Trump keeps up drumbeat for border wall
President Donald Trump stated: “It’s a disgrace what’s happening in our country. But other than that, I wish everybody a very Merry Christmas.” | Zach Gibson/Getty Images
By DAVID COHEN
President Donald Trump used a Christmas morning gathering in the Oval Office to reiterate the reasons he insists funding is needed for a border wall, even if it means the federal government will continue to be partially shut down.
“I can’t tell you when the government is going to reopen,“ Trump said, according to pool reports.
Not until, he explained, “we have a wall, a fence, whatever they’d like to call it. I’ll call it whatever they want. But it’s all the same thing. It’s a barrier from people pouring into our country.”
~~~~
The president said he thought that even those federal workers who were losing their paychecks would be supportive of his efforts.
“I think they understand what’s happening,“ he said. “They want border security. The people of this country want border security. It’s not a question of me. I’d rather not be doing shutdowns.”
I can assure President Trump DON civilians, myself included, would rather not be doing shutdowns, either. Non-essential employees will be furloughed and go home without pay; the lucky exempt folks, including myself, will go in tomorrow and work without pay. Since this isn’t a sequester, there’s a reasonable belief that lost pay will be reinstated. Pretty good deal for the furloughed, who get an unexpected paid vacation, even if the pay is belated. What really chaffs my ass is this is for only $5B USD, which is essentially a rounding error in the US budget. Money isn’t the issue of course, or even The Wall. It’s brinkmanship between Trump and Schumer with us caught in the middle. Again.
Lars, before you jump in with both feet loudly declaring how Trump sucks, take a calming breath and try for that rational sweet spot you hit yesterday, and recognize that both sides pretty much suck here. Thanks.
The rest of the article may be viewed at: The Politico
Category: "Teh Stoopid", "The Floggings Will Continue Until Morale Improves", "Your Tax Dollars At Work", Politics
IMHO It all heartily showcases just how much D-rats value illegal aliens over US Citizens.
They just value obstructing Trump. When he offered them a deal on DACA that included millions more people than they wanted, they still rejected it.
Frankly, I think Trump should be fighting not for the $5b but for the whole $25b to finish it right. He’s already compromised enough. They will not make any good faith effort to work with him. None.
Meanwhile, Schumer is working on getting a 20 some billion dollar pork project to rebuild some New York roads.
And the Dems ready to take control of the House have already expressed a plan to resume the practice of “earmarks.”
Yet they don’t want to cough up what’s needed to protect the nation from illegal aliens.
Sad.
There is a scene in one of those Hannibal Lecktor movies where Hannibal asks the Schumer character if how he wants to be disembowled before throwing him out the window, a guts in or guts out situation.
Schumer should only be done with guts out, fully splayed and displayed for approval of those he thinks admire him.
Yet, when Democrats offered a compromise including lots of additional funds for personnel and technology for border control, though no ‘wall’ (fence, really) it was rejected because it comes with immigration concessions.
AW1Ed is spot on in that this is now political brinksmanship more than it is about security. And because two idiots are going to be trying to show the public who is ‘tougher’, and thus secure re-election, this could drag on. Way to work together for the better of the American people, you morons.
A wall is the first step in fully securing the border. We’ve never had a wall, but we have tried “smart” technology. Have the drones, barrage balloons, sensors, and cameras stopped the flow? They’ll work much better with a wall to slow them down. Then the tech can work to direct the CBP agents to the scene.
At this point the Democrats are so anti-Trump that they won’t give him anything even remotely resembling a wall. No wall, no fence, no pickets, no burm, no revetments. If they give him anything, it’ll be a pittance to build a 1/4mile segment of the wall that they can point to as Trump’s folly and prove once and for all that walls don’t work. Even though we all know they do!
Highways have walls and fences to keep people from wandering into the controlled area. Prisons have walls and fences to keep people in and contraband out. Airports have fences and walls to keep people out of controlled areas. If there was a cheaper, “smart” way of keeping these areas secured, then why isn’t it being done?
Trump gets it. His voters get it.
Excellent points, Mason.
