A vote for any Republican is a vote against America.
5
POKES THAT HAUNT US
Responsible leaders and presidents (hired or elected) know how to listen, research, respect truth, use language effectively, and lead to find, establish and maintain the principles of American government / democracy. TODAY, in addition to all other major deficiencies, the president tells / tweets that he'd shut down the government if Democrats won't give him the money to build a border wall. Never mind that a wall won't regulate immigration. Never mind that a shut down would have disastrous effects on millions. There are all POKES that could do much more than HAUNT us.
4
$30 billion for wall. 60 million Trump voters. That's 500 bucks a piece. They want it, let them pay for it.
15
45 already received an offer for votes on the wall . . . and he turned it down. No deal.
6
The score for the last shutdown was $24 billion, if memory serves. But the way these guys talk about it you can tell they don't really pay much in the way of taxes. Presidents, senators, they dont pay like we do, they can afford to be cavalier about $24 billion.
2
Let Trump shut down the government. It will mean the Dems will
surely be able to benefit from this action. And we will have at the
very least a Democratic House.
6
So he's going to punish the country for not funding the LIE he promised the dumbest people in this country that Mexico would pay for his stupid pointless crazy expensive wall? The idiots chanted it like deranged sheep at his idiotic rallies. "Who will pay for the wall?!!" . .. "MEXICO" roared the sheep. Let Mexico fund it like Trump promised. The rest of us will be paying off that tax giveaway to the wealthiest in this country. Our water and air will be less safe. Our reputation world wide is in the toilet. But hey at least the CEOs in this country got to gift themselves with massive bonuses. So nice of Trump and the GOP to finally go to bat for these poor downtrodden millionaires and billionaires. Don't worry Trump supporters any minute you will all magically get muffin baskets just stuffed with cash from Trump's brilliant plan. Just go to the end of your driveway and wait.
17
Donald Trump again and again insults hard working government employees who do the business of making our democratic system work. Any government employee who votes Republican this election might as well shoot himself in the foot. The Republican Party is no longer a party of American citizens, but is now sold out to American Oligarchs and corporations who want to destroy our democracy. As a recently retired government employee with 25 years of service, I am horrified by Trump and his Republican accomplices. Either don't vote or vote for Democratic Party candidates and remove this administration before we turn into an autocratic banana republic.
10
Could there be anybody as pathetic as the Republican leadership? Yes, the president.
10
someday that unfortunate people are going to have themselves a win / a single honest to goodness win, but they've been playing this game and that game for such a long while, that they will have no idea how to handle it.
Time for a final showdown between Trump and Congress. And Congress will be first to blink. Time for all those GOP politicians to come to terms with their own cowardice.
1
All of this could be avoided if the Trump Foundation offered to pay for the wall, then send a bill to the American taxpayers. Along with Mexico, we could have a good laugh about that.
The only downside would be if the wall, which no sane person wants, actually got built.
1
I wonder how many times Trump threatened his private business partners that he'd shut down the resort, or hotel, or golf course .... if they didn't cave into his inflexible demands? Notice that it is not a wide-spread practice. In labor relations if you're in a unionization campaign and you threaten to shutter the business if the union gets in, that's typically an unfair labor practice. So only lawless employers go there. Shuttering government isn't addressed in the Constitution over policy piques. Paying our bills is explicitly listed (see 14th Amendment).
Voters should punish those who shutter government from piques over small-minded policy, like building an ineffective wall to irritate our southern neighbors and fan racist flames in the US. Save it for mistaken US supreme court nominations, saving humans from abuse by our own government.
4
Wait... I thought Mexico was paying for the wall?
12
Shut it down then, Donny. If you can.
See where it gets you.
But I don't think you can expect to play by the same rules for much longer and still win. We're figuring out the rile-up-the-base-with-unkeepable-promises game faster than you thought we would. And you're running out of time.
Mueller will play his hand, perhaps sooner than you think.
6
The government of the U.S. is not the private playground of its’ adolescent president but the property of the people. Let the people arise and demand that their government keep working for their benefit as intended and not be a pawn in the sand-box of Trump.
9
@Lewis Sternberg
Let the people arise and demand a mental evaluation of Trump!
7
I doubt that Trump supporters would have chanted "build that wall!" if they had known we would need to cough-up non-existent excess dollars to pay for it because: there would be reduced tax revenue due the BIG-money folks' and BIG businesses' BIG tax cuts, Trump was going to create an absolute economical mess due to his tariffs, and he was going to be charging the government (paid for by taxes) for his inordinately numerous holidays spent at his resorts instead of Camp David, a resort of sorts that was "good enough" for former presidents but not good enough for his over-inflated ego. He promised that Mexico would pay for that blight on our border, but anyone with two brain cells to rub together knows Trump is a habitual liar.
And I sincerely doubt that if our so-called president had ever had the interests of the citizens and the employees of this country at heart, he would not be so cavalier about shutting down the government every time he doesn’t get his way.
He says we're the laughing stock of the world. If we are, it's because they know he manipulated our election system to get into power and we continue to allow him to stay. I don’t think Earthlings are laughing, though . . . . I think they're angry—because he is condescending and rude. They're worried—because he is a bumbling idiot as a leader. They're confused—because he lies and changes course constantly. And they're frightened—because he's narcissistic, inept, and unstable.
And I feel just like they do.
10
yep
1
@Gerithegreek
The problem is 85 million Americans think and act the same way as Trump! Hence his popularity! Keep in mind there are more poor, narcissistic liars, cheaters and killers in prison than there are millionaires. Trumps behavior is not representative of the wealthy 1% - it is common among the masses.
3
@Gerithegreek I seriously believe T is losing his mental abilities. It may be that he is actually unable to remember what he has tweeted from one day to the next. Also, he can't seem to cope with the probable bad results of his snap decision.
Someone should insist on a mental evaluation on this guy!
6
According to the NYT, 62,985,106 people voted for Trump.
If each of those persons donated a paltry $396.92, Trump would have his $25 billion.
Come on, folks - if the wall really means that much to you, it's time to put your money where your mouth is. Just don't expect the rest of the country to pay for Trump's lies.
15
D. Epp--Yup, start a "go fund me" page. But, make sure your hero adds his donation to the cause. You know how committed he is. (He should be committed.) You can do it, folks!
9
@ChesBay
It gets even better, ChesBay - if those voters each wrote a check for an even $400, there would be an extra $5 million for paint. I'm sure $5 mil could buy enough *white* paint to do the wall justice.
2
Mr. Trump,
You may want to talk to Christo about a border wall....
Just sayin...
5
Oh, the petulant child-n-chief...tweeting whatever comes into his feeble mind. But wait, didn't he promise Mexico would pay for the wall? Just another lie from the stack of lies that hopefully soon bury this sad sack of a President. Now go take your ball & jacks and go play in the corner...little boy!
10
Let's be honest .... the GOP's bonafides in wrecking the economy over the years is well established. Of the 111 months the economy spent in recession over the post-war era since Ike, 89% of those months were accumulated under GOP tenures. So now, they're adding government shutdowns to their portfolio. It used to be all about deficits. But, since they've been unmasked as THE party of deficits, its about border walls.
I guess that's what you call conservative progress ...
9
Did Putin say he wanted the government shutdown? Good doggie, Trump.
11
The nation knows that POTUS has said and done a number of idiotic things before and after his election. Nothing, however, surpasses the wall. It is a political boondoggle that will use taxpayer funds solely for political gain. It will accomplish nothing. The funds could be utilized for a hundred better purposes. Never underestimate the stupidity of the American voter.
6
i dont think voters are stupid, but uniformed. But for DT Ego is everything... he wants to leave his mark on the land literally...when we are all dead and gone, just like the great wall of China, from space he wants the world to see the wall and written across the top of the wall the brand, 'TRUMP'...
3
perhaps Trump doesn't care about the mid-terms because that is what the secret meeting with Putin was about? Fixing those like they did in 2016, so GOP win regardless of whatever crazy Trump vomits up?
5
@Rachel
Trump thinks this is like getting elected using an outdated electoral college, but he, and his uneducated followers are about to get schooled like the democrats did in 2010. Only this time, it's about putting the skids to this freak show of a potus.
5
Lots of liberals on this thread goading a government shut down--- Be careful what you ask for! It takes one tweet from Trump to blame a shutdown on the Democrats and there are over 100 million Americans ready to buy into that... I just watched shark week and you liberals are paddling in shark infested waters..
1
@Aaron
I don't think so, I think it's a smart play, only a trump supporter would think different. If anyone is swimming with sharks, it republicans, because democrats are circling them in the water.
5
All of this discussion about funding for the wall is total unnecessary. President Trump promised you and me MANY times that Mexico will pay for it,
totally and completely.
He never exactly told us how he knew or how he would make them pay - but heck - he never explained how about anything else.
So stop worrying about it, he will do it just like he has done everything else that he promised to MAGA.
7
His posts are predictable.
He posts about the wall so his base will think that democrats will be responsible for any government shut down and/or preventing him from building his wall.
He posts about the private NYT meeting so he can again show his base that the press is their enemy.
And of course he continues to post to distract from his mounting legal and ethical issues.
7
John M--Remember, he was going to sue all the women who accused him of sexual assault... Did he? No, he still thinks he can bully everyone around him.
4
No ferderal budget should be held hostage so the so called president can full fill a campaign promise, that he said the Mexican government would pay for, unless his base couldn't hear Mexico saying no, over the laughter coming from the Mexican leadership.
If Trump and his base are so sure a wall will stop the tide of Mexicans leaving the country, then they should be ready along with Trump to ante up out of their own pockets, that is if his supporters have any of that tax reform windfall they received, oh wait, they didn't get the $4,000 grand Trump promised them from the so called middle class tax break.
What this country really needs is the promised road to citizenship that both sides of the isle have promised over and over. But the real issue isn't the wall, and who's going to pay for it. It's about a campaign promise that was made with no intention of getting the Mexican government to pay for. Trump, just thought, like his business, he just orders it and viola, it's done.
What he's trying to do is hold the whole country hostage to his wall. The democrats should call his bluff, and let the chips fall where they may. If they give him what he wants now, they will be like him, and his base.
4
Sounds like a win-win for Democrats. Kill the wall and get a government shutdown as a gift for the midterms. At long last, we have Trump cornered and he is clearly on the defensive. This is a real shift and it might finally be the beginning of the end.
Also, it must be bad when Democrats look like the winners, even with the GOP structural advantage, which requires them to win more than about 60% of the vote to actually win elections.
6
It's almost time for we taxpayers to go on strike.We have gotten nothing from the tax breaks for the rich,Bozo wants us to help out the farmers because of HIS idiotic tariff war, we're now supposed to pay for his absurd multi billion dollar wall, every weekend we pick up the tab for HIM to play lounge lizard at one of his clubs and on and on this sleaze show goes.Enough..let's refuse to pay taxes until $$ is spent to make the mid terms safe and to fix our infrastructure,shore up the ACA,fund planned parenthood..oh don't get me started.
8
@susan McCall - Vote in November and bring friends. Make it a party.
5
What the heck? He doesn't need any Democratic votes to get what he wants. Does he not know who controls both houses of congress and most of the judicial branch?
4
I suspect 45 is not getting enough attention. IMO he tends to do these kind of stunts that have the power to overwhelm the media and Congress any time he feels in need of more chaos.
3
If the Democratic Socialists take power- How many millions of illegal immigrants will they want to allow?
First of all- where will they live? Where will they work? How many bed sheets can be folded, pools cleaned, lawns mowed and vegetables be picked before industry saturation? There are already 13 million illegals here now- don't you dare tell me ALL are gainfully employed..
Here's my deal- Build the wall- seal the border - deport the illegals - then implement a national healthcare system.
1
And all this effort Trump has put into trashing Mexicans and Hispanics in general - they have not attacked America. This is also a distraction and waste of resources that should be spent on terrorists - our REAL enemies.
4
Paul Shindler--Yes, White Nationalist terrorists. The ones who do most of the terrorism, in this country. I'm for that.
4
At the end of the day, it's just another Trump tweet.
4
I feel uninformed. I did not know that the function of Government Shut Down was the way presidents punish and manipulate Congress and the Senate. Ha
6
Trump is not shutting down anything. GOP, grow a spine!
4
This is a borderline-malpractice description of Trump's campaign promise about the wall. He said he would pay for it. Shutting down the government until taxpayers pay for it is not a fulfillment of that promise -- it is a betrayal. Full context, please.
6
As a Democratic voter I can't believe he would but sure hope he does shut down the government and the shutdown lasts until the election. Would it even be held? Oops maybe not such a good idea! Trump dreams of elections not being held.
Well, maybe the shutdown would have to wait, but, it would also be a wonderful time, before the midterms, to invite Putin and Lavrov over to question McFaul and get in a round of golf as well. What's the problem, we're all humans, sort of.
Even if it's not apparent to his base, Trump is truly an idiot politically. Here's hoping it helps the country.
2
Since the majority of Americans don’t want the WALL and the Mexicans Trump promised won’t pay why doesnt Trump pay for it himself with a personal check. Counting on the Democrats won’t happen ever. The country is already more in debt because of Trump than it was before his election. Pass the hat to the Republican Congress. Let them pay. The new tax law is making them rich and they can afford it better than the populace.
8
The very first thing that should be done when Trump shuts down the government is that his secret service detail be relieved of their job, after all they're payed for by the government, extremely over paid.
6
Unfollow Trump on Twitter and focus on what matters: November
7
"Trust me, Mexico will pay for the wall!"_The Mad Hatter
9
Give him a lollipop and tell him to go back to his playpen.
This childish behavior is getting tiresome. Hopefully the Dems will get majorities in the both chambers in the fall, then things will finally get interesting again.
And hopefully some modicum of sanity will return to the swamp that has swallowed the White House and the Capitol.
10
Threats, lies and racist hate. Impeach Traitor Trump.
10
How many more days will we have to endure listening to this moron?
Go right ahead- throw your tantrum and shut the government down. Can we shut down your twitter account at the same time?
4
Firstly DEMS don't have the power to okay the border wall; can someone explain to Trump that the Republicans are the majority in both houses!
Secondly, I heard a Senator this morning suggest that we tell Trump that he needs to fulfill his campaign promise and get the Mexicans to pay for it. He also suggested that a separate bank account be set-up for the Mexicans to make deposits. When that account reaches $50-Billion he can have his wall.
8
Little fingered bully boy is at it again, threatening to shut down the government over not getting his border wall with Mexico - yes the one the Mexican government was going to pay for. Obviously traitor dictator-wanna-be believes governing, by blustering threats, alienating all our long time allies, and attending political rallies, when not golfing, cozying up to the enemy, is the way to rule a nation. Oblivious to this mentally unstable stumbling fool is the fact that he is a sick con man joke to everyone, but his racist, misogynistic, amoral, unethical, followers, abetted by a spineless republican congress, hell bent on 'party over country'.
6
This may seem off topic, but I think it cuts the chase. Would anyone commenting here, who runs a business, hire Trump for position in it? If so, what would that position be, and why would Trump be suitable for it? Is the premise, that good leadership and good follower-ship go together, valid?
2
This is the' Tantrump du jour.' When two year olds tantrum, early childhood educators, have suggested that they not be paid attention. Ignoring the behaviour and not feeding it, is useful, and may act as a deterrent. When this man behaves as he does he is rewarded by a flood of media reportage, which is the oxygen which keeps him afloat and enables him undeterred to continue to misbehave as he does. The word "misbehaves" is a gross understatement.
It is heartening reading the comments in this column and other decrying the behaviour. Unfortunately, none of it seems to stop the avalanche of Tweets, poor grammar, and unspeakable incompetence. We are all complicit is wanting more of this circus. The media does have a responsibility in reporting the truth. However, it has not succeeded in altering any of what is unfolding before our eyes.
Shut it down, who'd notice??
(but don't go back later and pay the "non-essentials" for the time they sit at home.)
To every voter who thought Trump would be a good president because he'd run government more like a business...
If the CEO of any major corporation behaved like Trump, Tweeting and threatening in recurring fits of pique to shut down operations, the Board of Directors would vote him/her out of a job. He/she would never last close to 19 months...
9
We must begin seriously considering the necessity of a Direct Democracy, circumventing all of this nonsense.
2
As a steadfast and vociferous opponent of all things Trump and Republican, all I can say is PLEASE make this come true!
PLEASE, Donald Trump, PLEASE Mitch McConnell and PLEASE Paul Ryan...Shut Down Our Government...because such an action would further decimate your already exceedingly small chance of holding on to a GOP run Congress...and make all of my dreams come true. :-)
2
Good for Trump! How many more decades must we "kick the can" down the road on immigration? Like all legislation, there will be Winners and Losers. I just heard on NPR today- Bernie Sanders "national healthcare" proposal would cost $36 Trillion over 10 years! No reason why the Democrats can't give Trump $30 Billion for his wall..
1
@Aaron - Interesting. So you have a problem paying for health care which will keep Americans productive and able to earn a living and pay taxes but you're OK with Trump giving welfare to farmers and building a useless block of concrete?
It seems like there is a pretty obvious solution here. Congress should pass legislation authorizing construction of the wall, conditioned upon receipt of funding from Mexico, and with construction to commence once the cash hits the treasury. Let Trump keep his promise.
Who knows: If things keep going Trump’s way, the Mexicans may want it someday to keep the gringos out.
2
'Government shutdowns are good, and easy to win!'
(Huge laugh emoji here)
1
Let'im do it. They don't work for us anyway, so why pay'em. Except that too many good people and not enough not-good people will suffer. But not the prez and his troups.
3
That's kind of the point:
"... indictments of Americans that are on the way."
We've been hearing this prediction for a long, long time. Maybe it will come true, but it sure hasn't yet. Mueller indicted 12 Russians recently, and 13 more Russians were indicted long ago. Paul Manafort's trials starts tomorrow, but the charges have nothing at all to do with Trump. The conduct involved occurred several or many years before Manafort ever worked for Trump. Mueller has "flipped" several former Trump officials, and Trump has obligingly bad-mouthed the "flippees," but so far not one of them has given Mueller any of the evidence that we all were assured would be coming our way "any day now."
Is it hard to understand why people are starting to wonder about Mueller? Rod Rosenstein's letter to Mueller was delivered in May of 2017. We're coming up on August of 2018 now. Isn't it about time for Mueller to fish or cut bait?
@MyThreeCents
White Water took nearly 3 years with far less information to sift through!
1
Ken Starr took 4 years to get something on Clinton. Starr wandered all over Arkansas & Washington DC trying to find something, anything. Ended up with lie about sex. The base should shut up. Mr. Mueller still has 2 years before he gets as desperate as Starr. Won’t take that long & that is what is worrying the base. Mr. Mueller’s case will be fact based evidence & unshakeable when he finishes. The little man will go down in big time flames on reality TV.
