shipping containers in her harbor. CNN reported last night that LESS THAN 4% of the supplies have been distributed, and the harbor is clogged with ships that can't get unloaded--facts the NY Times brazenly ignores with intentional bias.
The American people and their president sent HUGE stores of assistance to help ease the terrible humanitarian crisis, but the mayor is too much of a political hack to get them distributed.
2
Donald Trump is in no position to criticize other people's leadership skills!
4
We need every mayor of every city to join Carmen Yulín Cruz, the mayor of San Juan, in not just criticizing Trump, but in bringing the face of reality to all Americans. Trump's arrogant, thoughtless, nasty, crude and ill-conceived retort accusing Ms. Cruz of "poor leadership" should be a clarion call to the nation.
Trump in his supreme obliviousness to the tragedy of Puerto Rico felt it was necessary to respond not only with thoughtlessness and lack of empathy, but also with a pathetically stupid reference to Puerto Rico's geography. "It's an island" he said. Let's call these remarks what they truly are. They are not terms of endearment, or compassion or empathy. Trump's remarks and tweets reflect stupidity and "poor leadership" skills and Trump's lack of intellectual ability to fully grasp the devastating impact of a category 4-5 hurricane.
Surely anyone seeing people lined up for hours on end seeking food, medicine, water, gasoline and even diapers for children can understand that there is a tragedy taking place not just on an island but on American territory.
Trump is not capable of responding. Its time for all Americans to let him know that there is a crisis of unimaginable proportions taking place on his watch. Were seeing the real Donald Trump. A man spoiled by privilege who can't accept even a grain of well deserved criticism.
Now is not the time to be playing golf Mr. Trump. American people, the people you swore to represent and defend, are need of help.
5
The obtuseness of the fool in the White House/Bedminster golf club, never ceases to amaze. Only a damaged human being such as he could make the flattening of an island of 3.4 million people about himself. He can't understand that even though he personally doesn't care about the people of Puerto Rico, which he obviously doesn't, he has a duty as president to help American citizens. His heartlessness, emotional instability and lack of intellect make it impossible for him to do the job he was elected to do. This is just the latest
evidence that he needs to be removed from office.
5
When Donald "let them eat cake" Trump visits Puerto Rico on Tuesday, I want the usual officials meeting the plane hand to him and Melania in her Louboutins the red gas cans that seemed to be affixed to every Puerto Rican trying to survive and be escorted to the nearest line where these struggling people wait for gas or diesel.
4
Puerto Rico is an island surrounded by water, says Trump, an island surrounded by wealthy crooks and would be wealthy sycophants.
Trump does not care about Puerto Rico for his usual racist reasons. If the residents of this island nation looked like him or his family he would have already been there I in person to help.
2
It is as though The Little Prince believes the mayor purposefully had Puerto Rico hit by a hurricane to inconvenience his golf game. How off-putting indeed!?!
The phrase mentally unstable comes to mind ...
3
Can you imagine President Obama ruthlessly disparaging an exhausted but determined Mayor who has done everything in her power to sound the alarm to get immediate help to millions of suffering people, all while focusing most of his attention on his next golf shot?
Me neither...
8
Where is the million dollar personal donation for PR?
5
Incensed, perhaps. But if one listens to the entirety of the Mayor's interview on CNN, it may be abundantly evident, that the she appears stunned and speechless when she is first told by the commentator of Elaine Duke's inaccurate, irresponsible and ill thought characterizations of the "good news story" in Puerto Rico. The acting secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security, Ms. Duke should know better. Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, then chooses not to comment until she sees the clip that verifies what Ms. Duke has said. Mayor Yulin appears to grapple with the apparent disconnect that belies Ms. Duke's remark and only then does Ms. Yulin gradually makes her remarks, culminating in "this is not a good news story, and then painfully and eloquently shares all the reasons this is not a good news story. She never criticizes Mr. Trump, but makes a heartfelt plea on behalf of American citizens.
It is one of the most moving interviews I have ever heard. It is worth listening to.
8
I know this is maybe the wrong time to say it, but Brock Long has been far and away the best of Trump's appointments. That guy is a professional and absolutely tireless. Imagine if Tom Price had been put in charge of FEMA.
1
I would like to see a class action suit on behalf of every news media operation labeled "fake" against Donald Trump for libel and defamation of character. Trump is not only unfit to be a leader he is a clear and present national security risk.
7
Puerto Rico's debt will have to be forgiven completely.We'll also have to provide in the neighborhood of $1 Trillion to rebuild all the houses and infrastructure.
Probably not a good time to cut taxes when so much needs to be paid for for so many without means.They should really consider raising taxes,not lowering them.
5
There are other financial means to raise the funding to rebuild Puerto Rico other than raise taxes.
Perhaps it is common to only think in those terms of raising taxes, however I would not discount that idea only if additional taxes is a portion of a funding package that mostly includes a combination of long term private and community investments.
Hey Trump.
A nuclear aircraft carrier can supply enough electric for a good sized city. It has a small but modern hospital and staff. With a crew, which number in the thousands, that could have been jury rigging lines to essential building like hospital and refuge centers. These men could also be ashore helping with cleanup and other humanitarian work.
An airlift should have been organized immediately. First bulldozers and quonset type warehouses to prepare, and then a steady stream of water, food and medical supplies.
Yes Sir, Puerto Ricans ARE Americans'
PS The hospital ship should have been there a week ago.
11
"Trump Lashes Out at Puerto Rico Mayor Who Criticized Storm Response"
So close, fairly accurate but not quite honest. Try this instead:
San Juan Mayor Lashes Out at Trump for Virtually Non-Existent Disaster Response. Suffering Worsens by the Hour.
There, that's better.
1
Except, the San Juan Mayor didn't "lash out"... Unless you consider pleading for help to save lives lashing out...
4
She never mentioned Trump.
4
She is a mayor of an American city that has been abandoned by the federal government. Trump is the president, the person with the power to mobilize relief efforts, or not. She left it to us do to the math.
1
Trump now goes into the Pantheon of the worst leaders in history. His response to a plea for help reminds us of that infamous line, "LET THEM EAT CAKE." And in the same breath elevated Maria, Mayor of San Juan, to Sainthood.
5
I wish the media would ask the pres. what he thinks local workers should be doing in Peurto Rico. The people didn't elect the press. They elected the president and want to now what he thinks and why.
I find that over time, I just have less and less patience with the pouty endlessly outraged press. Why SNL hasn't sent them up is a mystery to me. Perhaps a new media can spring up to report the news. What does Pres. Trump mean? Some of us want to know. I for one, will hold any judgments until after we get basic info.
1
Should they follow him to the golf course to ask him, or tweet back? He doesn't give interviews.
4
Trump does have a mouth on him but I fail to hear anything inconsistent with the GOP strategy.
The GOP is not demanding their president meet the needs of US citizens in Puerto Rico, or anywhere else. Many of these GOP leaders will probably be up for inditement before the next presidential election cycle. It will soon become obvious that the Russian half of the GOP--and that includes Trump, Ryan, El McCon, etc.--belong in jail. And the other half needs to be voted out.
We all need to support Robert Mueller's efforts to fight political corruption in this country if we are to put this period of our history behind us to begin a new period of nation-wide reconstruction. The Republicans in office will not impeach Trump unless and until people demand it.
Puerto Rico has been destroyed. Bring these people to the states, help them find good schools and settle in. Then go build a better, hurricane-friendly Puerto Rico. It will take decades.
Fight our corrupt politicians. Save the people of Puerto Rico. Save our country.
5
Trump declared bankruptcy four times yet he complains about Puerto Rico's debt?
13
Yes, this heart rendering call from a partially US territory which has been engaged in a violent independence struggle against the USA is a good time for a Trumpian hearts and minds campaign. Trump should win over Puerto Rico with aid but make them sign a clause ceding to the USA. Otherwise, the carrot must not be offered and Puerto Rico seen as a hostile entity. USA must get something in return if we spend our hard earned tax dollars on these passive-aggressive people.
Puerto Rico is a hopeless mess what with no power for 4-6 months, toxic floodwater that people must keep out of their digestive system and bloodstream, badly damaged housing, no food, etc. Are people expected to live camp-style for months? Really? It would be better to evacuate the island and bring everyone to the mainland. Lin Manuel Miranda should end his tantrum and instead purchase $1 million worth of plane tickets for trips to Florida so anyone who makes it to the airport can get out. The rest of the celebrities tweeting outrage from their comfortable homes can buy out several hotels in Florida so people arriving from PR will have a place to stay.
Before anyone asks, I have donated to agencies to help Puerto Rico, Houston and Florida. I wish I had millions of dollars at my disposal to do more.
2
However menacing their intent, DT's pathetically Infantile, disparaging tweets are actually a Medal of Honor for character amd leadership...that is especially true of Mayor Cruz.
Mr. Trump twitters statements without thinking. He is a big time LOSER.
If he is still running in 2020, Trump will lose.
It should be pointed out to Trump supporters that all Puerto Ricans are American citizens! They can travel anywhere in the United States. They cannot be "Banned" from the mainland. With Puerto Rico's infrastructure devastated, there will be a massive migration of these American citizens to key states like Florida. I am sure there will be long memories about how Trump treated their Commonwealth. I am positive they will be voting for Trump's opponent.
Trump will lose if he loses Florida in 2020. Numbers count!
5
What an ongoing embarrassment in front of the world this man is.
I wonder how much of the problem is that he gets his news from Fox, which has been playing up the NFL controversy, down playing the Puerto Rico disaster, all while praising Trump on a regular basis. He probably believes the nonsense he is spewing about what a "fantastic job" is being done.
5
Puerto Rico - "an island surrounded by water - big water, ocean water." Who knew?
7
Well, America, just consider this: if any one person in all of America understands "poor leadership", it has to be Donald Trump. I think he invented the concept and demonstrates it day after day. Accurately..........
3
The massacre of the masses. It's what this administration is all about. Taxes. Health care. Survival of the "fittest".
PR is having a humanitarian crisis, emphasis on HUMAN. This storm created an opportunity to literally kill people who are not "serving" any good for raising the wealth and power of those who are already wealthy and in power.
trump and his ilk (lower case intended) are delighted!
2
I would rather see Mayor Soto as president than the unfeeling, unfit, narcissistic mess of a man and racist masquerading as an American president in our WH. The mayor of San Juan understands that human lives matter, all human lives. This is something that escapes Trump, McConnell, his Cabinet, and the ruling GOP who want to deny medical care to tens of millions of Americans, contaminate our environment, and don't get me started on giving tax cuts billionaires and trillion dollar industries. Money to be taken away from the majority of Americans to 'support' the few who do not need it.
Use the money put aside for the wall for the millions of Americans needing help in Puerto Rico. Trump is ignorant on American history so perhaps he does not realize that the citizens of Puerto Rico are citizens of America.
As Mayor Soto implied, the Trumps hovering overhead in a helicopter to inspect Puerto Rico does not cut it. Get down on the ground and meet the people you were placed in office to represent. Meet them, feel their suffering and pain and devastation and do something constructive about it. Trump cannot feel their pain because he feels nothing at all for others, and that either makes him a monster, or a very sick individual.
Thank God other Americans stepped up as well as foreign aid coming in to Puerto Rico, the 'logistics' did not keep them away. I want to know how our military is prepared for war but, after a week or more, is unprepared to help out Puerto Rico.
3
There was an interview in the news media a couple of days ago, probably MSNBC where mayor Carmen Cruz said what Trump did not do timely to help Puerto Rico amount to near genocide. She should apologize to Trump for being extremely rude.
4
Puerto Rico is an island, surrounded by water.
Trump is an island entire of itself
11
Surly, sour, Trump criticizes someone's leadership? What have we done to deserve this? Gloves off, Dems!
7
We are trying to deal with five devastating disasters at once: Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, Puerto Rico and Donald Trump. I pray for all the hurricane victims and for our country.
9
One cannot discount racism...Spanish people, and they are American Citizens ? How did this happen ? Can we build a wall ? They owe my buddies on Wall Street money, and my shipping magnates want me to keep their monopoly on shipping to the Island...that's important.
Just when you think it's fiction, it isn't....fiction has to make sense.
3
I don't blame Trump at all. He did what he is suppose to do. He lead! Who I do blame on this whole mess is governments. In this particular case the porta Rican government ! They are suppose protect there citizens , right? Did they ? Did they upgrade their infrastructure?
Did they protect their fresh water supply? Did they protect their sewer treatment plants? These are the basics for life to survive! How is all this trumps fault ? What's going on down there is the result of years of neglect by the government. Did Mrs Cruz do anything to protect her people during her 10 years of being a elected official? All you people that are playing the blame games are just a bunch of blowhards, try working with the government and not against it maybe just maybe things will get better. But I can promise you the American president is doing everything he can to help those people.
5
By taking another taxpayer financed golf excursion? Please explain.
4
Tom is that all your looking at ? The fact that he is at a golf club that he owns means he is not working ?
Trump has other things that need to be done i. Sure. There is more then this storm going on in the world today.
If there is anyone familiar with poor leadership it is Donald Trump.
6
Successfully running many businesses requires leading people. Each person has one pair of hands and what we accomplish beyond that in business requires an ability to lead.
How do you create an empire of businesses with two hands? You lead.
You may not like him, but he leads,
It is clear that Donald Trump needs help more that our fellow citizens in San Juan!
