U.S. faces risk of government shutdown as Trump balks at COVID-19 relief deal

Isn't this great Trump is siding with the "radical, socialist Dems" over McConnell and all the Repubs?

Hey Trump supporters.....your guy is now BFFs with Nancy/Chuck/AOC/Tlaib....

He'll soon start attending Barbra Streisand concerts...

Then he'll be taking a knee during the national anthem at football games....

After that his golf attire will be a hoodie and a BLM armband....

So then congress should amend the bill and yes the big tech companies shouldn’t have immunity protections they get if they want silence free speech or at least state that they’re a publishing platform and they cater and support only liberal causes, then it’s not a problem, but don’t come off as a social platform that claims it’s fair and not political.

That is a matter for a separate stand along debate. It has no business being attached to an NDAA. The nation has to be defended and the DoD has to be funded to accomplish this. Internet hose liability is a separate debate.

No, he also wants a full pullout, but this bill helps keep our troops in Afghanistan, Germany and South Korea, so once again, congress needs to amend this bill and strip any strip away provisions that protect these big tech companies. Congress needs to do its job and do the right things stop protecting big tech.

How pray tell does preventing the reduction in troops in Afghanistan or moving forces from Germany to Italy (where most will likely go but not for many years as the facilities for them are not there nor are their facilities for them in CONUS) or stopping the reduction in US forces in the Horn of Africa protect tech companies? They are completely separate matters. Most of the techies don't even want anything to do with the DoD.

Trump’s trying to punish the country for telling him to leave. 

Incredible that a country of nearly 330 million allows one two bit car used car salesman to do so much damage. Time to stop this nonsense.

This cretinous Oompa Loompa is gonna burn the White House down before he goes.

In other news, P45 has pardoned the four Blackwater guards jailed for the Nisoor Square Massacre of 14 civilians. Whadda guy!

ah! True colors. What left wing? Ha! They fooled you all. Lol. Israel got their money though.

No they didn't. The whole omnibus appropriations bill is awaiting the President's signature or veto so the money is not yet appropriated. Btw, those foreign aid figures are pretty standard fare each year and have not been controversial in the past. But if the US really does refuse to fund those nations you can bet China will be right there writing checks to cover their shortfall. It would honestly be interesting to see how it would play out politically in the US and in Israel if the US really did stiff them for foreign aid one year. It is unlikely it will happen but it would be quite interesting to see what happened if the US did stiff arm the Israelis for domestic considerations.

That is a matter for a separate stand along debate. It has no business being attached to an NDAA. The nation has to be defended and the DoD has to be funded to accomplish this. Internet hose liability is a separate debate.

Sigh. I should have said "stand-alone debate" in my first sentence and "Internet host liability" in my last. Apologies.

Hilarious! So the MSM spins this into a government shut down story instead of reporting the truth, that the Dems and the Left have failed/tricked their constituents in getting solid help out to the families.

Senate Republicans have steadfastly refused larger relief checks and continue to oppose any aid to local and state governments facing big tax revenue shortfalls. The Republicans control the Senate so don't blame the Democrats for that.

The larger problem is that Covid relief is tied to a larger omnibus appropriations bill intended to fund much of the Federal government through September 2021. The two are tied together into a single appropriations bill so if the President vetos it over the size of the relief checks it means the authority for the US government to spend money ends on December 28 and most agencies of the government will shut down. Some government employees will work without pay as a result. That is truth, not a trick.

China, Pakistan is all yours

Big Chinese naval base in Gwadar linked directly by land to China right across one of the most important sea lanes for western shipping. Western/NATO access to Afghanistan is through Pakistan. Think again my friend. I am not a fan of the Pakistanis, even think they were more of an enemy than Iraq ever was in many ways as they built and to this day support the Taliban, but maybe you don't want to cede the field to China on this one. Life is sometimes not a simple thing.

Trump, in a video posted to social media on Tuesday evening, surprised some of his closest officials by demanding lawmakers change the bill to include $2,000 payments to each American, more than triple the $600 per person provided.

Welcome to Team Blue President Trump!

We now have Team Trump/Pelosi/Schumer/AOC/Tlaib against Team McConnell/McCarthy/Paul....

So once again Trump supporters, which Team are you on?

Where does the money come from?

Trump tortured, killed and buried fiscal conservatism.

What a passé question.

It's clear Trump is trying to do as much damage to the country as he can as he slithers back to Mar a Lago.

Will Trump, his family and their corrupt ilk once again cut shares for themselves - while millions of Americans lose homes and stand in foodlines?

Trump Associates and Members of His Administration Received Millions in Loans From Coronavirus Bailout

https://time.com/5863616/trump-ppp-bailout-loans/

Trump also demanded the bill be stripped of foreign aid, which is included in every annual federal spending bill - and was requested by his own administration last year.

The key point. He’s not draining the swamp or standing up and doing it his way. He’s just play acting for attention. If he’s concerned about his legacy, it’s too late. Can’t polish a turd, only spray glitter on it.

Trump’s trying to punish the country for telling him to leave. 

