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originally posted by: Cutepants
a reply to: face23785
If Mexico isn't directly paying for the wall, then America is directly paying for it instead. Either they are or they aren't, that's just a bunch of excuses and nonsense. Even if Trump makes the worlds most amazing trade deal with Mexico, that doesn't magically make them pay for the wall.
originally posted by: dawnstar
a reply to: olaru12
well this would be my compromise...
first, we open up the danged gov't!!! preferably before the lawsuits that have been filed by groups of federal employees get to the point where some judge decides that these employees should be paid twice their wages for working this long without being paid like one did before.
then look and see how much land they have ready to build on that isn't involved in a lawsuit, along with how much land they think might be out of the court system, and give him what he needs to do what they foresee as being possible for this year along with the cost of maintaining that which we have....less the amount that has already been set aside for this but hasn't been used. and reserve any other funding to the other areas of border security that they feel would be worthy of investment..
I don't really get into this tit for tat, you rub my back, I'll rub yours bit that congress likes so much so it would be a stand alone bill, the only thing I would expect in exchange would be that each and every representative would take each item that comes before congress in the same manner, rationally, logically, and not part of a grand deal with half of congress getting their tits for the tat because all that leads to is a bunch of poorly written, non cohesive bills that aren't supported by most but viewed as a way to get the one small item they wanted.
but, I know, I would be sorely disappointed here, which is why I am not a politician. I wouldn't play the game their way.
originally posted by: pavil
originally posted by: olaru12
originally posted by: pavil
a reply to: olaru12
So now you are for funding a border barrier with all the tech and manpower as well?
It's a Snowstorm Miracle I tell ya!
Just then, Olaru realized that he loved Big Orange Man and cried.
I never said I wasn't for border security. trumps wall is just more symbolic than reality. Build the fence.
A Peach, with staffing and technology upgrades along the fence and at ports of entry? Even if that costs 20 Billion?
Just clarifying.
originally posted by: scraedtosleep
a reply to: pavil
The big thing that the house is offering to do is pass bills that pay the workers and families and then continue to negotiate the wall.
Mitch wont let those bills get to trumps desk though.
originally posted by: Murgatroid
Is this thing seriously 2 hours long?!
Anyone know of a transcript?
More than 30 Democratic lawmakers went to the island, a U.S. territory, as part of an event organized by the CHC’s political action committee, Bold PAC
the conference also included “informational sessions” covering the territory’s ongoing recovery from Hurricane Maria in 2017. Various news reports stated that the event had been planned for months prior to the government shutdown, which began on 22 December 2018.
The conclave also coincided with the opening weekend performances of Lin Manuel Miranda’s musical Hamilton, which kicked off a three-week run raising funds for the Flamboyan Arts Fund, a local charity organization. However, lawmakers attending a performance of the show paid out of pocket for their tickets, which reportedly cost more than $500 each.
Conservative media outlets ran articles critical of the Democratic retreat, with some claiming that the lawmakers were “partying.” A Fox News producer also tweeted a photograph of Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey at a beach:
Spotted: Sen. Bob Menendez on the beach at a resort in Puerto Rico on Day 22 of the partial government shutdown. Reports say dozens of Dems are in PR for the CHC BOLD PAC winter retreat — including meetings on Maria cleanup, and a party with PR’s “Hamilton” cast. pic.twitter.com/6FaBYKPo4L
— David McAlpine (@DavidMcAlpine) January 12, 2019
Similarly, Fox News host Jeanine Pirro claimed that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was also “partying” as part of the group, but she retracted that statement on her own Twitter account:
During my exclusive interview with Pres Trump I said Speaker Pelosi was in Puerto Rico with a bunch of her Democrat colleagues. I based that on numerous reports that turned out to be wrong. The Speaker’s office says she has been in DC all weekend and I take them at their word.
— Jeanine Pirro (@JudgeJeanine) January 13, 2019
We contacted both the CHC and Bold PAC seeking comment but did not receive a response prior to publication. The latter group did respond on Twitter to criticism from President Donald Trump, however:
Thanks for drawing attention to this @realDonaldTrump.
Members of the CHC were in Puerto Rico to raise awareness for our brothers and sisters who are still suffering from Hurricane Maria — no thanks to you. t.co...
— BOLD PAC (@BOLDPAC) January 14, 2019
It had been planned for months: the largest-ever congressional delegation to Puerto Rico. It would start with briefings on the continuing effects of Hurricane Maria, end with a charity performance of “Hamilton” and include a little down time on the beach. And then the government shut down.