Trump claims Hurricane Maria death toll rose 'like magic'

sakurala - Also, if he sincerely felt the losses of life were unacceptable, he would focus on improving response rates.

Puerto Rico was responsible for their own disaster planning, and response rates. It appears that Puerto Rico was/is poorly run, and poorly governed. The U.S., and other nations, rush to aid Puerto Ricans during, and after, a NATURAL DISASTER that the Puerto Rican government had obviously not properly prepared for. Now the haters are choosing to blame Trump for the repeated failures of the Puerto Rican government. Anything to help their political agenda.

Dr. Carlos Santos-Burgoa — the lead researcher on the study and a well-known expert in global health, particularly Latin America — told The Associated Press that the initial figure of 64 deaths reflected only people whose death certificates cited the storm. He said the latest figure was more accurate and stressed that every death in the six months following the storm was not attributed to the hurricane.

"and stressed that every death in the six months following the storm was not attributed to the hurricane." It appears that the Democrats and it's media outlets have chosen to continue their attacks on anything, and everything, Republicans or Trump may have, or may not have, done. Situation normal, all fouled up. Meanwhile, Democrats, and Hillary worshippers, continue their avowed campaign of hatred for the sake of hatred under the guise of bringing people together. What a hoot.

Trump's anger over the death toll drew swift rebukes from elected officials and residents of the island, where blackouts remain common, 60,000 homes still have makeshift roofs and 13 percent of municipalities lack stable phone or internet service. Even some Republicans suggested the president had gone too far Thursday.

"Casualties don't make a person look bad," House Speaker Paul Ryan said. "So I have no reason to dispute those numbers."

This thing started when Trump lauded the Puerto Rico hurricane response as a success to pat himself on the back (that's the real reason he even mentioned it when he didn't even have to say anything), when so many people there died. Then he doubled-down by citing the initial low figure - emphasis on initial (nobody can know the real number so early after any incident - it takes time to get things sorted out - remember when up to 4k-5k people were thought dead soon after 9/11? It's now figured there's 2,996 victims - still a lot, but not the same as initial figures. Initial figures are just that - initial, just an educated count to start with.)

Dr. Carlos Santos-Burgoa — the lead researcher on the study and a well-known expert in global health, particularly Latin America — told The Associated Press that the initial figure of 64 deaths reflected only people whose death certificates cited the storm. He said the latest figure was more accurate and stressed that every death in the six months following the storm was not attributed to the hurricane.

"We are scientists. We are public health people. We are committed to the health of the population. We try to reach the truth, and we try to understand what is damaging the people in order to prevent disease," he said.

But Trump suggested Friday that it was questionable that the Puerto Rican government commissioned the study from an outside group.

"They hired GWU Research to tell them how many people had died in Puerto Rico (how would they not know this?)," Trump wrote. "This method was never done with previous hurricanes because other jurisdictions know how many people were killed. FIFTY TIMES LAST ORIGINAL NUMBER - NO WAY!"

I don't get the objection to this. If anything, an analysis of an expert 3rd-party group would be more reliable than government numbers. (And by 3rd-party, it means it's not party to neither the 1st (government) or 2nd (opposition) parties.)

Think about it: how many of you would put the expertise of government figures over those of a 3rd-party who are experts on this field? (Note: not saying there are no experts in the government, but when presented with figures from both government experts and 3rd-party experts?) Exactly.

Rather, I'd welcome it when more 3rd-party experts would be used as additional method to study other hurricane deaths. It'd help keep government experts more honest. Instead of saying 3rd-party experts shouldn't be used, more use of 3rd-party experts should be encouraged.

Serrano: yes, that’s a good start, but actions have to be consistent. His tweets and official statements reflect a difference in thought that is saddening. Also, if he sincerely felt the losses of life were unacceptable, he would focus on improving response rates.

"I would expect a president to say that ever(y) life lost was a tragedy"

The following good enough?

"The White House defended the president on Thursday.

"As the President said, every death from Hurricane Maria is a horror."

mukashiyokattaToday  01:42 am JST

Zero concern for the deaths of US citizens.

This is what it all comes down to. It's pretty terrifying whenever a political movement becomes so extreme that its members are willing to decide 3000 innocents who lost their lives just don't matter.

electrocutions from downed power lines

A toppled building crushing someone is a direct death but a downed power line is an indirect death?

