Columns, Constitutional Law, Politics

Yes, Trump Has The Authority To Declare A National Emergency On The Southern Border

Below is my column in The Hill newspaper on the threat of President Donald Trump that, should the Democrats refuse to fund the wall, he is preparing to declare a national emergency to build it unilaterally. As I discuss below, I believe that such a declaration should be opposed by Congress in defense of its inherent constitutional function over the federal purse. I do not see the compelling basis to declare an emergency given the available data on illegal crossings on the Southern border. However, I disagree with those who have argued that such a declaration would be unconstitutional.

Here is the column:

Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story once marveled, “How easily men satisfy themselves that the Constitution is exactly what they wish it to be.” If Story returned to life today, he would find these to be familiar times, as politicians and pundits have decided that the Constitution bars an action by President Trump, even when they reached the diametrically opposite conclusion on similar actions taken by President Obama during his term.

In the latest “constitutional crisis” declared on Capitol Hill, Democrats are adamant that they will not fund the signature pledge of Trump to build a border wall. In response, Trump has threatened to start construction unilaterally under his emergency powers if Congress refuses to yield to his demand for more than $5 billion. Critics turned to the Constitution and found clear authority against Trump. Representative Adam Schiff, Berkeley law school dean Erwin Chemerinsky, Yale law professor Bruce Ackerman, and many others denounced such a move as flagrantly unconstitutional.

The concern is well founded even if the conclusion is not. Congress has refused the funds needed for the wall, so Trump is openly claiming the right to unilaterally order construction by declaring a national emergency. On its face, that order would undermine the core role of Congress in our system of checks and balances. I happen to agree that an emergency declaration to build the wall is unwise and unnecessary. However, the declaration is not unconstitutional. Schiff, now chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, insists that Trump “does not have the power to execute” this order because “if Harry Truman could not nationalize the steel industry during wartime, this president does not have the power to declare an emergency and build a multibillion dollar wall on the border.”

The problem is Trump does have that power because Congress gave it to him. Schiff is referring to the historic case of Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company versus Charles Sawyer, in which the Supreme Court rejected the use of inherent executive powers by President Truman to seize steel mills during a labor dispute. He wanted to claim a national security emergency if steel production halted during the Korean War. In a powerful check on executive authority, the Supreme Court rejected his rationale for unilateral action. The Supreme Court was correct. But that was in 1952.

More than two decades later, Congress expressly gave presidents the authority to declare such emergencies and act unilaterally. The 1976 National Emergencies Act gives presidents sweeping authority as well as allowance in federal regulations to declare an “immigration emergency” to deal with an “influx of aliens which either is of such magnitude or exhibits such other characteristics that effective administration of the immigration laws of the United States is beyond the existing capabilities” of immigration authorities “in the affected area or areas.” The basis for such an invocation generally includes the “likelihood of continued growth in the magnitude of the influx,” rising criminal activity, as well as high “demands on law enforcement agencies” and “other circumstances.”

Democrats have not objected to use of this authority regularly by past presidents, including roughly 30 such emergencies that continue to this day. Other statutes afford additional emergency powers. Indeed, a report by the Congressional Research Service in 2007 stated, “Under the powers delegated by such statutes, the president may seize property, organize and control the means of production, seize commodities, assign military forces abroad, institute martial law, seize and control all transportation and communication, regulate the operation of private enterprise, restrict travel, and, in a variety of ways, control the lives of United States citizens.”

Congress spent decades yielding authority to the executive branch. When it agreed with the president, such mighty authority was even celebrated. But now, consider the objections from Representative Joaquin Castro, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. He has declared that it would be “profoundly inappropriate for the president of the United States to circumvent the legislative branch and single handedly, against the will of the American people and the American Congress, put up a wall.”

This is a curious statement from one of many lawmakers who supported Obama when he openly circumvented Congress on immigration reforms. Obama ordered agencies to stop enforcing some federal laws and used executive orders to do precisely what Congress refused to do. When Obama declared in a State of the Union address that he would circumvent Congress if it failed to approve his immigration reforms, Democrats cheered at the notion of their own circumvention, if not obsolescence.

Likewise, Castro and his colleagues supported Obama when he ordered the payment of billions out of the Treasury into ObamaCare, after being denied the funds by Congress. These same Democrats were largely silent when Obama attacked Libya without a declaration of war or legislative authorization. Obama funded the Libyan war out of money slushing around in the Pentagon, without a specific appropriation. I represented lawmakers who opposed the Libyan war. I also served as attorney for the entire House of Representatives in successfully opposing the ObamaCare payments. Most Democrats opposed both these lawsuits.

Congress can act to stop circumvention under the National Emergencies Act. Trump must notify Congress of his declaration and detail the powers being claimed under that law. Congress could and should negate the declaration with a vote of both chambers. However, that does not make the declaration unconstitutional. Any declaration would create a myriad of legal issues and likely face an immediate legal challenge. Two questions that a court would have to consider are the source of the authority and the source of any funds. The latter is where some challenges could arise.

Congress gave Trump such authority in the National Emergencies Act, augmenting claims of inherent authority, but the source of the funds could be more challenging. Under two laws in Title 10 and Title 33 of the United States Code, he could seek to use unobligated funds originally set aside for military construction projects, or divert funds from Army civil works projects. There are limitations on the use of such money, and there could be strong challenges to the use of unobligated funds in other areas. There is money there to start but not nearly enough to finish such a wall without proper appropriation. Recall Obama funded the undeclared war in Libya out of money slushing around in the Pentagon, without the new strict constitutionalists objecting from the Democratic side of the aisle.

Courts generally have deferred to the judgments of presidents on the basis for such national emergencies, and dozens of such declarations have been made without serious judicial review. Indeed, many of the very same politicians and pundits declared the various travel ban orders to be facially unconstitutional, but the Supreme Court ultimately lifted the injunctions of lower courts. Moreover, Trump does not have to ultimately prevail to achieve part of his objective. Even if a court were to enjoin construction, the declaration could afford Trump the political cover to end the government shutdown, as the issue moved its way through the courts.

While the matter could be expedited to move through the courts in a matter of months, the government could seek to slow litigation to push any final decision into 2020. There are compelling arguments against funding the entire wall demanded by Trump, although some added border barriers clearly are warranted. However, one can oppose an emergency declaration without claiming that it is facially unconstitutional. It is not.

Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University. He served as counsel for members opposing United States involvement in the Libyan war and as attorney for the House of Representatives in their challenge to the unappropriated use of federal funds under ObamaCare. You can follow him on Twitter @JonathanTurley.

