Batten down the hatches

[Guinevere]

The lack of empathy is astounding. It shouldn't be shocking - given his severe narcissistic personality disorder I assume he has no capacity for empathy -- and yet it still gets me.

[Guinevere]

His obsession with size I mostly find comical. There has to be something to laugh about these days

[Lord Jim]

and yet it still gets me.

It "gets" you (and it "gets" me, and it "gets" most people) because even knowing how vile Trump is, and expecting no better, it's still appalling to see it coming from The President Of The United States...

No matter how many times you see it...

Most sociopaths are capable of at least doing an impersonation of a person with a normal level of empathy, but Trump seems to lack even that ability...

Compare his maniacally self-absorbed completely tone deaf behavior with what George W. Bush has said...

Two days ago, he released this statement:

DALLAS, Texas (KXAN) — Former President George W. Bush released a statement Monday in the wake of flooding and other damage from deteriorating Hurricane Harvey.

Bush wrote that he spoke with Gov. Greg Abbott about the rescue and operations in Houston and the Gulf Coast.

“Laura and I are moved by the heroic work of the first responders and volunteers who are putting themselves at risk to save others,” [He opens by praising the first responders and volunteers; something Trump never did] Bush wrote. “The devastation breaks our hearts, but we are confident that these strong communities will recover and thrive.”

He said he and his wife are also donating money to Team Rubicon, the Red Cross and the Salvation Army. He encouraged others to give to relief organizations and others who are helping.[Yo, President Money Bags...Where's your personal contribution? Oh sorry, that's right, you don't see this as a time for charitable giving; you see it as an opportunity to make money selling hats...]

“We are proud of the people of Texas for showing the resilience and compassion of our state, and we pray for their safety and well-being,” Bush concluded.

http://kxan.com/2017/08/28/george-w-bus ... vastation/


And then in an appearance at SMU yesterday, he said:

I know there's some people from Houston here and the Houston area, and I know you're going through a really tough time," Bush told the team. "Just know that there will be a lot of people that are going to help the people down there. A lot."

"Right now they're recovering, and so the key thing on the recovery is to keep people safe," he continued. "And then it's going to be rebuilding. And if you're from that area, you'll be amazed at the people that come down there to help. All kinds of people."

http://insider.foxnews.com/2017/08/30/g ... ts-houston

Man, you are one sorry case when you'd be better off if you had George W. Bush writing your speeches...

[BoSoxGal]

Trump has refused (thus far) to accept disaster aid from our friend and ally Mexico.

He plays politics with people's lives.

[Guinevere]

It's true and it's so appalling. His staff can't even write him a decent speech with the right platitudes. Or he just ignores them and does his own insane shit.

You know that picture of Michelle Obama hugging Dubya? That's how the so-called president makes me feel towards the Bushes these days....

[RayThom]

His obsession with size I mostly find comical. There has to be something to laugh about these days

The Mooch says Lord Dampnut can suck his own dick.

[Lord Jim]

The Mooch says Lord Dampnut can suck his own dick.

I believe he attributed that particular skill to Steve Bannon...

[RayThom]

The Mooch says Lord Dampnut can suck his own dick.

I believe he attributed that particular skill to Steve Bannon...

PFFT! "Same difference."

[Jarlaxle]

Serious question: should Houston be rebuilt? It is long past time to take a hard look at where things are built, and ask, "Should we REALLY build there?"

It's the fastest growing city in the country and 4th largest - 2.38 million souls. Where should they all go?

I don't dismiss your point about coastal cities in general - that is the biggest issue facing the globe as climate change effects worsen, both as a matter of sea level increases and warming-related strengthening of hurricanes/typhoons. As a born/bred coastal gal with a deep fondness for one of the finest, most vibrant coastal cities in the world, this issue plagues my heart.

What do you think we should do?

First and foremost: end the Federal flood insurance boondoggle. If you cannot get insurance, that should probably be your FIRST clue you should not build there!

[rubato]

According to recent reports 20%, or less, have flood insurance. Could be a problem. A big problem. I can't find an accurate description but casual reports are that 1/3 of Houston is under water.


Politically the situation is that Republican ideology says that taking money from one group in taxes to help another is morally wrong and wicked and you should not do it even if the group in difficulty will die (hence their HC strategy).


As a moral person who does not want the people of Houston to suffer I won't force Cruz and the GOP to eat the crow they deserve. But I'd like to.


yrs,
rubato

[rubato]

On the bright side, this will create more jobs than everything Trump and the Republican congress will do.


yrs,
rubato

[Bicycle Bill]

The price of regular unleaded gas in my area has gone up almost 10% since Harvey came ashore.  On 8/26 — $2.329 per gallon. Today — $2.499 per gallon, a jump of seventeen cents.

Let the extortion gouging profiteering 'pricing adjustments due to unforeseen events' begin.

-"BB"-

[dales]

That's close to a dollar less for what we pay in the SF Bay Area.

