Rubio the hypocrite is right on this one: let Trump have his stupid, pointless,wasteful wall (and his stupid 'SPACE FORCE' for that matter), then once he's gone, the next president can use executive powers to fix our real crises: global warming and the epidemic of gun violence.
3
Prediction 1: Mitch McConnell and the other Republicans who have concluded their political survival depends on sucking up to Donald Trump will do nothing to stop him from using an emergency declaration to get his beloved wall.
Prediction 2: Those same Republicans will raise hell when the next Democratic president uses an emergency declaration to do anything of which they disapprove.
Prediction 3: If either case gets to the Supreme Court, John Roberts et al will support Trump's use of an emergency declaration and declare the Democrat's an unconstitutional use of executive authority.
3
God help you. Your president has decided he is an emperor and cares nothing for your Constitution.
R.I.P. U.S.A.
4
In his longwinded press conference today announcing the 'Emergency", Trump stated that he did not HAVE to do this, but things would get done faster if he did declare an emergency.Constitution be damned! I can only guess how this flippant admission will play in the courts.
3
You can "repeat" the obvious falsehood that there is no national security crisis at the southern border just like holocaust deniers repeat their idiocy. The simple facts are obvious: (a) we have somewhere between 10-25 million illegals in the country now who snuck in under the status quo: (b) the stupid "get out of jail free/catch and release" policies with regard to migrant "families" has resulted in the current crush of supposed family units and unaccompanied minors at the border; (c) the drugs, human trafficking and other violent criminality that flow at will across the border are uncontested by any rational person: and (d) every professional in the Border Patrol, ICE and the citizens of border states are overwhelmingly in favor of a wall at strategic points along the border.
Democrats and other "progressives" opposed President Trump - the first president in two generations who has had the courage to tackle these problems head on - for one political reason only. Namely, they can't stomach giving Trump a "win" under any circumstances. The NYT Editorial Board and Democrats generally indeed hate Trump more than they love their country and care about their fellow Americans.
Disgusting.
3
This is a made up National Emergency by Donald Trump, the real proven National Emergencies in this country is Climate Change and Global Warming, School Gun Violence, Poverty and Medical Car in the United States.
When does Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham stop acting like they are employed by the Trump Family Business, instead of working for the American people?
Donald Trump is a Fraud who bankrupted at least 4 businesses under his own leadership, now I'm really scared that this idiot will bankrupt the country.
3
There is a "national emergency" so bad on our southern border trump is going to Florida for a long weekend of golf and hamburgers.
8
This is the political equivalent of hiking store prices by 100% and advertising a 50%-off sale: a fraud!
This grifter showman who calls himself a president continues to insult us all and hack away at our Constitution in plain sight. Enabled by a sycophant Republican Congress (thank goodness, at least there is some Constitutional equity there now due to the Democratic sweep in the House), the would-be autocrat and moron is making a mockery of our freedoms and Constitutional responsibilities.
There is no emergency here by any stretch of the imagination or perversion of semantics. We do, however, have a crisis in the insanity and criminality of Donald J, Trump. The longer he is allowed to remain in office, the greater the threat to our nation and the world. Lies can never be truth, and that is all Trump can provide. Facts are meaningless in Trumpworld. Just wait until we have a REAL crisis and see what happens. Will Putin say it doesn't exist?
4
Bravo, Trump.
3
It is truly sickening listening to the alt-Left media talk about a fake border emergency when they either never report or distort Mexico border news. Never real stories about human trafficking, dead migrant children found daily on border ranch fields, opioid smuggling, Me-too caravans, MS-13, omitted illegal immigrant crime news, sanctuary cities, open borders and of course "Everybody gets a trophy".
2
I am most appalled at the negotiators for allowing the Democrats to insert poison pill amendments in the bill. They have made it a highway for illegal alien minors to swarm into the US to get amnesty not only for themselves but for their illegal parents. This is a disgrace.
This bill must be vetoed to stop our country from being overrun by illegal aliens.
2
This is what happens when a man of questionable sanity is put in power.
What did anyone expect. He has taken the racist program to new heights.
A cowardly draft dodger is now in charge.
3
Dear Senator Toomey,
Now that Trump is planning on usurping your constitutionally mandated power of the purse for his non-emergency over something that 2/3 of Americans do NOT support, it seems fitting that you just quit your job. I mean aside from handing congressional perks, he's got it covered, right?
Sincerely yours,
John from PA
2
This tells us that 40% of our population prefers being ruled by fascists. I implore them to move to China. They have fast growth in GDP and tons of new jobs being created. They allow nobody to get in and few to get out. I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees.
2
So many of us have looked at the era of Hitler and passed judgment on the German people who allowed it to happen. How could they just sit back and let Hitler become a dictator who saw himself as above the law?,” we ask.
Don’t you think people are going to look back on this era of Trump and pass judgment on we Americans who allowed it to happen? Aren’t they going to ask why we allowed one man to single-handedly destroy the Constitutional democracy that had defined our government since its founding?
So, what are we going to do to stop him? That is the question each of us must ask ourselves today.
3
A megalomaniac as US President threatens all life on the planet.
That's not good.
1
Vote Democratic.
3
The emergency is spelled T-R-U-M-P.
It's officially declared.
2
Are we now having to refer to King Trump as "Your Majesty"? This madman must be made to step down.
1
I am a Republican who (I am ashamed to say) voted for Donald Trump. This action of subverting the Constitution is the final straw for me. I'm just a citizen, but I've had it with his lies, his massive ego, and now this. There is no hope for Donald Trump - but when will McConnell and our Republican senate grow the backbone to put our country first, instead of their own egos?
73
@Christopher Foux your shame gives me hope. Practically no one who voted for Trump will honestly evaluate the wisdom of that decision, but you do. Thank you.
25
Every single person who still will vote for him is complicit in the destruction of this country.
Every Cabinet member who does not move to invoke the 25th Amendment is complicit in the destruction of this country.
Every Republican office holder who protests, yet still votes for his agenda, is complicit in the destruction of this country.
7
How is it President Trump can spin, exaggerate and tell bald-face lies as he performs duties he swore to undertake in an honest fashion?
And when will his fellow Republicans draw their line in the sand declaring they've seen and heard enough?
What don't they get?
History has their legacy in its crosshairs, their historical record of action more a disgrace than something their descendants could ever be proud of.
4
The fence act of 2006 was overwhelmingly approved (look it up) by Dems and Reps alike. It was necessary then, it is necessary now. Hatred of Trump is NO reason to hate the sovereignty of America. Obama had a phone and a pen when he couldn't get Congress to agree with him. I see no difference here. Our borders are not respected by those who want to come to the USA for a better way of life; our laws are not respected either. And for the US Government and liberal media to aid and abet the violation of our immigration laws is truly tragic.
3
"I could have done this over a longer period of time; I wanted to do it faster..." Donald Trump; and then he flies of to Florida to go golfing. BOY; Some Emergency?! Can this be a bigger farce if he tried.
7
Outrageous! Period. Golfing weekend after declaration of emergency? My mind is reeling. Am I looking at Putin? 25th Amendment? Checks and balances? Special Counsel, Robert Mueller? Are we there yet? Have you concluded obstruction of justice, Russian collusion? Corruption? Taxes? Bizarre loyalties except to the nation. Bizarre beyond comprehension this President is still standing!
8
Any real leader would be meeting with other national leaders in Latin America (and the Caribbean) to find ways to stabilize the ongoing civil unrest, not stoking xenophobic and racist fears to his gullible base, and fomenting regime change to destabilize things further.
Meanwhile, not only is there no national emergency along the southern border, but the Trump administration is about to be hit with a real immigration crisis. Millions of Haitians are potentially going take to rickety boats to escape the ongoing implosion of their country, similar to what we saw when millions poured in to Europe due to the war in Syria, and a ridiculous wall with Mexico isn't gonna do a thing to prevent them from arriving in Florida; at least those who don't drown at sea trying...
8
Some good news for Trump: this convinces me he's not mainly motivated by Russian bribes. It's pretty clear he's mainly motivated by vanity and stupidity when he trash talks his own reports and openly cites his real influence as talk radio.
can we cart him away now? If I had to pick one of the many checks and balances on executive power to kick in right now, it would be "any."
3
Wow maybe it’s time for all Trump’s wall supporters to band together and head down to the Mexican border and help the build the wall, kinda like when we have a true National emergency and people volunteer to help flood victims and victims of the 9-11 attacks or better yet maybe we can get Mexican volunteers since neighbors sometimes will get together and help each build a common fence (or wall) to keep are pets safe….just sayin…
4
How interesting. Now the Editorial Board is agreeing with both Presidents Obama and Trump. "There is...a...humanitarian crisis".
Of course, Obama's "crisis" - which the Board denied for quite some time - was a righteous declaration of humanitarianism.
Trump's "crisis"? Not at all.
The more things change, the more the Board stays the same.
NEVER TRUMP!
Shame, shame, shame.
Shame on us.
Shame on Congress.
Shame on Trump (that doesn’t stop him but I said it anyway).
Who decides when the emergency is over? By law, the president does. And it's going to take a decade to build the wall. Does anybody else smell a rat?
2
I'm pretty sure fictional emergencies don't count.
4
Illegal Immigration at the Southern Border has been a National Emergency since Slick Willy’s first term. Learn your history. Thank you POTUS for doing what your predecessors were not courageous enough to do.
3
One index of gullibility of Trump supporters is his repeated idiocy about billions rolling in from tariffs. Tariffs are paid by the importer, not the exporter. His sleight of mouth is sickening to behold, including when he confuses economic growth with the OTB of the stock markets. China's economy is not growing as quickly as it used to do, but the Dow is soaring?
4
We do have a national emergency in this country. The national emergency requires a wall. The wall is needed to ensconce the president inside for his treasonous behavior.
1
Trump sounds more like a whining kindergartner than a world leader because he is a childish whiner and never has been a leader. Instead of MAGA, which was never needed since America was great until our Liar In Chief got the job of president, a day that will live in infamy, our LIC has constantly brought disgrace upon America. Congress needs to pass legislation to end this nonsense and stay in session [OMG: actually do some WORK???] until they do. If the LIC vetos it, who cares? Not me, because (A) that veto should end any thought of any sensible person to see this guy nominated much less be the 2020 GOP nominee and (B) the courts will straighten him out. A disgusting human when elected, he becomes more disgusting pretty much every time he opens his pie hole.
4
You are dreaming if you think that the courts are going to restrain the president on his absurd declaration of a national emergency. They will rule that they have no jurisdiction; that it is the political branches which have to work this out. Mr. Trump is doing this in order to keep the phony "scary" immigrant pot boiling because he sees it as the key to winning in 2020. Either the congress stops him through legislation or impeachment (neither very likely since the Republican donors love Trump -- he's lowered their taxes!), his cabinet or the VP invokes the 25th amendment (like the Justice Department considered after he fired Comey), or we're stuck with this monster until 2021 (or, God forbid, 2025 if we last that long).
3
When you sell a false narrative, it is sometimes a prerequisite that you have to come up with a false solution.
With Trump the lies keep coming. When history grades him. he will be known as the most prolific lier to occupy the office of the Presidency.
You would think after 2 years the public would have his number. Yet as of today 43.6 % of the American public approve of the job he is doing.
So the truly scary thing is that so many people are either still fooled by him or are totally unconcerned by his behavior.
7
Who are these people who believe a wall should be problem one on the American hierarchy of needs? Ironically, they are the Americans most in need of medicare for all; who would most benefit from a Green New Deal; and so many other liberal goals. Everything is backwards.
5
I am a patriotic American, a conscientious voter, and a 50-year taxpayer. None of the pollsters have spoken with me, so I'd like to get on the record. I do not want a wall, and feel it is a waste of dollars. I believe it sends the wrong signal in many ways, both internally and externally.
I do not approve of sending active duty troops to the southern border. I don't believe that generals in any service approve of this action either.
I don't approve of kids in cages, separated from their families.
Instead, I approve of smart border policy and appropriate and intelligent use of technology. I approve of helping countries like Honduras and El Salvador to solve the systemic problems that force their citizens to seek a better life away from their homes.
Mitch, Nancy, Chuck: Get over yourselves fast, or quit and go over to Paul Ryan's house to watch Netflix movies. Congress needs to find some backbone and get this guy out of here before it's too late.
6
Yet more Fake News from the White House, in an unending stream of FNWH.
All people who remain capable of rational thought understand that this is simply the Trump attempting to save face with his supporters. He will be blocked by the courts, and blame his failure on Democrats and "so called" judges.
Of course, the battle to come will cause havoc, will be fought at great public expense and will set this nation further backward, but this theater is clearly the Trump's only remaining purpose in life.
2
It started way back in 2011 with his disgraceful 'Birther' lie regarding President Obama. That in itself was a deal breaker for me in not taking anything seriously Trump said as substantive contributions to the betterment of our country. Even before that, his self righteous condemnation of The Central Park Five should have given any self-respecting, conscientious and compassionate U.S.citizen pause. And now it has come to this, trampling over The Constitution and spouting innumerable lies day in and day out, in an attempt to get his ridiculous, totally unnecessary wall built. If this were the straw to break the camel's back, to make the Republican party wake up to the danger this man represents, we as a nation might see a light of the end of a very dark tunnel. But Mitch McConnell and his cohorts will not budge while this incompetent wannabe dictator destroys the fabric of our democracy. As for Trump's immovable 'base', they along with Trump and Co. are the true "enemy of the people".
4
Emergency powers are the grave of democracy.
2
There is a word for the shameless crime Donald Trump is commiting with this declaration.
That word is "fraud." which is a crime knowingly committed by the
perpetrator for personal gain.
Trump is not unfamiliar with the cause of action (think, e.g., "Trump University").
His deliberate misrepresention of the clearly established fact that there is no national emergency at the border, is being delliberately made for personal gain, at the expense of the Constitution and U.S., taxpayers. If it isn't an impeachable offense, then it absolutely should be.
3
I beg to differ with the headline. This is NOT a Trump made Emergency. This is a GOP made Emergency. Every GOP member of Congress is culpable in this travesty. Not one, not one member stood up and said “This shall not stand Mr.President. I shall vote to terminate this emergency if you declare one for this situation”. Not one!!!
On the contrary, there have been GOP leaders, specifically McConnell and Graham, to name two, who have vociferously supported this action. Others, including Rubio, Collins and Toomey have given lip service demurring but not castigating the president outright.
History will judge these people - very unkindly.
Please note, America, that while McConnell and Graham are celebrating this action, a red line has been crossed and We,The People, have been betrayed.
Long after this president and the above mentioned senators are dead and gone, this day February 15, 2019 will be remembered as the day the Constitution of the United States was given its first knock-out punch. Hopefully it’s not a death blow.
2
Clearly the next National Emergencies SHOULD be Climate Change and Gun Control.
Maybe Trump is actually doing us a favor.
Border security may or may not represent a national security risk today but over time it will. In spite of his ham-handed bluster and self-centered motivation, give Trump credit for bringing this issue to the forefront. This, compared to other pols, who have kicked the can down the road for years.
1
People are planning lawsuits to stop the wall building, but I am not sure who has standing to sue. What is the specific injury they have - not will have - but do have that gives them standing to sue.
We have to hope the Freedom Caucus will go with Freedom rather than Politics - as the Emergency Statute only requires majorities of Congress - the best bet to stop it. I would guess though, with the weeks delay from last shutdown - the construction crews were ready to go immediately on federal land.
From the outside looking in... a national emergency on the border... what's next? Oh! Declare a national emergency on health care to protect Americans from Obamacare. The absolute numbers in Congress assures him that his veto on Congressional attempts to rescind his national emergencies will never be rescinded. The rule of law has now been replaced by the rule of numbers.
Or course there is a national emergency. It's called the "Trump administration."
5
If there was a crisis - why did the Republicans not act on it before today, why did we wait? The Republicans position statements today -espouse “facts” that cannot be independently verified? Their approach is to make up a story and keep repeating it, regardless of what is true. Since the president himself said he did not need to declare an emergency, doesn’t he provide proof that this not an emergency. There is a national emergency, it is the sitting president combined with invertebrate Republicans. It is sad to see how low and weak republicans have become, I am a registered Republican.
3
This phony emergency is the perfect opportunity for Republican senators to stand up to Trump. They should work with the House and form a supermajority to pass legislation that repudiates what the majority of voters feels is a waste of billions of their tax dollars.
Trump's action is a challenge to Congress's control of the public purse, something that should alarm legislators from both parties. If GOP senators and representatives work across the aisle to protect this cornerstone of the Constitution, their prospects in 2020 would be far brighter. If Trump gets away with this, Republican legislators will have yet another reason to believe they will be on the receiving end of a thorough housecleaning of the executive and legislative branches next year.
7
Yes, and while we rail against this “national emergency,” the gutting of our shared federal lands, the ignoring of infrastructure needs, the removal of consumer protections, the impoverishment of the middle class, the further impoverishment of the poor, and the diminishing care for those most in need of help continue with relatively little attention from the press. In our increasingly distracted and fragmented society, this Administration breaks a new piñata every few days. The media run to pick up the candy and throw it at the watching crowd while the looting continues.
10
Does Mr Trump's emergency declaration meet the definition of a 'misdemeanour' worthy of impeachment?
He is going to divert billions of his citizens' dollars to a project that the vast majority do not want, money that could be spent on real emergencies and other much needed projects for the common good of Americans.
His move smacks of dictatorship, a subversion of ethics and fair play, a betrayal of his responsibility to the American people declared through the Oath of Office.
If Americans do not rise up and demand he rescind the declaration, or call for his impeachment or resignation, then your nation truly has lost the plot.
6
NO NO NO NO. I don't want any of my tax dollars to go for Trump's ego project. I looked up crime statistics. Trump is lying, inflating, misdirecting. Crime statistics among illegal immigrants is not on the level of a national emergency. The level of incarceration of young, black men may be, but illegals? Not so much. Now Trump wants to steal money that could be used legitimatly for real emergencies because he can't stand being told "no". I would love for him to explain to the residents of "Pleasure", California that he can't help them because of the invisible crisis at the southern border. He wants to take money for the military construction account. I thought he wanted to increase funding to the military because it has been underfunded for such a long time. In one breath he talks about the huge numbers of drugs being smuggled across the border in secret locations and then he takes money away from programs and personel both from the Treasury Department's as well as the Department of Defense's drug interdiction and forfeiture programs. And, I guess in Trump's mind unarmed poor people sitting on the side of the road waiting to talk to an official about amnesty looks just like maurdering invaders. So I vote NO to my tax money being redirected to a thing at the border.NO, NO, NO, NO.
7
And, this is why Trump never does a second deal with anybody . . . he negotiates and takes every concession you offer. Then after he's scrapped his chips off the table, he pulls some totally bad faith maneuver to steal what he can't get legally.
13
Day time soap Opera on display!
Come on Congress ,, This is insanity- Reason enough to remove this man from office
7
Article 1, Section 9.
Obey the Constitution, tRump, or get out.
Children in dog cages?
What have you done to this nation?!?
GET OUT!
67
A Republican enabled fake emergency
8
This is a made up National Emergency by Donald Trump, the real proven National Emergencies in this country is Climate Change and Global Warming, School Gun Violence, Poverty and Medical Car in the United States.
When does Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham stop acting like they are employed by the Trump Family Business, instead of working for the American people?
Donald Trump is a Fraud who bankrupted at least 4 businesses under his own leadership, now I'm really scared that this idiot will bankrupt the country.
3
One day not far from now you will all wake up in a right wing totalitarian state and ask yourselves 'how did we get here'?
This is how.
9
@Flossy...Qantas Air?
Trump is a national emergency!
6
The tyrant-in-chief proves once again that he is not a smart businessman, nor a leader. He proves once again he is only a fool....
6
The only real emergency is with occupants of the White House. We need to evict the traitorous squatters... Individual 1 and his band of others.
4
Trump IS a huffy kindergartner. Why and how can he still be in office? I wrote some weeks ago saying that if you think of Trump as the Anti-Christ, then all of his actions make "sense." He is a disaster for this country and world. For Americans with good common sense, who dislike this bogus wall idea (and see through his self-created "crisis"), having to use mental and emotional energy to fight against Trump is such a waste of human capital. Yes, let's focus on climate change before it's too late.
2
Yet another stunt from the failing Trump reality show.
It's time to turn the lights off on this administration!
3
Thanks again Michigan, Pa., and Wisconsin.