1
The president's threat of shutting down the government seems disassociated with any concerns about the costs of such an action: Five years ago, when the government shut down for 16 days due to the inability of congress to agree on funding for the Affordable Care Act, the cost was enormous.
Loss to U.S. economic output for that period was estimated to be $24 BILLION. Among other disruptive and stressful situations, approximately 800,000 "non-essential" federal employees were put on furlough, essentially being unemployed for the period. Our National Parks lost about 700,000 visitors PER DAY, costing nearby cities and town huge losses in revenue when tourists didn't show up. ("Newsweek", 12/15/17)
Additionally, instead of focusing on the ability to function at a normal level, federal officials were severely distracted by having to make contingency plans to deal with the shutdown.
The president's hostage-taking methods for "getting his wall" show not only a lack of negotiating skill, but a reckless disdain toward the expense and disruption that goes with a government shutdown.
Disgraceful!
6
“I would be willing to ‘shut down’ government".
Sure he would, it's all a game to him.
He wastes tax-payer money as if it were his own personal piggy bank. The economy takes a billions of dollar hit with a shutdown, the GDP dips and agencies are left to play catch up for months afterwards, another huge cost. Government employees do not get paid ... Does he care, no.
It's obvious that whatever happens to Immigration, reformed or not, and wall or not, we still need people to do the manual labor that Americans don't even bother which to apply. The concept of a "Guest Worker" temporary Visa will be needed regardless. This of course would allow thousands of these part-time people to enter the U.S.
We used to call these people "Migrant Farm Workers" but through the efforts of leaders like Ceasar Chavez the owners were no longer able to treat them to deplorable conditions and starving wages. So what happened to this system? Apparently illegal, or undocumented workers began to substitute for the better treated Migrants.
I think some are still out West but the enlarged overall population in America has much greater needs in all aspects of food processing, janitorial services, home cleaning, and yard maintenance. These are not seasonal, but necessary services for us to have.
So bluster on immigrant haters. Look up to your savior to build a wall that will not eliminate our need for extra people. Of course this will mean some numbers of regulations, fair pay, day care for their children and some type of health care.
2
C. Coffey--HE has virtually no Americans working at MaraLago. Just applied for 70 more foreign workers. It's okay, though, because he probably won't pay them, anyway. Too bad for the foreigners, though.
4
No. Americans aren't paying for the wall. You said you would have Mexico pay for it. And your easy to win trade deal just cost Americans 12 billion dollars in emergency aid for farmers affected by your bad trade deal. You need to hear the word no when it's not your money nor your livelihood.
6
Let him shut the country down. His base who receive government benefits, bailouts, & salaries will have to just appreciate his promise of the wall even more. Maybe the Mexican (American) citizens are the ones he meant would pay for the wall (not the country of Mexico). The republicans are in control & they are the majority, why can he not get what he wants??? It is evidently not all the democrats fault that he hasn't got the wall. If he shuts down the government, then the elections will be postponed & he will have even more to tweet rant about. His base wants him to run the country his way...Shut it Down & leave it until there is a revolt by the taxpayers. That wall is not that vital to this country...healthcare, infrastructure, jobs, wage increases, better education...they are vital & he is shutting them down everyday just because he can. His base wants the government shut down. Let him do it. Then have the elections, see who wins.
1
He should just say the wall is done it is big and beautiful, bigger than any other wall .. China’s even! and anything reported to the contrary is fake news.
1
Mr. Trump could have the wall if he knew how to deal honestly. The Democrats have demonstrated a willingness to go for the wall, if DACA were given a clean bill to resolve that problem. They thought there was agreement but he decided this was too good of a political button to push when he needed applause at his dwindling rallied, so he attached poison pills that included the requirements that only the rich, or highly skilled workers be allowed to immigrate. He does not want all those workers at his hotel properties to apply to be citizens, then he might have to pay them better or honor their contracts.
So this may be a great issue for him to rally his troops, but it is even better for the Democrats to rally their base. Unfortunately for Republican Congressmen, he isn't up for re-election so he really can't get his ego involved in their political problems.
If he was smarter, he would offer a DACA bill with a provision for better handling asylum seekers without the need to kidnap their kids and give it to the Dems to get the issue out of the Republican Congress's way. Of course, he won't do this, he isn't capable of smart.
1
Donald, please remember your base insists the deficit be cut. You can't keep spending government money willy nilly. For instance, you should pick only one destination for your recent discovery of available $billions; welfare for the farmers or the promised non-Mexico funded wall or the promised infrastructure overhaul. Sorry, but that pesky deficit just doesn't want to magically reverse itself.
2
Trump is obsessed by that border wall cause he promised it. What did he promise Putin?
6
Trump needs to digest the fact he represents all of America. Yes, most of us want to get this problem fixed but believe this wall is a joke. He has already added over a trillion dollars to the deficit, enough is enough. When he gets the money from Mexico build it.
1
He threatens to shut down the government, the Congress men and women whom we, the voters, pay to work for us.
Does a president have the right to do this?
1
Maybe the paper will look at the polls and understand that the wall is something a majority of Americans agree with. If the Democrats want to play this game again (they tried to shutdown the government over DACA), they will lose again. Plus, this will show that Democrats care more about illegals than they do citizens, as they steal the benefits (welfare, Medicaid) and jobs of our poor. Please look at the study conducted by The Civil Rights Commission, started by MLK, to get an idea of the effects of it.
@djaymick - Please provide the proof of this assertion.
There's no indication that a majority of Americans want this.
Will a single Republican stand up and denounce the actions of the appalling "president" their Party created?
1
Perhaps Canada needs a wall to keep out US guns and drugs at the "porous" border. America can pay for it.
Oh, wait, it would keep out asylum seekers coming through and from the USA...and Canada does not want to do that, imprisoning people in cages, tending toward kidnapping their children, criminalizing them, etc. USA is no longer a "safe" country for those seeking refuge. Heartless.
.I admire those who are trying to do something about it, like the ACLU, and other advocates for the poor and friendless. We have to keep reminding ourselves that ugly Americans are the minority, even though the majority lacks power right now. Better days are coming.
6
As a Democrat, I think Dems should call Donald's bluff and give him $25 billion for a wall in exchange for legalizing the 1.8 million Dreamers.
1
Antagonizing both parties and disruptively changing positions is the perfect strategy for paralyzing the country....almost as if he was doing Putin's bidding.
1
yep...
How many times did we here -"Mexico is paying for the wall, and the price just went up!" One thing is for sure, when all is said and done with Trump(hopefully sooner rather than later), he will go down as the biggest liar in history.
8
But his supporters will still support him.
4
Since Mr. Trump wants the wall so badly he should pay for it himself.
6
Now, that's what I call governing! Sure, you can have your wall, as soon as Mexico pays for it like you promised.
And you understand that a government shutdown will not help in the mid-terms, nor will it stop Mueller.
1
Very few people believed that the wall was actually going to be built and even fewer believed Mexico would pay for it.
It was nothing but a campaign cheer leading chant.
Time for Congress to stand up to Trump.
Dare him to expose all the silly putty that is in his head
3
W e have to quit being distracted by Trump's throwaway remarks. Stay with the important stories. Can anyone remember Helsinki, Singapore, NATO, G7 or the children forcibly separated from their families. #45 tosses a bone and the press wastes valuable resources chasing down these distracting smoke clouds.
2
Let him shut down the government. We will certainly be better off without Trump in charge.
1
If Pelosi had a clue, she would take to the Senate floor tomorrow and spend 8 hours playing video clips of Trump saying that Mexico will pay for the wall. And then drop the mic and walk away.
8
@tom harrison
Former Speaker and current minority party is a representative of House. She is not a Senator.
3
@C. Coffey - my bad:(
Wait, so does this mean that Mexico isn't paying for the wall? I thought that was part of the deal, right? I mean, considering Trump has billed himself as the ultimate dealmaker, there's no way that deal will fall through, right?
The inability to distinguish absurd fiction from clear and consistent facts belonging to about 1/3rd of this country cannot be ignored or airbrushed into something else. So goes the old saying, 'you can't fix stupid'.
2
He’s a showman that loves to be the center of the news cycle. He loves the attention he gets by shocking the world and shows his base that he is continuing to slay the dragon of the status quo. There is nothing of substance here only bravado in the hope that he will continue to be praised and loved by his most loyal, but dwindling number, of hard core followers. His demise will start with the midterms in November and will end with the general election in 2020 when he is voted out of office. The circus will then pack its tents and move on. His name will then become famous for what you call a nation with a charlatan for a leader: a trumpstate!
1
you fellows are going to be 'some peeved' when the wall (and of course, the wall within that wall) are finally done and you understand 'most of the good jobs are on the other side' ...
could you have possibly laid your talents in a poorer direction ??
1
Impeach.
Trump's continuing attacks on the nation's press, his childish behavior, his closeted meeting with Putin, his attacks on our allies, his tacit (and sometimes active) support of racism, all contributing to his inability to govern, to realize that he works for all of the people of the United States of America and not just for those who blindly support him regardless of all of the above -
What else is there to do?
3
Build 50 feet of wall and put murals of the wall on both ends and he will think it got built. If he can full us about no Russian collusion and problem over with NK, we can fool him about his wall.
Trump can talk WALL till he is blue in the face but it won’t happen. There will be no cooperation from the Democrats and why should there be when Trump promised that Mexico would pay for it! Remember?
2
This is red meat for the Trump cultists. I'm convinced a lot of these folks hate the government and shutting it down is actually a good thing. The real issue is keeping brown people out of this country . This is what drives the white nationalism that is the Trump administration.
1
"The president is fully open to shutting down the government." Hey! Me, too!
5
Does, the's the Donald wake up at night with cold sweats when he realizes the vile words he uses..........heck not, it just inspires his "I am the King" early more "emperor" tweets.
this is a nonsensical distraction but please do shut it down. nothing i can think of that would help the Democrats more.
1
Gee, I wonder why the Congressional Republicans face a difficult election. Could it be that they are protecting the most corrupt president in U.S. history and have become, for all practical purposes, his own personal mafia. I think even some of the people in our country, who were fast asleep during most of this, are now finally waking up and smelling the coffee.
3
Surely, it is the Mexican taxpayers, who will finance the wall.
This shut down threat and daily behavior from President Trump who said “Journalists are the enemy of the people” and says Russia is a friend. Smells and looks like an out of crazy emulating dictators. His comments actually increased violence against journalists. Unconstitutional, un-American and unacceptable for any sitting president. Divisive and dangerous. He needs to go along with collaborator Pence choirboy hiding from the collusive conspiracy he’s absolutely a part of. Trump begged Russia to hack. Will Russian assassinations such as the ones in the UK of Trump detractors be next?
1
Trumps hateful speech against journalist I really believe was in part responsible for the death of those reporters
Donald, about that famous good-for-the country government shutdown you keep talking about, only a genius like yourself could make such an astute move on the eve of the midterm elections. Think of all the world-wide attention you’d get especially from the fake news! You know you’d love that!
Now about that wall, the one that Mexico and the US taxpayers keep resisting paying for. There have to be other ways to fund it. When there’s a will, there’s a way!
1. Have you thought of a go-fund-me campaign? There must be hundreds of people who’d love to kick in small donations. Jared or Ivanka might be able to help set this up.
2. You might get Mexico to at least partly fund a wall if you promised that you would stay in perpetuity on the US side of it.
3. Some of your mega donors might want to buy portions of the wall especially if they could include their own special messages on their section.
4. Think of the possibilities of the wall as print and TV advertising space. And, what a great place to show outdoor movies! Think of the destination movie premiers.
5. It may seem a bit iffy, but how about selling your own Trump brand? But your crack lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, will adroitly dispel any issues. It could even be a tax deduction for you. Imagine how great will your name in golden letters look repeated along that long long wall?
Think about it Donald. Seriously.
4
But don’t you remember Mr. Trump that the impoverished country of Mexico was going to pay for your wall? You promised. If they don’t pay why don’t you write a personal check and pay for it yourself. After all it is your wall. We don’t want it, you do.
2
yes, please sir, could we have some more shutdown? Oct 1st would be a good day to do it. If it lasted 3 weeks it would be fabulous--it would teach all those demmies that all they have to do is be patient.
2
They've already printed t-shirts naming it, "The Pelosi Shut Down".
I want a shirt that's says, "Godspeed Sir Knight Mueller!"
1
The majority of Americans see no need for the Trump Wall. In such case—and since Mexico has refused to pay for it—the president should pay for it himself.
That way Mexican rapists will be kept out while Americans from our government are free to imprison and rape 700 plus helpless immigrant children whose parents they have casually lost.
2
Here's a better idea. Let's shut down trump. Build a wall around him and his smart phone (see the irony, smart phone, dumb "president").
Republican CONtrol of Government must go. VOTE Democrats in.
2
Trump is already backing down. At the press event this morning, he wussed it up.
2
Lie, deflect, distract, shiny object, dog whistle racism, vomit, slime repeat....Doesn't matter, every
narrative, threat, spin, policy via
tweet, is the same effluent from a polluted vessel...
He should work on reuniting every single child that was taken from their parent before any more bombastic tirades! We have not forgotten!
And again, God help us, what is he modeling for our children and young people? Donald Trump is an object lesson of what happens when a man with no integrity, character, wholesome moral base/beliefs; entrusted with the assignment to protect and uphold American interest, goes off and has now become the object of scorn, hatred and distrust around of world.
Societal norms are what reinforce American unity, but Trump's actions have him rapidly moving towards being an object of disgust for Americans. Can't wait for this dark period of America history to end.
I.C.E. does need to be reformed- too, too many horror stories....Restore the children you big bully.
"Trump Derangement Syndrome." That's funny. If anyone is deranged, it's Donald Trump. All the media has to do is set up a camera and a microphone and start recording. Trump will be shouting racist, sexist nonsense in seconds. Or read any of his tweets. The man cannot type a simple declarative sentence without multiple errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation--oh, and FACTS. For crying out loud, Trump--it's your NATIVE LANGUAGE. Learn to use it properly. You want to be taken seriously? Then start thinking, writing, speaking, and acting like a rational human being. But I guess that's too much to ask. #NotMyPresident
2
Please Donnie -
Do this - please go ahead and shutdown the government. Go with all the negative force you have brought to our country.
Please go ahead, do it!
2
It is not just funding for the border wall but rather all the four changes that he wants. I hope that if we have a shutdown, nobody who does not work gets paid. Especially say every employee in congress.
Does President Pathological suffer a political death wish?
1
I would like to see Democrats propose 1% income tax increase and 2% corporate tax increase to fund DHS activities without mentioning the wall and anything else. The reason for the tax increase is to reduce deficit spending and balance the budget without cuts to social spending (SSA, Medicare, Medicaid, funding for education, etc).
I am curious to see how the GOP, the president and corporate America will respond to this reasoning.
5
Build the Wall or Shut it Down!
A government that cannot protect our borders deserves to perish from the face of the earth.
2
The dreaded Government Shutdown. The shutdown that is not a shutdown. Medicare, Medical, Social Security and the VA will remain open for business - no shutdowns there. Essential government employees will remain at their desks. Non-essential government employees [why do we have non-essential government employees?] will be furloughed, and then Congress will pay them for the time they didn't spend plodding along on their non-essential jobs. The military will stand ready to support our allies if Article 5 comes into play...Except for the dire headlines in The Times and W*P* and clever skits on SNL and the Late Show, the Government Shutdown won't have much of an impact on everyday America. Ironically, it's the Party formerly known as Democrats who are screaming for the fake shutdown that will repel them back to sovereignty in the Swamp, and the small government GOPers who are praying to keep those non-essentials fiddling away until December.
Fine, shut it down! It wouldn't be the first time that Republicans have done so, at taxpayer expense. Trump and the GOP are nothing but a bunch of crooks. I'm so sick of their antics. The worst part is that I'm paying for this freak show!
3
Democrats, please, please, please call his bluff. Let Trump shut down the government 6 weeks before the election. A perfect metaphor for the idiocy, corruption and incompetence of his entire administration.
4
@Sparky, Yes! Either way his true colors would shine through.
Silly rabbit ,tricks are for kids. Stupid presidents are for ,well ,us for right now. Our tantrum president continues to shorten his time in office,so let him have as many tantrums as he likes, McConnel is only tolerating the fool , though the senator can't contain him. Shut the government down & you will be impeached expiditiously.
1
What?? But he “promised” that Mexico would pay for the stupid wall. Did the Republicans forget that one??
Elect a clown and we get a dysfunctional circus. God help us all.
2
Trump is famous for breaking promises.
He promises to pay his bills, then files bankruptcy to get out from under them.
He promises to be faithful to a wife until death parts them, then he cheats on her before he divorces her, or she divorces him.
He lies to the entire nation about how good he is doing at running (or is that ruining?) the country all by himself.
See a pattern?
And you expect him to keep a campaign promise to make Mexico pay for a wall?
I can here the tee hees from the White House now.
Sure wish I could laugh but the tracks of my tears have eroded my face too deep to let my jaws open to do so.
30 foot wall, 31 foot ladder. Wall goes 20 feet deep, 30 foot deep tunnel. And I’m supposed to pay taxes for this stupidity.
4
@Mel, The saddest thing of all, is that his supporters want too! Whew!
Go figure.
Good grief! What’s next from this spoiled brat? Holding his breath until he turns blue? Of course, that would be a nice change from his normal Cheeto color. What a complete imbecile.
4
Paul Ryan that scurrilous racist Republican from Janesville Wi did everything in his power to destroy American Democracy. Now he is out and I hope his failure rubs off on Wisconsin’s cruel and dishonest governor.
5
Shut the government down, Trump. Show us, again, what a fool you are.
5
He’s threatening to shut down the government over the wall again? He must have had a couple free minutes and, out of habit dipped into his beat-up sack of old scary tweets. Well just do it Donald. Go for it. Shut down the government on the eve of the mid-term elections. That’s pure political genius from the genius at the helm of the GOP. Even if American taxpayers don’t feel like forking over billions for your wall, shutting down the government will surely convince Mexico to pay for it. That’s the ticket Donald. We'll all watch the show.
3
Sounds like a dictator to me. smh.....
So we just gone shut down the government like a light switch in the kitchen huh. 45 is a joke.
1
Can he just shut up one day and not threaten anything?
4
@Sherry Moser steiker
Obviously he can’t.
1
This is such a stupid idea that nobody with any experience could possibly have come up with it. He must be taking advice from Steve Miller.
3
So Mexico is not going to pay for it; we don't want to pay for it- or even want it; and the man child is having a temper tantrum over it. Well, go ahead. Shut it down and give the Democrats another round in the chamber for November, so that when the house and Senate are Democrat run, you can be impeached, fired, and possibly imprisoned. Go ahead "Wah!" some more, and do it! What an immature child!
