All of major networks have been burned nearly beyond recognition by this President’s lies, media attacks and propaganda. They should stream hos drivel on the web.
Why should the networks lose ad dollars? So he can lie to us in prime time?
Please keep his propaganda off the air!
That's not going to happen:
"[Trump] needs to be impeached.
Trump may well be "impeached" (which requires action only by the House), but I think this commenter actually means "removed from office." That requires Senate action too, which won't happen. (Even if it did, would you really want Mike Pence to be President?)
The Democrats should focus on the 2020 election.
3
I suspect that more than one network executive agrees with this:
"The networks should counter program with Gilligan's Island."
If I were in charge of a network, I'd skip the whole spectacle and stick with my prime-time programming. As matters now stand, any network that does that will probably get a huge audience.
1
This is the problem with a leader who has compiled an encyclopedia's worth of lies and falsehoods. There is no credibility to anything Trump could say.
To call an emergency or suggest a crisis requires that a consensus will agree that one exists. (think natural disasters) Such a call should initially come from local leaders who would be impacted the most by the crisis. There is no such local declaration. To wit there is no congressional representative in districts along the border with Mexico that supports funding for a wall, including the sole Republican.
1
If trump relies on a scripted speech tonight, no doubt Stephen Miller will be its author. It'll be chock-full of tough talk, fear mongering and falsehoods.
The reality is that immigration is no more of a threat today than it was 10, 20 or even 50 years ago. On our list of pressing problems, "illegal immigration" isn't the dangerous and urgent crisis that trump and people like Stephen Miller would have us believe. Mass shootings, healthcare, the stock market, the toll on Americans by trump's tariffs, infrastructure, falling wages, unaffordable housing, high cost of education, the threat of ISIS, cyber security, protecting our elections, betraying our allies -- these are what warrant urgent attention. It's way easier to convince gullible people that illegal immigrants are an immediate threat to them than it is to focus on what the real problems are. WAY easier.
Are there problems with border security and our immigration system that need to be addressed? Absolutely. But a wall won't stop the terrorists, drug cartels and crime lords...the actual "bad hombres" that trump refers to. A wall along the southern border isn't even feasible, given the logistics of building one.
trump has become increasingly fixated on the wall to appease his base. Meanwhile, trump puts the entire post WWII world order at risk with his actions that are exponentially more dangerous than those who cross the border from Mexico.
4
Do we all understand we are wired differently? Why else would there be a non-weaponized civil war? The two sides both believe they have a lock on THE TRUTH. Clearly there needs to be some compromise, i.e. Schumer and Pelosi will speak nationally as well. Why can't the same speaking compromise apply to the legislature? Can we stop acting like children and incorporate the legislative compromise that has been around since ancient Greece? Just asking. Please don't get hypertensive on me. It would be unhealthy for both of us just as it is for the legislative branch.
2
If trump relies on a scripted speech tonight, no doubt Stephen Miller will be its author. It'll be chock-full of tough talk, fear mongering and falsehoods.
The reality is that immigration is no more of a threat today than it was 10, 20 or even 50 years ago. On our list of pressing problems, "illegal immigration" isn't the dangerous and urgent crisis that trump and people like Stephen Miller would have us believe. Mass shootings, healthcare, the stock market, the toll on Americans by trump's tariffs, infrastructure, falling wages, unaffordable housing, high cost of education, the threat of ISIS, cyber security, protecting our elections, betraying our allies -- these are what warrant urgent attention. It's way easier to convince gullible people that illegal immigrants are an immediate threat to them than it is to focus on what the real problems are. WAY easier.
Are there problems with border security and our immigration system that need to be addressed? Absolutely. But a wall won't stop the terrorists, drug cartels and crime lords...the actual "bad hombres" that trump refers to. A wall along the southern border isn't even feasible, given the logistics of building one.
trump has become increasingly fixated on the wall to appease his base. Meanwhile, trump puts the entire post WWII world order at risk with his actions that are exponentially more dangerous than those who cross the border from Mexico.
1
For TWO YEARS the Republicans held the Congress. How come Trump didn't get funding for his boondoggle of a wall during those two years? If the Republicans didn't want to fund the wall, we must all ask them why?
2
Closed government. A fake national emergency. Autocratic tendencies. Attack’s on the press. Attacks on the judiciary. Attacks on other lawmakers. First televised address to the nation. This is dangerous stuff.
4
The Liberal hypocrisy.
Trump’s ideas are dangerous and nobody should even be allowed to hear the President’s position.
Too many citizens will agree with him.
Better to just limit what the sheep are allowed hear.
1
Whatever else it may be, the wall is not a national security crisis. If Congress, which so balked at Obama's efforts to end-run Congress via executive orders, accedes to this nonsense, then...well, they will be (again) exposed as nothing but hacks who care not for our institutions. And I'm looking at both parties here.
2
This circus feeds Trump’s Art of the Deal view of human transactions. Winning this showdown will be a boost to his bottomless ego.
2
Please. Please. Please. Mr. President. You’re driven me into a corner to where I can’t watch tv. My last safe spot was NCIS. Now you’ve messed that up too.
2
The first time Trump has to face divided government , instead of negotiating in good faith, he runs to the networks and begs for time to make a speech which tries to rally the country to his point of view.Is this a pattern, Trump needs a rally on national TV if the Democrats do not cave to his ideas. This is a very slippery slope- the dictator goes on TV to announce his decisions.If we cannot trust TV to present the truth they will lose credibility.There should be a disclaimer at the top of the speech saying that it is an opinion piece- that the information to be presented has not been checked for accuracy.For the first time in two years Trump is facing opposition and instead of acting like chief of state, he acts like the hyper salesman and engages TV to help him- this is a travesty of the "free" press!
2
Good for you, I guess:
"I will not watch President Trump or the Democratic response."
I'll watch both, though probably on-line rather than on TV. I doubt I've have considered either one a big deal if the networks hadn't decided to bump their prime-time programming to run them.
1
I don’t listen to liars. This lack of credibility sinks any good intention he might have. He needs to be impeached.
11
All networks should carry the following message:
Your regularly scheduled program has been pre-empted to bring you the following litany of right-wing propaganda, gross exaggerations, racist hysteria and blatant lies.
12
Government workers are upset for losing their jobs and paychecks because of a stupid wall not getting built. Now, perhaps, they can sympathize with the many American workers who, when an illegal immigrant took their jobs, now have no job and no wages, because a wall did not get built. This is all a good exercise in empathy.
5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlV3oQ3pLA0
"Ah, but the strawberries, that’s, that’s where I had them, they laughed at me and made jokes, but I proved beyond the shadow of a doubt, and with geometric logic, that a duplicate key to the ward room icebox did exist, and I’ve had produced that key if they hadn’t pulled the Caine out of action. I, I know now they were only trying to protect some fellow officer. … Naturally, I can only cover these things from memory. If I left anything out, why, just ask me specific questions and I’ll be glad to answer them, one by one."
2
And then after Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer respond on national television, let’s hear from Mitch McConnell, from wherever he’s run off to.
4
But how can Trump be safe at the border with those billions and billions of murderers and rapists pouring through every day? Oh I remember: he made that up, otherwise he'd stay far away.
5
Bring back editorial desk!!! What does this sentence mean?!
"Senate Democrats, for their part, were moving to halt legislation to pressure Republicans to reopen the government"
The legislation was to pressure Repubs? Or halting legislation was to pressure Repubs??
7
This dumpster fire of an administration needs to be put out.
This president is unfit for office. My finger will be hovering over my phone to call my legislators if this morally bankrupt clown declares a national emergency during his speech.
That would make us prey to his declaring martial law because of, what?
Whatever Sideshow Bob feels like.
6
@Chef B
Since you live in Texas one of your legislators will be Senator Ted Cruz. President Trump just helped him get re-elected. I wonder what kind of response you will get from Senator Cruz, if any.
If the networks are going to air the speech, broadcast it with a 15 minute time delay in order to fact check Trump.
6
I for one am looking forward to Trump's speech. He will make a total fool of himself. I am adamantly against building the wall, and there is nobody I would rather see defending this preposterous idea than Trump. I wish all our enemies were as obviously liars and as inarticulate as Trump is.
4
The only emergency is the one Trump has created. Just like any dictator, he's willing to destroy everyone and everything to satiate his own ego.
4
If networks can’t fact check him in real time, they should have a chyron running that says ‘false’, true’ (highly unlikely with trump), or ‘exaggerated’. Then afterwards the pundits can explain each.
5
I say let Trump speak. Broadcast it everywhere.
As always, the best argument Democrats have against Donald Trump is every word that issues forth out of the mouth of Donald Trump.
And undoubtedly tonight, before millions of viewers, he will once again make a perfect argument for why his wall is the sort of ridiculous idea which could only come from a man completely detached from sense or logic.
Let him speak.
2
The networks should counter program with Gilligan's Island. The plight of those stranded on a desert island is more believable than any dribble the liar in chief will spout.
4
FOUL! FOUL!
The networks denied President Obama prime time to address his policies on immigration. Are they so cowed and afraid that Trump with "tweet" about the media being the "enemy of the people" that they caved to his demand on this? We are in deep trouble if Trump can make an outrageous demand for a campaign speech directed entirely to his "base"--NOT to the nation--and spew lies to the American public. We know already the content of the speech. It will be a farrago of lies about immigration, about the border, about criminals, drug dealers and rapists. Then for good measure it will be a ferocious attack on Democrats trying to blame them for the government shutdown. He will also claim that "government employees" support him. It will be non-stop chicanery. Everyone knows this. The networks know this. So why must the public endure this further abuse from Emperor Donald and his infantile tantrums.
6
Is it racism or are networks just showing their GOP/big business bias? In 2014 President Obama asked for TV time to explain his immigration executive order plans and was turned down because he was being too "political". Trump gets the green light. Coincidence? Both?
5
The television media once again pimps out the First Amendment for anyone, including the most cruel of men. All for money. Not a penny for our Republic, for our Democracy. They sell the airwaves to continue to promote this mentally ill man who got to the White House as a result of several factors, including Sen. McConnell's objection to stand publicly with President Obama to call out Russian interference. I for one, won't watch this hideous display. What debacle. ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN didn't transmit President Obama's 2014 speech on immigration, but will put this objectively immoral man on TV, further eroding our standing not only in the world, but also among ourselves. Thank goodness for Mueller. His team can tell the difference between truths and lies.
5
I'm only sorry that Chuck and Nancy will respond and not allow the Presidential candidates Beto and Warren the opportunity! That would have been great payback to the lying Con man!
2
A question. Will the present border state of emergency declaration by the president apply to the border with Canada as well?
1
Unless the networks put this on a 20 minute delayed broadcast with a sidebar indicating the type of lies being told by the President, we are going to boycott this speech and just read the excerpts in the news. Remember you are what you eat and absorbing this type of garbage even when you know it's garbage is damaging to your psyche.
If the networks however want some categories of the lies, here are a few;
-Outright lie
-Not based in fact
-Never happened
-________ never said that
-_________ never thought that
-Not based on current earth science
-First stated on Fox News
-We'll get back to you this one when we can complete Trump's sentence.
4
Not on my TV he won't!
4
Hopefully President Trump utilizes his authority (confirmed by the NYT) to declare a national emergency and divert previously allocated funds to complete the construction of appropriate Southern border barriers (before even more illegals stream over the border to take advantage of Mayor DeBlasio's just announced offer of free (!) health care). Will the 'wall' battle won, Trump can re-open the Federal government, and Democrats can get back to focusing on surefire vote winners like the imposition of 70% marginal Federal income tax rates!
2
War of the Worlds redux. Aliens are invading! Trump wants attention. He measures success by ratings.
So with 800,000 federal workers held hostage, he holds the nation hostage, seizing air time and attention for his propaganda and lies.
Reopen the government. Stop playing Trump's Hunger Games.
I am so very tired of the tantrums, anti Constitutionality, and dysfunction of the Trump administration and GOP Senate.
5
The Wall is Coming.
Want to leave a message for Trump? Simply don't tune in to Trump time tonight. Who besides his dimwitted base really wants to hear him cry wolf for the millionth time anyways? Zero credibility means his time is worthless and will be nothing more than 8 minutes of wasted time. I will be watching cable. Why not?
2
OK, I'm going to go waaaaaaaay out on a limb and predict:
1) individual-1 is going to lie through his teeth on TV before the entire world
2) in less than 48 hours there will a new set of contradictory lies
3) if by some miracle some 'deal' is reached, individual-1 will blow it up within a few days.
There are a multitude of documented instances of each of the above items.
What is the point in listening to this guy?
What is the point of negotiating with this guy?
The guy needs to be pushed out. It is a forlorn exercise in futility to have any interaction whatsoever with people such as this one.
2
The current president is a despicable excuse for a human being. I heard him say on the news that he could "relate" to what the furloughed federal workers are going through.
Hoping that our country will be rid of this scourge sooner rather than later via impeachment, etc.
2
Step 1: declare a random policy goal a fake national emergency
Step 2: get the national media news to broadcast a presidential address about this fake emergency (previously denied to other presidents for their non-emergency policy goals, latest was last president)
Step 3: bask in the validation that said broadcast provides for said fake emergency -- if all news channels from FOX to CNN to NBC sacrificed prime time for it, than it must be real.
Step 4: now that fake emergency is validated, declare emergency powers to accomplish policy goals
Step 5: repeat until Congress become a purely ceremonial body
2
Hoping there aren’t too many planning on a drinking game involving taking a drink each time Drumpf tells a lie tonight. No one can safely hold that much liquor.
1
When were the bids submitted & who won the contracts to build this wall? Should he not be asking only for the amount of the approved bid? If as he says he has started building already, who is the contractor? What bid was submitted & approved? What were the contracted materials & designs? Why is he changing from concrete to steel?
Why are these questions not being asked? The Times, CNN, CBS, MSNBC are all falling down on the job if they can not find these answers for the country.
2
Networks: to avoid being dupes of this unsavory president, demand the transcript of his speech prior to airing this charade. You'd have time to fact check his statements and provide factual counterpoint as he's speaking or as part of a panel discussion that would follow. You're not his sounding board! Put your man pants on and do your job, the job most of us know is real, valued and necessary to the well-being of a strong and functioning democratic republic!
1
"Trump Will Take Case for Border Wall to Public in National Address"
Correction: "Without A Case, Trump will Stand Before the American People and Lie About What is Nothing More Than His Narcissistic Need to Appease His Rabid Base, and Feed His Inestimable Narcissism"
2
One of the networks should begin a late night television program à la “Nightline”: “America Held Hostage: Day ‘xxx’” ,where xxx represented the number of days the government is closed. It could tell the stories of government agencies and employees affected by the shutdown juxtaposed with the outrageous lies told by Drumpf on that day.
Are there any plans by the networks to fact check the President during his address? He should not be allowed to make any public speeches without lfact checking.
1
If Trump wants money for x, the Democrats will block, because they think it’s a bad idea.
When the socialists ask for money for free everything, will the Democrats block too as it is a dumb idea?
Or are Democrats blocking it just because Trump asked for it?
1
@AutumnLeaf In answer to your question, Democrats refuse to budge on funding for trump's wall because it's a juvenile, impractical and ineffective approach to a complex problem. A wall would be a monument to trump's vanity, nothing more. "Build the wall" was intended as a campaign slogan. trump didn't expect his followers to take it literally. As a tax paying citizen, I refuse to see my hard-earned tax dollars paying for something trump repeatedly promised Mexico would pay for.
I am going to and ask others not to turn on television when trump promotes his Steel wall.
Shame on all the networks for giving in for his greed and demands. !
3
Re Trump's employing the term "crisis" to mandate his national television address to the country tonight:
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."
--The Princess Bride (movie)
1
Call your reps. And where is Mitch McConnell???
Some of the ones for our Senator are too jammed to leave a message.
2
I won't find out whether any network carried this prime-time propaganda, because I will disconnect from all media at that time. Except my local public station that carries only classical music and related performances.
The local NPR carrier in my region has already lost my support when it gave air time to a local white nationalist (aka, a racist) to spew hate and lies. So I'm under no disillusion that any network will boycott the liar in chief.
1
All the networks should start their broadcasts with interviews of people in opposition to the stupid wall, Federal workers who are now unpaid, etc. Then let Trump lie, and it will be very clear that he is doing so at that point, then let the dems respond.
Time for real news that bravely faces up to the inevitable lies we will hear as a danger to the nation. The truth should be out there before POTUS starts his spiel.
1
The New York Times needs to get better at reporting this administration's lies. Their typical formula of, "Trump says X, but others point to Y," is wholly insufficient. Repeating the lie tends to make more people believe the lie is true. There's a way around that, though, and it's called the truth sandwich. "The fact is X, though Trump says Y, even though the data supports X."
Here's what you wrote:
"The vice president, while conceding that no progress was made in weekend negotiations with senior Democratic staff members, said Democrats 'did not dispute our facts' about what he called a 'humanitarian and security crisis.' Democrats and immigration advocates have argued that the administration has vastly overstated the scope of the border situation. Democrats said Mr. Pence appeared to be misrepresenting their position."
The reader is allowed to come up with their own opinion about what reality is. Here it is re-organized into a truth sandwich:
Democrats and immigration advocates have argued that the administration has vastly overstated the scope of the border situation. The vice president said Democrats "did not dispute our facts" about what he called a "humanitarian and security crisis", though he conceded that no progress was made in weekend negotiations with senior Democratic staff members. Mr. Pence appeared to be misrepresenting their position.
2
We should all boycott watching this spectacle.
1
As other commenters have pointed out, the Democratic Party's "real" alternative here is to beat Trump in 2020.
Trump is NOT going to be removed from office in any other way. Though "impeachment" is something the House can do by itself, and I expect that, actual removal requires the Senate to act too, and that has never happened (Nixon predicted it was inevitable, and so he resigned, but no President has ever actually been removed from office -- not Andrew Johnson, not Bill Clinton, nobody.) Thus, while Trump may be (probably will be, in my view), "impeached," the odds of him actually being removed from office via that process are extremely low.
The Democratic Party should be focusing on coming up with a candidate that can beat Trump in 2020. At the moment, I don't know who that might be, but that should unquestionably be the focus.
2
The fact remains: all major networks went along:
"How many Republicans have you seen wholeheartedly advocating this folly?"
Polls reportedly show that most Americans do not want a wall.
The fact remains that Trump did NOT "command" any TV network to carry his speech. Any of them (or all of them) could have said "no," as they were planning to do several years back, when Obama was considering asking for prime time, but they all said "yes."
I give Trump credit here for taking a risk. If all of the networks -- or at least most of them -- had said "Thanks, but no thanks," as they were free to do, it would have been embarrassing for Trump. Whether or not Trump's speech will amount to a "campaign speech" (I think it will), the networks must be considered "enablers." Maybe they'll feel better running fact-check sub-titles under Trump's video images, and maybe they'll feel better running a response from the Democratic Party, without any sub-titles (ignoring, of course, any other requests for response time), but the fact will remain:
The networks are "enabling" Trump to deliver a campaign speech on prime-time TV.
3
Have previous Presidential addresses been slated for such a late hour? Like many people, I need to get up very early for my job, and now I have to choose between missing the address and missing sleep.
You know how when you hear a word over and over and over again it starts to mean nothing? I have two, wall and trump.
2
My experience with "immigrants" has been the same as this commenter's:
"In my lifetime, every immigrant (legal or otherwise) that I've known or worked with has been hard-working, sometimes with 2 or 3 jobs ... "
This commenter went on to say that all immigrants she's known have paid their taxes and contributed to their communities. I don't know one way or another about these matters, but I've had uniformly good experiences with immigrants, legal or illegal.
The fact remains that the US has the same right as any other country to control its borders -- to decide who gets to stay here and who doesn't. Maybe our constitution should have said the "stay or go" decisions are to be made by self-appointed individuals who may or may not agree with the government on this, but that's not what our constitution says. What it does say is that the "stay or go" decisions are to be made by the executive branch. Congress may pass immigration laws, of course -- and many times has. But it's up to the executive branch to enforce those laws.
Soon Democrats will have to face the inevitable truth. They will not be able to remove President Trump before January 2020. This is when the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire contests take place. Your options are rapidly dwindling. The clock is running and soon someone will have to face the President in the electoral arena. All your hopes of impeachment will have disappeared by January 2020. He will be a sitting President and hard to defeat. This is the only option you have left.
2
@John Murray Trump likes to present a tough image of himself, as an alpha male. But as soon as pundits like Ann Coulter started to criticize him for agreeing to a bipartisan deal to avoid a shutdown, trump caved like the weak man that he is. He allowed himself to be bullied by the Rush Limbaugh's and Ann Coulter's of right-wing media into holding the government hostage for ideological purposes. What a tough guy -- who cowers in fear of his own base.
This government shutdown is designed to extort American taxpayers into paying for what would be nothing more than a monument to trump's vanity, a monument that he repeatedly promised Mexico would pay for.
trump isn't supposed to occupy the White House to placate just the 35% of Americans who represent his base. It's not his job to appease the Rush Limbaugh's and Ann Coulter's of the world. He's supposed to represent all Americans, even those who didn't vote for him, and those who realistically view a wall as an ineffective and impractical solution to a complex problem.