2
It's going to be a truly glorious day when Trump leaves office- hopefully in handcuffs.
7
First, there was the Charlottesville unmasking of Trump's sympathy towards rabid white supremacists; last week there was blasting black NFL players seeking justice & safety & now today, there's trashing the female mayor of a city in which the majority are people of colour. Despite days of media discussion & reams of commentaries & articles criticizing his racist, divisive actions which have become ever more explicit & obvious, he just doesn't get it. In fact, he doubles down on his abhorrent behaviour. Talk about a slow learner - & not least, a man with absolutely no shame, no insight, no morality.
9
Pretty funny (were it not so sad): Trump accusing anyone of “bad leadership”.
17
Has the NYT looked into the progress made on the French, Dutch and British territorial islands after Irma? These islands are far more remote from their motherland than Puerto Rico is from mainland US.
7
I would be interested in knowing how many Times headlines since Trump rode down the escalator have read "Trump lashes out." It has been obvious to anyone paying even the slightest bit of attention, for so long, that this man lacks any capacity to see beyond his own self interest, no matter what is involved, from Ivan's shoes, to North Korea to hurricanes.
Everything is about "Trump."
He is pathological.
12
Right, Trump. Terrible leadership. She should have gotten Puerto Rico to stop the hurricane.
7
He's the monster, but the frankenstein's among us are not innocent.
9
At some point Trump during the 2016 campaign referred to the worst Mexicans as those coming from Puerto Rico. I guess then he didn't know PR is an "island surrounded by water", is not part of Mexico and Puerto Rican's are US citizens.
Very likely PR is not getting the right help because in Trump's crazy xenophobic racist world PR are not white, speak Spanish and most likely vote Democrat. To him all Latin Americans are "brown" illegal aliens and criminal.
Tweeting from his golf course as if he was working or concerned adds insult to the injury, then makes it worse by attacking the Mayor of San Juan who pleads for help.
Don't expect the man to change, he will not nor will the GOP. If anything he will become more erratic as pressure and failures mount. Our hopes are with Special Counsel Muller with an iron clad case against him and his Den of Thieves.
11
Just when you thought he couldn't sink the presidency any lower.
11
I believe we have Helicopters that can bring supplies to the interior of PR quickly - or are they all being used to guard Trump while he plays golf?
12
I would like to see a helicopter named Marine 1 pick up Donald Trump by the seat of his pants and bring him to the interior of Puerto Rico, drop him unceremoniously, without any supplies or even a change of underwear, into the middle of what all those people are enduring and see how long it takes him to cry for help from the mainland. Without any cell phone service, he wouldn't even be able to tweet his frustrations to the world or call his fellow sufferers names because they aren't doing enough to help him. The only problem with this is it would be grossly unfair to the Puerto Rican people who have enough to cope with without having to put up with the unnatural disaster AKA the President of the United States.
3
I stole this comment from another commenter in another column at the NYT, I hope you don't mind, sir. It shows us how things should be done.
"trump could take a lesson from a competent president: After an earthquake shattered Haiti’s capital on Jan. 12, 2010, President Obama mobilized the U.S. military as if it were going to war. Before dawn the next morning, an Army unit was airborne, on its way to seize control of the main airport in Port-au-Prince. Within two days, the Pentagon had 8,000 American troops en route. Within two weeks, 33 U.S. military ships and 22,000 troops had arrived. More than 300 military helicopters buzzed overhead, delivering millions of pounds of food and water."
13
There is undoubtedly a racist component to Trump's lack of response to Puerto Rico. Recall he is from NYC. And now recall NYC in the 60's.
6
Donald Trump's hate is palpable.
2
We should not be surprised by this president's treatment of people who he knows will not vote for him even if they could.
He has proven, throughout his career in business, and now in politics, that he is utterly lacking in character or humanity.
What is most appalling is that so many of our fellow citizens approve of him and support him. Are 40 percent of Americans also utterly lacking in character and humanity?
That is what most terrifies me about the future of our country.
This president may have his four years of sound and fury, told by an idiot, but he will leave the stage.
What will his followers do when they don't have this hate-mongering bully to stand behind?
Americans are facing a gave crisis of morality.
10
She is on every network..every news show..blasting President Trump while not attending FEMA meetings. Puerto Rico has no power so the only people seeing her is us. What does that tell you?
2
Puerto Ricans don't need to see her, they're living what she's talking about.
4
PR was not prepared for a hurricane like Texas and Florida. Country was bankrupt and corrupt long before Irma paid them a visit. We are so polarized as a country that every Republican President is at fault while every Democrat could not do a better job in every situaltion. Exact opposite in conservative media outlets. So sad,. That does not work for me or the country. ,
Trump proves time and time again just how unfit he is to serve as POTUS.
8
It also shows how unfit many Americans see our Federal goverment by constitutionally electing him to fix it.
He was not my first choice in the primary but I saw him as the lesser evil in the election. Our government seems to campaign to the people and then govern toward its funding. Trump has the potential to be an improvement in that area. I value governing to the electorate over decorum.
I want more merit based immigration, and I want the border controlled for rule of lawn immigration and control of the border. I want jobs to be filled by citizens from the safety net rather than illegal labor. I want a tax and regulatory structure that does not chase business away. Trump has great potential in these areas.
1
This hysterical woman needed to be lambasted by our Prsident. Trump was right. This cannot be just fema, fema fema. The Puerto Rican’s need to do something instead of complaining. Thank you POTUS for setting her straight. She owes you an apology.
3
Golf anyone?
3
They have no power, roads, gas or water. What should they do, precisely? Remember that there's no cell service.
4
So Trump is lashing out at someone for 'poor leadership'...
3
As we watched news reports of the response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, my husband blurted out, "Heckuva job, Orange-y."
5
It is difficult to proclaim fake news when people can see the devastation for themselves. Mayor Cruz's response to the large folders that the Department of Homeland Security wanted the mayor and the people to comply with was perfect. She threw it down on the ground as useless. The woman has been at the forefront of the recovery efforts and didn't deserve to be insulted by the coward in chief.
10
Once again, Tweety-Pie proudly displays the insecurity and emotional maturity of a two-year-old...
8
There are three reasons Trump doesn't care that much about Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico does not vote, Puerto Rico's population is predominantly Hispanic, and for crying out loud, this is the third hurricane crisis. It gets boring after a while.
7
How dare he bash the Mayor and somehow fault the people of the Island? He the privileged pouting boy.? Could you picture him waiting in an 8 hour line for ice? Can you see him trying to put tarp on a roof? Could he bend down to clear up palm branches with his bare hands? Go for a few days without food or water? Could you see him climbing a mountain path to try to seek water for his family from as stream close to the top so it is not yet polluted? Sure- in his baseball cap . The man has NEVER suffered or struggled. His idea of hardship it seems is when a woman calls him out on his incompetence.
15
Put Jared on it. That should do it.
7
It's just one loud-mouthed disgraceful comment after another from him where he tries to deflect scrutiny of his own inadequacies. With his narcissism, he will never look in the mirror and see what a loser he is. He is adding every day to the divisions in our country. The nervousness about our future and our diminished role in the world is overwhelming Americans, creating enormous stress, but he likes causing havoc. The only good thing about Hurricane Maria is that she's showing what a horrible person our golf-addicted president is. I think the tweets are substituting for real work. The tweets give the mistaken impression to his admirers that he is engaged when he is really out on the golf course. He gave a speech about taxes but not health care. He is more engaged in tax reform because it will benefit him.
10
You can talk it up all you want, but it's no Katrina. You'll just have to wait till the next news cycle to jump all over Trump.
You're right. This is worse than Katrina.
3
It's not bad enough?
1
My heart and prayers go out to everyone that’s been affected by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Island. I’m sorry during this trying time the insensitivity by President Tump and slow response by first responders. Your blessed to have strong leadership in the Mayor of San Juan who doesn’t need to be distracted by the infantile tweets from Trump. Stay strong because there are a lot of good Americans and international responders who are coming to help. God Bless you all and may the Lord be with you
6
"Puerto Rico is “an island surrounded by water — big water, ocean water,”
Wow. Who says he does not understand stuff? Big stuff, important stuff. Sounds like he's trying to compete with the W-isms of days gone by.
5
Mayors, Governors, etc. love to pass the buck to someone else. There is nothing wrong with Chicago that a different President could not fix. Same with Detroit, or Flint. Especially true if he/she belongs to a different political party. Does the Mayor of San Juan seriously think her city will get more aide if she criticizes the President? Do the Senate Democrats, who want to hold "emergency" hearings on the the Federal response for PR and VI, actually believe it will help those two islands? This is the time for the Mayor to make nice. There will be plenty of time to resume politics after the lights come back on. P.S. The Mayor should also remember that the last female politician who took on Trump was not a success
3
Puerto Rico is smack down in the path of potential hurricanes.
What has Puerto Rico done in the last 50 years to prepare?
Why rebuild anything there, to be destroyed by future hurricanes?
4
Sure, as long as FL and TX get ignored too.
2
Our general ignorance about Puerto Rico (PR) shows and reports like this one just magnifies it. Ms Carmen Yulin Cruz is the mayor of San Juan the capital city of PR (a large US territory but not a state). So the title is misleading because Ms Criz is not the mayor of the entire PR. There are several mayors pf other cities in PR. There is a governor of PR who praised the efforts of the Trump administration and expressed his gratitude for all that was done so far after what Maria did to PR. It is certainly falling short for many reasons. Once promoted as the shinning star of the Caribbean, PR has been unimaginably devastated by Maria and while every one understands that Ms Cruz should have not been so ungrateful and blame the Trump administration entirely for the incomplete relief effort. It is obvious that Mr. Cruz is frustrated by the miserable state of paralysis in which San Juan finds itself and desperate for leadership, donations and professional coordination. It is well known that our president does not take criticism of his administration lightly especially if he feels it is not justified and maybe Ms Cruz's choice of words was not the best but as she herself said all she was hoping is to get prompt attention and help for the people in distress and dying. Hopefully Trump has been awakened and will take higher ground and when he visits PR on Tuesday he will take the lead in eliminating the misery and begin the process for rebuilding PR.
1
" So the title is misleading because Ms Criz is not the mayor of the entire PR."
The title is not misleading, saying she is a "Puerto Rico mayor" does not mean she is mayor of Puerto Rico. I think the Times assumes its readership is at least educated enough to understand that Puerto Rico doesn't have a mayor - it has numerous mayors, the same way any other state or territory does. A mayor is associated with a town or city, not with a state.
2
Dw from Philly. The title does not say a Puerto Rico mayor. You say that and that is correct. The NYT title says Puerto Rico mayor and that is totally incorrect and may not be misleading to you but it is unequivocally misleading. You assume too much. Had I not been to PR and read about it, I would be clueless about PR as are most Americans and possibly most NY Times readers. As more is known about this mayor, it seems she is just promoting herself and trying to exploit the situation and doing little to help the people of San juan. FEMA has said she does not participate in their coordination efforts as are the rest of the 70 mayors in PR.
1
It's always great to start the day with a laugh......Trump accuses mayor of "POOR LEADERSHIP" - now that is funny (and totally incorrect). I guess because Trump lacks leadership and empathy, it is impossible for him to recognize it in other people. These tantrums of his are really getting old. At this stage, if Trump criticizes you, you must be doing something right.
9
Is anyone surprised at Trump's lack of response/interest in the Puerto Rico crisis? Pretending that Puerto Ricans are not U.S. citizens and alleging that they are just another group of lazy, brown-skinned people plays well with his base.
9
Can we get the White House physician to release the thickness of the President's epidermis? It may be the thinnest recorded in medical science.
6
If only Trump had said to the mayor: "I understand your frustration, and we'll do all we can to help, and I commend you for showing such care for your people" - and authorized FEMA and the military to coordinate a massive humanitarian operation to help and rebuild Puerto Rico... If only.... If only he had addressed the nation like Obama would have done, to encourage to donate and volunteer to help Puerto Rico.... If only..... Instead we have a Twitter troll lashing out at desperate people crying for help. If cholera and other epidemics ensue, the blame is on him. I hope foreign countries ignore the Jones act and continue to send help and stay as long as needed.
11
Yeah, this is a great opportunity to bail out a failed Puerto Rico with more tax payers' money.
1
MCH, we already do that with failed states within the US mainland, and Puerto Ricans are American citizens in case you hadn't noticed.
1
Donald Trump accusing someone else of poor leadership. Now that is funny!
4
How much do you think we could get for Puerto Rico if we listed it on eBay?
1
How much more proof that the man is a thin skinned, paper tiger. This should have been a slam dunk in doing the right thing for a U.S. territory. However, his sociopathic tendencies tend to overshadow the mental ability and empathy to do that.
9
Advice to Ms Cruz. Propose renaming the island: Trump Beautiful Golf Resort and Casino Island. Help will be immediate.
10
And a golf course for Eric; a hotel for Ivanka; and a shooting gallery for Donny Jr. wouldn't go amiss.
1
The US teamster union is sending truckers to Puerto Rico. There is word out that the local truckers are on strike of sorts. The ports are full of goods but not being moved. Is this true?
False.
The PR truckers are dealing with their own homes and families as disaster victims. The roads are all trashed.
They don't need trucks, they need helicopters, lots and lots of helicopters.
Then they will need heavy equipment to fix the roads.
