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Wary of shutdown, Trump inches toward support for funding deal

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By Richard Cowan and Steve Holland

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Again, let's point out (since there will be the twisters and spinners here soon enough saying otherwise):

In December, the House passed a $1.6B border security bill that stipulated 65 miles of upgraded or new fencing, money for new technology, and more. No wall.

Trump shut down the government, demanding more, and for 5 weeks threw the longest, most epic tantrum in modern Presidential history.

Now, the compromise deal is for $1.3B, for 55 miles of new or upgraded fencing, and no wall.

Great job, Mr. Art Of The Deal. You cost the US Economy billions of dollars, damaged your party and your own standing, and ended up getting $300 million less than was originally promised you.

With negotiation skills like that... no wonder you declared bankruptcy so many times.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Democrats: "Here's $25 billion."

Trump: "No."

Democrats: "How about $1.37 billion?"

Trump: "Well, ok."

10 ( +12 / -2 )

The ineptitude is mind-boggling.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

But the Republican president fell short of committing himself to backing the congressional deal.....

.....because I need to check in with Anne and Sean first.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

It’s no win with liberals. If he signs it you mock him and if he doesn’t you complain. It’s all noise by now on the way to re-election. Every poll since SOTU is 44% or higher.

-16 ( +1 / -17 )

If he signs it you mock him and if he doesn’t you complain.

The damned if you do, damned if you don't strategy, perfected by Republicans during the Obama administration, replicated by Democrats during Trump's.

It’s all noise by now on the way to re-election. Every poll since SOTU is 44% or higher.

Nope.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

It’s no win with liberals.

Because he didn't 'win.' If anything, he 'lost' $300 million dollars off of his focus.

And before anyone can claim he'll just declare an emergency and take the money anyway, there's already a slew of groups and people ready (including Congress itself) that are more than ready to stop that particular power grab.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

It’s all noise by now on the way to re-election. Every poll since SOTU is 44% or higher.

Lol! 44% and a booming economy? That's like, almost 50%! Very inpressive! ;)

5 ( +6 / -1 )

And before anyone can claim he'll just declare an emergency and take the money anyway, there's already a slew of groups and people ready (including Congress itself) that are more than ready to stop that particular power grab.

I'm hoping he will. That will be as unpopular with the independents as the shutdown was.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

It’s no win with liberals. If he signs it you mock him and if he doesn’t you complain.

Liberals mocking him? I guess Coulter, Hannity, Dobbs, the House Freedom Caucus, etc., are all Liberals then, huh?

It’s all noise by now on the way to re-election. Every poll since SOTU is 44% or higher.

In every poll his disapproval is far higher than his approval...

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/trump_favorableunfavorable-5493.html

...and the only place he's on his way to is the slammer...

This is how you spell delusional...

7 ( +7 / -0 )

 I guess Coulter, Hannity, Dobbs, the House Freedom Caucus, etc., are all Liberals then, huh?

'liberal' has a different connotation in Trump's and Putin's silos (shared?).

To them it means 'someone who might question them', aka 'enemy'.

Trump backers have shown zero beliefs beyond 'Trump said it, I agree'.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Every poll since SOTU is 44% or higher.

Coincidentally, the number 44 came to my attention in another article yesterday. Out of 45 presidents ranked from best performing to worst performing... That's where Trump came. Are you sure you weren't reading the same thing?

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Meanwhile the national debt is up to $22 TRILLION! No cuts to any spending despite record money pouring into the federal government. Of course the $5.6 billion for building the wall/barrier as recommended by the border control experts is minuscule in comparison.

The only way to make a difference in the built-in $1 trillion per year budget deficits would require tax reform that eliminates all loopholes and deductions in conjunction with huge cuts in the growth of entitlement programs. And of course, no new huge “Green New Deal” style social programs that will just add to the built-in annual deficits like Obamacare.

How much longer will the US continue Obama’s $1 trillion per year budget overspending? Can go on forever.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

McConnell bringing the bill to a vote means Trump has certainly conveyed to him that he'll sign it. Trump's coyness is too cute. The question is if and how he'll follow though on ripping funds for the wall from other government projects.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

That was done impressive triggering. Trump got elected with lower polls then he has now.

-11 ( +0 / -11 )

I wish liberals could learn the difference between useless mockery and legitimate concern that our country isn’t getting what we need to protect our country and defend our borders.