I will pointedly NOT be listening to the speech tonight. All it will be is a pack of lies to excite his base and is meant to kick off his 2020 re-election campaign, as well as to yet again grab the spotlight, that the media is all to willing to give to him, and divert attention away from all issues of far greater importance to the country. It also diverts attention away from the money laundering court case that seems to point a finger at his family. In fact, I would not be surprised if he does declare a state of emergency to get his wall and then reopens the government. This way the government shut down gets removed as an issue and his declaration of a state of emergency would immediately be challenged and thrown to the courts. No matter whether or not he wins there, he can declare himself as having fought the fight for “the people” and declare himself the victim who was prevented from carrying out his promise. This is, after all, what a master of reality TV does to bait and switch the media and the public. Keep reminding yourselves, people, this is what he has always and will always do. It is who he is.
3
A wall is just a small variable to how people can enter the country illegally, and probably wont make a big difference in the numbers. This is why many see the 5 billion as an outrageous investment.
To be honest, I think this money would create far more value if it was spent to reform our immigration system and build a southern immigration base of some sort - or modify an existing border base to accommodate the anticipated arrivals. This way immigrants would have a comfortable "holding" place to live until further accommodations can be made. Perhaps US businesses and families could sponsor them, or maybe they will find other opportunities elsewhere after awhile, or maybe they can chose to live on the base until it is safe to return to their home countries. Of course this is way more complicated than my concept applies here but you get the point. In America we should build bridges, not walls.
3
I will not watch President Trump or the Democratic response. The reason is simple. Politicians are holding 800,000 innocent federal employees and their families hostage over a president’s use of them as pawns over an issue they have nothing to do with. The Democrats, meanwhile, are helpless and incapable. In the end, this is a totally immoral treatment of innocent men, women and children who are suffering because the bully wants his way. It is wrong. Therefore, I will not listen to either side until the shutdown ends.
3
@Tom Debley Democrats have proposed one deal after another that addresses immigration and border security, to which McConnell and trump refuse to even consider because it doesn't include funding for trump's useless wall. This is not a "both sides" issue and it has nothing to do with the capability of Democrats. This is all on trump and Republicans.
3
@Tom Debley Democrats have offered one deal after another that
includes proposals to re-open government departments, as well as address immigration and border security. Mitch McConnell and trump refuse to even consider their proposals because it doesn't include funding for trump's useless wall. As an American citizen, I don't want my hard-earned tax dollars paying for what would be a monument to trump's vanity, nothing more. I'm glad to see Democrats showing their spine for once and standing firm on this issue.
Democrats aren't perfect, but this government shutdown isn't on "both sides" and it has nothing to do with the capability of Democrats. This is all on trump and his Republican lackeys.
In my lifetime, every immigrant (legal or otherwise) that I've known or worked with has been hard-working, sometimes with 2 or 3 jobs, payed taxes and contributed to his or her community. However, the news media, especially local stations, tend to focus on crimes rather than contributions, even when the crimes are committed by a small group of individuals. By reinforcing negative stereotypes, the news media, condemned by POTUS as "enemies of the people," are, ironically, promoting what seems to be an agenda of zero immigration from specified countries. Other related, but pressing, issues are: (1) the total silence of traditional, non-evangelical, churches, especially Catholic churches, on the treatment of primarily Catholic immigrants (I sensed an undercurrent of anti-Catholic bias when POTUS used the term "breeding concept"), (2) the establishment of internment camps once again on American soil, and (3) the deportation of immigrants who have been living, working and raising their families here, their adopted country, for years, even decades - and that includes veterans. Why would a country deport men who have volunteered their lives to defend it? Immigration is not just a political issue or talking point. It's about how we treat our fellow human beings, as we want to be treated, something I learned as a child in Sunday school and still believe to be true.
5
If they started today it'd be ten years before they're close to finishing the thing because 1) they don't know where to put it, 2) they'll have to eminent domain the land where they want it, 3) they don't know how to make it, 4) they don't know who's going to make it or who's going to install it.
Trump will be long gone before it happens, if it ever happens at all.
5
Last Thursday Representative Rashida Tlaib, the Democrat from Michigan, spoke before a crowd and said some pretty outlandish things about President Trump. Nobody denied her freedom of speech or freedom of expression. I did not agree with what she said but thought she had every right to express her views. We must give the same courtesy to President Trump. He should be permitted to come before the American public on television and state his strategies and opinions about the wall he had proposed during his campaign. He is also entitled to his freedom of speech.
Many people voted for him because they agreed we needed a wall to keep out those who come here illegally. We have had thousands upon thousands cross our borders for a long time now and people want it to stop. He has felt the anger from the citizens and wants to do something about it. He wants that wall as do many of us.
Those who voted for him and still support him will be watching tonight and are anxious to hear what he has to say. Those who do not want to hear from Mr. Trump are not being forced to watch him on TV. That is your right and my guess is that those who dislike and did not vote for him will not be tuning in. I also wonder if those who are critical about President Trump speaking tonight will be secretly watching. By the way, I did not like or vote for President Obama but did listen to him whenever he came before the American people. I was curious even though I did not agree with his policies.
@WPLMMT
At least Obama HAD policies. Trump has nothing.
In their response to Trump, it would be befitting for Chuck and Nancy to consider inviting Stephen Colbert. He has a marvelous flare for mocking and satirizing Trump's illogical banters and his many incursions into imprecision and outright falsehoods. It would certainly draw a much larger audience and be entertaining as well.
3
An accessible sound-bite for the Democrats. If Trump truly wanted funding for a wall, the funding could have been included when the Republicans controlled both houses of Congress (2017 or 2018). Clearly, he just wants a fight - despite (?because of) the suffering it causes.
4
Undoubtedly, some Trump voters regret voting for him, but I suspect more voters will next time:
"Never forget there are many out there experiencing a developing regret in voting for Trump..."
If the 2020 election were held today, Trump would win re-election easily, against any Democratic candidate.
I didn't vote for Trump last time, but consider the alternative we were offered: Hillary Clinton, a mediocrity for whom I also didn't vote. I tend to think of HRC as far more honest than she's usually portrayed, but the fact remains that she's a mediocrity -- always has been, always will be. She used to be opposed to war (Vietnam, for example), but she's "evolved" in the last 50 years and is now strongly pro-war (though, for reasons that have always escaped me, she was nevertheless thought of by many voters as the "peace candidate"). (HRC also advocated "open borders," by the way, and never met a budget deficit she didn't like.)
Why anyone would have voted for HRC is a mystery to me; Trump may be a buffoon, but he's at least better than HRC would have been.
1
"But Mr. Pence said the White House was bargaining in good faith." Hardly. Here is Mr. Pence trying to paper over yet another lie from Mr. Trump on NBC:
JACKSON: "Which former presidents told President Trump, as he said, that he should have built a wall? All of their representatives have denied that that was the case."
PENCE: "I know the President has said that that was his impression from previous administrations, previous presidents. I know I've seen clips of previous presidents talking about the importance of border security, the importance of addressing the issue of illegal immigration."
JACKSON: "That's different from telling the President, though, right?"
PENCE: "Look, honestly, the American people, the American people want us to address this issue."
1
Though I disagree with Trump on legal immigration (I'd expand it, and make processing quicker), I agree with him on illegal immigration, and I think most other Americans do too.
Whether a wall will reduce illegal immigration or not -- who knows? I used to think it wouldn't, but now I think it will. I certainly remember Reagan predicting that illegal immigration would magically stop, and that obviously didn't happen. (Reportedly, we now have 11 million illegal immigrants here in the US, versus only 3 million -- all granted amnesty -- when Reagan assured us it would magically stop going forward.) As a result, I'm no longer inclined to accept a politician's empty promise.
4
Where did you get the figure of 11 million. Who has. Verified this information. Who is willing to do the hard work to keep that Americans don't want to do? These immigrants are out there now working for their
Pennies salary because America can't thrive without their hard work. Our legit Americans are being led by the 1% to incur more debt like lambs to the slaughter and they never voted for it. So no wall, no paychecks....where has this man/ child lead us. He cannot cave to the majority, what would Ann Coulter say. She is getting her bloated pay check. Pence is getting his even if it is deferred, what about the 800 thousand workers? Tonight's speech will be filled with the usual lies but trump loyalists will not listen to the rebuttal.
This morning on CNN, Trump ran a Trump 2020 campaign advertisement. The ad focused on The Wall. Tonight will be more of the same, except at the end of his speech tonight he does not have to say he approves the message.
4
If this were Switzerland, there'd be a referendum on the wall. Let the people speak their will.
1
I've said this before, but had always hoped it was just hyperbole: trump is itching to manufacture or orchestrate a national crisis, so he can declare a state of emergency and justify ruling by presidential decree. It's disconcerting to think this may actually happen tonight on TV. It sets a dangerous precedent and Republicans are STILL refusing to curb trump's abusive powers. At what point do we stop calling this a presidential administration and start calling it an authoritarian regime?
6
I've read reports suggesting that President Obama deported more people crossing our southern border than any of his Republican predecessors. Whether that statistic is true or not, Obama did focus on deporting people with criminal records, rather than decent, hardworking immigrants who simply wanted a safer, better life for their families and themselves. Obama attempted to bring those people out of the shadows -- to give them a path to citizenship and enable them to be productive citizens and tax payers in the long run. Obama admittedly walked a tightrope on this, but it was the right idea and it was effective.
Compare that to Trump's mess, where there are no priorities in who gets deported. Trump's administration has gotten stuck on processing children and decent people at the cost of drawing resources away from the priority of stopping and deporting the real criminals. Under trump, decent, hard working people get deported, while the drug cartels and crime lords still get in to stay. The actual "bad hombres" that trump refers to -- the terrorists, crime lords, drug cartels, etc. -- those people won't be stopped by any wall at the southern border.
I believe it is in fact true that he deported more people than his predecessors.
I've said this before, but had always hoped it was just hyperbole: trump is itching to provoke or orchestrate a national crisis, so he can declare a state of emergency and justify ruling by presidential decree. It's scary to see this actually happening in real-time. It's a dangerous situation and Republicans are STILL refusing to curb trump's abusive powers. At what point do we stop calling this a presidential administration and start calling it an authoritarian regime?
Put $5-6 billion in the budget and then make the Dreamers legal. There, fixed it.
4
OK, after all the lies and distortions tonight, will the networks have the guts to fact check and contradict?
1
“How the Border Wall Is Boxing Trump In” a piece in this newspaper that explains how Drumpf’s promise to build a wall was a memory trick for an undisciplined candidate should be required reading for everyone living in the United States.
1
Similar to a flash mob and flash sale; we need a flash boycott of Trump's prime time message. Everyone should turn off their TVs. That's s circus needs to leave town.
1
For heaven's sake, don't watch it!!
2
No, he won't. Trump will make an 8-minute campaign speech on broadcast TV, for free.
We can't believe a word he says. He has told so many falsehoods, he has absolutely no credibility left. Who would you believe: Trump or Pelosi?
1
Border Wall Solution: Allow the Trump Organization to build a series of hotels, side-by-side, along the US/Mexico border. The lobbies would all have one door on the US side, one on the Mexico side. Only migrants who could afford the exorbitant lodging rates would be allowed through. Problem solved, and it doesn’t cost Mexican or US taxpayers anything!
I don't believe a word DT says about this so-called "crisis" previewed by the "invasion" baloney that was cast like salt in a field by him, Fox, and sheeplike Repubs during the recent election. And a wall is a stupid idea, ineffective and adding a huge expense for practically no effect.
The element that drives me crazy, though, is that nobody has endeavored to explain the state of and steps in the legal immigration process and the specifics about the situation on the border (ALL of the border). So we continue to fret over the consequences of a malfunctioning process, rather than the process itself.
Maybe the government should hire Ken Burns to research this.
Without specifics, wall-fans are just going to equate that idiotic idea with border security, and the rest of us are stuck with saying "no wall" and backing some generalized ideas about technology and agents.
When will somebody take the time to examine, minutely, the legal process to come here, scrap what doesn't work, hire the necessary numbers of qualified people (clerical) to work on applications, streamline the process, and even work with other entities nationally (churches, for example) to place some of the entrants.
Is it because it takes too much time and work--not "sexy"? Without that, we're going to continue to spend money on bogus solutions, abuse illegal immigrants, and lose a potential source of excellent new citizens.
Don't watch and give Trump the lowest rated televised in US history.
1
The heartbeat-like graph of apprehensions under both Bush and Obama is astonishing. How is this explained??
I wish Andy Borowitz was not joking. I would much rather MSNBC played Obama’s 2004 DNC address in an endless loop tonight than listen to what Trump will say.
Please don't call this "Democratic opposition." It's national opposition. Have you seen the polls? How many Republicans have you seen wholeheartedly advocating this folly?
Trump has conclusively proved, that how you say something, is much more important than what you are saying. If you can become President of the United States, while spouting endless garbage, that has to be true.
So, let's get smart, and have Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez deliver the response. It's time to replace Chuck and Nancy, with someone who knows how to walk across a stage, look the public in the eye, and smile.
This isn't fulfilling a campaign promise. It's taking The American public's money because that's all this malignant president knows how to do. I am not hearing about negotiations with Mexico. A fulfilled promised requires ethics.
He doesn't negotiate - he bloviates. This Trump-cause insanity must end and he needs to be called out as the one ("I alone") who created it as a political billy club that got way, way out of control. No amount of posturing along the border or anywhere else is going to change many, if any, minds in his favor. Fake crisis. Fake negotiator. False prophet.
The network preamble to Trump’s talk could read: “The following program contains only alternative facts and will not refer to fake news from mainstream media.”
2
The problem could be easily remedied if only they let Chuck & Nancy speak first.
Cornyn is right, this is about Hobgoblin feeling embarrassed that his plan has met with such resistance. He is stubborn and weak and Fox easily shamed him into continuing the shutdown and he hasn't the guts or the brains to negotiate. Of course the wall isn't about "the people" or "the country" and there's no national emergency or crisis (that's an old trick, isn't it? when one wants to stage a coup?) It's about the Hobgoblin and what he wants. His plan to impoverish the people while he consolidates wealth and power cannot be threatened!! Call out the troops!!
A misconception seems to be prevalent here.
Trump indeed said there is a "national emergency" at our southern border, but he has NOT commanded any TV channel to carry his speech. (I haven't bothered to check whether he has power to do that, since he hasn't purported to exercise that power if he has it.)
Each TV network that has decided to carry Trump's speech has chosen to do that. Perhaps they felt political pressure to do so, and feel political pressure to broadcast a response from the Democratic Party too. But they're free to broadcast both, either one, or neither. They're also free to broadcast, or not, responses offered by other parties, or other groups, or even from your Uncle George.
My strong hunch is that the networks will broadcast Trump's speech and the Democratic Party's response, but that they'll simply ignore any and all other requests to deliver a response.
3
From Ted Koppel: “When the president of the United States asks for airtime, you’ve got to do it,” Mr. Koppel said. “If what he has to say is clearly just in his self-interest and does not address the greater national interest, then the next time the White House comes around, I might not be inclined to offer it.”
Respectfully, Mr. Koppel. . . Hasn't that already happened with this president in any number of "press conferences" that have been nothing more than propaganda exercises?
Trump's address tonight will be nothing more than an elongated verbal tweet. We will see the "teleprompter Trump" reading words he hasn't written (and probably hasn't read before"), filled with lies and mis-statements, appealing directly to the die-hard 35% who still follow him.
Sorry. I'll pass.
3
@Dagwood--top Times Pick--we should ALL be watching Trump speak. His slant on the truth needs to be heard by as many as possible--and directly, on point, rebutted by Pelosi and Schumer.
Never forget there are many out there experiencing a developing regret in voting for Trump, each having hoped he would rise to office of President. Many, although they might agree with some of his policy decisions, cannot and will not continue to accept him as a pathological liar and unyielding narcissist.
4
If the Democrats could find a presidential candidate who combined Trump's hard line on the southern border, without his lies and obfuscations, and Elizabeth Warren's take on over-weaning corporations and the need for regulations to keep them under control, we would have a candidate who might bring this country back together. Add someone who cuts through the Gordian Knot keeping us from catching up with Europe on a national health plan, then we might be able to reverse America's decades long decline. Add someone who realizes Israel occupies a gray zone in morality and we could even begin to lead the free world again.
2
Assuming the Dems will get plenty of time for rebuttal both before and after the president's speech, I have two recommendations for Speaker Pelosi:
Stop calling the wall "immoral." "Ineffective and a waste of money" is a good enough argument.
And when you take the microphone, remind the country of what Mayor Bloomburg said about Trump at the 2016 Democratic convention: If Trump runs the country like he runs his businesses, "God help us." You might also remind the country that the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to authorize spending. Then turn the "mike" over to someone else to elaborate on your party's position.
3
I was in southern New Mexico two months ago for a high school class reunion. I didn't see people running around with their hair on fire due to a crisis.
The crisis I DO see, which our President and former Attorney General caused, is the deaths of two refugee children incarcerated in southern New Mecico by the US government.
5
There was a time when U.S. Presidents would go on the air and discuss the humanitarian crises and what actions the US was taking to help those affected by the crisis, be it US citizens or other Nations abroad. Our current imPOTUS has clearly put his ego ahead of facts and reality and is not only damaging the office of the President but the future of this country for years to come. The only crisis is the one he has created by detaining and not properly dealing with immigrants, be it refugees or others.
He clearly forgets that 99.9999% of all Americans are immigrant descendants, including himself. Many of those immigrants represent migrant workers who help fuel a major farming economy in the Western US There is no need for a wall. There is need for better policies and processes to handle the flow of immigrants into the US from only a portion of our borders, when you consider all the others who arrive daily via plane, boat, etc.
The facts have already been stated that the wall will cost way more than his $5B ask and will be ineffective in resolving any crisis beyond his own personal PR/ego trip. Scrap the wall, fix the policies, and work with our neighboring countries to address the fundamental issues causing refugees and yes, certain criminals, to rush to the U.S. Many immigrants still desire to come here to enjoy the freedoms and privileges have here. Give them the vehicles to do it properly and enrich all of our lives.
1
This televised stunt that trump is pulling is part of his 2020 campaign, nothing more. He is pandering to his base, who he's simultaneously terrified of and proud to exploit. trump was willing to agree to a bipartisan deal to avoid the shutdown... until the Ann Coulter's of the hysterical right-wing media started to bully him. Refusing to stand up to them, trump is now holding the government hostage for ideological purposes. A tough guy trump is not.
2
The real national emergency? We've seen this game before! Remember when the GOP was laser focused on impeaching Clinton for things that are not even close to what Trump is doing now? While the GOP was focused on Clinton, Bin-Laden was focused on attacking the US and he was successful.
This wall is a distraction and the real emergency will only happen when it happens. The GOP should be ashamed of themselves! This is all on McConnell!!
4
Let him talk .... but stop broadcasting his tweets.
This is a play directly from Dick Cheney's WMD playlist: Tout lies on Fox News, repeat lies on cowed media citing them as the source--the media sources originally fed by the White House and a national address to further expand the lie. Repeat ad nauseam.
The fact the national media is still going to provide a platform when it is already a well established that there is no "national crisis" ---only Trump's lies as the foundation for the crisis does not bode well for the truth of the matter.
What is next? Pivoting to attack Iran? Remember Cheney's protege, John Bolton, is now the National Security Advisor who is driving Trump's boat. If the logic of the National Media's leaders were followed--- that it is only because of the shutdown they are allowing the lying president to lie on primetime, then I fully expect equal time. Not the political response of Schumer or Pelosi. No, the public should expect chiefly a town hall meeting broadcasted on every channel on those who are furloughed both government and contractors and those affected by the lack of government services. Let's get to the real heart of the issues arising from the shutdown not Trump's politics of hate. For as we already all know, in the end, Trump will declare victory and cave.
2
I'm confident the networks will:
"The networks should do live fact checking during this half-wits presentation."
I doubt any network will fact-check the Democratic Party response, and I'm confident all networks will simply ignore any other party's, group's, or individual's request for response time. Even "Never Trump" Republicans will not be given network time to respond.
I say let him have his wall if we can put his base on the other side.
3
Conservatives like to talk about liberals never stepping outside their bubbles, but Trump has clearly become far too accustomed to holding pep rallies for himself with members of his base or sycophants currying favor. He already has his base's support obviously and if all he needed was them, he'd have his wall already. That means it is TRUMP who is being forced to confront the reality of just how much he has alienated the majority of the country.
What is he going to do, just tell the people he has been insulting without end for the last 2+ years, "there's a national emergency, believe me." We (i.e., people outside of Trumpland) do not "believe" him and with very good reason. Again, he can tell his base whatever he wants and they may choose to believe it, but the rest of the country and world only gets angrier with every lie.
Nor is Trump going to guilt the rest of the country into paying his ransom. He said he was proud of the shutdown and was going to take the blame? Well, this is what taking the blame entails. If he wants to throw a tantrum and illegally mobilize the military under false pretenses, he can take his chances with legal battles and, if he persists, impeachment. If Republicans are foolish enough to shield him under those circumstances, then they can go down with Trump's rotting ship. They will look back on the midterm losses with nostalgia.
The bottom line is that Trump does not know how to speak to anyone but his base, but his base is not enough.
4
Most Presidents have used teleprompters:
"Trump should speak live, without notes or teleprompter. That way Americans would have the opportunity to judge [him]."
One could say the same thing, of course, about previous Presidents, most or all of whom used teleprompters to deliver speeches written by others. I seriously doubt Trump plans to change that tradition. Most or all networks will know his speech verbatim before he even delivers it.
1
Trump was NEVER a negotiator. His MO has always been to make demands and not give an inch figuring he was a famous important guy and should get respect. If he really knew how to negotiate, he wouldn't have 6 bankruptcies to his credit. His voters were/are too lo-IQ to realize who he really is.
4
The speech will only be worth watching if there is real-time fact checking on the screen and the Dems get equal time to rebut.