Then they will need truck drivers.
Typical mismanagement by FEMA, but what accounts for the slow military response?
2
Probably not Jim, but if you could post a credible link to the news story you're hinting at, that would enable us to get to the bottom of this.
1
This lash-out by Trump against the Mayor of San Juan is typical Trump behavior that we have come to know too well. This pattern of vicious and petty ad hominem attacks, this automatic response of doubling-down when he is clearly wrong and out of order, is clearly evidence of a personality disorder which should make him unfit to continue serving as President.
7
Give Trump a break. He suffers too! It was windy and damp on Saturday in Bedminster, lousy golf weather. And possibly his bone spurs were acting up. Even worse, some carpets at Mar-A-Lago need to be replaced and Jared can't be trusted to get it right.
OK, getting serious here...How can he get out of going to Puerto Rico? It's going to be a bigly embarrassment for him unless he can fly down a few thousand of his base ahead of time to wave flags and cheer his motorcade. Maybe have a headache and send Ivanka?
4
“Sorry to hear this, Mayor Cruz. I will be there on Tuesday to get my own impression since there’s is conflicting information. Thank you for your leadership and hang in there. I will make sure PR gets all the help needed. We are with you”. Could have been a possible answer, no?
3
Seems Trump is blaming her for Mother Nature? And for keeping Puerto Ricans for crying out for help? And for everything...... So Trump is just being Trump. If only we could ignore him, alas.
2
I have heard that Carmen Yulin Cruz is not in favor of statehood ... but if it ever happens, I hope she will consider being Puerto Rico's first Senator or Congresswoman.
4
When he talks about her "poor leadership", read: "my poor leadership".
#45 is an example of psychological projection: attributing to others his own feelings, thoughts, desires and motivations.
2
The Trump mantra "When attack, attack back". This poor Mayor just wants food and water for her city. It is extremely unfair to attack her. It is scandalous the way the Administration has dealt with this tragedy. little marco had his photo op pretending to care about Puerto Ricans. Other than that, the response has been pathetic and Puerto Rico is more important to us than Texas.
3
trump forgets he's the leader of the Country and Puerto Rico is part of what he's responsible for. He has never had the capacity to take responsibility, why should that change. He was smart not responsible when he bankrupted casinos, he was smart not responsible when he stiffed vendors and we all know the list goes on.
The fact is he's not smart and he is responsible for our Country. Pretty scary huh.
2
who knew getting to an island surrounded by big water could be so complicated
5
Sad to say, this was a disaster waiting to happen. Antiquated electrical lines have collapsed throughout the island and block the roads together with thousands of trees and rubble. Access to the remote areas has been extremely difficult. Moreover, access the far away island has been limited and difficult. Yet, needed supplies lingered for days at the docks in large part due to the failure of local authorities to move them out.
Puerto Rico was a dysfunctional mess before the 2 hurricanes due to the failure of its government which has been run by inept Democrats. Failing to find fault with the administration's relief efforts in Texas and Florida, the NY Times and its retinue of liberal, anti-Trump celebrity critics prefer to blame the President for any and all shortcomings in the Puerto Rico relief effort.
Adding gasoline to the fire, they are quick to make an issue of President Trump's residing at Bedminster over the weekend rather than at the White House, wanting us to believe he is there merely to play golf and doing nothing else during this crisis. How absurd!
2
Well, he was tweeting, so there's that. Apart from that, what's your point?
1
The president saying the people in Puerto Rico "want everything done for them" and calling his critics there "politically motivated ingrates" have to be the most offensively racial innuendos uttered in recent history.
The San Juan Mayor Carmen Cruz whom Mr. Trump has been brutally criticizing is staying at a shelter, sleeping on a cot, --and she's stood in filthy water helping people since the disaster struck the territory.
Her home was flooded as well.
She's a dedicated public servant he's attacking from the comfort of his golfing property, as he did at the White House. Trump has the nerve to say he's getting great remarks "from people who matter."
Why didn't he arrange to send the USNS Comfort hospital ship 10 days ago?
It takes a full week to arrive. On the 27th, it was still moored in Virginia. And possibly left Friday. https://twitter.com/hashtag/USNSComfort?src=hash
We all saw Dr. Sanjay Gupta from CNN on the ground this weekend showing how scarce medicine and supplies are. He was able to take a plastic bag of limited items to a local hospital. It was pitiful. Doctors volunteering were setting up under the shade of an overhead road, and Gupta obtained it there.
To top it off, the president's Twitter page is nauseating in undeserved self-praise. His media staff are wildly trying to saturate him with glowing posts, and his comment sections are full of obviously fake entries.
9
Regardless of what Trump says, the fact is thet needed supplies have been delivered to the island. Go and get them --- on foot, if the need is so urgent. It has been done elsewhere, many times.
1
There aren't roads. Next idea?
1
Reality Check the mayor of san juan should be happy for any help . Measuring the help is mistake . Think of all jobs created from the storm to clean up mess billions spent to employe workers . Every one needs job pays living wage . Amazing how people love the drama of doom an gloom when reality mother nature is blessing for so many. For those who point blame for the storm mess on our president only find fault in others . We still live in country free speech an our president has right too. I say to all nay sayers get life
For all the genuine concern some in the continental USA feel about the residents of Puerto Rico in the aftermath of hurricane Maria, what people on the island really need is money. The situation is a matter of life and death, and "sympathy” and "love" just won't cut it. Don't tell your relatives in Puerto Rico they can go stay with you on the "mainland." Show your concern and care by OPENING your bank account and sending MONEY. Words do NOTHING when you're trying to fix the roof of a house blown away by the storm.
1
My heart goes out to Mayor Cruz in San Juan and I heartily praise her for eloquence in confronting our cruelly thoughtless president. His attack on her reveals his mean pettiness and nasty mouth. Her response to him reveals a kind, caring and frank spokesperson for her people.
2
If this happened to Texas rather than San Juan, no one in Texas would be dying of thirst, or starving, & the power would be on within 24 hours.Whats the difference, In San Juan your dealing with Democrats.
We should have had the army in Puerto Rico the day after the Hurricane, with Helicopters dropping food & drink and other necessaries in remote areas.
The the containers should have been off the docks & into the cities as soon as they they were delivered not laying on the docks for 4 days, this could have been accomplished with the help of the military.
We let Puerto Rico down, Trump is just passing the buck, like he does everything else.
4
Once again trump controls the narrative. Mayor Cruz says she has no time for this quibbling but it remains a front page story.
Mr. President. Please be quiet. Perhaps listening to those that are living the nightmare could give you some insight on how to respond to the crisis. Making the event a political food fight is not governing.
Try to remember in between your toilet tweets that YOU bear the responsibility for the nations safety. Its amazing to me that whatever the situation, you continue to divide the country instead of keeping your promise to unite.
Please man up and have someone explain the word "empathy" to you. It would be a good start.
3
One thing that I haven’t heard anything about is what kind of pre-storm preparation took place in the days before Maria arrived. Were shelters (if any existed) opened and people notified of their location. Were utility owned vehicles and government vehicles topped off with fuel so they would be ready to roll? Were emergency supplies of water and food in place? I haven’t read anything outlining the preparations that the authorities in Puerto Rico took in advance of this monster storm that everyone knew for days in advance was coming. If you looked at some of the Florida newspaper and TV station websites you would have seen that these preparations were in place before hurricane Irma. I’ve made a contribution to hurricane relief; have you? Or are you just going to sit around and whine and complain in the NYT? The people of Puerto Rico need help now and will need future assistance to rebuild their island.
2
How much help could be provided if trump just stayed at the white house one weekend?
instead of trump costing us and billing us for 10s of millions of dollars every weekend!
4
The Mayor of San Juan has it right. POTUS is checking off many boxes to make points with his base: Woman-bashing, racism, rancor re his old business deals in PR gone sour, climate change denial, debt relief for PR, all at once with his attacks.
All checked off, except for one major hiccup: FOrgot the part about getting the efforts going smoothly and swiftly, and impressing the rest of the US and the world with the response to disasters in the Virgin Islands and PR.
We are not looking good right now on the global stage.
5
It is ironic that Trump calls the Mayor of Puerto Rico poor leader. It is obvious that he is looking at himself. While a US territory is destroyed by category 5 hurricane, what does Trump do, take vacation to one of his golf course - that is poor leadership. I am sure the 100 thousands that is spend on his weekend security, could be used to purchase drinking water. Trump is inept.
4
The once great office of the President of the United States is now nothing but Donald Trump's plaything - a platform from which Trump secures more profits for his properties and torments the growing list of enemies and victims he leaves in his wake.
2
Trump at his habitual worst.
Almost anyone else would understand the state of mind of those trying to deal with the terrible devastation in Puerto Rico — except of course the current POTUS.
No affront is too small to perk the ire and lash back of the leader of the free world.
Offensive and utterly insensitive conduct that has been repeated ad nauseam.
The departure of the delinquent in the Oval Office can not come soon enough.
2
when Trump accuses someone of "poor leadership" I think we should listen to him because he knows what he is talking about. Trump is the best example of "poor leadership" of anyone I know.
1
Well Trump certainly knows what bad leadership looks like, unfortunately he is getting his leadership confused with that of the Mayor of San Juan. It is unfathomable to non-Americans (Im sure many Americans as well) that this "person" was elected to lead the USA.
True leaders have big shoulders to carry the blame rather than placing the blame on others...something Trump is incapable of!
2
My friends,
Mr. T is surely representing a part, a big big part of the American voters. I know it is not the majority, but big a enough portion is arrogant, self centered, and liars.
3
Many of the commenters to this article are simply blinded by hate for Trump.
Anyone with an open mind must agree that the hurricanes in Houston and Florida must have diverted FEMA assets to those locations well before hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico.
I admit that neither I nor any of the commenters have any way of really knowing what logistical problems existed and continue to exist on the island.
It will take time to slowly untangle Puerto Rico’s Gordian Knot of troubles, and more people will suffer and die due to the inevitable delays. We all wish that some super human could simply cut the knot in half with one stroke, but this is the real world not a comic book or a myth.
1
Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria. Wasted resources.
1
What amazes me is the lack of response from leaders in GOP. Where are the Paul Ryans or the Mitch McConnells? You don't hear boo. I would think it's not going far out on a limb to criticize Trump for his responses to the situation on Puerto Rico.
1
Anything out of Trump's mind, which unfortunately pores out of his mouth and twitter account, is a perfect example of the thought process of a sociopath, and listening to him is a complete waste of time. The Mayor of San Juan, on the other hand, presents herself and the crisis in Puerto Rico in very articulate terms. She is a true leader.
1
Make no mistake ... like Trump, the people who support him could care less about the plight of Puerto Rico. The irony is, he could care less about them either. That's what makes this man so reprehensible.
4
If first he writes that the people of Puerto Rico should have a bigger sense of "community" and do more to help each other (without backing up the claim that contrary to the people of Houston or Miami, Americans in Puerto Rico would for some or the other reason not do everything they can to end the disastrous aftermath of the hurricane), to then add, hours later, that he's trying to help the "great people of PR", then what is it, actually?
Are they "great people" or are they the losers he first described, in his perspective?
And how can he possibly think that when an entire island was destroyed, somehow it was the right time to start criticizing its citizens struggling to survive ... ?
Trump has no idea of what "leading" means.
1
It’s obvious why Trump is reacting to Puerto Rico: he and his friends hold Puerto Rican tax free municipal bonds that aren’t paying their dividend and won’t pay for a long time after this disaster.
2
Having complained of the "optics" of his former Secretary of HHS, Tom Price, spending $1 million of taxpayer money on private air travel, Trump should certainly understand how it looks for the president of the United States to berate the female mayor of hurricane-ravaged San Juan from the safety and comfort of his private golf course. It's telling that the mayor did not criticize Trump but rather indicated that, despite the rosy picture painted by the head of DHS, the relief effort was not going well; a far more appropriate response from Trump would have been to ask how he could help.
2
Every time you think he can't stoop lower, Trump manages to do just that.
This man has a serious personality disorder, making the relief effort about him rather than the people who are in desperate need of help.
1
Trump the poorest leader in the history of the United States, accused the Mayor os San Juan Puerto Rico of poor leadership. She is visibly more intelligent and a better leader than Trump and the Republican Gocrrnor of Puerto Rico . She has great leadership qualities which manifested itself during this major crisis.
2
Impeach Trump. It is long overdue that this corrupt individual be removed from office. It would be a tribute to the Republican Party if they stopped sitting on their hands, got up and did the right thing by the American public.
1
One of Trump's defenders basically acknowledged that he is racist but replied that people need to get over it because he won the election to become President. I have to agree with this point. Trump was elected by voters who were willing to look past his racist remarks and actions. Trump is a rich white man who is wholly unfit for the office of the Presidency. That said, Trump is the President and we can continue to blog to each other about him his entire term, but nothing will change the fact that he is President. From a historical viewpoint, Trump is in the mainstream; that is, most former U.S. Presidents were white men who were racists. In reality, Trump is not very different from other former white presidents.
Hope the US has a plan for 2020 when if Trump loses he proclaims the vote a fraud perpetuated by the dishonest press, and refuses to step down.
What does his base do, abide by the constitution or follow their leader.
Seem improbable, any more improbable than Trump being elected in the first place.
