Out of Whack

A Real Catastrophe:   Before leaving for Puerto Rico, Trump awarded himself an A plus for his superb job saving Puerto Ricans from Hurricane Maria’s destruction.  Upon his arrival he convened a group of mostly fawning local officials for one of those uniquely Trumpian sessions so that everyone around the table could compliment him for his fashion sense and generosity, everyone except the Mayor of San Juan, who was banished to the furthest seat far out of camera range, where she sat, rolling her eyes as everyone else kowtowed in the hopes that participating in the orchestrated charade would lead to additional much needed aid.  Trump, who had spent the flight chatting with budget director Mulvaney, his resident Scrooge, reveled in the mandatory love before tamping down expectations that adequate aid would be forthcoming by telling the assembled officials that there is a “thing called budget” and that their Maria problem had thrown his “out of whack,” a message he didn’t deliver to Houston or Florida.  He also pointed out how Puerto Rico should be “proud” that their death toll was nothing like that “real catastrophe” Hurricane Katrina, where hundreds died. He’s right about Katrina, New Orleans’ death toll shot up to horrific levels from a combination of shocking government neglect and levee failure, but Puerto Rico’s death toll is significant and still climbing, reported deaths increased from 16 to 34 yesterday and the number is expected to go higher as deaths in areas with limited communication capability get reported to authorities.  In any case if you are trying to convince the crowd and your critics that your performance is “great,” “incredible” and “amazing,” invoking the Katrina disaster as a basis of comparison isn’t the way to go. While thanking FEMA, the Coast Guard and members of the military for their valiant relief efforts Trump strayed from his script and bragged about how much he’s saved the government by negotiating down the price of some F 35 fighter jets, raising some concerns among the skeptical that his answer to Puerto Rican destruction was a North Korea test run.  He then did a little tour of the least damaged parts of Puerto Rico, got caught on camera throwing rolls of paper towels to some “grateful” locals, didn’t hand out much needed flashlights saying “flashlights, you don’t need ‘em anymore” because he didn’t appear to understand why people on an island where only 5% of the electricity had been restored would want them, and took some selfies with a few friendly locals who were relieved to finally be getting some aid and attention.  Last night on his flight home to Washington he bragged about the success of his humanitarian mission.  Puerto Rico still doesn’t have electricity, most people don’t have drinkable water, and cell phone coverage remains spotty at best but Trump is ready to move on.  Today he goes to Las Vegas to play consoler-in-chief. 

The Supremes:  Yesterday, lawyers presented their arguments to the court in a much anticipated Wisconsin case the outcome of which is likely to determine whether extreme partisan gerrymandering is legally permissible.  The question is whether it was kosher for Wisconsin Republicans to carve out voting districts that all but guaranteed the outcome of state elections.  Republican officials had been so crafty in creating bizarrely shaped districts that resembled elongated worms, sprawling amoebas and ear muffs that even though they received only 48% of the popular vote they managed to “win” a 60 to 39 seat advantage in the state legislature.  Though this case focuses on Wisconsin, the gerrymandering problem is nationwide, both sides are guilty but lately Republicans who control more state legislatures, have been wildly successful in creating a disproportionate number of “safe” Republican seats.  Limitations on such partisan gerrymandering will make Congressional elections less predictable, more competitive and may take some influence away from party extremists who benefit from the current system where more power increasingly lies in primaries than general elections.  To date the Supreme Court has only limited racial gerrymandering steering clear of imposing limitations on partisan gerrymandering, but expectations are high that swing vote Justice Anthony Kennedy is thinking about joining the “liberal” side of the bench on this one.  It’s even been suggested that he postponed his retirement plans for an opportunity to influence this case and to design new standards for allowable methods for carving district boundaries.

Russia, Russia, Russia:  While he continues his investigation Special Counsel Mueller is contemplating the power of the pardon.  He has tasked one of his most experienced lawyers to research limitations on presidential pardon powers in an attempt to get out ahead of any efforts by Trump to preemptively pardon friends and family.  Some of Trump’s family are acting with abandon, perhaps in expectation that they may someday be the beneficiaries of one of those pardons.  Ivanka and Jared, already under the  microscope for their three outside email accounts, just moved their personal email domain to a Trump business server raising more than a few eyebrows.  What’s with those guys and emails and what’s lurking in their folders?  The US now has a new Ambassador to Russia.  Former Utah governor and one time presidential candidate, Jon Huntsman formally presented his credentials to Vladimir Putin and Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, yesterday.  Huntsman has no Russia experience but as a former ambassador to China he’s fluent in Chinese which makes him more qualified for his assignment than many other Trump appointees are for theirs.  Also, unlike Trump, he believes US intelligence agency assessments that Russia interfered in the 2016 elections. 

Another Kimmel Effect:  The Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock’s motive remains unknown, but indications are that his rampage was scrupulously planned.  His partner, Marilou Danley, who is again a person of interest, just arrived back from her conveniently timed trip to the Philippines.  She may be able to shed light on Paddock’s actions, why he wired $100,000 to the Philippines before her trip and whether or not the funds had anything to do with his rampage.  Regardless of Paddock’s motive, the fact that he could amass such a huge arsenal of lethal weapons remains shocking.  Jimmy Kimmel is trying to do for gun control what he did for healthcare.  He gave an impassioned monologue after the Las Vegas shootings highlighting the criminal stupidity of the current lack of adequate limitations on gun sales and ownership, especially related to automatic weapons.  For the most part Republicans are sticking with the pathetic narrative that now is not the right time to address gun legislation. Paul Ryan, one of the largest recipients of NRA funds, answered questions about limiting gun purchases by instead citing the importance of the implementation of mental health reform legislation that was passed at the end of the Obama administration, an ironic pivot from the guy who spent the better part of the year trying to gut healthcare.  Representative Scalise, who just returned from hospitalization and months of therapy from his almost lethal gunshot wounds, repeated his defense of gun ownership for everyone, crazy or not.  A number of Democrats are fuming, families are mourning the loss of their loved ones and yesterday, like today and tomorrow, somewhere in America another 93 people died gun related deaths.