The Chinese built a Great Wall that can be seen from outer space. It was built to keep out the nomadic tribes to the North. And for centuries the Manchu successfully breached the Wall to loot and plunder. And eventually breached the Wall to conquer the Ming dynasty and rule China.
So much for walls.
4
Thom Tillis used to focus on keeping little church girls using NC public restrooms safe from hairy male transvestites. Now he's in Washington and proposing that Nancy and the D's give Donnie taxpayer funding for his useless phallic symbol on the border in exchange for "discussion" on immigration reform and a path to citizenship for Dreamers. The Trump Party is a joke.
3
"The political commentator Ann Coulter denounced a “gutless president,” the Fox News host Laura Ingraham lamented that the “big beautiful wall” would now be “an open door with no frame,” and Representative Jim Jordan, Republican of Ohio, warned that his party needed to keep its promise to build the wall." How entertaining these racists are. We have the fewest immigrants coming into this country in decades, evidently lost on Fox News. McConnell, called on Democrats to show the "good-faith flexibility that the president has shown..." McConnell and any American with a brain are surely living in a different country. Trump won election because he was inflexible, particularly with regard to immigration, then there's good old nasty McConnell refusing to put President Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court up to a vote because of his flexibility. Give me a break.
3
His original promise was a 2500 mile long 50 foot high impenetrable wall paid for by mexico, to the tune of estimated $30-40 billion. How can anyone believe $5 billion spent by the US taxpayer in any way is keeping his promise?
Look, a wall is necessary in some places like San Diego, and was supported by both sides so it's not like the idea of walls is bad. But walls are unnecessary everywhere as he wanted. How simple it would seem for both sides to come together and say they are for walls in appropriate places and not others, admitting there was some validity to the other sides argument. The need for total victory (a 2500 mile wall or no wall) has led to this impasse.
Government on the installment plan. No wonder interest rates are climbing and the stock market is crashing.
Why is it that Trump supporters are unhappy with Trump not yet being able to fulfill only one part of his border wall promise. That he is not standing firm on the demand that the federal budget include funding for his wall. They seem to forget he also promised to have the Mexicans pay for it. That never seems to come up.
1
Laura Ingraham should remember the FULL Trump promise. He assured us all that Mexico would pay for it.
Laura, don’t let up on President Trump, make sure he keeps the complete promise.
2
Mr. President, it is time to bring out your veto pen. By electing you, we voted for a wall. The time is now to stand and deliver.
"The political commentator Ann Coulter denounced a “gutless president"
Ann Coulter is a mindless commentator. Who cares what she says?
5
I'm sorry but can some Trump supporter please explain how we went from "Trust me, MEXICO will pay for the wall!!" and " Trust me, I and I alone can fix it!! " to "You taxpayers will pay for it or else!!" and " I want to do it but the mean ol adults won't let me". On one day the trade agreement by some magical thinking will somehow "pay" for the wall. Next his dimmer supporters are flushing money in the toilet on GoFundMe. So I guess us taxpayers don't need fund the pointless Trump promise after all?Plus can some Trump supporter explain how ladders will no longer exist for some reason after building this idiotic wall? You guys do understand that you can just basically walk in from Canada right?
Sure. Instead of us paying for all of the illegals, Mexico will be stuck with the bill.
Amazing how quickly the GOP votes to avoid a shutdown when they want to go home for the holiday!
1
I think with the Democrats taking control of the House and threatening all sorts of investigations into his family and his businesses, Mr. Trump can no longer be considered his own man!
2
What ever happened to Mexico paying for the wall and Trump shutting down the government unless Americans paid for it first?
The Senate of the Confederate States of America misled by the malign son of Alabama aka Addison Mitchell McConnell, Jr. is whistling Dixie and waving the Stars and Bars.
1
Just another example of what wimps the GOP senators are. Won’t stand up to Trump and won’t let him face the music if he DID force a shutdown, it could crumble the facade they have built. They KNOW the wall is a farce but will coddle Donald’s ego to keep him distracted while they play for everlasting power behind the scenes....kind of like burglars giving a kid a lollipop to distract him while they break into the house and steal the family’s jewels!
1
I just hope the Democrats stand firm next year and remember you cannot negotiate with Trump and McConnell because they do NOT negotiate in good faith. The Democrats struck a deal with Trump during the last government shut down; $25 billion for your wall in exchange for a DACA path to citizenship. Trump agreed to their faces, then tweeted the opposite the next day. Trump had a chance to get his wall, and he passed. Don't waste on minute talking about it with him again. He cannot be trusted.
3
The only thing I agree with Steve Bannon, McConnell must be voted out.
it's a budget! - why is there any right/left appeasement involved?
Trump's ridiculous wall has nothing to do with "good-faith flexibility" and everything to do with rationality. No one with any common sense believes such a wall would be of any use preventing illegal border crossings. It would simply be a needless waste of tens of billions of dollars, a blight on the land, and a crime against the American ranchers and farmers whose land would be appropriated for it. If it could even be built down the middle of a river.
1
"And even though a path to funding had been made clear for the first time in days and did not include billions of dollars in wall funding, Democrats were also dissatisfied with the likely outcome and the prospect of having to confront the funding issue again only two months into their majority."
Democrats dissatisfied? The bill has been delayed to a point where they have more control over the outcome.
To the Democrats: The reasons why you picked up 40 seats in the House is well documented. It is now time to fight aggressively for what your supporters sent you to Washington to do. Stand up to the opposition. It's got to work better than your actions in the past. Let the chips fall where they may.
Great! Government in 60 day increments.
What a great way to run an 18 trillion dollar economy.
Nancy Pelosi is reminding America what it is like to have a leader, with vision, experience and the strength of will to get the job we need done, done. My one regret is that she is not paired up with a President Clinton, what progress could have been made with those two running the country.
1
You are all confused. Trumps promise wasn’t to build the wall, it was to build the wall with MEXICAN money. This is the same as saying the 2d Amendment doesn’t have anything to do with Militias, when the words are very clear. At least now he can use the ISIS war money to have DOD built the wall.
@Rich Murphy I think he would still need Congressional approval.
1
McConnell's towering hypocrisy is exceeded only by his ability to blame Democrats for his own sins with an incredibly straight face. He knows, of course, that Trump's wall was nothing but a campaign ploy, would not deter immigrants or asylum seekers would be a huge waste of money and would never be paid for by Mexico. But he pays lip service to it with the same stone-faced mendacity as Trump's other toadies in Congress.
4
So many humorous take aways that can be attributed to the members of the party of Trump.
I am just saddened that Trump was attacked by his own pit bulls, Coulter and Ingraham, and the tea party extremists. Well, not so much sadness that we will not, at this point in time, waste money on Trump's vanity wall.
However, when I read this piece of fiction from McConnell I came close to spitting my coffee: "“I’m sorry that my Democratic colleagues couldn’t put the partisanship aside and show the same good-faith flexibility that the president has shown in order to provide the resources our nation needs to secure the integrity of our borders as well as the safety of American families,” Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky...".
Now that is just classic pandering, and trumpian fiction. I suppose his statement plays well for Trump's national security and political advisors in Fox "News", but, it is still fiction, if not an outright lie. The most laughable is Trump being flexible. Flexible or forgetful? Either way McConnell appears to be as unhinged as the grifter.
Well, at least for the time being we won't be getting the bill that Mexico is to pay for. At least that was the other half of Trump's nonsensical promise.
2
Another year, another CR. No passing of funding bills in regular order for a Republican majority since 1996. No wall. Haven't trump supporters yet figured out that they were conned? You would think almost 2 years later they would have learned by now.
4
Just as Mr. McConnell deprived President Obama legislative victories, so the Democrats will now deprive Mr. Trump of his "wall."
Perhaps THIS is why Mr. Trump has decided willy-nilly to pull US troops out of Syria. He's mad that he's not getting his way.
I wonder what else we Americans will see in the way of revenge from our "president."
1
By now, even the most wishful thinking of Trump’s base must realize that a bricks and mortar wall will not solve immigration problem, and that Mexico will never, ever pay for it. It was an empty promise from the start.
