SCOTUS Rules Trump Can Use Defense Funds For Border Wall

Donald Trump

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the Trump administration can use Pentagon funds to build Donald Trump's beloved border wall.

From the AP:

The Supreme Court said Friday that it would lift a freeze on the money put in place by a lower court. The Supreme Court’s action means the Trump administration can tap the funds and begin work on four contracts it has awarded. Four liberal justices wouldn’t have allowed construction to start.

A trial court initially froze the funds in May and an appeals court kept that freeze in place earlier this month. The freeze had prevented the government from tapping approximately $2.5 billion in Defense Department money to replace existing sections of barrier in Arizona, California and New Mexico with more robust fencing.

Trump Vetoes Resolution Denouncing 'National Emergency' For Border Wall Funding

Donald Trump vetos resolution denouncing 'national emergency' declaration

Donald Trump has vetoed the congressional resolution aimed at blocking his 'national emergency' declaration for border wall funds.

This is the first veto of his presidency.

From NPR:

Congressional critics do not appear to have the votes to override Trump's veto. So, as a practical matter, the administration can continue to spend billions of dollars more on border barriers than lawmakers authorized, unless and until the courts intervene.

"Today I am vetoing this resolution," Trump said, flanked by law enforcement officials at an Oval Office event. "Congress has the freedom to pass this resolution and I have the duty to veto it."

Trump had telegraphed his plan to proceed with additional wall spending on Thursday, minutes after the Senate voted 59-41 to block it. Twelve Republican senators joined Democrats in rejecting the president's emergency declaration.

Trump declared a national emergency last month, after Congress authorized only $1.3 billion in border wall funding, far short of the $5.7 billion Trump had asked for. The emergency declaration allows the president to redirect funds from other accounts such as military construction to the Southern border wall.

Republican senators who bucked the president said they did so to preserve congressional control over the government's purse strings.

The border wall project still faces a variety of legal challenges, and despite Trump's veto, House and Senate votes against the emergency declaration could carry some weight in the courts.

Would this be a good time to remind folks that Trump lied all those times on the campaign stump when he claimed Mexico would pay for the wall?

JUST IN: President Trump issues his first veto, rejecting Congress' bid to overturn his national emergency declaration. https://t.co/kxcHRoZACq pic.twitter.com/65F6w8LwUS

— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 15, 2019

12 GOP Senators Vote For Resolution To Rebuke Trump's 'National Emergency' Declaration

Donald Trump

UPDATE: Twelve Republican senators joined with Democrats to approve a resolution denouncing Donald Trump's declaration of a 'national emergency' to gain funding for his long-sought border wall by a vote of 59-41.

12 Senate Republicans have voted Yes on disapproval resolution (vote still open):
Alexander
Blunt
Collins
Lee
Moran
Murkowski
Paul
Portman
Romney
Rubio
Toomey
Wicker

— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) March 14, 2019

The Trumpster made his next step perfectly clear immediately after the vote, tweeting "VETO!"

VETO!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 14, 2019

*****************************

Donald Trump went on a pre-emptive Twitter rant in advance of a vote in the GOP-controlled Senate today on a Democratic resolution to block Trump's emergency declaration in order to get funds for his beloved border wall.

In his tweet, Trump threatens to veto the resolution which would be his first use of veto powers while in the White House.

A big National Emergency vote today by The United States Senate on Border Security & the Wall (which is already under major construction). I am prepared to veto, if necessary. The Southern Border is a National Security and Humanitarian Nightmare, but it can be easily fixed!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 14, 2019

So far, seven Republican senators have announced they will vote for the resolution - Sens. Mitt Romney, Mike Lee, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Thom Tillis, Rand Paul, and Lamar Alexander.

The Hill suggests Sens. Marco Rubio, Ben Sasse, Ron Johnson and Jerry Moran could join the list of Republicans voting against the president.

