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US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump will survey hurricane-devastated Puerto Rico today, hoping to underscore government recovery efforts and repair damage done by his contentious early response to the crisis.
Nearly two weeks after Hurricane Maria thrashed through the verdant island, residents are still short of food and largely without access to power or portable water.
Trump wants to show that the federal government is on top of the daunting recovery effort, and that 3.4 million US citizens are not forgotten.
The administration’s critics said the early response was not fast enough or large enough, prompting the pugilistic president to punch back.
He berated San Juan’s mayor – who was frequently on TV asking for help – and suggested Puerto Ricans were “ingrates” who “want everything to be done for them”.
Trump went on to accuse the media of lying about the “great job” he was doing, in a series of excoriating weekend tweets.
“We have done a great job with the almost impossible situation in Puerto Rico. Outside of the Fake News or politically motivated ingrates… people are now starting to recognize the amazing work that has been done,” he wrote.
The White House fired out a series of compliments about the relief effort from political allies to try to drive home the point.
It took the unusual step of citing a gushing call between Trump and former Puerto Rican governor Luis Fortuno, who now lives in Washington and works as a lobbyist.
Luckily for the White House, few Puerto Ricans had time or – quite literally – the energy to read or hear of the president’s barbed remarks.
But Trump’s visit will be carefully choreographed to avoid any embarrassing protests.
After an early departure from Washington, Trump is expected to land at Muniz Air National Guard Base near the capital San Juan.
Meets PR, USVI official
During roughly five hours on ground he and first lady Melania Trump will meet first responders, officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as well as survivors.
He is also expected to meet the governor of the US Virgin Islands, which were also thumped by Maria, but are not quite ready for the massive footprint of a presidential visit.
Already this storm season, Trump has visited damaged areas of Florida, Louisiana and Texas (twice).
But his trip to Puerto Rico, normally a fairly routine show of presidential empathy, has taken on outsized political meaning.
“It’s been amazing what’s been done in a very short period of time on Puerto Rico,” Trump said defending the response.
“There’s never been a piece of land that we’ve known that was so devastated,” he claimed.
The bridges are down, the telecommunications was nonexistent, and it’s in very, very bad shape. The electrical grid, as you know, was totally destroyed.
Puerto Rico is a US territory. Though Puerto Ricans are US citizens with US passports, they can only vote in presidential primaries.
If they live on the island, they cannot vote in US presidential elections. If they are living on the mainland, they can register to vote including for president, in whichever state they live.
- © AFP 2017.
Yes,watched it all the way through,really enjoyed this tournament,and some achievement from the young man,never have I seen such a natural darts player as him.
@Deano: only similarity i can think of his mvg at 17 winning the bdo masters. But littler seems even better than that. He’s relentless on the 19s, always a great trait to have also.
@Brian Dunne: *is mvg
@Brian Dunne: Is this written in code?
@Patrick MC Dermott: ha! Suppose you’d need to be into darts to get most of that to be fair!
@Brian Dunne: Bullseye,Brian
Hats off to the 44 year old, he plays like he was 16, no inhibitions, great stuff.
@Marcus Maher – Triskellion Films: all that talk about him is fairly poor tbh. He is only 16. Bad form all those that keep harping on about his appearance.
@Setanta O’Toole: It’s sad really
@Setanta O’Toole: what, are you getting offended because a 16 yr old looks older? Your life must be dreadfully upsetting
@Setanta O’Toole: It is a bit of craic tbh, and I’m not the 1st person to make this observation, great talent and obvs it’s good for the game but let’s be honest, Darts players ain’t Pro Triathletes are they, pies, booze and fags are the staple and that’s why it’s a good craic.
@Dave Harris: No, i’m saying it’s bad form to slate a young lad constantly over his appearance. Not too controversial a take i think, you look to be more upset over it.
@Dave Harris: “your life must be dreadfully upsetting”……Good one Dave. It’s a bit sad that adults are coming on a public forum to make fun of a 16 year old boys appearance. I think that if you feel the need to do this your life must be dreadfully upsetting!….. There have been other more derogatory comments that have been deleted
@SFmeansSheetForFree: yeah it is, especially when your missus knocks over…. Wha!…. Think you missed the point. There something sad about adults posting on a public forum insulting the appearance of a 16 year old boy whether he sees it or not. The majority of people appreciate that he looks older than his age but they don’t have the need to post insulting comments about it…… I wonder if the mirror is kind to those posters. We’re all perfect behind our keyboards aren’t we?!?!
Love the old darts, you have to admire what Barry Hearn has done with the darts,taken it from dingy halls with a few hundred people, to major arenas with thousands of fans. Definitely on my list to go to the Ally Pally.
@The Firestarter: to be fair the old bdo championship at lakeside was always a great spectacle. As was the initial pdc tournaments at the circus tavern. Bigger crowds are great but certainly a less knowledgeable crowd than years ago
@The Firestarter: Ah the lakeside was a much better venue
Darts standard prior to Christmas is usually very poor but it’s exceptional since. Humphries will have too much for Littler but my god, what a future he has, as long as he stays off the kebabs.
@Peter: yes possibly,if humphries plays the way he did last night,but will he play the same,littler I expect will put him under a lot more pressure than Williams did,
@Deano: neither Williams or Cross made it hard work for both Lukes. Potentially the first time Littler will be under pressure is tonight, but Humphries has had some close games already. All depends how Humphries deals with the crowd, no doubt they want to see Littler win.
You don’t need Skysports to watch the darts.
@Paul: think you do need it. How you get it is another question!!
SAFE BET in the bookies…..
‘ LUKE to win’
@Ken Mc Carthy: think you do need it. How you get it is another question!!!!
Littler looks like he is playing in his shed. He’s not letting it all get to him. He looked a wee bit nervous in the first set against Cross last night but he turned it around. He has some future ahead of him!!
Defo will. Watching top athletes go head to head is always a joy to behold
Oh darts – the poor persons golf – no thanks.
@Rafa C: been a darts fan all my life. Would rather watch any darts match over a golf major any day of the week.
@Rafa C:
Well there’s a comparison that makes absolutely NO sense whatsoever..
@Rafa C: no score
I can’t, I’m only 3 but look 12
The darts beats the hell out of Gaelic Football. It has skill and about the same level of physical contact.
Hmmm…obese drunk white men throwing things at walls… No think.
@Chris O’Brien: no think?
@Brian Dunne: him no think. Him not know nothing.
@Chris O’Brien: guarantee you’re all of these things eh ;-)
@Chris O’Brien: brain no work so good
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