350 thoughts on “Yes, Trump Has The Authority To Declare A National Emergency On The Southern Border”

  1. WHATEVER HAPPENED TO A ‘DREAMER’ DEAL?

    Many pundits have pointed out that if Trump was willing to normalize the status of so-called ‘Dreamers’ (undocumented immigrants who arrived as children), Trump might easily get $5 billion towards a hard border (whatever form that might take).

    It is interesting to note that at about this time last year, Trump indicated he might normalize 1.8 million Dreamers in exchange for $25 billion towards a hard border. The deal fell apart when critics from both parties objected. Since then Trump has completely turned off to ‘any’ Dreamer deal. But the fact that he considered one is interesting to note.

    I suspect if Trump was willing to do a Dreamer Deal, this crisis could end fairly quickly. The fact that he won’t consider such a deal indicates Trump wants ‘total victory’ with no concessions. Which explains why this crisis lingers; threatening the economy.

    The link below is a USA TODAY article from 2/7/18. It lays out, in sequential form, how Trump kept changing his position on Dreamers.

    https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/07/what-president-trumps-policy-dreamers-keeps-changing/312783002/

    2. The deal ran into a major complication with the Dreamers — would their parents be able to be sponsored for green cards by the Dreamer son or daughter? Democrats would not explicitly negotiate over this question, hoping to leave it unanswered and have it decided in their favor by Court case. Repubs smelled this deceitful, stealth approach, and countered by making green card reforms part of the package. The Dems were unable to agree to the green card reforms, since it would foil their crafty plan to essentially create open borders for under 18s, and then continue family reunion green cards so their parents, the ones responsible for sneaking across the border or overstaying could become US citizens and vote (Democratic, of course). It fell apart
      because the Dems could not agree to being effectively countered on the Dreamer’s parents.

    3. A year ago Trump and the Republicans did offer citizenship to the Dreamers in exchange for the Wall. It was more generous than what Obama ever offered. Democrats trurned it down. The media kept it rather quiet.

      I personally believe that people would be more amenable to offering a solution to the Dreamers if the border was secure. If Democrats cared that badly for the Dreamers, they would have made the deal. Instead, they cared more about illegal immigrants, and the future votes they represent, than the current Dreamers, who are already in the bag for them as voters. Apparently nothing they can do will lose their vote, including turning down a generous opportunity to make them citizens.

        1. its going sideways until these cases are heard most likely

          https://www.nilc.org/issues/daca/status-current-daca-litigation/

          DACA is easily traded away. nobody really cares about that. the wall is an issue and so is the vast majority of the illegal immigrants flaunting the law and the system enabling them.

          DACA kids: these people are not the issue. Preventing the invasion of another 10 million illegal immigrants coming in is the issue, not 75 K DACA people.

          See, DACA is not a very big number and the Democrat leadership genuinely does not care about it. Just a verbal ploy. Kind of like everything to them. Incredibly insincere leadership.

            1. you make a sentence that makes sense how about that?

              oh wait. maybe I got a bad number. another source says 690,000. same scale anyways. not a big part of the oh 22 million illegals here
              my point stands and you have nothing to say about it evidentily with your usual “making stuff up” comment

  2. Trump said Mexico would pay for the wall, so why declare a national emergency to have US citizens pay for the wall. Does this mean he lied to us? Nah, that can’t be it. Maybe we should build a wall all around the United States, so when he has his next meeting with his buddy Putin, he can’t get back in. Because HE is the national emergency.

    1. well i never thought he could deliver on that. but he can deliver the wall and it can just go in the pot with the other trillions of debt. finally something worth paying for!

      probably the US debt will never be repaid anyways. failing this wall however there might as well be not United States. There is no nation without a border and no household without– walls.

    2. “..and Mexico will pay for it….just became a ritual slogan at the rallies. Nobody took it seriously, except the left, and that was only for oppo-branding purposes.

      1. OK. Rescind Obamacare because it was based on deliberate lies. If you like your healthcare plan you can kee it. If you like your doctor you can keep your doctor. The ACA will save the average American family $2500/year. Coverage will be great.

        If you want to deny the wall to Trump because he couldn’t keep a campaign promise, then by the same logic, you must rescind legislation passed on a deliberate lie.

    2. As I said, Ac, you must not be very familiar with the history of comments that have been made here.

    3. Is it surprising that so many of the newer posters here want something based on lies, racism & white nationalism?

      It’s surprising that supposed adults fancy status games and rhetorical games are worth their time and will persuade anyone, but partisan Democrats haven’t any other arrows in their quiver.

      1. None of the prototypes for the boondoggle wall have passed their breach tests nor their tunnel tests. If built, the boondoggle wall would have to be permanently defended 24/7/364.25. So why not just defend the border instead of defending the boondoggle wall against breaching and tunneling?

        Ah-ha! You tricky debils, you. You want to build the wall as an excuse to militarize the border. Don’t you? It’s got nothing to do with the damned wall itself.

    4. it’s racism that these third world invaders think white American workers are suckers and will keep letting them in and paying for stuff for years.

      actually it’s a funny kind of racism the white leadership of the Democrat party has against its own base of white working taxpayers

      let me tell you fools something. keep on telling white people they are racist and eventually they will become racist for real., then you will have a problem. like the naughty little boy who is always told he is bad and then grows up to be a criminal, one day, the insulted white workers will rebel with vengeance

      1. Mr. Kurtz,
        Now there is now need for them to play on the racist word, when words like “deplorable” have worked so well for them politically.😉😊
        Not only politically, but an advantage is that they can plant their flag when they claim the high ground of moral superiority.

        1. there is no moral advantage when the invasion forces and their collaborators demand us giving up our land and sovereignty in favor of their comfort. that is just bullying. i say punch the bully hard and fast and don’t worry about any socalled immorality.

          “As for the charges against me, I am unconcerned. I am beyond their timid lying morality, and so I am beyond caring. — Willard, reading Kurtz, Apocalypse Now

          1. Mr. Kurtz,….
            You have not been paying attention to many of the political analysts and theological experts who post here.
            The GOP is finished because there are not enough old white racists to keep propping it up.
            And divine retribution is likely in the cards as well for those in POE, The Party of Evil.

          2. Marlon Brando (Kurtz) you have named yourself after his character. I never saw the movie. Do you think it helps one understand your character on this blog and is it worth it to see today. I am not fond of war movies especially those involving Vietnam.

            1. People can get too fixated on characters they see ( or portray) in the movies.
              I don’t think DeNiro’s been the same since he adopted the character he played in Taxi Driver as his role model.

            2. Watch the movie it is quite possibly the best American movie ever made. Coppola is a genius

              Also read Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness. My nom de plume is based on that character more so than Col Kurtz but the story inspired the movie.

              art imitates life and life imitates art

                1. Gangs of New York is a favorite too and right on point these days. That’s a Scorsese film.

                  And the Godfather series; and Scarface & Carlito’s Way. In my mind, one can’t understand certain social realities in our place and time without a sense of the subject materials of these films.