They also must realize that, under the frightfully inept leadership of Mitch McConnel, nothing was accomplished in two years except a gigantic tax break for the wealthy people they despise. Even they must see that their party is broken, given that a republican majority in both houses has not been able to do more than temporarily fund the government three ( count them, three) times.
And aren’t they as tired as the rest of us of their president constantly making threats to shut down the government and then backing down? By now they have to see that he’s a promise maker, not a promise keeper.
Come 2020, perhaps there will be a peasant revolt and all of us peasants, regardless of party, will unite and throw the bums out .
5
That pretty little speech by McConnell was certainly one for the ages. How you can be that overtly hypocritical and not have your head explode is beyond my ken.
8
Republicans control the Senate and the House, and Senator McConnell blames the Democrats for Trump not getting his stupid wall?
Does anyone believe such an obvious lie?
11
Unemployment in rural America that isn't going to be solved by reopening a few coal mines for show, people facing retirement in the face of a stock market that says not today, rampant opiate addiction, wars that can't be won but still can't be lost, the reality of climate change and people in industries (many of them Trumpers!) who are already impacted, Americans violently confronting one another, growing racism.
All this and a president focused on spending billions for a wall that everyone knows won't make one bit of difference.
Congress - do your job. Solve the real problems.
6
No mention of a compromise that the Democrats might actually support. 2.5 billion for the border security or the wall and 2.5 billion to help, with close coordination , Central American countries to fight gangs etc.
3
Did the BDS (Boycott, Disinvest, Sanction bill makes it illegal, pending almost certain judicial review, to criticize Israel) make it into the appropriation package as a rider?
I Hope not.
2
Two faced McConnell is a lier and the reason politicians get a bad name. But what’s wrong with these republicans? They seem to only remember half the campaign promise. I can still clearly hear the numbskulls chanting back when asked by Trump “ who’s going to pay for it” they would yell back real loud “ MEXICO”. So come talk to me when you get the FULL PROMISE. Mexico yeah they will pay for it lol what a bunch of dummies to fall for that!
3
A wall to make the boarder between the U.S. and Mexico more secure WOW just WOW... Oh I forgot we are being invaded(sic!) through Mexico.
Hmmm what about the boarder between the U.S. and Canada?
I am (sic!) terrified of penguins(not sure of the spelling) and polar bears invading the U.S..
Even though there's minor opinions stating there is no Climate Change caused by humans what will happen if seals penguins(spelling again it doesn't come up in spell check) and polar bears start looking for a new home?
You spelled ‘penguins’ correctly; you may, however, want to review the difference between ‘boarders’ and ‘borders’.
3
@GJW'
Thanks I had to answer the phone and did not proof read my comment.
Should have read it before pressing post.
1
What about his promise that Mexico would pay for the wall? Why doesn't his conservative base hold him to that promise? And for Mitch McConnell to blame the Democrats for partisanship is beyond hypocrisy. Remember Merrick Garland, Mitch?
7
"good-faith flexibility that the president has shown"
McConnell lives in an alternate universe.
8
@-APR I wish he would. He does too much damage in this universe!
1
If Dems has a spin the wouldn’t capitulate to any of his demands. Nothing, nada, zippo. Can’t believe this guy bases policy on Fox viewer polls.
2
Mitch McConnell lamented “I’m sorry that my Democratic colleagues couldn’t put the partisanship aside and show the same good-faith flexibility that the president has shown in order to provide the resources our nation needs to secure the integrity of our borders as well as the safety of American families.” This jewel from a man who embodies partisanship and who never was able to show good-faith flexibility to Obama’s proposals, from health care to the appointment of a Supreme Court Justice. No wonder we believe Congress is a circus with McConnel as its chief clown.
10
Mitch McConnell and his supporters bemoan Democrats for somehow obstructing the wall!?
Newsflash: you control all 3 branches of the Federal government. You found the money to give billionaires massive tax breaks and to investigate endless conspiracy theories about Hillary Clinton. I’m thrilled the pointless border wall isn’t getting funded but don’t you dare somehow blame it on Democrats.
9
“I’m sorry that my Democratic colleagues couldn’t put the partisanship aside and show the same good-faith flexibility that the president has shown in order to provide the resources our nation needs to secure the integrity of our borders as well as the safety of American families,” Senator Mitch McConnell
Hahahaha.
6
“By declaring he would “own a shutdown” in a contentious televised Oval Office meeting last week, Mr. Trump had deprived Republican lawmakers of their ability to pin responsibility for a shutdown on the Democrats.”
Donald Trump is not the political genius he thinks he is. But not for the Electoral College he would not be president today.
6
This is just great! We don't have money for the indigent or people lacking healthcare, but we do have money for a silly wall which cannot deliver on its stated goal.
Further proof Republicans don't know anything about governing.
4
Why doesn't he use some of the money from the $100B arms sale to the Saudis to pay for the wall? That way he can justify his relationship with them and claim he got it paid for. Oh yeah, that deal is never going to happen either.
4
Mitch McConnell embodies "political spite," yet has the gall to invoke it (or rather, whine about it) when it doesn't exist. McConnell knows Republicans still have full control over the Senate and House. Any inability to make government function, to the extent that Republicans even remotely care or want it to function, is the fault of Republicans.
McConnell, like Trump, repeatedly used "political spite" to totally exclude Democrats and break every single legislative rule in order to achieve anything he wanted, no matter how horrible, as long as he had Republican votes to do it. Republicans who got thrashed in the last election just took off, refusing to complete their jobs upon learning in the beginning of November that their constituents voted to replace them. Republicans, determined to prove they're even more worthless than imagined, intend not to finish out the last two months of their terms.
True "political spite" is McConnell pledging to use any means, legal or illegal, to make President Obama a one term president, going on to steal Merrick Garland's Supreme Court seat, and when President Obama tried to inform Americans that they were under attack by Putin and the Russians, McConnell knowing that a Russian attack was occurring, blocking Obama from releasing a bipartisan statement revealing it. McConnell went even further, threatening to tear the country to apart if Obama even tried to warn Americans of the attack. That was not only "political spite," it was treason.
10
It is high time that Mr. McConnell internalizes that the only chance for a second Trump turn lies in stating his objective to see to it that Trump will be a "one-termer". Go for it Mitch. You know you can do it.
3
Perhaps President Trump could simply declare that the border wall has been built. If he can declare victory over ISIS while it still has tens of thousands of fighters and pockets of territory in Syria; if he can declare North Korea no longer a nuclear threat while it's building missiles and refusing inspectors; why not just declare his wall promise fulfilled. Why bother fighting over funding the Wall when a tweet is all you need. It will save us a shutdown, save billions, and allow Donald the gut feeling of closure he relies on to interpret reality. Win-win win!
17
Amazingly, Senate Republicans finally readh across the aisle (desperate to avoid a 2020 Blue Tsunami) and begin to grow a spine on Day 711 of the Trump Presidency.
Sadly they failed to be America's democratic check and balance to the Executive Branch for the previous two years.
Now Mitch can go home during the winter holidays and pretend to family and friends that he some moral, ethical decency.
We The People voters will remember all of this complicit behavior in 2020 Mitch.
14
The so-called leaders in this country can not accomplish anything other than depositing their checks.
16
Conservatives....are you kidding me! The republican party today bears no resemblance to any definition of the word. Let's be honest this group is all about deceit and ultimately a thirst for overall control of our democratic institutions! Whether it's their sheer irresponsibility regarding the budget and national debt, their outright lies about wanting to protect insurance coverage for existing conditions, continual efforts to restrict voting rights, approval of federal judges rated unfit by the American Bar Association...and, and, and! Call them "republicans", call them anything but please never ever call them Conservative!
17
@Gene
In Britain they are called Torys and have deadlocked the British Parliament.
Uh ha
I thought our Government was better than this.
Scary and sad.
1
Trump will sign the instant he gets the bill on Friday. Any hesitation might delay boarding Air Force One as planned that day for his 16 day Florida vacation. There will be no shutdown as that would mean that for optics sake he would be stuck in Washington. Sign the bill, and he can promptly scamper off without delaying his plans or even be forced to give an academy-award show of sympathy for those to be laid off by the shutdown.