I agree with Cyclospna and this is not, as the rest of the us - democrat or republican - can only hope for a "rock bottom" for el Presidente. But deep down we know only to well that his Narcissism may only get worse.
I'm no psychologist but I was curious when a person's narcisssim becomes a 'disorder' rather than just a trait. According to the "Manual of Mental Disorder", DSM-5, as it's classified..."many highly successful individuals display personality traits that might be considered narcissistic. Only when these traits are inflexible, maladaptive, and persisting and cause significant functional impairment or subjective distress do they constitute narcissistic personality disorder."
Holy Cow, if Trump is indeed exhibiting the classic disorder pattern of narcissim we are in deep trouble.
If Republicans can figure a way out of this then we owe them a debt of gratitude. If not, what is the best solution?
1
When my sons were toddlers, they would have temper tantrums. Sometimes you could figure out the source of their anger. Other times you could not. Either way, you knew that you with some TLC, the tantrum would pass and your toddler would be happy once again.
I also thought my young children were trying to test the limits of my love. They knew would love them no matter what. I also see this type of testing behavior with my 96-year year, As he gets older, his behavior becomes more childish. He also knows that we will always love him no what.
Trump displays this testing behave, too. The problem is that he is the president of our country and not an angry two-year old. He is the parent and not the child.
Trump's attitude toward Puerto Rico is despicable. He does not seem to understand the desperate and life-threatening situation there. The mayor of San Juan is doing what a good what any good leader does -- taking care of those who need help. Why can't he understand that?
My other question is: How do we get rid of this man/child? Now.
1
President Trump is a master of deflection; this time a week ago, all eyes were on his feud with professional athletes/teams over the national anthem, which (surprise!) timed exactly with the initial debacle in Puerto Rico regarding it's post-storm condition.
What needs to happen is for the media to stay on a subject & not let up. We need to see his tax returns, we need to understand his role (intentional or not) in the Russian hacking of the election, & we need to understand all of the potential business conflicts that his business interests around the world have. These thing require bandwidth, & a voting public that requires accountability. And in the case of Puerto Rico & the US Virgin Islands (which are scarcely mentioned), we need a long-term progress report on what has been done & what hasn't.
105
Mr. Trump has again shown he is unfit for office.
Perhaps, and hopefully, we only need Robert Mueller's report. Mr. Mueller is closing in on the WH. The report is likely to be less than favorable and may well be the catalyst for either resignation or impeachment. In Mueller we trust.
Florida was able to get organized, move out 20% of their population and move IN, rescue personnel, supplies, organize equipment and support well in advance of the storm and be fully prepared for any outcome. On the other hand, why is it that New Orleans/Lousiana, corrupt, backward, and Puerto Rico, also corrupt and poorly organized felt it was the FED's responsibility to prepare them for disaster, or at least clean up after they failed to prepare????
How sad that the same country which successfully implemented the Marshall Plan, rebuilding European economies after WW II, has fallen so far as to have a President and many followers who castigate their fellow American citizens in PR for having the audacity to plead for more help after an extraordinary hurricane destroyed their infrastructure and their access to food, water, transportation and communication.
21
WHERE IS PENCE?
Why has Vice President Pence not visited Puerto Rico? I'm sure he knows that Trump is...well, Trump. So how come Pence has not visited? He went to Houston and made believe that he was doing something important, the way Bush used to show up after a disaster, roll his sleeves up and look "manly."
Where is Pence? What is going on here? Do we have an Executive Branch in the United States anymore or has everyone gone to Bedminster to play golf?
21
You'd think he'd be out there showing his would-be presidential gravitas, since we'll probably end up with him sooner or later. Ugh.
5
Lots of moneyed voters in Houston. That’s why.
1
Where is Pence??? Drowning in the Russia scandal! He is neck deep in the Russia scandal. Pence is a corrupt and immoral human.
“It’s going really well, considering. We’ve made tremendous strides. Very tough situation. People can’t believe how successful it’s been.” - Donald Trump on the Puerto Rico aid efforts on Friday
Donald J. Trump, please allow me to introduce you to your personal 'Katrina'.
Enjoy.
30
Yet he will still march on. The Presidential Apprentice is not going to be cancelled because of this. Even Bush has been rehabilitated now and his brother probably would have become President if Trump hadn't run.
6
The man has no shame, no talent for leadership, no understanding of his role and function, no compassion and no dignity. Otherwise, he wouldn't be golfing while devastated people are suffering. The mayor of San Juan is, indeed, the kind of leader that Trump could only dream of being. Maria was a disaster for Puerto Rico, Trump is a bigger disaster for the country.
63
Where did she get her hat and T-shirt made with the very timely slogans, that she wore on TV?
Somehow, in all the devastation, she got the resources to get those made? or were they supplied to her by the anti-Trump media outlets who interviewed her?
13
Always blame the victim, RS....it's the magical key to white spite and liberal spite and real-life problem-solving.
Sad.
48
Yes! It is a conspiracy at the highest reaches of the Democratic Party and the lamestream media! In fact, no hurricane actually hit Puerto Rico! It was all an invention of the media to make Donald Trump look bad! Sad!
The ability of some people to find conspiracies everywhere they look amazes me. Please, get some help.
47
Who knows where the hats came from I guess some conservative news outlet will spend the time looking into it I'm sure. But before getting distracted by that, you should really listen to her words she was merely trying to draw attention to the govt. bureaucracy and inefficiency, what is so wrong with that. Usually this is something conservatives point out all the time when they are looking to promote privatization. Such double standards. He is the POTUS he will get alot of criticism along the way like Presidents before him and he really needs to get much thicker skin.
2
So often with #45 comments, I feel like he is really telling us about himself...ie: #45 is the poster boy for poor leadership...he is the face of the GOP...
29
Please don't lump all republicans together with Trump. They are as individual in ideology and action in times of stress as any other group of people.
1
Impeachment hearing should begin over Trump's abominable failure to help Puerto Rico. He is a disgrace to our nation and all that we believe in. To attack a person who is doing all she can to help millions of people while he selfishly plays golf is to me, the ultimate example of his failure as a president so far. He does not care about Ms. Cruz because she is a woman, or PR because they don't count in elections, and are Hispanic, which reveals his deep narcissism and bigotry.
It is unlikely that the GOP will talk about impeachment over this because they are a bunch of cowards who are afraid of Trump's base and being primaried. They have no morals, no courage, and don't deserve their positions of power unless they use them to do good, which they do not. They all make me ill.
47
when Sandy hit NJ, I was without electricity for one week. I don't even live near the shore. I also pay one of the highest taxes in the state. Guess where my blood pressure was. Then Gov. Christy kissed Obama's hand for help which came months after Sandy. He was crucified by the GOP for his act when he ran for presidency.
I know things are really bad down there from first hand reports, but it will take time to recover. Its an island with very poor infrastructure.
7
Trump has being playing the media long before he won the election. With each new week, there is a new tweet and both the media and the rational people of American can't keep up! This is exactly the outcome has has been hoping for! The short attention span before a new lie emerges and the top continues to spin on and on.
Trump is the new Nero - playing golf while Puerto Rico drowns!
33
The media needs to stop covering this man's tweets unless they are consequential to the running of the country.
He is a puppet. Last week we had tens or hundreds of football players kneeling because Trump made a speech and an Apprentice gesture and catchphrase (you're fired) at a Klan rally (oops, a campaign rally) and then emitted some tweets.
I don't have a problem with the kneeling but with the media's genuflecting as a result of every tweet this man emits. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico is in big trouble.
8
The mayor, facing a total disaster, begs for help for her people and Trump is upset because she doesn't compliment him. It doesn't get any more despicable than that.
74
Well, Trump is pretty despicable. Although this is pretty low, even for him.
2
I was impressed with the impassioned Mayor pleading for help. I was sickened by Trumps self-centered and self-serving reply. Language is a problem for our brutish bullying president. He has no self control and hasn't a clue how to lead people. Trumps frequent attacks on people are always personal. Always mean and always narcissistic. His rashness scares me.
35
If the US with Trump at the helm, can't or won't, take care of its most vulnerable citizens in the fact of a disaster of this magnitude, it needs to abandon its claim that it's the "greatest country in the world".
29
We already did. On January 20, 2016.
3
I was watching the Mayor's heartfelt, strong, and commanding demand for her people's needs. The Man sitting next to me was impressed, commenting about what a "remarkable States-person" she is. I agreed completely.
No wonder she seems incompetent to 45.
28
I am with her!
I believe in the mayor of San Juan over DJT any day.
36
DJT may have Puerto Rico confused w Haiti, both somewhere beyond Mar-a-Lago, doesn't really matter unless I have investments there…
20
In accepting the resignation of HHS Secretary Price for $1 million in private and military jet travel unrelated to improving our health care, Trump cited "the optics"—literally as the titular Commander in Chief departed for Air Force One to weekend at his Bedminster club.
This while all Puerto Rico struggles to survive. Playing golf while this unfolds takes climate denial to a new level.
Hawaii is "in the middle of an ocean." Puerto Rico is only twice as far from Miami as Tallahassee.
Every day of the last several I've seen Mayor Cruz interacting with residents and appealing to the U.S. for help. Every day of the last several I've seen Trump talk about football players.
Trump has jetted to Mar-a-Lago to vacation seven times since taking office nine months ago. If that doesn't sound excessive, consider he's jetted to Bedminster ten times, and visited his Virginia golf club eight times, in the same period.
Obama repeatedly cancelled family vacations to remain in D.C. during important periods, yet Trump criticized every time Obama did relax, saying if he was president he'd stay in D.C. and work on important issues facing the world, "I'm not going to have time to go play golf."
Mr. Trump, you don't have time, yet you golf on average once every six days. You not only bill us for all that, but as owner of the resorts, you're the one we pay.
Your optics are bad, too, Mr. Trump. As is everything about you. The American people—the world—would happily accept your resignation.
73
The optics have been bad for 2 years since the beginning of the campaign.
The sad thing is that he may win again.
6
i doubt trump knew puerto rico was part of the usa.
an island surrounded by water as opposed to most islands that are surrounded by...what exactly?!
33
I will concede that poor leadership is something that trump is very familiar with but in this case he picked the wrong person to point his finger at.
23
It's not a surprise to see these kind of tweets from this heartless "president".
16
Let's put this in perspective. Your father has a heart attack and you call for an ambulance. The service runs a credit check and says they can't send anyone out unless you have 500 dollars in cash to pay right away. Such is the nature of Donald Trump. Bush Jr. must be breathing a sigh of relief. He probably did not think there would be a worse president in his lifetime.
33
We had a miracle that Obama was in between the bookends W and 45.
5
There was a house fire in Tennessee a few years ago. And because the owner didn't pay his taxes the firemen let it burn to the ground. We are a heartless evil nation.
2
The stark treatment of Puerto Rico next to Texas and Florida is yet another in the long line of examples confirming Trumps long-standing history of bigotry. How he keeps being normalized and the bar lowered for this conman crook is baffling.
27
The sad truth is that the fake president is the one in so far over his head that he's being drowned by the responsibility. His only sphere of competence is bluster and lies, and he invariably punts responsibility for the actual work off on others, then fumes and blames when things don't go well. He is a leader only as much as the first lemming over the cliff.
19
Maybe I missed something in this article. But didn't the Mayor a ew days ago claim what was happening in Puerto Rico was "genocide"?
If the Mayor was implying that the US's response in any way resembled genocide against the people of Puerto Rico, then her remark was inexcusable, even if she was stressed out.
I hope she'll explain herself. Meanwhile I'll hope it was just Russian-planted false news.
6
No, she said that if the US wouldn't get water and food into peoples' hands soon, we'd see something close to a genocide. She compared what might happen without adequate help to a genocide, she did not call it a genocide.
3
Passive genocide. She hit the nail on the head.
1
I agree with the Donald on almost nothing, but...if you live on an island sticking out into the hurricane track like a sore thumb, don't snivel when the long overdue one finally comes. Don't expect the federal government to do everything for you.
10
Manhattan is an island. We've had hurricanes in New York.
Sandy was in New York.
9
yes, and don't forget ALASKA's bridges, roads and airports too nowhere.. and Florida and texas by/in the sea.
1
By the same token, when you live in an isolated state on active tectonic plates with volcanoes, earthquakes, and tidal waves all possible, your argument states you will not deserve any assistance either.
Aren't we all impressed with Trump, who, in the face of a human disaster of epic proportions, makes himself the victim, locked ina glilded golf club, put upon by a woman who, showing real leadership, is alternatelyy pleading for aid for her dying city and island, and slogging thru the floodedd streets providing what aid and comfort she can.
And the Republicans, and the Trumpanzees look the other way and turn the volume up on Fox.
30
I'd like to hear from the 'gelicals. Their man had a good story about a Samaritan (a despised out-grouper) who helped a stranger in distress. In our world, we have a powerful insider heaping scorn upon multitudes of victims who are directly in his charge. This is canonically immoral.
These days it's hard to tell the Christians from the lions.
19
There are only a 1000 reasons every day that those who voted for Trump should be ashamed. That he attacks the leadership of San Juan--or anyone--is simply depraved.
16
Another day, another opportunity for president Trump to embarrass America before the rest of the world. I don't think we have even come close to witnessing the depths of his depravity and ignorance.
24
This is another in a long line of insults designed to gin up his base. It works.
Is it a coincidence that the two hurrican debacles have involved people of color?