                  One thing all of those films have in common is the challenge for the individual to find his place in an ever changing, materialistic, atomizing America. Something like this question:

                  Am I just an isolated ball bearing in this big liberal-democratic-capitalist economic machine, or am I an integral part of a real social fabric, and how?

                  I have a wider list too, but anything by Stanley Kubrick is worth watching if you haven’t, probably in reverse chronological order, which makes it all make a lot better sense.

                  1. I’ve seen all of these you mention here. Though I liked them especially the Godfather Part One I have a different taste in films. I want to see more. There is a lot more in life. I thought Scarface was an OK film but one that was important for it showed the drug trade the way it actually is…blood and guts without an escape.

              2. Mr. Kurtz:
                No better novelist than Conrad with the possible exception of Dostoevsky. Heart of Darkness is my favorite but The Brothers Karamazov is nipping at its heels. Hawthorne was a better wordsmith than both of them but their strength lay in the universal topics they tackled.

                The Horror! The Horror!

                1. I am a huge fan of Hawthorne and also Herman Melville. Moby Dick is right up alongside inspiring all these films, closely so.

                  for Russian authors I read Tolstoy’s War and Peace. I have not read Dost.

                  He is not a novelist, but I like and have a read a lot of Solzhenitsyn … also recommend Aleksandr Dugin who is banned from travel to the US by our state Department he is so feared. Something of a philosopher he is.

                  Here is a book Dugin wrote about the philosophy of Martin Heidegger reviewed and introduced by the erudite Professor Paul Gottfried.

                  http://www.4pt.su/en/content/alexander-dugin-and-martin-heidegger

                  1. All good picks. I’m a Melville fan, too. Try Dostoy. It’s wordy but the writing soars in the most important moments. Here’s such a passage from Crime & Punishment:

                    “𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠?” 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙍𝙖𝙯𝙪𝙢𝙞𝙝𝙞𝙣, 𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧, “𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙣𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚? 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙖 𝙗𝙞𝙩! 𝙄 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙠 𝙣𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙣’𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣. 𝙏𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝! 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙄 𝙚𝙧𝙧! 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙖 𝙝𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙣. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙩𝙤𝙤, 𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙬𝙖𝙮; 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩! 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙠 𝙣𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙖𝙡𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙣𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄’𝙡𝙡 𝙠𝙞𝙨𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙩. 𝙏𝙤 𝙜𝙤 𝙬𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙤𝙣𝙚’𝙨 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙤 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚’𝙨. 𝙄𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙣, 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙖 𝙗𝙞𝙧𝙙. 𝙏𝙧𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙬𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙥𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙗𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙙. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙖𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙨. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙣𝙤𝙬? 𝙄𝙣 𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙙𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙥𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩, 𝙞𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙨, 𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙨, 𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙢, 𝙟𝙪𝙙𝙜𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡. 𝙒𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙛𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚’𝙨 𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙨, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤! 𝘼𝙢 𝙄 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, 𝙖𝙢 𝙄 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩?” 𝙘𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙍𝙖𝙯𝙪𝙢𝙞𝙝𝙞𝙣, 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙡𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙨’ 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨.”

    5. What was it based on when the Dems and Obama said it was necessary?

    6. Please explain why it is white nationalism to require all immigration go through the legal system, complete with background check. Most immigrants that go through that legal system are not white. Therefore, supporting that system, by definition, cannot be white nationalism.

      Nationalism and patriotism are being conflated with xenophobia and racism. Nelson Mandela and Ghandi were both nationalists. They wanted what was good for their country. That obviously does not preclude international charity. Leaders’ priorities are to take care of their people, and also to be charitable. For instance, offshoring all government jobs might help out a lot of people around the world, but it would devastate a great many employees here.

      There once was a sweet hearted woman who gave all of her money away to charity. Month after month, she called her brother to bail her out on rent, food, and medical bills and to take care of her children. “I don’t understand,” he said. You have a good paying job. Why can’t you manage your money? “Well,” she replied, “I give it all away. My duty is to the world, not my own children. I have to take care of everyone outside my house before I care for anyone inside.” “That’s really stupid. Your first duty is to your children, and to pay your own bills. Then you budget what’s left for charity. It’s irresponsible to make your own children suffer so you can spend all your money on causes all over the world.”

      Globalism is tyranny at the expense, typically, of the working class, whom elites despise.

      1. Some so-called elites ignore the working class but exceedingly few bother to despise.

        2. I disagree, but in this it is a perception. The Democrats didn’t care about people like me on unsubsidized individual polices who lost their wonderful insurance, to be replaced with something unaffordable, none of the good doctors accepted, prescriptions weren’t covered, and it cost as much as a second mortgage with a deductible like buying a new car. Every year. It’s got a $12,000 deductible now. I personally was blown off among my LIberal friends as well as online when I complained about this humantarian crisis.

          When truckers lost their vehicles due to the CA Air Quality Board unilaterally making certain trucks illegal to use, Democrats did not care. When alternative energy drives the cost of lighting and heat and A/C up so much that people cannot pay their bills, Dems didn’t care.

          When the homeless camp out in front of businesses, pooping on the street, dropping infectious dirty needles, littering their trash and garbage all over the place and vomiting on the street, chasing customers away, Democrats didn’t care. They only care about plastic bags and straws, not the real cause of the litter – the homeless encampments in ephemeral waterways.

          Dems didn’t care when the price of labor goes up because of their polices. When regulations became onerous. When permits took years and cost thousands of dollars. When they started requiring an architect and 4 foot deep footings to put up a single horse shelter. When the taxes got too high. When we complained about the increase in crime in our neighborhoods with the emptying of CA prisons. When middle class schools got so many illegal immigrant children that it drove test scores down. When Common Core made a simple problem like 2 + 11 so complicated it required multiple steps and tears. When Pelosi called the money we got a break on “crumbs” and the jobs that came back as meaningless.

          This is the attitude of the ruling elite, the well-connected politician who’s been on the taxpayer payroll for decades, never caring if they get anything done. Or the academics who are tenured and sneer at the blue collar workers. At Hollywood who mercilessly mocks the blue collar worker or the middle class.

          The policy are facts. The quotes dismissing the desperate burden of Obamacare are facts, as well as other dismissive comments. Labeling conservatives racist, phobes has been going on for years. It’s pure slander, but they make no effort to stop the name calling and understand the problem from the middle class perspective.

          My interpretation of these experiences, being on the receiving end, has led me to view the Democratic Party as Marie Antoinette, “Let them eat cake!” The elites are cushioned from most of what they inflict on others.