Thanks again non-voters, nihilistic 3rd party dreamers, and fake "independents."
Thanks again to the inept FBI.
Chaos and deception 24/7. You built this.
2
Everything for the GOP is a power calculation. They calculated that a second shutdown would be too politically costly. Now, Trump’s main toadie, McConnell, wary of this misuse of power, supports it because NOT supporting it is too costly. The ironic thing is, if the court decided Trump’s emergency declaration is legal, in the 2020 campaign Trump will be telling voters, “You’d better keep at the least the Presidency and Senate in Republican hands or the Dumbocrats might declare a fake emergency, like climate change!” This is all so shameful it fills me with despair.
5
The real emergency is that an unhinged narcissist is in charge of the country. The enablers including McConnell must be made to pay a heavy price. For the swindling, tax evading, lying, cheating, draft-dodging would be emperor, he should be sued personally, bankrupted again, and sent off in cuffs. Enough!
5
So, declare national emergency and head to Mara-Lago for vacation. So, it MUST be a true emergency... Really!!
8
“Just think of what a president with different values can present to the American people."
So the Democrats argument against Trump is that we have to imagine a worse president? Not possible.
2
The President says, with reference to his declaration of an emergency, “I didn’t need to do this, but I’d rather do it faster...". So if he didn't NEED to do it, if he didn't have to do it, there is no emergency by his own admission. In the Dictionary I looked at, an emergency is "a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action." So Mr. Trump says he didn't have to take immediate action. No Emergency. Now he is going to take money budgeted for something else to build his wall. Some would call this a fraud on the American people.
6
@PeterJ
It's called "double-talk." He does it all the time. That's why he's never wrong.
2
there's seemingly always some rabbit lawyers can try to pull out of a hat, but by this " no emergency emergency" logic, Trump should definitely be enjoined in court for his obvious attempt to make an end run around Congress. fake emergency! meanwhile, he can try to argue that Congress has alredy alloted the monies he is trying to repurpose, and therefore, as executive, it is within his purview to shift things around to conform to his will, aka the triumph of the will. if he gets away with this stunt, why not just pull money from a program he doesn't like using another fiat, such as gutting Medicare funding, and using it to give a tax rebate to golf course owners? if he wants another huge building monument to himself, let him go get a mortgage from Putin's bank the way he usually does!
I'm genuinely curious. How exactly will a wall stop either the 'influx' of illegal immigrants or help to resolve the humanitarian crisis?
Point A: Anyone with a passport can just cross the border legally with a tourist visa and there's really nothing except for sporadic arrests by ICE to stop said person from staying as long as they want. The only folks crossing on foot are so dirt-poor that they cannot obtain a passport and bus fair from their country of origin. America, how many billions do YOU think should be spent to keep out poor people?
Point B: Really no need to point this out, but building a wall will do absolutely nothing to help poor families fleeing violence (the 'humanitarian crisis'). They'll still show up at the border crossings - as they have been already - and still request asylum. They'll still have little food, less clean water, and barely more than the clothes on their backs to survive. How much wall money will be spent to help these people? I'm guessing zero.
Trump's supposed reasons are lies. The real reason for this 'emergency' is to fulfill a foolish campaign promise. To steal a line from one of the Republican greats: Mr. Trump, Tear Down This Wall!
8
@Mr. Adams
You're entering a madhouse armed only with logic!
1. I hope Mitch McConnell has to face big *legal* consequences if he supports a bogus emergency. He is a co-conspirator, period.
2. Can the resourceful and intelligent brains around really speed up their court cases, work furiously to remove Trump and end this crisis!
3. A black man at a traffic stop has but minutes before it can get life-threatening. Collectively, we're getting slaughtered here. Is the presidency THAT immune?
5
President Trump does not care about setting any precedent. He wants the wall, and perhaps thought that he could squeak it in, with the prior Congress. Perhaps, he thought the shutdown would get them onboard. Now, he has a new Congress, and fewer tools to get his way.
President Trump had 2 years to work with a Republican Senate and House. They passed a tax bill, and confirmed 2 Supreme Court justices, among other issues. It seems somewhat clear, they couldn't pass a wall bill.
1
This corpulent presidential wrecking ball has been shockingly effective at undermining our democracy.
The role of the Republicans in congress cannot be discounted when taking an accounting of the damage done. McConnell has
capitulated and one would assume that where he leads, the majority of Republicans follow.
President Washington wrote about
the dangers of rancorous partisanship in his farewell address warning that “rampant factions were a “fatal tendency” in democracies and that partisan factions led by “cunning, ambitious and unprincipled men” distorted democracies by pursuing narrow agendas at the expense of the national interest (taken from Politico).
Here’s hoping moderation prevails.
4
Donald J. Trump, has taken an oath to follow, respect and abide by the Constitution of the United States.
During the last two years, Mr. Trump has resorted to various actions in Office. Actions seen as going against our Constitution. Mr. Trump, continues to give the impression that the Rule of Law does not apply to him, He is not respecting the Congress as a co-equal branch of government.
If there is a problem at our southern border, it is not a security threat to our country, it is a humanitarian crisis. If the problem is seen as a national emergency, why was it not identified or declared as such, at the beginning of Mr. Trump assuming Office?
What we are seeing here is that Mr. Trump must have his way. Congress did not meet his demand to provide funds for the Wall. There is no longer the talk of Mexico paying for the Wall. Mr. Trump, repeatedly assured Mexico would pay for the Wall. And, no longer the discussion that funds will come out from a revised NAFTA agreement.
What continues to concern and trouble Mr. Trump is his campaign promise to his base for a Wall on the southern border. If he has to fail in fulfilling that promise, is to face uncertainty at the 2020 reelection. This is at the crux of the problem. So, the best strategy would be to declare a national emergency. This is all wrong.
3
If our senators are going to relinquish their power of checks and balances to trump, then they should forfeit their paychecks and return home. They are not performing their basic tasks, and, apparently, don't understand their jobs.
8
As usual, I think I am missing something. The President's so-called national emergency was dead upon its arrival in the Rose Garden. It is unconstitutional. It is an illegal usurpation of legal authority enacted by Congress for a genuine emergency to create for Trump the equivalent of a line item veto. The power of the purse resides in the Congress irrespective of the gyrations Trump attempts to delegate such authority to his White House.
3
How long will it be until the US military steps in? Somewhere, in the national security apparatus, the law enforcement and justice apparatus, and the military, there must be those who will eventually say "enough, if the people and those who hold the power in this country will not stop this, we will put an end to it."
It will be the first American coup-de-tat since 1963, the difference being, this one will be right out in the open for everyone to see.
1
Even if he weren't lying, how can a plan that will take years to even partially implement be the solution to a "national emergency"?
7
There is no national emergency on our "southern border," to quote Mr. Trump. To the extent there is a crisis, it has been made by Trump and his administration through their treatment of asylum seekers and others who wish to immigrate legally to this country. Metering asylum applications so that people wait weeks for their turn and keeping such poor records that they cannot return children to their often-deported parents are crises.
In a real emergency, no reasonable president would take off the weekend to play golf. That, as much as anything, is proof that we don't have an emergency, but a power grab to make an end run around a Congress that would not appropriate money for an unnecessary wall, even when Republicans held all the power.
As someone else said, Trump is the national emergency.
7
Yes, the Southern border situation is as fake an emergency as those of us with a moral compass could conjure.
However, this is not a "Trump-Made Emergency." That ignores the crucial role congressional Republicans have played in this farce. The Republicans (and most especially Mitch McConnell) could have put the kabosh on Trump a long, long time ago. But for McConnell and his amoral gang, there would have been no government shutdown, and there would be swift legislation in the works right now counteracting Trump's made-up emergency (and a subsequent override of Trump's veto if necessary).
If Trump gets away with spending billions upon billions of dollars on his useless and counterproductive Wall -- money so desperately needed for social welfare programs and to fight climate change -- I'm going to wait until the results of the 2020 elections are in. At that point, if the Democrats don't take back the Senate and the presidency (and retain the House), I'm just going to give up.
1
I worry that I’m turning off to the childish behavior of the Trump administration. I worry that others may be too. To not be extremely concerned, gives Trump a free hand, and democratic institutions in the US will go down the drain. It is also noteworthy that the Australian Prime Minister, a hand clapping Pentecostal adherent, is now trying to ape the Trump adminsration, because he fears his ‘on the nose’ malfunctioning Federal Government will lose the next election. This appeal to fear and racism worked in the past,and apparently he hopes it will now.
The idiocy of the NYT is on full display in this propaganda piece. The time is long past when America can just admit in anyone who wants to come here, especially those with no skills who will just further burden our overloaded social networks. We need to devote our resources to help our citizens, not those from other countries. Stay at home and fix your country, just as America did in 1776!
1
Declaring an emergency to justify building a wall along the thousand + miles of the Mexican border radically changes the economics of the deal. Keep in mind that Congress has only debated funding a small fraction of the wall, capped at an estimated $5.7 billion. The cost of a wall along the full border could easily be in the hundreds of billions.
Trump's emergency executive order reflects a delusional belief that he has an unconditional, unilateral Constitutional right to seize whatever funds he wants from the full federal budget, not just $5.7 billion. His executive order in effect reflects an intention to repeal the core of Article 1 from our Constitution.
In addition to challenging Trump's order in court, the House should waste no more time and promptly impeach him for an undeniably "High" crime. It should likewise accelerate the process by issuing a resolution that demands the invocation of the 25th Amendment by the Vice President and the "principal officers of the executive departments" to discharge Trump from the presidency.
Trump is our national security emergency.
3
Who declares a national emergency and then flies to Mar-a-lago for a long golfing weekend?
trump is a national emergency.
164
@Jane
A con man, that's who.
Re the current national emergency, long ago I read that "The decay of language is the decay of man." Perhaps the stench we detect is emanating from our body politic, which includes ourselves. Ours is a tottering democracy and we could use George Orwell to help us understand why.
5
In 1992, Leonard Cohen wrote, " Democracy."
The prophetic theme is: "Democracy is coming to the USA".
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I sense that now, Trump is bringing that prophecy closer.
His extreme arrogance is pushing us to a "new birth of freedom'.
Here is a funny animated Trump version of "Democracy":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ythb4PSWBIA&t=73s
Bring it on, Donald. Bring it on!
----------------------------------------
1
This is just the latest sad step in the expansion of Presidential power, beginning with non-declarations of war in Vietnam, Gulf War 1, invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq etc. Constitutional scholar President Obama notably had a "pen and a phone", took executive action to extend temporary status for illegal DACA residents and signed the Paris climate accords circumventing Senate authority to review and approve treaties. The NYT Ed Board should have recognized, at the time and now, that any extension of Presidential power will be adopted and expanded by each successor. I guess its ok when you agree with the action taken.
First of all, the Paris Accord wasn’t a treaty so your point there is DOA. Second, there is a HUGE difference between the executive prioritizing law enforcement actions (DACA) and unconstitutionally taking appropriation authority from Congress.
2
Badges? We ain't got no badges. We don't need no badges. I don't have to show you any stinkin' badges!
--- The Mexican bandit leader in “The Treasure of The Sierra Madre.”
I count myself among the millions of Americans who are totally opposed to his stinkin’ wall.
But like most Americans, I make it a general practice to accept anything that’s free.
So --- if Mexico pays for the wall like Trump has promised us hundreds of times, I’m willing to accept it.
I may even draw a picture of him on the wall.
But Mexico has to pay for it first.
1
What it shows is that Mitch McConnell and his gang of trump enablers are simply putting party before country.
Senate republicans are destroying our country.
Mitch McConnell is the number 2 puppet of Putin..
Senate Politburo Majority Leader
4
It a National Emergency !!
What are we to do? What are we to do? And this so soon after the Director of FEMA has been fired.
I may stock up on Tomato Soup and canned tuna.
Or I suppose I could go to Florida and play golf.
2
Trump is now testing all the institutional checks & balances of our Democracy in his effort to create a Fascist Dictatorship.
5
"That's enough, Donald, now go to your room!"
2
A huffy kindergartner, perfect description. Bring on the Donald Trump baby balloon!
3
White American women have always voted Republican. That is all I need to know of the mediocrity of America. Sure there are white Liberal women, but numbers matter in a democracy, it is all about popularity in a democracy. Trump is more popular than a white woman and white women voted against the 1st white woman to run for president.
{and of course white men vote Republican, there is no point other than white men are fascist}
EMPEROR TRUMP COMMANDS IT!
Respecting "Separation of Powers?" What an absolute JOKE the NYT's Editorial board is! If the same board had castigated President Obama when he bypassed congress with his "pen and phone" on things like DACA; then they could be taken seriously. They are of course correct in their conclusion, but they are partisan hacks.
The Board was just fine when Obama used executive tools to bypass the Congress.
They are monumental hypocrites.
1
If the actions taken by Obama were challenges to the constitution then I would agree with you. Saying that the actions taken by both are equivalent is intellectually invalid and dangerous. Some day, maybe soon, Dems may control the Whitehouse and I don’t want them creating a crisis and it’s solution and then declaring a national emergency to fund it. Separation of powers is a fundamental constitutional protection from tyranny, from any political party.
Can we impeach him now?
It was clear from the election campaign that the Toad does not rule by consensus. He is a dictator at heart and has always been in practice in his real estate deals. That is why he so much admires Putin and the North Korean dictator. They don't have to answer to anyone. The only thing is that Putin is a lot smarter than this prevaricating creature who is basically is trying to assume dictatorial powers. Of course Mitch McConnel, an underhanded snake, is playing a very dangerous and unpatriotic game by supporting the usurper. McConnel's interest is the amalgamation of his own power, so he is betting that Americans are too dumb and too lethargic to stand up to this toad and if he doesn't hang, the president will owe him big. He may be right, but if this country survives this constitutional crisis they should both be facing criminal charges and be charged for treason.
4
The continuing invasion on our southern border is not a "crisis" but the "crisis" that created Mueller's snipe-hunt is. Pshaw. Open-borders has always been a goal of over Sovietized mass-media and a principal means for cultural Marxist stomping, particularly in Lenin's Bay Area.
2
This essay is helpful if you want to understand how some non-Americans view Trump:
https://takeadeeperbreathblog.wordpress.com/2019/02/13/definition-of-trump-from-a-brit/?fbclid=IwAR3w9r-Qq0fxsJqjEoSkgn4GviPY9euuZkJCRVjLrX28BG-bIcwBmxT1DhU
He is not “fulfilling a campaign promise”. He said Mexico would pay for the wall. Get more accurate with your headlines please NYT.
2
His promise was Mexico would pay for the wall and he can't deliver. He is just a cherry picker.
1
All of this drama could have been avoided, Pelosi started the process with her “not one penny" stance. She dictated to her House party members they should not work to compromise. It was a pure power play. Her lawyer Cohen production plunged to failure when none other than Mueller came to the front and declared Cohen’s claim, not true. There could have been some compromise. They could authorize the wall in areas where it might work. Also, security measures like those between Israel and Lebanon as well as Pakistan and India plus newer technologies. The question is whether Trump's action is legal. It is, he gets the whole wall. Then her party may look at her and think they need someone who can get things done working with the other party. Without that, there are votes they will need but may not get to pass even a parking ticket law. Even that will have to get by the Senate and Trump. Trump is said to be trying to keep his campaign promise to build the wall. For the most part that has broken what has become the golden rule of congress, for both parties. Never feel you have to do what you promised to get elected. It is going to be interesting.
Both houses of congress spoke regarding funding for border security yesterday. The emergency powers granted the president pertain to extreme situations that arise and require action before congress can act and express their will.
I'm unclear what emergency has arisen between the votes yesterday and the emergency declaration this morning.
6
If this was just the president overreaching his authority then it wouldn't be a constitutional crisis: congress and/or the courts would slap it down; and that would be that. No, the problem is the the Senate Republicans think that supporting their team is more important than defending the constitution. The real villain here is not President Trump; but rather Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
16
Impeach. Remove. Force out. Replace Congress. Groundswell per favor.
7
@Stephen C. Rose There is such a thing as a Recall Petition. Might be a good time to consider it Uncle Mitch et al.
1
The only national emergency is that Donald Trump is president.
7
Now no one's talking about his recent physical confirming that he is officially obese. He's such a vain and narcissistic man, it wouldn't be surprising if avoiding that discussion is partly behind the emergency declaration.
7
There is indeed a need for a wall. Build it around Resident Trump so that we don't have to hear or see him anymore. Make sure that the wall is padded on the inside so that Trump doesn't hurt himself when he bangs his head against it.
6
Wow America...are you not interested in stopping your president’s blatant power grab? Is it not a concern that he is doing an end run around your elected officials and the separation of powers? Why aren’t there more protests in the streets? Why aren’t there more republican members not standing up to this bully man-child who wants to build his vanity built-on-a-lie campaign gimmick?
This is not playing well to the rest of the world. What ever has happened to American greatness? All I see is weakness and capitulation to a whining tantruming toddler. America, you have lost your claim to being the best.
13
The Republicans wanted a banana republic. Now they have one.
13
I'm waiting for reactions as soon as he starts confiscating large tracts of land from the families on the Texas border where he wants the military to build his wall.
6
If we had a sensible immigration policy
and if businesses followed the E-Verify laws
there would be no need for a wall.
However, un-documented immigrants continue to
cross the border, over-stay their visas and take
jobs away from American Citizens while their
Progressive supporters demand they have equal
rights with citizens.
Perhaps if the Editorial Board came to work on Monday
found undocumented immigrants had replaced them at
1/3rd their salary and, frankly, produced much better
and reality based editorials, which, more than frankly,
would not be very difficult, they would not so opposed
to the wall.
The Poor Citizens of America who do not hire un-documented immigrants as nannies, maids, gardeners, or companies to do Light-Construction at their upper class homes
are suffering from losing jobs to undocumented immigrants, in having to compete for housing, places in schools, basic medical needs.
Yes, send help to Central America to bring back public safety and democracy, but put American Citizens first or you
will find someone far more cunning than Trump running for
President in 2024.
Why the leaders of the African American community are not
up in arms over undocumented immigrants is puzzling as now Hispanics are the second largest "Minority" and soon Asians will be third and African Americans 4th.
Do you really think those two groups have any guilt over
slavery and have any interest in not increasing their
slice of the pie of government benefits ?
3
Scary as it sounds, only John Roberts can save us because the 4 so called "strict constitutionalists" on the court will likely not.
3
There is nothing you can say to Sarah that will change her mind. Apparently the Constitution only is dusted off for the Right To Bear Arms but completely ignored for all other articles in our most important democratic document.
If you looked not too far back, to the generation of my grandparents, the people running from Europe, from Poland, Romania, Turkey (and that's just in my family!), one could read about all the atrocities these people were going to bring with them if they were allowed sanctuary in our country. But we took them in. We didn't allow children to die or be separated. We didn't make them get back on the ships. We took them in, in spite of the rhetoric. Sarah, do you really think that all of those people had paperwork? Do you really think that the people running from persecution could document how and why they feared for their lives?
I am sick of attempting to be diplomatic in the face of ignorance. If people are no longer able to do critical thinking, refuse to receive their news from more than one source, haven't cultivated a healthy bit of skepticism, well, I just have no use for them.
7
Let's hope our so-called democracy survives until 2020, when, hope above hope, the country elects a dem. Maybe then that president can use this precedent to address health care, climate change, and gun violence - the REAL national emergencies.
5
Please stop all the shocked outrage. This should come as no surprise whatsoever to anyone who has watched Donald Trump for a few years. He is an emotionally disturbed man with a preternatural need to dominate others to keep his fragile ego intact. This need is so strong in his diseased mind that it is an absolute and not subject to constraint or inconstancy.
The fact that he is tampering with the functioning of three independent branches of our government upon which rests the stability of our form of governance is irrelevant to Trump's need to be the "killer" his sick father taught him was paramount to the definition of a "man." Trump believes that a "man" prevails over anyone who dares oppose him.
No one has a right to be surprised that Trump's ego would drive him to this action. No one should be surprised that, if left unchecked, his ego will dictate further abuses of power in the service of being a "killer."
This is a dangerously weak man who needs to be stopped. Nancy, please break this miserable excuse for a man. For all our sakes and the sake of our country.
7
Trump thinks (probably knows) that he must do this in order to be re-elected. Thats his one and only goal. He has no interest on you, me or anybody else.