If LC and friends don’t understand what a wall does with your explanation, they just want to obstruct.
I don’t believe both sides suck. The Dems clearly don’t care about American citizens and the strain illegals place on all our services, not to mention our security.
The real cost of illegal immigration is far beyond what the legacy media claims, with no benefits, since we already take in over a million legal immigrants, and have been doing so for decades.
As a legal immigrant to the United States and a naturalized citizen, I am telling you that there is no excuse for illegal immigration, and whoever doesn’t support the building of the wall, is an enemy of America as founded.
Some of us just think the wall, by itself, is a ‘vanity’ project of lesser value than, say, additional border patrol personnel. Or better technology for monitoring crossings. Fences don’t stop determined people by themselves, and none of the GOP proposals have been anything but fence, at least not that I’m aware of.
In other words, I’m also against illegal immigration, but somehow in your terms I’m an enemy of America as it was founded because I don’t believe in expensive, ineffective boondoggles for the sake of politics.
The wall is not vanity. It works. It is not perfect, never will be, was never intended to be. It’s one of the most effective tools in the CBP toolbox. I’ve lived on the border for 28 years, the existing fence has done more to deter illegals in this area than anything else.
It’s a vanity project if it’s given gold accents and has “TRUMP” in great big, illuminated letters on it. Otherwise it is a part of maintaining a secure border.
I tend to view it a bit like water – if you put a barrier in one place, the water doesn’t go through it, but moves around. It finds an opening. But what it doesn’t do is turn around – if there are no nearby openings,.. it generally creates one.
People haven’t had to bypass the wall, and the immigration in your area has declined because it’s been easy enough to just go elsewhere to bypass it. With a complete wall, tactics will change… but they’ll still get in. In some ways, it might even drive up the ‘market’ for coyotes and cartel tunnels.
I don’t think a wall is completely ineffective – it’s a small ‘force multiplier’ for the CBP already there. I just think that adaptable tech + people is a better investment than a static above-ground barrier that will inevitably be bypassed by a motivated opposition.
Yes, it does divert. And it’s much easier to cover the area the crossers are diverted to than the entire border. The tech is there too. Much more than the public realizes. And you’re right, it won’t stop a motivated individual. It will deter or slow them down. It’s nearly impossible to explain just how well walls work on the border to people who haven’t witnessed the efficacy on a daily basis like we do here.
Sure, but when there isn’t an area where the crossers can easily be diverted to, where do they go? It surely won’t be home.
I don’t live near the border so I have less of a dog in the fight – for your sake, I hope you get something, and I hope you’re right about it. Even if the fence is built, I’ll remain skeptical until a reasonable analysis shows it’s more effective than people – people who can adapt tactics when the migrants do.
Call me an asshole ( I know Lars will), but make the whole damn border a free fire zone, ith artillery and aerial gunnery.. that’ll slow shit down for sure.. it’s not like people don’t know about the border… if they insist on trying to get through, it’s on them… Enough of this shit, secure the damn border!
I won’t call you an asshole, but come on – it’s Christmas. Are you really okay with shelling women and children who are just trying to come to a place they’ve been told offers them a better life?
And you’d be surprised how many people from small towns in third-world countries don’t know about borders. Or laws. Or even countries, for that matter.
I was once involved in an organization that helped kids in those sorts of areas. And they’re kids like any other – they laugh, play, want to eat and be warm… but they’re uneducated, can’t read and certainly don’t know squat about US policy, if they even know what the US is. A lot of families are nomadic, too – and are used to evading ‘security’ because in lots of those places, it’s corrupt.
Call me a bleeding heart commie if you like, but while I think we need to turn them away absent exceptional circumstances, I think calling in airstrikes on a 5-year old and her parents who don’t know any better is not exactly the American ideal I want us to live up to.
The stories that make the news are usually the worst ones – the repeat offender criminals. By all means, throw the book at them. But I believe we can secure the border and keep the better part of our humanity at the same time.
” but they’re uneducated, can’t read”
And according to the swamp dwellers of both parties, they don’t cost taxpayers a dime! In fact, they claim those immigrants are a net asset to our economy.