So... 64 confirmed deaths directly from the hurricane and then about a half a year later 2,975 estimated deaths which weren’t directly caused by the hurricane, but were caused by Democratic Puerto Rican government ineptitude.

We've been over this ad nauseam. Trump's guy Zinke corrupted the contracting process to send a $300 million contract to restore power to his boys back in his hometown of Whitefish, MT. This caused a large amount of the "indirect" deaths.

Remember when conservatives were all about self responsibility? Now, they are all about dodging and ducking responsibility. Very mature.

I think the saddest thing about this whole story isn’t the numbers being disputed but the lack of decency. I would expect a president to say that ever life lost was a tragedy and to show not only the progress timeline of help that was provided but also show a readiness for the current season. Making it all about numbers doesn’t help anyone and shows a disrespect to people who were severely effected by last year’s storms

Only 64 people died as a result of the storm

WRONG!

Fox news has confirmed that Trump has lied.

Zero concern for the deaths of US citizens.

Trump should acknowledge the 2,975 deaths ( after 5 months ) estimate, and the Democrats should apologize for politicizing this issue to the point of making people throw up.

Yeah truth is hard to swallow for a lot of you guys.

"When Trump visited Puerto Rico, the death toll at the time was indeed 16 people. The number was later raised to 64, but the government then commissioned an independent study to determine how many died because of post-storm conditions. That study — conducted by the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University — estimated 2,975 deaths.

The deaths fell in two categories: direct and indirect. Direct deaths include such fatalities as drownings in a storm surge or being crushed in a wind-toppled building. Indirect deaths are harder to count because they can include such things as heart attacks, electrocutions from downed power lines and failure to receive dialysis because the power is out — and those kinds of fatalities can happen after a storm has ended but while an area is struggling to restore electricity, clean water and other health and safety services."

So... 64 confirmed deaths directly from the hurricane and then about a half a year later 2,975 estimated deaths which weren’t directly caused by the hurricane, but were caused by Democratic Puerto Rican government ineptitude.

Trump should acknowledge the 2,975 deaths ( after 5 months ) estimate, and the Democrats should apologize for politicizing this issue to the point of making people throw up.

Only 64 people died as a result of the storm. That’s a lot but not catastrophic. 

Except, it was closer to 3,000 as found by an independent investigation. But why the hell should Trump care how many people died, he should be LEADING not armchair quarterbacking recovery. If FEMA failed, he should be front and center saying WTF?

THE HARD TRUTH IS Puerto Ricans can’t vote so the US government really doesn’t give a crap, thus 1-year later and still no power. Meanwhile after 3-4 days without power in Hokkaido, it was national headlines.

@Hakman

Liberals will stop at nothing to exploit others misery, misfortune, and even deaths to push their politics and to demonize their political opponents.

> It's disgusting.

You are right! Politicizing tragedy to demonize your opponents is disgusting!

 Trump slammed for 'politicizing' Puerto Rico storm tragedy

https://www.msn.com/en-ae/news/other/trump-slammed-for-politicizing-puerto-rico-storm-tragedy/ar-BBNiQoT

Trump blames Dem immigration policies for murder of Mollie Tibbetts

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/08/trump_blames_dem_immigration_policies_for_murder_of_mollie_tibbetts.html

Critics slam Trump for 'politicizing' the death of Colts linebacker Edwin Jackson

http://theweek.com/speedreads/753532/critics-slam-trump-politicizing-death-colts-linebacker-edwin-jackson

Picking which Tragedies to ‘Politicize’ Based on Politics, Politicizes All of Them

https://www.nationalreview.com/2017/11/politicizing-tragedy-trump-manhattan-terrorist-attack-las-vegas-shooting-responses/

Only 64 people died as a result of the storm. That’s a lot but not catastrophic. Dems are trying to politicize the tragedy as we are all used to by now.

It was a massive, massive hurricane -- you know that, right? You know that human beings, including the president, ultimately have no control over their intensity, right?

I do, and do not blame Trump for that. The increase in the death toll came about statistical analysis of recorded deaths in the period following the storm.

The change in the figures would have gone largely unnoted had Trump not thrown his toys out of his pram again and accused others of lying and making things up.

It is Trump's reaction that is being criticised.

There are quite a few conservatives and moderates that find Trumps statements and mentality despicable. Blame the "liberals" all you want if that self-delusion makes you feel better. But I'm seeing a lot more conservatives and moderate Americans that voted for Trump the first time around that are vocally stating he's sick and delusional and will not be voted for a 2nd term... if he makes it out of the first term without being charged with serious crimes or impeachment proceedings.