[rubato]

The scale and number of problems this storm is leaving behind are just staggering. 1/3 of homes under water. Only 20% with flood insurance. Fire ants, snakes, alligators &c being transported into areas not previously infested with them. Chemical plants and refineries shut down and under water with chemicals being released. Loss of power at chemical plants produces loss of refrigeration and control systems which causes fires and more leaks. A huge proportion of people are on local wells which will be grossly contaminated with dangerous chemicals and fecal material. We will be lucky if there are no epidemics. Bad Juju in the land that regulation forgot.

yrs,
rubato

[Bicycle Bill]

The scale and number of problems this storm is leaving behind are just staggering. 1/3 of homes under water. Only 20% with flood insurance. Fire ants, snakes, alligators &c being transported into areas not previously infested with them. Chemical plants and refineries shut down and under water with chemicals being released. Loss of power at chemical plants produces loss of refrigeration and control systems which causes fires and more leaks. A huge proportion of people are on local wells which will be grossly contaminated with dangerous chemicals and fecal material. We will be lucky if there are no epidemics. Bad Juju in the land that regulation forgot said "We don't need no steenking regulations".

Fixed it for you, rubato.

-"BB"-

[rubato]

The scale and number of problems this storm is leaving behind are just staggering. 1/3 of homes under water. Only 20% with flood insurance. Fire ants, snakes, alligators &c being transported into areas not previously infested with them. Chemical plants and refineries shut down and under water with chemicals being released. Loss of power at chemical plants produces loss of refrigeration and control systems which causes fires and more leaks. A huge proportion of people are on local wells which will be grossly contaminated with dangerous chemicals and fecal material. We will be lucky if there are no epidemics. Bad Juju in the land that regulation forgot said "We don't need no steenking regulations".

Fixed it for you, rubato.

-"BB"-

They like to think of themselves as rugged individualists as long as the sun shines and the winds are gentle.


yrs,
rubato

[Guinevere]

That's close to a dollar less for what we pay in the SF Bay Area.

You'd rather live in Wisconsin? Seems like a fair trade to me.

[dales]

Yes, it's a far better deal than living anyplace else in the US.

Hence, the sky high housing prices here.

My relatives came from Wisconsin, having spent winters and summers there, I'd say you were right.

Oh yeah, all my cousins left there.

One lives in CA, the other two live in Hawaii, and one is left in Milwaukee.

[Bicycle Bill]

That's close to a dollar less for what we pay in the SF Bay Area.

You'd rather live in Wisconsin? Seems like a fair trade to me.

Hey, smart-aleck — I resent that last remark!!  Maybe we're not all hoity-toity like 'Baghdad on the Bay', but it's not like we have to pump in air and sunlight either, y'know.
And we've got one other thing going for us, too.

*OUR* landscape tends to stay put!

-"BB"-

[BoSoxGal]

I just read that Houston is the only major city in the US without zoning laws, thus the chemical plants in the middle of low income neighborhoods. They've just declared this whole mess a 1000-year flooding event. Those poor people - as we learned from Katrina, it's not just the short term property damage and loss, but the long term psychological impact on those affected.


Meanwhile, there's another potential big mess brewing in the eastern Atlantic - Irma just strengthened to a Category 3 hurricane, some models are showing her strengthening to a Category 5 before a possible US landfall around the Carolinas - or even, God forbid, the Gulf Coast.

Meteorologists Who Tracked Harvey Are Warning of Another Monster Hurricane

Meteorologists called Hurricane Harvey one of the worst major storm since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, displacing thousands as severe flooding all but submerged places in Southeastern Texas like Houston, Port Arthur and smaller towns along the coast.

Now another, possibly worse storm is on the horizon, and meteorologists who tracked Harvey said it could be devastating if it reaches the U.S.

Hurricane Irma is building momentum in the Atlantic — bringing 115 mph winds and traveling westward at 12 mph — and was declared a Category 3 storm on Thursday, just a day after it was declared a tropical storm.

While it’s still too early to know for sure where it’s headed, forecasted trajectories have the powerful storm reaching the Caribbean early next week and could potentially head back towards the Gulf region, or up towards the Carolinas.

Meteorologists have been vocal about the danger at hand with Irma.

“These are the highest windspeed forecasts I’ve ever seen in my 10 yrs of Atlantic hurricane forecasting. #Irma is another retiree candidate,” meteorological scientist Michael Ventrice said.

“Some models show #Irma growing nearly as strong as any Atlantic hurricane ever has, on record. Potential tracks are ominous. Bad feeling,” Meteorologist and Grist contributor Eric Holthaus said.

“Major Hurricane Irma now … I’d be surprised if storm didn’t become Cat 5 during next 5-7 days,” Meteorologist Ryan Maue said.

While only time will tell if Irma will make landfall in the United States at the strong levels it’s predicting, if meteorologists are already concerned, it’s certainly worth watching. Especially since considerable personnel and resources have already been required to respond to the damage brought by Hurricane Harvey along the Gulf Coast and Southeastern Texas.

Time to pray real hard.