Hurricane Watch

UPDATE: Maria makes landfall as a Category 4, 2 MPH shy of Cat 5. 

Maria bears down on Puerto Rico. From CNN:

(CNN) There is still time for Puerto Ricans to get to a government-run shelter before powerful Hurricane Maria clobbers the island, Gov. Ricardo Rosselló told CNN late Tuesday.

But the window of opportunity is closing.

"There's still time ... but people need to move fast," Ricardo Rosselló told CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360˚," calling the storm the "worst hurricane in modern history in Puerto Rico."

...

 

Maria is a Category 5 storm with sustained winds of 175 mph (281 kph). By late Tuesday, the eye of hurricane was expected to move near or over St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands and make landfall in Puerto Rico Wednesday morning.

 

Comments

[JimNorCal]

Ai yi yi, Maria ...

[JimNorCal]

"How do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?"

[Barbara]

I was able to hear President Trump's full speech to the United Nations tonight. It was so refreshing to hear a speech that was not filled with platitudes and vague references to turmoil in the world. The President spelled it out in terms that every nation can understand. He spoke of real world issues and the consequences that rogue regimes will face of they pursue their hostile course.

It was an excellent speech. I'm very proud of our President.

[anonamom]

Category 4 as it approaches the SE coast of Puerto Rico at 5:50.
Eyewall likely to go over San Juan.

[henry]

So is Hurricane Lee aiming at DC en route to Gettysburg?

[Jack is Back!]

I knew Ricardo's dad, Pedro, who was Governor in 1992 when we did some infrastructure planning for PR. Ricardo is muy smart. MIT and PHd Michigan in BioMedical Engineering. He is pushing statehood.

They are broke already and Maria could be a death knell. I'll bet less than half if that have insurance. God save PR.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Good morning!

I am sorry I missed that presidential tweet about the emmy awards last night! I would have gone to bed laughing.

When I went to Twitter this morning, it's the first tweet on my timeline because 8 people I follow had retweeted it. It has 16,000 retweets.

So, here it is again! I am glad Momto2 caugh it last night!

Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump 8h8 hours ago

I was saddened to see how bad the ratings were on the Emmys last night - the worst ever. Smartest people of them all are the "DEPLORABLES."

23,271 replies 16,196 retweets 68,243 likes
===================================

As you can see, there are over 23,000 replies. A fair number of those are triggered libs. HA!

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump 24m24 minutes ago

Big meetings today at the United Nations. So many interesting leaders. America First will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Melissa Nord‏Verified account @MelissaNordWx 4m4 minutes ago

BREAKING: The center of Hurricane Maria made landfall near Yabucoa,
Puerto Rico, around 615 AM AST. @wusa9

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump 2m2 minutes ago

After allowing North Korea to research and build Nukes while Secretary of State (Bill C also), Crooked Hillary now criticizes.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

I just saw a CNN clip of Senator Jean Shaheen blaming RUSSIA for the Dreamer protest of Pelosi!

When is she up for reelection? She's obviously mentally ill.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

http://abcnews.go.com/International/powerful-71-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-central-mexico/story?id=49958650

Iver 200 dead, now.

Caution, auto-play video which you will have to stop.

[rse]

MM-did you happen to see melania yesterday at the UN? Her demeanor and outfit reminded me of when trump took her the first time to capitol hill after election.

I think sometimes he uses her to read people and be his second set of eyes. In addition she would be one of the few first ladies to be able to evaluate if a translator is interpreting the idioms correctly.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

rse,

Yes I did and that is an astute observation. He also had Ivanka there as well, and I think she also watches people for him.

By the way, that gray jacket and pants were Ralph Lauren.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

In case anyone missed it, this link has both the video and transcript of Secretary Tillerson's interview with Bret Baier yesterday evening:

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2017/09/19/bret-baier-interviews-secretary-of-state-rex-tillerson/#more-138730

[Clarice Feldman]

Good morning, JOM.-Lots of tragic things happening, earthquakes, hurricanes and a lot of destruction and loss of life. Kind of emphasizes to me how hubristic it is to believe we can control the climate.
I went to bet thinking how likely it is that the Comey-Mueller-Clapper gambit is about to explode in their faces, and woke up thinking how much fun it would be to picket Mueller's offices with signs saying Brown Shirt Pick Locks.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

http://americanlookout.com/boxing-legend-floyd-mayweather-defends-president-trump-in-interview-video/

A little off color, but there is video and I am glad to see Mayweather say what many of us know, even if not exactly the way I would say it. LOL!

[PDinDetroit]

Morning all.