3
The Democratic Party and its hierarchy need do nothing, Trump embarrasses himself quite adequately without help. Is no one asking her/himself that if it is "legal" for the President to fabricate, as he has, an "emergency" which allows mobilization of the army to gain his personal demands, what will be the NEXT or continuing "emergency" ? This is the act of an incipient dictator. Look at Rome!
2
It's ironic that he needs the "Fake News media" to broadcast his address tonight.
It should be treated as one of those informercials you see on late night tv and come with a warning label.
Hopefully the Democrats and maybe some Republicans (who show some backbone) will rise to the occasion and be the voice of reason we so desperately need to deal with this crisis.
4
A bill that passed just before this fiasco by both Democrats and Republicans was veto-proof. Once Trump changed his mind when it came to approving it, McConnell didn’t even bother sending it Trump.
McConnell could have over-ridden Trump's refusal to accept the bill because a 2/3rds majority had approved.
This new Congress passed it again, and McConnell tabled it refusing to even allow a vote on it again – FURLOUGHED WORKERS, YOU NEED TO GATHER AT McCONNELL'S DOOR AND PROTEST.
If I were a furloughed worker, I’d be calling for a protest at McConnell’s door since he tabled a bill should have received a 2/3rds majority.
And a 2/3rds majority vote is veto-proof.
Both the GOP Senate led by McConnell AND Trump have been playing games with your lives.
He is Trump’s enabler, and a disgrace to the Senate.
Protest at his door.
2
None of the news outlets should stoop to broadcast Trump's speech tonight. These organizations posit that they risk being deemed partisan if they do not air the speech. The reality is that prime time presidential speeches from the Oval Office are only warranted by extraordinary national news. This speech will bear nothing of the sort. It is obvious to all Americans that this ruse is nothing more than a desperate PR stunt designed to inflame Trump's base. Or, a staged set-up for a forthcoming, manufactured “national emergency”. All of it yet another clumsy attempt at distraction from the criminal and amoral actions of Trump, his family and his entire administration. We know from the last two years of bombastic Trump rhetoric that any speech will be devoid of fact and filled with vicious lies. Any broadcast of Trump propaganda essentially makes the news outlets complicit in the deception. They should have the courage not to sacrifice their valuable integrity on the altar of ratings and advertising.
2
Let me get this right, if Barack Obama threw a temper tantrum back in 2014 and shut down the government over his immigration policies CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX would’ve deemed the situation news worthy and giving him the prime time coverage for his immigration policy speech?
And no Mr. Cornyn, Trump is embarrassing himself. Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Schumer are merely stating the obvious.
1
The only wall I hope Trump is met with tonight is a wall of silence from most of America. I can't think of a less productive and more toxic use of time than listening to this destructive man's lies, fear-mongering and emotional manipulation.
4
But none of trump's own undocumented workers at Mar-a-Lago came across the southern border.
They all came via commercial airliners.
5
What could Mr. Trump possibly lie about in his address to the nation that he hasn't lied about before?
3
This broadcast tonight by Trump with Pelosi and Schumer having the last word could be the start of the end of Trump's presidency . Exposing Trump as a liar on broadcast TV with his blustering attempt to honor his campaign promise will inform the majority of Americans of the danger Trump poses to our democracy. Trump's base of some 35% will never desert him as they are emotionally invested in him but that base is not enough to get him re-elected and he faces criminal charges as Citizen Trump which is why he is so desperate .
2
Can his speech include a buzzer every time he lies? I'd pay to watch that.
4
@Jolton
Remember the GONG SHOW in the 1980s?
Whenever a contestant sang off tune or danced horribly, one of the show's panel would hit a large GONG and everyone would cheer and laugh as the hapless contestant was pulled offstage by a hook. It was great fun for everyone.
Wouldn't it be terrific if during tonight's presidential prime time TV, every time Don the Dolt tells another WHOPPER - Nancy Pelosi would be standing by to give a loud hit on the GONG. Then, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would appear on the scene to chase Trump around the Oval Office with a hook to haul him away.
Most of America would give a month's salary to watch that!! I know I would! I betcha we'd raise a pay-for-view 5 billion in one night!! But - NO WALL -- we'd use that money to help real people in real need.
America needs a good laugh -- this may be our last chance!
2
@Dan Fannon Yes! I was going to include "gong" in my ppst but didn't want to seem too disrespectful .... as if! Thanks for the laugh, sorely needed.
TSA, shut down all the airports while the brainiac is pontificating on how absolutely fabulous and smart he is.
1
I won't watch. I don't trust anything Trump has to say.
2
Not just Nancy Pelosi:
"The only way I would watch this lying buffoon is if there is equal time for Nancy Pelosi to respond in kind."
Why only Nancy Pelosi (my House rep, by the way)? Why not also members of the Green Party, or the Libertarian Party, or your Uncle George? And what about the "Never Trump" Republicans?
Why should only the Democratic Party get response time?
1
Yup, "If it’s all about defeating President Trump and embarrassing him politically" sums it up. You can not negotiate with a bully. Wasn't that tried already so many times?
1
McConnell won't act without Trump's approval. So Trump assumes the role of both executive and legislator. What do we need McConnell for? After all these years he apparently still doesn't understand his job.
55
@Clark Landrum
McConnell did pretty well with Gorsuch and Kavenaugh. I think Trump should have gone to the border BEFORE his remarks. With almost everyone anticipating a disaster perhaps he'll surprise?
I never thought I would see a day in America where all the networks have bold crayons saying "The President will lie tonight." A sad day in our country.
4
@Frank Leibold well if he would actually tell the truth once in a while, they wouldn't have to do that.
5
Many of us don't watch much TV, and so we'll do just what this commenter suggests:
"Just because the networks will broadcast Trump's remarks does not mean we have to watch them."
I have no plan to watch Trump's speech on TV, for example, or any response to it. I'll probably read both on-line.
Most Americans, though, will probably watch Trump's speech on TV, and many of them will also watch the Democratic Party's response. Those who care to hear other responses -- from the Green Party, or the Libertarian Party, for example -- will probably have to find those responses on-line, as most or all networks predictably will ignore requests for response time from anyone other than the Democratic Party, even in states where third parties received many votes in past elections. Presidential speeches, and perhaps opposition-party responses, may enable networks to charge relatively high rates for TV ads, but responses from, say, the Green Party, or the Libertarian Party, or your Uncle George, don't, and so it's highly unlikely that any TV network will run any response other than the one offered by the Democratic Party.
1
In tonight’s address Donald Trump will declare a national emergency and order the military to build his wall. Then, having so masterfully solved the problem, he will ‘reopen’ the government because there is no longer a reason to keep it closed. To his base he will be a hero as he kept his promise, AND avoided the unpleasant consequences of the closure. To their base, the Democrats will be heroes as they stood united and didn’t give him a dime for his ill-conceived project. But they will grant funds for security upgrades, more immigration judges and improved border facilities.
As he will be seeking to reprogram funds mandated by Congress for specific military projects, his authority to do so will be challenged in the courts, as will attendant eminent domain issues. Together they will so hamstring the project that the public will lose interest, the wall itself will not be built, and the taxpayer will be the winner. Thus everybody wins, for political decisions are driven less by facts than by optics.
3
@sedan1 By declaring a national emergency on TV trump will have once again, successfully changed the media's focus. He'll detract attention away from immigration reform to the larger question of executive power. Through it all, it's important to keep in mind that trump has abused his power every single day he's been in office.
Several commenters insist they won't watch Trump's speech, but will watch the Democratic Party's expected response. Frankly, I seriously doubt that will happen. Anyone who watches a "response" will want to know what it's a response to, and so they'll watch Trump's speech to find that out.
In other words, like it or not, Trump appears to have "won" this time. I have almost no doubt that the networks will yield to the Democratic Party's demand for equal response time, though I expect they'll all ignore any other "response time" requests. Maybe some (even all) networks will change their minds and stick with regular programming; I would.
But that doesn't appear likely. What DOES appear likely is that the networks will all run Trump's speech (as they've said), some of them with "feel good" fact-check subtitles running underneath the video images of Trump's face (CNN, for example, though probably not Fox). The networks also will run the Democratic Party's response, without subtitles, and will simply ignore any other requests for response time.
1
@MyThreeCents
You have an interesting definition for winning. Just because he gets to gas on for an hour about something that just over a third of voters want doesn't mean he'll get it. He is factually out of bounds, as are Sanders and Nielsen and Conway on this, what he wants would take about 20 years to do, and it doesn't address the cause, just a few symptoms.
Trump is the policy equivalent of homeopathy. If you believe the claim, you will take any outcome as a sign of proof and success.
Any refutation is worth hearing, and while the war is between Trump and the civilized world, right now the battle is between him and Congress as our representatives. This will do for now.
Ideally, Donald Trump should speak live, without notes or teleprompter. That way Americans would have the opportunity to judge his comprehension of the situation, command of the English language and ability to negotiate ... in other words, his fitness for the office of President.
6
The networks have to broadcast the prime-time address, since the topic impacts 800,000 fellow Americans and the government is partially shut down with no end in sight. I am glad and heartened that the networks are also going to broadcast the Democratic response. And I am looking forward to the vigorous fact checking on both sides.
3
If Trump really cares about federal workers and the disruption the partial federal shutdown is causing American citizens, he would separate the two issues of funding the federal budget and funding a border wall. And if he is as great a negotiator as he claims, he shouldn't have a problem with working out two deals.
2
I have no doubt this will be the "weapons of mass destruction" speech of Trump's administration, designed to mislead the American public. We will fall for it?
6
I think most Americans disagree with Trump on LEGAL immigration -- I do, for example: I think we should let in more immigrants legally than we do, and that we should process immigration applications much more quickly. Trump, in contrast, thinks we should reduce legal immigration too.
But on the "illegal" immigration question, I agree entirely with Trump, and I think most Americans do too.
Any country should be allowed to control its own borders. Our constitution assigns that responsibility to the executive branch -- not to some self-appointed decision-maker who may disagree with the executive branch. It's entirely acceptable to change the President -- that's what elections are for -- but once someone has been elected, he or she gets to do whatever our constitution says he can do.
2
@MyThreeCents
Well, the president can't tax and spend to fund his projects, which is why using the military to spend tax money Congress will not grant him by making dubious claims of "national emergency" is unacceptable.
The constitution does not say that a president gets elected and then Congress must give him whatever he wants, even if it disagrees. This is why one of the principal questions leveled at candidates is, "how are you going to convince Congress?" Candidate Donald Trump's lazy answer to that question was that he would not need to ask for taxpayer money because he had an alternate source of funding: "Mexico!" How would he get Mexico to pay? He simply repeated ad naseum that they would pay, "believe me" and that "they'll enjoy it." So why are you acting as if someone pulled the rug out from under him or something? Trump and his supporters both knew at the time they were cheering that they had no willing source of funding for their wall and that they did not have the popular support (either in the U.S. or, obviously, Mexico) to get it built. So here we are.
If Trump runs in 2020, perhaps his supporters should ask, "Seriously, though, all jokes aside... how are you going to convince Congress to fund a $20,000,000,000 wall the majority of the country said they do not want?"
@MyThreeCents
We do control our own borders. What's up for debate is the relative effectiveness of various methods of doing so.
Actually, he gets to do what the representatives of the people will agree with and give him the money to do. The voice of the people, through representative democracy, is the safety valve, and within congress, the senate is a safety valve for the house. In extreme cases there is the veto. If they challenge each other on the outcomes, there is a third branch to help adjudicate differences.
What no president should do is provably lie to the people - every living former president has now refuted Trump's claim that even one of them wished they had done what he's trying to do. When he harps about respecting the office of The President, it is clear he has no intention of doing so himself.
@MyThreeCents You agree with Trump on the need to control borders? Or the need to build a wall? If it's the the need for border security, the Democrats, and most Americans, agree too. It's the wall that most folks don't want. We need to modernize our border security methods to make them smarter and more effective.
This is obviously true, sadly. “If it’s all about defeating President Trump and embarrassing him politically, which seems to be the focus of Ms. Pelosi and Senator Schumer, then obviously we’re not going to get a deal anytime soon,” said Senator John Cornyn, Republican of Texas.'.
@ss
He does not need anyone else to embarrass him as he does it himself with almost every utterance, spoken and written.
And defeating him would be patriotic.
1
Ours is a republican form of government. We elect legislators to make law, and give the Congress the "power of the purse." The job of the executive branch (President Trump) is to enforce the law, not make the law.
As to border wall issue, Mr. Trump has unilaterally decided that he can ignore his constitutional responsibility of enforcing the law, by demanding that Congress surrender its fiscal responsibilities (in the sum of $5.7 billion) to him as executive.
This is an attempted power grab by the executive that insults the principle of "separation of powers," and ignores the constitutional role of the Congress. Congress establishes policy and law in our Nation.
Speaker Pelosi and Senator Schumer should make this point tonight. President Trump should give Congress the deference it deserves. "Checks and balances" are needed now more than ever.
2
I will not be watching or listening to Trump speak. It is too painful to listen to someone who is supposed to be our leader speak as he does. He does not use any of the following: facts, science, rational thought, experience, or sound advice. I will rely on the NY Times and other good journalistic sources to inform myself.
8
Just because the networks will broadcast Trump's remarks does not mean we have to watch them. Plenty of good stuff on the streaming services. Actually, it would be a good time to watch the film "Roma."
1
@Jefferson Enjoy what is a beautiful, moving film. May I also recommend “BlacKkKlansman” ?
@Molly Bloom Seen the Spike Lee film. Loved it.
Trump should quit while he's (relatively) still ahead. It's all downhill for him from here.
No, Trump's been talking to dead presidents. George Washington was most supportive, saying "if we'd had a border with Mexico when I was president then we most certainly would have built a wall right then".
The thought of negotiating anything with anyone left this President when he saw that negotiated settlements invited criticism from Coulter, Hannity et al. and did not sit well with his "base." Other than withdrawing from existing agreements with other countries, I haven't seen any successful negotiations on that front, either. But given his "America Only" view on world affairs, that's understandable as well.
Someone could argue that, well, there were warnings about 9/11 before it happened, and the government did not take appropriate action, and here, Trump is not making the same mistake by taking action to avoid another 9/11. That would be an okay argument, except that in this case, because Trump has lied so often in the past, he is the literally the boy who is crying wolf. Why believe him now?
1
@MR
Facts are not on his side.
His claim that a border wall keeps the next 9/11 at bay is like me claiming my blue sneakers keep armadillos out of the northeast. There are bigger factors.
More potential terrorists are caught at airports than anywhere else, yet he's willing to defund the TSA and its resultant blue flu while attempting to strengthen a border that is not being breached by terrorists. The wrong answer to a problem is causing a bigger problem.
Meanwhile white male US citizens are using this country for rage and target practice.
They asked for 120 days to come up with a plan for extreme extreme vetting of people from certain countries. It's been 700 days.
His mideast "deal of the century" (his words) was due 700 days ago. Nothing.
Pompeo is going to the middle east to fix the problems with what Bolton said that was supposed to fix what Trump said.
There is no learning curve with this man.
The real issue Donald Trump and his minions do not seem to comprehend is, this is a precedent setting event.
Donald Trump may be breaking new ground for future presidents to leverage without him realizing it.
One of Donald Trump’s greatest failings is his inability to look forward based on his behavior. He seems not to realize that everything he does could also be done by a Democrat in the future. Maybe not the specifics but definitely conceptually.
He may lay the groundwork for a future Democratic president to leverage the same logic to take over the healthcare industry. Claiming a national emergency because people cannot afford healthcare that is being provided.
Think well before you act, you are setting future president by your actions today.
4
Reducing illegal immigration should also be made a much higher national priority. The analysis done here indicates that there are at least 3 million and perhaps closer to 4 million illegal aliens from Mexico living in the United States. Illegal immigration from Mexico has added significantly to the size of the poor and uninsured populations in the United States. Because they receive benefits on behalf of their native-born children, illegal immigrants have also added to the welfare caseload. But perhaps most important, in a nation based on the rule of law, it should not be acceptable to have millions of people living in the country without permission.
2
@froggy*
Nobody of significance in this discussion is claiming that all those bad things are good and should be promoted.
What's being discussed is how to reduce it. You will never eliminate it to zero.
BTW do the math - 3M people among a population of 325M is less than 1%. If you weighed 1% more tomorrow, that's not "significant", nor a crisis.
Nothing good is going to come about with Trump's speech. He will make the Democrats look bad and they will have to cave in and give him the money or risk losing supporters.
First it was $5 billion, then $5.6, now $5.7. In the end it will probably be more that $5.7 billion Trump will need to build a wall.
Next thing you know, Trump will want to build a wall with his supporters on one side and the rest of us on the other side.
I am deeply disappointed that networks are giving Trump, the most dishonest president in history, a forum to use their airtime to essentially for one of his rallies on a national scale. By doing so, the each one of the networks have undermined its own credibility as a news organization. I will NOT be watching the Trump Reality TV show tonight.
4
Saw a news report elsewhere where sections of existing border wall that were being repaired has a plaque attached with Trump’s name on it even though he did not have a thing to do with it. Wonder if that will be on tonight’s fiction.
1
By allowing this presentation the networks are effective allowing Trump a free 2020 presidential campaign advertisement. As unbelievable as it seems, as a society we must now define what is a true crisis and what is generated fiction to appeal to a single man's ambition and narcissism. The networks should reject this address and instead educate the American people on the facts of illegal immigration, focusing on the sources of illegal immigration in this country in relationship to border crossings, and where and how taxpayer money is lost by their presence. They should also delve into options to prevent or deter illegal immigration, including foreign aid to those countries in crisis, US work programs to authorize and tax foreign workers, etc.
14
Not sure I'm following the networks' thinking here (if "thinking" is the proper word). I can imagine CNN could charge a lot for a TV ad just after or before Trump's speech (pretty hard to run an ad DURING his speech) if CNN is the only TV channel carrying Trump's speech. But once the other networks jump on board, CNN becomes just another channel carrying Trump's speech, and so CNN presumably can't charge all that much for an ad.
The Democratic Party has demanded equal response time. (Maybe it's happened, but I haven't heard that any other party, group or individual has demanded response time.) This complicates the decision for a TV network, since viewership predictably drops after the President's speech is done; you can't charge as much for an ad that runs at the end of an opposing party's response.
If I were running a network, I'd promptly announce that my network was changing its mind, that we'd run the usual prime-time programs and just "stiff" everyone.
1
This is actually lovely. The President cannot avoid lying constantly. He will lie on national television, as he has done every day he has been in office, and everyone around the world is already talking about how we're about to see it happen.
Daylight is ultimately the end of all this idiocy, and while I never expect those willfully hiding from reality to see it, many will be appalled to see our hapless President flailing around, trying to justify the current choke-hold on our country for his unnecessary border wall. It's nice to see people convinced that they can lie endlessly without consequence. I will bring popcorn.
4
NYT, do you have 'boots on the ground' at the border to let us know what's ACTUALLY happening? I personally don't believe there is a crisis other than the mistreatment of families who are trying to make a better life for themselves in a country that has plenty of space for those who want to work hard.
6
If Trump goes down, we all go down..this is the truth! I'm really scared of what he is capable of doing!!
All media coverage regarding the shut down should start with a reminder that Trump promised that Mexico would pay for his wall and that it would cost Americans NOTHING. Now in a classic gangster style 'bait and switch' he is holding the U.S. government hostage in an attempt to extort over $5 billion of our hard earned money. There is no border crisis, other than the one he created. Why are the networks enabling him with a free prime time platform for his lies and propaganda? You know what happens when you start giving in to extortion don't you? It never ends.
5
No network with any integrity should air this self promoting pack of lies. Its purpose is not to inform or protect our country. Instead, it is to deflect from the serious issues surrounding the criminal president.
6
I will watch if I know ahead of time that Nancy Pelosi will have equal time or the fact checking will be in real time on a split screen or midscreen in front of his face or in large font lurking behind him as he lurked behind Clinton in one debate.
2
Chuck and Nancy, she especially, will give the rebuttal. Thank heavens. I'd tune in for that, not for him, because he is so brimful of lies it hurts my ears.
4
Curious. All of a sudden the news media isn't fake now that Congress refused to grant Trump his precious wall.
7
Get Real, John Cornyn, tRump does not need any help to be embarrassed publicly.
3
Our household will not watch one second of Trump tonight nor will we give MSM who will carry the broadcast live one second of viewer ratings.
1
A disclaimer along the lines of 'the assumptions, opinions, views and insinuations about to be aired by the president do not reflect those of this network, the world or anyone with functioning brain cells.'
1
The networks should do live fact checking during this half-wits presentation. If not, how can it be real news?
3
Tonight, Donald Trump delivers his "State of My Madness" address. Hopefully, for the last time.
8
Saying that Trump has a case borders on the absurd.
2
Black out on Trump on TV,etc. to spread more lives. The Trump is manipulating media and Dems to max out on attention and to boast about 'ratings'!
1
Americans, we are turning into a dictatorship, does no see it? Does anyone care?
6
I hope Trump is given enough TV time to get all his points out there. Ummm. ... how long is that???
3
Because letting into our country half of the population of Central America and Mexico is a great thing for America and all Americans.
In 2000 over 1 million were arrested at the border. Today maybe 360,000. The crisis was 18 years ago.
2
Why would anyone bother to listen to this man.
He is incapable of telling the truth.
I certainly am not going to waste my time listening to his babble an self aggrandizement.
It’s dinner and a movie for us.
4
Democrats have insisted on a rebuttal address. According to Bloomberg News Nancy Pelosi said, “Now that the television networks have decided to air @realDonaldTrump’s address, which if his past statements are any indication will be full of malice and misinformation, Democrats must immediately be given equal airtime,” Pelosi said Monday on Twitter."