Trump Will Ask Congress For $8.6 Billion For Border Wall

Donald Trump

Donald Trump plans to ask Congress for up to $8.6 billion in additional funding for his wall along the US/Mexico border in his upcoming budget proposal for fiscal 2020.

From The New York Times:

The request, which will come as part of Mr. Trump’s fiscal 2020 budget proposal, is certain to reignite a conflict with Democrats that led to a record-long government shutdown this year. Mr. Trump had previously requested $5.7 billion to build a wall but was rebuffed by both Democrats and Republicans, who approved a spending bill that did not include the funding.

That resulted in Mr. Trump declaring a national emergency on the border with Mexico to access billions of dollars that Congress refused to give him to build a wall there.

The new budget request is intended to allow for the completion of 700 miles of barrier, which is the total that Mr. Trump intends to build, mostly new but some refurbished.

Congress wouldn't give him $5.7 billion, so he's going to ask for $8.6 billion.

Seems logical.

Anyone remember when Mexico was going to pay for the wall?

Pentagon To Divert $1 Billion From Military Pay & Pension For Trump Wall

According to the Associated Press, the Pentagon is planning on diverting $1 billion from military pay and pension funds to help pay for Donald Trump's beloved wall at the Southern border.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., told The Associated Press, “It’s coming out of military pay and pensions. $1 billion. That’s the plan.”

Durbin said the funds are available because Army recruitment is down and a voluntary early military retirement program is being underutilized.

The development comes as Pentagon officials are seeking to minimize the amount of wall money that would come from military construction projects that are so cherished by lawmakers.

Can you imagine if Democrats proposed taking money from military service members pay and pensions???

Randy Rainbow Trolls Trump With Madonna Parody "Border Lies"

Political satirist Randy Rainbow brightens our Tuesday with his latest video, a parody of Madonna's 1983 hit, "Borderline."

In this version, Rainbow calls out Donald Trump's wild exaggerations of a national emergency as "Border Lies."

As always, the clever word play by our intrepid Mr. Rainbow is on point. Hit the play button below and enjoy.

News Round-Up: February 13, 2019

Some news items you might have missed:

• Donald Trump may think having a dog could make him look 'phony,' but InstaHunk Naor Yazdan says he's already found his Valentine's date, and this looks like true love to me.

• Out actor/singer Jussie Smollett will give his first interview since he was attacked in Chicago last month to Robin Roberts on GMA Thursday morning.

• Netflix's upcoming 'Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City’ is set to debut at the San Francisco International Film Festival at the Castro Theater on April 10. The series will arrive on Netflix this summer.

• Donald Trump said today that his proposed border wall will be harder to climb than Mount Everest.

• After Ellen Page called out movie star Chris Pratt for promoting his church, virulently anti-LGBTQ Hillsong Church, Pratt finally took to social media to defend the church saying it "opens its doors to absolutely everyone." Let's just say it didn't go over well with the Twitter people.

• Season 3 of Netflix's Emmy Award winning 'make better' series, Queer Eye, is set for release on March 15, and the streaming giant shared the news with a Valentines-themed video clip accompanied by a new track from pop star Carly Rae Jespen, "Now That I Found You."

After two seasons in Atlanta, the series is changing locations to help our folks in the Kansas City area. Hit play below for the upbeat vid.

View this post on Instagram

WE'RE BAAACK HENNYS! Get ready to 💗 L<3VE YOURSELF! 💗 Queer Eye 3 launches March 15. HUGE thanks to @carlyraejepsen for this exclusive preview of her *NEW BOP*, "Now That I Found You.” 😘

A post shared by Queer Eye (@queereye) on Feb 13, 2019 at 7:55am PST

Donald Trump Says There's A National Emergency At The Border

Donald Trump

Donald Trump wants you to know there is a National Emergency at the southern border of the U.S.

Is this how a president acts during a National Emergency?

TRUMP: DID YOU KNOW THERE IS A NATIONAL EMERGENCY AT BORDER?

TRUMP: THERE'S A NATIONAL EMERGENCY AT BORDER!