PR, just one more island that we won't visit on the cruise to celebrate my F-I-L's 80th Birthday. Poor people on that island and I mean that quite literally.

Buoy at Yabacoa. Strongest wind gust at 5:12 AM - 113 MPH.

[PDinDetroit]

Clarice - closer and closer to Matthew 24

[PDinDetroit]

MM - That was great from Mayweather, thank you for sharing.

[anonamom]

Floyd Mayweather a deplorable!
Whoda guessed???

[Clarice Feldman]

https://spectator.org/all-of-obamas-wiretappers/

The end is getting near for Comey and Mueller, PD,,that I feel in my bones.

[Janet 🚬]

from FB -

Rodney A. - "I think my favorite part of the President's UN speech was when he didn't talk about climate change......"

[Janet 🚬]

"I thought the historic speech President Trump made at the United Nations today was really about defending America; but, it was also about defending the right of every country to be a sovereign nation. It's the fourth great speech of his presidency and it sets the stage for a worldwide debate about globalism v. sovereign nations who work together as independent countries -- not as some kind of globalist internationalism."

~~Newt Gingrich appearing on FoxNews program, 'Hannity'

[Clarice Feldman]

BTW the latest account of the Manafort middle of the night lock picked raid includes the fact that the agents insisted on searching his wife for weapons. Imagine how desperate and out of any rational control the SC is.

[narciso.]

Ditto clarice. No I don't think so pd, you have to read the whole thing to realize many would be caught off guard, as in the time of nah.

[Davod]

Napolitano on Fox now says there is very little probable cause needed to get a FISA warrant. Re the Mannafort taps.

[Clarice Feldman]

Davod, he's wrong about that. It's probably not a good idea to get legal opinions from Napolitano who's wrong at least as often as he's right.

[jimmyk]

"Just normal procedure" I'm sure they claimed, Clarice.

So if Puerto Rico defaults they can blame it on Maria and ask for a bailout state of emergency?

[jimmyk]

It is true that 99%+ of FISA applications are approved, though. That could mean that applicants usually are careful, or it could mean a rubber stamp.

[GUS]

Maybe Billy the Rapist can pardon MARIA. Isn't that how LIBTARDS roll??

[Ralph L]

that gray jacket and pants were Ralph Lauren.
Yes, I was all over her.

[GUS]

Good morning Miss M!!!
First, it's the ENEMY AWARDS,
Second, Ralph Lauren (real name Ralph Lifshitz) is nice. Ralph Maddow.......ewwwwwwwwwwwwww.

[Clarice Feldman]

And it is reported these applications were so bad they turned down one or two before granting the last one,jimmy k.

The applications apparently must contain , among other things, indications that a full investigation was held and state the reasons for the need and must be okayed by the AG
.

[PDinDetroit]

HillAIRity is certain to ruin the rest of Maria's life if she was involved with Billery...

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

http://www.express.co.uk/pictures/pics/8961/Melania-Trump-Donald-Trump-former-model-first-lady-president-wife-pictures

This is a very large slide show of Melania Trump photos. Good shots of her clothing and shoes for those who are interested in fashion. I saw a few outfits I hadn't seen before.

The first few show the suit she wore to the UN.

You can tell she is a model, because she looks good in every single ensemble, unlike those of us who must rule out certain things because of height, weight, arms, etc.

[Captain Hate]

I'd use a different image than crow:

https://www.conservativereview.com/articles/11-times-the-msm-smeared-mark-levin-over-trump-wiretapping

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

A full investigation was held.
The DNC hired a squad of Dem thugs and fixers to concoct a full and thoroughly fake investigation and the most respected joke of an investigative agency in the world, the Federal Bureau of Intimidation er sorry, Investigation, bought it off of them for a hundred grand and then lied through their teeth about it for months.

Is someone suggesting that's not how the FISA process should work?

[GUS]

Obama on FOX from his previous speech at UN.

Clown. Nice empty suit MF'ER. Me, me, me, I, I, I.......... pussy boy.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

I am now seeing the pantsuit as Calvin Klein, not Ralph Lauren.

I have no idea which is the correct attribution.

[narciso.]

Clueless as a wet Tory:

http://telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/20/theresa-mays-new-eu-adviser-defended-soviet-union-andlamented

[Clarice Feldman]

davod--to further answer your question about FISA warrants--here's what a former FBI agent told me (in part):

In fact, a FISA order can be issued only when a Full Investigation has been approved. That means that a FISA order must "piggyback" on the authorization of Full Investigation, satisfying at a minimum the same criteria. Here is what is stated in the Attorney General Guidelines for FBI National Security Investigations and Foreign Intelligence Collection:

Full investigations. Full investigations are authorized, generally speaking, when there are specific and articulable facts giving reason to believe that a threat to the national security may​ exist. Like preliminary investigations, full investigations may relate to individuals, groups, organizations, and possible criminal violations, as specified in Part II.B.