8
It is all so sad and frightening! These are American citizens feeling like third or fourth class citizens with their own government and their federal disaster management system. I was not listening to the news for a day, until I came across a clip where the Mayor said that what was happening in PR could, if it continues, become a genocide. It was shocking to hear that.
I heard that Mexico and other Latin American countries might send their military to help assist and rescue people. If PR decides to secede at this time, and ask for global help one can only imagine.
This kind of catastrophe can overwhelm any administration. The storm was a Category 4 storm, just a few miles-per-hour short of a Category 5. It has nearly flattened the entire island.
Is the Mayor a former New Yorker? Her accent sounded very New York.
5
Why, WHY Mr. Trump not just stop lashing out at everyone and d some actual good, some actual leadership. It is not necessary to scold everyone who doesn't fit your restricted world view and fragile ego. How about, just Once, acting like an adult and a president? How about actually doing your JOB?
7
Trump has been captured by the "green monster". He cannot abide that Mayor Cruz is showing him up as a mature in charge non-doll-faced woman. Powerful women scare him. There isn't one he shows any real regard for, including Teresa May. He has even been disrespectful at times with his own life partners.
10
I keep thinking about hurricane Sandy....when President Obama landed in New Jersey and Chris Christie gave him a thank you hug. Bipartisan for sure...joining together during a rough time is what a President should do.
Of course that event cost Christie big time and I am not trying to say that the Sandy recovery has always been perfect by any means but.......do you want to place any bets on trump getting a hug from Ms. Cruz? odds are not good but the pay off to trump would help him tremendously.(if he keeps his hands to himself of course)
3
Boy there's nothing worse to Donald J than a strong woman who criticizes him. Interesting he hasn't gone after the governor of PR. It would seem he's more responsible for PR's woes. Let's face it, the man doesn't love strong women, or strong blacks for that matter who criticize him. Accept, what's his name? the heart surgeon. "good man. good, good man"
5
It is obvious that the governor is trying to stay in Trump's good graces because he wants to keep Trump focused on helping instead of engaging in a tweet war. I understand Cruz's frustration but it simply wasn't smart of her to make public criticism of the government's effort so far.
Jeff Sessions, Khizr Khan, John McCain, and Mitch McConnell would disagree with you that women and blacks are the only people who have been publicly attacked by Trump.
Another badge of shame for Trump. 3.5 Million Americans are without power, food, fuel, water and medical care, and he's playing politics.
Great that there are barges with supplies meandering around the Jones Act, on their way to the Caribbean... but we have C5's, C130's, and inventory of emergency supplies, generators, and transport vehicles. Not to mention an Army Corps of Engineers. A 48 hour response would have demonstrated leadership.
Instead, the Tweeter In Chief demonstrated an abject lack of leadership and crisis management ability. He played golf while people in the Caribbean were dying.
Shame!
9
there are 10,000 federal workers sent there; shame!
This is true, Mo. But no supplies. And 10,000 may seem like a lot, until you see the scope of the problem. Having lived through several hurricanes, had our house flooded, and had a woman have a heart attack in the rowboat that we were pushing through chest deep water, rescuing her... I can tell you that our esteemed commander in chief has no concept of the scope of the problem.
' He has explained that the challenges are different because Puerto Rico is “an island surrounded by water — big water, ocean water,”
Gee, I didn't know that. Thanks for the clarification.
5
Trump's narcissism is reaching proportions that can destroy our nation if the GOZp can't muster up the spine and integrity to remove him from office. His response to the crisis in Puerto Rico? Tweet insults at San Juan's mayor. At the same time? He proposes a tax "reform" designed to save himself a billion dollars. His response to North Korea? Hurl insults at their leader. He needs to go, immediately.
10
The mayor of San Juan and the Governor of Puerto Rico are incompetent and criminally negligent for failing to have in place a plausible and actionable disaster plan with prepositioned assets that would have immediately initiated as soon as a Hurricane Warning was announced by the National Hurricane Center. Their failure has resulted in countless human tragedy and they should be held accountable for their dismal failure.
3
Puerto Rico did have assets and plans in place. They all got blown away, along with the *entire* electrical grid, airports, seaports, roads, communications, water, buildings and homes. Compare this with preparation and response at the federal level, which was notably tepid.
2
Then so should the mayors of Houston and New Orleans and the governor of Florida, don't you think?
2
Trump does not care anything about other people except himself. I believe he has a mental disorder called Histrionic Personality Disorder which causes someone to think that they are the only one who knows facts and the truth about everything. When someone questions this person about something they said or about what they did, the person will deny every doing anything. They will also regress back to a childish mental manner when they answer and when they do not get their way, they throw a child like or like a three year old tantrum. They do things on impulse and do not consider the consequences of their action and Trump has demonstrated the characteristic behavior of this illness. This could threaten the United States security in the world.
4
How many games of Golf since Inauguration Mr Trump? How many Putts?
How much shame & Gaffs since inauguration Mr Trump? How many Buts?
We are still waiting Mr President for your first "Whole in One" for the American people, but instead every it seems , you give us just another Bogey.
Whilst it may mean your Golf game scores well, in most other things that matter, your efforts have definitely been Sub-Par.
From this President, there is a fine line between (his) Pleasure and (our) Pain.
3
Will/ could our European (former?) allies possibly assist PR? And while doing so please shame this heinous excuse of a president in front of the world.
1
Mayor Cruz is much more of a leader than Trump; she is also a much better person.
4
Good grief, just when I thought Trump couldn't get any smaller, he picks on someone crying desperately for help not for herself but her people. If he'd been on the Titanic he would have jumped in a lifeboat and then, once on the water and safe, stomped on the hands of those in the water who tried to get on his boat. Have you no decency or shame sir?
6
No, he has no decency and he has no shame. He's a terrible person and the GOP needs to grow a collective spine and do something about him before he does serious, possibly irreparable harm to our nation and the wider world. How much of our national integrity must be sacrificed for this hideous fool before those in Congress will do something? Too much, I fear.
1
I can't help thinking that the reason Puerto Ricans are not getting real help with any sense of urgency is because they are brown people who voted for Hillary. Similarly, those in the US Virgin Islands are also brown and don't get to vote. Trump only does things that are good for Trump.
Unfortunately, the Mayor of San Juan is a woman, and Trump thinks that he can treat women any way he wants and get away with it completely. His piggish behavior isn't working on this "nasty" woman in Puerto Rico. Thank God for Ms. Cruz. I think at the end of the day, she will be the reason that her people survive this.
2
US Constitution:
"Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress," and therefore The Electoral College system does not provide for residents of U.S. Territories, such as Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa to vote for President.
The Resident Commissioner to Congress, Jenniffer Gonzalez Colon is Republican. She has been tweeting praise to POTUS.
So, the resident of Puerto Rico can't vote for our president plus their Congressional representation is publicly supporting the efforts of the White House. Sad!
Puerto Rico is an island in the Caribbean Ocean @ 1,000 miles from Miami. Hurricane season is 6 months a year and major hurricanes threaten Puerto Rico every year. Where is their disaster plan? Publish it. Where are their prepositioned resources? Why can't they execute their disaster plan? Did they even have one? The disaster plan should have addressed: 1. Command Center. (Who is in command? The Governor?) 2.Communication 3. Restoration of power (electricity grid) 4. Transportation, Fuel, distribution and debris removal from roads, 5. Potable water, 5. Food. The citizens of Puerto Rico aresuffering from incompetent governance. Their elected officials are now blaming Federal officials for their own absent planning and completely incompetent response. They are perfectly suited to preening before a camera and begging for help. When help doesn't come fast enough for them, they shift attention from their own shortcomings and blame everyone else. We have all seen this before.
5
Well, NYT quoted him (Trump) correctly, Puerto Rico is “an island surrounded by water — big water, ocean water.”
That's the extent of his understanding of the situation. It sounded like he had just realized that Puerto Rico was an island not a city in South Florida. It was an epiphany. Who knew? We already know that he has no empathy for anyone. Remember the Gold Star father? He attacked him for days, maybe weeks. How about senator McCain? The list goes on and on. So, let's not expect him to change. Unfortunately what that means for us is that many of us are probably going to die waiting for him to help because this is not going to be the only natural disaster he's going to have to deal with. Then, we have N. Korea and China. One of this days we're going to have nukes falling down on us in California while he's golfing.
We can only learn from our mistakes, beware of narcissistic leaders in the future and make better choices.
6
The mayor of San Juan had zero emergency plans in place. No food water medicine was set aside. No generators were in place, tested and ready to go. Island first responders in place. An electrical system ready to collapse anyway.
Today we find out the mayor hasn’t even attended the fema coordination meetings!
So the mayor of San Juan has proven herself incompetent.
criticizing the guy who will sign the aid check to Puerto Rico is just plain foolish.
But trump haters got to hate.
6
Trump has been playing media much before he got elected to the office. Each new week a new tweet and a new diversion - so much so that the media can't keep up with his endless lues
2
One can imagine Trump seeing a drowning man. The man yells, with a Spanish accent, "Help me!". And Trump tells him to help himself. One thinks it can't get any worse with this guy; and then it does. He has zero compassion. His self focus is so extreme that mental health professionals must have a term for it. He is no doubt mentally ill. Yet he's the one with his finger on the nuclear button. Is that why I've developed this nervous tick.
2
The mayor is a major advocate of the Commonwealth political view in Puerto Rico, which is to say they want to remain a colony of the U.S., pay ZERO federal taxes, receive their $10B+ plus annually of Federal aid, avoid taxes on cigarettes and liquor, and get billions of dollars of aid immediately, all while being a mismanaged and bankrupt entity. She is a major advocate of getting something for nothing. She is also a ruthless politician pandering for votes, while 10,000 US aid workers and the US government are busting their derrières trying to get the island help. I have zero respect for her.
4
"pay ZERO federal taxes, "
Like your hero, President Trump, who said that makes someone smart. Now he actually is billing us taxpayers for the use of his golf carts by the Secret Service that is there to protect him. While profiting by billing us, and playing golf, he tweets criticisms of the Mayor of a suffering city rather than express even a shred of empathy for the Puerto Rican's. I assume he is hoping for a nice photo opportunity soon, where he can tell everyone to "have a good time"
5
I pay, unlike the PR's who are getting something for nothing, a lot of taxes, middle class taxes. And on top of it, I pay whopping health insurance deductibles and premiums, for insurance that does virtually ZERO for my family. And I have ZERO sympathy for people like Trump who don't pay taxes, and ZERO empathy for people like you, who don't look at the facts because they are so politicized.
With everything we have going on in the world,DT daily seems to have unending streams of time to wile away hours watching the news for any slight,and responding on Twitter. Those behaviors alone say a lot about him.
1
People are repulsed, and I can't see how this can help Trump and his enablers politically.
They are even blind to this.
3
I am fairly certain that the challenges of getting food and water and electricity to 3.4M people are overwhelming.
We'd do well to hold a real press conference, and discuss real details of what we are doing. Are we sending ships loaded with supplies? How are we getting key workers to remote regions to help? How are we getting fuel to trucks and trucks to towns? How are we setting up emergency medical and emergency refrigeration? How are we communicating the various priorities across a ravaged island? Who have we deployed?
Instead we get the Tweeter in Chief in a flame war with a mayor.
Mayor Cruz set the baseline: "This is not a good news story. This is a "people are dying" story. This is a "life and death" story."
We need someone telling us precisely how we are addressing the needs of our own citizens, stranded and without water. Then we can judge if we are doing anything near enough.
3
PR was a disaster before this storm. There were stories in the NYt a year ago about the failing power utility and crumbling infrastructure. So in that since it is very much like New Orleans. And Katrina.
Comparing Floroda's response to Irma vs the 2004 hurricanes, Floridian s saw a massive improvement in the aftermath of Irma. All of the visible response in my city came from our local government and residents working together. Roads were cleard within two days of the storm and power fully restored in one week. Power restoration was almost exclusively handled by private utilities that made plans in advance of the storm to bring in a literal army of utility support from other states.
Had PR been as well prepared they would at least have relief supplies moving inland much faster than now.
If PR power utilities were not bankrupt perhaps they would have maintained the infrastructure, trimmed the trees and made arrangements for support from other states.
I know the people in PR are frustrated because the have no power, no water , no means of communication and when they can get the news all they see is NYT bashing the President instead of. The news they need. Where are the supplies distributed, where are volunteers needed, what companies need their employees to come back to work to get relief moving.
Haveing spent my entire life in Florida we have been there and done that many times. Preparation makes all of the difference.
3
This was all "in the cards". Mostly all who now suffer as a result of the hurricanes this season ought to have had an inkling this was coming. many did know better, but played the cards dealt because of their eventual value. The Federal government ought to have seen a possibility of this occurring and of the impossibility of several million people trying to escape all at once in ground vehicles, on one highway, fueled by limited and increasingly damaging hydrocarbons-the same hydrocarbons that have dumped their carboniferous dreck in the ocean-Earth's secondary carbon sink- causing the increasingly dangerous and frequent hurricane seasons. The solution,(like the cause), is obvious, but the people in the South's coasts are still living in a 19th and early 20th century fantasy. In fact, All of Florida,La,Tex and the Carolinas need to be rezoned. Millions of people MUST be moved North. FEMA and the special insurance deals to rebuild ought to be ended. Would an insurance company continue to pay insurance on accidents that were obviously self inflicted? Our hurricane season is obviously human generated or "S.I.W." as the military used to denote such wounds. A self inflicted wound was once rare and shameful. Yet we have made them far too profitable for those in the know- and refused to place blame on people building repeatedly-like madmen- in the most dangerous, disaster prone spots. Enough excuses. . .