          There were a lot of good discussions after 2016 about how the Democratic Party has turned its back on the middle class. Even Bill Clinton remarked how crazy it is how people pay so much for Obamacare, getting so little in return, that they cannot put food on the table. What’s changed for Dems since 2016? I have not seen any concern for the middle class hurt by their polices. Rather, their hatred has ramped up. Complain about the lowering of wages due to illegal immigration, and the impact on businesses who compete with those running illegal alien crews, and you hear shouts of racist, xenophobic, etc. It’s the same playbook. Don’t argue the facts. Just call names.

          1. My reply is awaiting moderation on Jonathan Turley’s so-called free speech blog.

            1. Oh get over yourself David. Your comment included a word flagged by the profanity filter and the system grabbed it. Just don’t use that word and the comment will post. It’s that simple.

            2. David for a professor who professes to have taught computer science I would think you would have a better understanding of how blogs might work. Then again maybe you are a very superficial guy like most of your postings. I don’t know a lot about this subject but I note Professor Turley uses WordPress. Why do you think he does that?

              WordPress creates the environment and likely WordPress has a computer program that acts as a censor. That has nothing to do with Turley. Why is it that it is the superficial that complain the most about how a free site is working. You are a true leftist. Get something for free, complain and blame everyone else for your problems.

          2. Excellent explanation. People that really care about other people and families don’t act the way the left has been acting for a number of years. David has his pension. He couldn’t give a hoot about the American family. He will say he has a family as well but then one has to ask him where his kids went to school and are they well educated with good stable jobs or are they like many families struggling to make ends meet.

  4. HISTORY OF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS

    There have been 21 government shutdowns in U.S. history. The first was in 1976. One must ask how America made it all the way to 1976 without a single shutdown. What changed then to make shutdowns an appropriate avenue for budgetary negotiations?

    I have no previous familiarity with this linked source. But they seem to present a well-arranged list of all the government shutdowns and their durations.

    https://www.thoughtco.com/government-shutdown-history-3368274

    2. “The first was in 1976. One must ask how America made it all the way to 1976 without a single shutdown. ”

      The Democratic Party changed and continues to evolve in a fascist manner. Look at the violence we have seen from the political left, violence from groups like antifa that dress like the fascists of the last century using similar weapons and stop others from speaking.

      1. We made it all the way to 1974 without having a president forced to resign.
        The first govt. shutdown followed in 1976.
        IMO, the two events are at least somewhat related, and go beyond a merely coincidental timeline of the mid-70s.

    3. Plus there are state shutdowns. CA didn’t have a budget for many months, during which they didn’t pay vendors, nor told them if their contract was being renewed.

  5. The only real National Emergency in play at this time is that our political pillars have all gone insane and are doing anything to not get along with each other. That said, even if there were a border crises (there is not….) a wall, without a strong policy in place and up and running to deal with asylum seekers, people who want to come here for a better life (because we ask them to….) etc. will do nothing but become a money pit….and if pou think it will stop anyone from coming here you are wrong…they will find ways.We can discern and welcome those who will enhance our lives or we can keep on fighting like cats in an alley and the bad ones will rule the day….choose.

  6. Given the length of time it takes to conduct a defensive posture may I suggest going on offense .

    1. Any defensive position should be a place from which to spring a hasty ambush.
    2. An offensive is always mobile and always supported directly or indirecty
    3. The Reasons should be clearly stated and not left to the uneducated especially those who never so much as asked to take a physical or openly work for the other side. That would be the socialist progressives
    4. The Reasons should be wholly stated. Ours are missing a few things . One is adding drugs of any illegal variety to the list of weapons of mass destruction. Human trafficking especially of underage children is also a weapon of mass destruction.
    5. Item 4 and others should be listed as Weapons of Mass Destruction and Terrorism.
    6. The anti terrorism rules are listed in the Patriot Act.last extended by Obama and not only added ‘supporting terrorism’ but continued replacing ‘probable cause’ with ‘suspicion of’ with NO exceptions such as citizens and Congressionals unless that is in a classified portion.
    7. These added steps among others will make short work of any situation rather than the longer time needed for a defense.

  7. When Barack Obama famously said, “If Congress doesn’t act, then I will,” everyone cheered wildly and called him a hero. They applauded and praised him for slapping down an idiotic Congress. “That will show them who’s boss,” they chanted happily.

    When Trump, who I think is rather a disgusting human being, but who is the elected president of this nation… Ah, what’s the use.

    1. Yes. Remember too the great quasi-white Jesus Soetero Obama who said, “Elections have consequences?” To Dem Progressives, that only applies to Dem POTUS. All and/or mostly white POTUS can FOAD.

    2. I fully support Trump declaring national emergency and building the wall.

      I also oppose furloughed federal workers getting back pay, if they are reinstated. No work no pay

  8. Turley claims that a Trump declaration is OK because Obama also did something similar. I think this is wrong and what Obama did was also unconstitutional. Only Congress has the ability to make laws and direct funding, and thus I belive that any emergency powers act is an unconstitutional delegation of power.

    1. Molly’s glaring and obvious omissions: At that time, Dems and all their MSM status quo mouthpieces APPROVED something Obama did that Molly now claims is illegal.

      Now, with a GOP POTUS, the exact same Dems and all their status quo mouthpieces/surrogates (MSM) scream 24/7 THE INSANE ORANGE MAN SUGGESTING THE SAME THING OBAMA DID PROVES THE ORANGE MAN IS AN INSANE LYING RAYCIS BIGOT WHITE NATIONALIST!!!

      1. It does not matter to me if the MSM and Dems were ok. I am not MSM or a Dem or a Repub, I am just an American who likes the Constitution and I think they are all wrong.

    2. its an invasion, not with guns but with teeming hordes of civilians, however sad, it’s still invasion.

      take home invasion as analogy. very bad if the invaders are armed thugs.
      but what if it’s just the local homeless family? can they invite themselves into your house above your refusal and just camp out in the living room with their five kids and expect you to feed them and clean up the dirty diapers?

      what do you do? you call the police. who tell them to leave and if they dont they drag them out including women and children. so that’s how you handle an invasion. humanely but you don’t cave in and just let them stay

  10. “supported Obama when he ordered the payment of billions out of the Treasury into ObamaCare, after being denied the funds by Congress.”

    Those on the left that feel that Trump has no right to build the wall have to look and see what they felt when Obama funded ObamaCare. Much of the left does not seem to care about the law or our Constitution. They only care about power and control over the free citizens in this country. That is one of the big political divides we face.

    Though Professor Turley leans left I expect many on the left to call him a right winger for the sole reason that at least in this case Professor Turley is standing up for the law and precedent. Many on the left could care less about these things.

    1. “They only care about power and control over the free citizens in this country.”
      Utter nonsense.