19
The claim that Trump is "not fulfilling his campaign promise . . . that the president said he would keep” is not accurate. Trump said he would build a border wall AND THAT MEXICO WOULD PAY FOR IT.
Asking the American people to pay for the wall is reneging on half of that promise, and Trump shouldn't expect the Democrats to pay for a wall he promised wouldn't cost us a penny. I'm sure if Trump decides to keep the whole promise he made, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer will be happy to go along.
7
This is a great victory for Nancy Pelosi. All of her Democratic detractors in the House should take note.
12
I don't get why we're having this senseless partisan fight over "the wall." Even one of Trump's recent tweets said it would be "artistically designed slats" so CBP could see what was happening on the other side of the wall, more commonly called fencing. I have no problem with this solution where it makes sense, and other security measures such as drones where that makes sense. However, when only 6% of the funds previously appropriated have been spent, an argument about more money seem premature. Let's just chill and enjoy the holidays.
4
With the passage of the stopgap spending bill to keep the government funded till February the Senate has called the shutdown for the Wall bluff Trump was routinely threatening to dictate the legislative agenda.
3
Wasn't Mexico going to pay for the wall? That was a campaign promise too.
20
Texas became a state in 1845. California became a state in 1850. I find it hard to believe that after 168 years our border is not "secure". Trump will continue his self victimization routine for the rest of his life. "So unfair!"
11
Mitch McConnell is up for re-election in 2020. If he chooses to run, I and millions of others will do our utmost to defeat him. He is an evil villain who has done enormous damage to our nation.
38
“This is knee-jerk partisan opposition to the administration’s reasonable and flexible request,” Mr. McConnell said. “Frankly it’s just political spite.”
I guess Mr. McConnell was restating the legislative agenda he maintained during the Obama administration.
143
@gcinnamon
I long stopped expecting anything of value from McConnell. He’s really Trump with better punctuation.
7
Mitch McConnell's talent is his ability to say things that are spectacularly absurd with a straight face. His modus operandi could not be more different than Trump's but he has quietly had and equally destructive effect on our democracy and our nation. Ridding the Senate of him would give bipartisanship a glimmer of hope.
206
@B Windrip McConnell is only one American. No better or worse than any of us. Yet he has held us all hostage by his abuse of power as Senate leader. Even my very republican mother thinks he is the worst. I may just have to spend my vacation in KY in 2020 to help support whoever runs against him. Many elections are not just local but have national implications when the likes of McConnell deign to rule over us unwisely. I despise him as much, or more than Trump.
4
If I read this correctly, Ryan is proud of his tax breaks for the rich, but laments his unfulfilled promised to reduce retirement and medical benefits to the poor. American hero.
153
This is an awful way to govern, and based on the past few years a pattern of habit with Republican's when they are the majority party. Proving their inability to govern and legislate, and their absolute dysfunction in our political system. For years now, threats of shutdown loom. Ongoing self made crisis's. Like a bad marriage they are destroying everything and leaving deep scarring wounds, as "representatives" who are "voted" in and paid to do so, they are grossly derelict of duty.
78
I truly want to know if they are blinded by greed and power or they actually believe in their methods.
8
How does Mitch live with himself? He shows no flexibility when Mr. Obama was trying to push through his agendas. Now he’s complaining about how the other side shows no flexibility. This nation needs to fix the legislature before we move forward with anything else.
91
@Bob
Actually Democrats did show flexibility- they offered over $1 billion for border securit. Isn’t that what a Republicans want. The wall offered border security in past centuries- China Wall was built in 1600’s - this ‘wall’ isn’t how to secure the border effectively in the 21st century.
Democrats don’t want to waste more money - haven’t the Republicans pushed the deficit high enough?
2
Why is it that these conservative citizens and representatives only remember PART of this campaign promise?
Trump promised this horrific wall and also promised that Mexico would pay for it.
So why it is it that "Mexico paying for it" is never remembered by these folks?
107
@Kelly While he could build the border wall himself with the military, he can't impose a tax on Mexican remittances. That was how Mexico was going to pay for the Wall, but open-borders Republicans and open borders Democrats blocked him.
@Andrew — A few counterpoints: 1) He can’t unilaterally reallocate military spending, and it is a bad precedent to use troops this way. 2) He only discusseed remittances when Nieto outright refused to pay for the wall. 3) Won’t taxing remittances only divert revenues the U.S. was already owed so Americans still would be footing the bill? 3) There are no “open-border” advocates in either party — only those who expect more effective answers to the complex problem of immigration polices.
6
@Andrew
Really? That was the plan, to tax remittances to Mexico? I never heard him say that - but how is that making Mexico pay? People HERE - many of them American citizens - would pay those taxes.
Thanks to Democrats if they stopped it. Opposing the ‘wall’ isn’t wanting ‘open border’. It’s being smart. The wall is not a good 21st century method to secure our borders. Democrats offered a plan and money for 21st methods to secure the border.
4
Many Republicans and not too few Democrats were quick to point out that Obama failed to achieve many legislative successes during the few months of his first term when the Dems had a slim majority in the House and Senate. Trump has had 2 years of the GOP controlling every branch of the government (the Judiciary is only slightly less partisan than Fox News these days) and his one significant achievement was an awful tax cut for the wealthy that the rest of us are paying for with interest.
The Republican's have proven yet again that they cannot no longer lead or govern or legislate. They cannot be trusted to handle the people's business, despite living high off the hog of our tax revenue. These spoiled hypocrites are going to wait until the Democrats are in the majority in the house to pass the budget. When their constituents are angry, the GOP will strug and blame it on the liberals as usual.
The Dems need to put together a budget with plenty of infrastructure and healthcare spending and let the GOP explain to the ppl why our tax dollars should not be spent on that which benefits many ppl. Esp since we have so much room in the budget for tax cuts that benefit so few.
98
@wcdessertgirl
What about the ACA signed/passed into law during March 2010?
1
It's pitiful that a government controlling the House, the Senate, and the Presidency can't pass a spending bill that lasts longer than three weeks.
74
A stopgap spending bill is what we should expect from a stopgap government.Let us hope the Trump fiasco will quell the temptation to elect a "non-politician," i.e., complete amateur, to the nation's highest office, for a generation at least. Hopes that the Vietnam war would end wrongheaded and ill-considered foreign military interventions proved all to short lived. Americans don't seem to learn from history, and are prone to repeat it.
38
@Peter Aretin Reminds me of that song of yesteryear: “Don’t know much about history...” - and that kid was proud of his ignorance. A very American attitude, unfortunately.
6
First of all, the wall is already built. Second of all, Mexico has already paid for it with the saving on our new trade deal. So who is this Ann, and why is she getting her coulter all in a twist?
5
Last days of Rome, which was similarly invaded, by Goths, Huns, and Vandals.
We had a good run.
6
Maybe spend some time on educating yourself why Rome really fell. Hint, it wasn't 'invading' hords of anything. But you are right to point to the end of the Roman Empire as people knew it. There is a lesson to be learnt here....
On the other hand, when Ann Coulter, Laura Ingraham, Jim Jordan and Mark Meadows all say you're doing the wrong thing, you know for certain that it's the right thing to do.
12
So the far right conservatives are angry with the president. Evidently they had concluded that even though the president lies to everyone else, he wouldn't lie to them. The rest of us figured him out a long time ago, Why did it take his most avid supporters so long?
Perhaps, rather than being angry with the president, they should pitch in their time and effort to find a way for Mexico to pay for the wall. Surely it can't be that hard, can it? I mean, they haven't accomplished much else in the past two years (unless you count blowing the budgets and deficits out of the water...).
7
As long as Trump keeps crying about a wall they are going to keep kicking this can down on the road, even with too many republicans that also think it's a waste of money that can be better spent on actual security and reform. Trump wants a wall like Israel uses to keep Palestinians out, said it himself in that Pelosi-Schumer argument. Said it works well. What kind of dystopian Berlin Wall era idea is that? Even those walls are a fraction of the length as our southern border.