Starve to death and Trump could care less. We need to get used to by-passing this president. GOP must fill the void created by Trump presidency or else US will turn into a pariah state. Toxic atmosphere is permeating this country indeed and this is what Trump slogan is really about.
2
Mayor Cruz shows maturity, responsibility, leadership, courage, class, and all the good things about human beings. With his ridiculous tweets Trump shows how inferior he is to her.
6
I feel sorry for the citizens of PR, but CNN last night was pushing the public relations gambit of putting down Trump, though he deserves it. Anderson kept pushing Ms Cruz into weeping and wailing. I was busy with a project and had CNN on as background noise and after 15 minutes of Cooper goading her into castigating her Everything Trump. While Trump is wrong, CNN and Ms Cruz are pushing it!
4
One gets the distinct impression the man's never read any Freud. A classic case of projection. I'll apologise to Ms Cruz on his behalf. It would be funny if it weren't so sad. I feel for you Puerto Rico.
3
trump's whole campaign was projection so this is nothing new to those of us here in the States.
Every teacher trained at my university was required to take not only Introductory Psychology but also Health. Both courses taught the (Freudian) Ego Defense Mechanisms. I watched Projection by my students and by my early demented husband. The new guy has been called a petulant child, a narcissist, a sociopath, and demented. There is no insight, no self-knowledge.
1
re, "One gets the distinct impression the man's never read any Freud."
One gets the distinct impression that he has never read anything whatsoever. On the basis of his speaking skills, I would say that he never advanced beyond a fourth grade reading level. How did he ever get through a military prep school and college? Probably the same way he gets through business, and is attempting to get through the Presidency.
1
The problem for him was that someone shouted out the failure at the top of her lungs. She did not go through the official government channels. Instead, she chose to call out this failure in front of the national media. He did what he was does when he felt hit: he hit back.
Does this image make any sense? The most powerful man, in the most powerful nation on earth, going after the mayor of the capital of a devastated island for calling out his failure. A person in power does not need to hit back to show power. Power comes in many shapes and forms.
A regular American president would have addressed this issue with seriousness and empathy. Any other president would have made a statement to apologize and recognize the dire situation that faces thousands of American citizens. Any other president would have had the humility and moral fiber to acknowledge the shortcomings of the government, and promise to do better.
This president is psychologically incapable of admitting personal failure. Everything is always perfect, excellent, or the best. His syntax reveals a mindset that can never accept critical feedback. The problem is, the world is a constant flux of events, one that is ever moving, and requires admittance of shortcomings. He cannot handle reality, only the filtered glamorous reality tv version.
7
Whenever trump uses superlatives, it's a signal that either he doesn't know what he's talking about or he is lying. He's really very easy to read.
2
Trump isn't just an empty suit. He's an empty soul. Someone who has so lost his way, that he has become a characature of himself.
5
Would Trump's attacks on Carmen Cruz be just as vicious if the mayor were a strong man rather than a strong woman? I don't think so.
I think Time Magazine need look no further for its Person of the Year.
5
When it comes to poor leadership Trump better take a strong hard look in the mirror if he really wants to see poor leadership.
2
Ms. Cruz has been tireless in her efforts to help all of PR, not just her city. She is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon U. and has made all of Pittsburgh proud by her strength and moral outrage at our slow response to save people. She has not attacked our Fake president and has only responded to his tweets by asking for help. God Bless her and may God forgive Mr. Trump.
7
I find this tit for tat untimely and appalling. To begin with, the SJ Mayor's press conference seemed too melodramatic. Yes, the island was struck by a major hurricane but even in Florida and Houston recovery is never an overnight miracle. Ask New Orleans and NJ/NY. Does the Mayor have any proof that "people are dying"? If so, she should present proof to the public along with the reasons for the deaths. Federal and military help has been sent to the island and continues to increase and conditions are improving. She knew she would invite Trump's ire by the tone of her press conference. And then to have the likes of Lin Manuel Miranda jump into the fray by lowering the bar further was tactless, distasteful and embarrassing. He should be a bigger man and apologize. There are far better and elegant ways of addressing his feelings and opinions. On the other hand, Trump was of course guilty of spewing ugly ethnic stereotypes about Puerto Ricans at an inappropriate time (although the time is never appropriate for any stereotype). But, to be fair, the island's dismal infrastructure, its bankruptcy and the hurricane are not Trump's fault (future minster storms we can lay at his feet, yes, what with the US withdrawal from the Paris Climate accord). I feel it is appropriate to say all this to inject some sense of perspective. And I am usually on the liberal end about most topics.
21
There were several reports on the news last night of people who had died after the storm due to lack of medical help or medications.
5
Why should Lin-Manuel Miranda apologize? Trump never once has.
The effrontery of you suggesting that Mr. Manuel apologize.
7
How are dialysis patients surviving when hospitals have no electric power and diabetics no insulin? To ask for "proof along with reasons for the deaths" is an insult (not to mention just plain ignorant!) No one criticizing Trump need apologize - Trump is the epitome of someone deserving criticism from all sides and angles. Trump's ignorance is matched only by his arrogance. There are no words to express the contempt I have for this loser, yes loser. He completly fails as a worth while human being deserving of respect.
5
Instead of taking action, Trump prefers to play golf and tweet. Apparently he believes that Puerto Rico shouldn’t depend on the federal government to help them at all. He then insults the mayor of San Juan by accusing her of having “such poor leadership ability.” It’s unbelievable. Puerto Rico has been ravaged by this storm, people’s lives are at stake here. There have been 16 reported deaths and President Trump can’t even be bothered. Even a little help is better than nothing. I’m appalled that Trump doesn’t even show any sympathy to all the people in Puerto Rico affected by the storm.
2
Trump is practicing rhetorical metastasis, or, as often heard in the schoolyard, "I know you are, but what am I"
But it looks like the Mayor Cruz is the person doing a much needed job.
With Houston/Harvey, the locals were able to, heroically, dive in (pun intended) and mitigate that disaster to a great extent.
Florida/Irma wasn't as bad as initially advertised/feared.
Trump took all the credit for Houston and Florida being better than might have been, congratulating himself at every opportunity.
Now, with PR/Irma, his lack of real commitment and his true self are apparent.
1
Saw the entire statement by Ms. Cruz unedited Friday evening. She was sensational. I wish she were mayor of my city, or senator from my state. If I were president, I'd have told my staff, "Change in plans, we are going to San Juan now. Cancel my tee time; wheels up in 30." My tweet would have been "We have heard you and we are coming. However we have failed you ends right now." This morning's twitter attack was beyond the pale.
8
Although Puerto Rico lacks Electoral College votes, the people of Puerto Rico are US citizens. I hope they will find a suitable way to express their feelings about His Trumpness.
1
Trump's tweet about the Mayor of San Juan was the first thing I read this morning upon waking. It made me literally sick; I felt it physically. The people of Puerto Rico are suffering. Our president is a disgrace. It is so difficult to express how upsetting that we have a president that cares so little for the people of our nation, and humanity in general.
4
Shame him into doing the right thing, Ms Mayor, ask the Canadians, or the Europeans to help.
2
I'm searching my memory, splitting my brain, what is it that allegedly made Trump's response to Harvey and Irma great? He bragged the night before Harvey hit how it would boost ratings for his Arpaio pardon, didn't meet with victims until shamed into it while Melania thought it was a nice occasion to sport new stilettos, and then told people in a shelter to "have a good time" and bragged how the whole world was jealous of how beautiful the recovery effort was, And Florida obviously dodged a horrible bullet. Why the praise? Trump only pledged the million of his own legendary fortune days after those liberal celebrities, Sandra Bullock et al did. Meantime, Macron had his National Guard on the ground in St.Martin THE DAY after it was devastated. News showed him on the island, surrounded by a tumultuous crowd a few days later, discussing with agitated people basically two feet away from his face, not running anywhere. What has Trump done to deserve the 40% approval /praise for his "handling?" It's unbelievable how gullible Republicans are when it comes to their Big Daddy. And that commenters here from Florida have the gall to complain about Puerto Rico is just rich, or shall we say incredibly mean spirited?
4
As he has amply demonstrated Donald Trump knows zero about leadership, so it's time for a lesson. Donnie Boy, here's Lesson One - How to Recognize Bad Leadership: To see a great, beautiful, tremendous example of bad leadership simply face the nearest mirror and gaze deeply.
There's no point in commenting. Trump is a travesty. Trump is something we haven't seen before (in the White House). Problem is, Russia is using social media for division. They are taking both sides to create social division. So it doesn't matter what I say here. I could be a Russian bot or a patriotic U.S. citizen; whatever is written will continue to divide. And Putin will be happy.
1
Playing golf and Tweeting from the comfort of his golf cart while Puerto Ricans suffer. How typical of him.
Take away all of this "nasty" man's possessions, his mansions, gold toilets and bank accounts and see how self-reliant trump would be after a Cat 4-5 hurricane.
What part of "devastation" does trump not understand? "Mayor of San Juan, and others ... are not able to get their workers to help." The same workers whose life has just been turned upside down, desperately fighting to save their own families and homes? trump, with the typical Boss-Man mentality showing through, has no regard for anyone, especially his workers regardless of the calamity they have suffered. Shame on him.
At least the Puerto Ricans are not "helping themselves" by looting a port full of private property containers filled with supplies.
Perhaps the Emergency Broadcast System should be updated to read: "You Are On Your Own Now" or "Really good news story, coming up next ..." when there is an alert.
Perhaps the press can repeatedly remind trump that the Mueller investigation of him is actually a really good news story.
1
It's always so very hypocritical of the Democrats to criticize a republican leader for allegedly failing to provide assistance to a storm-ravaged US territory, but if the leader were a Democrat and did the exact same thing, he/shoe would be praised for doing everything good.
2
No, Bill. If any Democrat did this, I would in no way be praising him or her. I'd be just as appalled and think that he or she was just as incompetent and reprehensible as I do Trump.
This isn't a Democratic or a Republican issue. This is an issue of competence, empathy, an ability to connect with one's fellow citizens, and the ability to adequately take command in times of crisis. Trump has demonstrated that not only can he not do these things, he has no interest in doing them. He'd rather tantrum and lay blame. He's a disgraceful fool who doesn't belong in the White House, and anyone who still supports this walking, talking, Tweeting travesty at this point in his presidency is just as foolish.
1
The cowering GOP enables Trump to rob prestige from the US. His privileges and the entertainment culture (you hear me CNN?) masked his mental health issues. Now in the White House, everyone but about 30 percent of Republican voters see him for what he is. Let's hope we survive his viciousness. I'm counting on Mueller to present the evidence to get fired.
3
One comment reads, in part, "Mr. Trump seems to need to get more into the spirit of helping." It should now be crystal clear that the only person Trump has ever had any interest in helping is himself.
1
All the world press has commented on the inadequacy and complete lack of intervention in Puerto Rico, it's non only "fake new" of CNN and NBC. We have a huge problem of leadership, that everyday becomes worse and worse.
1
Under unimaginable circumstances, Ms. Cruz the brave mayor of San Juan is simply begging for the immediate humanitarian aid the people (Americans) on the ruined Island of Puerto Rico desperately need and deserve. She should never have to do this.
Given who and what Trump is, his behavior in this situation is all we can expect of the man. He has the empathy of a flea. While Puerto Rico suffers, he is showing his “leadership” by tweeting. First the barrage of the NFL tweets before he turned to tweeting insults at Mayor Cruz. The irony is that the man is sending out his little poison tweets from the luxurious confines of his own private golf club. Nero couldn’t have done it better.
5
Remember, this is someone who played sports in college, but got a deferment from military service in 1968 for a heel problem. He just doesn't know how to be a world leader or how tot step-up and become one like the mayor of San Juan.
2
The Democratic mayor of Puerto Rico lying to score political points against Trump and the media takes her word for it. What has the local Puerto Rican government government done for its people?
2
So the President comes quickly to the aid of Texas, Florida Louisiana and the other states. Those states voted for him, because he was the Republican Party candidate. Puerto Rico, like Mexico, seem to be taking the worst of it, yet the President seems to have more time to tweet than act; most likely because these are not potential core voters. So even in catastrophe, for some reason, the President cannot rise to serve all the people. Instead he seems to pander to the lowest level; who follows this type of behavior or condones it is hard to know. At some point things can happen and the scenarios can flip. By then there are many, many people who will turn the other way. Where's the Christian spirit; the common good; common decency; where do these values come from.
2
Trump is slow to act because he sees nothing but dollar signs going to PR from the national treasury which he uses as his personal piggy bank. It is already being dipped into to help pay for Florida and Houston. Even though Puerto Rico has debt they paid the US treasury almost 3.5 billion in 2009. I wouldn't be surprised if the Republican party as well is reticent to forking out money to PR. After all, they gave NY and NJ a hard time after hurricane Sandy and didn't want to pay.
1
After these shocking comments I am convinced there is no moral bottom that this "president" can reach. A large part of what drives this man seemingly comes from an aversion to what he considers "weakness" in others. I am reminded of his shameful comments about John McCain who Trump derided as essentially weak because he was captured by the enemy.