I wish President Obama was giving the rebuttal. However, Speaker Pelosi will make great points and everyone should listen. I have no use for Chuck Schumer - he's a Wall Street New Yorker boy above all and afraid to take on The Con Don. He is OUR Senate Minority Leader so I hope Senator Elizabeth Warren will show him what backbone is.
Let's all boycott The Con Don's rantings but tune in for the democratic response. That will show the network "big boys and girls" what really brings ratings.
If not, watch the rebuttal on C Span. WE THE PEOPLE must support OUR newly hired/elected democrats.
3
Mere propaganda stint, and everyone goes along. Viewing will be terrific, ads can be sold for a fortune, the only victim will be truth.
Your media are a circus, and the biggest clown gets the biggest attention.
2
According to the Washington Post, the networks turned down President Obama's request for a primetime address on immigration in 2014: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/11/20/why-the-networks-arent-giving-president-obama-primetime-real-estate-for-his-immigration-speech/. So why the willingness to broadcast this time? It will be even more expensive to cover Donald Trump's speech, since real-time fact-checking will be required to counter his current 15-lies-per-day habit.
3
Of course he should make this televised address. It serves as further evidence of his gross, and dangerous incompetence. Bring it!
The major networks should not help this fake president spout his denigrating and rambling rhetoric. This is not a policy speech, it's his way of diverting attention and inciting his base. This madman is continuing to cause chaos and I am afraid that this will lead to a power grab by him and his extremist supporters. They are the terrorists and should be prosecuted and jailed. Get this country back from these sick, sick people. Stand up for what's right, networks! Don't be so scarred of this baffoon.
1
The Nation, no the World, would be shocked if any of the 58% of US people not in favor of the Wall would change their opinions based upon the expected lies, mischaracterizations, and demonizing expected from the great bloviator. What a joke.
1
I see little difference between the border wall and the residents of a medieval castle preparing for an invasion.
In both cases the residents are defending themselves against invaders.
2
Trump spreading more hate and lies. Wall is a symbol of White Supremacy. Tonights speech will change no ones mind. Just whip up his base on a free national tv platform. Networks should never have caved to Trump. But; GOP; Ryan; McConnell all caved to Trump. Expect two more years of chaos; hate and no legislation passed. Ray Sipe
1
This is not about money and not about border security. This is about one narcissist throwing a tantrum at not being able to get his way. Thus stymied, he will "look foolish" (his own words), and apparently not looking foolish is the single most important factor in his decision to insist on a wall. The real issue is whether the citizens of this country (which, unfortunately, includes a lot of immoral, spineless Republicans) will continue to let him do this.
3
The question I have is: When are the Democrats going to start negotiating?” Mr. Pence said.
Well, 'bless your heart.' The Democrats should negotiate for an outcome Republicans could not achieve when they had control of the Senate, the House, and the Executive Branch...for two years.
You really are the scarecrow.
6
What Rex Tillerson called him. Times infinity.
7
"...journalists worry that handing Mr. Trump a chunk of network prime time could allow the president to assert falsehoods to tens of millions of viewers. But several network producers said privately on Monday that they were uncomfortable turning down the president... Declining Mr. Trump’s request could also open the networks to accusations of partisan bias."
The Comey Dilemma: we know how it ends.
-Like your role model Susan Collins, you preen and whimper how confusing it is; how your pet, the truth, needs protection these dark days; you grant him the time he demands for what amounts to a broadcast version of his hideous rallies
He'll use your fawning acquiescence to prove the validity of his claims and you will take him seriously, analyzing, reporting, before equating Trump's lies and manipulations with reality.
-Trump uses your time to spew inaccurate pap. Like the late addition of "humanitarian" to his bad reasons for a wall.
-You may grant Dems equal time, but you will treat it as less important, less valid. It is, after all, just a response.
-Next day you'll report poling on the public response; you will be nonplussed people take this seriously. You'll run tape of housewives in Texas expressing distress at the growing invasion of the homeland by illegals and terrorists massing at the Open Southern Border.
You could avoid that by denying Don the bully pulpit, for once in your God-forsaken careers. Maybe run a documentary about reality at the border.
2
His speech should only be on Fox (not) News channel, no one else will watch his propaganda.
1
Trump hasn't achieved any deals with anybody!
When is enough, enough? How are parents supposed to explain this man’s lies and made up history to their children? He’s such a terrible role model. Turn off the t.v.! Listen to music. It will be better for your blood pressure and your soul.
2
No need to factcheck Trump's TV address tonight -- just keep a tight shot on his nose.
When he's done, take it to the southern border and use it as a physical barrier from sea to shining sea.
1
So it would appear:
"And if [Trump's] speech is just another campaign speech aimed at political morons, deny him prime time ... Or is that too much to ask of the best minds in our news media?"
No TV outlet is required to run Trump's speech (or any response to it by the Democratic Party or any other party or individual). They chose to do so, and any or all of them is free to change its mind at any time. Shocking to me that none has.
The for-profit media model once again proves its undoing. No broadcast media are willing to say no thank you to POTUS when the premise of the need for a live speech to the nation is so obviously false. You fear the other guy will et the scoop and ratings. I wuld argue this is false. If you have a popular prime time program, running it when every other network carries the POTUS gong show might in fact get you higher ratings - even ratings that beat the POTUS speech - because the genera population are fed up with his drivel. Broadcast his speech - but not live, and with real time pauses for fact checking. Strike a blow for democracy.
1
I think The Who said it best in 1982:
......There's no crisis. This is true.
This is no social crisis. Just another tricky day for YOU, Donald.
Lie away!
Everyone needs to boycott watching his lies!
So, is this like the caravan of horrors that was on its way to invade and infest America during the run up to the 2018 midterms, only to disappear into inconsequence after the election?
1
Where are the Trump supporters? It's obviously unscientific to use the Times' comment section to measure public opinion but there seem to be no more than one percent of comments that are pro-Trump. Seems rather unusual.
Self imposed political crisis which hurts the American people that this president does not care about. Shame on you trump
2
President Trump IS the National Emergency.
3
I got my hands on the outline for Trump’s televised address:
1) ISIS, MS-13, and Crooked Hillary are storming our border to take your jobs, murder your family, and force everyone to say “happy holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas,” believe me!
2) The Democrats are storming Congress to take your jobs, murder your family, and force everyone to say “happy holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas,” believe me!
3) No collusion! Witch Hunt!
4) Build the wall!
5) No collusion! Witch Hunt!
(In all fairness, that’s the outline to every Trump speech.)
I'm so disappointed that major networks have agreed to showcase Trump's latest tantrum. Why do we need to actually see each time he burps?
1
The Wall on the Border is just symbolic. Just like the Confederate statues were. Some see it as security and honor to their country. Some see it as racist and a fear ploy. WE need low skilled workers. The workers competing with illegals need to look in the mirror and ask. How does someone that can't even speak the language be paid as much? Maybe schooling WAS important. Maybe that FOX noise isn't telling you the truth. FOX kicked off the air for lying in England. In America you can lie all day long. It's your protected right. What could go wrong??
Not listening to someone who lies all the time.
1
Hey Pence,
You had two years to give him the wall. I hope the dems rebuttal is an hour montage of his rallies stating mexico will pay!!!!
1
Must be that time for him to have a rally at the border. Only reason he travels anywhere, unless he goes golfing. This briefing he’s having tonight will turn into a mini rally, and a smear campaign against the democrats over the border money. He probably won’t “allow” a Q&A session following it.
Pinnochio needs to be impeached before he does any more damage with his crazy lies that only the Republicans seem more than happy to embrace. Have they no shame?
Few sights are more pathetic than that of an aging con man like Trump being incapable of grasping the fact his lies are no longer working, that he can no longer outrun his past statements, and that he has no credibility left whatsoever.
1
Probably not long:
"And if ... Trump gets his $5.7b to start the wall, how long will it be before he comes looking to Congress for the second installment?"
We're used to this here in CA. The state government recently approved a multi-billion dollar Central Valley segment of the LA-to-SF rail line because the federal-funding deadline was approaching (yes, you in New Hampshire are helping to pay for our rail line here in CA). The odds of the LA-to-SF rail line ever getting finished may be (as in "are") close to nil, but at least this segment will get built, or so it appears.
The lesson we've learned, and the whole country will soon learn too: Once a government project gets started, there will be considerable political pressure to continue it (especially when someone else will be paying most of the cost), whether finishing it makes economic sense or not.
I don't get it. What about his highness Reagan to Gorbachev "tear down this wall" . The GOP, what a bunch of hypocrites...
1
Sally Fields put it so eloquently in the movie Forrest Gump, "stupid is as stupid does".
The only way I would watch this lying buffoon is if there is equal time for Nancy Pelosi to respond in kind.
1
Stephen Miller will write a speech reviewed and edited by Coulter, Hannity and Fox News crowd which the wannabe dictator will read. He will attempt to circumvent the budget approval process laid out in the Constitution. It will be no different than watching a Trump Rally. This is fascism 2.0 being put in action with a fake national emergency. Reading Hitler's speeches prepared Trump for this moment.
2
Why would anyone even look/listen to this vile piece of dirt? We all know that whatever he says is going to be a lie. That's all DJT does; he doesn't govern,he lies.
1
Don't watch Trump. Poor ratings will kill him
1
This, I will watch:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/08/us/politics/democratic-response-trump-address.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage
I can't believe that trumps thinks that the American people to should listen to more of his and his administration lies. Americans don't need more lie from this fool .
In a country undergoing authoritarian takeover false propaganda, destruction of the rule of law, control of the judiciary, quashing of free speech, demonization of a free press and suppression of critics is de rigeur.
Welcome to Trump's America.
Should Trump succeed, as unlikely as it is, in declaring a fake emergency at our southern border and suspending any Constitutional safeguards and rights, this would be the beginning of the end of our Democracy. Under "emergency powers" there is so much harm that a malevolent narcissistic sociopath can do. He could nationalize the Guard and perhaps use the armed forces like Hitler did in his takeover of Fascist Germany. Congress could become irrelevant, as could the SCOTUS. Trump could "invoke" many crimes very quickly and we would be hard-pressed to counter them quickly enough to stop total control.
Deny this maniac his puerile, insane obsession and force him to address the REAL issues of a defined, humane immigration policy, REAL security at ALL points of entry (where the vast majority of drugs enter - NOT the southern border). We need health care, infrastructure, DACA citizenship path, education, a sane and cogent international POLICY and domestic electoral reform - NOW. No more distractions; no more escaping accountability for high crimes. Force him to be a President of ALL Americans or resign. We all know where that will lead, and we will not let him escape justice.
6
Where is that time delay feature that allows networks to bleep profanities in live broadcasts? I can't think of anything more worth bleeping the lies from President Trump. The networks could run a side bar or banner with some kind of graph that indicates when Trump is being truthful and when he is lying. A seven second or longer delay will give them time to fact check much of Trumps's speech. The only thing that would make it even better would be to have Steven Colbert and John Stewart as commenters.
Has Trump considered two or three of those electric fences that keep the crazy Irish Setter in the front yard.
Maybe the electric fence would direct the border crossers to the nearest Taco Bell in El Paso.
Note photo: "Only one burrito per person today..."
The jerk store re-opened.
1
@Dry Socket
Maybe he'll turn on the NATIONAL ALARM and demand us all to watch Hannity and Ingraham for Breaking Backs News.
Don't watch Trump tonight!!! Deny him the ratings he craves.
Watch this instead:
http://video.newyorker.com/watch/lifeboat-the-screening-room
It's time to unplug from this moronic, incompetent, attention-starved liar whose only accomplishments have been scams, money laundering and posing as a success.
I don't care what his title is. Every day he reminds us how much he has depended upon his inheritance to be "important," while proudly ignorant and possessing few skills.
1
The national emergency is that a Russian puppet/agent has invaded the White House and formed an administration. Republican Party? Are you going to do anything? Or is a tex break for the rich more important than national security?
1
Trump prime time photo op to spread hate and lies. The wall is a symbol of White Supremacy. Ray Sipe
Maybe this will be the straw that breaks Trump's back...?
---
"You can shatter reality... you can throw away our allies... you can rip up our treaties... you can put kids in cages... you can take away our pay checks... but leave my Tuesday Night TV lineup alone!"
There are few people I want to hear less than Schumer respond.
1
Trump has already built his wall. It's the one separating wisdom from ignorance. We all know which side he is on.
7
And lies from truth!
2
I will be at the gym working out and listening to my favorite music at that time. Thank goodness there is no TV in our gym!! I don't have the stomach to listen to Donny boy spew his lies and stir up more division in our country. A pox on the networks be and cable news carriers for caving. We have enough junk on TV.
3
Why are the networks pandering to the Trump ego. . . . Again !!
I recall endless hours of an empty podium on all of the networks, waiting for a chance to see the great Donald before the Presidential election, all in hopes of cashing in on ratings.
This seems to be “profit over country” - money “trumps” all else.
It’s this thinking that helped get us into this mess.
Unfortunately, greed rules America in this day and age, and so, Trump’s reality show will continue for as long as it’s profitable.
1
My Fellow Americans. 800,000 of you are now not working or being paid because I shut down the government since your elected officials aren't giving me the money I promised Mexico would give me for a wall that experts say won't make us safer. Services are being disrupted throughout the nation, all this despite the fact that illegal immigration through the border is lower than it was years ago. These are tough times, and I ask you to join me in not thinking about Mueller.
Thank you.
4
“The question I have is: When are the Democrats going to start negotiating?” Mr. Pence said.
The answer: They won't negotiate with a terrorist. America never does.
“I am proud to shut down the government for border security. … I will take the mantle,” Trump said. “I will be the one to shut it down.”
4
In no way should the networks be complicit in allowing Donald Trump to justify his extortionate tactics via prime time television.
2
This is one patriotic American who will not be watching Trump tonight. I am hoping for similar posturing across the country. Wouldn't that be a statement to the Trump Administration that what he has to say has no interest or relevance?
The opportunity cost of wasting my precious time is too great.
4
Is it conceivable, or wishful thinking onthe minds and hearts of many that this might be an announcement of his resignation, and an outpouring of blame for all responsible for this grand disaster?
Obama, the media, Hilary Clinton, James Comey, Robert Mueller, the Media, fake news and of course the Democrats.
Forgive me if I have left anyone out.
By shutting down the government the President is impoverishing millions of Americans in what will become a humanitarian crisis involving government employees and their families.
Why? So he can address a hyumanitrian crisis, he himself created by ripping children away from their mothers, providing indeqquate medical care for migrants in custody and turning loose large numbers of migrants on border towns like El Paso so he can shuffle migrants in an out of detention.
Two crises of the President's making for which plans to assert dictatorial powers. This is a crucial moment for the Republican.By all means, national TV must give Democratic leaders the opportunity to respond.
Presidential addresses from the Oval Office used to have an aura of gravitas. Now they've devolved into tantrums.
2
The networks should politely decline to broadcast this speech full of lies, and let him put it on C-SPAN.
Obviously, Trump is a transparent bluffer who would make a horrendous poker player.
Last week, he said that "the shutdown could last months, even years."
What strength! What hints of steely endurance!
But he couldn't even handle a couple weeks without getting agitated and desperate.
He has no hand and he knows it.
The authoritarian, and most anti-American, path beckons: his only hope at saving face.
1
Message to John Cornyn: Trump is embarrassing himself and the nation without any help from anyone.
After the wall, then what? A moat? Turrets? If you don't appreciate that immigration is a vital part of the US, then move to a country that was fundamentally built on it. And spare me the it's "illegal immigration!" spin - if you want a functioning immigration system, admin and process is the place to invest, not obnoxious symbols that don't reflect the philosophy the US was built on.
1
Since Trump is incapable of telling the truth, I will watch Netflix tonight, as I am sure, will millions of other Americans.
Here we go again. I said that Trump was elected by the media in 2015 - 2016 and it looks like TV will do it again. My fervent hope is that no one turns on their boob tube tonight because anyone who can read knows that only lies and distortions will be disseminated. Furthermore, the media should refer to him as Trump. There is nothing presidential about him and people need to be reminded of that.
1
The alleged dire circumstances to which herr trump lays claim to his Nationalist Emergency were something the GOP were in complete control just two weeks ago when the shutdown started.
When trump and his GOP had full control of the House, Senate, and White House, why didn't they address the Nationalist Emergency then?
When trump and his GOP had full control of the House, Senate, and White House, and Schumer offered $20b in exchange for a permanent DACA resolution, why didn't they address the Nationalist Emergency then?
Why? Because the Nationalists do not want a solution to immigration, they want to end immigration.
1
Trump has long since lost any credibility as far as I'm concerned. So I won't be watching or listening to him tonight. I'll read about his blather tomorrow.
I will spend the time during Trump's speech reading "Churchill: Walking with Destiny," a book about leadership and character. I'll catch up on Trump's lies and misrepresentations in the morning here at the NYT.
if hw wants to declare a national emergency, all he has to do is say his name.
The only natural emergency I see is found within our borders. A man that has no clue what he is doing, recalling of very good regulations that only help, deaths from "home-grown terrorists", and just plan stubbornness on all sides!
Don't watch. He is immature, dishonest, incompetent. Tell your tv stations not to give him time to which he is not actually entitled. Read a book, preferably Night of Camp David. I am not sure the position or the country can regain any trust for decades. And that is truly a matter of national and world security.
Of course the networks bow to his demands. He has insulted them as fake news and as enemies of the people. He might come up with something worse if they disappoint him again.
Haven’t we all wasted more of our time, our lives listening to the so undeniable lies he says each time he opens his mouth? We have repeatedly jumped to his craziness, he will continue the more we react. Turn your attention to the people he refuses to treat as the true Americans they are. He is holding them hostage. He is no leader. When does he come for you? He should be fined $1 million a day for each day he holds them up.
It’s frightening that an obviously insane person can get into such a position of power and relentlessly bully the people he is supposed to serve to serve his ego without any serious pushback.
Something is seriously wrong.
2
Dear "Mr. President"
There is the Great Wall of China .....
however,
There will never be a "great wall" between the US and Mexico.
It's time to open up the government and stop hurting 1,000's of hard working Americans that you will never be able to relate to.
1
I strongly suspect that the speed will be known as the "wailing wall"
Why would any want to listen to what this president would say? Or more horrifying, watch him say it?? Even the villagers stopped listening to the little boy who cried wolf, eventually.
For the media, Trump is a drug, and We the People are the innocent bystanders/victims. Just say no. It's not worth the damage that will be done to the truth, nor is it in the the best interests of the country.
If a Trump speaks at a wall and no one is there to hear him, does he make a noise?
The King of Spin. He can't do anything, his hands are tied. Even though Congress came up with a spending bill prior to the break.
And, I bet every one of his ignorant supporters believe him.
The only national emergency facing this country is its president.
2
How many lies can Trump tell in 8 minutes?
I submit he can get to over 20 lies tonight. He's an expert, he knows more about lying than anyone.
1
@John Adams
Las Vegas should give odds on it, just like a sporting event!
I haven't bothered to see what "emergency powers," if any, the President has, since Trump hasn't purported to use any. Any TV network is free to run or not run his speech tonight, the Democratic Party response, both, or neither. If it likes, a network can set aside response time for the Green Party, or the Libertarian Party, or for someone's Uncle George. It's entirely up to each network, and any TV channel can change its mind at the last minute -- indeed, even during the broadcast.
I doubt any TV network will change its mind, though I would. If I were making the decision, I'd stiff them all -- Trump, the Democratic Party, the Green Party, the Libertarian Party, even Uncle George.
Great merit in the first part of this comment, but the second part is very weak:
"As far as I can tell, the only emergency is that most immigrants ... from the south don’t embrace hardline conservatism."
Excellent point: I seriously doubt Trump would oppose illegal immigration if illegal immigrants were likely to vote for him.
On the other hand, commenter seems to forget that this isn't our first rodeo:
"... we’ve done just fine ... for over 240 years without a physical barrier on our southern border. There’s no indication that it’s imperative to have one now."
In the 1980s, Reagan approved a Democratic-Party-proposed "amnesty" for a reported 3 million illegal immigrants because, Americans were told, illegal immigration would stop. No wall, no nothing -- it would just magically stop.
Apparently that didn't happen. We're now told that we have 11 million illegal immigrants here. That may be "just fine" with this commenter (and, frankly, it doesn't matter all that much to me personally), but it's not "just fine" with most Americans. We're no longer inclined to accept some politician's promise that it will magically stop. A wall may or may not be the answer, but it's better than just some politician's "word."
$5.7 billion for a wall or $10k each for half a million college students. I’ll continue to vote for Democrats.
1
All networks should deny Trump the time he's requesting. This address is going to be pure political propaganda, and is not in the nation's best interest. He requested eight minutes, but look for him to drone on for an hour. You know they won't pull the plug on him. He's becoming more and more desperate, impulsive, and unstable. His deeds increasingly put the country at risk of catastrophe.
2
And the Golden Globe for best actor on a TV drama goes to ...
3
Misleading title. Anytime the President speaks is considered public. Tonight will be a political rally for his base. He does not understand that he’s president for the entire population
3
I propose we give each person living in Guatemala $300 - the same cost as five billion for the wall. Each recipient would promise to stay in Guatemala, and not emigrate to the U.S. The stimulus to the economy of Guatemala might be enough to resolve their reasons for migrating, and improve lives.
We also must address global population. The U.S. has become absurdly prudish about providing birth control where it is desperately needed.