1
A moron grifter will never change his spots. Trump continues to shoot himself in the foot every day. We are becoming numb to his feckless insanity and diversions.
Beneath all of this distraction is the continued Trumplican/Republican assault upon our rights as a Democracy. They want everything - laws, speech, religion, "morals", economics - THEIR way, with a total disregard for what the majority of Americans desire. This is rule without representation and is antithetical to our Constitution.
The "balance of power" MUST change with this election cycle or we face an ever-authoritarian autocracy with either a narcissistic sociopath or a delusional religious zealot as its leader. We are literally approaching a Nazi/fascist state. Fewer than 39% of Americans even know about the Holocost and many would support a new Reich if given the chance.
Time to rebalance our nation and, I fear, reject these fringe elements from society. This is NOT a homogeneous nation, and we are better and stronger for it. We must learn to embrace all the good that other cultures offer and reject those that are universally unacceptable. NOW.
2
Trump has threatened this at least 3 times. He won’t do this, he’’s chicken. Go ahead shut down the government. That worked well for the Republicans the last time. Let’s face it, even this idiot isn’t that STUPID. Chicken!
2
@Ronald Amelotte, Ah, but that's where you're wrong. Too bad.
Hope the Liar-in-Chief tweets his way right into a prison cell.
Hope he takes his grifter, crime syndicate family with him.
Hope Vichy Republicans are voted OUT in November and forever.
Here's hoping...
8
play the card, donald! play the card! we need dems in control of house & senate. so for once in your life, for america's sake, show your patriotism -- play the shutdown card! please!
5
This is an example of old patterns with trump. When he feels he's had a victory -in this case good economic news- he gets cocky and pushes his luck. Trump is also the 'Master of Rabbits' and this rabbit and others are set loose just ahead of the Manafort trial. This threat also serves the purpose of reminding republican pols whose ring needs to be kissed. At a deeper level trump is freaking over his ever growing legal problems. From a political standpoint, especially with the midterms fast approaching, these are stupid moves, exemplary of why trump has been unable to grow his base in all these months. If he ever had a honeymoon with voters it's basically over now.
2
I'm not sure why any Republican would be concerned with what Trump says or does. He is a political goldmine to his base. Distraction? Who's he trying to distract? Every damning thing he's said or done that offends we liberals and would have been considered impeachable in another era doesn't matter anymore, because he's completely changed the rules. He's completely outflanked the establishment of his party, the major media and Democrats who insist on arguing with him and his base from a point of reason, logic and rationality but in this era that's a losing hand.
Yes, perhaps. But what clearly isn't a "losing hand" in the fight against all things Trump is growing evidence of widespread political corruption, threats to health care, tax cuts that primarily served the already wealthy while ballooning our national debt, the possible loss of reproductive rights, a series of attacks on the environment, admiration for---and possible collaboration with---the worst thugs and dictators on the planet, and economic policies that aren't helping the overwhelming majority of average income working voters.
Trump and his Republican enablers can't run and hide from all of that, try as they might. And this will be demonstrated to all this November.
I don’t understand the concept of a border wall. I also don’t understand the statement, “we want good people coming to our country.” Does this administration not know that there are bad actors in every race? Does this administration not know that the majority of mass school shooters are young White males? Ok, I get that it is challenging for some Americans to go to a restaurant and the majority of the people are speaking Spanish. I get that it was not like that 20 years ago depending on what part of the country you lived in, but things have changed. Building a wall is not going to change the demographics of our Nation. It is a waste of money. Our country needs new airports, roads, etc. A wall will not suck out all the brown people or non English speakers that are here. Where is the Tea party when we really need them? Aren’t they our fiscal conservatives? WALL=Wasting A Lot(of) Loot.
4
Mr. "President," please explain why it's the Democrats' fault that your wall has not been funded, when your party controls both houses of Congress and can pass anything it wants without Dem votes. Anyway, weren't you going to negotiate funding from Mexico? How's that going?
8
Forget the wall. Most of the southern border is already heavily fenced and guarded.
Where's the "better and cheaper" healthcare plan that was going to also cover more people than the ACA?
Not a peep about that.
16
Allison--...or the infrastructure?
3
"Give me my Wall or Give me a Shutdown" sounds more like Humpty Dumpty than Patrick Henry, but if Trump intends to shut down the gov't, this time it should include stopping all paychecks to his WH staff, the staff of every Congressman, and the Representatives and Senators themselves. Those who brought about the conditions allowing the shutdown should not be exempt from its consequences. The latter should be saved for Trump himself; as usual he never accepts responsibility for any act that brings negative publicity.
6
I’m glad it’s now called “his” border wall.
8
Plumeria--Well, it's HIS military, and HIS generals. He really believes he "owns" this "company."
1
Of course he won’t do it. Trump has signed everything put in front of him, and hasn’t issued a single veto yet. But he gets to act like a tough guy - with a front page story - for the cost of one tweet. Why does the NYT take this bait every time? Let his fake twitter followers believe it. The rest of us prefer that he slither off into the darkness.
6
Many commenters urge others to vote, as they should. But a few commenters go further: they insist that "we will take to the streets."
I doubt that. Nor will it matter if it does happen. Votes matter. Taking to the streets is something that every American has a right to do -- or at least should -- but it rarely accomplishes much. Political leaders just send in some strong men dressed in black and wielding batons. They tend to feel good about doing so since, after all, the voters have expressed their support.
Votes matter. Taking to the streets doesn't.
3
Americans have already been taking to the streets in protest. Protesting and voting are not mutually exclusive activities. In fact participating in protest activities correlates directly with an increased level of voter enthusiasm and likelihood of voting.
If we had a parliamentary system, none of this would be happening. We would simply have a vote of no confidence, and hold a general election. It would force parties to compromise and figure out how to work together. It would also break the two-party stranglehold and help prevent extremism.
We ought to consider switching to a parliamentary system.
8
I thought this during Watergate! It would make a big difference: more flexible and responsive to the needs of the country.
3
I agree.
However, a change to a parliamentary system would require consensus from 3/4 of the states. We would not be able to get 75% approval to change the name of a post office, let alone the structure of our legislative / executive branches of government.
I thought he told the GOP to stop worrying about the immigration issue until after the election when Democrats might be more tractable. Where’d this tweet storm come from?
3
President Trump was elected because of tough stance on immigration, in spite of everything else.
If the Republicans don't get on board 100% they lose
@TOM, And that's the only good news today.
@TOM Illegal immigration has been at an all-time low for nearly a decade. Obama deported over 3 million people living in the US illegally, although good luck finding a Trump supporter who knows or believes this.
Trump's talk on immigration is based in lies and distortions. But that's good enough for his base, and he knows it. He learned how easy it is to whip up fervor with lie and after lie after lie. It must have surprised even him that his followers would swallow the absurd lie that Mexico was going to pay for his "great Wall".
@TOM - You might want to check out who Trump employees in his various businesses.
That which most merits a shutdown is the petulant, rage filled mouth of one Donald J. Trump. He embarrasses the human species daily.
5
The Republican party holds the Executive branch and the Legislative branch. Why does the GOP need Democrats for anything?
Moreover, I thought Mexico was going to pay for the wall.
6
Aw, look, he's stomping his feet again.
14
This should be an easy one for the Dems. They should simply state we're not paying for it because they took the President at his word(s):
"I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words."
10
Isn't Mexico supposed to be paying for this DOA wall?
8
The US government has become so dysfunctional under trump and his unqualified appointees that the less destructive course of action may just be to shut it down and reboot after the election. The current republican congress is acting like it has screen freeze when it comes to putting a check on trump's most destructive infantile behavior. Hopefully, after the election, we will have responsible congress people who will protect our assets and institutions.
3
These recent tweets evidence that we are looking at the most current episode of "A President on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown." Little else makes sense.
My question is whether someone who already appears certifiably insane can actually have a nervous breakdown?
His bullying has so far accomplished nothing but to make him a laughing stock. No one believes he will follow through on any threats. He seems to think that repetitive behavior leads to different outcomes. It is well settled that believing that is a sign of insanity.
5
This article is lacking one thing. Trumps campaign promise was that MEXICO would pay for the wall. The press is accountable too. Keep the facts in public view. Never did Trump promise to build a big beautiful wall on the taxpayers dime-never. Do not go gentle NYT. Keep he facts alive!
13
Wow! This is an anti-Trump Double Whammy!
(1) he won't get his wall money no matter what since nobody likes being threatened and many/most think this is a stupid issue; and
(2) a government shutdown over this issue will further reflect negatively on an already beleaguered Republican party and its mid-term candidates.
What's not to like?
7
I don't understand. I thought Mexico was paying for the wall. Does he want to shut down Mexico?
5
Trump threatens an awful lot
7
Farmers are born socialists .... free money from 45 .... funded by your tax dollars ..,,
8
I thought Mexico was funding his wall. How about he threatens to invade Mexico if they don't fund his wall?
6
It's not the economy, stupid. With his back pushed closer and closer to the wall, Trump is calling on his most loyal segment of his base. He's not doing it with rhetoric about the economy or jobs or trade. He is doing it with that ultimate anti-immigration, white nationalist dog whistle: The Wall. It's a non-solution to a boogeyman problem, easily defeated by a 12 foot ladder or a shovel. But in politics, symbols matter. And The Wall is the ultimate symbol to whip up the xenophobia in Trump's base.
6
If our only choice is between a tyrannical White Russian-Republcan Vichy-style occupation* and no government at all, I say
"Shut It Down! Shut It All Down!"
NOW !
The sooner America rids itself of Russian-Republican rule, the sooner that loyal Americans can begin to restore our former constitutional democratic republic.
* Since the Russian-Republicans are intent upon preventing rfee and honest elections in the United States, there is no third alternative.
4
I sure wish the author of this article had mentioned that Trump's campaign promise was to build a "big, beautiful wall" AND that Mexico would pay for it.
6
Readers' Pick no. 2 Maxie from Johnstown NY notes that "Trump promised a Wall. He also promised (Maxie's list of 5 promises follows including this - infrastructure to fix our aging roads and bridges) So far he’s done none, including his Wall."
The only infrastructure Trump is interested in is his wall. So be it.
NY Times and Democratic Party mid-term candidates, forget Trump's infrastructure proposal for awhile, give us your presentation of infrastructure needs. Less Trump, more Times and DC.
I do so because in June I was forced to view and experience failed or non-existent infrastructure in New England and Albany NY. To understand these failures requires that you can provide comparisons with the best. I saw no "bests" there, so I say to the NYT that you will have to go outside the US to find examples of 21st century infrastructure maintenance or creation.
Two such: I return to Linköping SE (size of Burlington VT) and find EVERY road in perfect or near perfect condition. I find no landfills because all solid waste is used instead of fossil fuels to heat the entire city and all bio and human waste is used to produce biogas used instead of fossil fuels to run buses.
Your turn NYT and even perhaps Kirsten Gillebrand for whom I will absentee vote in November.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Citizen US SE
4
I am sure that the new president of Mexico is waiting for the call! Just say the word Donald. Mexico has set aside the people and the money for your wall. Why ask those you promised that Mexico would pay for their hard earned money?
Tsk, tsk, have you asked Putin yet? He's bailed you out so many times before. What's a little wall between friends?
3
@live now you'll be a long time dead - Trump is a coward. He isn't strong enough to demand anything from Mexico. Remember the trip he made to Mexico when he was candidate Trump? He talked his usual ridiculous talk about "making a deal," blah blah blah. But when he sat down, it was 30 minutes of chit-chat. He came home empty-handed, just as he's done ever since. He's never said "You're fired!" to anyone's face. He lives in the reality-tv show in his head, and his supporters are happy cast members. They, too, believe it's real.
Pence. He does not have the cultish following that Trump has. Also he does not have Ivanka and Jared
2
Tears For USA--About the same level of moral conscience, though
2
Learn from mistakes? Impossible if you don’t think they’re mistakes. He loves himself and whatever it is he wants to do so much he wouldn’t consider anything he fails at as an error on his part, he will blame others. When 3 year old learns a mistake, he first says “I did’n do it!” Eventually children learn mistakes and limitations, Trump is stuck at “i did’n do it!”
2
Trump's actual campaign promise, repeated a thousand times during his campaign, was to build a wall that Mexico will pay for.
Then of course almost as soon as he was elected, the Mexican government kicked sand in his face and made it clear that there was no way they were going to pay a penny for a wall.
Suddenly, Trump's promise to build a wall lost half of its commitment, Mexican funding of an amount that is now projected at $25 billion. Trump never speaks of that funding commitment. Why is that omitted from reporting on this issue?
Every time there is a new Trump tweet or bleat on building a wall, voters should be reminded that Trump repeatedly promised that Mexico would pay for the wall, that it would cost taxpayers nothing, and now that Mexico has firmly rejected this suggestion Trump is demanding the taxpayer commit to funding the wall at a cost of $25 billion.
4
“difficult election landscape” ... “rattle Republicans “ What an obvious attempt to portray President Trump’s ever-growing, ever-strengthening, sold base of voters via a misdirection sleight of hand.
Wonder why we’re not seeing any of those polls that in 2016 so populated the news with guarantees of a leftist sweep.
1
Trump's actual campaign promise, repeated a thousand times during his campaign, was to build a wall that Mexico will pay for.
Then of course almost as soon as he was elected, the Mexican government kicked sand in his face and made it clear that there was no way they were going to pay a penny for a wall.
Suddenly, Trump's promise to build a wall lost half of its commitment, Mexican funding of an amount that is now projected at $25 billion. Trump never speaks of that funding commitment. Why is that omitted from reporting on this issue?
Every reporting of a new Trump tweet or bleat on building a wal should raise the point that Trump repeatedly promised that Mexico would pay for the wall, that it would cost taxpayers nothing, and now that Mexico has firmly rejected this suggestion is demanding the taxpayer commit to $25 billion.
2
I thought Mexico was going to pay. Trumps will believe anything.
2
All serious media like the NY Times must shift the way it reports Trump tweets. Run them once in a 24-hour news cycle, in a column or section labeled "Tweets from the White House." Report all together, not as news, but simply as notes. Otherwise, you pass along disinformation which is exactly Trump's aim.
2
Is he shutting down the Mexican government?
2
Really?? Please donald, do that. Then the repubs can all get out their hammers for the final nails in their pine boxes. Whatta bunch of bumblers led by the bumbler-in-chief.....theater of the highest order!
2
For The Times to report on this as if it’s Trump trying to fulfill a campaign promise vs. Congress not willing to do so is ridiculously false reporting!! Trump’s campaign promise was to build a wall that MEXICO would pay for, NOT u.s. taxpayers. That should always be the central focus in any story on Trump’s failure to deliver on a campaign promise. Why is The Times (and virtually every other news organization) letting him off the hook so easily by letting him redefine the fundamental aspect of this absurd campaign promise? Full, honest reporting, please!
1
To quote Kyle Reese: Listen. Understand. That Terminator is out there. It can't be reasoned with, it can't be bargained with. It doesn't feel pity of remorse or fear & it absolutely will not stop. Ever. Until you are dead.
Trump’s fatal error is playing Session’s game. Going to the mat on immigration—zero-tolerance/shutting down govt—won’t compensate for refusing to stop the coup.
Trump is hiding behind the Mueller obstruction threat—an unconstitutional red herring. He must go on offensive—fire Sessions/recess-appoint DiGenova, who will RICO-prosecute Obama-Clinton-Mueller cabal—ALL of them.
Time is of the essence. The Ds/deep state are dismantling the republic/endangering national security/running out clock.
Rosenstein/Mueller/Comey are up to their eyeballs in conflict/crimes—i.e.:
Rosenstein/FBI Director Mueller conspired in the coverup of the Russia-Clinton-Uranium1 crimes.
Rosenstein advised Trump to fire Comey.
Comey leaked classified info to cause the appointment of his pal Mueller as special counsel.
Rosenstein appointed his Uranium1 coconspirator Mueller to head Trump probe despite the absence of a crime—violating the special-counsel statute. This freed Mueller to go Stalinist rogue, i.e., ”Give me a man & I’ll find you a crime,” the operating principle of Stalin’s executioner, LBeria.
Rosenstein/Comey defrauded FISC using the fake Clinton-Russia dossier to take out Trump.
The fate of US is now in hands of our KGB—not Putin's. Trump must not let it stand.
1
Marian, less is more.
Oh, please shut down the government, Trump. Please, please, please, please, puh-l-e-a-s-e! That'll work wonders for the GOP midterms.
2
It's desperation time for this pathetic man and pseudo-president. There are only so many lies he can tell, so many times he can utter "fake news," and so much he can goad his base into thinking he's anything but a traitor, or criminal.
The fact that he's rehashing proven lies alerts us to his disheveled mind and his overwhelming worry about the truth coming out.
All this despot has is lies and threats and not a shred of common sense, decency or truth to back them up. He lashes out because that's all he knows how to do and because he sees quite clearly what's in store for him.
His guilt has been on display for the entire duration of his laughably inept and tragic "presidency." He's destined for the trash heap of history. He will be the only president in our history with an asterisk next to his name and there's nothing he can do about it. No war, wall, tax break, or despicable GOP protection will change this fact.
Let the truth free our country.
2
“And who’s going to pay for it?”
Not Mexico, but hey, what’s the big deal with another $40 billion when you already blew past $1 Trillion (with a “T”) in 2018 deficits. Tea Partiers, wherefore art thou? White supremacy got your tongues?
2
We want the wall...…………………...
This article is a sad example of why Trump has run rampant:
because the media lets him off the hook.
Nowhere in this article does the NY Times point out that Trump promised many many many times that any wall would be paid for by Mexico. To not include this fact is simply astonishing. And demoralizing.
9
$25 billion would be a good start to fixing our crumbling infrastructure and bring Anerica into the 21st century....why his base harps on immigration instead of what really needs to be done is beyond me. Without modern infrastructure a country as large as ours cannot be competitive. Same with lack of healthcare. An unhealthy population will be unable to produce and work properly for the oligarchs.
10
If the Government shuts down does this also mean that he has to shut down too?. Go for it Dt because this will be a blessing in disguise
3
The man actually made the campaign promise that he was going to build his "big , beautiful wall" and have MEXICO pay for it- so even if he were to be granted all the funding that he wants by congress, he STILL will not fulfill his campaign promise. When are the House and Senate going to stand up and say "Enough Already!" It's time for them to stop allowing him to run our country's finances and reputation into the ground and start repairing the damage.
8
Since when is shutting down the government preserving, protecting and defending the Constitution of the United States?
4
Let's be real. Trump will get whatever he wants because the Republican Senate and Congress will not stand up to him. Why are they so afraid to make Trump unhappy? They have turned there back on our country, rule of law and democracy. They know exactly what they are doing. We are living under a dictator and the Senate and Congress are collaborators.
