ChrisWeigant.com

Can Trump Deal With The Democrats?

[ Posted Tuesday, November 28th, 2017 – 17:35 UTC ]

Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer are apparently ready to play hardball at the start of the negotiations to work out a year-end deal with Donald Trump and the Republicans in Congress. They signaled their intentions today by snubbing a planned photo op at the White House in response to a rather nasty tweet the president sent out about them, hours before the meeting was supposed to begin. Why negotiate when Trump is already calling them names, after all?

How much any of this means to the overall chances of cutting some sort of deal remains to be seen. But it does send a strong signal that Trump will face consequences for his Twitter habit, which up until now has not yet happened. So perhaps Trump will realize that he's got to tone it down if he really is interested in cutting a deal with the Democrats. Or perhaps not. Perhaps he'll double down on the nasty tweets instead -- with Trump, this certainly remains a possibility.

Democrats are necessary to this process, which makes it different from the tax bill the Republicans are currently working to pass. Because there will be so many moving parts in whatever deal gets cut, Republicans will not have the luxury of using reconciliation to avoid the 60-vote filibuster threshold in the Senate. Without Democratic votes, no deal is possible. This gives them a lot of leverage, and they already seem quite willing to use it, from the very start of the negotiations.

Democrats have, to date, negotiated three deals with President Trump. Two of these were on stopgap budget bills which kicked the deadline down the road twice, earlier this year. The new deadline is fast approaching once again, meaning Congress is first going to have to pass another stopgap measure to extend the negotiations to Christmas, or possibly into January. That's the first hurdle, and the one they were supposed to discuss today. The much bigger hurdle is passing a real budget for the next fiscal year, which will be a lot more complex than just agreeing to another stopgap bill. The previous two stopgap measures contained most of what Democrats wanted and almost nothing that Republicans wanted, but passing a yearly budget bill is going to be tougher all around.

The third deal Democrats made with Trump happened when Schumer and Pelosi had dinner alone with the president to talk about the "Dreamers" that Trump had cut off by announcing the end of the DACA program. Schumer and Pelosi left this meeting convinced that Trump had indeed cut a deal with them to pass a clean DACA replacement bill, but Trump immediately reneged on the agreement. In fact, he didn't even admit that an agreement had been reached. When it came time to draft a bill, the White House made outrageous demands that would have fundamentally changed the entire legal immigration system -- something never discussed in the dinner with the Democratic leaders. This was nothing short of bad-faith bargaining by Trump, which is one big reason why Schumer and Pelosi weren't willing to be props in a photo op today at the White House. Once burned, twice shy, in other words.

The biggest obstacle in the way of making a year-end deal is the sheer complexity of what will be required. The Republicans control Congress, but they've frittered away almost the entire year on unproductively tilting at various windmills. This has left a lot of things left on the congressional "to do" list, and they're all coming due in December. Some of these are related to the budget, and some are not. Congress has to pass a 2018 budget, raise the debt ceiling, reauthorize the children's health program, reauthorize rules for federal wiretapping, and reauthorize the subsidies under Obamacare. That's just a partial list, really -- there are a lot of moving parts which may get wrapped into one gigantic omnibus bill. Each one of these parts is contentious and may cause the effort to stall.

Democrats would add one more item to that list -- authorizing DACA once again, and allowing the Dreamers to have some sort of legal status. This is a real deal-breaker for Democrats, and is really at the top of their list. Many Democrats in Congress were upset when Pelosi and Schumer cut the last stopgap deal with Trump, because they felt DACA should have been part of that deal. So there is no way Democrats are going to vote for any year-end legislative package which doesn't include the Dreamers. They were joined today by the first Republican (from a Florida district in the House) to cross the aisle and announce his vote will also depend on the inclusion of the Dreamers. This means Democrats can now claim it is a bipartisan effort (as thin as that claim may currently be... but other vulnerable Republicans might wind up crossing the aisle as well in the near future).

Republicans will be pushing back on the DACA effort, insisting that all sorts of poison pills also be included (from that wish list that the White House released after Trump broke the deal with "Chuck and Nancy"). Trump wants money for his beloved border wall. Republicans in Congress want to completely rework the immigration system to radically restrict who is allowed to immigrate legally. Democrats are insisting that none of these things will be included.

This has already led to talk of a government shutdown. What the chances of this actually happening are is anyone's guess, at this point. If Democrats stick together and if Republicans refuse their offer, then we would be at an impasse and no budget bill will be able to get the votes to pass.