Thats what conservatives who are speaking out are expressing. Concern for our country.

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

How much longer will the US continue Obama’s $1 trillion per year budget overspending? Can go on forever.

You do realize that during the last two years of Obama's term, the yearly budget debt was plummeting? It's Trump's tax cut that's pushed the budget deficit up to $1T a year again.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Trump got elected with lower polls then he has now.

No he didn't.

Thats what conservatives who are speaking out are expressing. Concern for our country.

And how do you know liberals aren't concerned for the country? I believe Trump is an icompetent moron and that the wall is an unncessary vanity project. If it was important, members or congress representing border districts would support Trump's wall. And none of them do.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Found it again.

I guess this will be removed shortly but hey if you see it before that time then enjoy!

https://thestacker.com/stories/2474/experts-rank-best-us-presidents-all-time

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Funny, Nancy just voted for 55 miles of “racist and immoral” how is she going to spin to her constituents she cav.....I mean, compromised?

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

Funny, Nancy just voted for 55 miles of “racist and immoral” how is she going to spin to her constituents she cav.....I mean, compromised?

She doesn't have to spin anything. Her constituents are smart enough to realize what ACTUALLY happened.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Lets take a minute and stop using the word "cave" and look at the facts.

Trumps approval rating (based on rasmussen who constantly gives him a generous number) was 55% at the beginning of his term, dropped to 50% now.

He was offered 1.6 billion for border security, he's about to sign a deal for 1.4 billion now.

Pelosi didn't give Trump his wall. She agreed to 55 miles worth of funding for replacement/new fencing. Trump was asking for 2,000 miles worth of concrete pillars. Pretty big difference.

The 1 trillion a year plus deficit is back on track, and the middle class is being asked to pay more on their tax refunds (Trump said they would get money back).

I don't think Trump caved, I think Trump failed the country, and then some. I think he's set up the country to hurt a lot more than it was for a while.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

It's easy. Trump signs the document that Pelosi puts in front of him.

Then Trump tweets that the 55 miles of fence is the greatest thing any president has ever done. Then his fans go out into the world and say that Trump just did the greatest thing any President has ever done.

Those of us rooted in reality have a good laugh, then we all move on with our lives.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Funny, Nancy just voted for 55 miles of “racist and immoral” how is she going to spin to her constituents she cav.....I mean, compromised?

Well, let's see, have we seen any liberal media folks call Nancy a "lunatic", "lazy", "incompetent", "pathetic", "a caver" if she accepted this deal? Have any conservative media folks said that about Trump?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/02/12/key-shutdown-deal-whip-count-how-conservative-media-is-voting/?utm_term=.24388d4fe90c

If you want to see what "failing" and "caving" is, read David Varnes 07:13 post above...

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Funny, Nancy just voted for 55 miles of “racist and immoral” how is she going to spin to her constituents she cav.....I mean, compromised?

So you think both Pelosi and Trump “cav...I mean, compromised?”

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Democrats: "How about $1.37 billion?"

Omg, what a cave. Pelosi had said one dollar.

Funny, Nancy just voted for 55 miles of “racist and immoral” how is she going to spin to her constituents she cav.....I mean, compromised?

The anti-Trumpers can't tell you how she's going to spin that. All they can do is thumb-down you, lol.

Trust our president. He is a master at chess.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

Trust our president. He is a master at chess.

Totally, cuz shutting the government down for 35 days only to get less money than what was originally offered is pure brilliance.

Reminds me of the scene in Austin Powers where Dr. Evil asks, "Why make trillions, when we could make....trillions?"

"Why settle for $5 billion when I could settle for $1.37 billion?" Pure brilliance, Donny's going to talk the Democrats down to $0 by the time its all done.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Lets take a minute and stop using the word "cave" and look at the facts.

You can’t spin the facts, both caved, both compromised and both got something, and not everything, it’s just tat simple.

Trumps approval rating (based on rasmussen who constantly gives him a generous number) was 55% at the beginning of his term, dropped to 50% now.

But it’s something, first it was a dollar and that would have gotten you a pebble.

He was offered 1.6 billion for border security, he's about to sign a deal for 1.4 billion now.

Pelosi didn't give Trump his wall. She agreed to 55 miles worth of funding for replacement/new fencing. Trump was asking for 2,000 miles worth of concrete pillars. Pretty big difference.

Semantics really, the end result is, he got money. Trump is not going to use that money to decorate the WH, so he will use that for....wait for it.....to hold a wall.

