Donald Trump - delusional thinking syndrome

My Letter to the Editor - this is not an echo.

So, President Donald Trump broke the law again. He misrepresented the National Weather Service’s hurricane forecast by drawing his own illegal version of Dorian’s devastating storm path, on a map, using a Sharpie. For some bizarre reason, he just had to emphasis the illogical thinking used to announce his wrong weather prediction. 

(By the way, Donald Trump claims to be the “chosen one,” but he was never “chosen” to predict the weather and meteorology.)

Obviously, Trump is expanding his delusional thinking syndrome. Still, he continues to break laws. His behavior is worse than writing deranged plots for a political horror story. He continues to violate the U.S. Constitution’s Emolument clause by using taxpayer money to pay for events scheduled at his failing international, and national golf resorts and hotels. Moreover, he broke campaign finance laws when he paid hush money to Stormy Daniels by using political donations.

Anyone reading this letter would be prosecuted for breaking even one of the laws that were flagrantly violated by Trump. There is a preponderance of evidence to support an impeachment trial. Reps. Pingree and Golden, Sens. Susan Collins and Angus King, you must respond by calling for Donald Trump’s impeachment.

Juliana L’Heureux, Topsham Maine

Open letter to Secretary Scott Pruitt to protect public health and environment

Right wing Republicans waste time in denial about the environmental impacts on public health. Indeed, there is a direct correlation between the environment and public health. For example, polluted water can lead to lead poisoning and dirty air increases the acuity of asthma attacks.

Yet, Republicans choose to ignore the negative health impact of extreme weather, carbon emissions and human created pollution on the earth's environment. Nevertheless, a growing number of Americans are calling for more accountability to protect the public health, by defending the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from budget cuts.

Among them is Congresswoman Pingree, of Maine. As a matter of fact, in July 2017, Pingree received the first-ever Environmental Champion Award from Environment Maine for her “consistent, strong, and effective leadership” in protecting public health and the environment in Congress.

Moreover, she on the website "VoteSmart.org", she is on record for supporting a letter written by a group of environmental advocates, addressed to EPA Secretary Scott Pruitt. Unfortunately, Pruitt is leading the Trump campaign to deregulate and to un-fund DEP public health protections.

Chellie Pingree's Political Summary on Issue: Environment

Letter to the Hon. Scott Pruitt, EPA - Boost Emergency Preparedness, Superfund Cleanup:

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree D-Maine

Date: Sept. 19, 2017
Location: Washington, DC

Secretary Pruitt,

We write to you with concern for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) preparedness for the impacts of increased extreme weather events like those that recently occurred in South Texas and the Southeast. 

In particular, we are concerned that efforts to reduce the Agency's staff and budget, along with plans to eliminate climate mitigation and adaptation programs, will leave the agency ill equipped to protect communities from the environmental hazards associated with extreme weather.

Recent news media reports have drawn attention to potential hazards to public health and local environmental integrity due to hurricane-related flooding at Superfund sites, chemical plants and refineries in areas affected by Hurricane Harvey. The rapid development of multiple hurricanes since, one of which was the record-breaking Irma, is an indicator of more threatening storms to come. We know that you have previously identified Superfund site cleanup as a key function of the Environmental Protection Agency and a priority for your time leading the EPA. We would like to know how you intend to prepare the Agency to deal with toxic superfund contamination and other hazards in light of increases in extreme weather.

As such, we ask that you respond to the following:

Your recently developed Superfund plan does not address the issue of extreme weather. 

Under your leadership, how does the EPA plan to address issue of superfund contamination under the threat of increasing extreme weather and natural disasters?

What is your plan for securing other potentially hazardous sites under circumstances of extreme weather?

We also ask that you reconsider the delay of the EPA's Risk Management Plan rule. Had it been in place, it would have better protected the health of police officers and firefighters in Crosby, Texas as they were responding to chemical contamination and fires at the Arkema chemical plant. 