Trump, earlier this year, actually spoke with compassion about the Dreamers' plight. Of course, this was right after he created the problem by pulling the plug on Obama's DACA solution. But now he's back to calling them "illegals" and speaking in dark terms about "crime flooding across the border." His fickle nature on the subject (on many subjects, in fact) has made cutting a deal with him all that much harder. Trump famously repeats whatever the last person he talked to told him, no matter whether that contradicts what he said yesterday or not. Right now it appears the last person he talked to was an anti-immigrant nationalist, but with Trump that could always change at a moment's notice, so it's hard to even guess where he'll end up in the negotiating process.

The biggest bargaining chip Democrats have in all of this is their ability to actually deliver what they promise to Trump. The second stopgap budget deal is the best example of this. Trump met with both Republican and Democratic leaders, and the Democrats gave him their list of demands while promising they could put such a bill on his desk within days if the Republicans would only hold the votes. Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan tried to push back, but Trump overruled them and accepted the Democrats' plan. The bill was on Trump's desk before the week was out -- it took mere days to get it through both chambers, in fact, which is warp speed on Capitol Hill.

The more the negotiations drag on, the more tempting the Democratic promises of quick action will assumably be to Trump. Democrats so far seem like they've got their priorities straight. They have two lists: one of deal-makers that must be included, and one of deal-breakers which must not be included. They don't seem inclined to budge on these lines in the sand, at least at the beginning of the process. They've already sent a message that the negotiations will not be conducted by angry tweets, so we'll see whether Trump learns this lesson or not.

So far this year, two budget deals were agreed to, both of which heavily favored the Democratic agenda over the Republican agenda. These bills were passed with unanimous Democratic support and enough moderate Republican votes to get it over the finish line. The extremists in the GOP were shut out of the picture entirely. Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer are going to try to pull this feat off again in the big year-end budget deal, but it remains to be seen how successful this effort will be. Ryan and McConnell are feeling pressure from within their own ranks because the two previous deals pretty much ignored the GOP agenda. And this bill, unlike the previous two, will be a full budget instead of just allowing the spending to essentially continue on autopilot. So everyone knows this is the last bus leaving the station for the entire 2018 budget. The stakes are already high, and Democrats are already signaling how seriously they take the negotiation. Refusing to smile for the cameras sitting next to Trump after he insulted them on Twitter only made their position stronger and his that much weaker.

Trump sold himself on the campaign trail (and before) as being the king of the deal. He was the best dealmaker, ever. Just read his ghost-written book, he'll tell you all about it! So far, though, the only deals he's managed to make in Congress have heavily favored the Democrats. Will he be able to deal with the Democrats again over the next few weeks? And will the Democrats walk away smiling once again? Stay tuned, because it's going to be a wild December in Washington.

-- Chris Weigant

 

Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant

 

59 Comments on “Can Trump Deal With The Democrats?”

  1. [1] 
    TheStig wrote:

    Trump's "art of the deal" has historically been "stiff and litigate." Look it up, it is a long record. Trump is and old man and his old habits are going to be hard to modify. Kelly will sit down with him and try explain how The US Government works.

  2. [2] 
    Michale wrote:

    Why negotiate when Trump is already calling them names, after all?

    Yea... Cuz Democrats would *NEVER* stoop to name-calling, right?? :^/

    something never discussed in the dinner with the Democratic leaders.

    Yea??? Says who?? Democrat Leaders??? :D

    "Oooohhh Harold?? You see where I am going with this??"
    -Tom Cruise, A FEW GOOD MEN

    :D

    Will the Democrats shut down the government to get their way???

    THAT is the question.. :D

  3. [3] 
    Michale wrote:

    NBC fires Matt Lauer after complaint about 'inappropriate sexual behavior'
    http://money.cnn.com/2017/11/29/media/matt-lauer/index.html

    And ANOTHER Left Winger is caught with their hand in someone else's pants..

    What IS it with Democrats???

  4. [4] 
    neilm wrote:

    Nobody on the right wing seems to want to talk about the Tax bill.

    What IS it with Republicans???

  5. [5] 
    Michale wrote:

    Nobody on the right wing seems to want to talk about the Tax bill.

    What IS it with Republicans???

    I dunno.. I am not a Republican..

    You ARE a Democrat..

    So, tell me..

    What IS it with Democrats??