4
I think Trump should shut down the government, not because I support him- the reverse, Trump's policies are chaotic, cruel, examples of a nihilistic political tendency that reflects the selfish, lying, narcissistic style of Trump himself. If he shuts down the government he reveals himself as someone who has no craft, has not done as a President is supposed to: a president is supposed, despite whatever his/her party to represent all the United States, to bridge the aisle. Trump is a know-nothing, who has no respect for the institutions of the United States.
5
Go ahead, shut it down. Shut down the government over a wall that supposed to be paid for by Mexico, as if anyone with half a brain believed that would happen. So far, all of your promises have been broken ones, paid for by us ordinary citizens (farm bailout, etc). Keep up the blustery talk, it'll get you well on the path to impeachment after November.
The hardest part about playing chicken is knowing when to flinch.
3
Republicans control all branches of government but they can't build anything--all they can do is tear down, be it health care, or the environment. Those that are worried about a shutdown only have to wait for the latest stupid idea to distract Trump (anything from football players kneeling to Ivanka's jacket will do), and he'll be tweeting about that instead.
4
Well, we know how well a shutdown works from the last time the GOP tried it. Bring it on!
3
I believe that by asking for the funding for the wall, Mr Trump is not living up to his campaign promise. He emphatically stated that Mexico would pay for the wall. To be true to his word he should be getting the funding fromMexico, not through our treasury department. This is just one more example of his lying and hypocrisy.
2
"...may hold the president accountable for"? I can tell you right now, if the government shuts down over this issue, I will hold the president - and every single Republican candidate - responsible for it. Not one Republican will get my vote in November. If there is no candidate in opposition, I will write in a candidate. It may be a candle in the wind, but I will light it!
1
As another great GOP President said to America’s enemy, “”Bring it on.”
Just remember Robert Mueller is an essential employee in his role to maintain law and order so the so called witch hunt will keep chugging along. GOTCHYA!
1
Common Mr. President, make my day.
2
Makes you wonder how long the cowardly Republican't party will continue to let Trump destroy the United States?
5
I think that he should follow through. This will give the Democrats the edge they need. Only an ineffectual thinker would waste money on a wall while there's so much income inequality in the US.
3
This campaign promise would be fulfilled when this "government" builds a "a great, great wall on our southern border", and "will make Mexico pay for that wall".
Instead, this "administration" proposes to pay more of our tax dollars building this wall than it would like to provide to the National Institutes of Health.
5
Go ahead, shut down the government over the wall that most Americans don't support. Watch your approval ratings tank and momentum sweep up democrats for the midterms.
1
Why doesn't he just pay for it himself?
3
it'll take alot of rubles...
I've been mulling over a strange thought since that last tweet. It's clear tthat trump cares as much for the Republican party as he cares for the constitution or the country. And despite Republicans rolling over for him, it hasn't resulted in the general acclaim he believes he deserves, nor will they let him fire Mr. Mueller. Since everything in his mind - everything - is transactional, what if he thinks he's got a better shot with a Democratic House? Sure, in *this* reality that's insane magical thinking, but he may believe that if they win, and he tosses them a bone or two, they might prefer him staying in place over dealing with immovable prez pence. And a Republican Senate (hopefully not) practically ensures no conviction there, whatever the House does.
Bonus: he then gets to whine and rouse his base wirh "Fake Election!" and sets up 2020. Perhaps in his warped mind that's a win-win.
1
@Susan B. When has Trump cared for anything? He only cares for himself.
2
Yawn. Trump twitting to his base.
Amazing how many gun toting chest beating men and women are so afraid of ragged refugees, until they need to hire them to pick their crops, put roofs on their houses, clean their hotels. They elect a liar and expect truth, idolize a bankrupt and think he's smart enough to lead a country to more prosperity, so I guess it's not really that amazing, after all.
7
"...finally go to system of Immigration based on MERIT! We need great people coming into our Country!” Right. We only want highly trained and skilled immigrants to take top-level jobs. Because we want to save the lower-paying unskilled labor jobs for...who, again? Americans, I guess. Brilliant!
3
@gary89436
As things stand now in the US, what highly trained, skilled immigrants, intelligent people, want to come here? People I talked to in Europe this past May think the US is not a place to which to immigrate. With trump in charge, they see nothing to entice their immigration.
A president who repeatedly holds our country hostage to get his way , doesn't deserve our support. He repeatedly cheers dictatorial leaders of countries we never have admired shows the inadequacies of his ethics, morality. Where are his support for our elderly, veterans? A sham when he campaigns. Don't believe a word. He and the GOP are continually trying to kill Medicare. They will give trillions away in tax breaks to their friends, and for that ridiculous wall, but rant and rave about Medicare for us. Something each American should be guaranteed. Vote,vote , vote!
6
Does he remind you of the toddler who holds his breath til he passes out?
6
@Jane K - not yet but I do look forward to him passing out any moment now:)
5
Or maybe he'll just turn America blue.....
1
Trump SOP:
Create problem through insane crazy lies, blame it on the Democrats/Obama/Hillary, turn it into red meat for a rally, and then magically create a solution to the faux-problem.
3
Shut government down including my Social Security payments. I'll bet I can hold out longer than most Republicans. Go for it DONNIE BOY !
4
Did Mexico take back Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, California, and Nevada? Maybe then Mexico will pay for the wall, but that's not what Trump's supporters were chanting.
Donald J. Trump is either a liar and the source of fake news or he is telling the truth and is the most truthful POTUS of all time.
Make me laugh!
1
"Go ahead. Make my election day."
4
They come just short of saying "pay no attention to the man in the big white house."
4
What happened to Trump's promise to get Mexico to pay for his wall? The wall is a bad idea but his promise was a lie from the first day he uttered it. #LyingDonaldTrump
3
Trump is having another one of his temper tantrums. Can you hear the "Waa-Waa"? It is another diversion for the closing in investigation about him.
5
Maybe Trump is working for the Democrats and not Putin?? Think about it, every mistake, every hairbrained idea gets in his head is helping the Ds. The resurgence in qualified Ds running for office is unprecedented.
How else can you explain Donald's non stop stream of mistakes?
Can it be he's not qualified? Hmmmm.
Can it be he's sociopathic and doesn't care about anything other than himself?
Let's not forget Donald has access to nuclear weapons. He could start a war in an afternoon why he's enjoying a few burgers.
Would any Fortune 100 tolerate this behavior from their CEO? Or, dishwasher?
1
Just a distraction from the Paul Manafort trial this week. Mexico is paying for the wall so no need to shut down the government!
2
As times goes by, it is becoming clearer and clearer what Putin has on Trump. Since Trump is pretty feeble minded, but his ego is not, Putin is dangling the most appetizing carrot for the "most stable genius" to be re - elected forever. Just look at the way Trump is already acting. No sane politician, would act, do or say things Trump is doing and saying. He clearly has a different agenda, than defending the U.S. Constitution. He wants to be God and Putin is giving Trump lessons how to become a dictator, the next best thing. Our democracy is in grave danger, either from a deranged oaf, or from an egomaniac manipulated by a KGB agent. Either way, not a pretty picture. Trump has to be taken down before this country goes down with him.
7
GOP has majority for both houses so the ball is in their hands. They can appropriate the money for the wall today but they dare not. It's good that Trump calls them out. Let's shut down the government right before the mid-term election. I am sure that's his base wants (until when they don't get their welfare checks, that is).
2
Why does Trump continually ask for votes by Democrats in Congress (other than political purposes.) Doesn't his party, the Republicans, control both houses?
3
We need high-tech resources like radar along the border, not a wall, an ancient solution to a 21st-century problem. And if the reason for it is to grab children and put them in cages, that’s another reason to shoot down the wall. This show is all for his base, who should demand a better use of funding and an end to trade wars and tariffs. We need to see some democracy in action, GOP voters.
3
Trump indeed promised to build a wall, and that Mexico would pay for it.
But Trump wasn't the only Presidential candidate making implausible promises. Remember Hillary Clinton's vow to establish a no-fly zone over all of Syria, thereby threatening thermonuclear war with Russia over a no-count country that Israel has learned to live with and that most Americans couldn't point to on a map?
Do you think HRC would have established a no-fly zone over all of Syria -- over even a tiny part of Syria?
Timing. If a shutdown will help the party controlling all branches of government, what is left to bargain with voters? Bigger walls?
I continue to believe they are secretly on someone's payroll. An organization cannot possibly this clueless on purpose.
1
To get his way a pre schooler might just throw himself on the floor and hold his breath.
Hostage taking government shutdown is Trump's go to tizzy fit to which non-Republicans would be insane to gratify or else it will never stop.
If the Dems ever had a "red line" threatening to kill our government's vital functions must be refused every single time.
If Donnie choses to destroy world confidence in the USA with a shutdown, my response would be, "Go ahead, little Donnie, make my day".
The USA was great long before Trump got here because it has an etched in stone reputation for reliability, not the erratic behavior Trump displays constantly.
2
Oh, Trump! You said Mexico would pay for the wall. I don't understand, Mr., gulp (try not to wretch), president. Why would you threaten thousands of hard working families with bankruptcy and foreclosures and possibly homelessness by cutting off their paychecks just because YOU can't keep your promises?
2
I hope he does it...and within a week of the elections. Such a good way for people to see the sickness in the Republican Party. I want him to do the dumbest things possible and this is one of them. (I predict he won't make to the end of his term. He clearly grows more terrified of Mueller every day.)
3
I wonder what kinds of kick backs Trump will getting from the construction companies he wants to hire? Or how many of the companies he owns himself... and we the taxpayers will continue you to pay this pirate? No thank you. Is it weird that I am no longer shocked by the constant threats from the President of the United States? How far have we fallen? Go ahead Trump continue your threats .. I will continue to focus on November. Best line of this article "already disgusted by Washington dysfunction" Also - “We’re going to have a challenging midterm anyway, and I don’t see how putting the attention on shutting down the government when you control the government is going to help you,” Representative Tom Cole, Republican of Oklahoma, said in an interview. -
Well, Tom if you haven't guessed by now .. Trump only cares about Trump. He does not care about your party or anything other than power and money.
If people hold onto Party Politics - they will loose.
The upcoming elections are not for the Democrats or Republicans ... they are for patriots and this county.
It doesn't matter what party you belong to .. it matters what is happening to our country and democracy. I expect my elected officials to be patriots not pirates.
3
Why is trump not threatening to shutdown the government of Mexico?
Again, trump’s biggest lie is that Mexico would pay for it. Democrats should remind trump’s base that he rebuffed them and stuck them with the bill - as he always does.
3
I'm a socialist, and I humbly ask the President not to shut down the government before the mid-term elections, because it would be so bad for the leftists. Please, please, dear President Trump, don't shut down the government!! I beseech you. It would be such a tragedy for the liberal cause.
1
Most of America didn't vote for him and most don't want the wall. Of those who did vote for him, most believed that Mexico would pay for the wall. So the wall he is pushing for, was not wanted by the majority and is not the Mexican paid for wall that the rest were expecting. He has no plebiscite, and should not be holding the budget, DACA or the country hostage to get this moronic wall. Let us pass a clean DACA bill, then a bill to better address the processing of asylum seekers. If this Congress won't do it, vote for one that will.
2
Isn't Trump the guy who got elected on his often repeated boast that Mexico would pay for the wall? Let's put our Liar In Chief's feet to the fire and make him get the money from Mexico or pay for it out of his own pocket.
1
I miss Infrastructure Week.
5
The wall is opposed by most of the elected leadership of the border states.
It is and can only be a boondoggle, an at minimum $25 billion taxpayer-funded payoff to Trump building-trades constituencies and to Trump himself.
It is useless. (As Doris Meissner, President Obama's Immigration and Naturalization Service commissioner, famously put it, "You show me a ten-foot wall, I'll show you an eleven-foot ladder.")
Most of all, the wall is a monument to racism: That of the demagogue soiling our Oval Office and of his political base.
It must not be built and therefore must not be funded. That is non-negotiable.
4
Show me a 10 ft wall and I'll show you a tunnel. A wall is a total waste of money.
1
Eventually, very, very eventually... the Republicans will learn that he is just as dangerous to them as he is to everyone else.
2
Soon, Trump will not be president, he will spend his days shouting at the TV machine.
1
Trump's presidency is built on lies, contradictions, backstabbing and blackmail. Eventually the wall represents the ultimate expression of his mind and selfishness.
3
No problem. Let's just wait for the check from Mexico to pay for the wall.
4
Oh, shut it down, please!
And while you're at it, shut down Twitter.
Let them all go away, so the rest of us can enjoy some peace and quiet and reflect (to ourselves!) on where we should be going as a nation...
3
@signmeup But then military personnel and their dependents won't be able to get their medication that they need :(
Every day DJT is in office there is another ding on the name and legacy of mitch mcconnell.
- A rambling & dangerous Oval Office that remains unchallenged and unchecked,
-an almost certain blue wave that will proceed impeachment proceedings in the House
- he will get nothing done on immigration reform or the repeal of the ACA.
And he was a strong advocate to approve DJT’s cabinet picks many of whom have resigned in disgrace.
Nice job mitch!
Vote in November.
The only “walls” DJT needs to be concerned about are the ones closing in on his administration.
3
A president with 42% approval threatening to shut down the government right before the midterms.
He's a genius.
6
All politics aside... this is supposed to be DJT’s thing!
He is a builder!
He is a deal maker!
This is what he does for a living.
Again - forget politics this is his wheel house.
This is like asking LeBron to dunk.
If a real estate tycoon can’t build a wall ( a WALL!) how can he possibly be asked to lead a nation.
Vote for the government you want in November!
7
How mamny "unfit for continuing in office" examples do we need before congress acts?
2
Perhaps the Republican Congress should ingratiate itself further with the White House by supporting funding for his inane border wall with the stipulation that it be prominently TRUMP branded, say in ten-foot gold letters every one hundred feet?
3
Those Republicans sure know how to run a government, right?
3
I don't know if there is another democracy on this planet that would accept a government shutdown for any reason particularly as a political strategy. Trump clearly does not care about the disrupted lives that result when there is a shutdown and I think that is the important lessons for Americans. You have elected a government - President, Democrats, Republicans - who are willing to place their partisan interests ahead of the citizens' interests. Further, they are spending your tax dollars to do this.
2
Why wall off a major trading partner like Mexico? Besides, the incumbent assured us that "Mexico would pay for it". And, a costly wall with it's negative effects on the environment is simply not practical given the rugged terrain in West Texas where steep mountains and deep canyons act as a natural barrier. No need for a colossal waste of scores of billions of scarce tax dollars. Better options exist in this era of electronic surveillance.
1
Well no matter what happens with Trump he will soon be trumped by the environment and what goes on with politics will start to be a small thing compared to hurricanes, wildfires, floods, droughts and other natural disasters hot on our heels. Global warming and its consequences are upon us and more and more people will be affected by the disasters that are and will be occurring. If your house burns down you are not interested in politics , you are trying to get through the night. Maybe the crazy climate will start to pull us all together to try to cope and survive. There will not be enough money in the government coffers to help much anyway after the wall and Trump will be long gone on to something else. It will get too hot for him and he will just take off.
1
Trump's poll numbers indeed are low. But when I see comments like this one, I wonder whether one side really has a monopoly on "alternative facts:"
"... the majority of Americans who detest him ..."
Probably needless to say, the commenter doesn't (and can't, of course) cite any support for this shoot-from-the-hip assertion. But if you keep saying the same thing over and over and over, eventually your audience will stop asking for evidence. They'll just assume you're telling the truth.
Both the House and Senate should pass a bipartisan budget and send it to Trump. If he refuses to sign it, then override him. The Republicans don't want to have to do that, and the Democrats would love a shutdown right before the election.
But mostly, it's just another one of Trump's famous distractions to take attention away from his many problems. His base loves it. Whatever else you want to say about the man, he knows how to fool some of the people all of the time, apparently.
Prepare for several-month-long barrage of more of the same leading up to the mid-term elections.
1
Trumpublican voters are savvier than some Democrat voters. They know that a Democrat Congress will never carry forward Trump's agenda (whatever that is at any given moment), whereas despite continued failure and disappointment a Republican Congress might yet do; therefore they will continue to vote Republican. So long as they remain in the Trump personality cult they will not stay home on Election Day or waste their votes on protest candidates who have no chance of being elected.
This commenter (from Paris) apparently doesn't understand how this works:
"Trump doesn't have the legal or Constitutional right to shut down the government, fortunately."
There is a statutory "ceiling" on the national debt. If the ceiling is not raised, the government can't keep borrowing money. If the government can't keep borrowing money, the government can't operate (since tax revenues -- the only source of governmental revenues other than borrowing, are far too small to fund operations) -- unless, of course, the people with claims against the government (notably including government employees) are willing to waive or postpone their claims.
I hope this helps.
Nothing Trump tweets is binding on Trump, there is no coherence there.
6
Turnout matters a great deal, but let's not forget that turnout was high last time -- over 4% higher than in the infamous 2000 election, for example. Certainly it could have been higher in 2016, and the Democratic Party is right to press "get out the vote" efforts, but let's not pretend that that alone will change the result.
The Con Don will destroy anything possible when he feels threatened - and he is VERY threatened by the special investigation and the majority of Americans who detest him.
It is ludicrous that one individual can "shut down" OUR government. It is ludicrous that the Koch brothers led Robber Baron cabal has gotten ahold of OUR governments at all levels with their hostile financial takeover - including OUR U.S. Supreme Court and district/appeals courts.
Go ahead Con Don and your Robber Baron brethren inside OUR government. Try to shut it down. Go ahead Koch brothers paid democracy-destroyers - let the Con Don try to shut it down.
WE THE PEOPLE WILL NOT LET IT HAPPEN. We will take to the streets in every town, city, community, state to let you know how WE feel about it. It will not be pretty.
9
I am reminded of the mafia movie starring Al Pacino where at the end he is sitting at his desk - alone - with his machine gun waiting for his enemies to "get him".
They do. Fitting end. However, it is WE THE PEOPLE who will "get him" - not other mafia members. WE will get them, too.
8
Building a wall and wasting money on it will not serve no purpose except to help the building contractors. The best way is to help out surrounding countries in up lifting their economies,education system and other businesses to reduce unemployment there. Shutting down our government will only create a loss for our economy.Where will be that wisdom?
1
This article reminds me of a colony of ants that used to stage invasions of our house from a large bivouac they built nearby. They survived every attempt to destroy it, so my father resorted to plunging a shovel into the middle of the bivouac every morning on his way to work, and giving it a good destructive stir. Sure enough, the ants were preoccupied with rebuilding and left our house alone, for another 24 hours.