The rule creates increased transparency regarding the possibly dangerous chemicals present at plants like Arkema and would have helped first responders better understand the threats they faced during that incident.

While a ready response is critical, we cannot just plan for the aftermath of disasters, we must also do all we can to protect communities from them in the first place. In addition to causing sea levels to rise, climate change is projected to lead to stronger, more intense storms, such as hurricanes with higher wind speeds, heavier rainfall and more dangerous storm surge. 

That is why we are so concerned about efforts to cut or eliminate climate mitigation and adaptation initiatives that will help protect American communities, saving money and lives. Mitigation of climate change impacts through reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is a must for protecting communities. Investment in climate adaptation--the rebuilding of communities and infrastructure so they are better able to withstand extreme weather, flooding and other hazards, is equally important. 

According to the EPA's own reporting, without adaptation, unmitigated climate change is projected to result in $5.0 trillion in damages for coastal property alone in the contiguous U.S. through 2100. This is in addition to the even more important priority of protecting American lives and keeping people safe in their communities. We therefore ask that you reconsider the Administration's proposals to cut, eliminate or rollback critical climate related initiatives and investments that can help protect communities from future storms.

Finally, we are concerned that the Trump Administration's desire to dramatically reduce staff and the overall budget of EPA will impact the Agency's ability to respond and protect communities after extreme weather events. Moreover, while the FY18 appropriations bill that passed the House Appropriations Committee included a modest increase for Superfund remediation, we find it worrying that the President's budget proposed substantial cuts to this important program. In light of recent storms and wildfires, it is clear that EPA will be tasked with vital life-saving cleanup frequently and across the country, especially as United States realizes more and more of the harmful impacts of climate change. It is important that EPA maintain the staffing and funding levels necessary to adequately respond to environmental challenges wherever and whenever it is needed, and to proactively prevent such dangers by cleaning up contaminated sites as aggressively as possible before disaster strikes.

We look forward to receiving the answers to the questions outlined above and to working with you to ensure the EPA is prepared to fulfil its responsibility to protect public health and the environment.

Sincerely,
Source: https://quigley.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/quigley-leads-letter-epa-need-boost-emergency-preparedness-superfund

Democrats rightly boycott Trump inauguration: add another to heroes

Rep. Chellie Pingree called Rep. John Lewis one of the "kindest members of Congress"....- Portland Press Herald.

Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (rightly!) announced she won't attend the Donald Trump installation on January 20th! 

Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree- D-Maine will (rightly) not attend Donald Trump inauguration

There's at least a trio of reasons to support her valid decision. Maine was the home of Harriett Beecher Stowe when she began to write "Uncle Tom's Cabin" (published in 1852); it's also the state where many escaped slaves found safe houses on the "underground railroad" & where the hero Joshua Chamberlain, leader of the 20th Maine at Gettysburg's Little Round Top, stood against the Confederate Army to defend the Union.

Boycotting the inauguration of the illegitimate Donald Trump is the right thing to do, considering how many American citizens he has trashed in his Twitter tirades, while defending Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is an international serial assassin. Alexander Litvinenko was poisioned by order of Putin with the use of toxic nuclear, lethal polonium-210-"induced acute radiation syndrome".
This unpatriotic Trump-Putin alliance is evidence enough to boycott the inauguration of an illegitimate Donald Trump.

Donald Trump's Twitter attack on civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis of Georgia is the last straw. Thank you Congresswoman Pingree for making the right decision to not attend the Jan. 20th inauguration of an illegitimate Donald Trump.

In Maine, the The Portland Press Herald reports:

Rep. Chellie Pingree- D-Maine, joins Democratic boycott of Donald Trump’s inauguration

Although Maine's three other members of Congress are expected to attend, but Pingree says she is standing in solidarity with Rep. John Lewis, the civil rights icon who clashed with the president-elect.