2
“I’m sorry that my Democratic colleagues couldn’t put the partisanship aside and show the same good-faith flexibility that the president has shown in order to provide the resources our nation needs to secure the integrity of our borders as well as the safety of American families,” Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, said Wednesday morning on the Senate floor.
How can this man live with himself, look himself in the mirror in the morning?
11
It's those darned bone spurs that wholly sap the fight out of "President" Trump.
Fortunately he can use the returning Heroes of Syria to build the wall.
Just cancel one fighter plane and voila: 100,100,000,000 pesos!
6
Donnie folded and he can’t get MEXICO to pay for the wall cant make a deal, can’t get the money, cant get his way.
24
@NYT You should mention re Mark Meadows that we learned today he'd lied about having a Bachelor's Degree; it was scrubbed from his Wikipedia page.
It's relevant to this Congress full of loud liars and brown-nosers & should be called out.
We should and must expect more from our representatives. McConnell, Ryan, FC Caucus et al have been exposed by Trump presidency. Guardrails need to be built in if we can escape the kleptocracy. *SOS*
19
@Julie Sattazahn
$34,310.00 is one amount OWED by "Mark Harris for Congress" campaign to the Red Dome Group for "Reimbursement Payment for Bladen Absente".
The other amounts are $11,250.00 for "Facebook, Mobile, Display - digital adve" and $7,881.50 for "Robo calls and Robeson Mailer".
http://docquery.fec.gov/cgi-bin/forms/C00649236/1299784/sd/10
SMOCKING GUN!
In billing (above) for "Bladen Absente(e)", WHY were the words "Reimbursement Payment for" INCLUDED in the services received description?
The other 2 owed amounts don't include the words "Reimbursement Payment".
So, again, WHY is the company that disbursed funds to Dowless (who, in turn, paid the collectors for each ballot) UNIQUELY characterizing THAT transaction as a "Reimbursement Payment"?
How did Red Dome Group have those funds to give Dowless for his ballot bounties?
Investigators need to check:
Spender MEADOWS FOR CONGRESS
Recipient name RED DOME GROUP
Recipient city and state HUNTERSVILLE, NC, 28078
Transaction ..Amount $36,115.41
Disbursement date October 16, 2018
Description ONLINE SERVICES MERCHANT SERVICES ADVERTISING EMAIL SERVICES
Purpose category OTHER
https://www.fec.gov/data/disbursements/?two_year_transaction_period=2018&data_type=processed&committee_id=C00503094&min_date=01%2F01%2F2017&max_date=12%2F17%2F2018
YEA Trump won’t get his wall!
5
Mitch McConnell is beneath contempt. This gutless man has no integrity to speak of. He has aided and abetted our incompetent, ignorant resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in doing significant harm to our country that will take decades to repair. How can you look at yourself in the mirror Mitch? You represent the worst of the Republican Party.
27
@Tom Augaitis Actually, he represents the entire Republican Party.
7
@Tom Augaitis
He represents the worst of humanity. Putting his own goals ahead of those he is supposed to be representing is vile. (He's not alone, but he is the one with the highest profile.) A despicable man, I hope the voters of KY are realizing that he is doing irreparable harm to the US and are planning to replace him with someone who is emotionally fit to hold the office of Senator of the United States.
1
I'm tired of old angry pathological men McConnell and Grassley et al running our country. These people are sick.
27
And they represent a very small percentage of citizens.
7
The Republicans are to blame for not funding the wall. Period. McConnell and other spineless congressional leaders have lost the advantage of having a control for the last two years.
With no wall and runaway spending, the Republicans have paved the way to defeating Trump and losing the Senate in 2020. The GOP has finally succeeded in putting Trump on a downhill slope.
13
Trump won't sign it. On the basis of 'look at me,' etc., etc.
I am tired of being used and played.
3
Congress did as little as possible here. Punting budget. No plan for improving border security, walls, barriers otherwise.
All about playing politics and doing as little as possible.
6
@Observer
Nothing needed doing. The border wall was Trump's fantasy weapon and it's now come back to haunt him.
10
Sad thing is, we have zero leadership on either side.
2
Keep this in mind. PENCE IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN TRUMP. Stand before the bathroom mirror, look yourself in the eye, and repeat it three times. You will then be prepared for the worst. Have no fear, it's coming. Ask Indianans about his governorship. The homophobic bill the business community made him retract. That will give you an idea of how offensive he is.
18
Word has it that GOP rebels in House may oppose the bill. A beautiful move on their part. So Nancy will deliver the majority, huh? But wait a minute: What if all the Dems just vote "present"?
1
Was the WALL too high for Jordan from Ohio to see what was happening in the locker room?
I do not think so.
But he created one in his own mind!
Hypocrit...
7
Brilliant move by GOP. It gives Mexico 47 days to come up with the money for the wall. I'm sure this will all work out.
13
My favorite WH comment of the day is that the Wall will actually be "artistically designed steel slats."
Trump will love it, I'm sure. It will remind him of the bars in his jail cell.
Great visual for a SNL skit, if anybody is paying attention !
17
OK, now this gets complicated ... well, only for Mr. Trump.
A whole lot of all "sides" seem to agree that a broad combination of funding for more border patrol, updated technology, and the repair and improvement of existing barriers, TOGETHER with addition of new barriers in areas where appropriate, is the the most logical route.
You know, the very same thing that was going on under President Obama, who had proposed a budget with MORE funds for just that, and was ignored by the GOP controlled Congress.
Oh, so boing.
But Mr. Trump, who campaigned ... trumpeted ... the idea of a GREAT big $25 billion wall, paid for by Mexico, just can't let go of one of those really macho things he has used to attract followers.
Of course people will stand up against such personal and ongoing ranting by someone who is supposed to be a respected leader of the most powerful military and economic country in the world.
6
It's better than a shut down. The new incoming Congress will need to work on it when they enter office.
Punt the wall to the prez who may someday be elected in 2036.... or never...
as much as I hate the use of government shutdowns, this fight needs to be had this year instead of next. fighting in Feb 2019 gives Trump and his lying supporters more time to twist reality.
One thing trump is, he is a master of telling lies and convincing his drooling followers that the sky is orange
8
I feel really bad for Mr. Trump. He didn't get his wall. I think we should all send him some Legos- thousands of Legos- so he can build a big, beautiful wall. And put your return address as somewhere in Mexico.
8
Only our useless Congresspeople have the nerve to congratulate themselves for doing half a job repeatedly just to do the same thing the next go-round and pass the buck onto the newcomers. I'm ashamed of all of them.
4
@Kristin
Of course they did "half a job". This is a lame duck session where a lot of Congressman no longer represent their districts. Nothing important should have been expected.
2
'Shutting down the government before Christmas is a terrible idea, one of the worst to come down the pike in a very long time', not nearly as the one made on the 8th November 2016.
26
If Mexico gave the United States the money Congress would still have to appropriate the money to use for a wall, and they would not.
5
This is Trump’s “read my lips” moment.
And he’s blowing it.
7
Question for the commenters: who is worse - Trump or McConnell? If you vote I will tally.
3
@Mr. Mark They are two peas in a pod that, when consumed, tastes equally bitter and rotten but each has a slightly different flavor of wretchedness.
8
The Trump government shut down is not going to happen? Another Trump-made crisis that he alone has resolved. Oh! What a great deal maker Trump is, with the help of M. McConnell!
7
To the NYT: A bill reference would be useful, or better yet -- since this is online -- a link to the actual legislation on the 'Thomas' site run by the Library of Congress, should that be already available. Primary documents are helpful.
7
Republicans are doing exactly what they said they were going to do: Punt until the New Year and attempt to shift blame back onto Democrats. Listen to Kennedy and McConnell. They could be cartoon characters if their treachery weren't so depressing.
Anyway, they stated their strategy while the entire Congress was scratching their heads over the Trump-Schumer-Pelosi meeting. Now they are trying to implement it. Democrats still have the advantage though.
Pass the exact same bi-partisan sending package everyone had already agreed upon before Trump got involved and make McConnell vote on it. If the bill passes the Senate, it's Trump's problem. He started this mess.