1
Americans are being conned by a malicious Administration. I no longer think the partial government shutdown has anything to do with a Trump wall, but purposeful, destructive chaos and a win for an authoritarian President abusing his powers, causing federal employees suffer, weakening democratic institutions: Departments and Agencies, invalidating Congress, the Courts of Law, human and democratic values.
The conflated, confusing rhetoric from Administration officials has contradicted their own argument for constructing a wall. Thousands of “Known or suspected terrorists” (the threat has changed from murderous Mexicans and “illegals”) declared by the Administration as pouring into this country and posing a national security threat were stopped from entering, essentially demonstrating border and national security are working. A handful were stopped at the southern border; seven times that number were stopped at the northern border, while the vast majority stopped at US or allied foreign airports. No southern border wall is necessary.
The humanitarian crisis at Administration-designated points of entry along the southern border not be solved by a wall but by reversal of inhumane immigration policy, ending administration attempts to skirt US Asylum Laws, and appropriating funds for adequate resources for refugees and their families seeking asylum. These refugees and their families, labeled by VP Pence as “illegals”, have rights.
1
I can't decide if I'm going to watch tonight. I'm a federal worker and I'm terrified of the personal consequences of this shutdown continuing much longer. On the other hand, I don't believe a word this man says. I've never said that about a president before, and I hope I never have to say it about any president in the future.
12
@Rls
I sympathize with you, since laid-off federal workers are on the front line of a dispute they didn't create. Complain though I do about governmental waste, I know that federal workers don't make much money, and so I seriously doubt many have savings to dip into at times like this.
Hang in there. I hope and expect that this will get resolved soon.
You don’t need to watch tonite. There is a fair chance a summary will show up on SNL.
1
Isn't it awfully dangerous to shut down part of the government during a National Emergency?
13
@Spamdodger,
A Positively Perfect Post!
1
Trump proclaims a “humanitarian and security crisis" at the border. What about the “humanitarian crisis" with the non-potable water in Flint, MI? The “humanitarian crisis" with all the shootings in Chicago? The “humanitarian crisis" with people surviving fires and hurricanes.
America has enough humanitarian crises at home that need $5 billion a lot more than a wall. Doesn't Trump always say "we need to take care or our citizens". He should show it.
9
@Gazbo Fernandez, So continue allowing an endless flow of millions of foreigners into America. Always so helpful to these poor Americans who need help here.
1
1. Facts please. What is your factual resource for millions of people? Fox News doesn’t count
2. The Institute for Defense Analyses, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research group that works solely for U.S. government agencies, estimates that about 200,000 people made it across in 2015. The Institute for Defense Analyses, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research group that works solely for U.S. government agencies, estimates that about 200,000 people made it across in 2015—down from an estimated 2 million entries in 2000.
3. The total of 340,030 apprehensions near the Southwest border and individuals deemed “inadmissible” for the first eight months of FY 2018 is only 10.8% higher than during the first eight months of FY 2017. And the Trump administration declared FY 2017 “the lowest level of illegal cross-border migration on record.” Forbes
4. What crisis? More like a campaign promise and now he needs to save face.
The crisis is in Central America.
I was in Guatemala and Honduras about 18 months ago.
Honduras was much worse than Guatemala but both countries were in bad shape. Any small business, even ones selling chewing gum or tacos had a young boy/man as a guard with a machine gun. I was told that any time the gangs needed a car they would target a woman driver, stop in front of her car and throw a snake or rat onto her car, anticipating her speedy exit from the car and voila they get the car. Most of the cars in Honduras had blacked out windows. There was virtually no garbage pickups. I could go on, but you get the idea. I’ve been to a lot of poor countries, many in Africa but I’ve never seen anything like what I saw in Honduras. (I sell used tires). Good people, bad countries.
85
@New World, Yeah, let's being more of that over here.
3
@New World Why hasn't 60 Minutes done something on this?
4
@New World and guess what country was responsible for that mess?
18
That's what I'd do:
"Or better yet, just say no. "
Any TV network is free to change its mind. I would.
Chances are, TV networks will adopt the "modified, limited hang-out" approach (to borrow some old Watergate-tape phrasing): They'll stick with their announced decision to run Trump's speech, but run it with fact-check subtitles. They'll give equal response time to the Democratic Party (though ad revenue probably will plummet then), without the fact-check subtitles. They'll ignore any "equal time" requests they may receive from other political parties, groups or individuals.
And then, on Wednesday night, it will be back to prime-time business as usual.
“The question I have is: When are the Democrats going to start negotiating?” Mr. Pence said. I think he means when will the Democrats start capitulating. Never, if they want to continue getting my vote.
14
The Constitution does not grant the president ANY emergency powers.
The president has NO authority to usurp the powers of congress or the courts granted by the Constitution, for any reason. NONE. This includes the sole power granted to Congress to fund the government
If Trump attempts it he should be impeached and removed from office.
6
Beats me:
"Seriously, why should the networks give him airtime?"
Several years back, Obama planned to give a speech on immigration and asked aides to check whether the networks would run it in prime time if Obama asked them to. Reportedly, all said "no," and Obama avoided embarrassment by not formally asking them.
I do give Trump some credit for taking a risk here, since any or all of the TV networks could have said "no," just as they were prepared to do with Obama. I'm shocked, frankly, to read that all major networks said "yes" to Trump. Maybe one or more of them will change its mind (as they're free to do), but it doesn't look like that will happen.
I'd stick with my prime-time line-up if I were a TV network. Charge advertisers for their splashy ads. Stiff Trump, and stiff his opponents in the Democratic Party (and whatever other party may demand equal time for a response).
Agreed:
"A terrible, deeply consequential decision by the networks."
Not clear to me why the networks made this choice. I wouldn't have.
I'll bet most networks wish they'd decided NOT to carry Trump's speech. You can't, after all, charge Coca-Cola a million dollars to run a Coke ad on TV if you don't run the Coke ad, and it's very difficult to cut away from a Presidential speech (or an opposing-party response) to run a Coke ad. Presumably the US government has no intention of making up the networks' revenue shortfall. This may have made sense for CNN when it was (briefly) the only TV outlet that would carry Trump's speech, but not after all of the other networks jumped on board and CNN ended up being just another channel that would carry Trump's speech.
The networks apparently reached just the opposite conclusion a few years back, when Obama planned a big speech on immigration and considered asking the networks for time. Reportedly they all said "no," and so Obama didn't even bother to ask formally.
The networks could have told Trump the same thing they planned to tell Obama -- "no." I would have. Since they all said "yes" to Trump, they're probably now obliged to give his opponents equal time. Coca-Cola may not be too happy about that, but perhaps it should be content that other parties -- the Green Party or the Libertarians, for example -- haven't asked (yet) for equal time.
Tuesday, January 8, 2019 is not shaping up to be a big economic night for TV networks.
The President should absolutely be given the air time to address the nation on this issue. Let the American people judge for themselves. Nothing constructive will come from trying to hide what’s going on.
2
Yes, the president should be given the opportunity, but only if there is real time fact checking on the screen so Americans can come to informed conclusions which are not based on the lies and distortions we know he will spew.
I look forward to the presidential address to the nation so that we the people can assess what the situation is that may be resolved with invoking a national emergency.
2
American news networks feel that they faced a dilemma over whether to broadcast Dear Leader's speech tonight. Perhaps it would have been easier to resolve if executives had asked themselves: "Does Trump's racist tantrum over a border wall constitute a 'National Emergency'?" It does not. His potential grab for emergency powers do. That said, the networks do no one any favors by acting as loyal PRAVDA and giving him an open mic.
2
With the exception of another yet another nationally broadcasted episode of The Trump's Unreality Show for his loving base, I cannot imagine what the most mistrusted man in America hopes to accomplish by bringing his case to the people. No one is interested in his point of view. The wall is a waste of money. The statistics are clear regarding declining numbers of illegal border crossings and we all know his policies have increased human suffering at and now within our borders. The only thing I can thank Trump for is the end of apathy and the wave of progressive political will his Presidency has generated.
5
@Christine G, No one is interested in his point of view.
Really?
Some of us are actually interested in finding out what he has to say about this.
We should pay attention to his address, good or bad.
Just ignoring it does not make him go away.
1
@cb Yes, really. He has been pummeling his point of view on this topic for years. Do I really need to quote Einstein here?
It is rich that Trump wants monies for the humanitarian crisis. The humanitarian crisis that he created. Congress should fund dollars to deal with that crisis, but nothing for the wall/barrier. As for the speech tonight, expect a caravan of lies. There should be real-time fact checking.
5
I did NOT vote for Rush Limbaugh or Ann Coulter. I also did not vote for Donald Trump. I did not vote for George Bush, but he was my President.
Mr. Trump is NOT my President. His psychological neediness for self promotion is , in my opinion, grounds for his removal from office.
The "humantarian" crisis along our border was CREATED by him. Separating children from their families, privately run and poorly monitored "detention" centers and a clear desire to terrify the American public for political reasons make him more dangerous than any foreign terrorist. Propaganda used to frighten and intimidate voters is what dictators use.
Watching Mr. McConnell step aside and allow him to dismantle this wonderful creation of our Founding Fathers has convinced me that it is, indeed, time for American citizens to make it quite clear that these people work as our EMPLOYEES......
Mr. Trump is not the only elected official who is impeachable.
5
If Trump wants widen his explanation for the "wall" he might talk about the daanger of certain Central American military or terrorists from the Northern Triangle could disrupt the borders with far more than simple please fo asylum. Dangers are way up in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and other countries are rocky in terms of corruption and crime.
2
American news networks feel that they faced a dilemma over whether to broadcast Dear Leader's speech tonight. Perhaps it would have been easier to resolve if executives had asked themselves: "Does Trump's racist tantrum over his border wall constitute a 'National Emergency'?" It does not. His potential grab for emergency powers do. That is what they should be examining. The networks do no one any favors by acting as loyal PRAVDA and giving tRump an open mic.
3
I can only see Trump using this airtime to declare a "National Emergency", oh the irony, and trying to force the wall funding through in this way.
I cannot see him ending this broadcast by just asking for the lawmakers to pass the funding - that's too weak for his macho image.
The more he tries to build his wall, the more the edifice of his presidency crumbles.
2
Did I miss something or did I not see the stations agreeing to equal time for the Democrats? A rebuttal is in order based on the documented history of Trump's difficulties in relationship to the truth.
2
I suppose Trump’s broadcast will be preceded with a disclaimer: “The following program is fiction and any reference to real facts or persons is entirely coincidental”.
6
So, for those who care to be bombarded with lies, distortions, equivocations, the opportunity is there. For the "deplorables", for the trump supporters in the legislatures, his broadcast of outright lies and distortions will be greeted with cheers. Luckily, they represent a minority, though extremely dangerous, segment of our population. Included in the dangerous segment are the republicans in the US senate.
9-11 was a national emergency. The Paris attacks in Nov 2015 were a national emergency for the French, during the attack.
This move by Trump trivializes these national emergencies. He is like a boy crying wolf.
The U.S. people should soundly reject him as an appropriate leader for our country.
4
Your president is having imaginary conversations with the former presidents, how sick is that.
Action on this is needed before he bombs an ally over an imagined slight.
Your man is well past the edge of insanity.
5
Shame on the media for even broadcasting this nonsense. There should be a complete news blackout.
151
@JLPDX I could not agree with you more JLPDX. I do not plan on watching and I am hoping millions of Americans will do likewise.
15
@JLPDX If the media are not prepared to do simultaneous fact-checking during the speech, they will be abrogating their responsibility to the public in a shameful waste of a superb opportunity.
20
@Len Absolutely agree. Can not believe they haven't learned their lesson. I was thinking it'd be tough to not air it since it'd look political, but then I learned they didn't air an Obama address in 2014. So disappointed.
8
I’m watching strictly to be entertained. Either, he’ll go off script and rant like a lunatic- OR-he’ll stumble over Stephen Miller’s use of words with more than two syllables that Trump’s lazy mouth and mind refuse to deal with. Either way, it’ll be popcorn-worthy “must see” TV.
1
Provide the funds to build the wall already. The money is a drop in the bucket and walls, here and abroad have proved effective. Make a bigger deal (DACA) and call it a day. The only real underlying reasons Democrats oppose the wall are:
1. They are afraid it will work.
2. They think it will get them more Hispanic support.
3. Trump proposed it.
20
@Allen why should we do that when he promised Mexico would pay for it?
66
@Allen....The wall is a dumb idea because: 1) It is a symbol which will be interpreted as an insult by Mexico. 2) It won't work , people can climb over or dig under a wall. 3) Nearly 40% of illegal immigrants in the U.S. came through a legal port of entry and over stayed their visas. 4) 600,000 people cross our southern border through legal port of entry everyday. Anyone of them could be an illegal immigrant if they just kept walking. 5) A wall does absolutely nothing to address illegal immigrants who are already here.
And for the record, the fact is that last year zero known or suspected terrorist were interdicted at our southern border; zero. And $5 billion dollars may be chump change to you, but there many more deserving uses.
79
how did you feel about the Berlin wall, may I ask?
Will we some day see a Me I can President give the famous Reagan line? I fear it would only be a matter of time. If emulate our enemies we shall become them.
42
"But Mr. Pence said the White House was bargaining in good faith." What hypocrisy from our Christian-in-Chief. But no surprise.
7
Seriously, why should the networks give him airtime? He seems to favor twittering (sorry, tweeting), anyway. Plus, there's always CSPAN.
9
@katies. Because he is the president.
It is hard not to think that the Wall Shutdown is little more than a carefully planned Republican strategy to steal the thunder of the new House majority, further progress on the Mueller probe and to hide malfeasance within the White House staff.
20
I won't be watching. I use the mute button whenever Trump gets air time since, I hate being lied to. After Trump, I've come to recognize the common phenomenon of unqualified, self appointed experts thinking they can lecture us on what often amounts to common knowledge -- even outright fabrication. With so many astute and highly credentialed people, why would I choose to be condescended to? That this person should be holding so many good people hostage to his vision of a monument he can point to is a travesty. Most of us believe that. What happened to our infrastructure and plastics filling our Oceans disasters? Republicans get us debt ridden AND saddle us with midguided spending. The evidence is everywhere, it would be in the best interests of America if republicans became an endangered species. They don't represent us.
14
@Ratza Fratza. I used the mute button when Obama pontificated. And Pelosi doesn’t represent me.
The real humanitarian crisis is that nearly a million U.S. citizens' paychecks are being held hostage by the president. Why? To pander to that percentage of his base (not all) with his follow through on building a wall. A wall that does little to address the root problems inherent in our immigration policies. Trump, release the American hostages and negotiate like an American.
9
The comments suggest skepticism about Trump's truthfulness, and concern about his showmanship -- concerns also directed at other presidents. The real straight-shooters like Carter, though, were less successful than the presidents who set up morality plays, like Jackson vs. the Bank, Lincoln vs. Slavery, FDR vs. "Fear Itself," and Reagan vs. the Evil Empire. Trump will try to make it Trump vs. the Invading Hordes. Let him make his case. Offhand, it seems thin by comparison with more riveting morality plays, but then again, nobody thought Jackson would prevail on the anti-Bank agenda, Lincoln would be the big liberator given his history on slavery, FDR would get four terms during a brutal depression, or Reagan with his Star Wars puffery would break up the Soviet Union.
3
I have a lie gauge, but it only does lies/year. It worked well with every president until now. With the Donald I need a gauge with lies per minute.
5
Please add a real time "lie meter" running below Trump as he speaks to accurately indicate each time the man lies or makes up a complete falsehood. Now that is something I would watch.
9
I am growing increasingly irritated with this carnival barker act. This is supposed to be the top tier of the government of a valid country and one would be hard-pressed to present a convincing case that it is so.
4
I will be watching tvland.
3
Even after losing the popular vote in 2016 trump has the audacity to directly take his border wall case to the public bypassing the Congress and all the established constitutional channels. His national emergency gimmick is nothing short of the political blackmail and the ransom demand at gun point.
11
And Trump wonders why the press doesn't highlight all of the greatest things ever done by the greatest President ever?
Does he ever talk about them, or follow up on the campaign promises for things like infrastructure or great health care?
He can't, because they are way too complicated for hm to grasp.
2
one problem with apprehensions stated is they do not take into account how many are part of criminal activity ; furthermore the value has no relation to how many people were not even counted because they were not apprehended or caught at all ; data should provide the full picture not just part of it
1
Trump isn't requiring any network to carry his speech, and so the "equal time" issue doesn't come up. Any network is free to air Trump's speech, the Democratic Party response, both, or neither.
Probably networks looked at it from an "ad revenue" point of view -- as they reportedly did when Obama planned a speech on immigration and considered asking the networks to run it, only to learn that none would.
I'm surprised to read that all major broadcast and cable networks volunteered to carry Trump's speech. Their prime-time advertisers probably aren't happy to hear that. It's probably hard – practically impossible –for a TV channel to cut away from Trump's speech (and/or the Democratic response) to run an ad. It makes economic sense to be the only TV channel to carry Trump's speech (as CNN reportedly was, for a short while), but not to be just one of many channels that TV watchers can choose from.
On the "in for a penny, in for a pound," networks probably feel duty-bound now to give equal time to a response. If I ran a network, however, I'd stick with my prime-time schedule and stiff both parties. They did that, after all, several years back when Obama floated the idea of a prime-time speech; why not with Trump this time?
6
As far as I can tell, the only emergency is that most immigrants crossing into our country from the south don’t embrace hardline conservatism.
Seriously though, we’ve done just fine as a nation for over 240 years without a physical barrier on our southern border. There’s no indication that it’s imperative to have one now.
2
"25 CFR 11.448 Abuse of office.
A person acting or purporting to act in an official capacity or taking advantage of such actual or purported capacity commits a misdemeanor if, knowing that his or her conduct is illegal, he or she:
(b) Denies or impedes another in the exercise or enjoyment of any right, privilege, power or immunity."
Do the citizens have a right to know the truth? If Trump declares a national emergency on bases of distortions and misinformation, etc., this must qualify as 'high crimes and misdemeanors' that are impeachable offenses.
1
I do not trust that Trump will not take this as a chance to lie and spread misinformation. If his behavior stays consistent, this chance to "reshape the conversation" will be replete with hyperbole and potentially outright lies. In every chance we have given him to "rise to the occasion" he has failed miserably.
That being said, I wish the networks would not cave into his demand but since they have I hope they have a running tally of fact checks he fails in bold letters on the screen.
Furthermore, if he is using this to rebrand or reshape is attack then the networks need to give opposing voices the same amount of time and prime time coverage. This entire episode smacks of totalitarianism.
1
At 5 billion/mo., it should take about 14 shutdowns to finish the wall.
I'm not that scared of brown skin. Are you?
10
A national emergency? Puhleeeeze.
10
Please ask your followers to send a message to the news agencies that will follow the president's speech tonight to fact check him live. I just did it. It was fast and easy. Simple cut and paste.
2
As we all should know by now, a written copy of the speech Trump plans to deliver should already be available to the news media. Seems it would be simple enough to judge from that if this pathological liar and con man intends to further abuse the American public with his ill-informed, immature and poorly-thought out reasons for causing the trouble he has wrought that is clearly a diversionary tactic to his disappearing credibility as president. And if, on its surface, the speech is just another campaign speech aimed at political morons, deny him prime time to assault us with it.
Or is that too much to ask of the best minds in our news media?
5
All the stations should make it clear that they will immediately fact check the speech.
4
Does he have to.......?
Do we have to let him interupt our prime time viewing?
Oh yeah, ... Netflix!!!
4
If Trump goes for a national emergency it will essentially mean that he knows he has been beaten, and he is desperately looking for an escape hatch. His national emergency claim, being completely contrary to the facts on the ground, will be challenged in court and get tangled up for months. Government will reopen, Trump will proclaim a very, very big victory, and say this was his plan all along. Anyone stupid enough to believe his lies is probably never going to learn anyway.
4
I will not listen as there is no crisis not manufactured by the Trump administration. Illegal border crossings are down significantly since 2000, and the vast majority of illegal drugs pass through the manned portals, and the virtually all illegal immigrants pass through the airports legally, and overstay their visas. This is fact. No "alternative facts" exist.
The Liar-in-Chief has manufactured a crisis to fulfill a campaign "promise" to his base. If his base could turn down Fox "news" long enough, they would remember Mexico was going to pay for the wall; the actual campaign promise.
4
Trump wants air time with all the Fake News Networks. How amusing. It should be broadcast with a "liar disclaimer" at the bottom of the screen.
8
Time to tune this liar out!
I recently watched Mike Pence in an interview and spew out a number of bogus supposed facts, about the phony National Emergency and outright lies regarding the Democrats not wanting to negotiate to reopen the government from the Trump-Republican Government Shutdown.
I mean everyone knows Trump lies every time he opens his mouth, his surrogates lie to beat the band, and even though I pretty much disagree with Mike Pence on most issues, I never realized what an outright liar he has become for Trump.
Mike Pence has proven himself to be a shallow, disingenuous phony who lies as frequently and as much as Donald Trump.
Mike Pence may be a devout Christian, but he has forgotten one of the virtues of Christ, thou shalt not tell a lie, lying has become his major calling card, selling out any integrity he may have once enjoyed for this liar in the Oval Office.
6
@Chico
Mike Pence sits silently mostly out of the public eye, but what you saw is the same experience I have had in watching his interviews.
The only difference between him and Don the Con is that Pence is more believable in his lying. Not so many superlatives and doesn’t go around with a scowl on his face. He lies with a straight face.
1
“What we save on the USMCA — the new trade deal we have with Mexico and Canada — what we save on that, just with Mexico, will pay for the wall many times over just in a period of a year, two years and three years. … So I view that as, absolutely, Mexico is paying for the wall.”
