Washington Post says Trump is 'complicit' in Hurricane Florence

[spence]

Originally Posted by JohnR

Lots of news and opnion outlets are blaming Trump and the FedGov's response to the PR hurricane disaster. The truth is that lots of things went right and lots wrong. If you (general you not Bob you ; ) ) are unwilling to wade into actual assessments and AAR.

Part of being a strong leader is recognizing the shortcomings for what they are and pushing everyone forward to higher ground. A sober assessment means little when the man ultimately responsible for catalyzing change is more concerned about his own appearance than the well being of those who are under his wing.

The timing and substance of the tweets this morning were shocking even for Trump.

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by spence

A sober assessment means little when the man ultimately responsible for catalyzing change is more concerned about his own appearance than the well being of those who are under his wing.

The timing and substance of the tweets this morning were shocking even for Trump.

As for caring for those under his wing, I refer you to the moment in the SOTU when he announced that black unemployment was at an all time low. Please note which side celebrated that fact, and which side was made miserable by that fact. It appears your wish that leaders show concern for the rank-and-file, is quite selective.

"The timing and substance of the tweets this morning were shocking even for Trump"

Agreed.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by spence

Part of being a strong leader is recognizing the shortcomings for what they are and pushing everyone forward to higher ground. A sober assessment means little when the man ultimately responsible for catalyzing change is more concerned about his own appearance than the well being of those who are under his wing.

The timing and substance of the tweets this morning were shocking even for Trump.

Oh I agree he is a horrible leader, likely not as bad as you think he is. But I can understand SOME of what he is trying and failing to say because SOME of the facts support him and what he is saying. But the outrage mob can't get past that.

This is where I think out country is now broken, maybe irreparably.

[spence]

Originally Posted by JohnR

But I can understand SOME of what he is trying and failing to say because SOME of the facts support him and what he is saying. But the outrage mob can't get past that.

His issue is he forfeits the benefit of doubt via his own behavior. I can't imaging he wasn't aware of the PR hit Bush took over his lack of focus on Katrina. Sure, a lot of the challenges he inherited but you mix up his rampant bigotry towards hispanics, the paper towel tossing, his insistence that this was the best response ever and to top it all off dismissing nearly 3,000 dead Americans on the eve of a massive storm...

Sorry, but the press isn't making this up or even being unfair. They're just reporting a train wreck for what it is.

[scottw]

Originally Posted by spence

Sorry, but the press isn't making this up or even being unfair. They're just reporting a train wreck for what it is.

CNN just enthusiastically called the November mid-term elections for the democrats...based on polling .....in September

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by spence

His issue is he forfeits the benefit of doubt via his own behavior. I can't imaging he wasn't aware of the PR hit Bush took over his lack of focus on Katrina. Sure, a lot of the challenges he inherited but you mix up his rampant bigotry towards hispanics, the paper towel tossing, his insistence that this was the best response ever and to top it all off dismissing nearly 3,000 dead Americans on the eve of a massive storm...

Sorry, but the press isn't making this up or even being unfair. They're just reporting a train wreck for what it is.

FEMA isn't a first responder, isn't designed to be, can never be. The problem in PR was the same problem in New Orleans during Katrina. An amazingly incompetent and disastrously corrupt local government. LOCAL. The effectiveness of preventing these storms from being disasters is determined locally, not in Washington DC. Remember the footage from post Katrina, all those school buses underwater, that could/should have been used to get locals out of there ahead of time.

[spence]

Originally Posted by Jim in CT

FEMA isn't a first responder, isn't designed to be, can never be. The problem in PR was the same problem in New Orleans during Katrina. An amazingly incompetent and disastrously corrupt local government. LOCAL. The effectiveness of preventing these storms from being disasters is determined locally, not in Washington DC. Remember the footage from post Katrina, all those school buses underwater, that could/should have been used to get locals out of there ahead of time.

New Orleans local officials certainly could have done a better job, as could have FEMA, but the primary reason Katrina was such a disaster was due to massive levy failure which is the responsibility of the federal government.