8
"Vice President Mike Pence did not answer questions from reporters about whether the president would endorse a stopgap spending bill."
What made reporters think Pence would have any information on that subject?
15
@Ruralist
Isn't he practicing at being president?
3
@Joan Bee I think he's praying he won't. Can't imagine that any republican wants to clean up after trump, who has become their worst political nightmare.
1
@Norma
Sorry, but I think you've got that wrong. Pence has been grooming himself for years as he has climbed up his mini political ladder. He has big plans and it's not for going into oblivion when Big Don is finally gone.
Oh, so Congress is punting to Feb. for USA taxpayer wall funding?
Consider it gone.
But, why isn't Mexico paying for it?
Promises made ... Promises kept?
tweets notwithstanding
4
I don't think even Trump believes he's getting a wall anymore.
6
@Kristin ‘Bout time!
3
Yet another sign that Trump doesn't have a clue. He will sign and we will move on.
If Obama made a promise like Trump did and didn't deliver we would have been hearing about how weak he was from Republicans for months.
Trump will sign the bill and you won't hear a peep from the Republicans.
4
.... What? "the same good-faith flexibility that the president has shown"- That is SAD..watching McConnell playing to an audience of one Don,.. how obsequious and illogical can you get? But I'm sure, the instant the vaunted "base" abandons Trump, McConnell will be our canary, letting us know. In the meantime, hold your noses and act like adults .
7
@realDonaldTrump, Dec 18:
"Illegal immigration costs the United States more than 200 Billion Dollars a year. How was this allowed to happen?"
Answer:
When Reagan signed the 1986 Amnesty, he protected the coming generations of employers.
"The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) preempts any state or local law from imposing civil or criminal sanctions... Citation: 8 U.S.C. 1324a(h)."
http://www.ncsl.org/research/immigration/state-e-verify-action.aspx
Trump National Golf Course, Bedminster, NJ was exposed BY THEIR ILLEGAL HOUSEKEEPER. Then a New Jersey legislative bill was introduced to require E-Verify, but it goes nowhere.
In today's tweet, the MEXICO PAYS "promise made" is now claimed as "promise kept" BY TRADE DEAL:
"..just by the money we save, MEXICO IS PAYING FOR THE WALL!". <---ridiculous and sad.
Bottom Line: Trump and employers, like him, want to exploit labor so they can profit (and so they can abandon, if worker gets hurt).
Change Reagan's 1986 law and send these repeat-offending employers to jail.
5
Memo to McConnell: Lest you forget, you wrote the book on political spite.
27
Here's a thought: Instead of $5 billion for an idiotic wall that any tall ladder can overcome, use $2 billion to upgrade and improve our legal ports of entry and add more INS personnel at those ports so the process is more efficient; invest $1.5 billion in Mexican businesses so leaving is less urgent; and $1.5 billion for educational and Pell grants for existing Dreamers.
17
Could this be true? Sen. Cruz has found $14 billion of Mexican drug lord's assets the U.S. government has that can be used to build the Wall!
Boy! Talk about poetic justice.
The only thing McConnel has accomplished in his "career" is limiting a president to one term.
4
@Howard Clark
Of course he failed in that too.
1
@angfil
He's limiting Trump to one term.
2
Trump just created Wall funding in his surprise Syria withdrawal.
1
Maybe trump could write a check from his foundation to build his wall...
19
A wall with a weak foundation is worse than no wall at all
5
It is Mexico that this president promised would pay for the wall!!! Why is he demanding billions from Congress? Remind him every. single. time. He said MEXICO will pay! (and, Mexico will never pay for the wall, though the new portions in Tijuana, everyone I know there agrees, is kinda nice.)
10
Mitch McConnell has a lot of nerve calling the Democrats "biased"...this from a man who swore to block and to "make sure Obama was a one term president."
Hey, McConnell, you and your Republicans can kiss Congress goodbye!
17
Kinda like a knee-jerk partisan objection to President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Mitch??
9
If, as Donald Trump and his shill, Kellyanne Conway, keep repeating, their job is ‘to keep America safe,’ then howzabout doing something about 40,000 deaths by gun and about 75,000 death by drug overdose every year? No, those Guatemalan mothers and their children fleeing hunger, gangs and domestic violence are not bringing crime and drugs, and no they are not ‘murderers and rapists.’
We’ve got plenty of that to go around, right here, homegrown. So spend the $5 billion on that, not on some stupid wall.
25
Perhaps Trump is thinking he can divert the money budgeted for troops in Syria to his foolish wall obsession.
1
You need $5 billion for a wall? The government ordered 2,424 F35 aircraft. Why do we need so many? What we have now is no good any more? We need the F35 for hitting Al Queda and ISIS in their jeeps and camels and Toyota pick-ups?
Those planes cost $210 million apiece. Cancel 20 of them. There's your $5 billion and we still get to waste hundreds of billions on 2,404 of these aircraft.
6
@MIKEinNYC I'd rather have the jets than the wall... Let's feed some families, solve homelessness, and find a solution for gun violence. And let's get a workable immigration solution while we're at it. And how about following through on some infrastructure improvements????
6
Correction...Sen. Cruz has found $14 million of Mexican drug lord's assets the U.S. government has that can be used to build the Wall!
Boy! Talk about poetic justice.
1
Oh look...Trump folded.
Imagine my surprise.
5
I guess we know what the Republicans think of the border wall.
1
The hyper craven and thoroughly obnoxious McConnell has accomplished an almost impossible task, becoming a parody of himself. Soon we will have to refer to him as McConnell1., McConnell2., McConnell3....
5
Trump's wall should be paid for by the very same beneficiaries who benefitted from Trump's tax cuts and Trump's sale of our public lands.
5
Once again, Congress is kicking the can down the road.
1
Firemen racing to the scene of a catastrophic fire do not stop to put out trash fires or admire the scenery.
I am against all efforts big and small by Democrats to cooperate with Trump that help him to secure his hold on the Presidency.
Cancer research, a cure for Alzheimer's Disease, health care for all, keeping the government open, repairing the infrastructure, even efforts to protect the environment, all of these pale into insignificance compared to the matter of getting rid of him.
He is a poison to the country and nothing will ever work well again here until we are free of him.
18
@A. Stanton
Amen to that!!!
3
Once again, trump overplayed his hand, made idiotic comments, and came up empty-handed. he is a terrible dealmaker and does not understand how to work with people. Leader Pelosi must not siphon even a dollar of taxpayer money to this useless and hateful wall.
16
"“I’m sorry that my Democratic colleagues couldn’t put the partisanship aside and show the same good-faith flexibility that the president has shown in order to provide the resources our nation needs to secure the integrity of our borders as well as the safety of American families,” Mr. McConnell said, speaking on the Senate floor Wednesday morning."
Maybe ol' Mitch should call the President of Mexico and get the funding for wall that way. The idea that the American taxpayer should pay for this farce has been ludicrous ever since Trump pivoted to it thinking that no one would notice his change in language. Looking forward to the New Year, and the new Congress...
12
We are standing up for what we believe in, it has nothing to do with political spite.
While it appears that we have temporarily avoided a government shutdown, it is not signed yet by Trump. I will believe it when I see it.
5
Ummm, Mexico, is the check in the mail? Otherwise both parties need to work to create a better system of temporary work visas and amnesty. With these in place we as a country can move on to more important things. The ridiculousness about the Mexican border has got to be put into our past history. We need workers and they need to come and work, very simple. The taxes on their wages will solve how to fund better border security. H-2a visas are too complicated and expensive for agricultural purposes. I hate to use an old cliche but if we can put a person on the moon, we can figure out a decent worker visa situation.
7
"But it remained unclear if Mr. Trump, who has been a volatile factor throughout the spending debate, would sign such a measure without the $5 billion he has demanded for a wall at the border with Mexico."
Of course he'll sign it! Notwithstanding his tough talk, he's gutless and wants nothing more than to escape to sunny FL to golf and eat cheese burgers. (Not necessarily in that order of priority...)
3
I am absolutely against #45's Border Wall.
