Numerous reports suggest that Congress and the White House are working toward a compromise that will avert the second government shutdown of the year and deliver a budget deal that gives Donald Trump far less than the $5.7 billion he demanded for a border wall. Trump’s first shutdown cost America $3 billion in GDP and won him nothing, so Republicans likely won’t accept another shutdown. Even South Dakota’s slavishly Trumpist Senators are throwing cold water on Trump’s emergency declaration idea, so Trump seems to have no option but to cave.
I hate to see a guy go limp so quickly after standing so firmly. It thus occurs to me that we could offer Donald Trump a deal for the history books, one that would prove all of us Democrats wrong and demonstrate his supreme and selfless commitment to the safety of the country. Here’s the deal I would offer if I were Speaker of the House:
We will appropriate the full $5.7 billion Trump wants for his wall. We will even pretend that we are taking that money entirely from the taxes paid by undocumented workers from Mexico ($23.6 billion in taxes from undocumented workers in 2015, 50.9% of whom come from Mexico… that’s $12 billion—heck, let’s build two walls!)
The only condition is that Donald Trump has to resign. Sign the resignation, leave the White House, and the moment the new President takes the oath, we pass the funding bill [Speaker C.A. Heidelberger, alternative-reality press conference, 2019.02.08].
Surely that’s the fairest deal we Democrats could offer. A great policy protecting the American people is more important than any one person, right, Donald?
Besides, then it won’t look like you’re resigning just to get out of legal trouble. You’ll be resigning to save America from a looming danger. You’ll be a hero, unique in American history, sacrificing yourself and your power for a concrete policy objective.
“A concrete policy objective.” You are a wordsmith, Mr. H. I love everything about this!
“I hate to see a guy go limp so quickly after standing so firmly.” Taking direction from Ann Coulter can be emasculating.
Am I the only who sees a full on kleptocracy here? 45 needs to be in prison and that includes his enablers..NO DEALS! Oh by the way I do love your blog…a light in the darkness
And then we’re stuck with Lizard Pence?? Hard choice, unless you have shovel ready to cutoff tts head. B
No, hell no! Make Pence resign, too and swear in Madam Pelosi as Potus and put a stop to the weaponizing of the lifetime court appointments. She can then undo all Drumpf’s taxcuts for the koch bros and reinstate Obama programs that are gooder for the environment and everyday people.
Put the consumer finance protection bureau back in the business of protecting consumers from payday lenders. Save Roe once and for all.
The only honorable exit for Donald Trump is a stroke or cardiac event,either fatal. He will go down as with a dis-honorable discharge, be it,impeachment,resignation under pressure.
Mike, I considered the double resignation. In the spirit of compromise, I ask for one, just one. See how reasonable I am?
I agree with you and with Buckobear that it is a hard choice. However, I remain convinced that the world will be a safer place with any of the next three people in the Presidential order of succession as leader of the free world. Pence, Pelosi, Grassley… but then the list gets scary. Pompeo is #4, Mnuchin #5, Wilbur Ross #9, Carson #12, Perry #13, DeVos #14—what a kakistocracy!
SDBlue, I simultaneously bow to your praise and salute you for attentive reading. You, too, deserve a civics sticker. :-D
Simply make Trump “an offer he can’t refuse”.
Trump is a thug, he’ll know what it means.
Joking aside, I assume they could get a big ask in return for the wall. Maybe a somewhat toned down version of HR1? It might actually be easier to get something in return that isn’t related to immigration, because Stephen Miller is less likely to interfere with it.
How about a few moar resignations of well known wingnuts while we are at it?
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/gop-russian-state-tv/ Slightly off topic, but these A$$ clowns need to be tried for treason.
And an apology to Buckobear whose comment was still in the pipeline when I posted mine.
Yes, Billiam, one would assume that proper negotiations are an opportunity for everyone to benefit. If one side thinks one single policy priority is worth shutting down a quarter of the federal government, the other side should be able to contend that enacting that policy is worth expanding the government by 25%, by, say implementing Medicare for All and the Green New Deal (I’d throw in colonies on the Moon and Mars—species survival, you know).
A racist president running for a second term to escape criminal liability before he goes to prison. Free lawyers! Trump’s salvation to keep the family business charade afloat. Remarkable. BLM, Virginia racism. Top three Dems there in jeopardy. Professor explains where we are heading and how. Jacob Rosenberg, mother jones, WHITE SUPREMACY, 2.08.
Ryan, HC, this one is for you.
Say, hear the one about Lyndon Johnson at the starting line?: “ hobbled for years…you are free to compete….in all fairness”. Beautiful!
How about this deal? Give us the refund promised on leave the office. We want our 4,000.00 that was promised.
“The average refund check paid out so far has been $1,865, down from $2,035 at the same point in 2018, according to IRS data. Low-income taxpayers often file early to pocket the money as soon as possible. Many taxpayers count on the refunds to make important payments, or spend the money on things like home repairs, a vacation or a car.
The IRS had estimated it would issue about 2.3 percent fewer refunds this year as a result of the changes in the federal tax law, according to Bloomberg. MSNBC reports that 30 million Americans will owe the IRS money this year — 3 million more than before Trump’s tax law.”
trumper’s you got lied to. The rest of us knew it was bullpuckey all along. But ya got the hat.
Great link Mike. #2’s hands are probably shaking too hard to shoot a jumpshot.
I could see a deal like this:
Wall $5.2bil = 2 resignations, HR1 and Green New Deal.
Tell Mangled Maniac he’ll be honored with a great statue for saving the planet with the Green New Deal. (The statue will not be of him.)
jerry
Sarah Sanders, White House spokeswoman, repeatedly promised $4,000 cash to taxpayers upon passage of the Trump tax plan. Promised!
Millions of taxpayers are filing their taxes and are finding out the Trump tax plan was just another hoax, just like everything he touches is a hoax. Want to attend Trump U.?
Now that Trump has taken away the 2017 refunds of his trumpanzees, do you think they will still love him
Trump gave himself an $11 million dollar tax cut, Silent Jason. $11 million smack-er/oos. Don The Con strikes again.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/danalexander/2017/12/18/president-trump-could-save-11-million-a-year-from-new-tax-bill/amp/
Farm belt bankruptcies are soaring: https://www.wsj.com/articles/this-one-here-is-gonna-kick-my-buttfarm-belt-bankruptcies-are-soaring-11549468759
Farmers nearing a crisis: https://www.politico.com/story/2019/02/06/farm-crisis-trump-trade-policies-1147987
What will it take for these stubborn folks and their local politicians to vote in their interest?!
https://thehill.com/policy/finance/trade/429222-trade-official-warns-senators-of-obstacles-to-quick-china-trade-deal
My guess is not enough farmers have filed for bankruptcy to suit Drumpf. Farmers need assurances long before March about the availability of loans to see them through moar Drumpf foolishness on trade deals and tariffs.
Former iowa goobanure Terry Eugene Braindead is Amb to China. Why is he never heard from other than incompetency?
“goobanure?”
“cowmanure?”
I think your spelling is apt.
Amb Braindead should have a thing or 2 to say about this, but I suppose his daddy Mangled Maniac told him to just take up space and keep his mouth shut.