      1. Jesus Soetero Obama: “If you want to keep your insurance, you can keep your insurance.” I await Jesus Obama to return the health insurance tens of thousands (or more) lost directly because of Obamacare. I personally know dozens of persons who’s employer reduced their hours from 40 to 32 (persons forced to work multiple jobs) solely and specifically because the switch allowed the employer to drop their medical insurance coverage.

        Personally, I admit for the record that it appears that Obamacare caused my monthly premium to decrease $200. This hypothesis is unproven and unproveable because it’s impossible to confirm a conclusive list of the cause(s).

        If Obamacare was so great, why did the author have to lie about it before it was passed? Why did Obama allow that Midwest Senator to extort Obama (the Senator’s State was immune from all negative financial effects for X number of years…he was the last hold out Senator…many other Senators could have received the same benefit but they stupidly got on board too early, which I’m sure they later regretted).

      2. You put two words together, Acromion, but are you able to put words together that defend what you are saying. The answer is no. That is a capability you lack.

    2. Obama “Stole” the money for Obamacare, AKA: Commie Care, from Fanny Mae & Freddy Mac Shareholders.

      I don’t believe it’s ever been repaid to them.

      Oh never mind, it’s their Commie/Nazi God Obama, thus they can’t hear, see, or smell Obama’s sh*t smeared all over themselves.

  11. Wow!! this idiot is out to ruin the country he didn’t keep any of his other campaign promises what’s the big deal about this one.We are looking at a modern day Mosilini, fascist bum.

    2. i wish he was a tenth as smart as Mussolini and then it would have been done already. He may yet learn

    3. If you read Gentile, you will understand that Fascism was yet another attempt to “improve” upon Socialism. Now, who supports Socialism and taking way the rights of individuals? The Democratic Party. They hasten to install a Socialist in Bernie Sanders or Ocasio Cortez, who would impose an 84% tax rate, including state but not all the payroll taxes, etc, which would cause our entire economy to collapse so we would be fighting over toilet paper.

      It is false logic to declare any Republican Fascist. It is Antifa acting like brown shirts, assaulting people who disagree with the Democratic Party and calling everyone they please a Nazi. It is Ocasio Cortez who would take away individual rights in favor of a powerful government, who would take care of the people as it saw fit. It was Obama who took away health insurance and replaced it with something completely unaffordable that the good doctors won’t accept. CA that made it illegal for a business to hand out free plastic bags. Now they charge people for them, increasing the food costs of struggling people (Don’t care! Says the Dems.) CA also banned straws in some areas. Straws!!! Now they are working on banning paper receipts.

      If you think it’s Trump whose Fascist, or conservatives, and you belong to the Democratic Party, then you are woefully uninformed.

      Perhaps you should read up on the Holodomor, and the other 12 million people killed by Socialst regimes, because people tend not to like the government seizing their homes and businesses.

      2. Our memories are short and the memories of leftists even shorter. Holodomor: to kill by starvation. Things haven’t changed much. The left is always attacking others and has no concern for life. Imagine excercising one’s right of free speech here in America trying to stop the slaughter yet being attacked by leftists just like the leftists of antifa.

        Uri, take a look at this site. Do not confuse this with the Holocaust although both ended with the slaughter of innocent people. The number of deaths is unknown but ranges up to 15 million lives. In the 20th century outside of war over 100 million lives were extinguished solely for leftist regimes to maintain their power. When you see antifa you are actually seeing early actions of leftist regimes that led to that over 100 million lives killed.

        https://allthatsinteresting.com/holodomor-ukranian-famine#15

  13. I president cannot act contrary to the National Emergencies Act. That Act involves declarations of “national emergencies.” It is a legal question as to whether there is in fact an “emergency” within that Act. Yes, the president is entitled to a great deal of deference as a political matter, but not absolute deference: there is no such thing as “absolutes” under the Constitution. Where, as here, there is overwhelming factual evidence that there is no “emergent” crisis at the southern border, the Courts are empowered to enjoin a presidential declaration. Yes, Congress may act as well, but that simply means both the Courts and the Congress have a check and balance on the president. Especially, as here, when the president is acting contrary to the will of Congress in funding a wall, Jackson in the Steel Seizure case says the president is at his weakest. If Trump declares a national emergencies, the federal Courts will enjoin him, as they should.

    1. Acting “contrary to the will of Congress” doesn’t get it before the Court. Who will have standing to do that? For DACA, a fed judge said forcing the state to give drivers licenses was enough. That was weak, but it did the job. How does the wall cause any “injury” to American citizens? Especially before it’s even built?

    2. let the federal courts enjoin him. they don’t command the military the CIC does.

      let a constitutional crisis come of it! one is coming with Democrats promised impeachment anyways

      take it to the mat. !00% ready for action. Duce Duce Duce!

    3. The definition of “emergency” depends on only one thing: those who desire status quo (middle class dying, working class families pummeled by the emerging information age economy, white men and white families destroyed by drug addiction and hopelessness, marriage rates decreasing and all myriad negative societal effects of unwed motherhood including crime/continued and worsening poverty, constant influx of ultra cheap labor to cheaply perform slave like tasks for elites like cleaning their pools, etc.): NO emergency. Everyone else: emergency.

      It tells readers much that you point out the Constitution lacks absolutes, promptly followed by your absolute denial of an “emergency.”

      The worst potential problem surely to result from a “status quo” position is this: eventually the utter hopelessness of what’s left of the carved out middle class causes them to vote in a way that looks like a short term fix, but that rather starts the slow, undeniable transformation of the USA into something like the current Venezuelan model, with death, starvation, and destruction of epic proportions, and eventually all out civil war.

      1. Right. So let’s declare the emergency now. Let the treasonous Democrats self identify and try and force a constitutional crisis. Let it come to the streets if possible. Better sooner rather than later. If it means civil war now or extinction in a generation then i say war.

  14. Professor JT you provide a compassionate, selfless, generous service with your blog. Otherwise L4D, PH, Fishwings, Benson, Diane, et al would have suffered self immoliation and we can have that….. 😘

    Build the wall….and eject Hillary and Pelosi’s unapologetic anarchists via catapult!

    luv yall

  15. Bill M.,
    I would hope that you and others will join me in taking notes re the best lines to use in the event that a Democrat wins in 2020.
    So far, “it’s sooo unfair”😥, “cheat, dirty cheat😡”, and “we are the true patriots😇” seem to be good lines to steal, and recycle, if need be after November 2020.

  17. I know some of you people don’t like hearing me say this, but if Trump didn’t win the election we wouldn’t have to go through all the investigations. This is all about him winning the election.

  18. Donald Trump should declare a national emergency, get the money, build the wall. Then go back to Nancy and Chuck and get the government back to work. So there!