TRUMP: SERIOUSLY THERE IS A YUGE NATIONAL EMERGENCY AT BORDER!!

TRUMP: I SHUT DOWN GOVT. BECAUSE THERE'S A NATIONAL EMERGENCY AT..

Also Trump..pic.twitter.com/8x3SxyhI5w

— The Hummingbird 🐦 (@SaysHummingbird) February 4, 2019

Trump Offers Temporary DACA Relief In Exchange For His Permanent Wall To End #TrumpShutdown

Donald Trump, in a national address from the White House, offered a temporary extension of protections for some undocumented immigrants in exchange for $5.7 billion to fund his beloved wall.

From the New York Times:

In casting the proposal as a compromise, Mr. Trump sought to shift pressure to Democrats to end the government shutdown.

The president, delivering a 13-minute address from the White House, said he would extend the legal status of those facing deportation and support bipartisan legislation that would allow some immigrants who came to the United States illegally as children, known as Dreamers, to keep their work permits and be protected from deportation for three more years if they are revoked.

“That is our plan,” Mr. Trump said. “Straightforward, fair, reasonable and common sense with lots of compromise.” The proposal, Mr. Trump said, was intended to “break the logjam and provide Congress with a path forward.”

But he reiterated his demand for $5.7 billion in funding for a border barrier, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi said ahead of his remarks that she considered his proposal a “nonstarter,” in part because it offered no permanent pathway to citizenship for Dreamers.

I agree with Pelosi. If he wants a permanent wall, then we want permanent protections for the DACA Dreamers.

Last year, Republicans rejected a Democratic bill for $25 billion in border wall funding in return for DACA amnesty.

It's worth noting that Trump himself started the issue with DACA. So, now he's merely offering a temporary solution for a mess he made.

As expected, President Trump offered Democrats temporary protections for so-called "Dreamers" in exchange for border funding. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has signalled that the Democrats will reject the proposal. https://t.co/w1zo5dcUuy

— Twitter Moments (@TwitterMoments) January 19, 2019

What is original in the President’s proposal is not good. What is good in the proposal is not original. Democrats will vote next week to add additional border security funding for ports of entry, advanced technology for scanning vehicles for drugs & immigration judges.

— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 19, 2019

It was President @realDonaldTrump who single-handedly took away DACA and TPS protections in the first place—offering some protections back in exchange for the wall is not a compromise but more hostage taking.

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 19, 2019

DACA recipients and federal workers are not bargaining chips. It's time to reopen the government.

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) January 19, 2019

Trump ordered the end of DACA and TPS. Then he shut down the government. Now he’s holding federal workers hostage, saying he'll temporarily give back what he took away—only if we give him a pointless, ineffective wall he falsely promised Mexico would pay for. This is a bad deal.

— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) January 19, 2019

Trump’s almost impossible proposition: he wants a PERMANENT wall for a TEMPORARY extension for Dreamers and TPS recipients.
(Or $ 5.7 B for 230 miles of new wall/metal barriers for extending DACA and TPS for 3 years.)
It seems unfair. Why not permanent for permanent?

— JORGE RAMOS (@jorgeramosnews) January 19, 2019

Trump stole DACA protections from all the Dreamers. Now he wants us to give him a wall in exchange for 3 years of deportation protection so he can deport them later when it's finished.

Trump created this crisis. It's his to fix.

— Tea Pain (@TeaPainUSA) January 19, 2019

Trump Plans To Offer DACA Protections In Exchange For His Wall

Donald Trump

Axios' Jonathan Swan is reporting Donald Trump plans to offer passage of the BRIDGE Act for DACA recipients to Democrats today in exchange for the $5.7 billion he wants for his beloved wall.

President Trump plans to use remarks from the Diplomatic Reception Room on Saturday afternoon to propose a notable immigration compromise, according to sources familiar with the speech.

Details: The offer is expected to include Trump’s $5.7 billion demand for wall money in exchange for the BRIDGE Act — which would extend protections for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) — and also legislation to extend the legal status of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, according to a source with direct knowledge.

