From July 2012 when Hurricane Maria hit the island until November 2012 there were several stories that showed Trump’s disdain for Puerto Ricans (see here, and here The photo of him tossing paper towels to people devastated by Maria was haunting.  But looking at it again, I noticed something I missed back then: the joviality of the reporters and camera crews recording the spectacle. They look like they are at a comedy show. Laughing it up and having a great time. It turns out Trump considered selling Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.  I think the election will get Trump within cheating distance of a 2d term and his Postmaster General’s sabotage of voting by mail and Russia’s hacking will bridge the gap.

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Trump  has damaged our nation and our standing on the world stage almost beyond repair.  If he does not pass a single piece of legislation, he has done irreparable harm.

He is threatening to abandon Puerto Rico, pulling out of UNESCO, overturning the Clean Air Act, pulled out of the treaty on global warming, is actively promoting civil war, insulted our allies, cozied up to our enemies, reneged on our agreements, sanctioned wholesale looting of the public coffers by his appointees, prostituted the Office, mangled critical oversight agencies and is hurdling towards WWIII.   All in less than 12 months.  And let’s not overlook a myriad of deeds and a multitude of words that evince a sustained attack on freedom of speech, free elections and the right to vote.

If I lived in another country, I would be looking on in sadness and pity.  Sadness that such a noble idea, American democracy, is meeting such an ignominious end.  Pity for the American people for whom the worse is yet to come.  But I live here and I am angry and fearful.  I am angry because how ever he got in, we do not have the collective desire or will to get him out.   He remains in office because too many of us want him to stay.  In a better America, Trump’s approval rating would be a single digit.  Then the GOP would fear us.  Not Trump.  Not Fox.  Not Bannon.   I  am fearful because every day he is in office takes us closer to implosion.  And closer to the rubble of a once-great (before Trump) nation our children will still be digging out from under for years to come.