4
The charade began when, 3 weeks before the Mid-term election, a caravan of putative asylum seekers formed, began to move northward, and...poof!..like magic were riding trucks and buses--vehicles that suddenly disappeared the day before the election. Cui bono tells me that caravan was orchestrated by Trump or his surrogates, then abandoned as soon as it was no longer politically useful. Federal resources--troops-- were then used as part of the campaign stunt.
Now Trump moves to phase 2, the shredding of the Constitutional doctrine of separation of powers, again relying on the same racist fantasy.
7
"Mr. Trump is subverting American democracy for a cause opposed by a majority of the public." Well, let's see. Last time I checked a majority of the public did not want an invasion of Iraq. Yet Bush served up that poison pill with just as many gleeful lies as Trump is dishing out here. Yet a majority of the public DID want Obamacare, and Republicans are still gleefully trashing that. I don't get the feeling that Republican Presidents have much regard for public opinion.
11
He is NOT fulfilling a campaign promise. His campaign promise was to build a wall and have "MEXICO PAY FOR IT!" State the whole truth upfront. This is a power and money grab where U.S. taxpayers are FORCED TO PAY FOR SOMETHING the MAJORITY DOESN'T OR NEED!!!
9
Socrates, I'm very glad you are back! I look forward to reading your comments everyday, when they aren't there, I can get over it, but the next time I read one it's like a breath of fresh air. I wish this "Trumpocalypse"( your term) was over and we could refreshen our spirits just knowing we as a Country won't have to see, hear, or read about his idiocy any longer. Thanks, DPK
4
Guess what, Ted, climate change is a GLOBAL emergency!
4
As much as everyone would like to refute the notion that there is a national emergency on our southern border, this is not really what matters.
The national emergency powers act sets the President as the person who determines whether there is a national emergency or not. So legally, there is a national emergency as Donald said so.
The subject that Donald doesn't want you to think about, is the constitutionality of the very emergency powers act itself.
This act allows the President wide powers to over-ride Congress in the event of a national emergency without needing the approval of Congress. That is why this act is unconstitutional.
Of course, Donald could argue that with a 2/3's vote by both Houses of Congress, the emergency could be rescinded.
But, that's not how our government works. We don't let the President to do whatever he wants unless both Houses of Congress vote by a 2/3's majority to stop him.
How it works in this country is the President asks for approval for whatever he has in mind and the Congress either approves it or not with a simple majority vote. The House of Representatives is the one house that has to initiate money bills, so saying that the Senate somehow has a constitutional role here (in rescinding the President) is plainly unconstitutional.
In fact, letting the President do anything without prior approval to so unconstitutional it defies belief that Donald would try such a stunt.
4
@John why didn't you bring up this argument over Odumbo's tenure? Plain to see where you set, and it's not on the right side of the fence.
We do have a national emergency. It is the Trump presidency.
8
...and he does love the attention he gets from being outrageous. When is this national nightmare going to end?
5
@maureen;Answer: 2024 at the earliest.
1
How do we citizens declare the National Emergency that is this administration?
2
I think this will lead to impeachment, and I think that is entirely justified.
3
The most vulgar aspect of today's action by President Trump is his attempt to go around Article One of the CONSTITUTION. The powers of Congress are clear, and this is a simple matter really of policy and funding priorities. Nothing makes taht more clear than the fact that Trumps own Party did not fund a border wall the two years they controlled the White House, and both Houses of Congress. Setting that aside the worst things to hear are the fears Republicans share about a "mad" Democratic President in the future wielding emergency powers. Matt Gaetz (R) Florida fears an emergency establishing trans-gender bathrooms in public schools. Rubio (R) Florida fears a declaration that Global Climate Change is a national emergency. Others fear the crazy Democratic President declaring gun violence a national emergency. One shudders to thing...really? If only it could be possible. All the same, Trump's gambit will likely fail, and he ultimately he has done the Democrats a favor.
4
As disgusting as this turn of events may be --Trump's creation of a national emergency and McConnell rolling over like a lap dog rather than deferring to a vote of Congress -- legal nuances will rule, whether we like it or not.
The primary factor in a legal choice is the fact that the President's "emergency" declaration was virtually concurrent with Congress' refusal to allocate funds for the wall. It is essentially a Presidential declaration that Congress isn't smart enough to recognize the emergency.
Smart enough or not, the President cannot claim an emergency on the same day Congress turned him down in order to override Congress' power to allocate funds.
3
He has already said he "didn't have to do it." He is doing it "because of the election." No court in the land will allow this obese tragedy to win his point when he is violating the constitution and doing something simply for political purposes.
5
What can one expect from a guy born with a golden spoon in his mouth, used to having his way as the only way, knows it all, listens only to what he wants to hear, surrounds himself with YES men and women ..... and believes he has accomplished so much in two years that he deserves the Nobel Prize (even though he couldn't win an EMMY on the Apprentice). Hail to the "Emperor Who Has No Clothes".
3
The Gettysburg Address: "We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth" ...is no longer true.
Founding Fathers would be turning in their graves..
4
His campaign promise was that Mexico would pay for the wall.
Facts are stubborn things.
3
A small but I think important point: It would be helpful if your opinion pieces would refrain from suggesting that Trump is in any way "fulfilling a campaign promise" by this National Emergency declaration. His campaign promise was to build "a big beautiful wall" and have "Mexico pay for it". His campaign promise would not lead to government shutdowns or to spending U.S. taxpayer money.
12
We are not employees of Trump Inc.
We are not customers of Trump Inc.
He is not our lord.
We are not his subjects.
We are voters.
He is an elected official.
The American Dream is an idea, an ideal.
We are a nation of laws.
Donald Trump is not okay with the above statements.
Donald Trump acts in his own self-interest, whatever that is...
Donald Trump acts on behalf of a constituency that consists of himself - not the citizens of this great country.
9
This "emergency" declaration should be viewed as a Constitutional crisis. While some Republicans have spoken out against Trump, he is enabled by McConnell, Graham and other key "leaders" of his party who, out of fear, have allowed their oaths to the Constitution to be trumped by their loyalty to the president.
It would be wise for them and the president's other willfully blind followers to take a look at Washington's Farewell Address warning about factions. It is remarkably prescient about how these Republicans are acting today and the danger they present the nation.
6
Climate change, how prophetic of Mr. Rubio. Unfortunately Marco is a bit behind the times as climate change is a national emergency today, not tomorrow.
And if Trump successfully funds his wall via executive action using U.S. taxpayer money, that's a win for democrats too, given the backlash Trump will face from his own base when no funding dollars are recouped from Mexico.
An even bigger win for environmentalists will occur when a future executive action is declared to combat climate change.
I'll trade the funding nonsense of that wall for future monies spent on addressing climate change any day.
1
Democrats, please: Yes, oppose Trump's bogus "National Emergency" but also indicate how all those billions could be used for things which people all over the country need and want: infrastructure/jobs, reduce student debt, more disaster relief and protective measures, community health centers, etc.
6
Let Trump have his emergency declaration. It will be challenged in courts, and should the administration prevail then Mulvaney's comments aside, precedent will be set.
The next Democrat President will be able to use this precedent to divert defense funding to gun control, infrastructure, IT upgrades and a host of other Democrat priorities. Congress will be further emasculated, all by their own doing - as if eliminating the supermajority in the Senate hadn't already done enough damage.
2
Yes, we have an emergency. It's a political emergency. Trump is seeing his support ebb, as more and more people see through his haze of lies, and he's got to do something to shore up his "base". This is the emergency, a political emergency only.
I hereby declare a National Emergency, which is that Donald Trump is serving as president after the compromised 2016 election. This is a true emergency, growing more grave by the day.
5
What more proof do our cowardly GOP legislators need to realize the reckless, thoughtless and increasingly dangerous threat this deranged demagogue poses to our democracy. He would silence the free press, deport innocent hard-working people, give tacit approval to the hate imbued rhetoric of racist and xenophobic slime, heap accolades and fawn at the feet of murderous international butchers, fail miserably at enacting any productive domestic international trade or foreign policy agenda. but let him build a wall? Insanity... and shame on our elected legislators whose silence is deafening and sadly predictable.
4
Trump’s congenital inability to admit defeat even when he has clearly lost reminds me of the Black Knight character from the classic movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Since he wasn’t able to obtain funding for his delusional wall, he will now drag the entire country through a pointless, exhausting, distracting and expensive constitutional crisis that will end with the obviously predictable result of the courts putting an end to this folly of invoking emergency powers without justification.
To quote King Arthur, “all right, we’ll call it a draw”.
https://youtu.be/4slV0qSgvV4
2
And if not already there, here come more militias to stir the pot.
Their justification: The President has called it a National Emergency.
2
I am not a wall person.
But there is a crisis.
True, crossings have gone from about 1 million a year to 350,000 per year. But, that's still unmanageable.
LBJ launched the 1960s war on poverty when the USA national poverty rate was 18-19%.
We have numerous entire States in the USA that still meet or exceed this percent poverty rate in 2019.
I live in a healthy US State, but my loyalty is to Mississippi, Alabama, New Mexico, West Virginia and the other US States living with too much poverty.
1
Everything this man does just reaffirms the need to invoke the 25th amendment and be rid of him once and for all. A president that ignores the advice of experts and instead takes his advice from right wing television personalities is not normal. Of course neither is the lying. Its time the GOP wakes up and recognizes that siding with this lunatic and making excuses for his sins is not going to get them reelected. Of course this won't happen. Instead we will have another episode of Trumps reality TV show in which he will be humiliated again when he finds that his "declaration of emergency" will be challenged and it will not be enacted. All he is good for is making a lot of noise, a lot of posturing, a lot of distraction, and playing golf.
8
40,000 people killed by guns in 2018 is an emergency.
Millions without health insurance or health care is an emergency.
Climate change is an emergency.
Senior citizens having to go to food banks is an emergency.
Increasing homelessness is an emergency.
It is deplorable that Trump declares a National Emergency and plans to take land from US citizens to build a wall and take money away from Puerto Rico and many other projects.
14
If this country survives this presidency ; America will be designated a third world country . Between he and his crooked lawyers (ala Roy Cohen ) absconding and pilfering the country's purse ; they also are eroding our constitution , it's amendments and the separation of powers that the founding fathers so wisely set up .
4
How long will it take to build the wall/fence/barrier? By the time it is finished most probalbly potus 48 will be in. But today, some well placed GOP/familly/friends/contacts/favors to return, just got themselves a new Eldorado. At home we call that a kleptocracy.
Do you expect SCOTUS to issue rulling on the legitimacy of this 'national emergency' declaration by the end of october 2020? All i can say, we haven't seen any bona fide 'emergency' on your borders, at least from here.
4
This is an impeachable abuse of Presidential power.
11
I'm so disappointed in us. I really thought we had turned a corner when we elected a highly qualified man of color to be president. But it seems that the reality of it was the opposite of that. What it did was bring out the closet bigots (the un-closeted bigots were always there, but they were a minority). And now we have a totally unqualified white man in office (possibly a mobster) who seems to appeal mostly to the afore mentioned bigots. It seems that government now is all about elections, not governance and high principles. It's shameful. Please, members of congress. Please stand up to this shameful man.
14
Fine. Go there. Now once a democratic president is in power, we should declare emergency for guns and take down NRA
9
@Mixiplix....Wait for the Muller report. Russian oligarch donations to the NRA being laundered to support the Trump campaign.
3
Since the actual US/Mexico Border from El Paso to the OCEAN is right down the MIDDLE of the Rio Grande River . . . wouldn't ALLIGATORS be a CHEAPER solution to the CRISIS, at least in Tejas ?
5
You miss the real benefits of Trump's Emergency --that it will become the government's new modus operandi.
Consider only the next national emergencies...
1. Obesity. A true national emergency costing $ billions in health care spending. Trump will change the standards so that he and 40% of US adults are no longer categorized as obese --perhaps adding new categories like "Renoiresque" and "roly poly". Golf will be required in public schools.
2. Diet. Trump will address this national emergency by putting fries and burgers at the top of an inverted food pyramid, declare the golden arches a national monument and expand food deserts to compensate for downsizing Bears Ear and those other western parks.
3. Cyber security. As cyber crimes proliferate the US will improve Russian relations. School menus will include borscht and Russian as a second language will be funded nationwide. The Russian soccer team will be invited to visit the White House. A bare chested Putin forever postage stamp will be issued. To promote democracy Russians will be allowed to study US digital voting systems. As for China, a 'good cop bad cop' approach will be taken. US agricultural exports will be forbidden and import tariffs raised to 50-100%. But to soften the blow De Vos will sponsor a program to substitute chop sticks for silverware in public schools.
The GoP and Fox will profess unabated admiration. Republicans will legislators call what they do "executive time".
4
Wishing for the "dank memory" to come soon of this outrageous and dangerous administration, because living it is very frightening! Will those Republicans in Congress ever come to their senses ever??? Mc Connell the worst of them all . He's looking weaker and weaker as he sits by and lets Trump control him..........................
4
Zero respect for the truth.....now what?..... how can we wait until 2020 and not get Pence?
2
The real national emergency sits in our White House.
7
Some corporation needs to offer Mc Connell's wife a 7-figure salaried job and he will probably get rid of the Trump menaces.
1
What hysterical hyperbole. One minute President Trump is weak and ineffective and the next you are so frightened of an “imperial presidency.” Stuff and nonsense. POTUS was elected to build the wall. Polls of people who agree with your pov prove nothing as the 2016 election showed. Obama declared 13 national emergencies including the Dreamers Act. That unwillingness to let Congress do its job has left the Dreamers dangling in limbo for years. The truth is, most of us would rather lift up desperate Americans than be held responsible for illegal immigrants who sneak over our border. Running across the border is itself a criminal act so spare telling me that these are mostly law-abiding honest people.
1
@Sue Mee...... "Obama declared 13 national emergencies including the Dreamers Act.".....You can't see past your Republican nose. Obama did not declare the dreamers act a National Emergency and it did not cost $5.7 billion dollars.
4
Donald, and Mitch have been maneuvered to go down the rabbit hole by Nancy, who is way smarter then the both them and the 35%\35 IQ base. It may be a risk on her part, but I hope she cleans house. Pense is DOA. And the next prez is...
1
And this wasn't a National Emergency!!! in February of 2017 or 2018? If not, why not? If not, why now? ( ... 'cause Nancy!)
2
A national emergency, followed by a three day vacation in Florida. Hahahahaha. Some emergency!
8
The real national emergency is the one in the Oval Office. Time to pull the plug on this presidency.
5
Our "national emergency" is Donald Trump.
6
Gutless Republicans are his enablers. History will not be kind to McConnell, Cornyn, Ryan, et al, for allowing this unstable man to continue tearing down, brick by brick, this once great country. The question is: Can we recover?
7
This insane Trump-made 'National Emergency' is from a liar caught in a corner. Once the Mueller Report is released in it's entirety, as we citizens deserve, Trump will be shown to be what he truly is, nothing more than Putin and his cronies Laundry Boy, hiding their stolen and dirty money, at which point he should be arrested, hand-cuffed and perp-walked right out of our White House.
2
Actually, Trump is BREAKING his campaign promise. Remember MEXICO wad going to pay for the wall.
5
We're observing a frightened con-man who's run out of excuses with his own base.
4
The true national emergency that we are dealing with requires an invocation of the 25th amendment. When we have a president who betrays the American people on the world stage in Helsinki, trashes the intelligence community and the Joint Chiefs of Staff ,
lies on a daily basis to the American people, and believes that he alone can solve all the problems within our country, we can finally recognize what is the real national emergency and it requires unprecedented action .
I would not put it past Donald Trump to use this border wall “emergency“ to deflect attention from his true incompetence and inability to lead our country .
If it looks like a fraud and smells like a fraud , it probably is a fraud .
We are well beyond code red where Donald Trump is concerned, and if Republicans don’t recognize this quickly they will soon enough , pay an unfortunate price .
4
Trump is a poor excuse for a human being.
5
We are victims of Trump’s Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy.
2
In Brazil there is a movie called," killed the family and went to the movies". In the USA Trump killed democracy and went to Mar Del Lago. God save America.
1
Since the destiny of our country is in the hands of Ingrham and Hannity, why not fnd ways to get rid of them? Something akin to Trump's hyperbole....pediphile, drugs, rape, hidden terrorism, all free speech, all headline grabbers, all normal daily news. Once they are gone, Trump will be free to go about his daily routine of spending executive time.
This is a dictatorial power grab.
We the people must make a direct response.
We should come together in civil disobedience in DC and shut down this illegitimate White House.
2
All I can say, is "Thank you president Hannity.
1
He is evil. The nation prays for a great political revolution against him. Every man woman and child out in the streets protesting the dictator this president’s day. Evil must be contained.
1
they should investigate who will get these huge $$$ contracts to build the wall.
2
President Hannity has spoken. His weak, loser puppet has declared war on the rule of law, and has voiced his conviction that Wall is more important than America.
5
By saying this (from The Hill),
"I think he ought to feel free to use whatever tools he can legally use to enhance his effort to secure the border, so no I would not be troubled by that,"
McConnell officially supported Trump's end run, and broke the Separation of Powers established by our Forefathers. Though "pro-executive privilege" is why Republicans wanted Kavanaugh on the bench, NO justice should approve this power grab.
I don't care for her, but Ann Coulter laid out the truth (from The Daily Beast):
"Replying to a tweet that claimed “the goal of a national emergency is to end illegal immigration and cartel smuggling,” Coulter wrote that “no, the goal of a national emergency is for Trump to scam the stupidest people in his base for 2 more years.” In a subsequent tweet, she added that “The goal is to get Trump’s stupidest voters to say ‘HE’S FIGHTING!’ No he’s not. If he signs this bill, it’s over.”
I hope this runs through the courts quickly and puts an end to discussion of taxpayers funding the wall. If so, Coulter's going to slice Trump into little pieces of dog food. The only hope will be getting a check from Mexico - a promise that supersedes his promise to build his wall.
1
This guy can’t seem to make a deal!
3
This is what this country has come to: he President declares a National Emergency then flies to Florida for sunshine and golf!!!
Nero couldn't have done better!
8
“To repeat: The influx of migrant families at the southern border does not constitute a national security crisis, much less a bona fide emergency.”
But the President makes the call, not the NYT. Is that reality so hard to accept?
It might be different if the NYT liked anything Trump did or didn’t try to knock him down for everything, but it’s always the same tired old litany of non-stop hate.
Remember all the wars we’ve started at the behests of our President? Wanna list.....
He just declared a national emergency and then left for Florida for a long weekend of golfing. We are in trouble.
2
That is the ugliest wall I have ever seen.
1
So now you like the idea of separation of powers? First of all, NYT supports abortion "rights," which is considered law now, though no elected official voted for it. Secondly, the NYTimes likes a lot of the government agencies that are accountable to no one, including Robert Mueller who is also accountable to no one. Agencies like the EPA both regulate, and rule on their own policies because even Judges are deferring to experts within the agency in question. It is a bit rich. Thankfully the Trump administration lawyers are planning to reinstate separation of powers, Cato Institute reports that they say, "First, Congress should cease delegating its legislative power to the executive branch; second, the executive branch will stop using informal “guidance documents” that deprive people of the due process of law without fair notice; and third, courts should stop rubber-stamping diktats that lack the force of law." All of these detriments to the separation of powers, the NYTimes supports. To hide behind a plea to restore separation of powers because you want to keep inviting illegal future democratic voters, or at least the illegals' children who will most likely be Democrats, is sad. It's also not journalism. He can state whatever emergency he wants, and then the leader of the free world, the 9th circuit court of appeals, can block it. You only like separation of powers when it's convenient.
Remove him and his minions.
2
Sorry, but shouldn’t the headline read “A Trumped-Up Emergency “?
3
Our National Emergency isn't a border wall, it's our sitting President. C'mon Congress, begin the impeachment!
2
08:02 GMT. Trump Declares Tomorrow is "Tuesday".
08:01 GMT. Republicans adjust watches.
08:40 GMT. Democrats stamp feet... then check their watches.
08:41 GMT. Sun comes up with a frown on it's face.
1
The Times always says Trump is “fulfilling a campaign promise” when he seeks to force US taxpayers to fund the wall on the Mexican border. He’s not. His “promise” was Mexico would pay.
In future stories please correct this error.
3
Next election. Send Republicans packing. All of them.
2
Y’all know Trump’s pattern of Friday Drama Day, right?
88
@Jude Parker Smith No, that would be the media pattern.
1
@Jackson
You may be right. With a 3 hour work day, every day is a weekend day for trump - he has no clue. So it must have been Hannity, Coulter and Limbaugh that keep choosing Friday's for trump to hold press conferences.