My contention, based on experience with these matters, is that "specific and articulable facts giving reason to believe" goes well beyond mere "suspicion."

Further ...

The ability to provide "specific and articulable facts giving reason to believe that a threat to the national security may​ exist" only gets you a Full Investigation. To get a FISA order there is an additional bar. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA) states re electronic surveillance that

agents need to demonstrate probable cause to believe that the "target of the surveillance is a foreign power or agent of a foreign power,"

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

And let us not forget that estimable and irreproachable stout legged hippopotamus Loretta Lynch signed off on it so who has the cojones to claim there could have been anything even slightly underhanded going on?

Especially if, as seems likely she consulted with our beloved and highly respected and utterly disinterested elder statesman Billy Jeff Boinker on some secluded tarmac somewhere. In between trading pics of their little grandgargoyles of course.

[narciso.]

I noted the parallel to certain alpha group operation. (Spetznaz trained swat teams)

http://dailycaller.com/2017/09/19/report-fbi-agents-entered-paul-manaforts-home-with-guns-drawn

[Clarice Feldman]

What James Taranto said last year on this date still rings true:"The problem with Obama and Mrs. Clinton is that they seem completely oblivious to the need for domestic persuasion—which is a fancy way of saying they are hopelessly out of touch with their countrymen, who require reassurance that our leaders know what they’re doing and are on our side.
The only message they are delivering to Americans is the message intended for the enemy, or for the population from which the enemy draws recruits. Consider Mrs. Clinton’s assertion that “Muslims . . . have nothing whatsoever to do with terrorism.” One can imagine—although we are skeptical—that that’s a useful thing to say for the purpose of propaganda aimed at demoralizing terrorists and appealing to nonterrorist Muslims. But from the standpoint of an American voter who takes the statement at face value, it is flatly false—a bold-faced lie, really, since Mrs. Clinton obviously knows it is false.
By contrast, what Trump has to say on this subject is a rough approximation of the truth. We’re uneasy with the roughness, but too many in the political class fail to appreciate the importance of the truth."

[GUS]

Ignatz, what the hell is wrong with you. If LIEretta Lunch had met with THE MATTER's husband on a TARMAC in PHX. Comey would have come forward and made a case for OBSTRUCTION of JUSTICE.

[Janet 🚬]

The problem with Obama and Mrs. Clinton is that they seem completely oblivious to the need for domestic persuasion—

It is the same with the illegal immigrant issue -

"It is striking that, even in a conservative debate, mass, remorseless, illegal immigration is discussed almost entirely from the illegals' point of view: ... think of the families, think of the children. Their families, their children. The families of those they've supplanted are of less consequence. The argument...against enforcing the immigration laws is an appeal to moral preening: this is "not who we are". But using mass immigration to destroy the lives of your own citizens? That's exactly who we are." - Mark Steyn, "He Likes Ike"

[narciso.]

Taranto showed rare naivety there:

http://.washingtonexaminer.com/robert-mullers-congressional-liaison-revealed/article/2634989#!

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

https://pjmedia.com/claudiarosett/trump-hits-home-run-america-un-speech/

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

The problem is clarice, that all these safeguards depend on an FBI and a bureaucracy that is not a politicized lie machine.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

http://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/hillary-clinton-says-she-might-challenge-her-election-loss-during-what-happened-book-tour/

[fdcol63]

IMO, the problem with Obama and Mrs. Clinton is that they wanted to be rulers, not leaders.

[danoso]

agents need to demonstrate probable cause to believe that the "target of the surveillance is a foreign power or agent of a foreign power

And I suspect this will be the hook to hang the lot of them. Unless Mueller comes back with charges of Manafort working for the Russians, electronic surveillance of Team Trump will be seen for what it is. A charge of tax evasion isn't going to cut it.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

It is especially heartening to hear some empty-headed marionette like Juan Williams telling us how much he now admires and trusts our intelligence agencies.
Frank Church must be spinning like a top.

[GUS]

Bingo fdcol63. Name an "accomplishment" by Curb Dive or Lurch. Both of them eat steak and ride in Limo's, because of their Spouses or their Spouse's ex-husbands accomplishments.
LIBERALS/MARXISTS are parasites. Looks like Pelosi Galore is going to find out the hard way. The Croc is hungry and she's NEXT.

