Paying Attention

For John, BLUF:  I think Mr Trump can chew gum and walk at the same time.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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A friend of mine, perhaps echoing criticism he had heard elsewhere, complained that President Trump was going after NFL football players for kneeling during the National Anthem and ignoring Puerto Rico.  I countered with the fact that President Trump had talked to Governor Ricardo Rosselló, and the Governor said he was happy with the effort so far.

From the Associated Press, Friday, the 22nd of September of this year:

Trump speaks with Puerto Rico governor

The White House says President Donald Trump has spoken with the governors of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Trump said earlier Thursday that Puerto Rico was "absolutely obliterated" and the Virgin Islands were "flattened" by recent hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Then there is this item from The Wash Post, Reporter Ed O'Keefe, on 24 September 2017.

Puerto Rico governor:  ‘We still need some more help’ from Washington

Rosselló said he has had “great collaboration and communication” with FEMA and the Department of Health and Human Services, which have been on the island since the morning after the storm assessing damage and setting up shelters.

But after several intense days of preparation, response, rescue and cleanup, Rosselló said, local law enforcement agencies are strained and hampered in their ability to reach far-flung areas that may still need relief.  Even as he asked for more assistance from the Defense Department, he stopped short of requesting that the Trump administration declare martial law.

However,

If the situation isn't addressed in the coming weeks, there could be “massive migration to other states, which will bring a whole host of other problems to Puerto Rico and the states.  It is within everybody’s interest that we handle this situation for what it is — an unprecedented situation, where two hurricanes back-to-back hit Puerto Rico on an island that was under fiscal turmoil.  Those considerations need to be taken into consideration when Congress puts together its aid bill.”

The Governor of Puerto Rico, Mr Rosselló, is worried about Congress as well as the Executive Branch.

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló is warning that his government needs broader assistance from the federal government, calling on the Pentagon especially to provide more aid for law enforcement and transportation.

Rosselló said he's also worried that Congress will shortchange his island once the initial wave of emergency relief is gone.

“We still need some more help.  This is clearly a critical disaster in Puerto Rico,” he said on a shaky cellphone connection Sunday night from San Juan.  “It can’t be minimized and we can’t start overlooking us now that the storm passed, because the danger lurks.”

Did you pick up on “massive migration to other states"?

What is our Commonwealth doing to prepare for a possible influx of American Citizens from Puerto Rico?  The population of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is 3.4 million.  If 1% came here it would be 34,000, who would have to be dispersed to various Cities for shelter and support.  I don't think Otis AFB, down on the Cape, is big enough to meet all the needs of these Americans.  Just think of schools alone.

Regards  —  Cliff