The 1 trillion a year plus deficit is back on track, and the middle class is being asked to pay more on their tax refunds (Trump said they would get money back).

I don't think Trump caved, I think Trump failed the country, and then some. I think he's set up the country to hurt a lot more than it was for a while.

I disagree, he did what he could, the Dems tried their best to stick it to him and it didn’t quite work out like that. Now I’m not saying it was a clear win, it wasn’t. But again, it’s better than nothing and at least now he has some wriggle room to work with.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Omg, what a cave. Pelosi had said one dollar.

Right now, comparing the bills, Pelosi's at -$299,999,999 or so. She hasn't given, she's taken away, and all Donnie can do is fume and like it.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Then Trump tweets that the 55 miles of fence is the greatest thing any president has ever done.

No, he never said that, he’s just happy it’s something, that’s what a compromise is supposed to do.

Then his fans go out into the world and say that Trump just did the greatest thing any President has ever done.

No one I know said such a thing. Turn off CNN from time to time. It’s all done and we wait for the next move Trump will make to get additional money. Personally, I like the Ted Cruz proposal.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

Semantics really, the end result is, he got money. Trump is not going to use that money to decorate the WH, so he will use that for....wait for it.....to hold a wall.

He didn't get money, he got LESS money than he was originally offered. Only the blindest of partisans could see a man given an offer, reject it, make a complete and utter fool of himself for 35 days, and agree to a new offer with less than he was originally offered... and take that as 'semantics' that he won.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Democrats: "How about $1.37 billion?"

Omg, what a cave. Pelosi had said one dollar.

Funny, Nancy just voted for 55 miles of “racist and immoral” how is she going to spin to her constituents she cav.....I mean, compromised?

The anti-Trumpers can't tell you how she's going to spin that. All they can do is thumb-down you, lol.

Trump: "I want $5.7 billion"....Nope, you'll be $1.37b....

Trump: "I want a wall".....Nope, you'll get a fence....

Trump: "I want it for 2000 miles".....Nope, you'll get it for 55....

Trust our president. He is a master at chess.

A Master at losing....just ask Ann Coulter...

In December, the House passed a $1.6B border security bill that stipulated 65 miles of upgraded or new fencing, money for new technology, and more. No wall.

Trump shut down the government, demanding more, and for 5 weeks threw the longest, most epic tantrum in modern Presidential history.

Now, the compromise deal is for $1.3B, for 55 miles of new or upgraded fencing, and no wall.

Come on Trumpers - explain to us Liberals how going from $1.6 billion and 65 miles in Dec, to $1.37 billion and 55 miles in Feb is anything but a fail and a loss....less money, less fence...

We'll be waiting...

7 ( +8 / -1 )

it’s better than nothing and at least now he has some wriggle room to work with.

And if Trump ends up not signing the bill, you'll switch to Coulter and Hannity's side and call the legislation "garbage".

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Trump walked away from a MUCH better deal and Pelosi "capitulated"

Glad you guys feel so blissful.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

bass: No, he never said that, he’s just happy it’s something, that’s what a compromise is supposed to do.

Good. I was worried that watching your guy get worked over would cause some kind of anxiety, but you sound confident and content. To reinforce that, you should continue to post throughout the day about how awesome you feel, and I'm betting by the end of this thread you'll be the happiest you've been in a long time.

The power of the mind.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Either way you look at it, Trump gets less money and less fence with the current proposal than he was originally offered. The Dems and GOP compromised on something and it's up to Trump now to take it or leave it. GOP is urging him to take it because the other route will not help them in 2020. Most likely it will screw them over. Its not about Pelosi, though some of you think it is. Its not about Trump either. It should be about a bipartisan government, but most of the Trump supporters on here don't like bipartisanship it would seem. Trump made another mistake, that's human and all presidents do. Do you think he should dig deeper? I do, it'll ruin him.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

but you sound confident and content. To reinforce that, you should continue to post throughout the day about how awesome you feel, and I'm betting by the end of this thread you'll be the happiest you've been in a long time.

Well, I don’t need to harp on the President when I don’t have to, I love this President, what can I say. I went through this with Reagan and Bush as well, guess it goes with the territory. You guys do what you do and so shall I.

The power of the mind.

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

Come on Trumpers - explain to us Liberals how going from $1.6 billion and 65 miles in Dec, to $1.37 billion and 55 miles in Feb is anything but a fail and a loss....less money, less fence...