If you do, then what can I say other than that political ideology seems to be the ultimate barometer by which you will insist on measuring everything.

This is hilarious after the Trump defending screed that precedes it!

This is another classic example of liberals exploiting a tragedy for political purposes.

No. This an example of liberals calling Trump out for his lies and for exploiting a tragedy to serve his own purpose. It was him who tried to make it look like he had done a great job and it is him who keeps it going. Seriously. It's so ridiculous how you guys see liberals at fault for Trump's lies.

This President seems fixated on magic and witches (i.e. Wiccan or Satanism) - I wonder what his evangelical base thinks of that.....

It's Magic; obviously.

"Black" Magic. Yall come down 'n give it a try;

Bring your flak jacket & USGC approved flotation.

What a scumbag.

blaming Democrats, without evidence

Like magic!

The official Hurricane Maria death toll per the Puerto Rican government is 2,975, revised up in August from the initial 64. That number, calculated by researchers with the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University, is lower than a Harvard study released in May, which put the number at 4,645. Either number would make Maria, which hit last September, the deadliest natural disaster in the United States in over a century.

Real facts by experts who haven't been proven a liar close to 5,000 times since the beginning of 2017.

the deadliest natural disaster in the United States in over a century.

A poor response and performance by an incompetent president ill-prepared for any kind of real emergency like Woodard described in his book!

Trump pushes conspiracy theory denying Puerto Rico hurricane death toll

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-pushes-conspiracy-theory-denying-puerto-rican-hurricane-death-toll-131356280.html

@serano The media should probably drop it.

Once more a Trump supporter attacks the free, for-profit press. RT would never criticize the Russian leader. In part because the Russian leader decides which media outlets get government blessings.

More full caps crap.

Hasn’t he got a country to run?

"He should probably drop it."

The media should probably drop it.

"As the President said, every death from Hurricane Maria is a horror. Before, during, and after the two massive hurricanes, the President directed the entire Administration to provide unprecedented support to Puerto Rico," White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said. "President Trump was responding to the liberal media and the San Juan Mayor who sadly, have tried to exploit the devastation by pushing out a constant stream of misinformation and false accusations." Gidley cited studies that attributed fewer than 3,000 deaths on the island to Maria."

Exactly, exactly.

Does he mean like the number of people that he said attended his inauguration?

This was just last week:

Trump inauguration crowd photos were edited after he intervened

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/06/donald-trump-inauguration-crowd-size-photos-edited

Or does he mean like the number of people that he claimed committed voter fraud in the 2016 election that lost him the popular vote?

‘The most bizarre thing I’ve ever been a part of’: Trump panel found no widespread voter fraud, ex-member says'

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/08/03/the-most-bizarre-thing-ive-ever-been-a-part-of-trump-panel-found-no-voter-fraud-ex-member-says/?noredirect=on

The only person that pulls numbers out of thin air is Dump! Then he whines and gets upset when people check the facts and prove him wrong. This is why he admires dictators and fascist governments.

LOL! Man-baby.

Trump says a lot of things. I wish there was a way to turn him off.

Dr. Carlos Santos-Burgoa — the lead researcher on the study and a well-known expert in global health, particularly Latin America

Many will trust Dr Santo-Burgoa https://publichealth.gwu.edu/departments/global-health/carlos-santos-burgoa

but only Trump's most devout followers will believe what he says.

responding to the liberal media 

This quote shows there's a ray of hope. In the past it was just 'the media'.

But once again it's 'liberal', a pejorative used by Trump and Putin to indicate to their base(s?) the enemy. Authoritarians: dividing and conquering by demeaning those who oppose them, using simple language and easy to remember memes.

The man's immoralityand lies know no bounds.

White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said. "President Trump was responding to the liberal media and the San Juan Mayor who sadly, have tried to exploit the devastation by pushing out a constant stream of misinformation and false accusations."

The irony.

How can these people keep a straight face when they say stuff like this?

Health care statistics have never been a GOP strong point.

And "NO WAY!" in caps with an exclamation point regarding a hurricane that killed an indeterminate but undoubtedly large number of people? This is not baseball. That increasingly ubiquitous balloon showing Trump in a diaper is becoming more apt by the day.

Poor Donald just can't catch a break. Everybody is out to get him. All those people in Puerto Rico died just to make him look bad. So unfair.

He should probably drop it.