The same is true in the case of the San Juan mayor. I am sure that Trump saw weakness in her pleas for help; and, of course, no demonstration of weakness can go unanswered. This is what he does.
I am 73 years old and have followed politics for a long time now. Never have I observed a "leader" with such a low level of moral understanding and behavior. There is nothing inside the man other than revenge, grievance, and pettiness.
Jeff Laadt
6
This is appalling behavior, even for Trump. This is not the time to play political games. Let’s save the people of Puerto Rico who are suffering mightily and then Trump can tweet himself into oblivion if he wants. But now is the time for him to be a leader and not a complete loser.
3
One of the Trump defenders on CNN just accused the mayor of "being surrounded by food and water" so what was she complaining about. Called her a poor leader echoing Trump. I am beyond tired of these propaganda plants who have no shame. The man was Puerto Rican, a former government official, in a suit sitting on the mainland. It is time to stop giving fact denying people like this a platform.
2
Sadly, facts are not part of these people's reality. During the NFL uproar, one of my Trump-voting relatives posted something on Facebook more or less stating that athletes needed to watch their behavior because they are public figures revered by children. (No mention, of course, as to whether the president needed to watch his behavior.) This same Trump supporter also posted that he didn't "kneel before the flag, but before the Cross." I guess it's all fine and dandy to be Christian just as long as you don't have to put those values into practice.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that these people don't get it and they never will. They've bought into Trump so much that there's no going back. It's beyond conservatism and is almost cultish. I'd feel bad for them, except their undying support of this monster is harming our country. The GOP probably isn't going to lift a finger to stop this runaway train as long as they have support from "the base" and, as of October 2017, they still have it.
With apologies to "Star Wars": Help us, Robert Mueller. You're our only hope.
1
First there are people in need and they need help and they need it now. Second, remove this horrific person from office, Trump is not a leader nor a unifier, or even a decent human being.
4
It's ironic that Donald Trump -- widely criticized for congenital wholesale lies and false exaggerations -- is, in fact, brutally honest about his contempt for the poor and minorities _unless_ he can see how they directly benefit ... him.
Despite occasional conscientious-easing charitable activities the rich and powerful more often than not have a Darwinian view of the world that is totally at odds with religion in general and Christianity in particular. But that callousness is rarely on display.
To see Mr. Trump, face contorted in hate, salvaging the weak, the poor and the damaged as if they had personally attacked him is to get a rare glimpse of the self-justification required to put away $millions while billions go hungry.
After reading the remarks that Trump tweeted about the Puerto Rican people my stomach churned and it is still not the same. I started to cry to release the anger I am feeling toward this man. I try not to use the word hate because I was taught to love everyone. I believe that "he" gets pleasure and gratified in many ways when he ridicules people and sees people suffering. If I was a Republican I would change my party because YOUR leader is disgraceful!
3
If trump would once, just once, respond like a leader and president, it would be so refreshing. These constant lashings-out are so tragically unnecessary and reveal nothing but the hollow shirt with the huge but fragile ego. How about HELPING, Mr President?
1
We are with you Carmen! God bless your efforts and get some rest so you can maintain the struggle. As for Trump, he is "petty" and not worth any distraction from saving the people of San Juan and Puerto Rico. Hurricane Maria did more than blow off the roofs of thousands of homes- it blew off Trump's cover that he possesses any true humanity. If anyone doubted such, it's now plain to see.
When he arrives in Puerto Rico on Tuesday, if the people turn their backs on him it is exactly what he deserves. He is POTUS but its just a tiring job to him. He is not a "leader" to anyone except his minions that want some privileged role of pretending to serve the public good which none of them were ever about. They are all crooks. Attacking your efforts and diminishing the struggle the people in Puerto Rico are enduring presently is Trump's usual act. He knows he has no real business being President because he can only serve his own interest. He doesn't care about the needs of anyone, not even after a devastating hurricane.
Some huge winds will be blowing Trump out of the office of the POTUS soon. The model of "poor leadership," Trump leaves the American people no choice but to show him to door. What he's expressed about Puerto Rico he also feels for the majority of poor, misguided Americans who still support him. He is just one event from letting them know that he has no use for them anymore. The pretense is too much for him.
The scrutiny and the truth are about to expose him.
2
Perhaps Trumps lack of a human response in addressing the desperate needs of Puerto Rico, unlike his response to the red states of Florida and Texas, is because Puerto Rico does not get to vote for President.
I don't know, maybe it was all that water, big water, ocean water surrounding an island.
Even though I've always understand our nation does have some dark moments in our history, I've always held the belief the world is better with the US in it than not at all. Unfortunately I'm living the making of what will be considered another dark moment of our history but I take some solace that we can begin to see the sun again in 2018 and 2020 will be blue skies.
This storm will pass and we will repair the devastation wrought by this GOP led government and their President Trump.
We stand with you Puerto Rico!
2
If we have 'buyers remorse' at least we can just give it away or donate it to Goodwill.
Here we are stuck with Trump, like one of those nightmares just went on forever.
1
Trump is planning to visit those of us left without anything in Puerto Rico. Ms. Cruz, it is not for this concerned person, to tell you what is right, or wrong but Trump is going to put a damper on this devastation.
The Media is going to focus more on the height of his lady's shoes and Trump, as always, is going to be awkward. Perhaps you remember Louisiana with the President and Pence, creaking with the effort of handing out care packages in the sun.
Tell us what you need. Some of us will respond. The Red Cross, the Humanitarian Agencies for Children, Water Engineers, the citizens of America. It takes a lot of courage for those in Puerto Rico to wave to us worried in the face of the camera, reassuring 'we have lost everything but we are alive'.
Impossible to imagine unless one is there. Water flowed from my eyes on hearing of the death of my elderly parent in Paris, while a friend from Puerto Rico held my hand and I hope never to take an act of kindness for granted.
Trump is a heavy burden for the Country to carry, an elephant who stamps on the weakest. A call for help is necessary and please let us know how we can be part of this emergency relief operation.
1
Trump needs Texas, so Texas got help, a lot of help, and help was timely and orderly. But Texas is red and full of evangelicals and trump needs them. Puerto Rico, is insignificant and full of brown people too, and trump doesn't need that island and he doesn't care about brown people. So, if the mayor of San Juan, hadn't let the world know that they weren't getting ing help like Texas and Florida, not much would have happened.
2
If you could dissect Trump's brain I think you would find two main ways he processes people: those that he makes deals with (fellow men) and those he potentially can victimize. A third possible type of processing works on those who complain about him. Unfortunately for Puerto Rico, Puerto Ricans fall into the latter two modes and are doomed. The situation must be exploited for gain and, where-ever possible malice expressed.
Worse: it is possible that the presidential directive to FEMA has an element of punishment in it, like Christie, governor of New Jersey, had towards certain wayward constituents: the bridge-gate scandal. This is the fundamental problem with Trump. In my opinion, given adequate cover, he would kill with negligence and incompetence American citizens in furtherance of political payback. In a way the evidence of this is obvious: he with the Republican Party would kill with negligence American citizens for a political win; the repeal and replace idea shows this.
2
I am reading this article shaking my head, angry and frustrated. Angry, because instead of sending condolences and prayers to the Mayor of Puerto Rico, Trump has decided to lash out. With a Tweet. Frustrated because our political system does absolutely nothing to stop him and cannot do anything to shut him up. This travesty of a presidential administration will go on until his term ends and we have to continue to read about it. It makes me sick to my stomach.
1
The alacrity with which the media rushed to criticize the president over the Maria response was entirely predictable. Here was a task with so many moving parts it was bound to provide fodder for do-nothing second-guessers. But to imply that the president was making a less than good faith effort to cope with the enormity of the disaster is an insult to the thousands of men and women now on the ground. Let's all pull together and stop the infantile games.
Compare the Puerto Rico relief effort with US support of the disaster in Fukushima. We had troops from Okinawa on the ground within 48 hours. And ships there with helicopters and mobile hospital units in the same time frame. The distances, extent of the damage and population were similar to Puerto Rico. The hospital ship Comfort departed 29 September from Norfolk and will reach Puerto Rico on 3 or 4 October. Maria hit PR on 20 September. This is a failure of management.
2
Carmen Yulin Cruz represents what an amazing the young woman she is with her standing up to Trump. This should be what others do since Trump is a bully and doesn't have a clue how to be an effective president. Basic civics seems to be beyond his grasp with his negative attempts to divide the country and the Republicans he claims to lead. It might be time to have the Republicans call him out and emphasize what his just did blaming Puerto Rico for the problems unacceptable. Thurmp seems to be a flawed human being and that might be the basis for impeachment. The disaster in Puerto Rica was obvious with the hurricane's path headed right for the island, days before it hit. Precautions and help on a Federal level were then and now are even more obvious.
2
Next, we can expect Trump, his company, or members of his family to purchase a few thousand cars that were submerged in water at scrap price, dry them out, and put them up for sale in used car lots across the country. Hey, they will give themselves another A+ grade for doing a terrific job.
1
I'm not surprised that Trump lashed out at the Mayor. Everytime anyone calls him out on his blatant lies he strikes back on Twitter.
Sadly he humiliates the American people most of of which do not agee with his remarks. We are becoming stereotyped as cold, uncaring, and racist.
I wish there was a way to issue a disclaimer following his Twittering stating that this is the opinion of Trump period but not the rest of the American public.
1
This guy! Words fail me. Has Trump ever had to fix one plumbing problem on any of his properties? Has he ever had to build anything, or clean anything, or deal with an emergency in one of his homes? In fact, has he ever done anything except have his every economic need catered to while bossing around others, for the entirety of his life? Has he ever accomplished anything at all on his own? And this is who person our elites are comfortable leading the country for the next four years? An emotionally crippled bully baby who does not have a clue about the reality of most people's lives? If anyone in Congress had a clue as to the reality of most people's lives in the United States and the world, it's clear that Trump would not be president, unless the goal of our elites is to make our lives miserable. So, apparently, no one in Congress has a clue about what most of us deal with everyday either, or they actually want to make our lives miserable. So, we are all stuck with this nightmare for as long as it goes on. Nice! Thanks a lot, elites! Thanks for nothing.
@steve hanson. Isn't trump eliminating all the tax deductions for the great unwashed with his wonderful tax code for his oligarchs?
1
If Trump sent his children there to volunteer and help them out, that would build trust, particularly since he thinks he has already done enough for the people of Puerto Rico. Optics and building relationships are ordinarily important to so-called successful businessmen. Sad!
Trump deserves all the hits he is taking over his scurrilous behavior, but it should be remembered that it was Elaine Chao who started this weekend's scandal (there always seems to be at least one) by claiming the situation in Puerto Rico is a "good news story."
Many suspect Chao, who is Mitch McConnell's wife, was hired as a human shield to encourage McConnell to keep a lid on the Senate Russian investigations. But after Trump started denigrating McConnell for failing to pass any major legislation (and standing up for Sessions and Jeff Flake, although Trump has not vocalized those misgivings), perhaps Chao figured payback was in order.
Her timing is a bit curious. It is just coming to light that she holds a major bundle of stock in a company she used to lead and, as Transportation Secretary, is now in a position to enrich by sending them federal contracts. Not only does that conflict of interest look bad on her, it also reminds people that Trump has the same type of conflict.
Now that Firing Fridays are a thing in the Trump administration, I wonder if Elaine Chao will be shown the door in a week or two. If she was not McConnell's wife, I would pick her for next week's choice to hear "you're fired" from the guy who loves to say it.
1
More people are realizing the horrors of Trump, and his GOP enablers.
Maybe this will translate into voting them out of power in 2018/2020, assuming we can remember past last weekend.
If history is prelude, maybe not.
I would love to see her run for President against him. SHE is articulate and passionate about her people. He is a tongue-tied dotard who cares only about himself.
1
Trump's next tweet about his past comments on Puerto Rico, "I got a shovel and kept on digging. This hole is just not big enough for me." Thank you Mr. Trump for criticizing the mayor. Anyone still confused about your lack of character will no longer be on the fence. You attacked someone who presents as a very decent person trying to do the right thing. This contrasts very well with men who aren't very decent and are so unfamiliar with the right thing to do they wouldn't know if it slapped them in the face. It looked to me like while the mayor was trying to help the other American citizens on the island, you were playing golf.
Meanwhile, team player and man with no obvious views of his own, supported Trump and criticized the mayor for not being "positive". Of course I'm speaking of our vice president. It seems those "broad shoulders" Pence spoke incessantly about during the campaign, didn't extend beyond the occasional help extended to the mainland.
Donald Trump continues his daily quest to effect a stranglehold on his status as the most inept president of all time.
2
I can hardly stand to read the news as it's all about one person. I look back at other political leaders in my lifetime, Kennedy, LBJ, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush Sr. Clinton, Bush Jr., Obama -- yes there was scandal, I often disagreed and was angry at what was going on --- there was a lot wrong with the country, and we can't forget those times -- but NOTHING LIKE THIS ONGOING BULLY SESSION.
Trump's inability to grasp and implement any meaningful help for the victims in Puerto Rico, his inane verbal attacks on those disaster victims and total disregard of their suffering is beyond contempt. It is also very frightening to think that such a man has so much power to hurt so many. Will he lead us into war?