This is an interesting one. Long before Trump came on the political scene, I heard many people say that career politicians are often ignorant about how business works, and that a businessperson would be far more savvy when it comes to making deals. Trump himself made much of this idea.

I think competence is the key, regardless of background.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Come on Trumpers - explain to us Liberals how going from $1.6 billion and 65 miles in Dec, to $1.37 billion and 55 miles in Feb is anything but a fail and a loss....less money, less fence.

But more options now that Pelosi conceded. Thank you, Mrs. Pelosi. No shame of doing something immoral

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

Well, I don’t need to harp on the President when I don’t have to, I love this President, what can I say. I went through this with Reagan and Bush as well, guess it goes with the territory. You guys do what you do and so shall I.

This says a lot of what the difference is between Trumpers and other Dems and Repubs. I don't think any of the latter "love" their candidate. I imagine they respect and admire them, agree with their views and beliefs, and perhaps honor their service to their country.

But Trumpers go way beyond that, for them it's emotional. And that's scary, becase as we've seen here, facts, reality, and empirical data are discarded and ignored if they don't mirror their fanatical devotion to Trump.

So what we get is a cult, or something similar to the alternate reality world of North Korea - where everyone swears their devotion to the Great Leader, and any information opposite of that is spurned and purged....

And that breeds fascism...something we've seen steadily rise over the past two years...

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Can’t find a lot of conservatives breaking stuff or following people to restaurants and bothering the families or going to their homes and trying to break into them....

Haven't really looked hard enough, apparently.

https://americasvoice.org/trumphatemap/

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/feb/12/bbc-cameraman-shoved-and-abused-at-trump-rally-in-el-paso

https://www.gq.com/story/donald-trump-supporters-violence-rallies

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/16/us/trump-rally-violence.html

https://www.thecut.com/2016/10/violence-committed-against-women-by-trump-supporters.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/09/nyregion/sayoc-pipe-bomb-suspect.html

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Come on Trumpers - explain to us Liberals how going from $1.6 billion and 65 miles in Dec, to $1.37 billion and 55 miles in Feb is anything but a fail and a loss....less money, less fence.

But more options now that Pelosi conceded. Thank you, Mrs. Pelosi. No shame of doing something immoral

What we expected - another dodge...how's it a win?

And Trump supporters can't lecture anyone about morals - "Hey Stormy!"...

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Pelosi said a wall was immoral, she said nothing about a fence. Accuracy continues to elude Trumpophiles.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Come on Trumpers - explain to us Liberals how going from $1.6 billion and 65 miles in Dec, to $1.37 billion and 55 miles in Feb is anything but a fail and a loss....less money, less fence.

And no wall. Tee Hee!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Trump was 'proud' (his words) to stop 800,000 Americans from being paid for over a month. Very doubtful that he's changed his views on that. He couldn't care less about federal employees.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

What about Ted Cruz's proposal that we should seize all assets and bank accounts of El Chapo to finish the wall. The Dems will be against it of course, because it would facilitate getting the wall finished which would cost them votes.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

December Trump: "I will shut down the government. I am proud to shut down the government."

February Trump: "I don’t want to see a shutdown. A shutdown would be a terrible thing."

At least we learned something. And all it took was putting 800,000 federal workers' families thru the wringer, disrupting lives across the country, and costing $3 Billion off the economy.

Meantime, US national debt has just surpassed $22 Trillion. Economic growth is said to pay for the added debt and deficit burden, but so far that hasn't been the case despite the GDP gains of the recovery.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Why not spend the money on the opioid crisis and save some lives.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Why not spend the money on the opioid crisis and save some lives.

Why not spend the money on the wall and not only save lives but our country? Heck, even with Trump as president for the next six years and a Republican controlled Senate and House after 2020 it's gonna take a decade or more just to get California back.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Nah, no wall for you.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Ya, wall for us, Super. It's being built. Construction is going to be accelerated in the coming months. I'll get you some tissues.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Trump is building a wall at the Rio Grande anyway, haven't you informed yourselves, even before this farce of a compromise.

The puny $1. something billion or "55-mile" number is to appease libs. Why not 50 miles? Or 40 miles? Happy?

No national emergency required. The funds are there; prior budgets have been approved. Voted for by Schumer, Clinton, Obama and all the libs.