Maine Rep. Chellie Pingree said Monday that she will not attend President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, joining a growing number of Democratic members of Congress opting to skip the ceremonies.

“I’ll be staying right here in Maine,” Pingree, D-1st District, told attendees at a Martin Luther King Jr. celebration dinner hosted by the NAACP Portland Branch at Holiday Inn by the Bay.

The Maine delegation’s most liberal member, Pingree has been (rightly) sharply critical of Trump’s political rhetoric, policy statements and Cabinet nominees. 

On Monday, she joined more than 30 other House Democrats who have announced plans to boycott the inaugural ceremonies.

Like many of her colleagues, Pingree cited Trump’s recent clash with Rep. John Lewis – a Georgia Democrat and civil rights icon – as part of her reasoning for opting out of the inauguration.

In a searing statement against Trump released Monday night, Pingree said she would normally attend an inauguration but that “these are not normal circumstances.” She then accused Trump ofputting his business interests ahead of the country’s interests, of belittling Lewis and of showing no appetite for holding Russia accountable for alleged attempts to influence the election.

“President-elect Trump’s actions go beyond any kind of reasonable debate – they threaten the constitutional values our country is based on,” Pingree said in the statement. “I won’t dignify or normalize those threats by standing by at his ceremony. Instead, I think I can better serve my district by performing acts of service here in Maine that day.”

The three other members of Maine’s congressional delegation – Republicans Sen. Susan Collins and Rep. Bruce Poliquin and independent Sen. Angus King – indicated Monday that they will attend Trump’s inauguration Friday. None of the three publicly supported Trump during the election, although most members of Congress traditionally attend the inauguration regardless of their support for the president-elect.

Maine Gov. Paul LePage, a Republican who supported Trump, also plans to travel to Washington, D.C., for the inauguration.

Trump has struggled to attract A-list celebrities or organizations to participate in his inauguration, and the most recent controversies have given Democrats more opportunities to hammer the president-elect.

Lewis is regarded by many as a civil rights hero, having marched with Martin Luther King Jr. during the struggle against segregation and discrimination in the South during the 1960s. He was severely beaten by police – still bearing the scars – and jailed, and has been a prominent voice for black Americans in Congress for several decades.

Lewis had (rightly!) questioned the legitimacy of Trump’s presidency because of intelligence reports that Russia tried to interfere with the election. In response, Trump tweeted that Lewis was “All talk, talk, talk – no action or results” and suggested the Georgia Democrat should focus his attention on fixing his district’s economic situation and crime.

Those comments unleashed a wave of criticism from Democrats and civil rights leaders.

“Donald Trump has proven that his administration will normalize the most extreme fringes of the Republican Party,” Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., said in a statement announcing her boycott of the inauguration. “On Inauguration Day, I will not be celebrating. I will be organizing and preparing for resistance.”

“The rhetoric + actions of @realDonaldTrump have been so far beyond the pale. I cannot in good conscience participate in this inauguration,” tweeted Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y.

Pingree called Lewis a friend and one of the kindest men in Congress. She also credited Lewis with demonstrating how to “get in the way” and create “necessary trouble” to bring about critical change.

The Maine Democrat, who was elected to her fifth term last November, said she plans to attend the Women’s March on Washington on Saturday “before returning to Congress to serve the interests of my constituents during the presidency of Donald Trump.”

Staff Writer Kelley Bouchard contributed to this report.

Rightly, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree's boycott will represent all of us in Maine who support her decision, even the thousands who live outside of her District. Thank you!

Lobster Wars - will Maine lobsters need passports?

"The idea that somehow lobsters are going to jump out of their tanks and crawl into the sea and survive just doesn't make sense," 

As though the world isn't already consumed with the desperation of transient immigrants, now Maine lobsters are among the victims.
This culinary speciality is taking on an immigrant label, similar to millions of displaced humans!

Should Maine lobsters be issued culinary passports to prove they are free of diseases?

Maine Lobsters in Swedish water?  "How'd they ever get in?"

