National Emergency Declaration It Is...

"The massive amount of aliens who unlawfully enter the United States each day is a direct threat to the safety and security of our nation and constitutes a national emergency," a draft of a presidential proclamation reads.

"Now, therefore, I, Donald J. Trump, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C 1601, et seq.), hereby declare that a national emergency exists at the southern border of the United States," the draft adds.

Click to expand...

According to options being considered, the administration could pull: $681 million from Treasury forfeiture funds, $3.6 billion in military construction, $3 billion in Pentagon civil works funds, and $200 million in Department of Homeland Security funds, the official said.

As lawmakers discussed a short-term measure to fund the government Thursday, Trump again raised the prospect of other ways to fund a border wall without congressional approval. I have other alternatives if I have to and I'll use those alternatives if I have to," he told reporters.

Click to expand...

Only 36 percent of voters say they support Trump’s re-allocating money to pay for the border wall through a national emergency, while 51 percent oppose such a declaration. Twice as many voters strongly oppose a national emergency, 41 percent, as strongly support it, 20 percent. And, as with much of the fight that has resulted in a government shutdown lasting more than three weeks, Trump has the support of the vast majority of Republican voters, 72 percent, but very few voters outside his political base.

Click to expand...

Oblimo said:

But to me it sounds like he's just made his staff scramble around for yet another wackadoodle contingency plan becuse he has no sense of vision or strategy.

Click to expand...

Kirkrapine said:

Everyone on his staff says he is averse to planning and prefers to wing it.

Click to expand...

The exact cost of the newly proposed wall is not clear yet many experts on the issue predicted that maintenance alone would make a border wall cost prohibitive. There are differing opinions and cost estimates of building the wall. The Trump administration has estimated the cost of the wall at $12 billion, but the Department of Homeland Security estimated the cost at $21.6 billion. According to one report, the proposed wall would cost up to $70 billion[citation needed], a significant difference. There is also no decision made on the actual structure of the wall but according to the Department of Homeland Security, the wall would be between 18 and 30 ft (5.5 and 9.1 m) high and as deep as 6 ft (1.8 m) underground to deter drug traffickers from building tunnels.[76]

Click to expand...

cowslinger64 said:

He certainly didn't plan out his responses to questions asked after the bills to end the shutdown got shotdown. My God.. it was like watching hisderpy, botanydummy or coach explain something. Brutal.


He's reduced our government to a bargaining chip... the government that countless people have served and many died to protect.


Sad.

Click to expand...

Que said:

I teared right up at that!

By the way I don't know if I've ever thanked you for your service to this country watching British comedies.

Click to expand...

Que said:

I teared right up at that!

By the way I don't know if I've ever thanked you for your service to this country watching British comedies.

Click to expand...

Hal9000_ said:

Why won't we do what the Border Patrol and Customs people actually want?

More personnel. More vehicle scanners. More drug sniffing dogs.

The problem is at the checkpoints. They are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of traffic passing through.

But no. Give them slogans.

Click to expand...

Oblimo said:

How about "a human wall of personnel?"

Click to expand...

adrina said:

It wouldn't surprised me in the least if he did it. He's backed himself into a corner and has to do something. The house will not and the senate cannot - at least not as long as 45 continues this folly.

Click to expand...

someoneyouknow said:

The con artist can declare an emergency,

...

they'll whine and snivel there's nothing they can do while the people doing the work they authorize continue to go unpaid.

Click to expand...

Carnal_Flower said:

Random comment: Trump keeps embarrassing himself with Pelosi because he's so desperate to put her in her place. He didn't have to have that meeting televised and he doesn't have to keep making his communications with her public. It all could be done behind the scenes. But he keeps thinking he's going to score a big coup against her and he wants everyone to see it. And then she goes and kicks him in the nuts in public. Again.

It is hilarious. He is being totally owned by Ann Coulter on one side and Pelosi on the other.

Click to expand...

BoyNextDoor said:

He can't get a smarmy nickname to stick to her and it galls him.

Click to expand...

someoneyouknow said:

The con artist can declare an emergency, but he has to cite the specific statutory authority. If he says anything remotely close to hordes of dark-skins wanting to work at his failing golf clubs flooding across the border, it is patently provable there are no such hordes.

Click to expand...

phrodeau said:

Well, we now have a national emergency in the form of airplanes along the East Coast being grounded due to lack of controller staff.

Click to expand...