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US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump had a message last night for Democrats hoping he’ll relent in the political arm wrestling that has seen funds blocked to parts of the government for a record 33 days: “No Cave!”
Trump’s defiant tweet again blamed congressional Democrats for the chaos, insisting he will not lift his shutdown on federal government funding unless they approve his $5.7 billion plan for more walls along the US-Mexican border.
“Without a Wall our Country can never have Border or National Security. With a powerful Wall or Steel Barrier, Crime Rates (and Drugs) will go substantially down all over the U.S.,” Trump tweeted.
“The Dems know this but want to play political games.”
Donald J. Trump / Twitter
Donald J. Trump / Twitter / Twitter
Trump triggered a partial government shutdown on 22 December – refusing to sign off on funding everything from FBI salaries to the National Park Service – as a way of pressuring the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives to back the wall project.
But with Democrats refusing to give in and Trump sticking to his hardball tactics, political paralysis in Washington has morphed into growing day-to-day pain across the country as some 800,000 federal employees adjust to life without salaries.
Trump’s main opponent, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was adamant that the president is to blame. “#EndTheShutdown now,” she tweeted.
Pelosi, speaker of the Democrat-led House, argues that border security funding cannot even be discussed before the shutdown ends, accusing Trump of “holding Americans hostage”.
Senate to vote
The Senate is set to vote on two bills this week that would in theory break the deadlock, even if both have little chance of passing.
The first is on Trump’s compromise offer made on Saturday, when he told Democrats he would extend temporary protection to about a million immigrants currently risking deportation if he gets his wall funding.
Pelosi sent out a rejection before Trump had even officially laid out his proposal. The president also caught backlash from the right wing of his own party, which accused him of wanting to give amnesty to large numbers of people living in the country illegally.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced that a vote on Trump’s plan would take place this week, saying the chance to end the shutdown is “staring us in the face.”
However, the bill looks doomed, with the senior Democrat in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, describing the Trump offer as “going nowhere fast.”
“President Trump and leader McConnell need to come to their senses,” he said.
The Senate was also expected to reject a second, Democrat-backed bill to restart funding for the government. Even if it did get through Congress, “the president won’t sign it,” a senior Senate Republican aide said.
Both votes are expected tomorrow.
Political fight, real consequences
Extending the existing border fences has been at the top of Trump’s domestic agenda since his 2016 campaign.
Democrats accuse his campaign against illegal immigration of ignoring more complex humanitarian issues on the border and stoking xenophobia.
But the disagreement over walls has expanded into a much broader test of political strength in divided Washington, with each side desperate to prevent the other from declaring victory.
Meanwhile, the hundreds of thousands of unpaid federal employees and many more contract workers are collateral victims, facing the start of a second month of going unpaid.
Full-time employees will get their back pay eventually, but in the meantime they still have to meet mortgage payments and other monthly costs. Contractors, however, won’t receive the lost payments.
“If you’re not going to pay our bills, then send us back to work. That’s all we’re asking,” said Yvette Hicks, 40, a contractor at the Smithsonian museum complex. “People are losing their houses, people are losing their cars and everything.”
“Right now, this shutdown is really destroying me and my family,” added the single mother of two. “I’m the mother and the father in my household, and my children depend on me.”
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The greatest inadvertant mistake the founders of the USA made. They put that in to defend themselves in shakier times but it has been so badly baztardized that gobsheens like Trump and NRA lobbyists hold huge sway now with no end in sight either.
Actually they got it pretty OK all things considered. The bit the NRA like to leave out is the “organised militia” part. You can expect to pull their heads in though now that videos of the like of The Black Panthers are doing the rounds showing them brandishing long rifles with large capacity clips. That sort of thing scares the bejesus out of your average white republican.
Around 80 Americans die per day from gun violance, I wouldn’t exactly describe thst factt as getting it right. If IS could kill 80 Americans per day they would be pretty happy but when Americans kill 80 Americans daily with guns it’s seen as a constitutional right. Some right.