— Trump, remarks during a news conference, Jan. 4, 2019
Food for thought, Trump supporters:
Makes you wonder why he has shut down the government for something he claims he has the money for.
7
Already this article has over 3,000 comments. I cannot help but think that we're doing exactly what the attention seeker-in-chief wants.
3
The networks who show this should be ashamed of themselves!
6
When the president asks for air time, he should get it. However, the exceptional behavior of this president requires a real time fact checking banner at the bottom and a flashing LIE graphic should the president begin making up "facts".
1
Hey, will we be able to decide whether it’s Trump on TV today, or is it Alec Baldwin??
6
At this point I could care less what Trump has to lie about this time, who he will insult this time how he needs to save face and that he thinks any one who disagrees with him is a low life to be insulted and ignored.
I have absolutely no plans to ever listen to what he says. As far as the comment I now see below me that as President he should be treated with respect. Absolutely not. He should be treated the same way he treats anyone who disagrees with him . Goodby trump
2
I suppose a president should be given airtime to address the nation in times of national emergency. BUT what if it's the president who caused the crisis? Previous presidents tried their best to manage our illegal immigration problems, in the absence of comprehensive reform blocked by trump's base. Trump, and creepy Stephen Miller, decided that their entire immigration policy will be based on deterrence. This simplistic approach has failed, but instead of accountability, we get some autocratic, national emergency performance. What a bunch of chumps we are.
2
I plan on watching Netflix.
7
I'll just wait and get the highlights from Alec Baldwin.
6
This is EXACTLY how he corralled, first, the Republican candidacy, and then the presidency- he repeatedly pulled these publicity stunts, and the press, in an effort to (perhaps) appear unbiased, and then in a chase for ratings,and the subsequent advertising dollars, they gave him all of the free publicity- oops- coverage that he could want,with nary a word of protest about his out-and-out lying.
When will the media become as completely disgusted with this mendacious thief as, i believe ,the majority of Americans are?
4
@chris sands The media will not change unless it affects their bottom line. It's been a LONG time since "the media" was anything but a handful of corporate entertainment conglomerates. And they are basically in a prisoner's dilemma with each other on this. If even one of them is going to air this, the others will do the same out of fear that they will lose viewers to the one who did air it. I mean, unless one of the networks is planning to broadcast some real blockbuster of a show, they have little to lose by bumping their normal Tuesday night programming. Let's see what's on tonight... Hmmm, "The Connors" and Ellen's game show... how convenient to pre-empt those two shows! And I do wonder if either of them would be more compelling than Trump to people who actually watch broadcast shows in real time.
This will be the best reality TV that NO MONEY will buy!
1
I'm afraid the country is going to become so distrustful of Trump's constant fear mongering, that we're going to be caught without our pants on when a real crisis happens.
4
This is the last ditch effort by Trump to keep his base riled up. He knows the moment he caves, his presidency is over. That's really what's behind his rhetoric. Nothing else. Muller: Please release your report; America needs it now more than ever.
2
Given the expected power surge caused by the vast majority of Americans flipping off their tv’s at the same time, I will be cautious and backup my computer before 9pm EST.
5
The Trump ‘strategy’ continues: fail at making any sort of fact-based policy, mess things up through sheer carelessness and ineptitude, and then claim to be the only person to have the answers by lying, exaggerating, and making things up. Trump may be delusional about a crisis he helped create, but I for one won’t be watching him lie to the nation yet again.
4
........interesting; Reagan was seen as strong, as decent, when he spoke, in no uncertain terms, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
Irony is lost on the vain.
1
Shutting down the government and taking the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of Federal workers is unconscionable and immoral in a civilized society. If Trump is so serious about solving the southern border problem, he should follow the GANDHIAN doctrine of 'SATYAGRAHA' and go on a 'HUNGER STRIKE.' This strategy worked so effectively against the mighty British Empire, and ultimately driven them out of India. Why punish the 800,000+ innocent federal employees? Punish yourself, Feel the Pain and show the country that you mean what you say!
1
In Trump's first interaction with the newly elected Democratically controlled House he disregards and disrespects the voice of the electorate. He epitomizes structural weakness of our democracy. He is a cancer for which we have no cure, and his removal will not prevent a reoccurrence for it is a cancer on the body politic.
The networks should charge Trump for the time to spew his self-serving lies to his base. This address will be simply a campaign speech for the election of 2020. The only Trump speech I would ever watch would be his resignation speech.
I'll watch it if it has subtitles that translate what he says into the truth.
1
To say that Trump is taking his "case" public is to portray his actions as legitimate political strategy. Which is putting lipstick on a very ugly animal.
Let's remember that the Senate and the House have agreed, at different times, on legislation to keep the government running and not to fund Trump's wall. Trump's response is to maliciously coerce Congress and American taxpayers into handing over what is effectively a $5.7 billion ransom for 800,000 paychecks he holds hostage by virtue of his presidential powers.
It is hostile, it smacks of criminal extortion, and is arguably in violation of federal extortion laws. And that is consistent with Trump's known criminal behavior before and during his tenure in office.
It is profoundly frustrating and profoundly puzzling that Democrats are not moving aggressively to enforce the law, prosecute Trump, and put an end to the damage he continues to inflict.
I will NOT WATCH Trump's televised racist rant on a border wall.
2
Trump the con man, possibly a good poker player. I wouldn't let him carry my garbage, he's not trustworthy or honest.
4
Like the US general surrounded by Germans at Caen in WWII, the democrats will say "Nuts!".
Never, in the history of the United States has one man brought so much destruction to our country. While we wait for the special counsel's report on his conduct, there should be no doubt that an election is coming, and those of us who fought to change the country through the midterm elections, must now volunteer, donate, and work without pause, to see that the election of 2020 brings a new President and ends the republican majority in the senate
5
"Some journalists worry that handing Mr. Trump a chunk of network prime time could allow the president to assert falsehoods to tens of millions of viewers."
Of course he will. Why don't the networks employ real-time fact checkers? They could easily overlay the TV feed with a commentary crawl. When they defer on-air analysis until after the speech, they do a grave disservice to the public.
Everybody knows he's going to use his ten minutes of free, uninterrupted, prime time, national coverage to lie straight to the American people in what will essentially be a campaign speech.
But cable networks are going to gift that space to him anyway.
This speech will inevitably be followed by hours and hours and pages and pages of fact checks and editorials all calling out his lies and correcting his "falsehoods," but, of course, none of that will be anywhere near as impactful or widely seen as his speech and, of course, all of it will be spun to suit each outlet's particular bubble.
What'll happen tonight will be a national disgrace.
And it will be the media's fault.
For it is the media that values their perception of being "balanced" more than actually being accurate in a world where one of the sides needed for such "balance" has proven that it does not stick to the facts or play by the rules.
Until the media starts defending the truth, those who are happy to lie will continue to gain power by wielding a microphone they don't deserve and those who stick to the facts will be forced to fight a battle on false grounds, all thanks to "balance."
2
We now know of course that the 2016 presidential election was perverted by the Trump campaign in tandem with sinister foreign governments, scheming GOP state leaders, and billionaire special interests. And yet the combined impact of all that skullduggery paled in comparison to the role played and damaged done, unwittingly or otherwise, by America's mainstream media.
First in the GOP presidential nomination process, the media - and especially the electronic media - provided the bully a national pulpit from which he broadcast one nasty, inflammatory, racist, misogynist, bigoted lie after another.
After sewing up the Republican nomination with the media's help, he moved onto to Hilary Clinton. The media remained transfixed by the demagogue - unable to resist him or cut-off the high octane airtime he needed to spread his vicious lies from one end of the country to the other. It didn't matter they might question his truthfulness after the fact. No amount of post coverage fact checking of Trump's inane, insidious, intolerant, incoherent attacks on the most vulnerable members of society could ever undo the damage they'd done by letting him spout off in the first place.
The media will repeat that folly tonight when they pass over the national stage so Trump can double down on the great lie that the biggest threat to America comes from immigrants and asylum seekers - exactly the kind of undocumented low cost labor Trump has so often employed in his own businesses over the years.
2
If only the US government had implemented the technological advancements available for our voting systems. I would like to see us move forward on border wall funding by a vote of the American people. Put this issue to bed for once and for all. We lack many efficiencies in our government and with our country so divided we now need the ability to allow a vote on an issue like the border wall. At this point I am disgusted by the resources wasted by this issue.
Our family will not be watching this "leader" abuse the power of the Presidency to expound on his made-up emergency. We already know exactly what he will do - lie repeatedly and try his hardest to divide us from each other.
It is a sad day when the President of the United States doesn't even pretend to speak to or for all Americans. God help us all if a real crisis should happen during the term of this fraud.
1
The networks may run the show, but we don't have to watch it. Boycott his speech! Deprive him of attention and "ratings".
2
My plea to the Democrats would be to just build the wall. Our country has spent so much on pork barrel projects which serve only the needs of a local community of the legislator who sponsored the bill. Now serve the greater good of the whole country and provide the money which will serve every one of the citizens of our great nation.
2
@Chaps don’t worry. Mexico will pay, for the good of our country.
Irony here...the local FOX station won't be carrying the speech because it's in a labor dispute with the cable provider. Should hope the others follow suit.
1
Let me tell you, the real crisis is that the TSA is not getting paid, yet they still have to work. Based on very recent experience, they could not care less about what you're bringing into the country.
2
Whatever he has to say should not be taken seriously. Unlike his usual incoherent stream of consciousness babble and lies, he'll be reading a speech written by others who will make sure that a mass audience will not hear his obvious blunders. His later impromptu comments, ie, when he goes to the border in a few days, should be more reflective of his thoughts and policies, such as they are. I hope the commentators on the networks, not just CNN and MSNBC, are willing to offer honest criticism, not hobbled by obsequious respect for the presidency.
1
I hope that by now the networks have granted the Democrats' request to respond to Trump's address. Even if he issues no misstatements, exaggerations, or lies he will be discussing a contentious policy question that most politicians, regardless of party, are dubious of at best and that a majority of Americans reject. Americans need to hear what they have to say.
The networks doing this facilitates our descent into authoritarianism and fascism. This lends his lies legitimacy where there is none. We all know what he's going to say. He's been saying it all along. The more airtime he gets, the more power, the more influence, which is all he wants. A terrible, deeply consequential decision by the networks.
4
Yes, Lleone, I wonder if they will ever put country over profit and stop catering to The Con Don and other democracy-destroyers childish antics rather than reporting the real news.
This is NOT a football game - or any other game. This is OUR lives.
WE THE PEOPLE had better start taking it much more seriously than most of the "news" would have it.
2
Trump will be reading a speech in a boring monotone which has most likely been written for him by that maniacal xenophobe Stephen Miller. As much as I see this manufactured "crisis" by Trump, I still think we should watch just so we can be aware of what he's up to and the arguments he is making. (As in: "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.")
I wish the Democrats would keep bringing up the fact that Trump did an about-face when Anne Coulter and Rush Limbaugh publicly chastised him for his intention to sign the legislation to keep the government open. They should be making this a big point. Who IS in charge of the country? Is it the right wing media? They should be asking, ad nauseum, if Republicans get their orders from the likes of Coulter and Limbaugh.
It was a fairly winning strategy back in 2009: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rush-limbaugh-republican-party-leader/
2
This is a national emergency alright. The emergency is Trump as President.
6
This absolutely needs to be fact-checked in real-time, or the networks give the Democrats a chance to respond.
Otherwise it's simply going to be a parade of unchallenged lies.
5
There is no border security crisis. Period.
Border security is a problem that can be (and actually was) dealt by congress.
Trump is playing the classic demagogue playbook of fear and prejudice.
The House has done its job. The shameful republicans on the senate have not.
I am terribly sorry about all the people that are being hurt by the trump shutdown.
5
Did anyone notice The Con Don's "elect me" ad at the end of 60 minutes on Sunday?
Let's show The Con Don what reality is. DO NOT WATCH if the networks are foolish enough to grant him prime time. Go take a walk and talk to neighbors. His "groupies" can watch fox so-called news for their propaganda fix.
The reality, Con Don, is WE THE PEOPLE want you and your Robber Baron brethren OUT of OUR governments at every level.
NOW.
9
Mr. Trump has never acted in good faith and the networks should act accordingly. Whatever time they give him should be balanced by equal time with Ms. Pelosi or Mr. Schumer.
9
I will not watch this spectacle of a mentally unstable man whip up his base and try to persuade the American public of unseen and unproven attacks from our Southern boarder. No Mr. Trump, it is not ten people a month captured who are considered dangerous or terrorists, it is about six per year.
That the big three networks, CBS, NBC and ABC, along with CNBC and CNN will carry the address/rant it a calculus that will backfire on them and points to a double standard when then President Obama was denied the same platform as the topic of immigration was considered too political.
Are the networks afraid of Trump, not likely, are they guaranteed a large audience and thus market share against ratings and ad dollars, yes. Is there possibly some other motivations which would drive them to buckle and subsume their role as an independent media, I cannot say.
6
Why are our politicians consumed over a 30 foot wall while the planet is on track to put much of that border under sea water during the lives of our grandchildren? This is a useless distraction. Reporters, please prioritise and provide the missing context that will help readers appreciate what will matter in the years to come.
6
This is nothing more then a a demonstration to his base to help his reelection. It is a sad abuse of power and it's a sad demonstration by the networks to broadcast it.
6
I believe it is a huge mistake to give this president a free platform on prime time TV. This is clearly a power grab. By declaring a national emergency (when none exists) and thus bypassing our democratically elected Congress, Trump will have his way with us. It's now or never to block this man-beast, not "let's wait and see."
6
I am worried that this will be just the first “national emergency” in a series of steps that will culminate in a postponement of the 2020 election due to a “national emergency.” President Trump is our President and we have a Congress and a Constitution. I beg of our leaders to not permit any deviation from constitutional norm ever. President Trump needs to be held to legislation just like every other President. If Trump wants to wear a crown let him move to Monaco and try and marry royalty for his fourth marriage.
4
Nothing Donald Trump does is w/o his handlers so in light of that, what does the wall, the constant state of hysteria, the exorbitant expense of housing/managing detainees, the ways in which people are treated, what is the real motive? Is it as others have mentioned another step in the disassembling of democracy. a step to disempower the American people? Why have Republicans lost the ability to serve the people?
3
America simply does not owe the world's seven billion people -- rapidly going on 8 billion -- any right to come here in order to seek a better life.
We already have 330 million people. And every year, we already allow more then one million foreigners to come here legally as permanent residents, plus hundreds of thousands more to come here supposedly temporarily for work and study, plus millions of people to come here for supposedly short visits. That is plenty. We do not need more -- especially not self-selected ones who come here illegally or who abusively game our laws to come here under some sort of thin legal disguise.
Our schools, roads, hospitals, park, sewers and water supplies and other infrastructure are already jammed and overburdened by well over ten million illegal aliens and their families whose meager taxes do not begin to cover the cost for them.
In decades past, the majority of Repubs foolishly promoted immigration of all kinds in order to get cheap labor. In recent years, the majority of Repubs have come to see the foolishness of that path, although even today many Repubs in the pro-cheap-labor business crowd still promote immigration in order to get cheap labor.
Meanwhile, the majority of Dems have moved in the opposite direction. At one time not too long ago, the majority of Dems had the good sense to realize that massive immigration undermined wages for laborers in their base and diluted the public resources available to help less fortunate Americans.
3
“Who’s paying for the wall? MEXICO!”
(Crickets)
7
My initial thought about POTUS’ “NATIONAL emergency,” is that I think Dems should counter with an immediate proposal to increase CHIPS and MEDICAID funding by $5b!
8
This reminds me of a time when a bunch of us were in a chartered bus, and it became clear that the driver was lost, and we were just randomly going round and round. In that case, he meant well, thank goodness, and all somebody had to do was go up and explain to him how to get where we were going. Our situation now is very different. But it's a good rule of thumb, when the person in control is lost, it behooves everyone to pay attention.
4
Is it irony that border patrol isn't getting paid because of this extortive shutdown in the name of border security? I can never tell with irony.
4
Emperor Trump has crossed not the Rubicon, but the Potomac.
DUMP EMPEROR TRUMP
“We the American people can not be, and will not stand to see our country turned into an Empire”
6
I would like to offer the Democratic response to this speech of lies.
Please Mr. President go to the Southern Border and do not come back. The end!
6
Prediction:
- Only 15% of the American public will actually watch the address. They will all be part of the 35% of Deplorables within the electorate.
- Of the remaining 85% of the public, another 10% will read about the address in the news the next day. That 10% will be comprised of 5% more of The Deplorables; 3% swing voters who actually care to hear what Trump has to say; and 2% Libs who want to watch it just to fuel their outrage at Trump.
- Regardless of who watches it, 45% of the public who already support Trump will say that he made a "great spech, the greatest speech in the history of speeches."
- Another 45% will know that almost every word out of Trump's mouth (approx 90% of what he utters) will be factually incorrect; and that 75% of his sentences will be grammatically incorrect.
- The remaining 10% will say that they're "sick of politics dividing America," and that "both sides are equally to blame."
- Fox News and the rest of the Rightwing Media Cabal will be quivering with paise for what a great president Trump is. Meanwhile, the rest of the media will report the dozens of lies that trump spews in the speech.
- The Rabid Right will then attack Nancy Pelosi, Alexandria Ocasia-Cortez, and Rashida Tlaib for being unAmerican women with nefarious Socialist agendas. They will say that AOC needs to learn to listen more and dance less, and that Tlaib needs to learn how to behave in public. Somehow they will tie it all back to Hillary Clinton.
- Rinse and repeat.
8
Trump is obsessed with TV ratings. Therefore, I will do my part to make his ratings tonight low, by not watching.
He will lie about it anyway, though. Remember, he had the “biggest crowds ever” at his inauguration.
I hope Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh and Mitch McConnell are happy at the pain they are inflicting on our public servants who are going without pay. They don’t care about ordinary citizens. They are shameful human beings.
14
I guess special broadcasts interrupting regular tv is difficult to determine. Killing of BenLaden in my opinion did not deserve it nor does this wall thing. Both are outright self aggrandizement. As such, at least for tonight, I presume Trump will lie through his teeth and put one more nail in the coffin of trust we must have in our elected officials.
I can't believe the network of Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite is acceding to the illegal, racist administration and airing Trump's litany of lies. When the media rolls over on its back, as it apparently will do tonight, then America has truly lost its way. What a depressing, disappointing turn of events. Corporations should boycott the networks and pull their commercials. Hit them where it hurts — in the wallet.
8
Just don’t watch. Instead I recommend Bird Box. It’s far less frightening than watching Trump blabble.
2
News organizations should air his speech, but I'll only read transcripts, old school you know. Why should I listen to someone who lies incessentantly? However, I'm more interested in reading corrections journalists provide the his lies. Trump is proving why Reagan was so wrong to gut the Fairness Doctrine of the US Federal Communications Commission. I hope Congress has the courage to reinstate the Doctrine and journalists never shy away from calling someone like Trump a liar.
3
The most disturbing part of all this is not Trump himself but his minions who will follow him over a cliff (or a wall).
11
Obama was denied similar air time for an immigration speech by the networks and he doesn't nearly have the track record of spreading lies that Trump has.
If they put Trump on they'd essentially be caving in to the right wing talking head scream fest as Trump did and that is holding the country hostage.
Very troubling ...
9
Why would the majority of Americans want to listen to a president continually lies and exaggerates to the point of having no credibility at all? Only if the media airs live "fact checks" along side his speech would I consider watching. I also fully expect the media to give the Democrats equal air time immediately afterwards. The time has come to check trump on his lies and exaggerations as he is spouting them......not days later!!
3
The best way to send a message to this administration is to boycott Trump's speech tonight giving him low ratings.
4
Let 45 talk and provide real-time fact-checking streaming below his image.
5
Why can Trump just say he wants to go on TV any time he wants, and the networks agree? He has his Trump State TV (Fox) that he can use 24/7 if he wants to. Why would any other network allow the public airwaves to be used this way? The networks are publicly owned--why is Trump allowed to take over control of them? The entire country knows that there is no national emergency and that this is just more "look at me, I'm Donald Trump" nonsense. News casts are monopolized by Trump as it is. He is all over Twitter. How much Trump can the country take? He has more than enough access to his base to spew his ridiculous theories and whining complaints. It's a shame that the TV networks allow themselves to be used and manipulated in this way. They should have more respect for shareholders and viewers.
6
Republicans have controlled congress and the executive branch for two years – if they mostly wanted a wall, WE WOULD HAVE THE MONEY ALLOCATED already. Trying to pin this on Democrats is politics for the weak minded. I’m over the drama.
10
Of course this is a political stunt for the so-called president to appeal to the base instincts of his base.
But it also reflects Trump's life of ultimate privilege.
He wouldn't know a real national emergency from a pimple on his face!
8
The only humanitarian crisis at the southern border is Trump-made. I consider keeping children crowded in cold chain link enclosures with a concrete floor and only a mylar blanket for warmth both cruel and inhumane. Also keeping children for months in tent cities in the desert. We have no idea of how many of these children have fallen sick. We know that two children have died
11
I disagree strongly with the network's decision to allow the Con Man to lie to the public (which EVERYONE knows, is exactly what he will do). But, since it appears that they are going to cave, much like they did in providing him with so much coverage during the disastrous 2016 election, they should give Democrats equal time, AND fact check everything that the Con Man claims; live, using subtitles. A "Lie-ometer" might be handy at the bottom of the screen!
