As I said, there is no emergency at the border.
Joining 244 other members of Congress this evening in voting against Donald Trump’s fake emergency declaration, my Representative, Dusty Johnson, agrees:
Throughout the last two months, I’ve reliably voted with the President on border security and the border wall. There is still work to be done, and I’m committed to working with him in Congress to continue the progress we’ve made. An emergency declaration is the wrong approach, however. I spent eight years under President Obama fighting ever-expanding executive authority. I remain committed to that principle. Separation of powers is a central American value, brilliantly established by our Founders. It makes governing messy and frustrating, but concentrations of power threaten liberty. This is true, regardless of which party holds the White House. In the future we may have a president who supports a Green New Deal or radical attempts to roll back the rights of gun owners. If that’s the case, we’ll need the checks and balances inherent in our system to be alive and well [Rep. Dusty Johnson, in Calvin Cutler, “Dusty Johnson Votes to Block President Trump’s Emergency Declaration,” KNBN-TV, 2019.02.26].
Now let’s see if my Senators, John Thune and M. Michael Rounds, have the courage to put sound governing principles over personality and politics and cast a vote declaring the simple fact that Donald Trump has misused Executive authority by declaring an emergency simply to circumvent the will of Congress.
Voting for simple truth—gee, doesn’t sound that hard.
Good vote for Dusty.
My rep, Angie Craig, D-MN2, voted against the fake emergency too. Bet my senators, Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, both Ds, will also vote against it.
Can’t imagine #2 doing anything but whatever Chinless Wonder McTurtle tells him. Can’t imagine Rounds having a mind of his own, or much of a mind at all.
Rep. Johnson put principle before expediency with this vote. It’s a good sign.
…and he did it in a situation where he’s only one of 13 Republicans taking that stand. He doesn’t have a lot of room to hide, but he cast the right vote anyway.
My Representative – Jason Crow (D) CO 6 voted yes, also.
Well, knock me over with a feather! /cp
I was surprised, happily surprised, that Dusty voted this way yesterday. Good – for – him. Putting common sense and the country, before party. Novel idea.
I wish he hadn’t put out his “but Obama” and “radical attempts” and the “New Green Deal” in his justification statement. Call it what it is, Dusty. And leave it be……
But still, great vote Dusty!
Thune won’t dare vote “principle” as long as his major goal in life is to be in every photo op with McConnell. He will do what he is told. As for Smilin’ Mike, well, he didn’t get where he is by bucking the system. I have to agree with Dana that Dusty voted on principle. I may not agree with him on much, but he’s not just twisting in the wind like Kristi. And, it IS ok to leave out the obligatory Democrat smear statements when you state your policies, Dusty.
If Dusty keeps this up, he will either be shunned by the party and Trumpist South Dakota voters, …or he might just garner respect and status for standing up for principle. Who knows.
Being a maverick can cut both ways, but it has worked out for some. Personally I’d love for him to stand out instead of blending in with the GOP woodwork. Even if he is staunchly conservative, I can deal with intelligent conservatism vs. the Conspiracy/Drudge Report/Nunez variety.
When Dusty makes a counter-point he is able to explain it coherently. As opposed to sock-puppet Noem, or Corrupt Mike. I’d love to see him as an Independent that caucuses with the Republicans.
Dusty is still young, an educated experienced leader, he may awaken from his inculcation. Dana is correct. Rounds said the right thing concerning Trump’s ignorant racist blabber about Wounded Knee massacre and Greasy Grass victory.
“So there’s that” he said (to the meth dealer/“recreational” user).
Did Thune say something?
Way to go, Dusty!
Meanwhile, I can’t help but wonder why Thune is lockstep with McConnell. Thune ran unopposed last time, he has a treasure chest sufficient to keep him in good retirement no matter where he wants to go in the world, no matter how long he lives, and he’ll be reelected, apparently, until death do us all part. So why not actually vote any way he wants? Or is this who he really is? A McConnell clone, lost in the fog of ALEC?