[Rocco]

Mayweather is undefeated at 50-0, well 51-0 if you include his wife.

[Jim Eagle]

narc,

Did you see the bit where Corbyn started to speak Spanish with Hector Bellarin (footballer for Arsenal) in front of Piers Morgan and shutting him out:) LOL.

[James D.]

It is true that 99%+ of FISA applications are approved, though. That could mean that applicants usually are careful, or it could mean a rubber stamp.

Thanks for a good laugh to start the day, jimmyk!

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Nice to see that Jimmy Kimmel, a man who first found fame admitting he didn’t know a single answer to the questions he read off the cards on Win Ben Stein's Money is now an authority on all things healthcare cuz he has a sick kid.

[GUS]

Maybe Mayweather's wife will get a rematch and blow his head off while he sleeps.

[Old Lurker]

Clarice I love the back and forth between you and Davod about the FISA warrants. Trouble is...you have the written rule of law on your side, and Davod has the FACT as stated by Jimmy that 99% of such warrants are granted (and since they are secret and unilateral, they are never tested). Now, knowing what we all know about brown shirted over zealous investigators working within a system that has abandoned The Rule of Law and replaced it with "My goals are so pure, just trust me", while I acknowledge you get some points for technicality...you are WAY wrong in the conclusion. Advantage: Davod.

:-)

[Old Lurker]

And while I was writing that, Iggy was posting the same thing in but 2.5 lines at 8:33.

[Captain Hate]

The apparatchiks never rest:

http://reason.com/blog/2017/09/19/hours-after-hurricane-irma-miami-dade-co

[GUS]

If you trust Comey......TRUST THE FBI.
If you trust Obama......TRUST THE FISA COURT.
If you play by MARXIST RULES..........sucker.

This whole mess is a CHARADE. What does Manafort being investigated for FINANCIAL CRIMES several years ago, have to do with MAKE BELIEVE RUSSIAN,,,,,,undefined INTERFERENCE in our HACKED ELECTION. From start to finish, from RODHAM getting her WIDE ASS kicked...to...MADE TERMS like Russian-Wikileaks....this is a CRIME. And it's not President Trump committing it.

[Janet 🚬]

http://thefederalist.com/2017/09/20/13-questions-wiretapping-paul-manafort/#.WcJPdgoViWY.facebook

Was the Podesta Group or any of its officials included in any wiretaps in 2016?

That is what stands out to me.

Why weren't any Dems or Dem businesses or Dem organizations unmasked & leaked?

How about dealings with other countries besides Russia? How about the visa for sale schemes of McAuliffe, Reid, & Rodham with China? Where are the leaks about THAT?

If contact with a foreign business or group is illegal...then why didn't the Obama administration DO SOMETHING about it back when it happened?

[rich]

>>>If contact with a foreign business or group is illegal...then why didn't the Obama administration DO SOMETHING about it back when it happened?

Posted by: Janet 🚬 | September 20, 2017 at 08:57 AM<<<

lol

[henry]

Some one else thinks Mueller is about to implode.

[narciso.]

Yes but for different reasons:

https://mobile.twitter.com/alimhaider/status/910328826688876545/photo/1

[DebinGA]

"According to the report, Manafort and his wife were still in bed when agents with a “no-knock” warrant picked the lock to his front door."

Doesn't that indicate armed agents entered silently with guns drawn having given no warning? Words fail.

[henry]

About those opportunities for graft. Some group found $2.3 trillion in govt waste to cut. Looks to me like all low hanging fruit. But 634 grifters need a piece of some phony action, so I expect nothing to come of this.

[James D.]

CH @ 8:51

Words fail me.

[Sue]

Find the irony in being told not to chant USA at a sporting event because you might offend someone who wants us to grant them citizenship to the USA.

[Clarice Feldman]

Narciso, that link doesn't work for me.

[Threadkiller]

It appears as though we are getting closer to taking the definition of Natural Born Citizenship more seriously.

[Clarice Feldman]

The apparent difference, between the law and Comey's practice, however, OL and Iggy, sets him up for consequences.

[henry]

Clarice, unfortunately that sounds like Lucy teeing the football sets up Charlie for kicking it.

[sbw]

Clarice, the .washingtonexaminer link has an extra period before it.

[Clarice Feldman]

Trump isn't GW and Manafort isn't Libby and I think Mueller's about to be kicked in the arse as is Comey, watch this space.