5
The King can do no wrong. He has the divine right to make decisions.
There is a small problem here. We are not a kingdom. We do not have a king. We the people are the real sovereign and, through our representatives, decide what is best for us.
We did not elect Laura Ingraham and Sean Hannity. They are outliers. Why is Mr. Trump paying attention to these crazy outliers vs paying attention to the wishes of over three hundred million people?
5
@ALM - ego. that's why.
here's a guy who has never been told NO... and believes he's never lost (what a crock - ha!)... and now he's losing.
I think that the critically important question remains: How much longer must this Trump Twilight Zone episode in our nation's history continue? I'm just adding again to the other perceptive people commenting here about this latest abomination from the supposed leader of our nation. Others have also commented about when oh when we will be rid of Trump through all legal means--and Pence gets gone, too, in his silence about being aware of the malfeasance all along. I wish oh wish it would be a.s.a.p. I hope that by the time Mueller gets around to doing it as carefully and thoroughly as possible, then it won't be too late. I've just about given up on keeping track of the Trump atrocity, as his cult followers continue to scream their support. Twilight Zone, nightmare, monstrous--you pick one, among many others likewise. I'm not getting any younger and just hope I live to see us truly secure. MAT-fA (Make America Trump-free Again)
5
When will the people speak up against Trump's actions? Polls show a majority oppose most of his outrageous moves, yet while the people's representatives take this stand or not, the citizenry is not heard. There must be mass emailings, phone calls and snail mail demanding the resignation of this person, a vote of no confidence. If he were a village mayor, he would be long gone.
5
Yesterday on the PBS Newshour I heard pundit and former insider Leon Pineta predict that there was no way Trump would do this. Unfortunately, like many others, he is under the illusion that trump is reasonable and makes decisions based on what's best for the common good. Nothing could be further from the truth. And while I was hoping he would be proven correct I knew in the pit of my stomach that our fake president would do this.
As always the republican senate and Mitch McConnell are complicit in this travesty.
6
If Trump can create false emergencies, why would he stop there?
Why not just declare a permanent state of emergency and activate all his supra-Constitutional powers, permanently?
McConnell would not stop him.
8
The sub heading is inaccurate. It should read "The president decides to circumvent the Constitution in order to appease his base." The promise was Mexico is going to pay. That was never real and was broken a long time ago.
9
Trump is the kind of a guy who would yell "fire" in a movie theater and cause a panic, if he thought it would get him what he wants and demands.
Trump manufactured crises and circuses his entire presidency, because basically he has no idea what he is doing as president, especially of a democratic country. Like his casino business deals, his presidency too is a disaster, chaotic, and his embarrassing charade of pretension.
So, yes, Trump's "national emergency" to get his unpopular, ineffective expensive vanity Wall built is only another of his Trumped-up crises which he decided to label "an emergency."
Maybe a new word to describe a situation where someone falsely calls what he/she wants so essential that it is an "emergency" when it is really not something necessary or useful and there really is no sense of urgency. Just another "Trump-urgency"
7
January 21, 2021 NEWSFLASH Newly sworn-in President Elizabeth Warren announced today, "Mass shootings are a national emergency, and the Second Amendment reads: 'A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.' Consequently, on this day one of my presidency, I have issued an executive order requiring all gun purchasers to file an affidavit with the government giving the name and address of the militia of which they are a member and the courts will determine if that militia is well-regulated or not."
3
The greater good would have been served by giving President Trump more funding for his wall, if only to prevent him from taking this step. Trump's proposal called for creating jobs thru increased border security and enhanced infrastructure spending along the border. With 400 thousand illegal immigrants still coming thru our borders each year, that wouldn't a bad thing; it was certainly a much better alternative to the fake national emergency now threatening to undermine constitutional process.
A little psychology could go a long way: When you're dealing with someone who's willing to fight dirty and flout existing rules, you need to decrease his opportunities to do that. Once again, Trump finds a way to "win." He HATES to lose, so the Democrats need to stop rubbing that notion into his pugnacious face. Otherwise, they risk making him angry and striking them after the bell rings ending the round. For Trump, the fight is never over unless he can claim victory, and he'll hit you after the bell rings if he's losing.
2
I couldn't listen to his "press conference" this morning for more than a minute or two. Trump speaks so poorly, is tough to see. And, the lies and incomplete sentences present a picture of someone who should be removed from office.
7
I would be shocked—totally shocked—if Trump even yet has ever read entirely the Constitution.
I would be even more shocked if he could pass a 7th grade level test about the contents and meaning of the Constitution.
The man has ignored legal requirements his whole life, and has relied on lawyers to litigate for more leverage. He has no loyalty to laws.
6
Dear NYT:
More emotional, biased narrative from The Times, which each day acts more and more unhinged at the prospect that Trump will survive the Russia collusion plot.
President Trump is not attaining "dizzying new heights" in his abuse of separation of powers. He is, however, thumbing his nose at The Times and other media who hope to frame this episode as Trump's greatest political loss.
Indeed, the president's action is not only likely constitutional, but is clearly in accord with express statutory authority. That's right. Under the Presidential Emergencies Act, Congress itself recognized that the president wields broad and almost unfettered authority to declare a national emergency and reallocate funds to deal with it.
The scope of this authority is necessarily as broad as a president's duty to protect our country as our commander in chief.
Courts do not have the power to substitute their own judgment to enjoin Trump. Indeed, it would likely be held an abuse of separation of powers for a district court judge to do so. The Supreme Court would almost certainly step in and rule for Trump.
The proper remedy for presidential over-reach is established in the law itself. Congress may reject Trump's declaration, submit their resolution to the president for his certain veto, and then seek a super majority vote needed to override the veto.
The futility of this process cannot be laid at Trump's door: this is what Congress wrought.
3
Why is everyone blaming Trump for wanting to become an Emperor? We knew that well before 62 million Americans, presumeably of sound minds, came to the conclusion that he and only he is the one they want to lead them to the Promised Land. Then there are 53 Republican Senators all whom would be ready, able and willing to behead a President from the Democratic Party if he or she has aspirations to be an Emperor. We saw a constant display of their opposition to Imperial Presidency during the Obama years. But now, through some act of metamorphosis, called extreme hypocrisy and Tribalism, they have gone from being an American Citizens to becoming His Majesty's Subjects. And that shameful act is a "First" in the history of this Republic. Ben Franklin was right when he said: We have given you a Republic if you can keep it"!
3
Why doesn't he just claim the wall is built and move on? It seems the Trump true believers will buy anything he says. Save us all the hassle.
7
He did not fulfill a campaign promise. The promise was that Mexico would pay.
3
If Trump can make up emergencies then it also means that he can make up wars.
4
there IS an emergency, just not the one Trump claims. His frantic claims of drugs and crime and roving gangs are bizarre and untrue and distract from the real issues. The emergency is a severe humanitarian one, but ironically a crisis that his beloved wall will actually help solve. In the last few months at least two young children perished because there was no barrier
to stop their parents from dragging them through the wilderness. the risk of getting caught breaking the law by coming here illegally is obviously no deterrent to many people; apparently the risk of injury or death to themselves or their children also does not stop people. For their own well being we have to reduce the temptation for actions that caused these and thousands of other daily tragedies by dramatically decreasing the ease of passage across the border, especially in the wilderness areas. The only other choice is to change the laws and have open borders, which is not likely.
Harry Reid introduced the nuclear option in November 2013 to allow a majority of Senators to confirm judicial appointment (non Supreme Court). Mitch McConnell escalated the Nuclear Option to get Gorsuch approval (April 2017).
Now Trump has done an Executive nuclear option equivalent than moves spending powers to the President. Based on history, if Trump prevails then the Executive Nuclear option will become available to all future presidents. I suspect that McConnell might want to rethink his support of Trump's action.
2
For two years Trump could have secured the financing of his wall, but he chose not to. He waited until it was political to declare an emergency at the border.
It's so plainly obvious that this is no emergency, yet we're debating whether or not the GOP will act like responsible members of government.
#sad
6
I'm so glad I'm not American. This latest bamboozle by the world's most powerful carnival barker makes me question the collective intelligence of a country I once admired and envied.
It is proof that nothing is a given. Defending democracy at home is proving to be harder than it was ever thought possible before.
12
It is astonishing that this guy can continue to act with no check. The corruption has reached a level where the law seems to have little effect on the move of some in this country towards a dictatorship with a crime family in charge. Trump can only be a symptom. But it seems this country is only a shell of a lawful state, not Central America, not Russia, but on its way. How does allowing this fool to remain president benefit anyone? A dictator is a danger to all his supporters. Can't people see this?
5
@David Jacobson
Oh please, it's not that many of us don't see the problem, it's the solution that eludes us.
So sad that it has come to this. How have we allowed it? Why is this demagogue still in power?
If nothing else, the lessons learned, for the American people, from this false presidency will be invaluable. That is, if our Democracy still stands after this sad descent into chaos.
5
Speculation about where this "emergency" may lead our government is justified, but not an answer. Obviously, the President has challenged the basis of how our Constitution famed governmental powers. Congress has held the power of the purse since our founding, but Congress seems quite willing to allow the President to subvert that power with his own whims. If his decision today is allowed to stand, our Constitution has become a meaningless document; historic but not practical; interesting but not useful. Let's hope the Courts stand for our democracy. Trump has challenged our Constitution and its framers. What ill thought scheme would lead him to do such a thing? Is he mad or is he a traitor?
3
Look on the bright side. A court is going to want to see objective evidence from the administration that there is a national emergency, not some stupid tweets. The administration will have to say that border crossings as way down compared to previous years. The majority of illegal drugs come through legal ports of entry. Most illegal immigration is from visa overstays.
The real problem for the administration is the rising numbers of families seeking asylum which a wall along the border will not stop. The courts may force the administration to spend more money on other needs, including border security, agents, detention facilities, etc. Courts may also kick the issue back to Congress and say fix the immigration and asylum system. Courts may also tell the administration to ask Mexico for the funds.
2
Obfuscate, distract, distort, and derail---that is our "commander" in-chief. Only the truly diehard Trump supporters would accept this act of Congressional run-around. as a "victory." In his desperation to look like a winner, Trump reveals his weakness as he is being investigated on multiple fronts. What will happen if he is truly cornered?
4
While this is an incredibly shameful moment in a presidency that is already overflowing with them, I think it will be interesting to have a Trump Wall. This will be the ultimate monument to a one of the ugliest and most misguided experiments in American history.
2
Why does the press continually refer to this wall as "fulfilling a campaign promise" when his promise was to have Mexico pay for it? This deceit should not go unremarked. He is in no way fulfilling that promise. The idea that we would have depended on another country to pay for our "emergency" should also make clear exactly what the wall is: a blatant and empty political slogan that could cost us billions.
4
An emergency declaration would amount to Trump's last stand for saving face in front of his media masters. He will lose in court but Congress will likely vote to put and end to it first. We are once again witnessing more of the president's childish theatrics because he is not getting his way. Hence another temper tantrum. Perhaps we are getting closer to removing him from office since he continues to give everyone the middle finger when it comes to the rule of law, including the chief justice of the supreme court. We may not even need the Mueller report after all!
Trump's entire agenda is to keep his base in frenzied glee, giving him a shot at re-election, despite policies that are damaging our country and constitution. The wall is a huge part of that. I have two questions. He has said that there is no deal with Russian re the Trump Tower.
1. Will the Tower be built when he is no longer president?
2. If so, is the deal contingent upon eight years as president?
Think about it.
1
Congress and Nancy Pelosi will fight this and win. The big bellicose baby needs to learn a powerful lesson about checks-and-balances. This will go to court and backfire on Trumpy.
1
Trump is a self-declared Emperor. America’s first ever Emperor. And only he knows what is best for America. It is time for Republicans to put America first. They need to remind Trump that he is not the all powerful Emperor. That America is a constitutional democracy. That the Constitution is bigger than Trump. And if they fail let SCOTUS remind Trump of his constitutional limitations.
1
I say, let Trump build his wall. It will serve as a monument to idiocy for all posterity, assuming we survive to have a posterity.
This is completely absurd. How can this crazy development happen to such a well stablished and traditional democracy as the U.S. ?
Nancy considered it a good trade off, cost the economy $11B to not spend $5B, then she breezes off to Hawaii for the holidays.
For border states, it is one tool of many, and since congress has not dealt with it, yes - it is indeed an emergency.
Try being a border patrol officer for just ONE day.
2
Why is it then that the border authorities are by and large not in favor of the wall? And as for border communities, we sure didn’t hear any support for the wall coming from anyone in El Paso earlier this week.
4
The Donald said publicly that he would be “proud to own” the shutdown. Not Pelosi’s fault. HIS. He cost your country $11billion. The Wall is stupid, pointless, expensive, easily breached etc etc. He repeatedly promised that Mexico would pay for it (as if). GOP Congress has two years to deal with this fake “emergency” and did nothing. And yet you still blame the Dems? Clinton was right: deplorable.
1
Which border authorities?
The inscription on the Statue of Liberty is: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore.”
We should be humbled and honored that so many are willing to risk their lives to enter our bountiful country by crossing borders without authorization. Yet trump and trumpists blaspheme the sentiment so eloquently expressed on the Statute of Liberty by declaring a national emergency to build a despicable wall to keep out the poor, wretched huddled masses yearning to be free. In this context the wall is immoral.
1
And that last verse about wanting only the ones who respect our laws... remember that?
Re respect for laws phrase: That does not exist in Emma Lazarus’ poem. And the people seeking asylum are following the law.
The “humanitarian” situation along the southern border is attributable to those politicians who not only won’t revise the immigration statutes but more specifically to those who are so willing to flaunt the non-enforcement of existing laws. No country can survive with open borders, particularly one with generous safety nets such as the US. Nobody has a “right” to come to this country without full compliance with an agreed upon immigration system. Politicians who stand up and encourage waves of immigration are a disgrace.
Whether there is an emergency along the border is something that unfortunately be fought out in the courts. This is a weakening of both the office of the President and Congress.. Both have a job to do and if they can’t get it done, throw everyone of them out if office and get people who can
1
Individual-1 FAILED to keep his promise.
The promise is 2 parts:
1) the wall
2) Mexico pays
Why is the media giving a pass on this? Stop it, OK?
The wall is beyond idiotic.
There is NO national emergency here.
Current top national emergencies:
Healthcare, global warming, massive government debt, massive student debt, individual-1, the 30% critical mass of the population that will continue to elect guys like him after he is gone,....
4
There is no threat of “imperial presidency”. The threat is that of an irrelevant Congress and rule by 5 ideologues on the Supreme Court. They will be the ones who decide what the President can or cannot do by declaring an “emergency”.
5
Nothing this president does should surprise us anymore. Nothing. He will push the envelope until Congress exercises its role and defends the Constitution, because it is obvious to anyone other than his die-hard 35% fans that he will not.
He thinks he was elected king and he will do anything to ensure that he is re-elected. He will manufacture a crisis to fulfill his owns political ends. I don't know who I am more angry at, him or the spineless Republicans in DC.
2
This guy is a would-be, tin-horn dictator who does not understand the core principles of democracy and cares not a whit about the checks and balances established in our constitutional system. He is at core a crude, disgusting, dishonest, corrupt, amoral man yet his base continues to support him. It truly is scary.
1
The Baby King is unfit for office. There is no emergency. There is only noise from hate-mongering "entertainers" on the far right. trump cares more about what is said about him on TV than he does about Constitutional governance. He must be removed from office.
trump in the White House is the national emergency.
2
President of his united base. Not the president of the American people who think they live in a democracy.
Throw out the electoral college.
3
He and most of the Republicans are a utter embarrassment. Used national security to impose tariffs, now a national emergency to get his wall promise.
It is a very sad show he is putting on for his misguided based and the likes of Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham.
3
The real emergency is Trump. The longer he stays in office, the more he destroys.
4
Our democracy has just vanished from the face of the earth. And "We the people" let it happen! I am ashamed that I spent 4 years in the military during the Viet Nam conflict, at the same time, our current dictator was playing basketball and tennis, even though he had a draft evading "disability." How veterans and thoughtful citizens can cast votes for representatives who support the desecration of our Constitution is beyond me. My commendations for service to my country are now meaningless, and will be destroyed!
1
The "dank memory" cannot come too soon. Please end our misery.
The national ethos has become "there's a crisis at every corner." Whether it's Trump and his border wall or AOC and her Amazon, our leaders are taking constituent apprehensions and turning them into paranoid fears. "Never let a good crisis go to waste" has become "never let an opportunity to create a crisis go to waste."
Here's one for you--"When politicians become celebrities, be afraid...be very very afraid."
the campaign promise was 'Mexico will pay!' ... repeated over and over to his MAGA legions, someone else would pay for his folly. That is the message he has used repeatedly in his life of smoke and mirrors.
1
Thw Wall has become Mr Trump's manhood. He'll do anything to defend it.
It's not so much that Mr Trump's presidency is becoming "imperial", but that it's become personal.
This most recent instance of Trumpian aggressive contempt for the Constitution, added to all his other corruption and malfeasance, is exactly what the following provisions are for.
Don't worry about whether the Senate will convict. Make senators go on the record:
The Constitution, Article II, Section 4:
The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
The Constitution, Article I, Section 3:
The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.
Judgment in Cases of Impeachments shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust, or Profit under the United States, but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment, and Punishmnet, according to Law.
1
It is not a Trump made emergency, It is a flood of unwanted criminals getting closer to our borders. The wall would not be needed if Mexico did its job and keep these pesky migrants away from us. We don't want them.
2
Everyone should watch fifteen seconds of a Trump rally, though it is difficult to stomach. You will see something so ugly and stupid it will make you ashamed to realize that this is America today. Beyond making you ashamed, it will make you realize how much trouble we are really in, if you do not already realize it. In countries that go fascist by choice, only disaster, suffering (their own, not others') and collapse cause a change of heart in that segment of the public. Nothing else does. Think of post-1945 Italy and especially Germany. Nothing else will cause Trump's "base" to reconsider. They are too deeply into that mentality to give it up, and the propaganda machines that keep them there are too powerful. Our troubles are not only not over, they may barely have even begun.
3
Just more blah, blah, blah.
Here's a couple of fun facts: There is already hundreds of miles of border wall, fencing, barrier, whatever you want to call it already in place. Most of the unfenced areas are highly inaccessible unless you are a mountain goat or an otter.
I suspect that this is all political theater. Trump will continue to hold his base in rapture while this declaration of emergency and obviously unconstitutional reappropriation of funds wends its way through the courts. And when the injunction is handed down, then he will show pictures of existing wall and claim that he built it. His base will take the hook and shout "Hooray!".
And then it will all move on to the next head spinning item.....his tax returns.
Dump could easily procure $5.7 billion from his Russian financiers, using money laundered from drugs, prostitution, weapons and other black market operations, which in turn were invested 8nto real estate with Dump's name on it. This is how his entire fortune was funded after he was bailed out b his multiple bankruptcies in the 1990s.
1
Those to blame for this phony crisis rest at the feet of the spineless GOP who are enablers of the President, and the rust belt lightweights who cannot and do not have the capacity to appreciate facts and science given their lack of education.
1
Trump is correct: there is a national emergency. He's it.
2
Trump's Rose Garden appearance today leaves no doubt that there is definitely a National Emergency.
It's Trump himself.
He made almost zero sense. Just incoherent rambling about ... hard to even pinpoint. He shouted down reporters who asked him for [any] statistics indicating an emergency exists. Oh, he has statistics. The best statistics. Just no recall of even one fact. No one's convinced, Donald.
My stomach is still churning from witnessing this spectacle. He is in so over his head. "Fake it till you make it" is not a safe strategy for the Presidency. And now there's proof.
2
The only National Emergency is the one sitting in the Oval Office right now.
Are the signals not getting through? When are Congress AND the Senate going to muster their courage to remove this scourge on our Democracy?
When????
2
It's ironic that Trump cares so much about this one campaign promise, when he has failed on all the rest (save the huge tax reduction for the wealthy).
He promised, and failed to bring, more high-paying jobs, more manufacturing jobs (not done due to his tariffs), less expensive healthcare. He delivered higher taxes for all but the rich, and filthier air and water.
Not promised, but done, was leasing Federal land to fossil fuel barons, using his office for personal enrichment, reneging on international treaties, embracing enemies, not allies, and isolationist and racist policies.