Likely "El Chapo's" cash will fund part of the wall - Mexico in the end funds the wall! $14 billion, baby.

Plus the $6 billion California has to refund the Fed govt for its botched high-speed train boondagle.

The joke's on the unhinged once again.

Real border security as promised, yes!

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

SerranoToday 10:32 pm JST

Ya, wall for us, Super. It's being built.

As in now, or scheduled for some point in the future?

Construction is going to be accelerated in the coming months. I'll get you some tissues.

The coming months? But what about...

Jan. 27 03:30 pm JST

Posted in: Conservatives say Trump caved, but confident he'll get wall See in context

SerranoToday 01:35 pm JST

*I can't wait to see what Super says in 3 weeks or less when the wall building gets underway...*

It's 3 weeks or less now. No sign of the wall building getting underway. What do YOU have to say?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

No sign of the wall building getting underway. What do YOU have to say?

Oh my...

 New border wall greets migrant caravan in San Ysidro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3o6DTfpBNo

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Likely "El Chapo's" cash will fund part of the wall - Mexico in the end funds the wall! $14 billion, baby.

Interesting....Where is that $14 billion? How will they get it? It would be an enormous coup if they could.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Likely "El Chapo's" cash will fund part of the wall - Mexico in the end funds the wall! $14 billion, baby.

You mean the money spent by American users? Still American money.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

New border wall greets migrant caravan in San Ysidro

Except by the very link you provide, it states it was an upgrade and replacement of worn down, older barriers.

So it's not 'new.'

And it was funded long ago.

Try harder... try again.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

And it was funded long ago.

Exactly. Along with ongoing construction at the Rio Grande and quite possibly many other places. Voted for by Obama, Clinton and the Dems when it was convenient to pander to the electorate and get elected.

Of course, as usual with politicians, nothing got done.

How many more hundreds of miles are already funded no one can really tell.

But Trump has the political will to finally built real border security.

Good for Americans, including Dems.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Except by the very link you provide, it states it was an upgrade and replacement of worn down, older barriers.

So it's not 'new.'

And it was funded long ago.

Sigh... upgrades of barriers are a big part of border security. And since Pelosi considers barriers "immoral" it's a win for wall supporters and border security and a loss for her.

This new enough? lol

Build The Wall: Construction Progress

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-f6KkLJF9c

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Serrano, if your wall is being built and that makes you happy then be happy. And if you want to dream about it being completed in the future and if that brings a smile to your face then by all means, go for it.

This whole drama needs to come to an end. Telling the world that Democrats want open borders and fake voters rushing in hasn't budged the needle since everyone can see through it. Scare tactics like "reported Muslim prayer rugs" hasn't done a damn thing for you either except expose your fear of Muslims in general. Publishing obviously misleading statistics has gotten you nowhere as they are easily debunked.

And gosh, a year ago when the GOP controlled the budget there was no humanitarian crisis and in less than 12 months things have gotten so bad that we are deploying troops in our own country? Sure. No one is buying this drama except for Trump's base, and that minority doesn't have the numbers to force policy. Everyone on the outside of the bubble can see right through it.

You won't have a complete border wall because it's dumb. There's no way to monitor it in remote places and it will quickly become an obsolete relic of wasted, burned cash, not to mention the environmental issues and lawsuits from landowners. Go ahead and improve the walls in heavily trafficked areas and near border crossings. Democrats have delivered the funds for that in the past.

You guys created this crazy, $25 billion symbol of your own anxiety of foreigners and you're clinging to it like it's the only thing that will ever bring you peace. Your people have lied, mislead, wasted taxpayer money, and tried every corrupt practice under the sun to try to force this garbage policy. You have no more cards left to play.

Let's both be happy that they are increasing security in high traffic areas and put the drama queen show into retirement once and for all.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

And since Pelosi considers barriers "immoral" 

How does Hannity consider this deal. It's up to Hannity. If Trump Hannity gives the OK then Trump will sign.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Building the wall. Signing the bill to get the non wall items. along with a national emergency to get the rest for the wall.

liberals really thought he was just going to sign that garbage bill only then give up. Sad.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

And declaring an emergency for a wall to be built because of lies spread by this disaster of a president opens up a can of worms that America will regret for years to come. How foolish.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

It's also interesting that the bill is now "garbage" when yesterday it was a win for Trump. Funny.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

It’s always been garbage. They intentionally gave him almost nothing of what was needed to try to force him to sign it for political reasons.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

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