Surely 100 Senators and 435 Represetatives in the house cannot all be condoning this one man's despicable behavior which is not only an embarrassment but a true danger to our country. Nero fiddled while Rome burned, and Trump golfed while people suffered and died. Is everyone just waiting for that last straw before standing up to this supreme bully? Are we living in a world so shattered that no one has the guts to do anything about the real swamp which has moved in and taken over, and polluted all the waters of truth, justice and equality???
1
Not to second guess, but President Trump has a general in charge of operations and logistics. The military is well trained in deploying individuals and material under the harshest battle field conditions.
Where are the helicopters to airlift food, medical supplies, water and portable generators. Where are the emergency tents and portable hospitals.
The military can construct entire tent cities within well defined time frames so why are people still living in the debris of this tragedy.
What exactly is the cost of human life. How much suffering does it take before compassion and empathy prevail.
1
As my friend Dave has said' "Trump was born on third base and and thinks he hit a triple". We are long past red versus blue issues. Mr. Trump's lack of empathy has been on full display, repeatedly, for as long as he has been in the public eye. Absent empathy, our man-child President is to be pitied for his dysfunction. For his own well being and the good of the world we can only hope the grown-ups in congress will soon take away his keys to the car before he drives off a cliff.
1
Does the U.S. military not have any transport helicopters at its disposal that could be used to move supplies into the interior of the island, despite the impassability of the surface roads and lack of electricity and means of communication? And why is it that I have to make this obvious suggestion?
1
It's comforting to know that the Donald understands that an island is a
land mass surrounded by water. In Puerto Rico's case, "ocean water."
His tweets continue to find new lows. Regularly.
What's equally remarkable is that most Americans don't give a toss. They don't apparently mind that their President has taken cluelessness to a new level.
1
It seems Mr. Trump does not understand first Puerto Rico is part of The United States of America and secondly why the Americans living there are in dire need of help (as did Texas and Florida) after being hit by two Categories 5 and 4 hurricanes. Instead of insuring help is on the way by finally waiving the Jones Act before refusing to do so becoming part of the problem, he decides to attack the Mayor for telling the truth. This is what, "I just want a change" looks like; incompetence and embarrassment.
2
Even if he were correct, and there isn't a font large enough for that "if", how do these tweets help the people of Puerto Rico get food, water, electricity and gas? I would like to see Pres. Trump so much as change a tire on his limousine or fix a computer without help from a federal worker. The person currently addressed as "Mr. President" keeps exposing new niches of vileness in his character day by day. How I wish he wouldn't. How I wish he would learn that he is not the center of the universe. As long as he is president, our country will become more and more divided, as those who follow him think only in terms of themselves as individuals and not as members of the 320 million strong American community. This is the ultimate culmination of Pres. Trump's identity politics: the idea that the only really important person is oneself and other people are tolerated only as long as they are exploitable for one's own benefit.
1
The press is presented with a challenge.
In fact are the people and administration of Puerto Rico doing enough for themselves?
Ms Cruz gave one of her press conferences with mountains of supplies behind her. The store owners objected to those supplies being given to the people except thru them. The Puerto Rican people repeatedly turn down statehood so they do not have to pay taxes.
The press should have their investigative reporters delve into this.
2
Another disastrous string of tweets from President Trump?
I'm sure the White House Press Secretary thought some choice words when she heard about this.
Trump has a lot of trouble rising above himself even in situations where it is blatantly obvious that he ought to. I think the REAL problem is is that he has trouble feeling sympathy for anyone except himself.
1
This obvious fact needs to be reiterated, a billion times, from one end of the world to the other: the instant it became clear that this devastating storm was on track to hit Puerto Rico, the President of this country had an inescapable duty to plan a massive response adequate to the predictable effects. So did everybody else in a responsible position in Mr. Trump's government. Nothing of the kind happened. As cruel and as evil as he seems for his attitude towards the Lady Mayor of San Juan, this utter failure of insight and humanity towards the whole people of Puerto Rico is the judgment history will make on Mr. Trump's response. Should it stop with him? Where were the Secretaries of State, Defense and Homeland Security?
2
Once again Trump projects his own weaknesses onto others, as when he said Hillary Clinton was "incompetent." She quite clearly is not incompetent, and Trump quite clearly is, as shown by all his actions as President, beginning with his personnel choices.
Trump must realize at some level what a poor example of leadership he represents, so naturally he projects that weakness onto someone else, who seems to have shown excellent leadership.
I wish Trump was not President any more.
2
As bothersome as Trump's comments are, I'm more bothered by Americans who support them. I don't expect anything from Trump. But I do expect Americans to draw a line somewhere about being mean to fellow Americans who are hit by a hurricane. Instead you see people tweeting mocking pictures of the mayor.
1
I think Trump has a point. The response to a disaster is not the job of Federal government only. The state and local govt have responsibilities too. What has the mayor done? If she does not have any means to do anything, then the last thing she should do is to blame others who have means to do something. The federal government is not perfect. The federal govt is made of people too. They go to a land, most of them never been. They try their best to help the people of the island. The only thing they hear in the media is excoriation from the mayor and few others. That is not fair. This is a natural disaster that almost no parallel in history. The fed is trying to do their best. It is not perfect. It will never be sufficient. But it is the best they can do. So stop blaming them. They did not create the hurricane. They have limitations. They are not going to be perfect. But stop blaming them. I did not find anything that they did is wrong. You can always do better. But at this point the may sounds more like a whining elementary school kid than an adult
2
I wonder if the fate of Puerto Rico is in the hands of the same bureaucrats in PR who brought that country into bankruptcy.
If so heaven help the Puerto Rican people, and it will have little to do with President Trump.
you know it is not just Trump, that it is the unacceptable for all the terrible stuff he's doing; hopefully the vast majority of Republicans and other national leaders will be held accountable for their acquiescence and sometimes overt agreement.
1
First, a plea: Can we all take politics out of this terrible situation? Recovery and reconstruction in Puerto Rico are going to take a massive, long-term effort.
Second: Of course, the principal culprit in the "political" equation is Trump, obsessed with how he "looks" in his response to Puerto Rico, just as he is with any other issue. Forget Trump! He is who he is. Focus on Puerto Rico.
61
No, we can't take politics out of it because it helps explain MOTIVATIONS.
Might as well denounce oxygen.
2
First, your plea to take politics out of any government response to any natural disaster is naïve.
Second, how can we forget that Trump is the only President of the United States that we have? Puerto Rico is part of the United States.
2
It's funny how you never hear the Trumpists braying about how much time the Clown spends golfing. They NEVER stopped braying when Obama took time off.
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Oh, but of course, the black man is supposed to be out in the fields stooping to pick the cotton while the Master is on the veranda sipping tea
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Yes, we see you and we're paying attention. Racists.
64
No trump is just better. Obama , totally ineffective.
Please note that the Jones Act has only been waived for 10 days and that hedge fund operators who bought up Puerto Rico's debts have pending lawsuits against the island.
62
Yea, and the way that usually works is that they paid pennies on the dollar for the noncollectable debt and expect full payment. Why lending institutions lent money to an entity they knew could not possibly pay back the loan is monstrous. You make bad loans and you should take the loss and write it off. It will show your share holders how you handle their business. Well, maybe they could get away with it because, well, its Puerto Rico, an off shore territory nobody cares about.
But in the end, the man with small hands,a small heart, and a small brain to match, inevitably ran out of excuses for whom to blame on his weaknesses. This mistake of a president showed the world what he represented as the president of the USA. Eventually, ALL the people from all over the country of America saw this and voted him out in the 2020 elections!
97
Hopefully, he will be removed from office long before 2020.
1
The mayor of San Juan is a compelling and sympathetic leader. The president of the US, on the other hand, is tweet-whining and playing golf. To all the people who voted for him, I ask one question - WHY?
247
It's still amazing that an impotent little man like Trump with an ego as fragile as his can survive in the dog-eat-dog world he does. He heaped scorn and attack on Obama for years, who ignored it, as any emotionally healthy public figure would. Trump, on the other hand, has to lash out like a little child if his ego isn't stroked at every turn. How this man manages his demons is a mystery.
201
He manages his demons by inflicting them upon the rest of us.
1
Can anyone tell me where the one million trump was donating has gone
167
On the online news show The Young Turks, they did a segment
about how Trump offered to write a check for any amount
needed to help out the victims of super storm Sandy and
of never gave a cent and all though his life has said he
was donating a million here and million there to different
causes and got credit for doing so but never came through
with the money. He did get caught recently when he
said he was donating money to the Veterans
and did not and then some one complained and he
had to cough it up. Bet he was angry about that. On the
show they were speculating if he would be afraid of getting
caught not donating the million he promised to Texas and
actually have to fork it over too. Which is worse promising
to give a million dollars to a needy cause or stiffing your
contractors? Or causing a florist business go out of
business because he refused to honor the contract with
them to pay 25k for the flowers for his wedding by
telling them that they would reap a lot of business
from the fame of doing his wedding?
1
David Fahrenthold of the Washington Post has verified that at least $250,000 had been received by those he said he would donate to. Probably the number is higher now. It appears he did follow through on his pledge.
If the USA cannot find in itself to send adequate help, Puerto Rico needs to send their Mayday call to the world and UN.
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Great idea. The US has been supporting much of the world for decades. Time for some pay back.
We call these 'territories' just so we are not burdened with being the [perhaps only] colonial power today. We call them the administration, yet we degrade the not much worse governments in Iran and N Korea by classifying them 'regimes'.
Puerto Rico is a bankrupt territory who defaulted on its municipal bonds a year ago. There is no leadership there that can efficiently run the government. The water company, power company and government building bonds are selling at pennies on the dollar and Puerto Rico cannot borrow another dime because nobody will lend them anything.
We absolutely have to do all we can for these people on humanitarian grounds. However, perhaps the readers should temper their rage and unalloyed support for Ms. Cruz in recognition of her support for a mass murderer and her opposition to statehood, which perhaps would make a difference in these poor people's lives. Instead predictably and inexorably you excoriate the hated Trump.
10
I'm sorry that you can't see how this isn't about any of that. Puerto Rico was hit by a devastating hurricane and the federal government's response is another "Heck of a job, Brownie" moment.
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Your President, the Clown, is behaving EXACTLY as millions of us would expect him to, like a spoiled, angry, impotent, and self-unaware jackass. And you want to change the narrative, which is of course the Clown's intent as well.
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Everyone else sees through it, mo. Sometimes things really are just the way they appear to be. Puerto Rico is in dire need of assistance, the federal government's response has been inadequate, and the Clown is incapable of taking criticism about that like an adult. Because he isn't one, and a great many of us are just tired of his act.
64
During a catastrophe Unalloyed support is for those who go above and beyond the call of duty to help those in dire need.
Excoriation, however, is for those who shirk their duty and have the gall to criticize those who do their duty.
4
Nothing to do with her ability to serve and lead. This is about the government's response to Puerto Rico and nothing else.
1
A Carnegie Mellon graduate who has empathy for her country!
We have your back Ms. Cruz, what can we do?
Our Health and Human Resources Cabinet Member would love fly there but his wings got clipped.
PS...don't count on the rump, no votes from Puerto Rico
71
Donald J. Trump is a daily American embarrassment. He's such a coward, always insulting women who have political power. The generals who has in his cabinet have not made a man out of this child whose political base the Republican Party is seriously afraid of. Too bad.
115
Funny thing when I read these anti-Trump comments is I do not think these people are seeing things objectively.
1. Did they see the mayor's rant from a podium with stacks of cans of food and water behind her?
2. There is talk of all the supplies in the ports, but in an island of 3 million plus, there are no drivers for trucks? No, not a lack of trucks or gas, but drivers?
Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.
21
If you read factual accounts of the devastation, you would know that the drivers cannot get to the port to work. One, communications are non-existent in many areas, so they cannot reach anyone and no one can reach them. Second, even if they could be reached and told to come in to work, most roads are impassable due to massive amounts of large debris and wreckage and fallen electrical lines and towers. Third, there is very little fuel on the island, so they do not have any means to get to work. Fourth, due to lack of clean water and food, many are struggling to keep their children and family members alive by standing in endless lines for these basic necessities. As one official stated, while Houston had massive dislocation due to flooding that receded, Puerto Rico looks like a bomb devastated the whole island. Its infrastructure and corresponding ability to function normally have been destroyed.
Where is your common sense, but more importantly, where is your humanity?
79
Have you been to Puerto Rico, NC? I have, twice,
and I'll tell you what - it's not the Dallas area. So maybe before you go getting all self righteous you might want to consider the possibility that they really truly are in the dire straights they say they are in.
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Or you could just blame the victim to protect your infantile Clown president. Whatever works for you.
58
Organizing those drivers requires communication to tell them where to go, which roads and bridges are passable, and where they can get gas. With scant phone communication possible and no electric grid, how do you propose to do so? Smoke signals?
3
America has always had problems. But we never before have had a president who ASPIRED to divide us against one another. Maybe it isn't such a good time for a massive tax cut for the wealthiest. Maybe we should be looking to recover from these hurricanes instead.
120
I am sure we would all like to forget the treasonous Mr. Nixon, but he was rather famous for dividing the country and turning Americans against one another. That is but one of the reasons Trump is being compared to Nixon.
Just maybe? How about being decisive? Like let's help Puerto Rico, our territory.