Mr. Trump's tweets remind me of my father's tactic...give congress and everyone else a "crisis" to focus their attention on so that the (White) House remains unobserved.
4
Do I understand this correctly? The Republicans control both the Senate and the House. But, it's fault of the Democrats that the Great of Trump hasn't been funded by Congress.
7
Hey, Trump is going to pay for this wall and that is why he wants to raise tariffs on everything he can. He thinks that once he has the wall he can then lower the tariffs on everything from Canada, that is unless he wants to build the wall between the US and Canada, that is what many up there now want.
1
if congress would simply change it's mode of operation from competition to cooperation - getting a veto proof majority on EVERY piece of legislation would be simple - and - GOOD FOR AMERICA AND AMERICANS.
3
I think Trump will have a lot more fun as our so-called president once Democrats are in control of congress. Working with colleagues in his own party to accomplish ... well, anything at all really is just not his strong suit. But opposing everything and everyone for every reason? He has a long history of doing that well.
5
Seems to me every time congress is under Republican control they lose track of the Taxpayer's checkbook. Any chance of a leader to arrive suddenly?
2
His statements are not to the GOP-- they are to the media and GOP. He will cave in a blustery way and continue to project the image of 'strenth,' his supporters imagine they perceive.
1
I'm not exactly sure why those who voted for Trump don't hold him to his promise that Mexico would pay for the wall? How many times during each and every campaign event did he brag that Mexico would pay for the wall? Remember the back and forth between him and the crowds at his events?
"What are we going to build?"
"A Wall!"
"Who is going to pay for it?"
"Mexico!!!"
So, if you support him, then please hold him to his promises. I don't want the money I pay in taxes to go towards a Twenty Five Billion Dollar wall. Thank you.
6
The article and comments overlook the fact that conservative media controls the message that trump voters listen to. Conservatives will hear that dems are refusing to vote in order to allow free movement across the border. The truth has become irrelevant.
The results will come from whoever pushed their message loudest, regardless of whether it is based in reality or not
4
@Chris
You are right the conservative media controls the message to his base, including for majority of the republicans. If tomorrow Hillary Clinton were to run as a republican, they will have a “beautiful” message with a mulligan and would elect her as the next president. For that reason, it is essential to focus on the rest of the “non-base” audience and minimize the damage.
3
"Stalled in Congress" means stalled in committees controlled by the GOP.
This is simply another attempt by Trump and Giuliani "throwing stuff at a wall to see what sticks" to deflect attention from the indictments of Americans that are on the way.
10
Trump believes that government shutdowns are good for the country like trade wars. Like others have mentioned this is merely an attempt to shift the news cycle to focus on this than the Cohen tapes. Trump has been lurching from one self inflicted crisis to another on a weekly basis. The one thing that will surely kick republicans out of office is tariffs and a government shutdown combined that could damage the economy. That why you don't put a drunk driver[Trump] behind the wheel of a car[our nation].
4
If the shutdown threat doesn't shift the nation's attention sufficiently, Trump may have to pay the National Enquirer "reveal" something really shocking.
1
Of course trump is using the 'Shutdown' bluff. He has no other cards to play as he cruises the world in the most destructive role ever played by a US president. Mueller's breathing down his neck and will have more than enough evidence to advise congress that collusion with Putin took place, that his tax returns are cooked, and he's making money hand over fist from the Oval Office.
He'll never shutdown the Government but congress will try to cave. Fortunately the Democrats will filibuster and vulnerable republicans will not vote for in either.
This is just another distraction from the Mueller investigation, the destroying of our treaties with our allies, cowtowing to Putin, and so forth with his terrible sleight of hand into our pockets as in "watch the birdie" magic show.
5
Meantime back in the real world our country's debt is exploding and we here nothing but lies from Trump and his "Economic Advisors". Kudlow, another talking head, claims that this is not true. Ryan has swallowed his tongue and the beat goes on.
3
Isn’t this the same threat he aired on the Stable Genius Show last summer?
“If we have to close down our government, we’re building that wall,” Trump told thousands of supporters gathered in Phoenix for a campaign-style rally. “One way or the other, we’re going to get that wall.” August 2017
Stay tuned for another sex scandal....
4
“I would be willing to ‘shut down’ government if the Democrats do not give us the votes for Border Security, which includes the Wall!” Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter.
The Republicans control Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives. How can it be the fault of the Democrats, the minority in Congress, that a bill does not pass?
20
Every time Trump talks about the wall, both R's & D's should remind him that he guaranteed that Mexico was going to pay for it. Doesn't his "base" remember this promise?
So, when Mexico sends us the cash, construction can begin.
25
The Wall is just meant to be a big (expensive) porous façade, a symbol of exactly what will not be done, getting rid of the immigrants. Too many businesses are now totally dependent on their cheap labor. To really change this would damage the core constituency, the corporations, severely. So this will never happen. All the Wall will ever be is sizzle without the steak, whether built or not.
4
At some point I think President Trump is going to find repeated lying is going to erode his credibility. (Insert lol here). Why, I wonder, does he keep blaming Democrats for not funding his Great Wall when it's his criminal accomplices in the Republican party that hold all three branches of government. The Democrats are a mere afterthought these days and have no power to give the president what he wants. The Russians used to be good at helping their puppets get walls built. Maybe he should check in with Vlad for some more direction.
5
Didn’t the money for the wall go to the farmers as a bailout for the tariffs. Great “Business Man in Chief”we have. No wonder so many of his businesses went belly up.
21
I don't understand what the problem is. We're talking about the Mexican government shutting down, right? After all, they're the ones paying for the wall.
Or am I missing something.
3
Trump claims to be a billionaire. If he wants to build a wall on the southern border so badly why doessn't he just build it himself? Surely he can get building permits from Texas and Arizona. California and New Mexico may be a bit tougher, but surely the Dealmaker in Chief can get it done without Democrats. Right? Why does he need Democrats at all? Isn't there a majority of Republicans in both Houses of Congress now to give him what he wants?
Congress needs to grow some and pass veto proof legislation on immigration, trade, etc. This Presidental rule by default is not working.
3
I’m not sure we have a functioning government. Given the way things are going with our executive branch with ever ending shenanigans, fire fights and cleanups from immigration to trade to fiscal policies to environment to education to housing to election security (pick any branch of the government), it is better to shut it down to minimize further damage from this administration’s foolish policies, and actions. Fund the essentials, and let the time play out. I hope the shutdown will also stop paying for Trump’s golf & legal escapades.
3
After nearly two years in office, it's clear that trump's temper tantrums are just that, and nothing more. The GOP reminds me of parents who have a brat for a child, yet have no strategy for dealing with it.
Here's a suggestion. Don't be afraid to tell him no. What's he going to do? keep running to his base sobbing about how mean they are to him. Brats are basically bullies in training. And like bullies, brats who can't get their own way, are stranded in frustration, with no place else to go.
1
Every aspect of that wall is appalling. Its purpose, impact, as a symbol, wastefulness.
Building that wall cannot be tolerated. Building that wall would show that the government is already shut down.
4
He didn't just promise a wall. He promised a wall paid for by Mexico. Until that happens, the man is not credible.
1
If only this child-tyrant hadn't blown up the grain markets, forcing him to waste $12 billion on an agri-bailout, he'd have half the funds needed for his precious wall.
8
It seems like everyone has forgotten that Trump said he would make Mexico pay for it. Why are we arguing about this....?
3
Trump doesn't have the legal or Constitutional right to shut down the government, and we can be lucky for that.
With his mercurial temper and unpredicitable personality, shutting down the government would not just mean he, Congress, and the Cabinet would not get paid, people who can afford a "pause"in pay...
... but that civil service workers, educators, fire fighters, EMTs would not get paid, Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security would go unfunded and people would die.
Again, only Congress can Constitutionally pass a budget. Nobody wants the Wall, even if they are racist. It's a lot of money to spend for an ineffective vanity project, and Americans need that money for necessary services.
Trump's bizarre vanity parade should also be cancelled. Fans will be permitted at the sidelines, protesters bludgeoned away, and the ensuing melee of hate, while a perfect symbol of Trump's presidency, is not worth the money.
Trump said Mexico would pay for the Wall. They're not, and passing his campaign promise onto American shoulders is cowardly. He should concede he lost the point and move on.
1
Trump's 'willingness' is akin to a child's demand to get his own way or punish everyone else. The business of governing, done correctly, is balance. Such subtlety falls on deaf ears in this administration.
Go ahead shut down the government. We’re holding your military parade hostage until we get the cheapest, best ever healthcare plan and all the shiny new infrastructure you promised.
Until that happens, no bedtime snack either.
30
Did Mr Trump ever solve the problem of simple to use tall ladders?
And why does the first wall appear to be made of cardboard?
And has Mr Trump noted that the Berlin Wall (designed to keep East German people in) only lasted just under 30 years before being disassembled by the East German citizens the Stasi were claiming to be 'protecting'?
5
So have the New York Times and other media outlets forgotten the second half of Trump's campaign promise, which was that Mexico was going to pay for this wall? This is a key point that is getting consistently glossed over in these conversations.
Not only this wall idiotic, but American taxpayers are being made to foot the bill! Very frustrating to see such an important detail being left out of coverage on this issue.
4
Of course he's going to shut the government down. There's nothing left he hasn't done. He befriends foreign dictators who poison , murder their people, he gives top 1% biggly tax breaks, promotes damaging tariff war, degrades American heroes, sends in minions to destroy EPA, threatens the very symbol of our country - the bald eagle. What else would get him more attention?! But in his mind (very surprisingly) he is the greatest. When you have to repeat that on at the least a weekly basis, you just aren't!
5
Trump can't get what he wants so he throws a tantrum and threatens to shut down the govt. Please, DO NOT coddle this man anymore! Let him shut down the government, that plus the destructive tariffs, the lies about his affairs and the Russian "thing", that just may be enough to take the house and the senate back in the mid-term. Then hopefully, our lawmakers will come to their senses, ignore Trump and work together to run the country while Trump sits in the corner.
3
The Republicans will soon find out that the trump cart they have been riding in is about to have its wheels fall off.
1
Wow another Trump threat. Can't wait to see what happens....not
Crying Fire too often.....
I suggest we all just start ignoring all of Trumps messages, tweets, rallies everything..... sort of pretend he doesn't exist...
He might do us a favor and resign.
8
The GOP almost came close to governing today. In other news...
1
Nothing to see here,keep moving. One Trick Pony plodding in the same circle. Vote.
2
There is no similar interest or persuasion on other pressing issues. Mr. Trump promised better and cheaper health care for all people. A better and affordable health care than the ACA or Obamacare. Is building the wall more important than caring for people's health?
Mr. Trump does not say where the funding for building the Wall, will come from? Estimated to cost approx. $25 billion. Possibly, incurring more debt. Are we not already at the peak of national debt?
Mr. Trump should revisit the items on his list of election campaign promises. While some of them may only favor and comfort the voter base, not all align with the needs of the country and the people as a whole. There should be alternatives to spending money on the Wall. Instead, seek funds to improving our country's deteriorating infrastructure and improving much needed health care for all people. Not forgetting people's Social Security and Medicare.
4
@citizen - I wish a reporter would ask Trump about the health care he promised.
2
Wait a minute! If Ryan states:
“We walked the president through our strategy for appropriations before the fiscal year,” Mr. Ryan said. “He agreed with our strategy. So we think we have a unified strategy to make sure that we can get as many appropriation bills done as possible.”
but then trump tweets:
“I would be willing to ‘shut down’ government if the Democrats do not give us the votes for Border Security, which includes the Wall!”
then our Republican-led government is a mess. How dumb can Republican voters be? They've got a president who's a loose cannon who says one thing, and a congress that says something else.
And trump supporters are paying more for trump's tariffs, more for the spending bill with its increased debt, and now they'll pay their tax money for the wall, for which Trump confidently told them that Mexico would pay.
We have to fix this mess in November.
7
@Charles You just now realized all this?
1
That Trump threatened a government shutdown this fall if Congress doesn’t address his demand for more public money to build his long-promised border wall shows his short-sightedness on practically every issue.
Congressional Repubicans like Steve Stivers, Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell must find his threat ludicrous. But they didn’t want to rebuke him nor risk falling out with him and alienating his supporters. They seek to play down the threat by agreeing to fund the government through smaller packages of spending bills that had been approved by House and Senate. But Trump isn’t going to content himself with the proposal and want to follow through, hoping to pressure Democrats and rally his core voters in November.
2
Wait, wasn’t Mexico supposed to pay for it?
12
Wait, I'm totally confused. I thought Mexico was going to pay for this boondoggle?
28
@J Darby
No confusion at all. Trump is a liar and always has been about EVERYTHING!
1
@Deus
Actually, Trump did tell the absolute truth once: That he could shoot someone in the middle of 5th Avenue and not lose one supporter. And the result of Mueller's investigation will prove that beyond the shadow of a doubt.
He will deny that he ever said to shut it down. Sad.
6
Shutting down the Government is the famously debunk and fake "Art of the Deal" !
8
Wait. I thought Mexico was paying for Trump's
unnecessary wall.
11
shut it down. your base will suffer and you will too.
19
Does DJT have any clue how much shutting down the government costs the American taxpayers? Likely not...but the Dems should let us all know.
10
Every single time the Mueller investigation or anything related to it happens, and noose tightens around Trump's neck, he freaks out on Twitter. He's so predictable. Wonder of the GOP is having buyer's remorse yet? Seems like the Kochtopus network of oligarchs is, lol.
9
Oh PLEASE shut it down!! It would be the best "October surprise" boost for the Dems!
18
The Democrats need to remind Dear Leader's loyal base over and over and over that Dear Leader promised Mexico was going to pay for it.
45
Times picks in comments is a comical foray into a world of readers who don’t get it. Republicans in a landslide at the midterms if he makes it happen and pins it on the mouth-frothed, air-clawing ragists of the Left.
@skyfiber
And your arguments are ... ?
(By the way, NYT picks never have anything to do with the specific opinion that a comment defends, but with how that opinion is defended: using arguments. So if no Trump supporter writes a comment with arguments, you won't see any of those comments become NYT picks, and that's it).
Bring it on, Donald.
9
Please shut down the government right before the election, Comrade Trump. It would be yet another nice display of your total lack of ability to govern, let alone lead.
27
Hey Don Mexico says the checks in the mail.
14
I thought Mexico was supposed to pay for this stupid thing. His comments should be directed at the Mexican Congress, not the US Congress. He should start learning how to tweet in Spanish.
40
@jrig
Would you believe what Pinocchio told you?
What a train wreck of a man.
28
JUST MORE OF THE SAME!!!...disruptive behavior and ideas from the most disruptive president in American history.....chaos for the sake of chaos............................
21
And that chaos distracts from the lying, the cheating, the threats to journalists et al.
1
@JN, It's a sad reflection on his supporters, but nether Trump nor his supporters see that.
1
Truth is accessible with press of button-exercise in futility lying about anything. That glowing shellac on your contrived reality starts to crack under the heated lamps of Google, Mr. "200 years too late" President.
3
Makes me think of a story where Br'er Rabbit tricks Br'er Fox by pleading with Br'er Fox to do whatever he wants to him but “don't throw me in that briar patch!”
I think we have finally learned to get out of the way and let Trump out stupid himself.
7
Donald:
This is not russia. You are not king, despite what your mirror tells you.
You cannot 'control' the whole world as you idol had tried, and failed. Did you remember the last chapter, BTW?
Signed,
Not a fan
14
The 'wall' isn't going to be built. He needs it not to be built so he can keep yammering about it in order to fire up his idiot evangelical base. As for shutting the govt down that's just another in an incessant line of tweet-distractions. Always remember, he is first and foremost a con-artist.
16
NYT and DEMS: Why aren't you all sending this message out to everyone (perhaps you will again before midterms?). The economy that Trump is boasting about was started by Obama!! Trump can only take maybe 6 mos credit for but even that is too generous since economies don't change that rapidly.
TRUMP HIMSELF stated in 2004 that the Economy does better under DEMOCRATS: https://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2016/11/07/trump-is-right-about-on...
9
Well, I dunno. But I do know that if I want to find the messages I want in the paper, it helps quite a bit actually to read the paper. By which I mean to say that the Times runs such articles wvery day, and three times on Sundays.
How come all of the other presidents, especially the Republican ones, when they were presidents did not appear to wield so much power and chaos to create such intimidation as Trump?
7
The daily assault on our values, institutions and agencies continues. Trump is determined to destroy our government - shutting it down would just speed up the process.
Our country has done many great things and also taken a lot of wrong turns. No turn has been more damaging than allowing Trump to occupy an office for which he is manifestly unfit.
11
I would approve money for this useless wall if the Republicans agreed to cut military spending to pay for it and to move money to infrastructure repair. Thirty years after the fall of Russia we continue to spend more money on the military, and failed military adventures is Afghanistan and Iraq, than the next eight to ten industrialized countries combined. Trying to be an empire is leading down the same road as other failed empires in the past. Let's have a Defense department that focuses on defense and not offense.
7
A government which closed itself off!!!! What will be next? The President whom impeach himself?
5
It's worth whatever the cost to thwart democrats from breaking the law by allowing illegal immigration.
How precisely do Democrats do this, please? Be exact, and cite the actual laws, if you would. Don't forget to cite the actual numbers during Obama's presidency.
1
Shut it down Mr. Trump. Less damage to this Great nation will ensue if you do shut it down that is done daily by you and your Republican mobsters are now doing. When you shut it down, I hope you take a 2 year vacation to one of your resorts.
11
With this newest threat, Donald Trump is unwittingly the gift that keeps on giving ... and just in time for mid-term elections.
Give him more rope.
7
And all through the night, visions of Trump baby balloons gave them a fright.
9
Not-My-POTUS is the GOP...this is how they operate-governing by threat...
4
Talk to Mexico, you promised they were going to pay for it.
9
Everyday a corrosive mix of tweets and threats, a narrative of familiar negativity almost verbatim. Media space filled with him, as he intends. Every conversation ending with "the base won't care."
Pushing any number of rehashed topics, using social media manipulation. 76 tweets about collusion. Lies and misrepresentations. Now a destructive threat about shutting down the government if his demands are unmet.
Disrupt the livelihoods of over a million federal employees and interfere with government functions---for what?
An autocrat's relentlessly unrestrained ego!
8
Every Democrat should be proclaiming at every opportunity: "Trump promised Mexico would pay for the wall!" Don't give him a pass on this monumental lie!
15
I’m puzzled. Why should the government be shut down, thus depriving the American people of services, when Trump has insisted from the very beginning that Mexico was going to pay for this stupid wall? Many times he has said this, insisting that the American taxpayer would not pay a cent because he, the great deal maker, was going to make Mexico pay. Perhaps at his next pep rally it would be nice if a member of the audience would ask this question of their president. The answer would probably be a masterclass in evasion, obfuscation, and just plain lies.