No, he's leaning on Senate Republicans to help overturn the Electoral College. These are all pressure tactics he is using on Mitch McConnell and a few other senior Senate Republicans for calling Mr. Biden "President Elect" and for refusing to be part of any effort to disqualify certain slates of electors.

The Trump hatred among the “progressives” here is truly beyond reason.

Is it?

He's responsible for 300 thousands deaths and thinks he can just buy it all away.

He's releasing actual war criminals, murderers.

I think the responses to this heinous demagogue are quite measured.

Trump is such a crybaby, and he's going to try his darndest to burn the house down because he lost.

This cretinous Oompa Loompa is gonna burn the White House down before he goes.

He was once asked “ how do you deal with the tornado around you?” To which he replied. “ I am the Toronto”. Spoken like a true narcissistic sociopath.

So the MSM spins this into a government shut down story instead of reporting the truth, that the Dems and the Left have failed/tricked their constituents in getting solid help out to the families.

The Dems are pushing for exactly the same thing as the president, so what are you even talking about?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/12/23/pelosi-trump-stimulus-democrats-mcconnell/

Democrats pressure McConnell to give in to Trump’s demand for $2,000 stimulus checks: ‘Let’s do it!’

The Divider-in-Chief working his dubious snake oil magic once agin....

The Trump hatred among the “progressives” here is truly beyond reason.

The support for Trump among keyboard warriors (paid and 'volunteer') from around the globe is to be expected. Their state's authoritarians have gained more as Trump continues to weaken the US due to his anti-progress, 'back to the past' policies.

$600 would be vetoed, as it seems too little.

$2000 is about right.

The important questions are:

Where does the money come from?

How long before another new round of relief?

The deal is so full of pork it is insane. Over a trillion and a one time payment of $600 for Americans, many of whom are suffering financially.

Money for the Sudan, Bhutan, Nepal, several middle east countries, the Smithsonian, Kennedy Center, etc.

The bill is not a stand alone Covid relief bill. It is part of the larger 2021 Appropriations Act that funds the entire Federal Government except the DoD for the remainder of FY21 (through 30 September 2021). As such it has funding for all the normal functions of the US Government, such a foreign aid, the Smithsonian Museums, Kennedy Center, etc. If the bill was strictly for Covid relief your criticism would be valid but it is the Appropriations bill for the entire Federal government.

This Republican relief fiasco is just one more nail, and certainly not the last, in the coffin of Trump's legacy that following his reputation is well on its way to hell in a hand basket. Unfortunately, the American people will have to suffer the consequences into the future, but let's hope some good comes from the 4 years of disastrous incompetence, and stomach-churning abuse of power by that most irresolute and disgusting charlatan to ever occupy the Oval Office.

Same comment as yesterday - I despise Trump but even a broken clock is right twice a day.

The deal is so full of pork it is insane. Over a trillion and a one time payment of $600 for Americans, many of whom are suffering financially.

Money for the Sudan, Bhutan, Nepal, several middle east countries, the Smithsonian, Kennedy Center, etc.

Veto this piece of garbage.

Eliminate the pork and sigificantly increase the payout to Americans. Ensure it is means tested.

Both U.S. political parties disgust me

This "relief deal" consists of 5000 pages of pork, including 10 million USD for "gender programs" in Pakistan and 500 million USD for "immigration assistance" in Central America.

And the people who need help get 600 USD.

Trump is 100% correct in refusing this nonsense. But don´t expect the legacy media to tell us that.

more than triple the $600 per person provided.

ah! True colors. What left wing? Ha! They fooled you all. Lol. Israel got their money though.

Where does the money come from?

Hey, if there’s millions for Gender Studies in Pakistan theres money for anything.

To which he replied. “ I am the Toronto”.

Sounds more like something Justin Trudeau would say.

But if the US really does refuse to fund those nations you can bet China will be right there writing checks to cover their shortfall. 

China, Pakistan is all yours.

Hilarious! So the MSM spins this into a government shut down story instead of reporting the truth, that the Dems and the Left have failed/tricked their constituents in getting solid help out to the families. Trump tries to rescue that, but by this point, the left are just too brainwashed to see any truth anymore.

And he wanted a repeal to 'Section 230,' which has nothing to do with the military and deals with legal protections of online content providers. He wants his minions to be able to sue Google, etc for 'unfavorable' views and sites, etc.

So then congress should amend the bill and yes the big tech companies shouldn’t have immunity protections they get if they want silence free speech or at least state that they’re a publishing platform and they cater and support only liberal causes, then it’s not a problem, but don’t come off as a social platform that claims it’s fair and not political.

In other words, Trump's just dogwhistling and trying to force the Repubs to kiss the ring. Forget the military itself, he doesn't give a whit for them. It's all about Donald, always has, always will be.

No, he also wants a full pullout, but this bill helps keep our troops in Afghanistan, Germany and South Korea, so once again, congress needs to amend this bill and strip any strip away provisions that protect these big tech companies. Congress needs to do its job and do the right things stop protecting big tech.

The Trump hatred among the “progressives” here is truly beyond reason.

Trump is completely correct. Any reasonable, neutral observer would say so.