Dusty you are wrong on the border decision. When you came to Alexandria before the election, you promised you would absolutely support President Trump.. You failed in your biggest campaign promise. There is a major catastrophe at our southern border. We are being overrun with drugs and immigrants, both of which cost billions and billions of taxpayer dollars every year. The tiny amount of money to build the wall to help curtail both these scourges is a drop in the bucket compared to what it costs to do nothing for a physical barrier. If you want to redeem yourself you could get E-verify passed and make it illegal for illegal immigrants to receive any type of assistance or money from the US Government. In the meantime I consider you a liar concerning your campaign promises and you are unreliable to assist our President. You have lost my confidence and that of most South Dakotans I know. We will make sure you are not re-elected.
Mr. Dumas, I don’t know where you’re getting your information, but it’s simply not true. There is no catastrophe there, no overrunning of drugs and immigrants, no billions and billions of dollars cost by a situation that does not exist, no scourge. I have 2 nieces who live in Texas. They know. I don’t have to rely on any news reports, though statistical evidence also proves you wrong.
Rep. Johnson looked at the US Constitution our forefathers wrote and easily concluded the president’s act was based on a lie to subvert the separation of powers, which the forefathers felt was so critical to the functioning of this country. Rep. Johnson put the USA before any one person. That indicates personal integrity rather than blind allegiance.
There are factually accurate and even rational arguments that support Trump’s emergency declaration and an attitude of hostility toward refugees and immigrants that seek freedom, security and economic opportunity. It is quite telling, however, that folks supporting Trump and anti-refugee sentiment do not rely on factually accurate arguments.
Instead, folks like Curtis Dumas, fall back on fictitious factual claims already conclusively debunked by multiple credible sources. False claims like
In response to the Curtis Dumas comment Debbo is, of course, factually correct in her statement that
In today’s RC Journal editorial Mike Rounds accidently cited a factually accurate argument supporting his vote for the wall. He pointed out an increase in the number of “families and children” (his words, not mine) seeking our help at the border. Of course, it is both factually accurate to recognize this increase in the needs of families and children, and even a rational political philosophy to oppose helping these people in need. Indeed, that is the lesson Ayn Rand, the guru guiding many modern conservatives like Paul Ryan, supports and teaches – a philosophical position that “altruism” is a flawed human attitude.
While I personally am disgusted by, and reject this particular philosophy, I have to recognize that it is both honest and based on a factually accurate premise, namely that families and children often need the help of society to survive. If one is philosophically opposed to society providing such assistance to needy people, then there is a basis for debate.
Unfortunately, Rounds too, within just a few sentences later in his essay, falls back on lies claiming a border crisis in crime, drug offenses, and tax costs, to justify his votes. Apparently, he like Curtis Dumas intuitively recognizes the cruelty of supporting policies designed to prevent society from helping families and children in need. Hence, to justify the cruel anti-altruistic view their arguments must be peppered with the false claim of uncontrolled crime and drugs due to lack of a border wall.
Trump’s claim of national emergency power can also be justified by a rational factually accurate argument, namely, that we need to give the Executive more power over the purse and that it is up to Congress to cede that power, which they have done. As long as Congress retains the authority to withdraw that power with a veto proof resolution, the delicate balance of power among the branches has remained intact. And Congress may also repeal or amend the ceded executive emergency powers through appropriate legislation. But that is not the argument Rounds, Curtis Dumas, or other supporters of President Trump make. Instead, they again fall back on the lie about catastrophic or increased crime and drugs at the border.
It is the dishonesty of Rounds, Curtis Dumas, and other supporters of Trump that reveal the vacuousness of their thinking. For Rounds it may be grounded in the fear of losing the support of SD’s anti-refugee/immigrant voters. For people like Curtis Dumas, it seems that the shame of supporting policies aimed at hurting rather than helping families and children that seek freedom, safety and economic opportunity may be a likely explanation.
Beautifully expressed, BCB.
BCB, you nailed it!
Hear, hear, BCB!
I just want honest discussions and honest policy.
Folks who have to lie to get what they want deserve to get nothing.