10
Dear Mr. trump-
Tantrum noted.
Love,
America
9
Go ahead ! Shut down the government ! This is what the dictators do. Instead of negotiating consensus, they threaten, as they hold they are the sole proprietors of "the Truth".
5
The disease "Trump Derangement Syndrome," aptly coined by its only sufferer, is incurable. So sad.
6
It's all a distraction.
Remember the last spending bill?
70% Defense
30% everything else and all of it financed by debt.
The US is so bankrupt it is silly.
5
Dear So-called President Trump: Go ahead, make my day.
19
Mr Trump and his ilk want a border wall? Try Go-Fund-Me.
13
My message to Trump?.....Bring it on...I dare you...it will just e another nail in your and the GOP's political coffin.
5
Build a wall around his golf course in Jersey. Another around Mar-a-lago. Winning!
9
Oh give him his wall. On one condition. Every one hundred yards, for the entire length of the wall, on both sides, in 10 foot tall upper case letters, the words TRUMP'S WALL must be displayed, so that the world will have no doubt who was responsible for putting the stupid thing up.
You do know, don't you, that this is the REAL reason he wants the wall built so badly.
3
"Giving" him his wall (against the advice of his own Sec. of Defense, a 4-star General) actually means that "we the people", in other words ordinary taxpayers should find $26 billion and then decide to invest it in what is NOT the best way to protect us.
WHY would any patriot ever do something like that?
And then there's the fact that Democrats ALREADY agreed to voting for a comprehensive immigration bill that contained a full funding of the wall, a couple of months ago, only to see that at the very last minute, Trump flip-flopped and decided to oppose it anyhow.
To "give" something to such a bad and untrustworthy negotiator is totally absurd.
Trump has proven that he's unable to negotiate in good faith. Democrats have offered him an opportunity to get what he wanted (his so-called four pillars), and after publicly saying that he supported the bill, he changed his mind nevertheless. Now he'll have to face the consequences: no more Dem compromises, they will wait until Democrats control DC again to pass comprehensive immigration reform, rather than to give Trump a huge campaign promise victory all while angering their own voters and more than half of the American people.
wow, I thought similar - only as an tangible expression of his ego/desire for immortality seen from space like the great China wall...
It's no wonder this president couldn't get a loan from an American bank when he was in business. His word isn't worth the air it floats through. He's not just a liar about facts, he's a liar about what he agrees to at any given point. He's a cheat and a fake. Maybe the wall will finally show his deaf, dumb and blind fans what a fraud he is. He's worse than a used car salesman--at least with the used car guy you actually do get a car. With trump, it's all just air--most of it hot.
If Trump campaigns on Congressional failure to fund the wall, Democrats and Republican candidates should ask his tax phobic fans directly what they want to give up to get the wall--roads? NASA? military protection? bigger taxes? Wonder what the little fantasists will say. It could be a stump speech staple--I say "roads", you vote by saying: "roads" or "wall". I say "army", you vote by saying "army" or "wall".
4
Trump doesn't have the legal or Constitutional right to shut down the government, fortunately.
He also lacks knowledge democratic governance, has no desire for public service, and dictates with the cudgels of mercurial temper, unpredictability, lying, firing, brutal words and ideas, inflexibility, and unrelenting nagging until he gets his own way.
His unfitness to govern is shown by decisions that have harmed average Americans.
These include: withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord and the Iranian Nuclear Accord, embracing Russia and criticizing U.S. allies, threats to withdraw from NATO, blow up North Korea, blow up Iran, laying tariffs, giving a 21-23% tax reduction for the wealthy while the poor and middle class pay higher taxes and government services are cut, and his desire to destroy our environment for fossil fuel barons.
Now he wants to shut down the government for his Wall? That means he, Congress, the Cabinet, civil service workers, educators, fire fighters, EMTs, would not be paid, Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security would go unfunded, and people would die.
Nobody wants the Wall, even if they are racist. It's a lot of money to spend for an ineffective vanity project. Americans need that money for U.S. needs. Let's cancel his parade, too, while we're at it.
Trump said Mexico would pay for the Wall. They're not, and passing his campaign promise onto American shoulders is cowardly. He should concede he lost the point and move on.
7
(In reference to a pic in the synthesis of the day’s news) Crazy that I didn’t even know trump had grandchildren. I’ve never heard him mention them once publicly. That says so much about him as a person.
3
Trump is not the spineless GOP Establishment. Expect a shutdown and expect a wall. There may be some horse trading in between but both will happen.
Some of us - perhaps most of us who are paying attention - are sick and tired of being pushed around by Trump's "base". There's a clear understanding of an essential aspect of a functioning democratic republic: majority rule constrained by minority rights. But when the minority is able to achieve "rule" by any means, the equation becomes seriously unbalanced.
In fact, I'm beginning to believe that the minority - Trump's base - is a paper tiger. They did manage to push one of their own into the White House via a quaint and antiquated provision in our Constitution (the Electoral system), but only by a whisker. But after the champagne was consumed and the celebrations ended, he's made a hash of it.
While I take a dim view of those who drank the election snake oil and brought about that initial surge, I find it hard to accept that such enthusiasm can be maintained when the fiction of the polls meets the reality of the ballot box.
That reality consists of the common sense of the entire electorate, including the "base". One can ignore and/or justify foolishness and aimless blundering only up to a point, and despite the presumed fear of such as the miniscule "Freedom Caucus", I doubt that the base will stand united. And even if it does, it's still a substantial minority.
The GOP in Congress is right to be afraid. There are few feelings of helplessness to match the realization that one is following a "lost leader".
8
I thought that he said that Mexico would pay for the wall. What does Congress have to do with this?
5
For the president to say he is going to "shut down government" implies that the Republicans are governing at all. By now it's obvious, that they are totally incapable of governing, and, in many respects, the government has already been shut down.
When will this clown show ever end?
7
Wait, I'm confused. Was does our government funding have to do with the wall getting built. I thought Mexico was paying for it.
4
We've been here before. A series of bully-threatening tweets, and yelling and ranting squeals from our Liar-in-Thief.
He uses the same MO that he used with North Korea, China, Mexico, Canada, and the European Union.
He creates the villain and when the villain comes to the table, he gives away America's position in the world (North Korea), or he negotiates to promise to negotiate without anything to show for the negotiation (European Union).
Now he's employing this same MO against his own party and his own citizens. He's starting with his series of bully-threatening tweets and yelling and ranting squeals, telling his own that he will withhold everything - public services paid for with OUR taxes - from everyone until he gets what he wants.
How can Congress stand by when the president of the United States - A PUBLICLY ELECTED OFFICIAL - uses his political position of power to coerce specific behaviors from those he was elected to govern?
Another nail in the Complicit coffin of the GOP.
8
Isn’t this a good thing? If he is lessening his chances of re-election- so be it. Let him. We need to take our country back from this lunatic. The republicans must go. If this helps to push them out, we can handle it. We can’t handle any more Trump. The sooner they all go, the better. Maybe he will dig his own grave even deeper.
3
Why does Trump keep trying to torpedo his own party?
3
How about a wall around the White House that includes tweets. I am sure we can get Mexico, Canada and the EU as well as most of our population to pay for it.
4
So Trump no longer wants to make Mexico pay for the wall? I’m really confused.
4
@Mike McD - That's OK, so is Trump.
1
There will never be a wall. This is all smoke and mirrors for the gullible so they don’t pay attention to the Mueller investigation and its steadily tightening noose.
4
Reality check the great wall of berlin germany was waste to build an ended up being torn down. USA should offer people mexico freedom an join together to settle differances. Fact is alot people who need a wall alot jobs depend on suffering too.
1
Promises, racism, bigotry, misogyny, hatred, fear, lies, ignorance and denial of reality are literally Trumps strengths. Looks to me like he is a perfect fit for the GOP. Keep up the good work Trump and all us sane people will gladly usher your congress out of power come November. If Mueller isn't able to do it sooner we will also cheerfully say adios to you come 2020.
5
I often think of a song 100 Bottles of Beer in the Wall updated for 2018. You know how it goes - 100 bottles of beer in the wall, 100 bottles of beer.....I now sing 99 days until we vote them out, 99 days till we vote! November 6, 2018 is in 99 days. Remember to vote.
3
Call the bully's bluff. Stop thinking a tweet is more than a smart alec picking on kids in the playground. Give him back all the respect he gives you.
4
Trump accurately says he could shoot someone on 5th Ave. and not lose the ardor of his GaGa MAGA's. He has told more than 3500 lies since taking office. He can tell these people anything he wants. They believe him no matter what. These adoring fans do not care that Trump lies constantly, to them and everyone else. Trump creates chaos in the economy, in diplomatic circles and among his own party members.
The most infuriating aspect of his administration is the support he receives from a Republican Congress that is led by people who were fully aware of Trump's narcissism, ignorance and incompetence even prior to his nomination. Trump is and will remain a dangerous clown in the Oval Office and the Republicans will continue to waffle, hem and haw, and allow Trump to destroy any remaining credibility the United States has around the globe. Trump's absurd trade war and alienation of our allies is the direct result of a corrupted election foisted off on the American people by greedy, feckless Republicans on behalf of their super-rich donors.
Trump is who he is and always has been. But the GOP has not one shred of decency or patriotism left. Republicans including Trump and Pence must all be thrown out of office for the security and well-being of our country, now and for generations to come.
7
This is presidential ? Threatening economic destruction and possibilities for our enemies to consider us too weak to defend ourselves as a result of his immature rants?
I never would have believed that a president of our country would behave like a spoiled 5 year old child.
3
Mueller knows how to play Trump like the fool he is. Like a silent assassin Mueller goes about his work and pays no attention to any of the blabber coming from the Trump White House. This is like Chinese torture to Donald Trump. He wants Mueller to engage him so that he can bring him down to his level of back-and-forth slandering. He will get none of it from this ex Vietnam vet, former head of the FBI, and now special prosecutor. It’s driving Donald Trump to the edge of sanity.
7
Perhaps there is some quirk berried deep in the souls of even the most vile of people to set up their own fall. Call it hubris or whatever; Trumpenstein has taken another big step. May the whirlwind visit soon
3
If our less than esteemed, incompetent president attempts to shut down our government on the whim of a border wall, he should be censured by congress.
4
Trump can’t “shut down the government” by himself - two-thirds of both houses would have to help him by failing to overturn his veto.
For Mexicans and Central Americans who would like to come to the U.S. it could be your big break - without a border wall nor any way to pay I.C.E. officers, the doors will be wide open.
¡Bienvenidos!
4
Please, oh please shut down the government a few weeks before the mid-terms. Maybe then the Congress under the Democrats will rid us of this disaster.
4
I assume Trump is threatening to shut down the Mexican Gov't, right? After all they're the ones who aren't fulfilling his campaign promises that they pay for the wall. Why does he want to punish the US Gov't?
6
This is yet another attempt at distraction.
3
“I would be willing to ‘shut down’ government if the Democrats do not give us the votes for Border Security, which includes the Wall!”
Huh? Doesn't the President's party control Congress?
Kind of reminds me of the scene from "Blazing Saddles" in which Sheriff Bart takes himself hostage in front of the townsfolk . . .
4
Donald J. Trump is one of those bratty adolescents who will throw a tantrum until he gets what he wants. The Republicans in Congress knew what they were getting, but somehow don't know how to say no to this 71 year old child for fear of what bombs he will throw next. And his base? They gleefully cheer him on regardless of how his behavior will hurt them in the future. Trump's daily tweets are a sad commentary on just how low our democracy has sunk. Rather than cleaning out the swamp in Washington, Trump has clogged the sewer so that now all our governmental functions are inundated in muck and manure emanating from the White House. The stench is smelled around the world.
2
Just red meat for the adoring Twitter fans!
2
It's amusing that his twitter tantrum makes bipartisan cooperation in our government a real possibility.
Keep on driving the two parties to work together. Maybe something productive will happen.
1
The Republicans in office usually don't care what Trump does or says, but this time it affects them and their chances for reelection, so they just might rein him in for a change. Or try to, anyway.
2
After sometime, this guy might propose to ban Presidency and abolish US constitution to help the biggest and greatest kingdom of all times and he as its lifelong King. I'm sure majority in Republican party, mainly the 'Freedom Caucus' patriots, would support that.
We are already a kingdom in all practical sense- can not talk anything against big companies who own our lawmakers and religion of the elites. Just one fact- even though non-believers or Atheists are 2nd largest (non) religious group in the country with about 25 percent of American population, only after Christianity (higher among Christianity, Evangelicals, are about 23 percent), there is not a single Congressman represent that huge population in our Congress/Parliament. On the other hand, Evangelicals practically control US politics and elections to a large extent, resulting people like Trump to become our President.
Long live the King and the Kingdom of America!
3
@Bonku
It's because Evangelicals vote, unlike some of us that have been lazy or find voting too inconvenient. DJT is the result of this failure to vote.
A slow news day, and Trump needs to capture the news cycle. Go ahead and have a shutdown, just do it as close to the election as possible.
6
The spinning plates are spinning, on top of their wobbly long sticks, lots of them all at different speeds. And the spin master and his assistants have to run faster and faster between them to give them a twirl and continue the spin.
And Mr Roberts Mueller silently watches.
Perhaps as we approach the mid-terms the public will start to see his inability to keep the show, the plates spinning and the plates will begin to slow down and tumble and crash around him and his assistants. Revealing the man behind the curtain of full of lies, deceit and cruelty.
VOTE!
4
The Republicans have control of the House the Senate and the White House. How is the inability to get the votes for paying for the wall the Democrats vault? I recall Trump promising Mexico was paying for his great wall?
5
Trump only has one negotiation strategy: brinkmanship. The problem is that threatening to destroy the country if you don't get your way destroys the country even you do. The GOP cannot be trusted when it comes to financial management, just as the Trump maladministration has destroyed US credibility with its withdrawal from international agreements, attacks on allies, destruction of the environment and undermining of democracy.
The Trump maladministration, unchecked by a complicit and compliant Congress, is the worst thing to happen to the US in a very long time.
2
All this so he can maintain his 30% support. This is not for the love of his country, but for the love of his oversized ego.
This wall is going nowhere. He knows it, and we know it. But he is intent, above all, to make sure his supporters don't know it.
2
oh, come on, people. get with it. this is just trump. bluster, threats, demands, chest-beating, big uproar for a couple of days, and then back to the status quo.
1
According to The Times, Trump sees himself as Clint Eastwood so it would only be appropriate for the Democrats to return the favor and respond "Go ahead, make my day."
2
Trump told the American voters that Mexico would pay for his "folly". Why should Democrats (or fiscally responsible Republicans) give him taxpayer money for this? He's accountable for getting the "beautiful wall" paid for, as promised.
3
Mr. Trump should formally shut the government down if it does not build his wall, give him a military parade, allow foreign ambassadors to stay at his hotel, or buy Ivanka's shoes. It would be one of his most productive actions of the year.
1
Is refusing to do his job an impeachable offense?
6
Trump and Trumpism is a constant and unending chaos of governance! It is so embarrassing to be an American with Trump in the W.H.
8
He ain't all he cracks himself up to be, and he just can't be put together again.
Grumpy Trump wants a wall for his fall.
6
I'd give $25 billion to shut down his mouth and twitter account.
4
He hasn't "played" it - He's just confirmed it's in the deck.
McConnell "even gave credit to Mr Schumer and the Democrats". Big mistake by McConnell as Trump sees legislation happening without his being able to take credit for it. He will have to break it in order to claim only he could fix it. In the end the legislation will be flawed more than usual especially in its grotesque appeasement of Trump.
DT was elected to he job of running this country. Threatening to shut down the country is not leadership and surely is not in he interest of the American People. DT is not negotiating a union contract in the construction industry in which a threat to shut down a construction site maybe an acceptable negotiating tactic.
The reason we are still putting up with Trump and his temper tantrums is because the Republican Congress hasn't lost their minds but have lost their SOULS.
8
As per the usual line from his base, I'm sure they'll say, "He's just using negotiating tactics to get the best deal. You can't believe everything he says."
Well if that's the case, how are we to believe ANYTHING that comes out of 45's mouth (or Twitter feed)? In a courtroom he'd be called an unreliable witness whose statements cannot be used to determine the outcome of a case. Because if he lies about X, Y or Z then there's no way of knowing if he lied about A, B and C, and all his statements should be presumed to be false.
In effect that means he DID collude with Russia, he IS beholden to Putin, he HAS personally profited from his position, he DOES have racist sympathies, he IS obstructing justice, and on, and on.
1
If a parent behaved towards a child the way this president does to the country, the environment, the public's health and welfare, asylum seekers, his ever growing list of "enemies", our allies, the opposition and even his own party, that child would be removed from the home.
Because we have no one to perform that act, given an enabling Republican dominated congress, our only choice is to work for the removal of that majority. Then perhaps we can work to remove the perpetrator and his dreadful administration.
2
LOL! Reality TV in Washington thanks to Trump.
Whatever happened To Trump’s bravado against Mexico to fund the wall? Now he’s threatening a shutdown for his wall at the expense of the country. If he’s so desperate to build a wall to appease his base, why not take the $12 million welfare handout he gave to farmers as a down payment for the wall? Better yet, impose a super ‘Build a Wall Tax’ on America’s wealthiest 1% and large corporations that benefitted from his tax cuts; I’m pretty sure they can afford it.
Mid-term elections coming soon…..can’t wait.
11
Unlike President Obama, DJT does not mince words or make idle threats. When he signed the continuing resolution, he said "I will not do this again. Send me a budget or the government will shut down."
I hope Schumer and Pelosi are drafting their talking points. They will need some good ones.
@Mike Two things,
1) There is no "Republic of Texas" The pro-slavery Texas lost that war.
2) The Republican Party controls both houses of Congress. If you want to blame anyone, blame the Republicans.
1
@Mike What you call "mincing words" others call "negotiating," "collaborating," "deferring," "reserving," "coordinating," even "governing." Enjoy the shut down, should it ever occur. The fall out would be considerable.
9
@Mike
Read my lips: he WILL do it again.
He didn't manage to obtain one single bill out of his own GOP Congress in two years (except for a deficit-doubling tax cut handout to the GOP's wealthiest donors).
And he told the president of Mexico more than a year ago already that he doesn't really want a wall, he merely needs him to tell the American people that Mexico will pay for it, and that's it.
No talking points needed here. The sad and cruel facts are more than enough.
7
Trump told us that he would get Mexico to pay for the Wall. Democrats should be throwing this back at him at every time he demands taxpayer funds. Democrats don’t know how to do anything right.