  6. [6] 
    Balthasar wrote:

    I dunno.. I am not a Republican..

    That's convenient.

  7. [7] 
    TheStig wrote:

    Neilm-4

    No safe options. Caught between Trump's base, their home base and the wider electorate in 2018. Very worried about a stock market crash...and Mueller. Keep your head down, leave as few fingerprints as possible. It's hard when your party is nominally in control of House, Senate and the Presidency.

  8. [8] 
    TheStig wrote:

    Quite a tweet storm today. Started early in the am too. Red meat stuff including Muslim YouTube vids. I suspect that like Lyndon Johnson, Trump does a lot of governing on "the can."

    If Kelly doesn't drink, he may be considering it. He has not been able to bring order to the Trump Presidency.

  9. [9] 
    Michale wrote:

    I suspect that like Lyndon Johnson, Trump does a lot of governing on "the can."

    Any facts to support that?? No?? Didna think so..

    He has not been able to bring order to the Trump Presidency.

    In YOUR opinion...

    But it's the opinion of a hysterical NeverTrumper so, as such, it has little relevance..

  10. [10] 
    Michale wrote:

    I thought that the question was can Democrats deal with Trump

  11. [11] 
    Michale wrote:

    I thought that the question was can Democrats deal with Trump

  12. [12] 
    Michale wrote:

    I dunno.. I am not a Republican..

    That's convenient.

    How so???

    My NPA bona-fides are well established...

  13. [13] 
    Michale wrote:

    NBC Fires Matt Lauer for Sexual Misconduct, but the Worst Is Yet to Come
    The face of ‘Today’ is accused by at least one staffer of sexual misconduct, and several bombshell stories are expected to reveal more.

    https://www.thedailybeast.com/matt-lauer-fired-by-nbc-for-multiple-sex-misconduct-claims

    Funny.. All it takes is a prominent Democrat nailed for sex crimes and the hysterical Left Wingery shuts up about Roy Moore... :D

    "I just find that funny.. But ya'all ain't laughin'.."
    -Will Smith, MEN IN BLACK

    :D

  14. [14] 
    Michale wrote:

    NPR Chief News Editor Departs After Harassment Allegations
    https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/11/28/567026934/npr-chief-news-editor-departs-in-wake-of-harassment-allegations

    Once again, the question has to be asked..

    What IS IT with Democrats???

  15. [15] 
    neilm wrote:

    Funny.. All it takes is a prominent Democrat nailed for sex crimes and the hysterical Left Wingery shuts up about Roy Moore... :D

    Not really. It shows who has decency and who doesn't. Moore and 45 are the moral standard for the Republicans. And the Republicans don't care. Sad.

  16. [16] 
    neilm wrote:

    We might have another banking crisis looming. The brick and mortar retail sector is struggling and a contributory factor is the debt burden from a lot of private equity buyouts over the years. As the sector struggles and many of the loans need renewed, the risk is going up, and thus the rollover borrowing costs (see Toys-R-Us for a good example).

    What I recently learned is that it is a lot of smaller banks that are holding this debt and will bear the brunt of any major defaults. This can have a knock on effect because as job losses mount and online sales replace more local brick and mortar sales then many of the workers may start to fall behind on their mortgages causing local crisis.

    With the current tax bill potentially eliminating property tax and mortgage interest deductions, the pressure might build further.

  17. [17] 
    neilm wrote:

    Here is an article that describes the retail loan situation:

    https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2017-retail-debt/

  18. [18] 
    Michale wrote:

    Not really. It shows who has decency and who doesn't. Moore and 45 are the moral standard for the Republicans. And the Republicans don't care. Sad.

    Yea.. Lauer has "decency".. Weinstein has "decency"... Franken has "decency"... Clinton has "decency"... Weiner has "decency"... Conyers has "decency"...

    Let's face reality, Neil..

    Democrats are shutting up about Moore because their own bench is chock full of rapists, sexual assaulters and sexual harassers...

  19. [19] 
    Michale wrote:

    We might have another banking crisis looming.

    Oh.. ANOTHER crisis???

    yyyyaaaawwwwnnnnnnnnnnnnn

  20. [20] 
    C. R. Stucki wrote:

    neilm

    Looks like you and I will soon be the only non-sex crimes guys left, and I'm not so sure about you!

  21. [21] 
    neilm wrote:

    Looks like you and I will soon be the only non-sex crimes guys left, and I'm not so sure about you!