[Old Lurker]

Where Clarice tells another funny to make us all laugh out here on the Ledge:

"sets him up for consequences..."

[narciso.]

Gates and podestas firm, were among other things lobbying for Ukraine subrosa.

[Old Lurker]

Clarice 9:40 "...think Mueller's about to be kicked in the arse as is Comey, watch this space..."

NOBODY hopes Clarice is right more than me...but until then I think Rip Van Sessions is still napping under the tree.

[Momto2]

I am sorry I missed that presidential tweet about the emmy awards last night! I would have gone to bed laughing.

MM - Just think, we have to work in shifts to keep up with our 71-year-old president! LOL!

[jimmyk]

A charge of tax evasion isn't going to cut it.

"Probable cause" is vague enough that they can claim they had it, but weren't able to produce enough evidence to make a charge stick. It would be a lie, of course, but hard to disprove without a smoking gun.

[narciso.]

Sheepdog is just napping, old lurker.

[Clarice Feldman]

My comment doesn't require Sessions to do anything. Trump will be swinging and so will Manafort and they'll lay out the perfidy over and again so it can't be missed.

From Instapundit:
FREEDOM: Appeals court upholds Wisconsin right-to-work law.

A Wisconsin appeals court upheld the state’s right-to-work law Tuesday, the second time in two months that Badger State unions have seen their legal challenges to the law rebuffed in court.

The unions had argued the law, which prohibits workers from being forced to join a union or pay a regular fee to one as a condition of employment, was unconstitutional. The court ruled that the issue had been long settled.

“The unions have no constitutional entitlement to the fees of non-member employees,” Judge Mark Seidl wrote for the court.

Republican Gov. Scott Walker applauded the ruling and defended the purpose of the law. “The purchase of any service should be voluntary and not coerced. Wisconsin’s right-to-work law protects freedom, not special interests. I applaud the court in affirming the constitutional right of all Wisconsin workers to be free to choose whether they want to join a union or financially support a union.”

Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel, who defended the law before the court, said they were “vindicated.”

[Momto2]

James Woods is great - he posted this on Twitter this morning.

Another day at the office:

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Momto2,

So true! I thought about lying down and in fact started to, and then there was President Trump speaking with King Abdullah and I thought "Stop that! You do not need a nap!"

Ha! He even has ME moving!

[common man]

same thing happened in W Virginia that happened in Wisconsin. Court rules that right to work law is constitutional. Went all the way to the Supreme Ct of WVa there but another win for the home team.

[Clarice Feldman]

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wiretapped-calls-between-trump-and-paul-manafort-would-have-difficult-road-to-disclosure/article/2634980

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Clarice,

I saw a quote from Lavrov at the UN yesterday (not a speech, just something he said) that the difficulties with Russia were Obama's fault.

Of course, any criticism of Obama by the Russians will be taken by the maniacs as proof that Trump collude with them.

"Comey better hope there are no tapes." Boy, do I hope that was a clue!

[Clarice Feldman]

watch--the stories about how the Manafort's home was invaded, surely didn't come from Mueller and the reason why we are seeing it is because Manafort wants us to know. How do we know that the investigation is into 2006 financial dealings--certainly same reason,

Trump surely paid attention to the Libby case and he will not play the deaf dumb and blind "presidential" role GW did.

[Old Lurker]

Clarice, I don't think we care what was said in any wiretapped call between Trump and Manafort...just confirmation that such snooping was in fact done to a political rival proves Trump right and waves the red flag which should chill all patriots to the bone.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump

Rand Paul is a friend of mine but he is such a negative force when it comes to fixing healthcare. Graham-Cassidy Bill is GREAT! Ends Ocare!
==================

I missed this this morning.

[Old Lurker]

Clarice "play the deaf dumb and blind "presidential" role GW did."

That is too kind to GW. He went further than that an ordered his employees to, in effect, waive their constitutional rights and cooperate with the enemy. Sure, they could have resigned and lawyered up, but these were good people trying to do good things for their country.

[Sue]

Happy birthday James D. May your Giants win a game. Just not too many.

[Old Lurker]

HB James. My gift to you is a box of matches.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump 2h2 hours ago

Looking forward to Friday night in the Great State of Alabama. I am supporting "Big" Luther Strange because he was so loyal & helpful to me!

[Clarice Feldman]

Exactly, OL and people like Libby assumed they were partnered up with an FBI and DOJ as fair minded and conscientious as they were.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump

I hope Republican Senators will vote for Graham-Cassidy and fulfill their promise to Repeal & Replace ObamaCare. Money direct to States!

[henry]

HB James