10
Since the Republicans control all three branches of Government a more logical approach would be to threaten a government shut down if Mexico doesn't pay for the wall.
2
Of course Democrats couldn't be happier if Trump actually shuts down the government if he doesn't get his border wall before November. This is all about Trump, not what is actually best for the country.
2
During the campaign, Mr. Trump never promised to build a border wall paid for with taxpayer funds. He promised to build a well paid for by Mexico. Why is he now going back on his promise? Here I thought he had Mexican money all lined up.
6
It is what we call checks and balance.
On day one of any shutdown over this wall, the media needs to run a video loop, nonstop, of all the campaign speeches that include the promise that Mexico would pay for the wall.
The only security wall we should be paying for is the one around our internet- to keep out voting hackers.
And the only reason to shut the government down is to get a Constitutional Amendment overturning Citizens United.
8
This is the first time Trump has threatened a government shut-down...since June. And, exactly how would someone from the executive branch shut down the government, when the shutdown is a result of a failure to fund government operations, the responsibility of Congress, not the President. It's like a guest at a hotel threatening to shut down the hotel if management doesn't give him the penthouse.
2
@Scott Weil " It's like a guest at a hotel threatening to shut down the hotel if management doesn't give him the penthouse."
That's EXACTLY the kind of thing Trump would deem to be reasonable, though. I solid negotiating tactic, to his mind.
1
I'm sorry, I may be spending too much time listening to Trump. Are we are going to shut down the government until Mexico pays for the wall?
2
I'm sure the White House will issue corrections later today that the president meant to say he is NOT/repeat NOT willing to shut down the government over the wall. It's that confusing 'double negative' issue again. In addition, Mexico and America sound a lot alike so that he really means America will pay for the wall when he says that Mexico will.
2
Please stop publishing stories that always report on the differences between Trump and the Republicans in Congress and the Senate: Trump is the Party, and there is no separation between them. When Trump says he'll shut down the government for his wall, that's the Republican Party threatening to shut down the wall.
Are you understanding this Schumer and Pelosi? Ya-think it would be smart to run some national tv ad campaigns highlighting this fact?
4
First, the poor Congressional Republicans. I so don’t feel not not sorry for them.
(A triple negative if you’re counting. I may revise my remarks tomorrow to indicate that I had clearly intended a quadruple negative. I’ll see how the polling goes and get back to you.)
Second, there are these new inventions called ladders and shovels. You see, you can climb walls or tunnel under them. And have you actually looked at the topography of parts of the border? I know it looks nice and flat on the map, but, well, it isn’t going to be easy to build a wall in some places.
I mean good grief, if you want to propose funding more border patrol agents or increasing electronic monitoring of the border or hiring more immigration judges, we can have a policy debate, but if you’re just playing to the xenophobic part of your base ... never mind, got it. Proceed. No worries. Mexico says the check is in the mail anyway.
5
A spokesman for Representative Nancy Pelosi of California said, “Democrats are committed to keeping government open.”
Great, then let's look for Democrats to finally commit the funding necessary to build the southern border wall expeditiously and to pass tough new illegal immigration control legislation.
Republicans should stand fast in support of these items that the U.S. voted for in 2016.
@rcrigazio You Republicans control both houses of Congress. Quit blaming the Democrats for what your own Party cannot seem to do. You, like the "President" and The Republicans are like the bully who blames the person he bears up.
You broke it, you fix it.
5
Why do Rs need Democrats? They control both houses. You can't blame the minority when the majority can't get enough votes to pass its own bill. But keep foolishly blaming Democrats.
1
How well did previous government shutdowns work for Republicans?
Trump is a slow learner.
4
Slow? Where did you acquire the misconception that he learns at all?
3
Trump appears to not understand that shutdowns of the federal government are extremely unpopular with one very large constituency: Americans. Americans, regardless of race, religion or political inclination need, deserve and WANT a functioning government. Trump should call up his best frenemy, Ted Cruz, and ask Lyin' Ted to share his experiences with his one-man shutdown shenanigan.
Trump also needs to define what he means by MERIT! I mean, besides being tall, leggy, blonde and having an Eastern European or Russian accent. Or is that the long and short of it?
3
I would laugh so hard if Trump petulantly shuts down govt and inspires more to vote against him in the midterms, nixing both his wall and his SC nominee.
1
Entertaining to watch Republicans dodge and weave around Trump's maneuvers. Trump will do anything to distract attention from Mueller's investigation and the impending spectacle of the Paul Manafort explosion.
Enter: The Wall.
Exeunt: the not-so GOP
4
Firstly, Trump's campaign promise was for Mexico to pay for the wall, not us. Secondly, Democrats should agree with Trump that a new immigration policy is needed. However, that policy should favor those escaping from terrorism and other violent acts rather than famous models, like his wife Melania.
5
Billions for Defense.
Not one cent for Trump's Spite Fence.
7
Any Trump shutdown of the Federal government would be just a continuation of his slow motion shutdown of the United States government through layoffs, failure to obey and enforce our laws, appointments of incompetents and ideologues to his Cabinet, gutting of the State Department, his daily attacks on the freedom of the real press, the abrogation of trade agreements, treaty obligations, and the Paris Climate Accord.
For the "failed" states of the United States (Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Kentucky, New Mexico, South Carolina,and Arizona whose State governments rely most heavily on Federal dollars for survival (https://wallethub.com/edu/states-most-least-dependent-on-the-federal-gov... it could be very bad news if the checks from Uncle Sam are even delayed.
For all who have drunk too much Kool Aid from Reagan's cup that "government is the problem" it might prove to be a teachable moment.
18
Could have fooled me. So far as I can tell, he's already shut down the normal process of government in this country.
10
We have heard Trump's threats toward North Korea, Iran, the Congress, Hillary Clinton, Democrats, Senators, the press and people seeking refuge at our borders. He rarely follows through. Actually, he never follows through unless you take into account his despicable treatment of refugee families and a single reporter from CNN last week. This guy is a paper tiger and the whole world knows it.
3
Let's face it Trump is a "wanna be dictator". He wants everybody and especially the Republicans in Congress to obey his orders and jump when he says jump and expects the Republicans to reply "Yes Sir, how high".
In early 2016, just after Trump was elected, we were in South East Asia and in one of the countries, because of the junta government that rules this particular country where this happened therefore I shall not name it, a freedom loving lawyer told us that "Americans should be wary of Trump because calling the reports the press releases "fake news" is how a leading head of states becomes a dictator. In other words this lawyer warned us "you Americans need to be vigilant because you may have elected a dictator". Trump reminds me on a daily basis of the message this lawyer had for us Americans.
3
Another Orwellian moment....
Create a "crisis." Then say anything to undo this made up imbroglio. Say you fixed it. Crisis averted. (Never mind it was all made up in the first place.) Repeat the next time you need a distraction from the real news.
Mr. President, just suspend the building of our next two Gerald R. Ford class nuclear aircraft carreries. Each one cost about $13 billion, and we already have more then the entire world put together, (including our allies).
2
@New World Ad bring home all our Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. That would also sage billions of wasted dollars.
The photo at the top of this article is that of a child choosing a Christmas present he was promised for not misbehaving too often. Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan had better give the spoiled brat what he wants or they will have a disaster on their hands when the government is shut down in November because Baby Donald didn't get what he wants.
1
Of course:
- he won't shut down the government
- he won't build a wall
- he won't get Mexico to pay for it.
He literally told this the Mexican president during their first phone call, as is now publicly known.
Trump is mainly a tweeter-in-chief. It's all talk no action.
And he can allow to do so because the GOP base is so distracted and entertained that they completely forgot about that "action" part already, and just want their president to send a couple of "fun" tweets a day, and then happily approve of his job.
Exactly who was it who rejected the latest bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill, which contained ALL of his "four pillars", including full funding for his wall, a couple of months ago?
Right, Trump.
So he's not interested in a real wall at all. He just wants nice photo-ops next to parts of a wall, and tweets that make his base believe that he's truly passionate about it, so that he can be re-elected and make DC even more corrupt, and that's it.
3
Hey Dems running in 2018. Remember, Trump's three biggest campaign promises that would happen right after inauguration?
1. Mexico would pay for The Wall.
2. Health care would be better, cheaper, and cover more people.
3. An infrastructure bill would sail to his desk.
Trump is a failure.
11
Immigration Bill
1- 25 billion for border security
2- merit based immigration with reasonable exceptions for humane immigration
3- end to chain immigration
4- e verify so all workers pay taxes
5- DACA bill where all get green card and if no criminal record felony after 5 years application for citizenship
6 all illegal residents here for more than 3 years get green card and if no felony record after 10 years can apply for citizenship
All get what they want
@Vincent Papa You forgot prosecution and prison time for all the business owners and managers who knowingly hire illegals. It they did not hire the illegals, the illegals would stay home.
Once you all do that, who will pick the crops, pack the meat and poultry, clean the bathrooms and take care of the elderly? Red blooded Americans refuse to do those jobs.
Mr president, have you considered building the wall out of surplus soybeans?
8
"Mr. Trump campaigned on a vow to build a “big, beautiful wall” at the nation’s southern border, and 19 months into his presidency, he is clearly frustrated at the lack of movement on his signature issue." Candidate Trump also repeatedly claimed that Mexico would foot the bill for his "big, beautiful wall."
Wasn't Mexico supposed to pay for the wall? Not US taxpayers? Anyone remember that?
5
While campaigning in 2016, did not Mr. Trump tell the American people that Mexico would pay for the wall?
Just wondering.
1
Two well known Stoners--Cheech and Chong--offered the best solution I have heard. BUILD A MALL. Build a series of malls facing Mexico and offer US merchandise free of taxes.
This should really appeal to our grand real estate mogul Trump and his family. And, as an added bonus, Mexicans will pay for the mall and the back wall of the mall with it's ugly feature facing the US.
1
@Rudy - I love it.
"Thou shalt hereby granteth me a border wall or I shall smite thee with a shutdown of thy government, and further, if thou still refuseth to fund my wall, I will maketh sure that thou shalt not be reelected to thy congressional seat in November, and destroyeth thy fragile political career. From this time forth, thou shalt be fully complicit in all things Trump or thou shalt receive plagues of locusts and diminished campaign funding upon thy house."
For all those in congress who have supported the President in 2016, 2017 and 2018, “Be Careful What You Have Wished For, Because Now It Has Come To Pass.” Amen.
1
I hope he does shut down the government over a stupid wall which is not supported by most Americans. My new slogan - Americans can't afford the Republicans, vote Democratic!
As to immigration, I'm ceaselessly appalled by the incipient racism that seems to be supported by many Americans. Perhaps they need to remember that Trump's promise to allow immigration based on "merit," combined with his threat to revoke citizenship and deport many Americans, means they may be in danger of being deported. They should look at their own backgrounds and see if they qualify as having a) a lot of money, (to buy their citizenship), or b) special skills or training (education needed) in order to get a high paying job. If they don't qualify, they should recognize that Trump and Republicans don't want them here.
4
The republicans are exploding, popping off like 4th of July firecrackers, a few here, a few there.
McConnell and Ryan, who thought they were well on their way to a virtual government takeover, are keeping an eye on the exits.
I hope they are as toxic in the private sector as they are for our government. Even the vile Kochs are turning on them.
Whats left of the laughable republican leadership should go to the White House and meet with their president. I would not be surprised if he greets them in a toga and plastered in greasepaint, heavy on the eye shadow.
2
I think that Trump must be the person Carly Simon had in mind for "You're So Vain". Trump probably thinks that song is about him.
1
Trump is going to get more and more "tweety" because the pressure is on. Now they are looking at Alan Weisselberger and Alan knows where the money laundering began and knows how much money Trump has taken from Russia. He knows about the sexual payments too. There's nothing he hasn't touched.
Trump is trying to use the economy card - which he can only take about 6 mos credit for since he can't take credit for the economy that Obama started. But you know he can take Credit for? -- The DEBT he has run up!! Remember how he used to tweet all the nasty stuff about Obama's time and the debt then? Notice no one in the GOP talks about DEBT anymore? It's gone up even more under TRUMP.
Expect Trump to get even more insane with his tweets.
VOTE DEMOCRATIC IN NOVEMBER!
17
Another classic example of The Donald vs Warshington. What are they concerned about? One is concerned that eventually --a decade or two, having a majority of the Congress look like Socialista. The other is worried about an upcoming election. Though had the The Wall been funded with the money Mexico lost via Ford, or at one of the other opportunities before the 116th, this would not be an issue.
It is clear, Trump is on mission that is being hindered by politics; a Warshington that has festered the very necessity of the mission. Why, after two years of Trump is this an issue? Why, after two years of Brexit does Britain remain? Subversion.
A Republican president with a Republican House and a Republican Senate cannot get any legislation passed that he wants, and has to threaten to shut down the government, from the majority position, to try to do it.
Perhaps there is something wrong with this picture? I don't know, I'm not an expert in government like he is.
5
The promised wall is really about his followers who stand to make billions from its construction. He understands the money our taxes will enrich certain enterprises.
The likelihood of a government shutdown is shrinking as Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle work to hammer out a new budget. I applaud them for leaving the president out of their negotiations. He has no business being involved in grown-up decision-making.
4
@JR80304, Trust me.
ALL the grown-ups have left the room.
We are a nation of tweets (or is that twits?).
1
Shut down the government? The president will look for any excuse to play golf.
52
by the way do know his handicap?
@de Tuinsma,
play golf but far important whats his handicap?
@de Tuinsma Like he needs an excuse!
1
trump has severe mental disease, and needs to be treated as a person with significant limitations. if anyone else behaved how he does that person would be put in a mental institution and would be kept away from normal people.
25
@rn Trump claimed the fake news had "Trump Derangement Syndrome". Well, he is half right.
1
@rn
and he'd have walls all around him--what more could he want?
1
a Wall around trump and bandages on his hands so he can’t tweet would be good for starters
Building the wall was NOT his campaign promise. A Mexican funded wall was. Why don't the Democrats simply propose a bill to build the wall with the condition that construction begin when Mexico's check clears.
96
Good point, but he could say they will pay indirectly through things like tarrifs, jobs returning to U. S. ...
I can't believe I agree with Mitch McConnell but he's right: There's not going to be a government shutdown. The most recent tweet is a standard Donald Trump tactic.
1) Create a crisis to divert attention from real problems.
2) Solve the crisis YOU created.
3) Claim victory as though history had no memory.
If Trump's antics pass for entertainment these days, someone should hang the writer. I'd rather watch an elementary school play featuring someone else's children. That's how bad the Trump administration has gotten.
51
Andy, I agree with you.You must remember that the Trump show is written, produced and performed by none other than Donald J.Trump!
1
I'm confused - I thought Mexico was paying for the wall...at least that's what Trump has promised from the get go. Did he (gasp) lie about it?
45
@Teresa Lathrop Fake news. Fake news I say. Trump never makes a promise he can't keep, you know, all of those campaign promises he kept....
1
Trump reminds me of the petulant little boy that tells his parents "If you don't give me a shiny new bike for my birthday I'm going to burn down the house".
35
The only wall Trump should get is one of three behind a row of bars.
42
This person occupying the office of president is a dullard who doesn't understand the complexities of the office. So he wants to build a wall.
It's just one of many of his actions to distract from his inability to carry out the demands of the position he was mistakenly place in.
22
Trump is unraveling at the seams and our country is a victim of his delusion of grandeur. The unveiling of the Art of the Steal is about to begin and Trump has turned into the IT clown. When things go badly, he wears IT well.
21
Trump's modus operandi of governance: Psychopathology masquerading as policy.
35
Does anyone still expect anything rational out of Trump - or the Republicans? Elect a clown, expect a circus.
35
“Mr. Trump campaigned on a vow to build a “big, beautiful wall” at the nation’s southern border”
. . . paid for by Mexico.”
Why should taxpayers pay?
36
Trump's insistence on 'the wall' (never a bridge, he is consistent on that) is one more proof of his childish temper tantrums, wanting the lollipop NOW! Unless republicans want to mimic his destructive behavior, a joint declaration that they won't stand for his silliness anymore may return their standing again...at least a bit above neglect and complicity.
18
Remember how Eastgermans used hot-air balloons to overcome the infamous Wall between the DDR and Westgermany ? Mexicans, take note.
8
There he goes again, creating an unnecessary crisis in order to appear as the savior in the end. It’s so juvenile.
28
Don't want illegal immigration?
Put employers of illegals in jail, starting with first offense.
The problem is, a majority of the employers are Republicans, and they don't want controlled immigration because no one will clean their house, yard, or pick their fruit, or change their hotel beds, or wash or cook their restaurant food.
37
This latest Trump Twitter Tirade is just supplies one more example of how totally inept and incompetent Donald Trump is to serve as POTUS. Frankly, he is a immature, spoiled trust fund brat. Key members of the Republican Party need to competently inform Mr. Trump that he serves at the will of the American People. We are NOT his minions and he is not a Totalitarian Leader like his idol, Vladimir Putin. As Mueller closes in on Mr. Trump's criminal behavior, his Twitter rants are likely to increase. He needs to quickly understand that the majority of American Voters have had it with him. It's likely he won't wise up. Citizens need to show up at the polls and vote to each and every Senator and Congressional Representative who has stood by and done nothing as Mr. Trump has attempted to reek havoc on our country and glorify Vladimir Putin... out of office. We need to support and protect Robert Mueller and his investigation. Like all his other Twitter rants, Trump's pontifications about the wall are just another distraction.
20
Hello, Trump’s party controls both houses! A government shut down, really? In case anyone hadn’t noticed before, the Republicans don’t need an opposition to obstruct. They can’t run government. They are incompetent.
35
@Name Amen! I thought that having both houses of Congress and the Presidency would mean the Republicans would be able to govern, but that does not seem to be what's happening here. They cannot seem to get all their people on the same page for love nor money.
"Trump Derangement Syndrome"? I thought it was 'Deranged Trump Syndrome'. Many of his followers seem to be affected by this malady.
27
Shut down Fox and Friends and that man would not have a thing to say more coherent than covfefe.
38
I think it's become clear that the operative word that describes Trump is "tantrum."
18
"The president has long demanded legislation that would include the White House’s “four pillars”: a path to citizenship for the young unauthorized immigrants known as Dreamers; an end to the so-called visa lottery, which aims to bring people from underrepresented nations to the United States; deep cuts in legal immigration; and funding for the wall."
Where are the significant penalties to those who hire illegals? Without that, nothing.
7
@LynnBob Where else can you get cheaper than minimum wage labor?
Trump is into major distraction. We're going to read and see a lot of it over the next few weeks. Also, he is worried about the mid-terms. The one big promise he made to his base was the wall--and it's the only one he has failed on to this point. Can he bully the GOP into doing his will? Can he carrot and stick the so-far spineless Democrats into voting his way? The next three months will tell the story.