    Good one :)

    What is wrong with these people? Are we just getting all the bad apples brought to light at the same time? Or is this an epidemic among people who have power? Or do predators seek power to be able to sate themselves?

    Sadly I have no answers, but if this momentum is maintained there are going to be some profound implications for society.

    I think Michale's smugness will evaporate if his precious President really starts feeling the heat.

  22. [22] 
    John M wrote:

    [10] Michale

    "In YOUR opinion...

    But it's the opinion of a hysterical NeverTrumper so, as such, it has little relevance.."

    And YOUR opinion Michale is that of a boot licking Trump fanboy, which gives ANY of your statements on the subject even LESS relevance, since you have no moral standing WHATSOEVER.

  23. [23] 
    Michale wrote:

    Looks like you and I will soon be the only non-sex crimes guys left, and I'm not so sure about you!

    hehehehehehehehe

    "There's only 2 people I trust.. One of em's me and the other ain't you."
    -Nicholas Cage, CON-AIR

    :D

  24. [24] 
    Michale wrote:

    And YOUR opinion Michale is that of a boot licking Trump fanboy, which gives ANY of your statements on the subject even LESS relevance, since you have no moral standing WHATSOEVER.

    I voted for Obama in 2008..

    I have criticized Trump on several occasions..

    My NPA bona-fides are WELL established..

    Your claim is not factually accurate and is borne of nothing but Party bigotry...

  25. [25] 
    Michale wrote:

    I think Michale's smugness will evaporate if his precious President really starts feeling the heat.

    I believe you made a similar prediction in Sep and Oct of 2016... :D

  26. [26] 
    Michale wrote:

    When are you people going to learn??

    My smugness NEVER evaporates!!! :D

    "When are you people going to learn.. We are NEVER outgunned!!"
    -Fred Ward, OFF LIMITS

    :D

  27. [27] 
    Michale wrote:

    Matt Lauer Accused of Sexual Harassment by Multiple Women (EXCLUSIVE)

    As the co-host of NBC’s “Today,” Matt Lauer once gave a colleague a sex toy as a present. It included an explicit note about how he wanted to use it on her, which left her mortified.

    On another day, he summoned a different female employee to his office, and then dropped his pants, showing her his penis. After the employee declined to do anything, visibly shaken, he reprimanded her for not engaging in a sexual act.

    He would sometimes quiz female producers about who they’d slept with, offering to trade names. And he loved to engage in a crass quiz game with men and women in the office: “f—, marry, or kill,” in which he would identify the female co-hosts that he’d most like to sleep with.

    These accounts of Lauer’s behavior at NBC are the result of a two-month investigation by Variety, with dozens of interviews with current and former staffers. Variety has talked to three women who identified themselves as victims of sexual harassment by Lauer, and their stories have been corroborated by friends or colleagues that they told at the time. They have asked for now to remain unnamed, fearing professional repercussions.
    http://variety.com/2017/biz/news/matt-lauer-accused-sexual-harassment-multiple-women-1202625959/

    Ladies and Gentlemen.. I give you Democrats, the champions of American women.... :^/

  28. [28] 
    neilm wrote:

    I believe you made a similar prediction in Sep and Oct of 2016... :D

    Yup, I never thought that enough people would vote for him after he was exposed as a serial sex offender. That is why I am just waiting for the line too far for Republicans and that with Moore and 45 paired together in D.C. even the Republicans will eventually find their decency and realize that tax cuts for the wealthy isn't worth associating with scum.

  29. [29] 
    Michale wrote:

    Yup, I never thought that enough people would vote for him after he was exposed as a serial sex offender.

    Of course, he wasn't, but why let FACTS ruin a perfectly good rant..

    Do you remember when Rush Limbaugh was accused of being a racist because the, in essence, said what a bunch of racists sports reporters are??

    That's the same situation with Trump's video "exposure".....

    I would have thought you would be too smart to fall for such inane spin...

    But the PTDS is strong with you.. :D

    That is why I am just waiting for the line too far for Republicans and that with Moore and 45 paired together in D.C. even the Republicans will eventually find their decency and realize that tax cuts for the wealthy isn't worth associating with scum.

    But, according to ya'all, Republicans HAVE no decency...

    Unless they do yer bidding, that is.. :D

  30. [30] 
    neilm wrote:

    Yup, I never thought that enough people would vote for him after he was exposed as a serial sex offender.