7
What? The networks refusing to air this speech? 'Dream on; this is catnip for them! Meanwhile, those commenters with Trump Derangement syndrome can just put the hands over their ears like children and say "La La La" over and over again( just like your elected officials who have been doing the same thing with respect to the issue of illegal immigrants for decades) while a president finally attempts to honestly and frankly address this thorny issue.
3
@pete
Please do us all a favor and look up “Illegal immigration to the United States” on Wikipedia. Even though it’s not Fox News, you might learn something.
Fun while it lasted though, huh?
1
Does anyone under the age of 45 even have cable anymore?
1
@Den Jon: Does anyone over the age of sixty-five even have cable anymore?
1
Isn’t this issue manufactured to block public and media attention of the Mueller investigation? He obviously doesn’t care about immigrants or our ability to have an effective immigration system. He created this “crisis” himself, and has escalated it at every plot turn. A national emergency declaration seems like just the next logical scene in that illogical story he is writing. Will he eventually get to the scene where he holds a knife to his own neck and threatens to kill himself?
2
So, is anyone going to ask these networks why they didn't let Obama speak in prime time in 2014, but they're letting Trump do it?
8
Were I to get a phone call announcing my assignment (should I choose to accept it) to write the Trump speech for Tuesday evening, I would dodge the mine field of Trump's abrasive, combative, repellant personality and concentrate on the dilemma of global immigration and refugee pressure. It's a big problem no matter how obnoxious you are. It's the big ball rolling down on the western democracies, made of a lumpy dough, a volatile toxic mixture of drought, starvation, climate change, poverty, and disproportionate wealth. Walls are the formalization of panic, a practical though useless gesture to control mass migrations. Dealing with this gigantic issue will require an unprecedented level of global co operation, unfortunately something antithetic to a xenophobic nation like the U.S.
2
The real immigrant problem is the robots that work 160 hours a week replacing four people at a time. Read "Robots are are the Real Immigrant Problem" The National Economic Research Bureau has reported that for every industrial robot introduced into the workforce, 6 jobs are eliminated.
3
So, tonight the beat goes on.
Once again, and has it has been since Trump descended the escalator to announce his campaign media give Trump a voice and a forum out of proportion to all others.
Whatever the pretext, of course this is a political speech. And it will be a speech based on lies, disinformation, and otherwise twisted rhetoric.
And the networks know it and are complicit in spreading propaganda.
2
Are Americans going to protest the networks' acquiescence with phone calls, emails, and marches outside broadcast headquarters?
Are Americans going to mass in the streets to protest the cornucopia of lies Trump tries to pass off in his "speech"?
Are Americans going to march together to show strength and support for the federal workers whose livelihoods are being manipulated? To protest the disruption to important - even crucial services?
Until then, Trump is managing to hoodwink and blackmail an entire nation.
2
The president has not shut down government. Spending bills must originate in the House of Representative and win Senate concurrence before they go to the president. The House has not yet passed a spending bill that meets Senate approval. Until it does, the House is responsible for the partial shutdown and now House leaders want to shutdown Congress by blocking legislation not related to the spending bill.
Instead of confronting the president over border policy, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi should be woking on a compromise version of the spending bill. The president can’t sign it or veto it until it reach his desk.
@William Case
Nancy Pelosi has demonstrated that Republicans will not take yes for an answer.
She is proposing the exact Republican bills that the Senate passed 100-0 in December’s to keep the government open but that Ryan refused to vote on in the House,
Now the House will pass the bills butMcConnell won’t allow a vote on what he exactly voted for, and which passed with a veto-proof majorly
Republicans are playing a shell game trying to fool voters with their go-to blame Pelosi talking point. But anyone paying attention knows that Pelosi offered the the Republicans their own bill. (And they wouldn’t even clap when Pelosi quotedReagan)
It’s all on the Republicans
A serious abuse of power for a political stunt. This man needs to be stopped from further abusing the presidency.
4
trump says all networks except fox is fake media, yet he lies every day with outright false comments. Presenting himself as trustworthy is as phony as a 3 dollar bill. Watch with curiosity and take note all his alternate facts. We will read the "fact checked" truths on trump's list of fake news networks, or as he calls them "Enemies of the people". Disgusting.
3
The only Americans that should tune in to watch this demagogue make a purely political speech are the Americans that enjoy being lied to. The rest should read a book or watch something else. Trump is a ratings driven kook. Let the ratings tell him where he can shove the wall.
2
i don't believe a letter he uses, let alone a word he utters. the fact that he thinks he can "convince" anybody about his border wall, after his rhetoric about immigrants during or after the campaigns, his muslim ban, his lies about his Russian ties during the election, or the multitude of other lies since then, from the lies about the Syria drawdown more recently, or his affairs with porn stars, the list seems endless, his treatment of even his own cabinet members who have left his cabinet, it's simply just amazing that anybody even listens to him anymore or the media pay attention to him, ok, they have to cause what he says (or tweets) is apparently policy, ok that's understandable, but considering his record so far, it is just amazing that he thinks he can have a prime-time address to convince anybody. i would bet he privately or behind closed doors thinks his fellow citizens are suckers!!! i really do think this is the case. during the campaigns he even said he could shoot somebody and his supporters wouldn't leave him. i bet he really believes the country is a sucker. my impression of him thus far is that he's more like an over-confident used-car dealer or other seller who believes in his infallible abilities to sucker anybody into buying a faulty used car.
4
I prefer to fact check the media. He is self-proclaimed as politically incorrect. The media has no such proclamation and prefers to make him out to be a liar as opposed to a human with faults. People are dying on the border, end of story. Sooooo
@Crystal
There’s an important difference between a president who simply has faults, and one who consistently lies to his own people on matters big (immigration, environment, foreign policy) and small (the size of his - um, crowds - , his tax audit, his golf game).
The media is just reporting what he’s saying. We’re the ones who have to figure out whether he’s lying.
1
It's just going to be another "American carnage" speech. I won't watch.
The actual crisis is about 1500 miles northeast of our southern border, at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
5
All good: Mexico to pay for the airtime too!
4
Perhaps we should all call Mitch McConnell's office and demand he hold a Senate vote on the budget passed by the House: 202-224-2541
8
@Susan
Thanks. That number is currently “receiving a high volume of calls. This mailbox is not receiving messages at this time.”
https://petitions.moveon.org/sign/networks-dont-give-trumps?source=s.em.mt&r_by=6487161
For any good it will,do there is a petition going around to let the networks know how you feel about the speech. It probably won’t do much good, but the networks will know that at least some of their viewers will resist their attempts to spread Trump’s lies and hatred. Some show of resistance might help get the networks to carry a rebuttal from the Democrats and some on air fact checking of the talks, on both sides of course.
Thank goodness that wth all of the options out there one doesn’t really need a TV. I got rid of mine when they switched the signal to HD. On the night of the speech I will be streaming a Met Opera video on my iPad.
2
@Bashh Actually I just remembered it will be a live stream of the Vienna Opera. So many worthwhile options to Trump and the networks out there.
Will the networks be giving Nancy and Chuck air time immediately following the so-called president's lies? And, if not, why not?
5
A desperate move by an incompetent man whose ego needs a boost.
Let's have a truth squad monitor his inevitable lies!
1
I have no dog in this fight if the President should speak on national Tv tonight.
My concern is at the present time is our country has become stalled in partisan politics. The government is shut down, no clear policy for immigration reform,etc.
What’s going on? Where are the adults in the room?
The American citizens continue to be the pawns in this senseless fight of who is going is going to give up first.
COMPROMISE!
We deserve better.
I have no faith in either the President or our Congress to get anything accomplished in the next 2 years let alone going forward.
During the 2016 election campaign, Hillary Clinton emphasized her record of supporting a border barrier. As a senator, along with President Obama, she supported the
Secure Fence Act of 2006. She said, ”I voted, when I was a Senator, to build a barrier to try to prevent illegal immigrants from coming in...”
The difference between the Border Fence and a Border Wall is now largely semantic. The Trump administration not longer plans to build a masonry wall from San Diego to Brownsville. Instead the barrier would be built to Border Patrol specifications. It would resemble a wall in some places and a fence in other places. As it crosses the Texas despoblado, it would not be a physical barrier our an array of sensor devices.
2
I will not watch this "address" tonight, as I can't stomach any more of this President's lies. For him to promote this wall and include a humanitarian crisis as justification (a crisis created by him!) is just more than I can take. I add my voice to those who implore the networks not to air this.
5
Since the TV networks have agreed to air his speech, I hope they do the right thing and give the democrats the opportunity to rebuttal. He is a President and has the right to address the nation on TV but since the track record of this President is not very good when it comes to facts, the American people deserve to hear to both sides.
3
When one thinks of a national emergency, its expected there is some level of imminent danger to the Republic. In this case, while it's urgent, it can wait until a prime time address to the nation to be raised. And the solution is no less immediate - how long before a wall could actually be in place to solve the issue.
If this were a true emergency, it would be irresponsible to not take more immediate action. It is just as irresponsible to place the mantel of a national emergency on a campaign parlor trick.
Trump's wall never made sense and finding a way around the constitution amplifies his transactional approach to his presidency. This is simply another episode of "The Apprentice" with the twist the executive has no idea what he's doing, and should be "fired".
1
When there is a crisis it is generally good for a leader to explain the problem. However, this president's lies. His base doesn't know or care that he lies. The rest of us get even more angry. In short, when Trump talks or tweets our nation becomes more divided. Trump is destroying our once proud country.
1
So what about Pelosi's and Shumer's demand for equal airtime? Haberman mentions it but doesn't follow up, unfortunately. "Malice and misinformation" is a polite way of characterizing Trump's previous statements, and one of the more alarming observations I have made lately is that far too many Americans accept his words as truth without even questioning them. Trump is about to grab free national airtime just so he can shout "fire".
1
Major networks refused to air President's Obama's national address about immigration in 2014. After Republicans refused to support immigration reform, President Obama wanted to explain his policy proposal to the nation. He would have been factual and fair.
The networks should refuse to air Trump's address now. Trump will not likely be factual or fair.
So, why would networks air a bunch of lies that attempt to deceive Americans into thinking there is a national emergency when there is not?
Networks know Trump's claim of a national emergency is false, but his address about it will attract a big audience. This will be a shameful effort by networks to improve ratings and ad revenues.
4
I think pressure needs to be brought to bear on the shadow president, Mitch McConnell. I would argue that the Senate Majority leader is as powerful as the president, yet I did not elect him, nor did most of you.
There is no Constitutional basis for the Senate Majority leader's executive powers. When the founders wrote the Constitution, they made sure that the president could never become a king. What they did not anticipate was that the leader of the senate would become one.
The Senate Majority leader has refused to bring up any bill that the President does not pre-approve. This is not a Constitutional power.
I suggest that the rules of the Senate be changed removing this authority from the Senate Majority Leader; that the Senate Majority Leader's authority be challenged in court; or that Articles of Impeachment be initiated in the house for the Senate Majority Leader.
A tyrant is a tyrant is a tyrant, no matter where he works.
5
@Rebecca
King? Tyrant? I know it must feel good to use these words, but let's be real.
@Nat
Nat, what would you call a person who is not elected, but who exercises unchecked authority?
I am very serious. I do not want somebody in government who exercises unlimited power. who is not held accountable by anybody and was not elected by all voters, as is the case with the Senate Majority Leader.
Congress was set up by the founders to be "self-policing." Since this is not happening, I recommend that we take actions available to us under the rule of law to prevent him from continuing as the shadow president.
1
Tonight's broadcast should be preceded by one of those advisory messages that are sometimes displayed. Something like, "The following program may contain distortions, exaggerations, outright lies, and racial overtones that some viewers may find disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised."
4
Trump is insisting that the "humanitarian and security crisis" that he created needs to be addressed without a fully functioning government. The humanitarian crisis is real and if it occurred in any other country we would demand that the perpetrator be put on trial in The Hague. But who is supposed to provide relief? Volunteers? Unpaid federal workers worried about putting food on the table for their families or losing the homes? Is Trump going down to the border to throw paper towels at the refugees? I am almost 70, and without question, this is the most bizarre and disgusting presidential act that I have ever witnessed.
"When are the Democrats going to start negotiating?"
When Pence makes sense?
"If its all about defeating President Trump and embarrassing him politically...".
Really Cornyn?
How does Trump do politics? Generously and graciously?
Does irony not affect Republicans?
Sen. Coryn: President Trump does not need any help from Democrats to embarass himself; he does that all by himself.
Like most of Trumps agenda, this is a manufactured issue. It’s tailored to win points with his base and to make people think that our country’s take over by rogue brown people is imminent. If he wants to actually discuss ways of securing the border, he’d make processing asylum claims more efficient; he’d invest in high tech monitoring (drones) and etc.; and work diplomatically with central and South American countries to help decrease the number of people fleeing. Walls are not impenetrable, as we’ve seen people climb over and tunnel under them. A “big, beautiful concrete wall” will not solve the immigration problem.
The article does not deal with a significant question. Will Democrats be given equal time after Trump's address to present their position? Does Trump agree to this? Will the networks provide it?
1
No National Security Emergency on the Texas border. I was just there for the holidays. If you’re gonna visit the Texas/Mexico border try the food in any of the immigrant family owned taquerias or restaurants, it’s awesome and they pay their taxes... unlike the President.
19
Well at 9 o’clock this evening I will be sitting here watching Netflix. I have absolutely no interest in hearing anything that man (and I use that word loosely) says. Nearly everything that comes out of his mouth is a lie, and when they are all proven as lies his supporters disagree, even with the truth staring them in the face.
I can’t believe that the networks, other than Fox of course, would even bother to interrupt their programming for this fool. Nothing he has said so far has convinced me of the need to blow 5.7 BILLION DOLLARS on a wall. And I can promise you that I would feel the same if Hillary was elected and proposed it. There is absolutely no need for this wall and absolutely no justification for harming so many people, both financially and otherwise, across the country over it. It is a complete waste of money that could be spent elsewhere, and nearly every republican I know feels the same way. Only his radical, crazed, and uneducated diehard supporters stand behind him. I can even believe it is okay to use the money for additional border patrol agents, more personnel to process immigrants and other technology improvements, but not for a WALL! It is just strange why we have any barriers at the southern boarder in the first place. We don’t have barriers across the northern boarder and we don’t have them across the eastern and western coastlines. Is that next? Just wall off the entire country so nobody can get in or out.
12
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Chuck Schumer declared that “Democrats must immediately be given equal airtime, equal airtime.” But political party hacks do not merit equal time with a president. The Constitution gives political parties no role in government, but it does task president to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” This includes the law against illegal immigration.
1
@William Case that is unless the speech is considered political in which case the networks must provide equal time.
Everything Trump does is political, equal time is appropriate.
7
@Steve Kay
Political campaign speeches are political speech. Trump's planned speech on the border crisis is not a political speech.
@Steve Kay
I would hope the TV stations put a scrawl on the screen every time the Great Orange Leader lies.
But then again, that would make for a very, very long speech, about all the leprosy cases and the small pox cases and the ISIS terrorists that are now here.
Instead of providing time for a Democratic rebuttal AFTER his prime time talk (which will probably last too long), provide time right BEFORE his talk to prepare people for his lies.
14
It's an ethical dilemma for sober media, which is not mandated to accredit a hoaxer. But that's what you do, when you carry Donald Trump live. Here's a preview of his Upcoming Edifying & Totally Groundbreaking Lincolnesque Address :
"Everybody knows it, they're murderers they're rapists, they're coming across in thousands, it's an invasion, everybody knows it, bringing drugs, bringing crime, bringing disease, the Democrats had a chance to stop it..."
At the point where he starts to blame 'the Democrats" networks should cut his sound and show a small window of the Bloviator. A newscaster should say that Trump's speech is from an election-style rally, he's given it before. Also, "We'll get back to this event if Donald Trump announces something new."
6
The networks that will air trump lies to the nation will be complicit in spreading his lies. The only national emergency is that 800,000 unpaid federal workforce and shutdown.
19
Apparently none of the networks have had the courage to say no to airing Trump's "message" to America. Shame on them.
His fanboys will love it of course - there are none so blind as those that will not see - and will swallow it hook, line, and sinker.
For the rest of us? I guess we will be treated to the usual mixture of exaggerations and downright lies. All to justify trying to appropriate funds for a non-existent national emergency through the backdoor - otherwise known as circumventing congress.
There is a national emergency but it's not at the border. It's sitting in the White House playing with people's lives.
It staggers me that so many Americans will still not hold this man accountable for lying to their faces.
15
In Orwell's "1984", the government installed televisions in every middle-class house; they could not be turned off and deluged the residents with lies all day. (They also spied on the residents, but that's another story).
Fortunately we have not gone that far. Trump will not lie to me tonight because I won't have the TV on. I have better things to do. I'll check the papers the next day to see if he said anything credible and important.
12
There's no such thing as partial capitulation with this president whose arrogant self-absorption and admiration for one-man rule has already been demonstrated by the Russian company he keeps and the praise he's heaped on extant dictators such as Erdogan and Kim Jong-un. Without exaggeration, Trump is a preternatural dictator, an existential threat to democratic rule, who would abolish Congress and jail its members if he could. He is by nature and experience the most dangerous challenge to our system of government in our history who's just emerged from a two-year period of one-man, one-party rule that left him with the erroneous assumption that his powers are virtually unlimited. Now, he confronts the reality of divided government for the first time and the experience has left him embittered, frustrated, and enraged. Hence, the impetuous shutdown and unmoored talk about resorting to "emergency powers" intended for genuine national emergencies, not political stunts intended to excite his white supremacist base and help safeguard his re-election. No longer advised by deliberate, sober members within his inner circle, Trump is at his most dangerous and requires a steady, strong hand comprised of congressional and judicial checks and balances, not wholesale or even partial capitulation to tantrums and illegal ultimatums. Tonight our people have the opportunity to examine and emphatically reject the cooked-up "crisis" and the "solutions" Mr. Trump offers on national TV.
4
In an editorial published this morning, the New York Times Editorial Board complains: “The number of detainees at Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities has swelled to unprecedented levels, requiring periodic mass releases.” In doing so, it lends credence to President Trump’s assertion that the situation on the border has reached crisis proportion. So many migrants are crossing the border illegally that we are running out of space to incarcerate them.
4
@William Case Which editorial?
Yes, we are detaining people at unprecedented levels. $700 a day per person. Now we are back to catch and release. Don’t you wish Trump had not cancelled Obama’s Family Case Management Program? That had a 100% success rate in getting family’s to their court dates after they were released. $35 a day per family. Trump said that ICE had cheaper methods (like a ankle monitoring -7 a day) but instead of implementing those “cheaper methods”, the Trump Administration separates parents from children as a “deterrent”. His AG’s own words. Clearly, it didn’t work. Then he detained entire families. Not sustainable. And now we are back to catch and release. This administration has spent less than 10% of their budget for border security. What are they waiting for?
This administration is corrupt and ineffective. I am against giving these guys a blank check for Trump’s vanity project. I have no faith that the grifter can handle a complex issue like a mass migration on our southern border.
It's not an address to the nation. It's a televised Trump campaign rally.
17
This TV address should be a classic and great fodder for SNL!
3
More grounds to impeach - for
dereliction of Constitutional duties .
Congress passed a continuing budget resolution in December with 1.6 billion for border security. Both McConnell and Trump decided after consultation with advisers at Fox News and the outvoted Freedom Caucus to not follow constitutional procedures of a presidential veto and the possibility Congress would override. Once again McConnell refuses to follow the Constitutional process like he did with Garland nomination to SCOTUS. If this continues we have allowed fascism by the GOP to destroy the democratic process found in the Constitution. No different than some German leader in the 1930s
taking over the Reichstag.
There is the true crisis.
Impeachment is the only solution.
10
All of the attention in the media is, in part, what got him elected in the first place. Whenever I turned on NPR or any other news source, during the election, he was in the spotlight. No wonder he got elected. Look at how much attention the media gave him. The news outlets should not air this tonight. This man is nothing but a con and a lair.
17
Why only blame the president? 5 billion is a small amount of the overall federal budget. Why doesn't Congress fund the spending and end the shutdown?
4
As I make this comment, 3103 have commented before me. The chance of this comment being seen by many is slim.
However, I agree with Ted Koppel that the President should be given time for his speech.
I am fairly certain it will not have any facts that are accurate. Each network owes it to its viewers to fact check the content of speech and report the misstated facts instantly.
The Democratic leadership should not be given the opportunity or responsibility of fact checking.
Blatant misstatements can and should be corrected before each network signs off after the president speaks.
This is a dangerous step-- allowing a person access to the entire country--for the purpose of propaganda for a political position.
7
The networks should have a news ticker of corrections of Trump misstatements running throughout his speech. I have confidence that there enough journalists and experts who could immediately share the truth versus a Trump lie.
Then the Democrats should get airtime. Trump is counting on being a prolonged bag of wind so that people will want to go to sleep before the opposition has a chance to respond.
8
Trump should produce a copy of the "speech" (tirade?) to the press ahead of time so that all of his "facts" can be checked. Then, if he is misinforming the public, there should be something at the bottom of the screen explaining.
12
We need to be so careful here.
We need to be fully aware that Trump is not making a case for a wall, but he is making a case against an entire class of people.
His case: those people are destroying our country, they are lower than we are and they’ll drag us down. And to make it worse, when we try to help them, they stab us in the back.
This is not about the wall, this is about standing up a group of people and positioning them as “the other“.
Look through your history and see where else this has happened. Then try to tell yourself that this is nothing to worry about.