Spend are hard earned taxpayer money on health care, rebuilding our infrastructure, help students with outrageous college tuition and much more!
Why are we tolerating #45???
10
'“This is knee-jerk partisan opposition to the administration’s reasonable and flexible request,” Mr. McConnell said. “Frankly it’s just political spite.”' Seriously? "Knee-jerk partisan opposition" is what McConnell dished out for eight long years under President Obama. Eight long years of "NO" from the Republicans on anything the President or other Democrats proposed. McConnell would not compromise on anything for all those years. The Democrats are not objecting to funding Trump's wall out of spite.
The wall is nothing more than a wasteful monument to Trump. At a time when taxes on the wealthy have been cut, and the deficit is rising, no tax dollars should go for a wall
Anyway Trump promised Mexico would pay for it. So why is this even an issue? The Democrats need to loudly remind Mr. Trump and McConnell of this.
11
There will be no wall from congress, now or ever, because neither party wants it.
10
This could easily be fixed: put maybe fifty yards of big, beautiful fence up on flatcars, get the sprayers to redo it from time to time, and ship it whereever Trump says he’s gonna show up down there. Then stick the thing up, and give him a photo op.
Have somebody photoshop the thing into different places, and e-mail pix to Trump and FOX.
They’ll never notice. Mission accomplished.
Yes, 50 yards should do fine. It’s not like Lardlad’s gonna walk down to see where it ends.
7
@Robert
There's a Russian term for that. Potemkin Village. How appropriate.
5
I’m sure when the subject of the wall comes up again on the other side, who will look like the mature one for capitulating earlier so as no one should have to endur a Christmas shut down and without pay? With Democrats doing nothing to resolve illegal immigration issues Trump can only keep propping up a blustering Chuck Schumer for so long.
Punting to next year just makes to easier to call it the Pelosi shutdown. Watch Fox and the Republican closed media echo chamber label the Pelosi shutdown. The punt to next year was forecasted on Pod Save America last week, and for the express purpose to blame Pelosi. It was Pelosi's use of the term Trump Shutdown that created the Trump meltdown last week. so this will be his revenge. They want to demonize Pelosi early and often, and get Democrats moving to the right.
4
And that will work every bit as well as Trump’s screaming that he and his Party had nothing to do with attacking Obamacare and its coverages for pre-existing conditions.
Pelosi et al will simply run, run, and run the video of Lardlad bragging that he’ll be proud to shut down government.
3
Yup like most of what they try thee dsys
Huge successes
Incl Nov 6th 2018
1
@Debra I can't imagine any Democrat moving to the right after this electoral college nightmare. If anything, I expect some slightly reasonable repubs who once had some faith in their party to start supporting Democrats just to weaken trump until they can help get him out.
If we build a wall that is more difficult to cross, coyotes will hire Mexican fishermen to take migrants by boat to rural areas along the California coastline. The small fishing boats with their shallow drafts can land along any shore. If a California official happens to see migrants landing, he or she is forbidden by state law to question their immigration status. See the 8/27/17 Daily Beast article titled "What Will Billions for The Wall Get Us? ‘Boat People’ on America’s Coasts” which reports that migrants have already begun to come by boat.
Instead of a bigger wall, we could tighten our asylum laws, hire more immigration judges so cases could be heard more quickly, and make it clear that we will not be giving anymore amnesties. We could also require all employers to use “e-verify” to ascertain that every one of their employees is entitled to work in the U.S. (California forbids municipalities from requiring that employers within their jurisdictions use “e-verify”, but, on the matter of immigration, state law would be pre-empted by federal law.)
Once people realize that asylum cases will be decided much more quickly, that most will not be offered asylum, that no one will be given an amnesty (even a temporary one), and that no one will be able to work here illegally, then people will start to leave on their own initiative and the numbers of migrants trying to come will dwindle.
3
Really? It seems all worked out nothing to discuss here
Next?
Not a chance
Btw who’s mowing her lawn or bussing dishes when this commenter eats out?
2
@Adam Stoler
There was a man who grew up in my community who was not "college material”. He bought really good equipment and started his own yard service. I do most of my own yard work, but I would occasionally hire him to help. He was conscientious and charged surprisingly little. He couldn’t raise his rates because he had so much competition from illegal immigrants.
The last time he was here he confided that he had lost 12 of his regular clients just the past year to them. He took every job and every kind of job he could get, but he could never seem to make enough to live on.
Metropolitan Seattle is very expensive. Lots of people have to commute from more affordable suburbs and exburbs. This man had to go even further - up and over the Cascade Mountains to be able to rent a house for his wife and baby daughter. Making this daily commute took its toll on his truck’s engine. He could not afford to have it repaired. He had a heart attack, and died. He was about 40 years old. We were all in shock over his sudden death.
Why have we been letting migrants move into our country to compete with our own citizens and legal immigrants? Not everyone has the intelligence to go to college. Jobs are hard to find.
To make matters worse, many lowly paid migrants are being subsidized by taxpayers. See the youtube video of an Eyewitness News Team investigation titled "Part one: 13 Investigates IRS tax loophole”.
1
Normally I would defer to McConnell's vast experience when it comes to gauging 'political spite', but here I must demur. It's called playing to the base, Senator. You know all about that, too.
5
Senator McConnell can't recognize principled opposition when he sees it. Opposing $5 billion for the "Wall" is a principled stand shared by every expert who's examined the proposal and a large majority of the American people. When the facts and the people are with you, why would you do otherwise than stand on principle? It's revealing that Mr. McConnell is unfamiliar with what such a thing looks like. He needs to get on board or get out of the way before he's run over
8
He needs to be thrown out of the esteemed chamber
He is anything but esteemed
5
A wall or fence is the only solution to catch and release because I th prevents many from reaching U. S. soil. Sensors leave us with the catch and release issue once we intercept.
Independent of of border laws, now or in the future, they will be minimally effective with a physical barrier. That mean little control over guns, drugs, and people crossing the border.
Rule of law immigration based on merit would allow us to help many immigrants while also helping America. I would start with something like the Canadian merit system. Points for education, requirements of cash on hand for the fir add t year, ...
The first two generations of my father's family worked in coal mining. My mother's family owned a bakery. Neither took more than they gave. We need people who will fully pay their own way, including healthcare and Federal taxes.
Oh, you mean true-blue tax-payers like Donald John Trump? Mr. “Never Saw A Tax Dodge I Didn’t Adore” Trump? President Grabbed $1.6 Bil in Tax Dollars, and Still Went Into Hock to Deutschebank, the Saudis, the Indonesians and Putin?
That Master of Asking What He Can Do For His Country?
6
@John starting with our current president and the uber wealthy 1%
3
@Robert With trump, I think it is more "that master of asking what he can take from his country.
one thing worries me about this deal: the debt ceiling snaps back into effect on March 1. I can see Trump playing serious brinksmanship with the debt ceiling, but no adults in the room to protect us from his games.
3
Please forgive me in advance for not knowing the answer to this, but I’ve only been eligible to vote since 2010. I do remember the Cruz shutdown.
How long have both sides been tacking policy bills onto spending bills to force them through, and why is this allowed? Frankly I find it embarrassing that we have to lurch through this process quite often. Talk about being a laughingstock.
Funding the government should never be contingent upon what one party or the other wants. In this case a wall that will help us do...what?
6
It's broadly permissible and pretty traditional so long as you're not trying to pass a bill via the budget reconciliation process. The budget reconciliation process offers a different set of rules that, among other things, limits debate to twenty hours (and thus no filibustering), but also includes rules meant to discourage putting extraneous riders into legislation.
People have suggested rules that would ensure that a bill would have a more coherent, singular purpose w/o random riders, but good luck defining a rule that could clearly draw the boundaries between what's sufficiently related and allowed to be included versus what's not sufficiently related.
3
Mitch McConnell complaining about a lack of bipartisanship. That's the best laugh I've had today.
51
Before Dems start celebrating Trump’s capitulation on wall funding this time around, they should consider that this allows Trump a “reset” regarding his proclaimed ownership of the shutdown. With Dems in the majority in the House starting January 3, he will have a better argument blaming a shutdown in February on them. He will also be able to conflate Democrats blocking his wall being for “open borders” with their having a majority in the House.