8
@Meg
In case you haven't noticed it is Republicans who control both houses of the Congress.
They could have the stupid wall this week if they so chose.
So why is it up to Democrats?
And what about Mexico and paying for it?
2
Thinking of how the GOP folks seem to follow DJT as his words and actions get worse and worse, I’m reminded of Pete Seeger’s song, “Waist Deep in the Big Muddy,” about a guy in charge of others who forces them to go into disastrous conditions. He reflects on current events and says, “We’re all waist deep in the Big Muddy, and the big fool says to push on.”
18
“We walked the president through our strategy for appropriations before the fiscal year,” Mr. Ryan said. “He agreed with our strategy. So we think we have a unified strategy to make sure that we can get as many appropriation bills done as possible.” Hard to feel sorry for Republicans for the President they created.
14
Gee, I'm beginning to think that even some of the complicit Republicans dread reading the news.
18
"We need great people coming into our Country!”
The problem with that bit of wisdom is that the tweeter-in-chief's notion of great people does not include the hardest working and lowest payed workers - a combination that is unattractive to most Americans.
Those folks work jobs that Americans would not touch with a 10 foot pole: harvesting crops in the hot fields, working in slaughterhouses, maid, janitorial, landscaping services, stucco and plasterers. We're not talking unionized workers - these folks get hired and fired at whim.
37
"Republican leaders thought they had reached a deal with Mr. Trump"
Now you know why Trump was so "successful" as an owner of real estate; 6 bankruptcies, before an infusion of funds from Russian investors. I wonder what the "interest rate" was?
31
We do have an affordable housing crisis. Let's build condos along the border. It does work, condos built on the bay and ocean do keep my family from having access to the water. In fact in my town, we refer to the line of condos as the China Wall. Also, if we shutdown, how will the farmers get my tax dollars for their vote buy-off?
19
bipartisan agreements, things go well, he just has to destroy them. All the same.
6
Mr. Trump doesn't learn from mistakes. He just keeps repeating them. (His threats are all bluster and no action anyway.)
9
Well I suppose if the President wants to shut down the US Government on a whim he can do it, right?
He is the US President after all.
Oh, wait a second ...
I forgot.
There are two more branches of US Government.
The Legislative and Judiciary, right?
We can count out the Legislative for now.
That leaves the Judiciary.
Never mind.
He can shut down the US Government on a whim.
14
Donald’s Wall
The President’s signature campaign promise was to build a wall on our southern border to stop the ‘flood’ of immigrants from entering our country. The Democrats, who the President constantly accuses of being obstructionists, should help President Trump and his Republican allies keep his campaign promise and that is to pass what is called enabling legislation allowing Trump to build the wall, but with the single provision that was also a key part of the President’s promise, and that Mexico pay for the wall Loyal Trump supporters should flood their congressmen with e-mails, letters and telephone calls to give the President completely what he promised.
6
@Robert J McCallum Trump voters believed what the rest of us knew to be a complete lie. Mexico was NEVER going to pay for Trump's fantasy wall. "Build the Wall" was never anything more than a throw-away campaign slogan, just one among many. If Trump supporters want The Wall, let them start a go-fund-me campaign. Or, seeing as how he is a "billionaire," let Donald Trump pay for the Wall. His gullible, devoted followers can build the thing and work as unpaid volunteers.
2
Wonder whether Trump could get his wall through private donations if neither Mexico nor the USA government wants to pay for it.
7
If a Republican-led House and a Republican-led Senate thought his wall was such a great idea they'd approve the money for it tomorrow. But now they face the unenviable choice of $12 billion for the wall or $12 billion for a farm bailout. Maybe Trump can persuade Mexico to pay for both. Maybe not.
18
Government “open”. Government “shut down”. What’s the difference? Whether they’re obsessed with Donald Trump from DC or the home states, they’re not getting anything positive done for the country either way.
10
So far he's threatened Mexico, Democrats, his own party, status of DACA kids and now the whole US government and its services to the nation.
For what? A wall that anyone with a ladder can climb, or with a drone can defeat and drop drugs over, or with a boat can sail around on the Gulf or Pacific sides.
Open borders they claim. Really? So why does Homeland security cost so much? Last time I crossed the border in June, they were anything but open.
For the last several years, there are more people moving from the US to Mexico than the other way around.
Not certain why this fool is so fixated on the wall, but odds are it has more to do with finances and favors than federal security.
The US has the highest infant mortality rate in the developed world, they only developed nation where lifespan of its citizens is either leveled off or is decreasing. In spite of this, it has the costliest health care system on the planet that leaves 35 to 50 million people to fend for themselves.
But yeah, shut down the government to waste billions on a wall, why not.... That's where the focus should be... sure...
30
I can't see how this story should appear at the top of the home page. I know when Trump tweets, it is news -- but is it really always a top headline? The problem here is that the Times is helping Trump use his twitter account to create the kind of chaos that is at the heart of his goal of destabilizing our democracy to enhance his own power. In addition, valuable space is being used which could be used for more substantive domestic or international news -- or investigative reporting. Sure, report on Trump's tweets, but put it further down, okay? All he did was raise the issue of the wall again, to distract from the news about investigations into him or Cohen. You are helping him change the subject.
14
If and when the Trump family is found to have crossed the States' line unlawfully, will the children be separated from the parent? Or is that issue not relevant to the next 98 days?
4
Trump is such an idiot...
17
There are no surprises here with his latest retread of bluff and bluster. 45 has been systematically working to shut down our government and the nation for some 600 days now. With the government shut down he'll have more time to play golf at tax payer expense.
45 will build his wall after he leads the NBA in scoring and breeds unicorns for the Kentucky Derby.
9
Congress should put the wall in the next budget. They should give the President exactly what he promised us. Their legislation should allow for building the wall from an account that can only be funded by new money contributed by Mexico either directly or via new fees. Once Mexico pays for it, the wall can be built. The American people need to treat Trump the way all of his smart suppliers do: Cash Up Front!
11
Manchurian candidate? If the Russians simply told their puppet Trump to disrupt global economy, he couldn't be doing a better job of it. Attacking Mexico, Canada,the UK , the EU, China and any place except Russia, serves that goal quite nicely. Trumps tariffs and reckless tax cuts serve no purpose except to damage a thriving economy with a booming stock market and low unemployment and interest rates. Now he tries to destabilize the global economy further with this sideshow about a fake wall, that Mexico was supposed to pay for. Vote his accomplices out of office before it is too late!
14
Donald trump has been stepping in it all during his public life and is used to the strategies of lasting his accusers out in the courts or just buying them off.
But, then came Robert Mueller who is obviously not going away before the last horse is back in the barn, leaving one to ask "Who is it that wants an investigation into their wrong-doing to end before all the facts are out-like what Donald Trump and many associated with him?"
Answer: Obviously, someone knowing of their guilt tied to evidence already in the hands of the prosecutiion and fearful of what could unfold in the future. This is where President Trump, and many associated with him due to their inviolvemnt in current matters, others from past interactions, find themselves today, everyday.
And is why President Trump continues the 'rabbit-hole-distraction-strategy' he's been using since the primary debates. It's endless, his daily throwing things at the wall, fully knowing what sticks isn't important, but what is is to simply keep up the distraction.
But all the while Trump keeps his shenanigans up, Robert Mueller and his team keep grinding away toward the day of reckoning for Donald Trump.
15
Record heat in 4 continents and our President's priority is build a wall while taking a back seat to renewable energy investment, instead supporting coal and opening up drilling in the Alaskan Wildlife Reserve. Pure genius in setting priorities.
21
Looks like the great "deal maker" feels he's in a corner. Go ahead, shut the government down just before the midterms. Increase the turnout which always helps Democrats and Independents. There will be no wall and, hopefully, after Mr. Mueller is finished, there will be no Trump in the White House or the public eye.
18
Trump believes that the border wall is his ticket to 2020 election. The issue in his mind is immigration...and his solution, will be this huge wall which will play on every campaign ad and rally. Certainly, I would agree, his base wants a wall--a symbol of America's strength and determination to keep this country white. Now, the bad news for Trump, is a majority of Americans, if they are allowed to vote, view the wall as a joke.
13
The GOP supporters will own this soon to arrive Trump recession Wall Street recently said is on its way. They will be reaping what they sow. If they are receiving medicare and social security yesterdays report of Trumps 1 trillion tax break is going to have to be paid for by cuts from the above programs. The GOP are only for the rich and with all the daily chaos the GOP bring to governing why keep voting for this stress. I won't .
7
October 1 is quickly approaching. Trump shutting down the government, with a month before the elections, will resonate. Especially, most of his base, who are on Medicare, Social Security Disability, farm support and other government aid. Not to mention all those government workers, also in his base, that will not be seeing a pay check.
He can blame the Democrats for this, but his party controls Congress, the Supreme Court and the White House. His party is creating a $1 trillion deficit this year. So, to fund his wall, they will have to cut Social Security and Medicare, or make it much harder to get into these programs. They all "tax cutted" themselves into a corner, that will have a nasty, long term impact.
So, Mr. Traitor President, go ahead and shut down the government. You will add one more thing to the list why the spineless morons, we call Congress, have to invoke the 25th Amendment or file articles of impeachment.
11
Bring on the shutdown. Just make it really comprehensive--no Social Security payments, no domestic spending for farmers.
7
Please shutdown the government. The timing with the midterms would be outstanding.
8
Instead of driving a tax cut that will add a trillion to the deficit he could have reduced the tax cut by the $12 billion he wants for the wall. This would be laughable if it wasn't so sad since the budget is the little more than a spending plan that isn't supported by the incoming revenue. By the way I thought he said Mexico would pay for the wall.
11
This morning a story about the President's tweet is on the front page of my local paper here in rural Trump-leaning PA. The headline reads "Trump 'willing to shut down government': He calls for immigration 'based on merit'"
I think this will be understood here as having two messages: 1) Trump remains tough on illegal immigration; 2) He's not being unreasonable because he's for some kinds of immigration.
These are not messages that are going to hurt him or republicans in an area where some residents see the expansion of the GOYA brand section in the local supermarkets and an existential threat.
9
Literally just changed my voter registration to Democrat in order to vote in the primaries.
Simply put, Trump is a danger to the United States.
50
Gee, the president does realize that it is the Republicans who control both the House and The Senate and could vote to fund the border wall this week if they thought it was a good idea.
He does realize that doesn't he?
Also he says that he "promised us a wall and that Mexico would pay for it?"
He did didn't he?
So why is it now the Democrats who have to "give him the votes?"
And the USA will have to pay.
He should be pressuring Mexico to send a check.
Not Democrats for their votes.
Seems like that wasn't much of "promise" in the first place.
Chaos reigns in the USA.
34
A Democratic House only gives Trump a perfect foil and something to run against in 2020. I don't even see much of a downside to impeachment for him and his followers. Of course, if the Senate goes, that's another story.
2
@MoA Funny the way he blames the Dems for foiling his "Wall", one would think they already have the House.
Trump is acting exactly like a spoiled brat who doesn't get his way. Cry and whine a lot (Trump does that all the time) then threaten to stop playing the game because you don't get your way. Let Trump shut the government down. Trump can't blame Obama or Hillary now. The buck stops with Trump and nobody else. If the government shuts down it's Trump's fault and nobody else's. And for all his supposed "deal making" skills it seems Trump can't negotiate with anybody who doesn't agree with him. That's odd because most people you are negotiating with don't agree with you. Besides don't the Republicans have majorities in both the House and Senate? What do they need Democrats for? On easy stuff like tax breaks, conservative SCOTUS Justices and photo op "summits" Trump does really well. On harder stuff that requires more heavy lifting and negotiation like the Border Wall, detaining immigrants and health care Trump fails. Any President could get easy stuff done. Trump's got to prove he can do harder stuff and that requires reaching across the aisle which Trump seems loathe to do. So far almost halfway through his term Trump has failed to tackle any of the difficult stuff. And failed to make any attempt to reach across the aisle. Believe me. American voters are composed of a lot more than just Trump supporters. We are not a one party system yet no matter how much Trump would like that. Wonder when Trump will start reaching across the aisle if at all.
6
There are very good reasons not to fund Trump's border wall. First, border patrol agents have found over a dozen tunnels under the US/Mexico border as long as 870 yards and 46 feet deep. Second, Trump has admitted - inadvertently - his wall won't work. The following quote comes from an interview where he was explaining why the wall needs to be transparent.
"And I'll give you an example: As horrible as it sounds, when they throw the large sacks of drugs over, and if you have people on the other side of the wall, you don't see them — they hit you on the head with 60 pounds of stuff? It's over."
If they can throw 60-pound bags of drugs over your 32-foot proposed wall, President Trump, what makes you think it will stop people from climbing over? Knock knock.
8
If this is more of Donald Trump's strong arm tactics for making a deal, I'm getting tired of it: first comes a bully insult or extortion play (EU, Canada and Mexico, China, North Korea); then comes the "I am the hero and love everybody" backsies stage (EU tariffs, North Korea etc.) Meanwhile Congress is interested solely in preserving their jobs while doing nothing but giving in to Trump's bullying-extortion tactics. When will this stop? Lined up so far are Manafort's trial this week, continuing revelations by Michael Cohen, not to mention Flynn's testimony to the Special Counsel. Maybe, finally, Donald Trump will be revealed as the Wicked Witch of the West. Meanwhile, Melania wishes that people would stop being bullies - and doesn't really seem to care about the kids being reunited with their families. Unfortunately, her husband is being his best at behaving as badly as he can, all the time.
12
If the government is shut down, does this mean that the polling places be closed too?
4
Trump energized his “base” and got elected by promising a wall...that Mexico would pay for. Now he demands a wall that that “base” (and the rest of us) is going to have to fund. And yet that base STILL rabidly supports him.
20
@Dr. J, There's no cure for the uninformed. But sooner or later some will wake up and realize that Trump considers them easily manipulated fools. Hopefully, others will then follow.
4
The pathetic threat by Donald Trump of a government shutdown to distract voters from the self-inflicted crises he faces, particularly for his unholy alliance with Vladimir Putin, is not fooling anyone.
The threat is also a reminder to voters, which the Republican Congress would like to avoid, of the behavior of the House when John Boehner was Speaker and Barack Obama was president.
President Obama pointed out that Republican insistence upon conditions for passing a continuing resolution to raise the debt ceiling damaged the nation’s credit rating, because such resolutions merely authorize paying financial obligations already incurred.
The Republicans took swift action.
They threatened President Obama with impeachment.
6
Last sentence of first paragraph should be amended to include “which Mr Trump said Mexico would pay for.” Never ever ever forget that fact.
17
Funding for the border wall should be off the table. Mexico's check to pay for the wall as Trump promised will be presented any day now.
The greatest healthcare on the planet will follow immediately thereafter.
Vladimir Putin and Kim Jung Un will also fall right into line with Trump's plan to make America great again already having such a positive impact on immigration, the environment, taxes, education and the deficit.
Just remember, what you're reading and seeing is not really happening. Don't believe those pesky facts.
It's all good. The Democrats and the rest of the world are all just against poor Donnie boy.
15
Donald Trump was elected, in part, because he promised that Mexico was going to pay for the wall. Does his threat to shut down the government mean that he never had a plan or that he is incapable of making Mexico pay for the Wall?
22
@TigerW$ With Mexico helping and abating illegal immigrants to cross the border by the millions will not help the US stop the flow because the Mexican government benefits from billions of dollars every month in remittances. Mexico is also greatly benefiting from factories that relocated there at the expense of US citizens. They can pay for the wall through tariffs collected over a number of years. Why is it that everything is one way in favor of Mexico and Central America in exchange for lousy products that break down after a few uses.
The other alternative to the wall is to bring back 50 to 75,000 US military personnel sitting idle in Europe. Along with sophisticated equipment they can cover the entire border. They can make it if they wanted to, almost 100% proof. The advantage of having US soldiers at the border as enforcement agents will save billions of dollars because they are already on the payroll. This +12 billion proposed for the wall will go a very long way to secure the south the border for many decades. Immigration was a central issue in Trump's platform. To ignore it will cost to the Democrats to lose in the mid- term election. There are many Democrats and Independents who want a drastic solution to the massive invasion coming from the south. It is not about to disappear out of thin air
13
@TigerW$
As we all know, 45* never had a plan (does he ever?) and he is incapable of making Mexico pay for the wall (despite his "great" negotiating skills).
6
@JG - "There are many Democrats and Independents who want a drastic solution to the massive invasion coming from the south." Could you cogently define this massive invasion and just where you think it's coming from???
http://www.pewhispanic.org/2015/11/19/more-mexicans-leaving-than-coming-...
Perhaps a little less ignorant hyperbole - "With Mexico helping and abating illegal immigrants to cross the border by the millions" - we might find a reasonable middle of the road, workable solution!
The NYT wants to downplay the importance of immigration to the average voter- both Democrat and Republican, but it is THE issue of concern by a wide margin.
That is why Trump won. It was no fluke.
Going into mid-terms, will these media-driven "anti-Trump" candidates support a government shutdown to keep illegals in this country and give them status? To keep millions of DACA illegals safe from deportation? To keep the immigration floodgates open?
Trump will force their hand.
1
@steve No one is calling for "illegals" to remain in the country.
Obama was called the "deporter-in-chief" because of the number of people he deported who were in the country illegally.
Perhaps Fox didn't cover that.
9
@steve If a person who enters the country with nothing is going to steal your job, you obviously blew it. If you're not prospering in America, that's your fault. America didn't leave you behind; you failed to keep up. I know as a Trump supporter you won't be offended by my "tough" talk.
3
when will the GOP take the flametrower out of the hands of the toddler?
don the con is trying every method known to wreck the foundations of the country. attack the press and favor his propoganda channel. destroy check/balances from both Congress and SCOTUS. wreck the economy (the DOW means nothing in face of $2T debt, evisceration of health care, devaluation of the dollar, and $12B bailout for his own tarriff screwup)
13
Mr. President, where are all the Pesos you promised to build the wall? Mr. President why are you reneging on your number one campaign promise? Why now, Mr. President, why are you forcing Americans to pay for your wall?
12
This is ridiculous. I though Mexico was going to pay for the border wall, not the taxpayers. This is just another distraction form the Distractor-In-Chief.
13
A bit slow on the uptake, Republicans.
Maybe he just ain't worth it.
10
And if this doesn't work, he will hold his breath and stop breathing until he get what he wants.
22
Ok Mr President, let’s make a deal.
You can get funding for your wall if we can get Medicare for all Americans. What say you sir ?
17
Shut down the government? This guy spends more time golfing than any other president and more than some members of the PGA. What difference would a shutdown make to him?
21
Please President Trump, fight for your wall and shut the government down and you can sit back and bid your complicit Republican Congress good by.
18