  19. Trump is not “Give em Hell Harry!” He is not the New Yorkied named FDR who rounded up American citizens who were of Japanese origin, or looked to be, and imprisoned them in concentration camps. That was The California Way. Now we have the Southern Border Way. There is no Wall in the way to keep out terrorists. It is time to build a steel barrier and set up machine guns. It is time to arrest the mayors of sanctuary cities and other so called officials who hide terrorists from our federal authorities such as ICE.
    It is time to tell some Dems to go the way of the Whig Party.

    Bye, bye Miss American Pie. Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry. Good ol boys drinking whiskey and rye, singing this will be the day that I die.

  20. Yes, he has the power to declare an Emergency, it would also be stopped by the Congress and the Courts. He doesn’t care because it’s all a distraction from other things going on in his life. He’s like the man in The Telltale Heart, hearing Mueller’s heartbeat!

    1. I can’t stand feeling sorry for the poor schnook. He deserves this. He has earned it.

      The only reason that Trump is still president is that the investigation interrupted Trump’s ongoing criminal conspiracy in just such a way as to prevent Trump from delivering sanctions relief to Russia. Once again, Trump owes his presidency to James B. Comey.

      1. Trump owes his Presidency to the voters across America. Like those in Michigan who were aggravated because the dumb itchBay from New York did not come to their state to campaign. Her name was Hillary The 8th.

        1. Trump would not have won the Republican nomination for president without Russia’s help. Mueller is going to give Congressional Republicans evidence to prove that assertion. If Congressional Republicans continue to lick Trump’s boots after that, then it’s the Republicans who will go the way of The Whigs.

          1. L4D:
            If that makes you feel better, continue to delude. There is no evidence of any of that and Mueller has said no American was involved in the timid Russian election influencing effort ($100,000 worth of internet ads) but why let that rock your world view. Trump has the approval of at least 43% of the populace and probably more like 47%. He’s respected by over 80% of Republicans and in no jeopardy of removal from office with a Solid Republican Senate. Trump is here and will be until 2020 and probably longer if he wants to govern more.

            1. There’s no evidence of a national emergency on the US-Mexico border. You seem to be hearing Mueller say things that Mueller has not said while studiously ignoring what Mueller has said. The mantra, “No Evidence,” will inevitably be replaced with the mantra, “The Law Is Wrong.”

              1. Diane, there is enough evidence when one looks at the videos of people trying to force their way over the border and throwing rocks at law enforcement. Further evidence can be seen in what has happened on the other side of the border.

                You seem to want cheap labor. Maybe you are too lazy to clean your own house and want an illegal to do it for you. Maybe you don’t care about American workers being displaced or paid less than they would if illegals were not permitted. Maybe you don’t care about those young children whose education is worse than it would be because illegals are competing for the money spent on educating students. Maybe you don’t care about the health of American citizens who find that they cannot get care because an illegal is getting care or has used up too much of the funding.

                You sound like a mean person when it comes to supporting American families.

                Understand, I am not against immigration. I want that immigration to be legal and to the advantage of America and its citizens something you care little about.

                1. “You seem to want cheap labor. Maybe you are too lazy to clean your own house…”
                  An unusually mean spirited projection of stereotyped nonsense.

                  1. Mean spirited, Acromion? Garbage. You are mean and unlawful. You don’t care about the American family or the American pocketbook. You don’t care about immigrants that wish to come here legally. You don’t care about the law and likely you support violence.

                  2. oh, mean spirited. always they play on Christian sentiment, and yet those who do are rarely Christians themselves.

                    i give you mean spirited

                    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4_4p15iGlU

                    watch this movie if you have not and fully understand that if you are a native you & your kids can end up like the Native Americans. Displaced and sick and weak and packed off to rot on whatever crumbs are left once you are defeated.

                1. Such a hypocrit; stop posting and save what little integrity you have. Oops, too late.

                2. Mespo said, “The evidence [for a national emergency] is sufficient for the POTUS. That’s good enough.”

                  The timing of this supposed national emergency is a tad suspicious, counselor. Why now? Why not last year? Or the year before? What’s so special about 2019 that marks the beginning of a national emergency on the US-Mexico border?

                  P. S. Where the blazes is Paul C. Schulte? It’s hard to believe that Don Pablo has nothing to say on this topic. Maybe he’s in the shop for repairs, again?

          2. no the whigs are coming off and the gloves too. think about how far you want this to go. we’re in for a penny and in for a pound. Demographic annihalation awaits if this fails. It’s the barbarians at the gate and inside the gate and the traitors versus the natives. Natives have awakened!

            You know the Amerindians? if they had started their wars on colonists and pioneers sooner before Europeans had gotten a foothold, maybe they would have had a better outcome. Will this group of natives make the same mistake? So far they are doing exactly that.

            The Navajo fought the Europeans of Spain and England for around 250 years before they gave it up. If other tribes had their fighting spirit, maybe different outcome. We need the spirit of the Navajo not all those tribes that got wiped out and demographically destroyed and displaced.

      2. If you continue on your way Diane they will confining you to your rubber room.

        Trump owes his presidency to the politicians that didn’t keep their promises. To date Trump has fullfilled most of his or has tried to but has to fight to get what the American people wanted done.

        1. Nevertheless, had the FBI investigation not interrupted the quid pro quo of sanctions relief in exchange for election interference Trump would have attempted to lift or ease the sanctions on Russia. And that would have put Trump’s finances under an electron microscope; such that, the first ruble that turned up in Trump’s pocket would have led to his impeachment and removal from office.

          BTW, Trump’s historic victory hinged on just 80,000 votes in just three states. So don’t be so sure that the stolen DNC data analytics cross-referenced to the polling data that Manafort gave to Kilimnik didn’t change the outcome of the election.

          1. ” had the FBI investigation not interrupted the quid pro quo of sanctions relief in exchange for election interference Trump would have attempted to lift or ease the sanctions on Russia.”

            If one could make a reasonable accord with Putin that might not be a bad idea. In negotiations all things are open to the negotiators. What the Democrats did was close certain avenues increasing the likelihood of a war.