For their part, Dems are reportedly preparing to pass a package of six spending bills next week which will include an extra $1 billion for additional border security measures.

Donald Trump Once To Students: 'Go Through A Concrete Wall' And 'Never Give Up'

The Daily Show found video footage of Donald Trump telling graduates back in 2004 to 'never give up,' even if there's a 'concrete wall in front of you.'

"Never, ever give up. Don't give up. Don't allow it to happen. If there's a concrete wall in front of you, go through it, go over it, go around it. But get to the other side of that wall."

Hmmm...

View this post on Instagram

Oh man, once Trump gets his wall he better hope no one shows Mexico this old video we found.

A post shared by The Daily Show (@thedailyshow) on Jan 9, 2019 at 5:18pm PST

Trump: "I Never Said" Mexico Would Pay For The Wall

Donald Trump

Donald Trump told reporters today that he "never said" Mexico would pay for his beloved border wall.

“When during the campaign I would say Mexico is going to pay for it, obviously I never said this, and I never meant they’re going to write out a check," said the Trumpster. "I said they’re going to pay for it - they are."

Show of hands, please, does anyone recall Trump repeating over and over again, "Who's gonna pay for the wall? Mexico! It'll be so easy..."

Trump (on the wall/fence):

"During the campaign, I would say Mexico is going to pay for it. Obviously, I NEVER SAID THIS, and I never meant they are going to write a check!"pic.twitter.com/iwwfApBwn2

— William LeGate (@williamlegate) January 10, 2019

From Trump's campaign website, August 2016: "It's an easy decision for Mexico: make a one-time payment of $5-10 billion..."

Trump now says Mexico is “paying for the wall indirectly many, many times over by the really great trade deal we just made.”

Note: The USMCA has not been ratified by Congress, and so, it's not currently in force.

Plus, any economic gains from the USMCA would go to private individuals and companies, not the U.S. Treasury.

Trump in 2016 on Mexico: "They may even write us a check."

Trump today on Mexico: "I never said they're going to write out a check." pic.twitter.com/OwgD0vyMql

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 10, 2019

In the Orwellian category, Trump just said “I never said this” when asked about his repeated promises Mexico will pay for the wall.

— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) January 10, 2019

Trump's claim that he never said that Mexico would pay for the wall is another example of gaslighting:
1. say somethng dozens of times.
2. two years later deny saying it.
3. attack those who call out the lie.
4. eager supporters amplify the lie on their own platforms.

— West Wing Reports (@WestWingReport) January 10, 2019

As for Trump's claim that he never said that Mexico would pay for the wall - thank goodness videotape hasn't been invented, otherwise some young producer might put together a mashup of all the times that he did

— West Wing Reports (@WestWingReport) January 10, 2019

Another Lie: Trump Says Former Presidents Wish They'd Built 'The Wall'

Donald Trump

Donald Trump told reporters on Friday that former presidents have shared with him privately that they wish they had built a wall along the Mexican border.

“This should have been done by all of the presidents that preceded me and they all know it," Trump said. "Some of them have told me that we should have done it.”

But spokesmen for three of the four living former presidents - Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama — say (guess what?) that has not happened.

From Politico:

Asked if Clinton told Trump that he should have built a border wall, Clinton spokesman Angel Ureña said, “He did not. In fact, they’ve not talked since the inauguration.”

Bush spokesman Freddy Ford also said the two men had not discussed the matter. And Obama, for his part, has not spoken with Trump since his inauguration, except for a brief exchange at George H.W. Bush’s funeral in Washington, D.C.

No official word from Jimmy Carter, but in September he said, "If I were president again, I'd change all of Trump's policies."

So, there you go.

*****************************************

UPDATE - January 7, 2019 - Jimmy Carter has weighed in officially now saying, "I have not discussed the border wall with President Trump, and do not support him on the issue."