He demands a Wall, wanted by few, just to fulfill one of many campaign promises. Is it to satisfy his racist base, or the Ann Coulters of the world?
Whatever his reason, there is no national emergency at our Southern border. Mexico and South America pose no security threat to the U.S., according to the Worldwide Threat Assessment authored by Dan Coates, Director of National Intelligence.
Trump cannot declare a national emergency where none exists.
Further, only Congress has authority over our borders, how troops are deployed, immigration policy and the budget.
Trump cannot reallocate already earmarked funds for his wall, it's illegal and unconstitutional. He cannot deploy troops to the border without Congressional approval.
His executive powers do not extend to wresting Congress' constitutional powers from them. He swore to uphold the Constitution, not thumb his nose at it.
@Lilou
Agreed.
He readily admitted an hour ago, in his latest Rose Garden ramble, that he doesn't "have" to declare an emergency.
He just wants to get the wall up quicker.
Makes no sense, but he doesn't care.
He admits there's no emergency on the border.
As well as claims, in the next breath, that there is.
Makes no sense, but he doesn't care.
And, he knows his actions will be delayed in the courts.
He said, "Let's see what the Democrats do."
Whatever.
He doesn't care.
He just. Doesn't. Care.
2
We need to look ahead. We need a bill that gives Trump $22 billion to buy him off. The bill would specify the details of the Trump Memorial Border Security Wall. The steel rails will have the letters TMBW laser etched on each along with his face. Yes, this is much more than the President Lincoln Memorial and the President Washington Monument, but the rails will be designed to the profile of the French TGV rails. After Trump fades into oblivion, the rails can be taken down, welded end to end, and made into tracks from Mexico City to Toronto. No more crawling across the desert to cross the border, comfort at 200 mph. There will be enough money to also build asylum processing centers that look, amazingly, like train stations.
I am still angry about the illegal immigrant who drove his old pickup truck into a head on collision with my car then abandoned his truck and ran away on foot. The truck is likely still in the impound lot.
My government should be concerned with keeping the street safe for me to use, enforcing proper licensing and insurance for all drivers.
In addition to this my school taxes are up so that we can educate illegal immigrant children.
We have a huge illegal immigrant problem, no they are not all murders and rapists, but they cause a multitude of problems and we should eliminate this risk and cost to our citizens and legal residents.
Don't tell me about how they pay taxes - we have unemployed people who can work and pay taxes, too.
Build a proper border barrier so this can get under control!
2
I lay this debacle at the feet of Mitch McConnell. He allowed the President to do whatever he wanted so McC could get his agenda through congress. So much for McConnell's "legacy!"
The closer Meuller gets to a release of his work, the louder Trump bellows. Trump should have been impeached a long time ago. "I don't see why Russia would interfere. Oops! I mean wouldn't." That he could do that and get away with it, is still amazing.
Congress, specifically the GOP, should be so ashamed of this ridiculous action. Someone, please, impeach Mitch McConnell!!
1
He isn't fulfilling a campaign promise unless Mexico pays for his wall. Now he is willing to stick Americans with the bill knowing full well the wall is the least effective and most expensive way to curb crossings over the border. Giving in to Abuse of Power is a big mistake, especially when the abuser is two beers short of a six-pack. I hope the republicans finally stand up to him and their lied to base. Tell his supporters the truth and if the 'shock-jocks' can't handle the truth, so be it. Ignore them and put the truth out there for those who want the truth. Not all of them are brainwashed.
This action, subverting the separation of powers for political gain along with making up a crisis, is an impeachable offense. Along with a long list of other actions. Impeach Trump NOW!
If it means that the next Democratic president can declare a national emergency to attack Global Warming, then let Trump have his wall with his trumped up national emergency.
It's both amusing and terrifying that Rubio uses climate change as the phony emergency of the left wing. A Senator from Miami, Florida of all places might want to reconsider which is the true emergency and which the boogeyman. But of course that will never happen. As they say on the internet: smh.
1
It's not even the fulfillment of a campaign promise. Remember "... and Mexico will pay for it"? It's like the let's-ignore-that-awkward-clause interpretation of the Second Amendment.
Where in the world is Mitch?
Perhaps impeachment for the head of the senate should start now.
He is the weakest president we have ever had. he cant stand up to sean Hannity-who never went to college, coulter loud mouth, and Ingram whose show is losing ground to Lawrence O'Donnell who was formerly a chief of staff in the senate. He is listening to news readers and mar a lago renters to make them ambassadors.He is making a mockery of THE BEST PEOPLE.
I love it. Think of all the emergencies Democrats can put forth. Guns, Medical care, Debt ceilings - oh, that list is endless.
Let er' rip, Trumpy.
Trump criticized Obama and his abuse of power, circumventing of the legislative process etc., which he did, a lot. Obama criticized Bush for the same, which he also did, a lot. And on and on. Seems to me the legislative system is broken. Yes, that's not a news flash, and no I am not a fan of creative, and possibly illegal, governing. If however the response of voters is to allow "our" President and not "their" President to engage in such undemocratic behavior then nothing will change. Time to close all legislative loopholes and not argue my guy's reason makes sense and your guys reason does not.
The 2020 Presidential election cannot come soon enough.
Clearly, Republicans believe they will be in power forever. They behave as if they can always count on the blind allegiance of the very-wealthy; whose only concern is amplifying and consolidating the power of their riches.
The uber-rich hate nations. "Russia" is already gone! now, it is nothing more the oligarchs and their serfs. America is heading for the same fate. The super-powerful want to kill any accountability that a lowly "government-of-the-people" might impose.
I hope most Americans see how McConnell and the Republicans of Congress treasonously put party ahead of country by abandoning their Constitutional duty to check this rogue President. They are determined to subvert democracy, but I believe they are engineering their demise. Vote Blue, no matter who!
3
When I remember Nixon and Kissinger and the Vietnam peace negotiations, I am reminded of the absolute knavery of those we elect to high positions. Lying and more lying while jets dropped bombs over Cambodia and Kissinger was in Paris promising peace. LIke Chamerlain, "in our time." In my time, Trump fights to replace many terrible leaders as first. LIke Nixon, Trump holds grudges until they replace parts of the brain and heart. If not for Pelosi and a majority of Democrats in the house, would we even be discussing this? Or would Trump already raided the treasury and built the unnecessary wall? How far can presidential power be usurped? When will this stop?
1
DT has to have the last word even if it means tearing down the country. Marco Rubio was right: his bravado can be measured by the size of his little finger. Those who celebrate this antidemocratic action will live to put their heads down in shame.
This is a direct assault on the Constitution and threatens to make Congress permanently irrelevant to American government. The President must be impeached immediately!
We have a President who would be king. It is time for Congress to act and pass a resolution to terminate this sham "National Emergency" then put country above party and override the President's veto, which is certain to follow. To do otherwise would be to accelerate our slide into authoritarian rule.
At least now we know for certain that Trump has absolutely no respect for the truth, the law, and the people. He is willing to sacrifice everything to get what he wants.
I hope the New York Times will be among the first to call for impeachment as soon as possible.
2
He has 680 million left over for fencing and repairs that remain unused; he backed on a deal last December because Fox and company did not approved, then shutdown the gov't; he had two years when his party had both House and Senate to get his wall approved by them, and did nothing. Where is the emergency now? Trump is the NATIONAL EMERGENCY for his misuse of power and attempts to distract from the ever increasing number of indictments, scandals of his administration, and the constant dfrip drip of the Muller investigation turning up miore and more acts of criminality . Unfortunately he still enjoys the blind support of 35%-40% "deplorables" Very scary!
I find myself wanting to watch fictional movies rather than the supposed reality of this mob-boss/president. And I supposed that is the intended affect. If we, the voters, could vote today then he would have been gone tomorrow. It's the only thing keeping sane at this point.
Has Trump even heard of the concept of "separation of powers"?
Republicans don't understand this president. He doesn't care that his actions may jeopardize their values by putting this new weapon in the hands of future (Democratic) presidents. His affiliation with them is just because it suits his need for power and approval. He'll leave them dangling in the wind, just as he has many of his "loyal" followers and associates. The problem is that the nation will be dangling along with them.
He wants to show his staunch supporters that he won't be intimidated by no stinkin' Democratic majority in the House. Especially not a majority composed of so many chicks. But this guy is the President of the Entire United States. The leader of all of us. Why go out of his way to stir up so much bitterness, so much division, so much hatred among us? Why does he CHOOSE to be a perpetual troublemaker? Again, he is the President of the ENTIRE United States. Yet he purposely spits on at least 60% of our population every day. He makes it very clear that he has nothing but absolute contempt for at least 60% of the people he is supposed to be governing. Whatever happened to mutual respect, compromise, good-faith attempts at problem solving? There is no leadership here. No matter what happens with this wall business, this entire debacle & disruption was completely unnecessary & has caused so much more harm than good to this country. What kind of a leader intentionally foments so much fear & anxiety & bitterness solely for the purpose of turning his own people against each other?
When there are zero illegal apprehensions--the crisis will be at an end.
2
The press needs to accept its culpability in this mess. They have gone Trump for every little tweet - opinion articles on how bad Trump is because he insulted someone's sweater but his big lie? Until recently there were zero editorials like this. Trump and Fox News have a (hard not to make a 1930s analogy) daily drumbeat of the border crisis and the crimes "illegals" are committing.
The culpability of the press is real. These lies are so easily refuted - border crossings way down, drugs go through ports of entry (or in the case of el chapo - tunnels). Worse are the opinion sections constant attacks on Trump for everything - but what about vile things like Angel moms? Silence, smearing immigrants as killers when in fact they commit violent crimes at a lower rate than citizens is the ugliest rhetoric we have seen from politicians in decades and from a president maybe centuries. Can you imagine if Trump opinion writer's response, ifAngel moms of kids that got killed when they went to inner cities - it would be devastating. It should be equally devastating now but its not and there you have their culpability.
How much longer until martial law is declared, armed soldiers on ever street corner, and "dissidents" disappering in the dark of the night without a trace?
We are tumbling downhill faster than I ever imagined and alarminingly gaining speed.
2
Try to fully grasp this:
There is no "emergency at the southern border."
Trump is going ahead and declaring one, in order to "win". He's grabbing extra power based on a story he made up.
Republicans are backing him.
Think about that. Really, think about it.
2
Trump's "National Emergency" is that Ann Coulter is in a snit.
Along with those other utterly un-responsible and unaccountable president's board members Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Laura Ingraham, Alex Jones, and "Judge" Pirro.
Those esteemed "Advise and Consent" people, the ones not provided by the constitution.
Where ARE the ones provided by the constitution? Perhaps in deep consultation with their donors!
I find it oh so curious that the terrorist that was convicted of planning to bomb the LA airport crossed the CANADIAN border (through a legal port of entry by the way). An alert US customs agent foiled his plot. This declared "national emergency" is code for racism and has nothing to do with actually securing our borders (yes we have more than one border!). Allowing an inarticulate megalomaniac to use billions of tax dollars (of which he has likely not contributed any) for his personal edifice is outrageous and must be stopped by our elected officials in congress.
Mr. Trump is a liar, par excellence, not because his lies are clever or well constructed, but because they never stop, they are like an avalanche, and people go snow blind to them, what does he average 7 lies a day or more ?
The late Ron Hubbard said, " to control people you have to lie "
Is our president a Scientologist ?
well, i'm trying to look on the bright side - when the dems take the executive branch in 2020, it will be a state of emergency for gun control, health care, and putting lots and lots of money to send trump crime syndicate behind bars.
The real National Emergency crisis taking place at this moment is the obvious danger of a President with a flawed mental balance; again and again he can't seem to understand any grasp of reality, and how his bizarre actions truly damage the American people and the the Office of the President of the United States.
Must be indictments forthcoming in the Russian investigation. Distract, distract, distract...
1
Trump has no aim or intentions. He just wants his way, his whim, purposeful or purposeless. Solving actual problems is less fun than making fake ones.
Unfortunately, he sets precedents that call for legislative limits on Presidential authority that will not serve the nation well when a principled President is in office. However, today’s Senate ain’t gonna let that (or much else) happen.
And given today’s crippled Senate, Trump is willy-nilly placing ultimate authority in the Supreme Court, presently stacked with ideologues. An Oligarchy that will decide what an idiot President can and cannot do.
Troubled times.
Maybe we can be saved by some well-intentioned billionaires???
1
Hillary, qualified or not, said it would be "horrifying." Are we there yet?
We officially have a king.
The really ironic part of all this is that "The Wall" was created as a talking point during the campaign to keep then candidate Trump on an anti-immigration message at his rallies which delighted his base. It was a memory aid to keep the candidate from going off on some tangent and getting off message. Instead it became a mission and a measuring stick against Mr. Trump's presidency. No one really wanted a physical wall, I suspect not even most of his base. He may not have been able to formulate a sensible immigration policy but "THE WALL" was easy to champion.
In a rather twisted sense President Trump with his penchant for chaos, serial mendacity, and distain for the essential values of the Constitution may well be just what American needs in this moment, in this time when the paramount crisis facing the nation is that we are utterly divided politically and at war with ourselves.
Trump is without question undeniable proof that our democracy and our nation so diametrically divided, so ineptly and dysfunctionally governed can not be left to the vagaries of our hyper partisan, winner-take-all political culture.
DJT as POTUS is a monumental, utterly compelling wake up call for fundamental political reform.
So as a tax payer, certain contributions I make are not deductable as they are politically driven (to support Democratic processes and functions), but the President can take my tax dollars for the political purpose of pleasing his base and fullfilling a campaign promise? POTUS IS DISRESPECTING THE LEGISLATURE. 181 years ago we had a POTUS who challenged another branch of our government. The Judiciary blinked, and Jackson went on to attack Native Americans, the economy, and stoke division in many other areas. If the Legislature blinks, Trump will be further emboldened. Whats next does not look good for America.
3
For any member of Congress to accept Trump’s declaration of an emergency to fund an unwanted, unneeded, expensive wall is to cede to the executive branch the power belonging solely to the House, specified by the Constitution in the opening paragraph dedicated to it, of Article I, Section 7: “All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives…”
Funding is so important that it can only be raised through law—a bill, and the power was placed by priority of the three separate-but-equal branches to that branch, Congress, and to specifically the House within, which is closest to the people. This was no accident and it would be a travesty to allow any president to replace the collective deliberation of the House in setting monetary policy and the Congress as a whole to set it to law for the president’s signature.
The only way to create funding bills is with due diligence, common sense, and the knowledge of experts to achieve the most effective possible means of meeting government’s missions, including border security, not the whims of a president’s insane campaign promise. Congress must fight tooth and claw any attempt by Trump to declare a self-made, false emergency and to divert funds from other sources for any purpose that is not prescribed by law, as constitutionally required, to specifically be within his authority, and put Trump on notice that he is not a law unto himself.
6
There are already many land owners along the Texas border holding conversations with attorneys about filing suits blocking seizing of their land for Trump’s border wall construction. Such suits have already held up wall construction in many areas along our Southern border. These suits take many years to resolve in courts.
News Flash:
No shovels will be turning over new dirt for a wall any time soon!
While all this “wall chaos” proceeds over the next two years those advocating better immigration policies and other progressive priorities need to focus on replacing current office holders at all levels, including but not limited to Trump and Congressional Republicans with more enlightened and progressive legislators and executives.
Advocate, fight for, and be the change you want to see! It is more about advocacy than simple resistance.
9
'Mr. Trump’s eagerness to undermine the Constitution to serve his short-term political gain remains among the most outrageous.'
I see us as a nation embarked, on a tragedy in the Aristotelian sense. We may succeed in preserving our constitutional integrity or we may fall into an escalating and tragic sequence of fatal mistakes; it's impossible at this point to know. But, I'm with heroic response and basic goodness to prevail.
2
Well, let's look at the bright side:
Rubio is right, climate change is indeed not just a national, but a global emergency.
That now absolutely gives the next President the right to declare that emergency and then start a comprehensive program to combat it, carbon tax, renewable infrastructure and all.
We may thank Trump for opening up that opportunity one day.
4
Trump’s pique with this action combined with trade wars, undermining NATO, carrying out a Russian agenda and every other action ignored by Congress is unimaginable. The sum of this presidency leads me to think the worst is still to come. It always seemed possible to have a new World War someday. I fear it is soon. And the US is the instigator.
1
This will actually work well in the future. The next President can use an executive order to combat climate change, bypassing GOP obstruction, and possibly save civilized society.
8
Conflict over the separation of powers has been going for a long time.
Early examples of this, such as Jefferson's action on the Midnight Judges (ruled on in Marbury v. Madison), Jackson's response to the Supreme Court after its ruling on an Indian Treaty (they've made their decision, let them enforce it), Lincoln's emergency (true emergency) actions during the Civil War, FDR's efforts to pack the Supreme Court, all resulted in some retrenchment along with some clarification of the balance of powers.
Congress has, however, recently made some disturbing surrenders of powers.
The Constitution, Article I, Section VIII, clearly vests Congress with the sole authority to declare war. Immediately after Pearl Harbor, FDR asked Congress for a declaration of war. Yet Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon were able to fight an undeclared war in Vietnam; in our war against Iraq Congress gave W. (and succeeding presidents) the authority to launch a war without the Congressional declaration. To my understanding, this executive power remains unabated.
There are now ill-defined and inadequately limited laws in which Congress cedes emergency powers to the President. Obama did much by executive order. Trump is grossly pushing the authoritarian envelope.
It's time for some correction. The question is whether enough of our Congress will put country before party, or whether the lust for power will continue the trend toward autocracy.
Can the true separation of powers created in 1787 survive?
2
This is arguably a case of class warfare: the well intentioned liberals, usually better educated and thus more affluent readers of the Times are for immigration while those less affluent, less educated and whose jobs are at greater risk of being negatively impacted are not. Today’s article by David Brooks should lend credence to the fact that maybe our Uber liberal capitalist society is no longer working for the majority: indeed many of today’s younger folks, in particular the better educated ones are leaning towards socialism and acknowledging that the Chinese model may be the better choice: certainly offering a brighter future for Chinese youth than does our form of crony capitalism after decades of limousine liberalism and vulture capitalist tendencies on the part of our leaders in business and government( from both parties) offer for America’s youth. We can all empathize with Hispanic families seeking a better life, after all that’s what our forefathers were seeking when they came from Europe, but we also paid a price in our fight for independence from Britain to throw off the yoke of oppression; this is something the Mexicans and others from the lower America’s need to do at home, but any attempt by their populations to end corruption are thwarted not in small part by America’s ruling elite who have a vested interest in The Lower America’s remaining plutocracies that enable our multinationals and their donors to prosper to the detriment of the working classes.
3
Short and sweet; a political emergency is not a national emergency--the aftermath may be a national emergency.
3
From the original piece:
Senator Marco Rubio was more emphatic. “If today the national emergency is border security, tomorrow the national emergency might be climate change."
Sorry. Senator. Climate change is not a national, but a world, emergency, and an existential threat to your state. You're right about border security, though; that's not even remotely urgent.
2
i'm sure this has been mentioned plenty, but trump's campaign promise was to have mexico pay for the wall. in doing this he is not fulfilling a campaign promise, he's going back on his promise.
8
Today, at the most bizarre news conference in his tenure (and that's saying something), Trump admitted that he declared the national security for the sake of politics ("for the 2020 election"). Not that there was any doubt.
10
Some of us are tired of living in a country where we are already subsidizing 22 million illegal immigrants, according to a recent Yale study, and being told there is nothing we can do but accommodate another 20 million, or 40 million.
We are tired of having what were once exemplary schools in my home county so swamped with illegals that the greatest expenditure every year my children attended was English as a Second Language classes -- as county wide SAT scores plummeted.
We are tired of having our health care system savaged, and of the ER in our local Johns Hopkins operated hospital turned into a squatter's zone for people who use it for any medical issue. My wife worked there as a health care professional and she said the highest operating expense is not helping the sick - it is paying for interpreters.
We're tired of having the costs to subsidize SNAP and other programs skyrocket - not to help our fellow citizens but to underwrite people who cynically ignored our laws.
And we are especially tired of having sections of our county that were perfectly benign 20 years ago now off limits to unaccompanied teenage girls because of swarms of punks who claim fealty to MS-13.
Is that a national emergency? If it isn't in your county yet, just wait. It is coming.
3
Actually, climate change is the national emergency.
5
@Josey Just about to write that myself!
Can somebody please make a pop-up picture book on Constitutionally mandated separation of powers to read to this dangerous buffoon? Maybe pop-up money bags in Congressional leader's hands? That might get his attention.