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree slams Sweden for proposed Maine lobster ban

Mar 18, 2016 Press Release
"Ban on export of lobsters to Europe totally unwarranted"

Maine Congresswoman Chellie Pingree had harsh words for Swedish officials who have asked the European Union to ban the import of Maine lobster.

"This is a complete overreaction on the part of Sweden. We have safely exported live lobster to dozens of countries for decades, and even if it's true that a few Maine lobsters have been found in foreign waters, regulators need to look at the problem more carefully and not just jump to conclusions."

Pingree questions how Maine lobsters may have ended up in waters off the coast of Sweden.

"The idea that somehow lobsters are going to jump out of their tanks and crawl into the sea and survive just doesn't make sense," Pingree said. "Some reports have suggested that it's actually consumers who have bought lobsters and thrown them in the ocean. Whatever the cause, EU officials should figure out what's really happening before jumping to any conclusions."

The Guardian reports

Invasion of the American lobsters: Sweden asks EU for help

Swedish environment ministry says Maine lobster could wipe out European species with deadly diseases

Oversexed, overfed and over here: that, in a nutshell, is what the Swedes think of the American lobster from Maine, New England. It may be much sought after in restaurants but Sweden does not want the American crustacean to darken EU waters in case it spreads diseases and kills off its smaller cousin.

The Swedish environment ministry on Friday asked the EU to list the Maine lobster as an invasive species and ban the import of the live creatures.

While the more cynical may see the Swedish move as disguised protectionism, such concerns are not entirely misplaced. 

Wildlife experts say the American lobster, which may also be slightly larger and different in colour to the native European lobster, brings dangers to European lobsters.

“They pose several potential risks for native species, competing for space and resources, they can interbreed with local species and produce hybrid species, which we don’t know will be viable or not,” said Dr Paul Stebbing of the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture science.

The Swedish environment ministry says more than 30 American lobsters have been found along Sweden’s west coast in recent years and that they can carry diseases and parasites that could spread to the European lobster and result in extremely high mortality.

British experts say there have been 24 confirmed reports of the American lobster in UK waters in recent decades. They are not believed to be reproducing, although this is possible. Sightings are believed to be as a result of the deliberate release or escape of specimens from captivity.

As for American lobsters in Swedish waters, the environment ministry said: “We have reason to believe that lobsters are put in coastal waters perhaps for later consumption. Some of the American lobsters found by fishermen in the sea outside the west coast of Sweden were still wearing rubber bands round their claws with the exporting company name on the rubber band.”

The Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association is jittery at any European ban as the export of lobsters to the EU is worth $134m (£93m) annually.

“It is an important trade so this is concerning,” said Beth Casoni, executive director of the association, adding that it would mobilise US lawmakers and scientists to refute claims that American lobsters spread disease. “If they found 30 American lobsters over eight years, how is that an invasion,” she said.

Casoni also faulted European residents for releasing American lobsters into the wild: “They are the ones breaking the law. We don’t buy European species and let them free.”

Sweden has approached the EU commission, the EU’s executive body, under the EU’s invasive alien species regulation, which came into force last year. Such species are considered to be one of the major causes of biodiversity loss; its cost to the European economy is estimated to be at least €12bn a year in areas such as health care and animal health costs, crop yield losses, fish stock losses and damage to protected species.

EU scientists will consider Sweden’s request at the start of next month. Other examples that are already on the list to be adopted in the coming weeks are red swamp crayfish, American grey squirrel and Sosnowski’s hogweed.

If the EU’s scientific forum approves Sweden’s submission, its inclusion will have to be considered at the invasive alien species committee (comprised of member states representatives) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Ugh! Unfortunately, Maine Lobsters are now included among the world of desperate transients!

Lobsters in Sweden?  How'd they ever get in?  

Laura H Crews as Aunt PittyPat. "Yankees in Georgia! How'd they ever get in?"