The Border Wall is on Life Support
Political reality is now affecting the Trump Administration. He is facing challenges on a number of fronts. Michael Cohen will be sentenced today for a number of crimes including campaign finance violations and tax evasion. Paul Manafort is languishing in jail while facing additional charges for lying to the special counsel and sharing information with the Trump Administration. A Democratic majority will take place in the House that is intent on governing as opposed to posturing for a base. On live television yesterday, we see how Donald Trump has completely pivoted on how the wall will be funded.
During his campaign, Mr. Trump made it clear that we would build the Wall and Mexico would pay for it. The supporters of Trump who attended his numerous rallies soaked up this expected domination of our NAFTA partner by the big, bad USA. President Enrique Nieto made it abundantly clear that Mexico would not pay for the wall. His refusal to pay piqued Mr. Trump terribly. There are transcripts of a conversation between the two in which Mr. Trump had asked Mr. Nieto not to mention publicly that Mexico would not pay for the wall. Even yesterday, Mr. Trump mentioned that the wall is already being built when in fact there is no new construction at all.
A few months ago, the looming threat of a migrant caravan traveling towards the U.S. caused the President to order almost 7,000 troops towards the border. He gave them the authority to shoot to kill any migrants that dared to throw rocks at our troops. In fact, tear gas was used on some families that tried to forcibly enter a restricted area. Mainly though, these troops put up barbed wire and supplemented the work of border patrol agents already in place. I do not agree with unlimited migrants thinking they can just leave Honduras or Guatemala and enter the US. I also do not understand how they can travel through Mexico unimpeded. I do think that Mr. Trumps constant belittling of Mexico and any immigrants have helped to cause the present situation.
At the White House yesterday, President Trump attempted to face his new reality of governing without a majority in all phases of government. Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer joined him for an animated conversation about the need for border security. Mike Pence imitated a wooden soldier in this reality television event. I don't think he said a single word as Mr. Trump painted himself into a corner with his incessant demand for a border wall. His only legislative accomplishment during his first two years in office was a supposed middle class tax cut that drove up our national debt. He despised President Obama's use of executive orders but has become the executive order king. He has played golf and attended political rallies more than any President ever. His threat to own a government shutdown if he doesn't get his border wall put almost 8,000 federal employees in jeopardy of going unpaid for the duration of his temper tantrum.
New Mexican President Andres Obrador has not fallen into line with President Trump's seeming awareness that Mexico will NOT pay for one of his major campaign promises. Republicans are increasingly aware that the President's low approval ratings affected them in the midterm election and will cause them to change some of their strategies going forward. They need to court college educated white women in the worst way. The decision to ban transgender citizens from military service was unwarranted. Rolling back environmental regulations while looking clearly at global warming is astounding. Trying to bully Democratic leaders into acquiescing on funding for an environmentally damaging wall was a mistake. We will see if Mr. Trump follows through with threat to shut down the government if his demand is not met. I think it will be a big mistake if his advisors and fellow Republicans put a campaign promise over governing responsibly. Let's go December 21st!
During his campaign, Mr. Trump made it clear that we would build the Wall and Mexico would pay for it. The supporters of Trump who attended his numerous rallies soaked up this expected domination of our NAFTA partner by the big, bad USA. President Enrique Nieto made it abundantly clear that Mexico would not pay for the wall. His refusal to pay piqued Mr. Trump terribly. There are transcripts of a conversation between the two in which Mr. Trump had asked Mr. Nieto not to mention publicly that Mexico would not pay for the wall. Even yesterday, Mr. Trump mentioned that the wall is already being built when in fact there is no new construction at all.
A few months ago, the looming threat of a migrant caravan traveling towards the U.S. caused the President to order almost 7,000 troops towards the border. He gave them the authority to shoot to kill any migrants that dared to throw rocks at our troops. In fact, tear gas was used on some families that tried to forcibly enter a restricted area. Mainly though, these troops put up barbed wire and supplemented the work of border patrol agents already in place. I do not agree with unlimited migrants thinking they can just leave Honduras or Guatemala and enter the US. I also do not understand how they can travel through Mexico unimpeded. I do think that Mr. Trumps constant belittling of Mexico and any immigrants have helped to cause the present situation.
At the White House yesterday, President Trump attempted to face his new reality of governing without a majority in all phases of government. Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer joined him for an animated conversation about the need for border security. Mike Pence imitated a wooden soldier in this reality television event. I don't think he said a single word as Mr. Trump painted himself into a corner with his incessant demand for a border wall. His only legislative accomplishment during his first two years in office was a supposed middle class tax cut that drove up our national debt. He despised President Obama's use of executive orders but has become the executive order king. He has played golf and attended political rallies more than any President ever. His threat to own a government shutdown if he doesn't get his border wall put almost 8,000 federal employees in jeopardy of going unpaid for the duration of his temper tantrum.
New Mexican President Andres Obrador has not fallen into line with President Trump's seeming awareness that Mexico will NOT pay for one of his major campaign promises. Republicans are increasingly aware that the President's low approval ratings affected them in the midterm election and will cause them to change some of their strategies going forward. They need to court college educated white women in the worst way. The decision to ban transgender citizens from military service was unwarranted. Rolling back environmental regulations while looking clearly at global warming is astounding. Trying to bully Democratic leaders into acquiescing on funding for an environmentally damaging wall was a mistake. We will see if Mr. Trump follows through with threat to shut down the government if his demand is not met. I think it will be a big mistake if his advisors and fellow Republicans put a campaign promise over governing responsibly. Let's go December 21st!
Comments
Post a Comment