This has been out of control for a long time. When will it end?
5
National Emergencies in order of importance:
1. Deaths by firearms
2. Global conflicts
3. Poverty
4. Health care
5. Crumbling infrastructure
6. Decline of US leadership
7. ...
10,000. Illegal immigration
6
The people of Kentucky are to blame for electing a cheater like McConnell who enables a cheater like Trump. Boycott whiskey and everything else made in Kentucky!!
5
Here are the things that are real, persistent emergencies:
* An illegitimate Supreme Court that "elected" Bush 43 over the will of the American people, and that contains two justices who never should have been confirmed (one having been denied Obama, the other a rapist)
* Climate change, already killing people
* Rampant opioid addiction that kills people every day
* Unchecked gun violence that kills people every day
* A healthcare system that causes people of lesser means to die every day
* Crumbling infrastructure with regular failures that kill people
* Treasonous criminals running free with pardons from an illegitimate, treasonous president who needs to be locked up for life (the death penalty for treason no longer exists)
If plane crashes were responsible for as many deaths in a year as even one of the above true emergencies, the entire airline industry would be grounded until the problem was fixed.
Fortunately, the next president will be a Democrat who will make use of the newly expanded emergency powers (thanks to Trump) to deal with the list above, beginning with the first item, whose resolution will allow the rest to be addressed effectively.
4
another few yards down the road to authoritarianism. Congress doesn't matter, its only what dear leader wants.
4
A coworker, who says she is a Republican claimed that the national emergency WAS that the funding for the wall was not approved. I had to choke back a hearty laugh. We are in it up to our waists right now.
2
There IS a national emergency! Our nation and the rule of law are at grave risk due to the actions of Donald Trump and his minions in the White House and the Republican Party. Donald Trump and his MAGA dolts are a clear and present danger to the survival of our democracy. Why, in gawd’s name wont those who have the power to do so, take some action to keep us safe from this attack on our nation?
4
President Trump IS the emergency.
8
This Republican-dominated Senate is so Mickey Mouse.
When you play a game with someone beneath you like Trump, who clearly doesn't give a hang how Constitutional Law is defined, it corrupts your own game.
Republicans are useless and they will pay for it.
3
I didn't vote for Fox Entertainment.
8
When does a “concern” escalate to an “emergency”? When the bumper sticker President gives his all to defend his idiotic slogan and cares not a wit for the U. S. Constitution because it’s too weighty to stick on a bumper, and besides it’s so old hat. Of course it was drafted back when Texas, California, Arizona, New Mexico we’re still part of Mexico, so it must be a stupid waste of time.
3
Welcome to post-moral, post-democratic America
2
There’s a national emergency alright.
Trump is the emergency.
6
Well said. This vulgar bully thinks he can do as he pleases, 'my way or the highway', with impunity, mafia-like, an outrageous abuse of the powers of the presidency, and a distinct 'trampling' of the constitution and the rule of law. He is trying to show that he can disregard Congress' functions...and get away with it. Actually, if he does, we definitely would deserve this irresponsible, and corrupt demagogue. Declaring a national emergency that is clearly all in his head, and nowhere else, would be an insult to reason and to all decency (not that we should expect more from a rabid dog on the loose, ready and willing to bite whomever dares to come close). Luckily, the Judicial branch seems ready to stop him.
2
Can we pause to absorb the fact that our “president” may declare an utterly fictional, fraudulent “national emergency”? It’s the emperor’s clothes...no one (no Republican) will state the obvious, Trump’s nakedly nuts or criminal. Possibly both.
8
Mr. Mueller must be delivering another charge tomorrow.
3
A Wall. Created by Trump handlers in the campaign so he'd remember to talk about immigration reform. A meme, that became a rallying cry, that was transformed into a demand to be paid for by another country which never would happen. A reminder that emerged into a national emergency that isn't. Immigration reform? Nope. But the wall continued and continued. All fake, all made up, all wrong. By a self absorbed man who can't remember a concept longer than four letters, immigration reform. And now he wants to rob citizens across the country of needed funds to build an unnecessary "huge beautiful powerful wall" that will have no influence on drugs or illegal immigrants or crime in the country. Plus we now have thousands of immigrants suffering in detention centers still striving for something better in the US, even after being treated as chatel. Children separated from parents without any way to reconnect because ICE is incapable of record keeping. And let me tell you this, even the Nazis did a better job of record keeping, noting the locations of millions taken to camps, and of millions murdered, were & when. Too many in this country are too hateful and too hypocritical toward people only wanting a better life, just like many, many of their own ancestors had. And now Trump wants to break the separation of powers set forth by the Founding Fathers, stated simply to prevent a man like Donald Trump from having too much power, a self absorbed man not caring for us.
3
Trump must be removed, as must constitutionally illiterate Congressmen like Representative Schweikert. Authoritarians, not patriots.
3
More actions by Trump showing he does not respect the constitution or congress. Trump has violated so many norms of the presidency and as indicated he is beholden to Putin for some untoward reason. The more reasons pile up with the Mueller report and House investigations to add shortly along with investigative journalists following up in clues hinted at in these disclosures. Trump is a corrupt fraud, a liar ,erratic and ignorant with the morals of an alley cat. The democrats can certainly find someone far superior to this narcissistic blowhard and his self dealing family. If Trump is not gone by 2020 we will become a defacto dictatorship /kleptocracy and folks will get the government they deserve.
1
Mr. Trump has used lies, racism and fear to justify both his cruel immigration policies and his inane ineffective wall. The lies, demonization and fear, taken together with his fake national emergency, is fascism 101. Our national emergency is where it has been since January 2017--in the people's house. In order to seize and retain perpetual power for their white nationalist Christian extremist minority party, the Trump McConnell Republicans are irreparably damaging our democracy including the Constitution and the rule of law.
1
Why is our country continuing to kowtow to this ghastly charade in office? Enough! Trump and his daily crier-liars must be removed from office. He is a bulldozer trampling over our democracy while people like TV personalities; Ingraham, Coulter and Hannity enable this sick and dangerous man to meet their pathetic agendas. Enough!
2
At Mr. Trump's rally two day ago, there was what looked like the facist salute at one point. This was no accident. His motives make me wonder if he is somehow an agent of Russia? What a thought.
2
He's just checking another item off on Putin's punch list (in advance of his next quarterly job performance review with Putin).
1
This guy is trying to take over our government and there was precedent in Germany for his methods
Age 72.
BMI 30.
The wall is a metaphor for Our President's manhood. So yeah, it's a national emergency.
5
Our child president toys with the levers of power. Waiting in vain for the grownups to give him a time out.
2
This may be a good thing long range for those of us who wish to see him defeated in 2020. He already lost some voters with the shut-down. Now he can lose more with this. Where he could really lose a lot of voters will depend on whose coffers he invades. If he raids CA's wildfire money, then he will lose CA. If he takes TX or FL hurricane money, ditto. The more outrageous he gets, the more the people who did not vote at all in 2016 will likely get off their duffs and vote against him. If you are a woman, or Latin in heritage, gay, transgender, a naturalized USA citizen, black, a member of any non-white race, Jewish, etc., you must absolutely vote against him in 2020. It is suicidal to do otherwise. And that includes anyone who might end up paying more in taxes. Your life and liberty are more important. So let him throw his fits and temper tantrums. We need all the motivation in the world to get the rest of our countrymen on board to get rid of him.
1
I believe the National Emergency in your country, is The Fox Propaganda machine, and it's influence over your president.
5
Yes, we have a national emergency, but it's not at the Mexican border, it's at the White House. It's time for impeachment proceedings to begin.
4
President Trump is our national emergency.
5
Today, T’s doctor declared him officially obese. Previously, T claims to have returned prayer to America. He didn’t, but his doctor has.
Be what the NYT's wants to make of this. Those of us who live in Mexico know we have an immigration emergency. The overwhelming majority of our Mexican and expat friends agree the wall should be built as they see the invasion each month of 10,000's of thousands of Central Americans as a huge and growing problem for Mexico as well.
1
Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States, 2017-2019; first King of the United States, 2019-
2
Alt-title:
“An Emperor Trumpius-Made Emergency Declaring an Empire”
Yes, faux-Emperor Trumpius just ‘Crossed the Potomac’ (not the Rubicon, and by swimming it, in an attempt to reduce his imperial obesity), and thus Reversing America’s First “Revolution Against Empire” [Justin du Rivage’s deeply researched and definitive history of “we the American people’s” first one].
2
Please. Let him flop and flounder and grasp and throw tantrums. That's all he is capable of since he can not govern nor lead. He is a lame duck. Let him quack all he wants. This too, will pass.
Let's be transparent about this shall we!
This wall is about race, pure and simple! Trump again-still-yet and ad infinitum panders to his base, not with a reasoned insistence on a construction project with legitimate national security implications but with an ISSUE, and one embedded solely and exclusively in bigotry and hyperbolic fear!
By 2040 or 50 or so American caucasians will be a minority, and with that awareness Trump demagogues the GOP base's xenophobic proclivities into divisionist hatred upon which he gets way out over his skis and heads into a court fight over his attempt to purloin legitimately allocated taxpayer funds he will certainly loose.....all under the guise of defending America against a fabricated then demonized enemy.
DISINGENUOUS CLAPTRAP, to be sure....and a guaranteed long term looser for the GOP given the ascendance of the brown and black citizenry of the US who can't help but notice and wont soon forget their being eschewed by the the party.
Not only is this would-be autocrat morbidly obese, he's morbidly obtuse!
2
There 4 items that politicians care about: Ego, Power,Money, and Sex. Next. DJM
1
In watching the PBS series on dictators, one of a dictator's standard ploys is to generate some kind of "national emergency" so they can be the one to take charge and control it. Sound familiar????
6
Lets a call a spade a spade here. Democrats, including their cohorts here at the Times, WANT illegal immigration. They are now depending on it for power. Kamala Harris let the cat out of the bag a month ago. She worried aloud that if Trump were able to get the citizenship question reinstated onto the census, illegal immigrants might be afraid to take part in the census. That means they would be "undercounted", and if that were to happen, California could lose a House seat or 2, and in turn, an electoral vote or 2. So the more illegal immigrants flood into Democrat leaning states, the more House seats and electoral votes they get. Why do you think these Dem leaning states all support sanctuary cities, and drivers licenses for illegals, and now even free healthcare for illegals? Out of the compassion of their hearts?? The seek to swell those populations, giving Dem leaning states more power. Walling off the border would turn off the spigot. The Times admits there is an influx of family units. Once they make it onto US soil, because they have kids with them, they are home free, not deported, and join their illegal compatriots at swelling their ranks at sanctuary cities. They nonly way to stop this is to prevent them from setting foot on US soil, and only a wall will do that, not technology. By decrying the wall, you are supporting open borders. But hey, lets fight like mad to keep them wide open. Its not fair we have and others don't. Is that the idea?
More disturbing than Don the Con's attempt at circumventing the Constitution is the fact that there are others in the Executive Branch who are agreeing with and advising him to act in this manner.
Anyone who reads comic books knows Donnie-Boy could have never come up with this sign and declare strategy on his own. The question is who are the individuals who have such contempt for the Constitution that they would advise then orchestrate this end run around approved spending?
This is worse than it initially appears.
8
Thank you Mr. Trump and all your GOP supporters. You have finally, if unconsciously, opened the door for serious work. In 2020 the Democratic president can do what you and your pseudo-scientific colleagues have failed to do - declare climate change, due to AGW, the Nation's and the' worlds number one emergency. Then, finally, we can invoke our national strength, along with the rest of the civilized world, to deal with it.
10
Can the president disburse funds appropriated by Congress for specific purposes for other,,unrelated, purposes under laws enacted by the Congress granting the president unspecified grounds for declaration of a national emergency? For the answer I suggest that legal commentators look to Marbury v Madison, the case that defined the respective powers granted to the Congress, the Executive and the Courts under the Constitution. In the Marbury case the Court held that a law granting to the Court authority to exercise a power it determined was reserved for the Executive branch was unconstitutional and the Court refused to enforce it. That rational can be applied to the action contemplated by President Trump. While a president, under these broad grants of authority may declare states of emergency, he has not been given the authority by the Congress to appropriate funds for a purpose not identified by those laws. Under the Constitution only the Congress can determine where funds are to be spent and, indeed, by refusing in the current funding bill to pay for a wall , Congress has indicated that it rejects such use of federal dollars. If he nevertheless does so he clearly would be infringing on a power reserved by the Constitution to the legislative branch and, therefore would be unconstitutional.
6
@moschlaw Interesting, your mentioning Marbury v Madison. Isn't that the foundational law dismissed by Whitaker, the soon to be gone Acting AG? Perhaps this was another reason for his having been chosen over the existing line of succession.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/matthew-whitaker-is-a-crackpot/2018/11/08/69e8e190-e395-11e8-8f5f-a55347f48762_story.html?utm_term=.e8d34c985dbf
The denial of the crisis at the border, which is worsening daily with arrival of more migrant caravans and threatening the sovereignty of this nation, has created the need to declare a national emergency. No matter how hard this paper and its democratic supporters try to deny the efficacy of a border wall, reality has won. Trump is doing the right thing and the petulance of Pelosi will not prevail. This could have been solved by providing the $5B and compromising on how it was spent. The Democrats own this one now. Thank God we have a president that will act.
1
We can protect the border far better than with a wall. And what happened to Mexico paying for it? I am unaware of any Trump supporters holding him accountable for that promise or even mentioning it.
Suppose Obama promised universal health care and that the insurance industry would pay for and then, after getting elected, decided to spend billions to fund it, even to the point of declaring a national emergency.
Admit it, please; funding the building of a wall is just wrong and won't accomplish its intended purpose even if funded.
8
@Mark V
Three decades ago you might have an argument but not today when illegals crossings are very low. This isn’t a crisis, trump and his abuse of power and his trashing of the constitution is the crisis.
1
What are you planning on using? land mines? force fields? Have you checked what is included for the money?
I don't get it. There are thousands of "Asylum Seekers" approaching our border. If they enter we must provide health care and housing to all. Most don't qualify but will be permitted to remain until their cases can be heard years from now. Most won't show up for the hearing and their children will become automatic citizens. The deluge cannot be settled by Congress. It is the equivalent of an unarmed invasion. Harry Truman sent troops to Korea to prevent an armed invasion of that country. It was his act alone. Congress never declared war. Why, if the president can send troops to protect another country can not our current President try a wall to protect our own country when it is obvious a deluge is coming? Other Presidents have unilaterally sent missiles and troops to support or defend other countries borders, why the reluctance to try and enforce our borders.
1
Please do not give weight to the idea that he is fulfilling a campaign promise. He promised we wouldn't have to pay for the wall. Even with this power grab, if it succeeds, he did not fulfill his promise.
17
It should never have been at the point where it needed to be discussed as a campaign promise; reasonable, appropriate border security capable of preventing both casual and moderately determined people from breaking through should have already been in place as the result of proper governance.
We have a self-declared political emergency for a single citizen of the United States, Little Donny, nothing more.
The only current national emergency is Little Donny himself.
Little Donny's declaration of an emergency makes a mockery of the United States Constitution's tripartite form of government with checks and balances necessary to prevent a monarchy or dictatorship.
Congress must not abdicate its responsibility to put a stop to Little Donny's unilateral actions that a majority of Americans reject (as did a majority of registered voters in 2016).
Congress controls the United States' checkbook, for better or worse, not Little Donny, a single person.
If we let Little Donny have his way with his manufactured political emergency, then we have lost the democracy created well over 200 years ago that is the very reason the United States has been a world leader as a nation.
If Mr. Trump prevails we will have a dictatorship where decisions are made for all Americans by a single person who seems to believe he rules a fantasy world that does not exist.
I'm sorry Congress, but you need to look at the big picture for a change, tune out endless partisan political rhetoric, bickering and maneuvering and do the right thing. This is not about a wall. This is about the future of our country.
Does anyone in Congress want to take responsibility for enabling a dictator?
I hope not.
Do the right thing.
7
Mr. Trump is proposing to spend our tax dollars without authorization from our elected representatives. This country was built on the principle that taxing and spending should only occur by consent of the governed speaking through their elected legislators. Mr. Trump is violating one of the most fundamental principles of American government. Were there an actual emergency, one might understand, even while declaring his actions unconstitutional. But all that's going on here is that he's been unable to persuade either Congress or the voters that the US government should tax and spend to build a wall along our southern border -- notwithstanding his campaign pledge. The situation is not even remotely an emergency. Should the courts uphold this breach in our fundamental governing principles, any future President will be able to spend money on anything that he or she wants even after Congress has explicitly considered and rejected such spending, as has already happened here.
11
Marco Rubio “tomorrow it will be climate change.” Uhhh...hello?????!!!!
11
@Stephanie
Hey Marco,
Climate change is real. Trump’s wall fiasco is of his own making. Not real! Fake! Phony! Like the man, himself!
1
"On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be occupied by a downright fool and a complete narcissistic moron.”
H.L. Mencken
16
Prophetic. That day is here!
Who, besides a few blow hards like former wrestling coach Jim Jordan, thinks the wall is a good idea? Where is the political support for this coming from?
1
Putin wins, again.
5
Trump the demagogue has wanted to be Trump the dictator from day 1, the courts, the Constitution, the (majority of) voters be damned. Our democracy is in peril as long as his monstrous ego is in charge. Be very wary, people.
10
Trump: L'état c'est moi.
6
I for one will be fully in favor of the next President requesting funds to tear the wall down. Absent that, (S)he can declare a National Emergency and get the money that way.
In the meantime, the pigeons can poop on it.
2
All hail King Donald!
Weak, dumb president, weak stupid decisions.
9
In such a show of indifference to the national will, I suggest withholding tax payments. We should not support a government that does not support us
8
Please stop saying he's fulfilling a campaign promise. He's breaking one.
As proven a dozen times over in video, the campaign promise was that MEXICO would pay. By forcing the American taxpayers to pay -- rather than Mexico paying -- it is Trump who is breaking his campaign promise.
16
Campaign promise? Please. Nothing more than an applause line in a speech befitting a politician who was willing to do or say anything to get elected.
3
Yes, it was a promise. Thank you.
The promise included having Mexico pay for it. Don't cherry pick what you personally like and forget what you find inconvenient.
1
With a crude display of executive overreach and the repeated transgressions of the constitutional limits the way Trump is systematically mounting attacks on the US constitutional governance and the scheme of the separation of powers is nothing short of a constitutional coup that demands a matching response by the Congress, judiciary, and the concerned political class and the citizenry as well to reverse the tide. The national emergency threat by Trump is not only unwarranted but perhaps not permissible a power under the constitution as the whole security threat scenario is manufactured by Trump to keep his raw conservative base perpetually agitated and diverted from the reality.
6
Why is this a surprise? He included the border wall among the promises he ran on, and he got elected. I did not vote for him, but his constituency did. So get over it!
He's likely to get re-elected, given the motley crew of Democrats who have announced to date. Not an obvious winner among them. Pathetic.
Incredulous,
You are right, this collection of Democratic Presidential Candidates do stand out. When after 2 years of tantrums, ignorance, and un-American behavior, the Nation's worst POTUS ever, this collection of Americans who are intelligent, more caring for the common American, the environment, and respectful of America's Leadership role in the World, they standout and one will win in 20 and begin the task of cleaning up Trump's created disasters.
@Incredulous Beto? Kamala?
Mitch McConnell and D.J. Trump are, essentially, traitors to the republican idea. Though, of the two, it is McConnell who is the far greater malefactor. We're on that slippery slope and accelerating, ever faster, in the wrong direction.
9
Please stop feeding into the false narrative that this was a campaign promise. The campaign promise was that Mexico would pay for his vanity project. Not the taxpayers. Not after a temper tantrum turned government shutdown. Not after the exercise of his incomparable negotiating skills. (Ha!) Not after all the misery this toddler has wrought on government workers and contractors, their families, those who do business with the government and these workers and contractors and their families, and the poor people at the border seeking asylum. And not at the direction of media personalities who are not elected to federal office. Laura Ingraham, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Ann Coulter and their ilk, who make their livings whipping up the angry mob. So please, stop suggesting this is making good on a campaign promise. If that were the case, there would be no cost to American taxpayer. No shutdown. No power usurped by those not elected.
12
Please be clear, Republicans have not been "conservatives" for a long time, and if they allow Trump to breach the separation of power, and strip the power of the purse from the House of Representatives, not a shred of a doubt can remain.