Mines. Low maintenance, and casualties are completely voluntary. Worked quite well for decades from the Baltic to the Adriatic.
Crossers generally go where access is easiest. That’s also where access is easiest for CBP. Basically, it’s analogous to using a dustpan to clean up a mess instead of picking it up one crumb at a time.
Even a condom isn’t 100% effective….make what you will of that
Old-fashioned low-tech walls seem to work quite well for the Israelis.
You are just another prog supporting your fellow progs and anti-trumpers. You want more illegals like the rest of the D-rats because you plan on them voting D-rat at some point. The D-rat master plan is to replace those of us that don’t vote D-rat with the brainless unwashed of the third world.
1) I’m not a Democrat.
2) I don’t like illegal immigration.
Not everything is a conspiracy. Try writing out the whole word ‘Democrat‘ some time – the mental exercise would probably do some good!
I didn’t say you were a D-rat. Lars isn’t really a D-rat either. And I like using D-rat. And since I was once a card carrying member of that party before it was taken over by progs and crypto-commies, I will continue to save characters by using “D-rat.” You are the only one here who has ever objected to that appellation. And the current leaders of that political party and most of its politicians are not really democrats (note the small d), they are statists and/or crypto-socialists. Their primary goal is the political power to control every aspect of our lives, and importing third worlders illegally or legally is one of the means to their end goal.
A wall won’t stop any determined soul. It is a nice gesture and every deterrent is better than no deterrent.
If you really want to stop them, make it clear that they will not receive one dime from the federal government. Not one penny.
At best, they can be put on a bus, back across the border.
Until Obamigrants are willing to comply with American laws, they remain outlaws. I don’t want to kill them or harm them, just get them off of our soil until they demonstrate a willingness to comply with US law.
Yup. Remove the incentives. Stop feeding the stray dogs.
Amen.
Well said, and 100% accurate
If we ever passed laws to jail employers who knowingly employ illegals and fine those who do so unknowingly, the jobs for illegals would dry up in a matter of months. Then there would be a real drop in illegal border crossers.
You mean like “E-verify”? The federal system that employers are required to have available, but are not actually required to use?
I believe there are already penalties for those folks. But, like the immigration system our betters keep telling us is ‘broken’, enforcement is the real problem.
Also need to send a few employers on a perp walk.
Talk about unenforced laws.
But I have it on the best authority (Top Men) that immigrants don’t cost us a penny! In fact, they are a boon to the US economy!
Sarcasm, by the way. With a capital ‘S’.
We don’t need a huge wall. Just defences that no one in their right mind would want to attempt to breach. Minefields, sentry guns and LOTS of concertina wire. I’m sure enough private donations would be given to build watchtowers as needed along the border. Utilising private benefactors to fund military equipment has happened before (USS Niagara in Span-Am) and could be an idea how to offset costs.
I.E.
“This Guard Tower was funded in part by TAH to protect America”
Fuck PBS, fund the invasion prevention
I’d proudly display a tote bag in exchange for my generous donation.
Ditto!
There’s probably so ex-Stasi and -Vopo available. You want to resurrect the Einsatsgruppen? Be serious. The problem is not a physical barrier (which WILL be breached) it is post-crossing non-enforcement. No need for crimes against humanity, which gratuitous airstrikes on non-combatant civilians most certainly is. THROW THEM OUT. Someone is caught, immediately deport them. No family exption, throw them out. No benefits, no drivers’ licenses, no welfare. Painful fines for employers who don’t check, bigger fines if they are caught willfully employing illegals. Repeat offenders get a sliding distance scale of release points…. multiple offenders get put in a Zodiac off Tierra del Fuego. No need for a wall… just make sure they know that when found, they are GONE.