Clarification from former U.S. President Jimmy Carter:

"I have not discussed the border wall with President Trump, and do not support him on the issue.” -- Jimmy Carter

— The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) January 7, 2019

Trump Considering Declaring 'National Emergency' To Get Funds For His Border Wall

Donald Trump may declare a national emergency to fund his border wall

Donald Trump told the press today that he is considering declaring a national emergency in order to allocate funds to build his infamous 'border wall.'

Trump didn't offer details on how that process would work.

JUST IN: Pres. Trump says he's considered declaring a national emergency to circumvent congressional approval to allocate funds for border wall: "We can call a national emergency because of the security of our country... I haven't done it, I may do it." https://t.co/cOHXje4LUF pic.twitter.com/DWay2YzddE

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) January 4, 2019

Trump should read the Constitution:

“All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives ... No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.” U.S. Constitution, Article I. https://t.co/BlY6k6Ij7o

— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) January 4, 2019

Trump's confusing message: He claims he can declare a national emergency and build wall himself; Mexico is paying for it through a trade deal that hasn't been approved by Congress; and the wall is already being built.

But he wants Congress to appropriate $5 billion for the wall

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 4, 2019

This is SO confusing.

The wall's already built?

Or do you still need $5B for the wall?

Is Mexico still paying for it?

Oh, so they'll pay LATER, you say?

But you're building it anyway, even if you don't get $5B?

So wait...why is the government shut down?

dammit!

— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) January 4, 2019

In related news, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told the press today that Trump said in a meeting today regarding the current government shutdown that he "would keep the government shutdown for a very long period of time - months or even years."

Chuck Schumer: "We told the president we needed the government open. He resisted. In fact, he said he'd keep the government closed for a very long period of time. Months or even years." Via ABC pic.twitter.com/5XYOoXH8mo

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) January 4, 2019

Democrats Plan To Pass Homeland Security Funding Bill First (But Trump Won't Like It)

Donald Trump

According to The Washington Post, Democrats plan to pass a stopgap spending bill that would fund the Department of Homeland Security through February 8.

The Homeland Security bill will match the one passed by the Republican-controlled Senate before Christmas which includes $1.3 billion for border fencing and other security measures.

Six other funding bills are also in the pipeline to fund closed portions of the federal government through September 30.

It looks like Donald Trump got the memo. The Trumpster launched into another Twitter rant on the subject this morning.

He keeps saying Democrats should get back to Washington, but technically Paul Ryan is still the Speaker of the House.

Just saying...

I campaigned on Border Security, which you cannot have without a strong and powerful Wall. Our Southern Border has long been an “Open Wound,” where drugs, criminals (including human traffickers) and illegals would pour into our Country. Dems should get back here an fix now!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2018

I’m in the Oval Office. Democrats, come back from vacation now and give us the votes necessary for Border Security, including the Wall. You voted yes in 2006 and 2013. One more yes, but with me in office, I’ll get it built, and Fast!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2018

It’s incredible how Democrats can all use their ridiculous sound bite and say that a Wall doesn’t work. It does, and properly built, almost 100%! They say it’s old technology - but so is the wheel. They now say it is immoral- but it is far more immoral for people to be dying!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2018

By the way, that part about being "in the Oval Office?" Looks like it was another lie. White House reporter Brian Karem noted that there's no Marine standing guard outside the Oval Office which is normal protocol when the president is in the West Wing.

POTUS tweet minutes ago claimed he was in the Oval Office. No marine there so that’s another lie. ⁦@realDonaldTrump⁩ pic.twitter.com/rnJnQt88HO

— Brian J. Karem (@BrianKarem) December 31, 2018

Mexican President Cancels White House Visit After "Testy" Phone Call Over Border Wall

Donald Trump (L) and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto (R)

The tense relationship between Donald Trump and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto continues in "testy" territory as a tentative plan for Peña Nieto to visit the White House has been scrapped thanks to disagreement regarding Trump's long-promised border wall.