Republicans are simply tools of the oligarchs and kleptocrats, and right-wing media are their foghorns.
14
"Senator Marco Rubio was more emphatic. 'If today the national emergency is border security, tomorrow the national emergency might be climate change.' "
No, Senator. It is. And Now.
7
We can understand why Donald Trump, with his limited understanding of government and his impulse for recklessness, thinks pleasing his base with an executive declaration of an “emergency” about immigration is a good idea.
What took experienced Republicans so long to realize the dangers such a precedent holds for them when a Democrat next sits in the White House?
Perhaps it's time for the majority two thirds to call for our own national emergency in protest: a national strike. He can shut down the government, we can, collectively, shut down the country. If the Republican side of the aisle can accept Trump's emergency, would they accept ours? We're going to have to get off our duffs if we're to stop these guys from usurping our will.
4
If McConnell is consistent - he’ll do his best to eliminate executive orders before Democrats take over. His motives are not in the best interest of the United States, no more than 45’s motives are - the greediest of administrations jacking up their base to help the upper class.
1
After this action taken by the president, I believe Trump's goal is to intentionally join the international thugs who live outside the law, such as Putin, Duterte and MbS. He wants to duplicate their great economic success and cares nothing about morality or law. Too many people are assuming he will leave office. McConnell has capitulated to all of his actions without breaking a sweat - well hardly. We are in serious trouble here and long past the seriousness of the "Saturday Night Massacre". We have been waiting for Mueller's report and it increasingly seems like a fools errand as more and more qualifications come out about how it will be presented, who will see it, etc. I fear it will turn out like the bankers after 2008 who stole billions from the American people but could not be prosecuted for anything. This time it's Trump destroying our democracy in plain sight.
5
Like posters below, I am ashamed. Ashamed that a critical mass of people in this country thought so little of their vote, fought and died for on the beaches of Normandy, that they gave it to an entertainer who promised to restore a shameful racial past. Ashamed of a media and a commentariat that also treats politics and democracy as a team sport rather than the only connection between Americans and their freedom. Ashamed of the legislators falsely calling themselves Republicans, so willing to violate the history and principles of a grand party as well as their Constitutional oaths in exchange for a tax cut that they can take back to their contributors in exchange for yet more contributions.
8
@Isadore Huss well said!
Well said friend, well said. Every day we wake up to this embarrassing joke of a President who also reminds us that he is potently dangerous. I hope this divided country can make it through this stress test on our constitution, our values and our sanity.
1
The whole Republican party has lost it's way - They are more concerned with Greed and Power than they are about our Country and our Democracy.
Trump and his administration are nothing but a bunch of liars and corrupt con-men. The sad part is that Republicans in the house and senate are backing the dirty deeds of the administration.
4
“Just think of what a president with different values can present to the American people,” she observed.
As the Kavanaugh defenders quote endlessly, "What goes around, comes around."
When it does though, the shameless Republicans will be back to shrieking about "Presidential Overreach."
This just gets uglier every day. Trump and his scorched earth policies are doing terrible damage. And where are the Republican leaders? McConnell remains withdrawn back in his shell.
5
@Edward McConnell is not "in his shell", he is driving the car. If he told Trump he would allow a vote to prevent the Emergency declaration to reach the Senate floor and let Senators vote their conscience, it wouldn't happen. McConnell is even more guilty than Trump, who is just a child.
6
Having Trump as president is the national emergency. We must do something about THAT.
5
This is part of his childish pattern of creating a problem then solving it. Why so many Americans can’t see this, tells me a lot about our dumbed-down society. Watching Fox cable is about as informative as watching HowdyDowdy, with its panel of Flubbadub, Princess Summer Fall Winter Spring, and Pinhead.
The future of our country like other countries is being taken over by those who appeal to the uninformed. Loud-mouthed, name-calling, do and know nothings. It happened so fast, or was I not aware.
I hope the new young legislators can tear away from the old and stodgy lifers whose main effort. Is getting re-elected. But I’m doubtful, only because other freshman congress persons became old stodgy lifers. I’m 73 and have seen this occur several times before.
3
One might even say the crisis was trumped up.
2
So this is how the "Art of the Deal" works. Just force it through and bypass Congress. 2020 cannot come soon enough...
3
Republicans in Congress, you own this. You let this man go unchecked for far too long. This is on you. Not Democrats - YOU. For those of you who voted for Trump, you are responsible for putting him in office and creating all of our problems. For those of you who STILL support this nightmare POTUS, please let the world know why. Rational people have no idea why anyone would.
4
It's a bit much to claim Mr. Trump is concerned with the Constitution and separation of powers. He's shown only one prime concern during his lifetime: money.
This is his exploitation of the office of Commander in Chief to raid the public purse the way he manipulated the funds of the now-defunct Trump Foundation. It's that tawdry and seedy.
The fears that this will set some kind of precedent are overstated. Short of electing someone who is the reincarnation of Clyde Barrow, Willy "The Actor" Sutton or Jesse James, the chances are slim that we'll ever see someone as shameless as Donald Trump in the White House again. Once is enough!
Why bother with a wall? Why doesn't Trump simply issue a presidential declaration banning brown people (or people with an 'excess amount' of eumelanin pigment) from entering the U. S. at the southern border -- since that's what he and his 33 percent base wants? That way he achieves the goal of keeping the darker, unwanted scourge from entering the country, plus he saves money on actual construction. It's a version of 'pre-ethnic cleansing' without having to forcibly remove, arrest, or imprison certain types of people. Of course, lighter skinned people -- say, Norwegians, Swedes, and Icelanders -- will always be welcome.
4
Trump obviously only listens to himself. Our elected officials rarely listen to us.
What is the sense of voting when those elected abandon us and waste our time and dollars promoting their own agendas?
There's no emergency on the Mexican border. Our greatest threat is an incompetent president and elected officials failing their office.
3
I guess it is just time to admit that democracy is over in America. As long as republicans are in control of any branch of government America is a thinly veiled autocracy.
Didn't they used to have a state's right principle? The people who live along the border seem to be the ones most opposed to the idea while those most in favor live far away from the border. Is that what they mean by small and local government?
mcconnell is the most venal of men.
1
During the presidential campaign of 1928, Herbert Hoover, (R), claimed that if he won there would be “a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage.“ Thank God that the "National Emergency" wasn't available to Hoover, sarcastically known as "The Great Humanitarian '. His indifference to the hardships faced by middle America mired us into the "Great Depression". The highlight of his presidency was the "Wall Sreet Crash of 1929".
Sound familiar? Is history repeating itself? In 1932, Roosevelt, (D), soundly defeated Hoover and FDR 's "New Deal" programs brought the country back to prosperity.
2
I often debate with friends whether or not ice dancing (for example) is a sport. I have yet to hear a definition of “sport” that would include it, yet exclude ballet, say.
I get a similar thought regarding this latest appeasement of Coulter et al by trump. What definition of “emergency” would apply to the immigration “crisis” but not to, say, 30,000 gun deaths per year (to name but one example)?
3
Should Congress allow Trump to succeed in calling a national emergency that doesn't exist what will they do should he run again, lose and refuse to vacate the White House?
Okay, great, set a new precedent. So when Kamala Harris or another Democrat is elected president in 2020 they can declare climate change and gun violence BOTH true National Emergencies. Bring it on!
4
A historic blow against US " democrats " , the sellers of our country, an act that will forever ensure the security,
independence and sovereignty of the country, a step to end the democrats movement ( which exist for almost a century ! ) , for the hispanization of the country ! An wall not a metal barrier ! Metal barriers are in fact accepted by mexican investors, they are easily demolished when their democratic puppets will once again have the power !
Trump could have signed a trillion dollar infrastructure bill, created tens of thousands of jobs, and had bridges and tunnels with his name on them from sea to shining sea. But no, he wants a wall sold with blatantly racist appeal.
The Senate could have impeached him and held the Presidency with someone more manageable. They probably could have achieved more than a single tax cut. McConnell might have gone down in history as the man who saved the country. But noooooo...
The campaign "promise" was that Mexico will pay for his wall. Stealing the money from other funds, needed to help all Americans, is not fulfilling a campaign promise. It is the betrayal of his voters. Fooled you again!
4
His promise was that Mexico would pay for the wall. His promise is broken, not kept.
1
What is equally disturbing are the Trump loyalists in this country who are cheering on the demise of our democracy!
1
This President “decides” nothing. He doesn’t have the chops for it, er, brain power. He takes his walking papers from right wing talking heads who prey on his vanity, his absolute need to be seen as #1. The other person he hears in his head (after his belittling and simultaneously braggadocio father) is Putin. His supporters are completely in love with his in your face personality and it take a lot before the trance wears off. When his tariffs start to bite they may think again about their “love” or they might simply think higher prices are Obama’s or the Democrats’, to Canada’s, or Europe’s fault.
Meanwhile, it’s McConnell with the wiles and brains to carry out the Conservative design. Let us hope there is something left of our democracy and of our economy that will be salvageable after their internal destruction of the walls the nation has built since the Great Depression against corporate predation and pollution etc..
I'd say let him have his facacta wall if it would shut him up, but it will simply embolden him to try more stunts like this.
"It is hard to recall a juncture in American history in which the president’s congressional supporters have been so willing to do his bidding. Mitch McConnell is an especially striking study in the dereliction of duty.
What is striking about Trump’s intention to declare a state of emergency for such transparently fraudulent reasons is that he isn’t even bothering to engage in salami tactics. This is about as clear an attack on the constitutional order as political scientists could have dreamed up for some in-class exercise on the rise of dictatorship. If Republican senators like Mitt Romney and Ben Sasse are not willing to stand up to Trump’s cheap power grab now, they never will. And if the president’s many opponents cannot take to the streets to oppose his autocratic tendencies at this juncture, it is clear that they won’t do so until it’s far too late.
...Trump’s incompetence should make us all the more concerned about the long-term threat to American democracy. An evidently erratic and highly unpopular American president is about to declare a national emergency on grounds that everyone knows to be spurious. And yet, it is likely that he will experience only the mildest blowback from his political allies.” (Feb 14th in Slate)
Yascha Mounk, an associate professor at Johns Hopkins U and a senior adviser at Protect Democracy, is the host of The Good Fight podcast and the author of The People vs. Democracy: Why Our Freedom Is in Danger and How to Save It.
Reality: trump IS the emergency.
We are now officially a banana republic. Looks like the Republicans were right about becoming Venezuela. But it’s not Ocasio Cortez’s fault.
5
Cool. As Nancy Pelosi alluded too, next time we have a rational Democratic President we'll finally get decent gun control, because that is definitely a National Emergency. Another indication that Trump is certainly stupid. He runs on his old rotten guts and has rarely used his brain for more than something to put a toupee on.
3
Trump isn't fulfilling a promise if he's demanding that we, the US taxpayers, fund his folly. He's leaning toward fascism with his relentless propaganda. He lies and Mitch McConnell__who needs to be replaced__goes right along.
Remember, his promise was that Mexico would pay for it. Now, who's going to pay for it?
Trump is a lying liar, a carnival-barking grifter and a clear and present danger to our democratic republic.
1
Fake Emergency
i see several commenters saying "this isn't an emergency, 9/11 and Pearl Harbor was an emergency! This is a Trump-made emergency!" well lets look at only one component of the porous southern border, drug trafficking; specifically heroine and fentanyl; in 2017 70,000 Americans died from overdosing on these substances various reports claim 50% at the low end 90% at the high end come via the southern US border. combined fatalities from the emergencies of 9/11 and Pearl Harbor were 5400 people. Let that sink in. 70,000 vs. 5400. So..lets say a wall stopped even 10 percent of the heroine and fentanyl coming into america. That potentially saves 7000 American lives. that's 1,600 more lives than both of our previously mentioned "emergencies". The arguments against the wall, are empty; and don't hold up to even an ounce of scrutiny. lack of a wall only benefits human trafficking cartels, drug cartels and unscrupulous exploitative US business owners. it makes as much sense forbidding us from locking the front to door to our house because of course doing so is racist or immoral. give your head a shake. I bet you would think this is an emergency if one of your children died from Mexican originated heroine or fentayl..
@sean russo
Almost every statement in this is factually incorrect. Here is a DEA intel report which describes how drugs are shipped in large amounts into this country. It is either through Miami, Newark, PR etc.by Dominican gangs. 90% of Mexican smuggling is in tractor-trailers across checkpoints.
https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/08/29/trump-says-border-wall-will-stop-drugs-heres-what-a-dea-intel-report-says/
And by the way most of us admire heroines, Mexican otherwise.
Every day focused on the wall is a day with less attention to Mueller, Russia, and lying aides. Trump is happy.
2
The GOP watches silently.
Well, that's why you keep lauding them as a Grand Old Party, isn't it?
What's you say? They're not your idea of a Grand Old Party? Then quit calling them one. Just call them by their name. Words matter, but not if you use theirs and neglect your own.
" .... and Mexico will pay for it."
Promises promises.
This is what a bully looks like.
A mean girl, to be exact. Our President's manhood has been missing for quite some time. And no wall will raise the White House flag to full staff.
Billboard message in flashing neon to Senator Marco Rubio: Climate Change will soon swallow you and your state.
1
The wall is a constitutional, moral, environmental, economic and aesthetic abomination.
1
Trump-made emergency? Hardly. Try sending your kid to a school in TX, or AZ, or any illegal-heavy area. The tax base supports massive ESL programs and free lunches due to the influx of poverty (and unreported cash income) at the expense of... everything else that could be going to the children of tax payers. My daily routine is taking care of illegals in the ER with no coverage (nor should they have any.... they didn't pay taxes for it and do not belong here).
America needs to pull its collective head out of the sand and realize that money is not endless. NY gov Cuomo just articulated this when he realized that if you tax tax tax the rich, they leave.... and they are the ones who pay the taxes.
This is a crisis. And it is abhorrent that cities and states openly flout federal law with sanctuary policies, and elected leaders call for "abolishment of ICE" rather than supporting the rule of law.
That is the saddest part of this.... elected officials flagrantly violating the rule of law, and the courts supporting them. And it started with Obama and DACA (which I support, but by legislation, not an order from HRH Obama).
2
DACA?
The NYT and Hillary's campaign always maintained the border was not a problem, certainly not an emergency.
Trump always maintained it was. He campaigned on that. He won.
So did he get what he'd campaigned on after winning? No.
Does the NYT want anyone ever to deal with this as a "crisis?" No. They speak for those who just don't believe it.
This is just endless replay of that, in a loop.
3
@Mark Thomason: The whole world world wants to deny that humans are overpopulating the Earth into its first geological-scale mass extinction initiated by a single species of animal. This is a side show to that issue.
The whole Earth is an isolated island in space, just as Easter Island is an isolated island in the Pacific. We can all collectively leave an enigma like the statues erected by the Easter Islanders who wound up devouring each other after they exhausted their environment.
@Steve Bolger -- There is some reason to think that birth rates are falling, and the population explosion will end much sooner than feared. That is because the societies with exploding populations are showing signs of female education and economic participation, which are the things that bring down birth rates, and in fact birth rates are falling for those women.
I agree it's a Presidential power grab - and will appropriately be challenged in court. Somehow the Times wasn't as concerned when the Constitutional Scholar imposed DACA, despite making over 20 public statements that he didn't have the authority.
I have never gotten so angry so often with any other administration, R or D.
Where are the heads of the Republicans in Congress?
More importantly, where is their sense of honor, truthfulness, and decency?
(Gone forever, as far as I'm concerned.)
5
"The president decides that fulfilling a campaign promise is more important than respecting the separation of powers."
Trump decided no such thing. He doesn't know what the separation of powers is. During the campaign I heard a commentator say that Trump needs a civics lesson. Actually he needs many. this is just one.
6
911 was an emergency warranting the use of Executive powers. An influenza pandemic was an emergency warranting use of Executive powers.
The use of Executive powers to redistribute funds intended (amongst other things) to help make whole again Puerto Rico after a disaster, in order to assuage the egos of politicians and followers, rather than the hard (and likely humbling, on both sides) work of negotiation and give-and-take is an abuse of stunning proportions.
I am, once again, embarrassed for my country.
6
@SD And creating one means of stemming the tens of thousands illegally trying to enter "your" country each month doesn't rise to an emergency?
Who's embarrassed for who!
By debating whether there is or isn't an emergency, and whether a president does or doesn't have the right to define an emergency keeps the issue "HOT" and inflames Trump's base. We never seem to learn.
Why not a quieter approach: Principled leaders firmly disagree and then proceed to block funding. "We will no longer play into these childish games." He may scrape up some money; but not vaguely enough to fulfill his promises. Trump knows that Congress will block funding and simply wants to rile his base. Why play into his hands?
2
Just a simple question from a citizen of Canada who fondly thanks his ancestors for making Canada home: even if one assumes there is an emergency on your southern border with Mexico and a wall to be built knowing how construction of that wall will entail engaging contractors, moving citizens from land that they own, engaging in land surveys, actually getting the raw materials together needed for the wall and then actually building that wall how quickly in real time will it take to have a finished product? After all, this is an emergency correct?
When a house is on fire the fire department responds to the emergency of the fire immediately rushing to the house with their fire engines and equipment and fights the fire. Surely everybody knows but fails to state the obvious conundrum here that the building of this actual wall will take so many man hours to complete it that the emergency by that time will have ceased to exist?
3
Somehow Canadians have handled border security ad a national priority outside if partisan politics.
I respect that and would like to see that same diligence here
We are on the slippery slope to rule by decree. This smack to the Enabling Act and the path to dictatorship. What happens when there's a "National Emergency" to suspend elections?
6
Dude’s ability to “scrounge” up the money, begs another question. Why are there billions of dollars sloshing around in government department/agency sub-accounts? They haven’t even spent the money they were previously given for fencing and hiring. We have overfunded Departments (DHS, military), but unfounded/underfunded “emergency” needs (universal pre-K/health care, retirement benefits, infrastructure, day and elder care, affordable colleges). And we have a trillion dollar deficit.
5
I think McConnell and Pelosi are both playing Trump quite well. McConnell gave a verbal to Trump's emergency (just to get his signature for this bill) knowing it would go to court, thus his hands stay clean to his supporters.
To have taken him seriously when he came down his golden escalator was the first mistake. Not to have taken the senate away from Republican rule in 2018 was the second. To indulge him by not impeaching him and calling the Republicans out for what they are doing is the last mistake. At this stage if the Democrats cave on any issue whatsoever they will be held responsible. As for the Republicans, their actions are foregone.
8
The Watergate era emergency powers act allows Congress to negate the declared presidential emergency. If the House of Reps votes to negate, the Senate must vote on the same declaration. I look forward to the pretzel shapes the GOP senators will imitate faced with defying Trump or the US Constitution.
Our limbo president keeps going lower and lower.
7
We all know that it's not right to sneak into a movie theater without a ticket. In the spirit of open borders I say lets go all the way and tear out turnstiles and storefront doors everywhere. Let's make the whole world one big happy place, just like Disneyland only without that huge high green wall all around it, leaving only the tip of the Matterhorn to be only visible from the outside. The only way now to get on It's A Small World ride there is to first pay an obscenely high entrance fee, just like Walt Disney originally envisioned, I'm sure.
1
Trump should resign and become a border patrol agent.
People, including presidents, should follow their passions.
Most people don't see the border as a national emergency. Trump does and he should be working directly to solve the problem.
4
The only 'emergency' is the erosion of the last bastion of Trump's base without which the GOP will turn on Trump too. He sees his days are numbered and the 'emergency' is the direct threat to the protections he has been afforded by them.
The emperor has no clothes on and needs a wall to hide behind.
9
I think declaring an emergency and letting it get tied up in the courts serves Trump's purposes. For him, it's better to perpetuate the issue that to settle it. What else has he got left besides the fears he loves to arouse?
12
@Robert Bouwman You may be right. As some others have observed, it's not about an actual wall or security, it's about having an issue to keep the base riled up.
10
The national emergency act should be amended immediately with veto proof majorities to require congress to register its approval of a Presidential declaration of a National Emergency with a 2/3 rds majority in both houses within a stated limited time period of a declaration in order for an emergency declaration to stand. We must have broad consensus that there actually is a national emergency. The provision of the Act as currently written that allowed congress to register its disapproval and strike down an Emergency Declaration with simple majorities was rendered ineffective in the early 1980's when the Supreme court struck down "legislative vetoes" of regulations by simple majorities.