Something that bothers me about the wall fight is that people like Schumer are holding up the $5 Billion primarily because they want to spite President Trump. Part of it is because of a petty struggle for power, and another part is the result of an extended tantrum because Hillary Clinton didn’t win. If it wasn’t the matter of a wall in play, it would be something else, then another something else, then another something else, and so on. Resistance by any means necessary. Another issue, bordering on the either stupid or sinister, is that a lot of Progressive Democrats will absolutely swear they’re opposed to open borders, then turn around and establish policies which clearly prove the falsity of the statement. Sanctuary cities, access for illegals to the social safety net, no voter ID, no money for the wall, etc. Been deported six time? No hay problema; we have free lawyers waiting by the phone. Which, it should come as no surprise, also adds to a Progressive Democrat voter base. It also doesn’t seem to matter much if you’re a person, such as myself, who doesn’t have a particular problem with legal immigrants who show up because they want to become Americans, and are willing to work their way through the system. Ask yourself this question: What would happen to the country if, over a span of a few years, it became a majority of illegal immigrants who can vote? And what would happen if those same illegal immigrants consisted of those too sick, insane, or criminal to function in their own country? Also consider the population of the U.S. versus the population of the world-at-large which has demonstrated it hates us. Want to conquer a country without using military force? Simply move in. What also seems to be a factor driving the illegal runaway train is that a majority of ostensibly national news media is also in favor of open borders. Editorial boards for the New York Times, or CNN, or the Huffington Post might not brazenly say such a thing, but they’re all now competing for a… Read more »
If we stopped foreign aid for one year there would be more than enough money to build a wall to secure our border. Where President Trump is going wrong is if he wanted a wall, he should have gone to Wal(l)-Mart :>))
Hmmm, quick question to the class, “How many commenting here have skin in the game?”
Speak up if you’re furloughed tomorrow without pay, or perhaps worse, exempt like me and get to work for free? Bueller?
Anyone?
Didn’t think so. It puts a different perspective on the issue. I’ve served through shutdowns and worse, but I’m not a good example. I’m senior enough and have the funds to see me through the bullshit once again, but the junior folks don’t have that luxury. The mortgage company and the bank with the car note doesn’t care about a shut down. They want paid on time.
It’s also a tremendous hit on morale for both furloughs and exempts. Go figure.
Higher blowing sunshine up our skirts about how the valued government employee comes first, rings pretty hollow. OK, more hollow than usual. Call me a cynic.
My point, I suppose, I’ve been here long enough to establish I’m a rational, rock-ribbed conservative military pro-Trump critter. Mostly. Doesn’t mean I die on a bullshit hill, though. I call them as I see them, and if LC and I agree on occasion I’m fine with that.
OK, WTF do I want from all this?
Want a wall? Fuck, build a wall, or a fence, or a Jersey barrier with yellow strobes for all I care. Hire geeks to fly drones 24/7 over the border as spotters; give the guys on the pointy end the resources they need to stay safe and secure the border.
Keeping the ones requesting amnesty in Mexico until their hearing date is a great, if obvious start.
There was so much that could have been done, and wasn’t. Now it’s come to a game of chicken between Trump and Schumer, and I honestly don’t know which one will blink.
Or more importantly, when.
I keep track of our rare agreements – if it happens once or twice in a month, I consider that a sign that even the different halves of America can come to agreement now and then. If it happens three or four, … I take it as a sign of a coming apocalypse! 😉
Some of my work is indirectly government funded. I get paid for a short while longer, then I probably join you in doing stuff but not getting paid. Which is ironically the exact opposite of Congress and the President – doing nothing but still getting paid.
Here’s to hoping it resolves soon, and both sides eat a little crow. It’s good for them.
So you admit you’ve been stalking me.
*grin*
Merry Christmas, Bro. Right wing, left wing- the old bird needs both to fly. Some crow served on both sides of the aisle may clear some palates. And some minds.
I’ll leave this right here until the New Year, and SanFranNan takes back the House.
Then it’s back on, big time.
In fact, there’s even a song about her.
Someone has been drinking Sam Adams.
Your junior employees should learn budget management skills. I am a lowly SSG(P), and I got about 4 full monthly salaries saved for emergencies.
Well, good for you! Why don’t we all just line up and kiss your ass?
*sigh*
Not my employees, SJ. Junior engineers fresh out of college starting out in govvie work. Guess what, they’re very employable elsewhere for lots more recompense. Shit like this happens and they leave in droves.