What a clever country. Do they really think that two groups opposing each other who are legally armed is a good idea. A Mexican stand-off I think it’s called.
Guns and angry people don’t mix…and they don’t even have to hide the fact that they have guns..Clever Country indeed.
Will Trump allow the Mexicans in for the standoff?
i think a mexican standoff is where there are three armed participants, or so i recall from the good the bad and the ugly
Correct, although my point of reference is Reservoir Dogs” (no *actual* Mexicans as far as I’m aware)
Technically a Mexican Stand off is where neither party can walk away without incurring injury. Traditionally it’s three parties but it can be two..
thanks Paddy, that does make sense, ill still picture clint, that rather grubby looking chap and the other one i cant remember though
Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef….
When you preach politics of hate and fear you reap what you sow. Does anyone think this is the way forward?
how could i forget lee van cleef. im hanging my head
Ohios laws state that open carry is OK so why won’t Trump allow Americans their constitional rights in the arena itself. Is this the start of his clampdown on American rights and wouldn’t he be safer if everyone is allowed to be armed inside in case of an attack.
If Democrat protesters behave themselves there’ll be no need for guns.
Otherwise it could end up like the OK Corral….and my money’s on the Trump Gang.
You sir, are a g0bshite!
Aoife, because it is the secret service that made the decision. They are kind of sensitive about firearms around US presidents, elected representatives and presumptive presidential Nominees
@Osine.
And you sir are an annoyance.
A guy in the crowd pulls out a gun, is he a good guy about to stop a bad guy you can’t see, or a bad guy? Do tell.
I don’t believe that. I reckon it’s an attempt by the government to roll back on the 2nd amendment. Really or just shows the hypocritical nature of a Trump campaign, he says that more guns are needed but just not when he’s around.
It has been the case at every party convention since the early 80′s
Wayne doesn’t matter. Trump says he’ll make America great again and I presume that includes allowing open carry and stopping govt interference in citizens affairs. He should allow all the conventions to have guns and if republicans are armed it’ll stop any crazy democratic party people.
Presidential security is the job of the secret service, the president does not get to over ride them. If he did they would not be able to do their job
Open carry doesnt allow people to pull a gun pn someone. Its there to negate violence.
very low on grey matter
Leftists want to stage a peaceful protest? Lol we’ll wait.
lol
These gun totin right wing NRA crazies are the US version of ISIS. The sad part is so many people in the US see no wrong in their almost mediaeval gun laws.
Hilary Clinton is a gun totin political hawk of the highest order yet seemingly Democrats have no problem votin for her.
Go figure.
Actually lots Of Democrats have major problems with Hilary.
Judging by the belligerent behaviour of leftie Democrats at previous rallies the Republicans have every right to arm themselves.
And defend themselves if necessary.
See comment above.
I did.
And I’m not impressed.
Somehow I don’t think the intent of the comment was to impress
Yes, they have the right to prove once and for all that they are the biggest terrorists of all. The biggest killers of Americans in the world.
“Trump dominated a divisive and unruly primary season, infuriating minority groups, antagonising many people within his own party, and drawing violence to his campaign rallies.”
Democrats have consistently behaved like spoiled kids having tantrums and violently attacking Trump supporters.
And yet people consistently blame the victims of this violence, how about snowflakes take responsibility for their own actions? Even an assassination attempt against him doesn’t seem to have raised any eyebrows.
Trump has shown the liberal monkeys up for what they are.
Trump has shown the world how far a fart in a brown paper bag can go
It’s a bad idea when the government have all the arms and citizens have none…eventually that scenario will end badly too.
Yep. Having an armed populace keeps the government in check!
if you live in the 18th century then yes, yes it does
The Tru(m)pPence Conference!!!!… Special Correspondent Mark Tanner!!
Open carrying of guns at a Trump rally….what could possibly go wrong.
Democrats arrive.
Everyone should point their gun at him in the convention and ask him how he feels.
have your say