15
This address is using a national TV audience to spew propaganda, plain and simple. It’s a sale pitch to sell the idea that we’re in a “national emergency” when there’s no emergency at all. Nothing to see here, there’s better things to watch on TV.
6
I won't watch. His speech will be full of lies. A wall won't solve the problem! Not with my tax dollars! A temper tantrum won't change my mind. Trump is over his head, unfit for the job.
14
If Donald Trump wants to take the case for a border wall to the public, let’s have a referendum. Let the public speak. There are those that say we do so through our elected officials. Really? Men like Mitch McConnell who refuse to allow anything to come to the Senate floor unless Trump will sign it. What’s representative about that?
13
Republicans and Democrats in Congress have refused to fund a wall over the past two years. And now you have a President about to declare a national emergency because Congress has not given him what he wants. Does anyone think this will be the last time he will do this, or will it embolden him to do it whenever Congress does not cooperate? This is the way democracies fail, when politicians and institutions just "go along" with the strongman, instead of stepping up. McConnell and Senate Republicans need to get into this fight, before it's too late.
12
Trump takes the case for a humanitarian and security crisis to the people. What's wrong with this picture? Well. Everything. First, Trump, our own Putin-lite, does not believe he should have to take ANYTHING to Congress, much less the people. He considers the constitution a nuisance and a hindrance. His only interest, as far as people go, is the roughly 35% who show up at his rallies to shower him with applause and adoration. Next, concern for a humanitarian crisis. As the editorial in this paper points out, he created this crisis! This is a case of the arsonist wanting the funds, billions actually, to put out the fire HE started. And we are to believe now he cares about the grief and the pain he caused for thousands of innocents---including children still incarcerated. And finally, security. The wall will do nothing to deal with the real immigration problem of those who come in via airports LEGALLY and just overstay. Finally, the wall WILL provide Trump the thing he MOST wants, above all other things: bragging rights.
6
Both parties should have addressed the immigration problem years ago. Way before Trump.We finally have someone who will hold there feet to the fire. The Congress should not get any money in any form until this is worked out.No travel money no operating money and no pay. The senate as well.
1
You actually think Trump cares about anything but Trump?
Though I am not an American and maybe should not air my views, I believe the networks should treat him with the respect his position deserves and give him time. However, they should do it with the knowledge that he (as a person) tends to lie outright and present dubious or false claims as facts. Consequently, in the service of the public, they should delay the transmission with a few minutes and check his statements as they come, and comment on the speach in text along the bottom of the screen.
Then they should round up the program with a panel of experts and possibly democratic politicians who can comment on what he has been saying. I am convinced this would make very good TV indeed.
346
@Kalle H
Your comment is welcome and many of us agree with you!
EXCELLENT suggestion!
36
@Kalle H
They should also end it by replaying tapes of Trump saying "Mexico will pay for it" and "I am proud of the shutdown"
60
@Kalle H: Well, I don't know about the real-time fact-checking in a "crawl". Maybe, but it could get complicated. But significant fact checking should be definitely be part of the program: maybe a survey of the real situation before he comes on. And of course, to be followed by rebuttals and commentary -- including maybe his own people, trying to explain what he really meant.
17
Isn’t it enough that Trump is all over Twitter and the press obsessively covers every tweet every day instead of focusing on people who actually are working to address our challenges?
Why don’t Democratic proposals (eg HR-1) to address the flood of money in politics and protect against voter suppression, two goals central to a functioning democracy, get at least equal attention to Trumps rambling and uninformed rants?
Now that the networks have agreed to his prime time demand, will Trump begin demanding a weekly prime time so-called “reality” TV show, not to address real problems but to try to pump up his poll numbers with marketing lies, spin, propaganda?
As concerned citizens it is not our duty to listen to this compulsive liar.
The best thing we can do is keep the ratings very low by turning off the TV, to discourage him from continuing the show in future weeks, by embarrassing him with low ratings.
We can read a transcript the next day in the Times.
21
The networks are giving Trump air time simply to gin up their ratings. They could care less about what he says and whether there’s any relationship to the truth, the facts, or reality.
Like so much in today’s America, it’s all about the money.
11
I'm extremely disappointed in any television outlet that carries Trump's speech. He's playing you all (and all of us) like a fiddle. The man is an autocrat who is turning the U.S. into a third world country. Enough already. And, the democrats should be given an equal opportunity to refute all of the forthcoming lies from this "president" in the event his speech aired. I plan to boycott his speech, and I hope his viewership is lower than the turnout at his inauguration.
16
Why aren't the Democrats speaking loudly about the fact that only 10% of what has already been allocated has been spent. So President Pinocchio has 90% left to play with. Why does he need more?
11
We plan to join with our neighbors of all colors at 9pm, share some appreciation and respect for all people, giving them our attention rather than hearing his misguided message of hatred and divisiveness.
8
We don’t need to argue with him. Just keep saying: you promised Mexico would pay for this wall. Keep your promise!
10
There indeed is a humanitarian crisis at the US-Mexican border . . . 100% created and exacerbated by Mr. Trump and his ilk, chief among them one Steven Miller. Here, too, the Pottery Barn principle applies: you break it--in this case, cause it--you own it!
13
Why is he being given air time? Does he not get enough coverage already? This is exactly why he was elected in the first place - the media allows him to walk all over everyone and everything. He is a dictator and the media is helping. I am so sick of this.
24
I will not watch, but I will evaluate his arguments and proposals by reading a transcript. Do not feed his propaganda machine by watching a live telecast. Check his "facts" and note his deflection of blame, but don't enable the Trump drama aiming at his all-in base. Please join me in not watching live.
19
The networks should fact-check Trump in real time during his “speech” as well as allow a response from dems. In their response dems need to do more than say “no wall” and that there are better ways to achieve border security. They need to actually articulate what their plan would be using specifics and including cost estimates. They need to give the American people (especially Trump’s supporters) a realistic alternative for comparison in order to counter Trump’s claim that dems are for “open borders.”
8
Can Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh and mark Burnett fight it out on an island somewhere that’s not here? We are in a mess that they are largely responsible for.
13
@Anne Healy
And Island surrounded by a wall called "Trumplandia" - where Trump can live in exile after the Mueller Report becomes public and there reign as the Alt.Right's Supreme Supremecist King.
I'm all for it, as long as it's downwind.
7
No question that the Democrats should be given equal time by the networks.
Bad enough that the Nation be subjected to more Trump lies on national networks, unconscionable if the networks do not give equal time to Truth and Reality.
11
I encourage everyone to not watch to ight’s address. If you watch, you give him more power; you give his argument more power. Boycott the address. As a mother of four, this is a classic parenting strategy: don’t give in to the tantruming child.
19
I'm laying this crisis on McConnell. It is Congress that decides what monies are appropriated on what projects; the president only gets to ask Congress to consider actions or veto resolutions but he cannot dictate
The House has passed a spending bill that would reopen the government but coward McConnell will not vote on it because it does not have Trump's support. I have news for you, McConnell: you do not work for Trump but for the people of Kentucky who elected you.
Trump is a malignant human being; we have known this forever and cannot expect anything positive from him. Why are McConnell and his fellow Republicans in the Senate getting a free pass as if they have nothing to do with this crisis being prolonged? They need to man up already.
19
@Ronald Aaronson
Yes, and the House actually passed the same bill the Republican controlled Senate passed 100-0 in December, the “Republican bill”, which Ryan refused to allow the House to vote on then, requiring a new bill in the new Congress,
As Nancy Pelosi said, the Republicans won’t take yes for an answer.
This is all on McConnell AND on all Republicans in the Senate who just re-elected him Majority Leader and are blaming Democrats rather than forcing McConnell to allow a vote on the same bill they just passed 100-0 in December
100-0 (even just 67)would be win/win; it would override a veto, the government would open, while Trump could claim to Ann Coulter that he vetoed the bill and so did fight for the wall
9
With a history of lies and exaggerations, I believe like me, most Americans won't bother to watch trump. Follow up with Democrat viewpoint, maybe then. I don't spend much time listening to people with no credibility
8
Ugh...tell me how he thinks popping his chops on prime time will change the Democrats' minds! We've been in 2019 ONE WEEK and there's chaos! How we must look to the rest of the world; makes you wonder how we've lasted this long...
And this too shall pass (?!?)...
Ugh...2021 come fast enough to deliver us from this madness.
7
One FACT: Trump stated the wall would be made from Pesos.
It’s so disappointing that in 2019
A WALL could even be considered an effective and durable solution to human movements / smuggling / whatever. With modern technology and human will and ingenuity a wall stops nothing. Nothing! Outdated technology is all a wall is.
What an embarrassment to be focusing on given all the REAL ISSUES that could use attention.
One fact, that’s all that’s needed to snare Trump up, time and time again at the Rallies, Who’s going to pay for THE WALL? MEXICO! Fake News,
THE BORDER? Yes there is crisis there, human crisis, crisis that no wall can fix.
One of the biggest shames of all of American history, Land of the Free, Home of the Brave, needs a wall?
A candidate who makes outrageous claim on who foots the bill for a WALL, candidate becomes President and holds his own people hostage for the WALL. Such a disappointing Commander in Chief on so many levels. Disgusting lack of tact, sorely lacking in useful talent. The biggest hack this country has ever seen and hopefully ever will.
No real solutions, instead knee jerk decision making, distractions, lies, revolving stories, finger pointing, no international clout, self serving, lack of organization, no real negotiational skills. The guy painted himself into this corner, it’s amazing the lack of strategic ability. The country will survive him, the damage is severe but we will overcome this fraud.
5
Trump at his best, i.e. his worse: demonize his opponents, blame foreigners for a non existent problem, propaganda and lies to push his agenda no matter what the reality or repercussions. Another black eye on America's moral leadership.
By the way, has any one heard from the supposed religious conservatives? They care for the unborn but could care less about the children in detention and separated from their parents!
8
I think that the plan of McConnell and his ilk is to let Trump wreak havoc and then blame it on the Democrats. Trump himself may be using this partly to deflect attention away from his misdeeds and to delay the work of the newly elected House. Sounds like a conspiracy theory but maybe there's a bigger end game than just the wall. Even if Trump is a petulant narcissistic baby with low intelligence, his handlers may have hatched this scheme and sold it to him as a way to get his wall (when they actually have a more devious intent).
3
The Democrats should be given equal time to respond.
7
It has just been announced that all the major networks will be broadcasting President Trump's address to the American people tonight. This is the right thing to do. He should be allowed to plead his cause to us and we can either choose to listen to his remarks or not. There are those of us who are very interested to hear what he has to say. He promised he would provide a wall along the southern border and wants to fulfill that promise. It is for the safety and security of our citizens that we need that wall. It is very upsetting that there are politicians and liberals who care more about the illegals coming here than our own citizens. This is what the president meant when he said America first. He is right and other nations do exactly the same thing.
2
Trump has lied to the American people in every speech he's made so far. There is a 100% chance he'll do it again tonight.
11
Not only will he lie, he will insult and demean anyone who has an opposing view. I will not watch.
5
What is the point in the president's upcoming prime time lie-fest other than his telling more lies about the support he is receiving afterwards. When it is over those who want a wall will still want a wall and those who don't won't.
Kabuki Theater at its finest.
Meanwhile, 800,000 federal employees, a few million contractors and all of those who supply the agencies affected with the items it takes for everyday operations to include the people who fill the vending machines are worried about meeting due dates on bills, putting food on the table and in some cases making hard choices about much need medications.
The president saying those affected will make adjustments should be known as his, "Let the eat cake" moment
6
If, as this article notes, Obama was denied airtime to explain his use of executive powers in matters of immigration policy, how is giving Trump airtime to blow wind about his wall any different?
The wall is a totally manufactured issue and there is no crisis, other than the one he created. There is no national interest other than Trump's ego. Given his total lack of veracity, hiding behind the office of President a a basis for granting the request is a white wash.
10
I'm not a huge supporter of President Trump. However, the media and the House of Representatives are starting to push me closer to being a Trump supporter. Our great country needs to spend less time trying to discredit and destroy our president and more time trying to support him and allow him to do the job for which he was elected.....to lead and protect our country.
2
The country made a grievous error in electing an omnipotent narcissist president. The man to begin with is intellectually unqualified for the job and only seeks to represent the 38% that supports him.
10
Trump has yet to display any leadership. I'm beginning to believe that this whole farce has more to do with the Mueller investigation than with Trump's fake wall.
8
@MarathonRunner
If you expect Trump to "lead and protect our country," you're are in for a sad, sad awakening. Trump discredits himself with every lie that spews forth from his mouth. He is self-destructing because he is totally unqualified for the office he was placed into by the Electoral College, and he know it.
1
The media needs to fact check the president on this immediately and give Democrats a chance to respond. Trump is ramping up fear and hatred with lies for purely political ends.
3
If he cared about border security, why would he only spend 10% of the funds allocated for it this past year?
8
No network should air this- propaganda. And no one should tune in. He seems to listen to his ratings. Cut off his air.
7
Will President Limbaugh and Second Lady Coulter be given equal time for critiques?
4
Desperate time calls for desperate measure, and I am not talking about the country. It’s Trump, once more acting like a bully — walled off, castrated, and pushed to the corner in the White House since Christmas — is now using the news media as his “loudspeaker” to spew forth more hatred, false facts, irrational fears to the public.
Trump’s ignorance reality show entered our lives since 2016, it’s such a sad spectacle with tragic consequences that we are witnessing.
3
I'm going to watch the Three Stooges instead, they're more intellectually stimulating. And they could do a better job at running the country. Trump is not capable of doing anything "for dignity and humanity."
7
Turn off your TVs, internet live streaming, etc. tonite. The 'news' media should not be rewarded for putting on Trump's non-news, dishonest, blatant propaganda. I will make the time to READ the speech, and any rebuttals and analysis, to form my own opinion, tomorrow, in the quiet, thoughtful time, unencumbered by theatrics. Seriously, do you want to reward the networks, cable tv, and Trump for their greedy attempt for (and addiction to)...ratings? There have been plenty of times these networks/cable chose not to air a president's address to the nation, so this is not an issue of censorship.
I admit, I will find it hard to look away tonite; others may even find it impossible to do so. And so what does that say about us, and our addictions?
4
Does the President believe this will move the needle one iota in his direction? Or is this his idea of "being Presidential"? I don't know. I won't hear the speech because he's not allowed on our television.
7
I can see by the sheer volume of comments already submitted that I am hardly alone in my dismay and outrage that the President will take to the air to attempt to foment hysteria about immigration by spewing misinformation - and that the networks are capitulating to this abuse of power.
CALL or E-MAIL the networks and let them know what journalistic standards you believe should be upheld. Ask for real-time fact-checking, or air the speech on a delay.
Anything else would indeed be "fake news".
5
And if by some chance the Dems do cave and Trump gets his $5.7b to start the wall, how long will it be before he comes looking to Congress for the second installment? And will we as a nation be going through the same nonsense all over again? This willy-nilly claiming of a "national emergency" by a President to get his way is something that sorely needs to be addressed by Congress. Didn't he use the same "national emergency" tactic to impose his tariffs?
243
@DonS He doesn't care about the wall, he is playing
"chicken" with the democrats. This is just another publicity thing he is manipulating to get more free (to him) air time.
All of these trips he makes to see his deplorables is just for re-election propaganda, and he is shrewd enough to make all of the taxpayers pay for it, just like we pay for his golf weekends. He doesn't even need PACs, he can just steal it from the Treasury of the U.S.
26
@DonS
Should that happen, any cost overruns should be the burden of the contractors, so they better get it right the first time. They think they can just scam us with a phony bid knowing they'll fatten it later in the back room. Maybe Trump will refuse to pay them.
2
@DonS And consider this: The original estimates for the full wall ranged upward to $25b. That was with concrete construction. Now Trump says he'll go with steel as somehow a compromise to the Democrats.
Nobody has yet raised the concern that a steel wall will blow the $25b figure out of the water. Assuming the usual construction delays, costly court fights over eminent domain land seizures in Texas and now the cost of steel, not to mention the likely overruns from a government project like this and it would seem that we're (the US taxpayers, not Mexico) are looking at well over $100bn.
9
I like Mulvaney's euphemism in this article: "recast the narrative." I think that means "lie."
These days, network airtime is a questionable commodity. There are plenty of alternatives out there (Netflix, YouTube, DVD's et al) and I suggest we all take advantage of those resources. No doubt the networks will estimate how many viewers actually tuned in, and those numbers might be sobering. Meanwhile, Trump will continue his delusional exaggerations, as he did regarding the size of his inauguration crowd (among other lies).
3
This "emergency" was precipitated because 2 conservatives essentially made the point that Trump had backed down on his promise to Build the Wall. So now a "national emergency" is declared by the president to shore up his support from his all important "base." A deal had already been made and he once again changed course for a political reason: to appease his base. And now to pretend this money is also for "humanitarian reasons" is a mockery. It's a hugely expensive symbol of Trump's would be dictatorial power.
8
If we are too broke to feed hungry Americans and to subsidize housing support for homeless then we are too broke to use tax money to pay for corp[orate subsidies for jet fuel and for tobacco growing, and for ethanol. Money to "protect citizens" should start with new pipes in areas with polluted water coming into homes. Also pay for immunization mobiles so that all citizens can receive Flu Shots et cetera. Finally give equal air time to the Democrats.
5
Don't watch. Networks won't give Donald Trump airtime if he doesn't generate good ratings.
7
I suppose morbid curiosity will compel me to watch.
1
Simply put, any existing humanitarian crisis that exists is of the making by the Trump Administration.
3
How about a national boycott of all companies who buy air time to advertise during this mockery?
The networks pretty much have to televise this. After all, he’s still the president. However, even most members of his base must agree that this stunt is just propaganda rather than news.
3
I really wish the tv news outlets would not air this tonight. It’s all going to be lies that only his base will swallow. I will not be watching. Trump has turn this nation into a reality program. So sad for the 800,000 people not being paid this week.
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@Denise As horrible as I find trump, it's really hard to justify not airing a national address by the president. And in the best case scenario, trump goes off the rails and shows how unhinged he really is.
14
@Denise
I'm with you, Denise. I hope there are others who will not watch simply because they can't abide his mean-spirited, self-serving baloney. And if there's anything that gets under this guy's skin, it's low ratings.
13
@David Goldberg— they declined to air Obama’s address because they said it was to partisan. So there’s that.
19
The Democrats should be given equal time or the networks are showing bias since this is a political debate.
11
Disregarding the childish battle between the two sides let me see if I might shed some light onto the National Emergency idea. 1. The Constitution gives the President the power to declare a National Emergency. 2. Any funding must come from Congress because they control the allocation and funding. 3. The White House has asked the Departments to look for funding which can be used in the emergency. 4. The use and transfer of any Departmental funds for use by another Office is questionable for those funds were allocated by Congress for a specific reason to a specific Department not for something else. 5. Any portion of the Wall/Fence which is designated to be built on private property will require the Government to compensate the owners and that opens another chapter involving property rights and the governmental 'taking' of private property. This action would probably be a lawyers dream. So, in all I think Trump is blowing steam.
3
He’s already blown enough steam. If that’s all he plans on doing then he should put an end to the shutdown.
1
Like others, I have no desire to watch a "performance" made by the current occupant of the White House to deliberately lie to the American people. Yes, I am concerned about immigration reform but that's not what this is about.
Understanding that, it is incumbent on all of us individually and collectively to contact our congressional representatives to express our concern. After all, they represent us and I think some of them have forgotten that. This includes the speaker of the Senate, who from this writer's perspective, is doing absolutely nothing to help craft a solution to this situation. It is time for them, as a branch of government equal in power to the executive branch, to start looking out for our collective best interests in an effort to check the situation in which we now find ourselves held hostage.
4
I'm outraged by this. Trump is a liar, plain and simple. The networks are giving him free airtime to simply spread more misinformation and disinformation. There needs to be someone on the air fact checking everything he says. Otherwise, the television networks are nothing more than complicit Trump propagandists.
28
Let the Democrats appear before and after (If necessary) the 9pm entertainment.
7
I can't wait for all the clarity Donald.
5
What's distressing is that some people will actually believe the blatant lies Trump will spew tonight. I'm really disappointed that MSNBC, especially, is going to air this charade, and I'm already teeing up a good movie to watch instead, like "All the President's Men."
12
Network and cable news stations: I will not be watching. Televising this publicity stunt makes you complicit in this travesty.
23
If there was, or had been a crisis of national emergency, no one would be doing business along the border, or anywhere, in Mexico. This is not news. This is a lie. The convenience of this crisis is the only truth in this quagmire of propaganda by the President, and those who surround him. Trump's primetime remarks will demonstrate, as done at every occasion he speaks, that Congress is expedient and unnecessary; Democrat or Republican. This means, of course, that he no longer needs the American people. All he needs is himself, 24 hours per day.
10
Let's keep in mind that a few weeks ago he was ready to sign a deal that would provide 1.6 B for his wall. Rush and Coulter called him and he changed his mind. They told him he would be loosing his "base" if he didn't complete the wall. In addition he said "he would feel foolish if he caved on the wall". So now we have Rush and Coulter deciding policy. He also is aware that if he isn't re-elected he will likely face jail time with his family for what he has done. Someone should also ask him why the 5.6 B wasn't included in his budget for this year.
18
That horse has left the barn. I have been lied to so much that if I watched TV, I would resent the intrusion into my favorite shows (if I had favorite shows).
Trump has nothing to say to me that I want to hear. I have heard it all before. There is nothing a pusillanimous, treacherous, grifter can say to me that I will note. He cal peddle his snake oil of hate without me in the audience, and I won't be buying any. It is a waste of bandwidth for me to download video clips of it later.
15