Trump will learn from his disastrous meeting with Pelosi and Schumer, so Dems cannot assume he will hand them another gift. Democrats need to craft legislation and message well in advance of February. Perhaps by providing additional funding for border security and point out how it is much more cost-effective than a wall. And go on offense on an issue or two, like appropriating a couple of billion to shore up the ACA.
3
Reset requires cred
Short supply in WH
1
@Dan88
If he tries to blame Democrats for a shutdown, all they need to do is rerun his statement from last week that he is proud of the shutdown idea. This isn't yet "1984" where the government erased all record of its mistakes.
1
You really have to laugh at McConnells disappointment that Democrats could not muster the same good faith flexibility that Trump has shown. McConnell cares not a wit about flexibility and is only disappointed that Trump's bluster has been exposed for what it is. Useless.
66
Stop trying to make the wall happen, Donald, its NOT going to happen.
42
I am sure other readers have said this, but it bears repeating:
Mr. Trump has promised on several occasions during his campaign and after he became president that Mexico would pay for this wall. Why is he asking American taxpayers to fork over $5 billion?
I don't understand what the debate over this is about when the president said funding would come from elsewhere.
66
@Jay Jones, I know this sounds indelicate, but after all we’ve been through with Trump, you still actually would take anything Trump said or says at its word? I admire anyone who can still remain an optimist these days.
5
@John Doe
I didn't believe the "Mexico will pay" two years ago. But I'm willing to nail him to the wall with his own lies.
4
I might not mind the wall if it had Trump's picture on it every mile or so plus a continuous supply of spray paint below each picture... Nah, still not worth it.
19
@Brookhawk, the Great Wall of China has turned into quite a popular money making tourist destination. Leave it to us to miss a golden opportunity.
1
By omission the CR implicitly endorses Trump's Federal employee pay freeze. Throwing civil servants under the bus seems to be a pastime for both parties.
8
Aside from the rantings of our delusional president, and many supporters, is there any real justification, any real studies by non-partisan groups, that indicates the Trump wall is needed or will be effective given the amounts of people that overstay visas?
Trump bangs that drum and incites his followers the wall is greatly needed for our national security.
I believe in border security, but, we must approach this in a manner that makes some sense, an approach that has an analysis of alternatives.
Many will bring up the national security issue, yet, we see miles of coastland that will be bare of a wall and a northern border equally as bare.
Perhaps the wall issue is now become a vanity issue-he promised it and now he must deliver to satiate the thirst of his supporters.
Promises made, and few kept. The winning.
8
@Dan, you should have a look at the ABC's (the Australian one) 'Planet America', its kind of a comedy political discussion show, they take a real good look at the stats and break down what is really happening behind the spin. It is really informative and as far as i can remember the show basically said that the wall was a complete and utter waste of money, its not that it wont work (it wont), its more that illegal immigration generally doesn't come over the Mexican border at illegal crossing points. Check it out, both sides of the political divide could learn a thing or two.
4
The great deal maker at work.
7
“This is knee-jerk partisan opposition to the administration’s reasonable and flexible request,” Mr. McConnell said. “Frankly it’s just political spite.”
McConnell's double-speak for Republican capitulation after two years of full Congressional control is both ironic and laughable. He wasted 6 years of Obama's presidency opposing everything without exception, and he dares to talk about political spite. Look in the mirror, Mitch — you are spite personified, and will be labeled so in history books for decades to come.
144
@MCV207 McConnell is up for re-election in 2020. Please remember that!
9
He said Mexico was going to pay for the wall - why is he asking the US to pay for it now?
Not that I expected that to happen, but the POTUS is not mentally fit to hold the office.
26
I can't remember the last time I took Mitch McConnell's words seriously, though I can say that the last time I believe he was acting in good faith was...never.
I know it's Pollyanna of me, but I really wish that our Congress would invest time, effort, and good-faith negotiation into the problems that communities across the country face. I think we all knew how this wall gambit was going to end and yet there was significant time spent on it. Let's honor everyday government employees and the tens of millions of Americans who depend on their work by extending them the security of funding the government for an entire fiscal year. It can be done--it's called regular order.
30
@Jason
Yes, it "can" be done, but it almost never is. In the past 41 years, the budget was in place before the fiscal year began only 4 times. And the most recent was 1997.
7
“I’m sorry that my Democratic colleagues couldn’t put the partisanship aside and show the same good-faith flexibility that the president has shown in order to provide the resources our nation needs to secure the integrity of our borders as well as the safety of American families,” McConnell has as much piety as Trump and uses the same approach. If you are guilty of things you know are wrong, blame those faults of yours on someone else. McConnell has a lot of nerve to call Democrats biased. Even Republican voters know that. As for his mention of the president and his so called "good-faith flexibility", good luck with that.
99
@Paul Raffeld Perhaps Sen. McConnell could appeal to Supreme Court Justice Merrick Garland to advise him on partisanship healing. Oh, forgive my mistake.
18
I agree, and ‘punting the ball’ to next year will give Mexico more time to come to their senses and agree to pay for Trump’s Wall. NOT
5
@Paul Raffeld We all know trump agreed to the bill because jared told him he wouldn't be able to golf if the government was shut down. We'll OK then, where do I sign?
6
“Frankly it’s just political spite.” I believe this is now the definition of chutzpah. McConnell who made it his crowning achievement to stymie President Obama.
181
@ML Sweet What's ridiculous is that they ever even engage with him at all. Any proposal he brings to Democratic senators, on any subject, should be met with two words, and two words only: "Merrick Garland."
63
@sam
That’s exactly my thought.
11
The easiest way to pay for the Trump Wall is to divert all the foreign aids US is paying to middle eastern countries for one year towards this construction.The foreign aid and wall are serving the same purpose on a global level.Neither congress,nor the US citizens or the president would loose on this proposition.
2
@Rishi,
The easiest way to pay for the Trump Wall is to get the skilled negotiator, Donald J. Trump, to get the money from Mexico, as he promised on the campaign trail on a daily basis.
37
how does this spending bill start in the Senate? I thought all spending bills had to start in the house.
11
@JohnMark Perhaps it technically counts as an alteration to the budget bill that the House sent the Senate.
2
@JohnMark My understanding is that it's not a spending bill, it's a continuing resolution - I know, they have a similar effect but the resolution just extends the spending bill passed previously so it ducks under the requirement for spending bills to originate in the House
3
No, it's tax bills that have to start in the House.
2
The Grinches are punting this until the Democrats take over the House. Then, the Dems will be blamed, for everything.
Good times.
31
Were we bankers, how might we react to a borrower who spends $4.4 trillion (the approved 2019 federal budget) in a year and chronically threatens to suspend business operations? Oh yes, the same borrower knowingly reduces revenues through income tax reductions while increasing spending. At what point will such irresponsible behavior endanger the value associated with the "full faith and credit" of the U.S. government?
So lets have a shout out for the financial wizard in the White House who threatens a partial government shutdown as a manipulative tool. Is it any wonder why our president does not release his tax returns or personal financial statements?
Its time for our man-child in Washington to rise above partisan politics and act in ways that inspire confidence among Americans regardless of how they vote. Long ago threats and dysfunctional behavior became the norm in Washington. It's time for cooler heads to prevail.
23
@Stu Sutin No one really believes the repubs will rise above partisan politics. They got used to not doing anything when we twice elected President Obama. Now that their party leader has been appointed by the electoral college to be president, they seem even more confused about their role in governing.
Political spite? How can a person be more of a hypocrite without being named Donal J. trump?
46
@Doug Marcum He could be named Mitch McConnell, the epitome of hypocrisy.
4
I hope McConnell will remember that the Dems were willing to compromise w him next time he wants to pull a "fast one" like he has done twice now w SOTUS.
23
Pretty is, as pretty does. And vice versa.
Just saying.
5
@Phyliss Dalmatian
Your commentary is generally terrific. However, if you insist on using that currently popular peripheral sigh, please format it correctly...