            “Trump’s historic victory hinged on just 80,000 votes ”

            As I said a short while ago I believe historically a President wasn’t accepted only twice in this countries history. The first was Abe Lincoln who the Democrats refused to accept. The Democrats wanted slavery just like the leftists today want a type of slavery for the masses. This led to a war with a lot of deaths and in my estimation a war that was unnecessary. The second President is Trump. The left has been after him every step of the way even promoting electors pledged to vote for Trump not to do so. We have had violent leftist demonstrations since then. Many leftist attempts were made to destroy Trump’s inaugeration and some of the leaders of these movements including violent ones were high up individuals working for the Hillary campaign. They tried to stop the trains in DC and create havoc at the inaugeral balls. The left has not stopped and one can write pages and pages of what they have done in their attempt to illegally usurp the power of the President. In the process they have harmed America making it more likely that the President can not succeed with North Korea and other enemies. The President has racked up a substantial number of victories good for this country and the American people but that type of news is withheld or partially withheld by the MSM. At present we hear Demoratic leaders making comments that we would try to stop our children from making. To prevent the President in succeeding in anything he does the Democrats lie and will destroy good people like they did with Kavanaugh. Next step is impeachment even though the Senate will never impeach and the President hasn’t committed an impeachable offense. The left of today is disgusting, hateful, racist and violent.

    2. Oh yes, let’s not forget the greatest scam perpetrated on Americans. The same crew pushing that lie now pushing for illegal immigration. We could probably build two walls with what Muellers bill will be.

      1. Regarding bills and expenses, just for a reference point, $5.7 billion is what the Pentagon burns through “making us safe” and the M.I.C. very rich every 2.75 days.

      2. Mueller is bringing money to the government, he’s made millions in forfeitures off Manafort alone. The Special Counsel is operating at a profit. Wait till he gets the money back the Russians have paid Trump over the years.

        1. POW! That’s gonna leave a mark. Of course to determine the exact dollar figure of the Russian’s largesse, there’d need to be a complete forensic examination of the day glo bozo’s finances, shell companies, henchmen and gofors.

          to enigma’s impactful post

    3. No Enigmaman, Trump can go along with Dems and sign bill with border security set aside for further negotiation and then next day declare emergency on border. Courts/congress will be powerless to stop that move so long as Trump is narrowly focused on the stated emergency and does not reallocate more than the +/- $5 billion he is seeking. You like Late4Yoga need to stop resting your heads on Daddy Muler’s chest dreaming of bedtime stories that he will catch the Evil Boogeyman Trump who is haunting your world. You, Late4Yoga, and the rest of the Lefty Loons lost in November 2016 and its about time you all get over it and get some game in time for 2020 election. Here is an interesting little fun fact for you to consider: we are closer to the 2020 election than the 2016 election. So maybe it is time for the petulant babies to grow up and stop whining about the ice cream and cake they did not get on election night 2016.

      1. Trump could denuclearize North Korea and then declare a national emergency. Trump could declare ISIS defeated and then declare a national emergency. Trump could sign an executive order ending birthright citizenship and then declare a national emergency. Trump could sign an executive order forcing the Fed Chairman to get Trump’s express written permission to raise interests rates and then declare a national emergency. Trump could delist the Russian banks he needs to finance a Trump Tower Moscow and then declare a national emergency.

        Trump is not going to declare a national emergency. Trump is not going to build a border wall other than the kinds of barriers that are already there on the US-Mexico border. Trump is a huckster and a con man.

        2. more fence and barriers would be good and are needed. thus he will serve the nation. Democrap shills and organizers and internet blatherers will complain. You are Ganelons.

      2. Bill Martin,…
        Good point about the upcoming 2020 presidential election; that we’re closer to that election than the 2016 election.
        It may be that the Special Counsel’s pace, the delay in wrapping things up, is due to the desire to investigate the 2020 campaign after it concludes.
        Who knows; if properly paced, maybe the same SC team will be around to investigate the 2024 campaign as well, then let the American public in on the results of the 2016, 2020, and 2024 investigations in one “Big Bang” revelation.😦
        The campaign for the 2020 nominations and general election is already gearing up, and will soon be in full swing.
        The DNC is still in poor financial condition, and the more opposition research done by the Special Counsel investigation and House Committees on behalf of the DNC for the 2020 election, the money $$SSS it saves for the cash-strapped DNC.
        It’s only proper to give the Democrats this assistance going into 2020 to give them a shot at taking over the White House.
        Another advantage to this is that if a Democrat is elected, we’ll get to bitch and moan for years afterwards about the results.
        We’ve seen how it’s done, and how therapeutic it seems to be, in hundreds if not thousands of comments posted here.
        We can claim that “the only reason a Democrat won” is because of Mueller, that he “owes his presidency to Robert Mueller”.
        I think I recently, very recently, heard a very similar line, albeit with
        different names mentioned.

        1. Am I to understand that you really can’t tell the difference between America versus Russia? Or is it that you just don’t give a damn anymore?

          1. “just don’t give a damn anymore” is an accurate characterization of my interest in L4B’s posts.
            The “anymore” doesn’t get the time frame quite right, since I quit giving a damn about her loony tune posts many moons ago.

            1. It shouldn’t be too much longer before Isaac Basonkovich returns from his well-earned Winter vacation–tanned, rested and ready . . . to rumble.

                1. No I believe Late4Yoga rarely leaves parents’ basement, except for occasional hot stinky yoga class, or to grab a soy ice latte at Starbucks (in yoga pants of course).

                  1. The last I heard, Beak Guitar had me sleeping on a park bench across the street from a homeless shelter or some such nonsense.

                    Never expect logical consistency from a Trumpanzee.

                    1. If Beak Guitar refers to me then I love it since I have no idea what that refers to which is what makes it so endearing. I upgraded my vision of you from park bench to parents’ basement which makes more sense i.e. electricity for computer, washer and dryer for yoga gear, etc,

                    2. You calling us chimps? Ok. You are the zookeeper and we are the animals. And you call Trump people racist.

                      But that’s ok. I can live with it. You’re the hacks and we are the prisoners. Let’s see how that works when the riot breaks out.

                  2. Diane has a grown son who in a long past argument finally corrected Diane’s mistaken impressions at the time. She was more lucid then and actually appologized for making a fool of herself. Since then she has gone downhill.

                    1. Yes, Acromion, we’ve noticed that you’ve been active as of late.
                      Very common now to see your comments.
                      You must not have read many of the comments in the past.

                    2. I can’t figure out if he’s one of FishWing’s sock-puppets or he’s a return engagement of another poster (‘Hollywood’ perhaps).

                    3. “(‘Hollywood’ perhaps)”

                      It’s a possibility. They both function at a low level, but I don’t think so.

                  4. No I believe Late4Yoga rarely leaves parents’ basement,

                    I think you mean the assisted living center rec room. The smart money says Late4Yoga’s parents died around about 1985.

                    1. That’s close enough that I’ll give you two full points for it. Mom died in 1989. Dad, 1981. Dad was a virulent racist. Mom never got over Rock Hudson being gay.

                      Meanwhile, my two out of three of my adult children take turns taking care of me at home. One does the night shift; the other, the day shift. They’ve even got the dog trained to snitch on me every time I teeter or wobble a bit. The third of my adult children is a deep-state operative retired after 27 years of service to this great nation of ours. Ha-ha!