From The Washington Post:

Peña Nieto was eyeing an official trip to Washington this month or in March, but both countries agreed to call off the plan after Trump would not agree to publicly affirm Mexico’s position that it would not fund construction of a border wall that the Mexican people widely consider offensive, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a confidential conversation.

Speaking by phone on Tuesday, Peña Nieto and Trump devoted a considerable portion of their roughly 50 minute conversation to the wall, and neither man would compromise his position.

One Mexican official said Trump “lost his temper.” But U.S. officials described him instead as being frustrated and exasperated, saying Trump believed it was unreasonable for Peña Nieto to expect him to back off his crowd-pleasing campaign promise of forcing Mexico to pay for the wall.

During a phone call in January 2017, Trump admitted to Peña Nieto that they both were "in a little bit of a bind" over the promised border wall.

“The fact is, we are both in a little bit of a political bind because I have to have Mexico pay for the wall,” Trump told Peña Nieto. “I have to. I have been talking about it for a two-year period. If you are going to say that Mexico is not going to pay for the wall, then I do not want to meet with you guys anymore because I cannot live with that.”

Trump Wall 2.0 - Mexico Will "Eventually" Pay For Wall "In Some Form"

Donald Trump repeated over and over and over during the campaign that he would build a "big, beautiful wall" on the US/Mexico border, and Mexico would pay for it.

Welcome now to Trump Wall 2.0 where, according to a presidential tweet this morning, Mexico will "eventually" pay for the wall "in some form."

Got it?

#liar

Eventually, but at a later date so we can get started early, Mexico will be paying, in some form, for the badly needed border wall.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 23, 2017

News Round-Up: April 18, 2017

Some news items you may have missed:

• Fitness model/trainer Lony Pizzaro makes a great distraction from Tax Day 2017.

• According to Tourism Economics, the U.S. economy could lose more than $18 billion and about 107,000 jobs this year and next year due to President Trump's travel ban policy.

• New York Magazine says Rupert Murdoch is now leaning towards firing Bill O'Reilly from his luxe Fox News job.

• A new poll shows 61% of adults living in Texas oppose President Trump's plan to build a wall along the W.S./Mexico border. And yet, they voted for him.

• And speaking of Texas, did you hear the one about the idiot who stole a rainbow flag from flying at a church so he could leave an American flag in it's place? With the flag was a note reading, “I didn’t agree with your flag so I took it down. If you don’t agree with this one, you can take it down. P.S. there are only 2 (two) genders.” No worries, though - the church figured it would happen some day, and had a backup Pride flag waiting in the wings.

• Even the cops get in on the act at New Orleans' Easter Parade:

In a completely lighthearted, humorous move an NOPD officer reaches back to gently slap the rear of Qween B. Amor who persisted on backing up and dancing closer and closer to these motorcycle officers who were leading an Easter parade through the French Quarter on Sunday. The crowds lining Royal St. immediately erupted in laughter and applauded the unexpected move by the officer. A fun time was had by all! Photo by Chris Granger @cgranger #onlyinneworleans

A post shared by NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune (@nolanews) on Apr 16, 2017 at 5:29pm PDT

Meme Of The Day

Mexico's President Enrique Peña Nieto Cancels Meeting With President Trump

Earlier today, President Trump said it might be better to cancel his upcoming meeting on January 31 with Mexico's President Enrique Peña Nieto if Mexico continues to resist paying for "The Wall" Trump has proposed to build along the United States' southern border.

It has now been reported that Mexico's Nieto has informed the White House he will not be attending the meeting.

In an interview Wednesday on ABC News, the president said that U.S. funds are necessary for beginning the construction of the wall. “I’m just telling you there will be a payment,” he said. “As soon as we can. As soon as we can physically do it.”

Pres. Trump: Construction of border wall to begin "in months"; Mexico will "absolutely" reimburse the U.S. for wall. https://t.co/H0uApVrTYu pic.twitter.com/GCK7ISnF8F

— ABC News (@ABC) January 26, 2017