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by spence

New Orleans local officials certainly could have done a better job, as could have FEMA, but the primary reason Katrina was such a disaster was due to massive levy failure which is the responsibility of the federal government.

true about who constructed the levies. but no one should have been there. they had a weeks notice.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by spence

His issue is he forfeits the benefit of doubt via his own behavior. I can't imaging he wasn't aware of the PR hit Bush took over his lack of focus on Katrina. Sure, a lot of the challenges he inherited but you mix up his rampant bigotry towards hispanics, the paper towel tossing, his insistence that this was the best response ever and to top it all off dismissing nearly 3,000 dead Americans on the eve of a massive storm...

Sorry, but the press isn't making this up or even being unfair. They're just reporting a train wreck for what it is.

I've read some of the whining class reports on this, things like how Hillary got things in gear by shaming Trump (USNS Comfort, etc) except that is not how it happened. The DOD / Navy ramped up hard for Puerto Rico (many after just finishing an 8+ month deployment) to got there and help that faltering (before the hurricane) state.

But facts don't matter because Trump forfeits any is what you are saying. But it's OK since it has become part of the allowable Zeitgeist ...

Originally Posted by scottw

this ^^^^^

Thanks for completing the B side to my we ain'tgonnafixit thoughts

Originally Posted by spence

New Orleans local officials certainly could have done a better job, as could have FEMA, but the primary reason Katrina was such a disaster was due to massive levy failure which is the responsibility of the federal government.

You mean Congress's fault for decades underfunding that, right?

[scottw]

Originally Posted by JohnR

This is where I think out country is now broken, maybe irreparably.

this ^^^^^

[Pete F.]

Originally Posted by scottw

this ^^^^^

I thought it was a pro trump hurricane party with free assault rifles, MacDonalds and dancing girls
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by scottw

this ^^^^^

My favorite since he got elected. A college professor, who you would assume isn't an obviously deranged individual - shot himself to protest the Trump presidency. Shot himself.

Unless this is a hoax story, which you almost think it has to be.

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by JohnR

SOME of the facts support him and what he is saying. But the outrage mob can't get past that.

This is where I think out country is now broken, maybe irreparably.

Spot on, John.

[Pete F.]

Originally Posted by Jim in CT

As for caring for those under his wing, I refer you to the moment in the SOTU when he announced that black unemployment was at an all time low. Please note which side celebrated that fact, and which side was made miserable by that fact. It appears your wish that leaders show concern for the rank-and-file, is quite selective.

"The timing and substance of the tweets this morning were shocking even for Trump"

Agreed.

Don't they all

Last night marked President Barack Obama's eighth and final State of the Union address (full text here), a historic moment for the United States and a huge personal achievement for the embattled president, who has faced gun violence, terrorism, a flailing economy, and a hostile Congress during his two terms in office.

That hostile Congress was out in full colors last night, displaying a shocking level of disrespect for the Commander in Chief, and Speaker Ryan, who remained largely inert on the rostrum behind the president, was first in line — while even the most reluctant of his Republican fellows got up to applaud for lines supporting veterans, the "cancer moonshot," and American military strength, Ryan at one point actually twiddled his thumbs. His continual anxious shifting, on display to the nation, also included moves like crossing his legs, adjusting his jacket, fiddling with his ear, and wringing his hands. Perhaps he just really needed to tinkle.

He also — or, rather, his interns and staff — tweeted during the State of the Union with a line of commentary demonstrating his sheer level of disdain for the president.

He wasn't the only one. While the GOP isn't required to like the State of the Union, and is in fact encouraged to respond with a rebuttal — provided this year by South Carolina governor Nikki Haley — a modicum of respect is a reasonable expectation in the halls of Congress, and the behaviors seen on display last night were nothing short of childish.


Similarly, large swaths of the GOP chose to remain seated with increasingly bored expressions — some even appeared to nod off — during the speech, including during segments that would have provoked thunderous GOP applause had they come from a Republican president. Instead, they evidently so greatly feared appearing supportive of anything coming out of the president's mouth that they opted to sit still through the president's commentary on issues like better benefits and support for military and veterans, bootstrapping recommendations to work harder in order to achieve dreams, and improving conditions for business, all popular GOP topics. We couldn't expect them to stand up for the class war segment of the evening or their sound spanking on failure to act on Daesh and curbing Islamophobic sentiment, but come on, they couldn't rise for curing cancer?

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by Pete F.

Don't they all

Last night marked President Barack Obama's eighth and final State of the Union address (full text here), a historic moment for the United States and a huge personal achievement for the embattled president, who has faced gun violence, terrorism, a flailing economy, and a hostile Congress during his two terms in office.