Anyone who thinks this will be the last time Trump will employ an emergency declaration to circumvent congress, the rule of law and the Constitution to advance his autocratic nationalist agenda is engaging in wishful thinking. (And it is not the first time this president has abused the law to circumvent Congress - witness the Tariffs by Presidential Fiat.) Unless we understand the gravity of this situation and take action, historians will some day record the present era as a time when this country transitioned from a constitutional democratic republic under the rule of law to an authoritarian, nationalist oligarchy. History teaches that these types of developments must be uprooted at their inception - not years after they have taken hold and become normal.
14
Decades of inertia, political fighting, poor communication and inaction characterize our southern boarder and immigration system as a whole. It’s a congressional failure across many administrations who have perpetuated bad policy.
So give us a break. People see through this barrage of bias concerning wall support etc... its just hatred for an incumbent.
Americans want this issue solved. It’s a humanitarian crisis, as the article says. Is that not emergent enough for congress?
3
What would YOU be saying if Obama had ever concocted a phony “emergency” like this?
And what will you do when Trump does it again?
This article is, appropriately, in the "opinion" section. So, being an opinion, can ignore certain facts and spin, spin, spin to make a point.
Congress shares a GREAT deal of responsibility for this, the shut downs and the threat of shut downs.
Congress has a legal requirement to pass 12 spending bills for the following fiscal year by June of each year. They ignore that law.
Then they also don't pass all the spending bills even before the fiscal year starts on October 1 of each year.
In the past 40 years, Congress has passed all 12 spending bills before the fiscal year started only FOUR times! This past year was not one of them.
There could have been no shut down this year had congress done their job. Their could have been no threat of unfunded government functions had Congress done their job.
It is insanely naive to 'blame the new guy' every 4 or 8 years for the failures of Congress.
The two parties have been in power for 160+ years, taking turns at complete control. There are congressmen who have been in office for 10, 20, 30 and even 40! years!! Trump has held political office for only 2 years.
One needs to be pretty oblivious of reality to think ANY executive is to blame for all the problems we are seeing.
Hence, this article is an 'opinion' - it doesn't address reality.
2
It's wrong to think this intent to declare a national emergency is not, in and of itself, a national emergency. The president of the U.S. is making an end-move around Congress with taxpayer money. If that's not a step toward authoritarianism, I don't know what is. Hoping that it will be enjoined in court is not enough. We must march in the streets at this point, in order to remove a president who has no respect for our Consitution and our laws.
10
Trump’s campaign promise was very clear
“I’ll build a Wall and MEXICO WILL PAY FOR IT, believe me”
That was the campaign promise, he repeated over and over. His supporters should not accept half-measures.
8
In addition to climate change, gun control, and the opioid crisis (already declared a national emergency, as I recall), HE is the national emergency.
12
When the dollar amounts for the wall vary -- going from $25B during the election, to $5.7B and now over $8B, what is the true amount? The President cannot tell us how he came up with the number needed. Given the President's connections to mob figures in New York City and the use of his buildings to launder money, I would like to see a list of the contractors that are going to build the wall and their political connections. The numbers given are meaningless without a business plan as to how it will be spent and how much is really needed.
11
Historians will be brutal on McConnell's legacy. The silver lining is that the precedent will allow a democratic president to use the same tactic to deal with climate change and guns.
13
Trump will continue to test the boundaries of our Constitution until and unless Congress and the Courts put up roadblocks. McConnell yesterday was a quivering mass of spinal fluid when he basically turned over control of the Senate to Trump. We, as a nation, have to immediately demand much more resolve on the part of our elected leaders, who should know better. Otherwise, we will devolve into a state similar to Russia (which is what Trump is seeking).
14
The President will need to show that it is necessary to build the wall now after centuries without one. If it's a national emergency he must prove it is.
But if it's for political expediency, as Sarah Sanders indicated when she mentioned the campaign promise, this action is worse than simply ill-advised. It puts politics above truth and the Constitution. Nothing the framers wanted more than to keep politics away from actions that are in our best interests.
2
Could it be that other members of congress have been compromised by the Russians?That may be the reason they seem to so strongly support this man. I am serious.
14
Hey, djt's no more than a narcissistic entrepreneur-showman, suckled on the NYC real estate market & what goes over @h'wood.
Occupation of the Oral Office changed his modus not a whit --he's just too old to adjust, to learn to listen to those more intelligent than he.
His cv implies he was never a listener. This what the country needs as its "fearless leader"? (Of course, there was a h'wood precedent in Reagan ... )<: djt thinking he could perhaps replicate that?)
People who believe apparent(!) success in real estate, a successful tv show, qualify one for head of state need to have their heads examined ... or maybe sent back to school?
Where else, in the "free world", would such a cv imply an electoral (College) victory? Check out Germany, Scandinavia, France ... places where some people actually think, because they live in close proximity to their neighbors.
Such electoral victory occurs only in the good ole US of A!
(We're *so* exceptional!)
Wow, we sure are "exceptional"! (in ways -- underwritten by under-education of the populous -- one would rather not claim to be so outstanding, I think)
In what ways does the US "impress", if not by pre$$ure and military might, both soon to be ceded to the Chinese?
Can't at least a few more of my fellow americans wake up?
2
Trump is rapidly ticking off the boxes in a dictator's playbook. I expect, when Mueller's bear trap snaps shut on Trump's thick ankle, we shall see a splendid little war and flags waving high before the year is out as an "international emergency" follows this "national emergency."
4
trump is our national emergency. It is time to take to the streets or god help us.
14
What a terrible human being Mr. Trump is. Obviously promises should have no meaning.
6
I certainly hope you see that this issue is much larger. We are governed by three branches. Not by a king.
7
Imagine that, a President who actually tries to fulfill his campaign promises. This is a terrible example Trump is setting, and in this he is breaking with longstanding tradition - in both political parties - whereby presidential candidates are supposed to lie like rugs and make promises they have no intention of keeping. And this is hardly the first promise Trump is keeping. So far he has recombobulated NAFTA, gotten our NATO allies to start ponying up, put the brakes on China's disemboweling of the American economy, driven a better deal for US exports to Europe, diminished the invasion of illegal aliens on the southern border, initiated tough screening of would be emigres from unsavory countries, recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital, and begun to chip away at the implacable threats of both Iran and North Korea. Of course little of this is given much ink in the MSM, and when it is it is usually buried under slanted headlines and mounds of unsavory ink - like a Peter Luger steak buried under a heap of sawdust – intended to make such achievements as unpalatable as possible.Henry Kissinger predicted that Trump - because of, not despite his perceived shortcomings may well go down in history as a great president. If only we had a newspaper that would publish all the news that's fit to print.
1
Oh my. Where to begin. Perhaps civics 101. I’m sure there is a class available online. We have three branches of government. We do not have a king who through his position is granted absolute authority. This is our strength as a country. The push and pull, the checks and balances.
18
This is more than a power grab. It is a way to raid the giverment’s very large piggy bank.
7
McConnell has been very bad for America and this latest cave to childish imperialism is a real zinger.
17
President Trump is brilliantly carrying out the orders of his Puppet Master. "Vengeance is mine" saith the Czar. Brilliant.
2
9 members of The Supreme Court are the American forum.
Old bone spurs imagines a wall.
Some baker imagines a deviant wedding that he doesn't want to bake for.
Donald Rumsfeld imagines Uncertainty Principle and drags the world to war into Iraq.
Any crackpot or maniac is able to sidestep the public forum of congress or the senate and have their dispute settled there, the Supreme Court's forum.
We have no health care.
We got no postcard tax form (big kiss).
Nothing in transportation but what the Saudis gave Blackstone in 30 billion dollars to make sure we can drive our cars.
We have no education reform except vouchers to keep schools Christian and white.
We got no change in the escalation of gun violence (remember the president attacking people in Chicago for getting shot? He's done nothing)
As it was in 1921 before the crash, Teapot Dome style monopolies, reduced regulations, lack of oversight, companies by nature are not a public forum and have no business thinking about us, they all think about how to out do each other and use us. That is the nature of the beast and the real emergency here.
5
What scares me is that Trump is sucking money and attention away from dealing with the actual national threats to Americans, such as the possibility of a nuclear attack by the North Koreans, more deaths from fires, hurricanes, and flooding caused by climate change, cyberattacks by Russia and China, loss of American economic power due to lack of equal and fair distribution of education.
7
America has many 'national emergencies'. Here are my picks in order of urgency and/or need to fix:
1. Trump himself.
2. GOP corruption.
3. Election tampering.
4. Climate change.
5. Gun violence.
6. Concentration of wealth.
7. Cost of housing.
8. Cost of Healthcare.
Add yours, partner.
8
The subtitle of this essay begins with "The president decides that fulfilling a campaign promise..." Please don't dishonor the NYT or our democracy with even an iota of acquiescence to, and participation in, Trump's lies and propaganda. Trump's campaign promise was that Mexico would pay for his racist, unnecessary, xenophobic, vanity project of a wall. Robbing Congressionally funded budget items to pay for his wall is most certainly not fulfilling his campaign promise.
8
How far, exactly, must Trump go before he is impeached? How elastic is Congress' commitment to the Constitution??
6
Republican appeasement will dangerously forever shift our Constitution’s balance of power to an unbalanced egotist for a stage prop for their “emperor with no clothes.”
1
Just as his own parents never gave him any approval and sent him away for his intolerable behaviour, he now seeks the approval of fox news opinion makers.
These are the substitute parents he hopes will praise his actions.
Yet even they have a problem with his gutless stupidity.
Imagine how tortured he was when the loathsome stunt of the shutdown worked against him.
Imagine how his tormented and twisted mind perceives the latest failure in his miserable life.
Bested by an woman no less.
Endless years of failed marriages, failure as a man to fight for his country, the bullying, the bankruptcies, the endless catalogue of other people having to bail him out.
The criminal investigations closing on on him and his abuse of everything decent.
His vast tissue of lies business empire bailed out by russians and stopped in it tracks by investigations of criminality.
A descent into corruption mixing with some of the most sinister criminals across the world and the gop..
Why should he respect anyone when no one respects him.
Why should he pay tribute to American war heroes, successful popular presidents, decent people who work hard and pay taxes.
The constant longing to be a success yet ever increasing failure.
So he continues to lash out against those he thinks he can dominate. The poor, the sick, the needy. Anyone who cant fight back.
Anyone far enough away he thinks they cant reach out and fight him back.
And America stands by and lets it happen.
That is the real tragedy.
5
It's really a Trumped-up emergency.
3
Sorry, lil’ Marco:
climate change IS today’s crisis, along with gun violence and affordable health insurance for all.
2
Watching the US self destruct makes me very sad.
2
“If today the national emergency is border security, tomorrow the national emergency might be climate change.”
Yes! I never thought I’d agree with Rubio! And what about gun violence? Lots of emergencies we can tackle with this new tool once a Democrat is in office!
1
Looking forward to the next president declaring climate change a national emergency...
1
There has never been a better time to take this president out of the office. he has no repect for the law, he just is afraid his voters will leave him if he does not stick the American people with a expensive uneffective wall that will forever be his monument of failure. His voters do not care how much it cost or if it works.
1
2020 cannot come quick enough-I am Trump weary
5
It's darkly humorous that so many people are concerned about the dangers of socialism in this country. I'd say with DJT as president, the more immediate and real concern is fascism.
12
We' re supposed to be 'the beacon of the world'. Now we live in chaos and disgrace every day.
The 'land of the free and home of the brave' now wanting to be walled in... cowardly?
I now claim myself a Swiss.
1
535 members in the congress, all elected by the American people, to be overruled by ONE man elected by the same people - time to dust off the American constitution
3
Why report on a news event that has not even happened? Man, our country (media, educated people, etc.) is full of Charlie Browns' and Lucy Trump keeps pulling the football away and you all keep trying to kick the air (the climate changed hot actual emergency air.) No, wonder half the country doesn't even vote.
Mitch McConnell? What will you say? Last week you counselled the president not to go here...Will you finally stand up to him?
1
$22 trillion dollars in Debt.
$1 trillion lost due to fake tax reform.
Infastruction crumbling. Health Insuance industry in turmoil.
And president bone spur wants to waste $5 billion on a fake solution to a fake issue.
Three secret meetings with Putin. Hook him up to a lie detector.
4
The only emergency on the border is of Trump’s own making by monstrously separating children from parents. This is a crime against humanity. Trump and the spineless republicans are starting their battle cry of “no socialism” the reponse from the democrats should be “no authoritarianism”!
1
Donald Trump considers this such a dire national emergency that directly after declaring it, he will leave for a weekend of golf at Mar-a-Lago, according to the White House.
4
His Florida golfing trips tie up Palm Beach County roads, airports, ICW boating and costs $$&$$$$ of public security funds which are never repaid to us taxpayers.
Who is well known for outlandish publicity stunts? From the first one he pulled on his mother to this very day.
Senator MCconnel has enough trouble in Kentucky. One of his srong business bases is losing market share, a lot of market share.The result of a publicity stunt. His farm community is in a depression. Maybe he can comment on the chaos created, after he loses his seat. Power?
I do wish all of you folks in both camps would stop hyperventilating. Trump isn't gonna get couped nor is he gonna pull a coup. Just to lazy.
Get a thicker skin. Donald is bout half done. The diners are fleeing. The stench.
Canada now needs a wall - to keep Trump and McConnell away.
4
Textbook abuse of power? Impeachment.
2
Trump is doing his bests to destroy the United States.
3
Bring it on. The next National (Global) Emergency is Climate Change. After than lets stop killing 30,000 Americans a year with guns.
2
We are familiar with the bricks building this wall: his poisoned promises to an ignorant constituency, his incontinent lies, his need to stamp a T on another advertisement board, his arrogance, his ignorance of most anything begining with the limits of power and the dangers of power abuse. On the latter, he is setting the stage for worse things to come by him, or by future unsavoty specimens in the executive office courtesy of the ignorante electorate that gave us this Frankenstein. If the legislation remains deaf to his farce, what is the meaning of separation of powers?. What surname begs to be applied to this democracy of ours?
1
Since American politicians sat by and allowed Canadian steel to be a national security threat, you have already lost this battle.
4
That was a money grab by Wilbur Ross and his steel industry. Chances are that the wall contracts are money grabs too, Follow the money.
Let this guy declare an emergency because of the useful precedent.
A future President can then declare a national emergency to:
* Ban or confiscate guns of all make and model as he or she decides
* Put on the federal court system judges to balance those packed with the blessing of McConnell rules
* Grant amnesty or citizenship upon all persons inside the USA no matter their origin or method of entry
* Nationalize health care delivery systems
Democrats: Let This President Establish This Precedent so that when the next President comes to “duly elected power” he or she will have this power to finally act to deliver to the people the power that should reside with them (the people) ... without worry over those GOP sticks in the mud who will object only when convenient to their vengeance to retain power unto themselves.
The emergency on the southern border is real. President Trump is fulfilling his responsibility to protect our borders.
1
Please explain how this is an emergency. Really. I’m not joking.
1
“I have the absolute right to do national emergency if I want,” he insisted to reporters last month, sounding more like a huffy kindergartner than a world leader.“ There you go again, comparing the President to kindergarteners, thereby insulting the intelligence of those fine little children.
3
You can complain about the methods, but POTUS Trump is pushing for every Republican dream and using the same underhanded tactics he used as a private citizen. He was a lying rulebreaker then. He's a lying rulebreaker now. This is how the rich get rich and stay rich. This is Republican "values" in its purest form. Ditch the veneer. #ThisisRepublicangovernance
Putin threatens us with his hyper-sonic nuclear missiles and trump counters with billions of dollars on his latest missile defense system - a wall - on the southern border, no less, shifting military personnel and resources there. All while breaking the Constitution for good. Genius!
1
Sure, declare this a national emergency. Next, climate change is a national emergency, white supremacy, lack of healthcare, election funding. If he wants to broaden the definition of national emergency, this goes both ways.
He is not the authority of anything. God is. God’s Word bears fruit in the life of the one who drinks deeply of it. As the roots of the tree are continually absorbing moisture from the soil, so God’s people must meditate constantly on the word of God. It must provide the same delight and refreshment as a drink of cool water would to a weary traveler. And if one chooses not to consume God’s Word—instead listening to the words of the wicked, going in the direction of sinners, or spending time with mockers—he or she will dry up and be blown away like chaff.
Do not follow the mocker, the wicked, the sinner who leads you to do the opposite of the teachings of Jesus.
Reference: Psalm 1:1-3
1
The promise was to bully Mexico to build Trump’s wall. That was a pipe dream.
“I have the absolute right to do national emergency if I want,” he insisted to reporters last month, sounding more like a huffy kindergartner than a world leader.
He sounds like a huffy kindergartner because at core that is what he is, a spoiled brat.
1
How telling is it that right wing media clowns are pulling the strings in this presidency. It exempliflies Trumps lack of intellect and any ability to reason beyond purely partisan self serving lines. The right is literally out of control and a clear danger to democracy. These folks are more than happy to forsake decency and reason in order to appease their lust for power and money. Absolutely sick and depraved predators to the core they are.
2
Rubio and others love to go before the cameras and cry me a river. When it's time to vote, It's yes sir. They are despicable. Vote them out in 2020.
One of the many disturbing things about this entire situation—about the lives that are now in limbo, the ones that have been lost through neglect and abuse at the border, and the children who remain without parents—is that Trump was fed the simple word “wall” to give his cognitively impaired mind something to focus on as he walked down the elevator that fateful day at the beginning of his campaign. The word was meant to act as a virtual string-around-the-finger for him, because he was mentally incapable of coming up with any concepts himself, so devoid of interest was he in anything but himself. So lives have been lost and destroyed because the sycophants who surround him knew, even then, that he was mentally unfit to lead this country. To paraphrase Bill Kristol: When Republicans can’t win democratically, they don’t abandon conservatism. They abandon democracy. And now that they are all in lockstep behind Trump with this declaration of a national emergency, they have completed their mission. And they will all follow, make no mistake, even the ones who made mewling noises beforehand.
Consider , for a second, a disaster like a major flood or tornado in Kentucky. And it is 2021 and the new Democratic president says to Mitch: I'll take that disaster relief the Congress voted to help your constituents, thank you. We have an emergency. We just had yet another mass murder and i need to buy up all the assault weapons I outlawed. Maybe in 2024 you can elect another Republican so you can get your relief. You see, Mitch, elections have consequences. And if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Oh wait....by then, Mitch will have pulled a Ryan. Head on home and leave the mess you created to others.
1
Good for President Trump. He tried for months to negotiate with the democrats but they would not give an inch. If the wall keeps one illegal person out and/or saves one american from a drug overdose or serious crime, it will be worth it.
3
You do realize that the Congress was controlled by Republicans a short time ago? What made this emergency NOW?
1
If any Democrat tried to pull a stunt like this the Republicans would be apoplectic. This is a sure jump to grab political power in order to go around the Congressional and CONSTITUTIONAL power of the purse. This man and his buddy Mitch McConnell are on a dangerous road that can only end in disaster for our democracy. McConnell has been on this road since before Obama was President. If the SCOTUS should decide for the President then your democracy is a fascade. Remember that, all you Republicans who are so tied to this President that you are prepared to scuttle your Constitution’s tripartite organization and shift the power of the purse to the Executive!
This “master of negotiation” never was that. He’s always been a sad bully. I, for one, hopes he pulls down the entire Party with him because HE has been the logical outcome of the way Republicans have tried to legislate for the past ten years.
2
He IS the national emergency.
Folks might take you seriously right after your editorial demanding the immediate termination of DACA as a fundamental violation of separation of powers.
1
Donald Trump is too ignorant, immature, immoral, incompetent, inexperienced, intemperate and insecure to manufacture an emergency on the border wall farce. Trump fights by tweeting and speaking nicknames and slurs.
Building the border wall was never an American issue since Trump promised that Mexico would pay for it. Mexico did not pay for the government shutdown. Mexico is not going to pay for any border wall. Mexican border crossings are at the lowest level in 70 years.
Declaring a border emergency is akin to pulling a fake fire alarm. It is a distraction, deflection and delay from Bob Mueller, Roger Stone, Paul Manafort and Andrew McCabe.
Show the American people the Mexican pesos for the Great Wall of Trump Donnie!
5
The people have as much power collectively as this President. Simply shame, boycott and protest any company that would bid and build the racist vanity wall on the border.
The wall is un-American, and any company that would build it is immoral as well.
2