Blame them? Not I. I just shake my head when Higher complains about the aging work force in Government, and I check once again my final GTFO date.
I’m not 100% sure if I’m working tomorrow. Higher hadn’t figured it out as of 1600L last Friday, and no news as of yet. Most of America views federal employees as overpaid leeches on the government teat, and those people exist. I had to agree with that crazy eyed Ocasio-Cortez woman today, and that didn’t sit well. The house and senate shouldn’t be getting paid during a shutdown either. I’m not gonna get hurt financially, but I despise being a political hostage to anyone.
SFC D, even a blind chipmunk finds the Ocasio acorn.
As a taxpayer, you damn well better believe I have “skin in the game.” We are the ones footing the bill for all this. We are the ones paying the price in so many other ways for the incompetence, mismanagement, and pure evil that got us here.
So, yeah, I do have a bit of compassion for the uncertainty some of you face this week, but no more than I have for everyone else who wonders if their pension will be there when they retire, if their company can remain in business next year, how much their medical bills will be, and all the other things that every adult must deal with throughout the year.
You’re a taxpayer? So am I, and I’m pretty tired of the DOD being the whipping boy when Big Government doesn’t do it’s job.
For the rest of your comment, I would agree life can suck sometimes, so be prepared for it. I am, and my resume is my resource. I’ve never lacked for work.
The kids just out of college don’t have a lot of life experience, same as junior folks everywhere. Furlough or exempt, they get hurt for no real good reason, quit, and get a triple-digit job in Silicon Valley.
As a business model this is a failure. If there is no one I can train to replace me when I check out, those skills and that experience level are gone, and the real loser is the Fleet. This disturbs me the most.
/rant
Oh, I get it. And remember the resentment when I had to work while others got some extra paid vacation.
Being simple minded, my philosophy has always been, if you are non-essential during a shut down, why are we paying you to be there other days? The least needed folks getting rewards for being unnecessary is just silly.
Businesses will take care of that as they watch their bottom line. Businesses tend to eliminate the bloat, or never develop it in the first place. Not so for govies who never seem to have to really justify anything. So, they play a budget game of asking for multiple times more than they actually need, and buy all sorts of unnecessary crap in September to use up last year’s funds. “We must spend it or get next year’s budget cut” is not really legitimate justification for the waste.
Freakin’ exactly. If every Government Agency (including DOD) would cut personnel by 10% through normal attrition, the cost savings would be enormous.
Why should gov’t. employees be shielded from the real world the rest of us live in? In the dreaded private sector employment is generally on an “at will” basis. None of us can be sure that we will have a job tomorrow. Many, blue collar and white collar, work only as long as the current project lasts, then it’s unemployment until another project comes along. And if you don’t have seniority the unemployed periods are longer.
Sorry, but my sympathy for the tribulations of gov’t. employees is limited.
I get that, and understand. Of course you have a broad brush, painting all govvies the same.
I’m DON, and work mostly work with Navy Officers and Sailors. The civilians like me are mostly former, retired, or reserve Navy. We are passionate about getting the best product we can to the Fleet, because most of us have been there.
I have yet to see that that government agency where one slacks off for four hours a day, goes to lunch and comes back tomorrow. If I worked at such a place I would quit.
/rant, again
I believe you have misunderstood my comment. I never mentioned anyone’s work ethic, I was commenting on what seems to be a universal expectation of some right of gov’t. workers to permanent, secure, employment vs. workers in the private sector.
“…expectation of some right of gov’t. workers to permanent, secure, employment vs. workers in the private sector.”
That likely was true in the past- the expectation of secure employment and great benefits in exchange for a smaller paycheck that the private sector.
Not so much any more with sequesters and downsizing. The reduced pay has stayed the same, though.
Remember folks, if the wall on our souther border wouldn’t work, the Left wouldn’t fight so hard against it.
Trump’s current request -is- five billion dollars worth of “shovel-ready” work.
Oops.
And it does reduce the inbound flow.
Ouch.
Can’t have that sort of two-level success.. no, no, no…..