That hostile Congress was out in full colors last night, displaying a shocking level of disrespect for the Commander in Chief, and Speaker Ryan, who remained largely inert on the rostrum behind the president, was first in line — while even the most reluctant of his Republican fellows got up to applaud for lines supporting veterans, the "cancer moonshot," and American military strength, Ryan at one point actually twiddled his thumbs. His continual anxious shifting, on display to the nation, also included moves like crossing his legs, adjusting his jacket, fiddling with his ear, and wringing his hands. Perhaps he just really needed to tinkle.

He also — or, rather, his interns and staff — tweeted during the State of the Union with a line of commentary demonstrating his sheer level of disdain for the president.

He wasn't the only one. While the GOP isn't required to like the State of the Union, and is in fact encouraged to respond with a rebuttal — provided this year by South Carolina governor Nikki Haley — a modicum of respect is a reasonable expectation in the halls of Congress, and the behaviors seen on display last night were nothing short of childish.


Similarly, large swaths of the GOP chose to remain seated with increasingly bored expressions — some even appeared to nod off — during the speech, including during segments that would have provoked thunderous GOP applause had they come from a Republican president. Instead, they evidently so greatly feared appearing supportive of anything coming out of the president's mouth that they opted to sit still through the president's commentary on issues like better benefits and support for military and veterans, bootstrapping recommendations to work harder in order to achieve dreams, and improving conditions for business, all popular GOP topics. We couldn't expect them to stand up for the class war segment of the evening or their sound spanking on failure to act on Daesh and curbing Islamophobic sentiment, but come on, they couldn't rise for curing cancer?

"Ryan at one point actually twiddled his thumbs. His continual anxious shifting, on display to the nation, also included moves like crossing his legs, adjusting his jacket, fiddling with his ear, and wringing his hands. Perhaps he just really needed to tinkle."

Your source is mocking Ryan because he couldn't sit still. That's some source of news, boy...

Paul Ryan is a softie, not a political attack dog. You wont hear that on whatever godforsaken place you got this crap.

[Pete F.]

Originally Posted by Jim in CT

"Ryan at one point actually twiddled his thumbs. His continual anxious shifting, on display to the nation, also included moves like crossing his legs, adjusting his jacket, fiddling with his ear, and wringing his hands. Perhaps he just really needed to tinkle."

Your source is mocking Ryan because he couldn't sit still. That's some source of news, boy...

Paul Ryan is a softie, not a political attack dog. You wont hear that on whatever godforsaken place you got this crap.

Yes, I know God Loves Trump Pence and everyone else is godforsaken
When the republicans sat in Obama's last SOTU that was fine, but you try and play the race card when the dems sit during Trumps.
Unemployment has gone down less during Trump than during Obama, basic math from 10 to 5 is more than 5 to 4 but that is the greatest ever, all praise Trump
He's got you conned

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by Pete F.

Yes, I know God Loves Trump Pence and everyone else is godforsaken
When the republicans sat in Obama's last SOTU that was fine, but you try and play the race card when the dems sit during Trumps.
Unemployment has gone down less during Trump than during Obama, basic math from 10 to 5 is more than 5 to 4 but that is the greatest ever, all praise Trump
He's got you conned

Pete, you posted an article attacking Ryan because during a (90 minute?) speech, he didn't sit absolutely still. Sorry, that's a new source that can never be trusted to report on the time of the sunrise.

[Pete F.]

Originally Posted by Jim in CT

Pete, you posted an article attacking Ryan because during a (90 minute?) speech, he didn't sit absolutely still. Sorry, that's a new source that can never be trusted to report on the time of the sunrise.

Cherrypicking, read the next sentence

"Similarly, large swaths of the GOP chose to remain seated with increasingly bored expressions — some even appeared to nod off — during the speech, including during segments that would have provoked thunderous GOP applause had they come from a Republican president. Instead, they evidently so greatly feared appearing supportive of anything coming out of the president's mouth that they opted to sit still through the president's commentary on issues like better benefits and support for military and veterans, bootstrapping recommendations to work harder in order to achieve dreams, and improving conditions for business, all popular GOP topics."

Everybody can whatabout, we need to get Congress to work and not play political games, for Americans, not for people on the edges