Just sayin' ...
1
Where does this arrogant hypocrite get off? He spent the whole of Obama's two terms making sure that as little legislation as possible was debated, compromised on, or passed, and now he expects the Democrats to cooperate with HIM?
195
If the Israel BDS amendment is tacked on too this bill I would not vote for it.
7
I would
@Adam Stoler
I definitely would not.
2
I was going to suggest that the Times use a different adjective to describe Donald Trump than volatile but the definition of volatile looks dead on:
1. (of a substance) easily evaporated at normal temperatures.
synonyms:evaporative, vaporous
2. liable to change rapidly and unpredictably, especially for the worse.
29
Regarding “Frankly, my dear, it’s just political spite.”
I guess one who spites most would assume that is what othes are doing. Anyone else remember McConnell's spite?
"The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president"
" I thought the decision I made not to fill the Supreme Court vacancy when Justice Scalia died was the most consequential decision I’ve ever made in my entire public career.”
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During the campaign trail:
Trump: Who’s gonna pay for the wall?
Crowd: ME!!! — XI!!! — CO!!!
Today:
Trump: Who’s gonna pay for the wall?
Crowd: ME!!!
Somehow the second chant will not work not matter Trump spins it.
30
Merry Christmas, Republicans!
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On December 13th Donald tweeted, "MEXICO IS PAYING FOR THE WALL!"
Then, a few days ago, on national TV he threatened to shut down the U.S. government if democrats refused to give him the money for his wall.
Poor Mitch McConnell, no wonder he is confused.
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Trump never promised his constituents a border wall - he promised them "A Border Wall And Mexico Will Pay For It". A very different thing that requires zero funding from congress. Show the President how to use the phone and get him the phone number of "Mexico" - let him deliver on that promise.
I understand "bait and switch" is one of the tactics used by very stable geniuses, but in this case money is tight - Trump is going to need to actually deliver on his commitment, not on a variation requiring the American tax payer to foot the bill.
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@paul
Boolean logic: if you promise A and B then you are promising A and you are promising B.
Ask any computer programmer.
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Much ado about nothing. Trump will sign the government funding bill. Then it will be on to the next manufactured crisis. Meanwhile, Mueller trudges on. Trump hears the footsteps. These things are all related.
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McConnell -- "... it's just political spite."
If I had one magical wish for the American political landscape, it would be that we awoke tomorrow to discover that hypocrisy, if left unchecked, leads to a terrible disease with 100% fatality rate. I think we'd see a pretty swift change in behavior.
Sadly, instead of impacting those who exhibit it so brazenly, this astounding hypocrisy is the cancer slowly killing our democracy.
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@Derek Schmidt
My fantasy: Trump and Pence are implicated, we discover treachery is not exempt from prosecution in a sitting president, and Nancy Pelosi is installed in their place.
What a schemozzle! (Of course, this would backfire in making it easier for Republicans to run in 2020, but I'd trust her to do a good job of cleaning out the Augean stables.)
she·moz·zle
/SHəˈmäzəl/
noun informal
a state of chaos and confusion; a muddle.
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She mazel is a lucky women
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@Susan Anderson
Thanks bigly for the definition and preferred pronunciation. New word for my vocabulary.
Instead of $5 billion for a wall, why don't we invest that money in better living conditions for the people fleeing Central America. Put the money where the problem starts in the first place
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Your idea is far too practical and humane to ever be considered by this GOP.
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https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/18/us/politics/united-states-mexico-central-america-investment.html
"The United States, joining an effort by Mexico, will commit to investing billions in Central America in hopes of ending the poverty, violence and drug-trafficking that are driving thousands of people in the region to undertake the difficult trek to the United States, the State Department announced on Tuesday."
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@R.F.
Yesterday Trump said he would ask Congress for billions of dollars to spend on development in southern Mexico and Central America to help stop illegal immigration.
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No, the border wall was not a central campaign promise of Mr. Trump.
He promised to build a wall that MEXICO would pay for.
So why do the American people have to pay billions of dollars for a wall that most agree will be ineffective at best? Or is this some kind of construction boondoggle that Trump and his associates have in mind?
And while we're at it, where's that bigger and better healthcare system that he also promised?
If the American people are going to pay for Trump's campaign promises, shouldn't they at least get the benefit of universal healthcare coverage? Particularly now that they are about the eliminate the only program that provides some measure of coverage?
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@avrds And while we’re still at it, where is the big infrastructure rebuilding program he promised?
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@Doug Lowenthal
I've always maintained that if Trump had started out with a massive infrastructure rebuilding program, working with the Democrats, and creating really good-paying jobs in places where you could literally see the results (not to mention following through on healthcare) he would have been untouchable as a president. Instead, he thought only of his personal gain, going for tax cuts for the wealthy.
So many promises, so little time! Who knew it would be so hard?
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Whew. Now president can decamp for Trump-a-go-go with a real sense of accomplishment.
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And to think that McConnell actually eats food with that mouth. Certainly, a paradox to ponder over some eggnog.
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"My number one priority is making sure president Obama’s a one-term president." Mitch McConnell 9/12/12
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Republicans know the wall is never going to happen, so they will kick that can down the road until they can blame Democrats instead. Real subtle.
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Political spite thy name is Mitch McConnell. We will never forget Merrick Garland.
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@Lee
I would add the label of 'aiding and abetting treason' to McConnell's legacy. His refusal to endorse a joint statement proposed by President Obama that would have publicly warned the Russians about meddling in the Nov 2016 elections was a treasonous action by McConnell.
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Regarding "Trump’s demands for spending money on a concrete wall at the border, "
And I quote:
Trump: "Who's going to pay for the wall?"
Rally: "Mexico!"
Trump: "Who?"
Rally: "MEXICO!!!"
How hard can it be? Promises made.
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Politically motivated obstruction is something McConnell ought to be able to recognize given his and his party's history of stealing the Supreme Court seat, not to mention myriad other examples.
The Democrats refusal to cave so that Trump can waste billions of taxpayer dollars is not obstructionism: It's responsible governance.
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McConnell has the Republican Senate majority and he claims the Dems are to blame? Unfortunately the Fox watchers will believe it.
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Everything Sen. Mitch McConnell says is purely political and can be safely dismissed as nonsense. Pot meet kettle.
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Mitch McConnell is a despicable hypocrite. It is utterly galling to hear him blame the Democrats for refusing to squander billions of dollars on a pointless wall just to satisfy one of Trump’s inane whims. If Trump supporters feel that the wall is so important, they should start a “Go Fund Me “ campaign. He should be able to squeeze a few billion from the Koch brothers, Sheldon Adelson, and the Trump Organization.
That would solve his problem although it would not be tax deductible.
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@Jonathan Gordon
Love your proposal! (and not tax deductible is the best part).
5
McConnell, still licking Trump's boots. I bet the swamp scum tastes pretty nasty.
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political spite? - no, the will of the people. Spending billions on a wall that will do little fix the immigration issue is simply a non-starter. And it will get harder in the new year.
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@Delia
Just think how the 5 billion might help the infrastructure problems that are nationwide. But I'm sure you understand that spending money for something that doesn't work will help our national debt.
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It's rich that Sen. McConnell, who infamously said his main goal would be to make Pres. Obama a one-term president, is complaining about "political spite".
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How do you know when Mitch McConnell is "spinnjng" the truth?
Whenever his lips move.
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Given the GOP is afraid of a Trump Shutdown this is not surprise. The only surprise part will be: Is Trump going to fold?
My prediction is that Trump will fold. He should changed the name of his ghost written book to The Art of A Fold.
Sad!
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@Notmypesident. Not sad at all. Who wants a shutdown? Do you?
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@Sam Song
No one wants a shutdown but everyone dislikes a loser
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McConnell is a liar and a snake, so to hear him lament the opposition when the Republicans still control the Senate and House is outrageous. Why does anyone listen to him?
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@dguet
No one with a brain does.
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@dguet: Why does anyone listen to him? Because he's got the power to impact millions and millions of lives, that's why. It's a tragedy that he does.....but that's why.
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