                2. I don’t know. Tanning aside, it’s possible that Mr. Basonkavich visits relatives in Canada once a year around the holidays.

                  P. S. Don’t tell him that I misspelled his surname in my previous comment; it’s -avich–not -ovich. But then I haven’t seen it in awhile. So I have my excuse ready at the quick.

      3. You …need to stop resting your heads on Daddy Muler’s chest dreaming of bedtime stories that he will catch the Evil Boogeyman Trump.

      4. Is it more likely that Trump (already named an Unindicted CoConspirator in one case) is a criminal or that his followers have their heads in the sand like ostriches?

        1. Enigma,…
          I know that you eagerly anticipate a climatic conclusion to the Mueller investigation that will doom Trump.
          When you say “I can hardly wait”, I understand that extended, sustained anticipation can be stressful.
          That’s why I want to repeat my belief that you have exhibited the virtues of Faith, Hope and Patience in dealing with the anticipation.😉😀

          1. Tom Nash – My realistic expectation is that like Nixon, he will be pardoned and we will send the message to the next rich criminal that committing crimes against the nation carry no consequences. I’ll be happy enough to see him gone that I will get over not seeing him doing a perp walk out of the White House.
            I invite you to a preview of coming attractions on Feb 7th when Michael Cohen outlines some of Trumps crimes in public testimony before the House of Repreaentatives. I’m making popcorn.

            1. Enigma,..
              – I haven’t written down or memorized all of the predications made in these threads over the past couple of years re the ultimate fate of the Trump Administration.
              If I had done so, there would be ample opportunity to have numerous discussions about defective crystal balls and huckster/ seers.
              Given the sheer volume of guesses/ predictions seen here ( and everywhere), I suppose some of the predictions are bound to pan out.
              If there are 100 predictions a month in these threads, some will inevitably turn out to be accurate.
              I don’t like popcorn, but I may throw a pizza/ beer gathering for the viewing of Cohen’s testimony, if it is not postponed or changed to closed-door testimony.
              If nothing else, I’m looking forward to the inspirational story of a man who previously “walked in darkness” and now repents, due to a miraculous recent epiphany.😉😀
              Also, we may get to see if he is articulate as that other grad from what has been called “the worst law school in the country”.
              Maybe fellow graduate Rapida Tlaib and Cohen will perform a duet that’ll be a real mother.

              1. Tom Nash – “If there are 100 predictions a month in these threads, some will inevitably turn out to be accurate.”
                And if someone is the focus of 17 separate criminal investigations, inevitably he will be found guilty of some charges, The canary in the coal mine is Rudy, when he starts telling you all the things that “aren’t really crimes.”

                1. Enigma,…
                  Sometime if it’s handy, could you briefly identify the 17 separate criminal investigations?
                  An oft- quoted meme is that Hillary was unfairly subjected to umpteen investigations….Whitewater/ Rose Law Firm, Travelgate, Filegate, Cattlegate, Email scandal, Bengazi, etc.
                  Given that she was the subject of so many so-called investigations, “inevitably ( she) will be found guilty of some charges”.
                  The fact that she was not actually “nailed” as a result of any of these issues is submitted as supposed proof that she’s just a repeated victim of a vast, right-wing conspiracy.
                  There are additional aspects to the comparison between the Trump/ Hillary investigations, but two can play the same game, whether it’s called “a witch hunt”, or it’s called “a vast right -wing conspiracy.”

    5. LOL come on. you don’t really believe that. what a joke. you have a lot of interesting things to say don’t prattle on with nonsense

      1. Mr Kurtz – Which part of what I said am I not supposed to believe? That Trump can declare a National Emergency? I believe that. That Congress and the Courts will block him? I believe that too because he doesn’t have the power of the purse to do with government funds as he will. That he is scared sh**less of what the Mueller report will say, impending Imoeachment and likely Indictments after he leaves office? I absolutely believe that. He’s alrady been named an Unindicted Coconspirator in the Cohen case and we haven’t even gotten to the good stuff yet. The Trump Organization is one big money laundering concern and the now defunct Trump Foundation was a fraud. Be specific and I’ll tell you more of why I believe everything I said, in addition to reporting of Trump telling his friends how afraid he is that Junior will be indicted and the report will be devastating.

        1. ok, fair enough, but why do you think you know what is in his heart? because you have seen him on tv a long time, or because you think he is a normal person like you and me who would fear such things?

          i hear people calling him narcissistic all the time. well, if he is, then he is probably not afraid whatsoever or too worried about Jr either. For my part, I dont know how he feels and I don’t pretend to know either.

          food for thought

            1. guilty of what? diplomacy with russia? that’s what I believe he is being punished for by many of the powers that be. the point is, a candidate may not talk to them, unless sufficient numbers of lawyers have vetted the entire conversation. same thing many of the other targets. targets of the bureaucratic state and its endless formalities.

              1. Fraud, Money Laundering, Bribing foreign officials (I was surprised to learn that’s a crime in America), Federal Election Campaign Fraud, Obstruction of Justice, Conspiracy to commit fraud, and before it’s over, Perjury.

                    1. i am old enough to remember when money laundering is what dope dealers did with their millions not what special prosecutors ginned up against political opponents because as you say they made too much money.

                      but these are the way vague laws always end up, which is why, in the Anglo Saxon legal tradition, we used to require strict construction of criminal statutes, and disliked ambiguous ones

                      how times change

                    2. Some of the people “alleged” to be laundering money with Trump include the Russian mob who are also dope dealers if that comforts you. You should research “Trump Tower Panama” if you want to be well versed before the report comes out.

                    3. I don’t concern myself much with things that occurred before Trump became President. Why don’t you list the “real estate deals where you [he got] get tens of millions above market value” along with the proof.

                      Proof entails knowing a bit about the real estate prices at the time and who were the major people involved and bidding. Proof is not an opinion piece. Let’s hear it.

        2. about the inindicted co conspirator thing, it sounds scarier than it really is.
          mostly it means they can’t and wont try and prove anything against that person.
          comes up in criminal indictments more often then you might suppose

        3. Most of what you say Enigma is BS. But you forgot your favorite meme that Trump is a racist because Fred Trump was arrested before DJT was born. Forget the fact that this occurred almost two decades earlier than the birht of DJT and the fact that Fred Trump was let go as an innocent party with no connection to any racist act.

    6. Have you performed any social services among your female black friends and family lately, like driving them to the abortion clinic maybe? The abortion rate for American blacks is only 45%! C’mon, you Progressives can do better! Let’s ratchet that up! All out genocide or nothing!

      /sarc off

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