    Of course, he wasn't, but why let FACTS ruin a perfectly good rant..

    He made the claims himself. On video. I'm not the delusional one here.

  31. [31] 
    Balthasar wrote:

    ..the Republicans will eventually find their decency and realize that tax cuts for the wealthy isn't worth associating with scum.

    And pigs will fly. I remember one talking head saying that taxes is the only issue on which all Republicans agree. They don't agree on scum to the same degree. So, sadly, no.

    Republicans started talking only for each other's benefit a long time ago. It's why folks like CW are starting to talk about writing off any effort to reach them. But the center has a bright spot: many, if not most of the candidates in Virginia and Oklahoma who won previously Republican seats did so without compromising or having their pictures taken in duck hunting outfits. Most won on unabashedly Democratic platforms. So there's that.

  32. [32] 
    Michale wrote:

    He made the claims himself. On video. I'm not the delusional one here.

    Yes you are if you think he makes the claim you are thinking he is making..

  33. [33] 
    Michale wrote:

    Balthasar,

    But the center has a bright spot: many, if not most of the candidates in Virginia and Oklahoma who won previously Republican seats did so without compromising or having their pictures taken in duck hunting outfits. Most won on unabashedly Democratic platforms.

    For example....??????

  34. [34] 
    neilm wrote:

    CRS: We may be in the minority after all ;)

    http://ritholtz.com/2017/11/not-just-rich-famous/

  35. [35] 
    neilm wrote:

    He made the claims himself. On video. I'm not the delusional one here.

    Yes you are if you think he makes the claim you are thinking he is making..

    OK, I'm going to love this, I'm sure. What exactly did he mean when he said "I don't even wait ... grab them by the ..."?

  36. [36] 
    Michale wrote:

    OK, I'm going to love this, I'm sure. What exactly did he mean when he said "I don't even wait ... grab them by the ..."?

    Post the entire comment and you should be able to realize it yourself..

    If not, I'll be here to help you along.. :D

  37. [37] 
    Michale wrote:

    In about 40 mins after NCIS.. :D

  38. [38] 
    neilm wrote:

    I'm not going to post the complete comment - it is revolting.

  39. [39] 
    neilm wrote:

    Wow, so after all of 45 and his fanboys pontificating about how North Korea and all other nations were going to get in line once a real leader was in the White House, what do we get after the largest North Korean escalation yet?

    More sanctions.

  40. [40] 
    Michale wrote:

    I'm not going to post the complete comment - it is revolting.

    I know.. It's revolting that you are so wrong and refuse to concede the facts.. :D

    I understand why you don't want to post it.. :D

    Wow, so after all of 45 and his fanboys pontificating about how North Korea and all other nations were going to get in line once a real leader was in the White House, what do we get after the largest North Korean escalation yet?

    My personal choice??

    "Nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.."
    -Ripley, ALIENS

  41. [41] 
    neilm wrote:

    You're ducking Michale. I can't wait to hear your "interpretation" - by the way, I want to remind you that you repeatedly praised 45 for "saying it like it is", so if this involves some mind-bending change of meaning for common words, I'll be laughing at your desperation.

  42. [42] 
    Kick wrote:

    neilm
    22

    I think Michale's smugness will evaporate if his precious President really starts feeling the heat.

    I can assure you, Trump is feeling the heat. Anyone needing proof isn't paying attention.

  43. [43] 
    Kick wrote:

    Y'all do remember when Donald Trump inadvertently admitted to some of the assault allegations to a crowd in Greensboro, North Carolina, right?

    "Even a simple investigation would have shown these allegations against me, in just about all cases, it's nonsense, it's false."

    https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4692651/just-cases-trump-admits-assault-harassment-allegations-false

    There's Don the Con "telling it like it is;" all you really have to do is take the time to actually hear what it is that he's saying versus hearing what validates your worship... I mean, worldview. :)

  44. [44] 
    Chris Weigant wrote:

    Michale [2] -

    You DO realize that the GOP controls both houses of Congress and the White House, right? So for them to be so disorganized that the government shuts down is really saying something. Something most Americans will be able to interpret: "We're the Keystone Kops!"

    :-)

    Michale [3] -

    You mean like Bill O'Reilly and Roger Ailes? Those liberals?

    Heh.

    TheStig [9] -

    Shades of Lincoln's "Well, I wish some of you would tell me the brand of whiskey that Grant drinks. I would like to send a barrel of it to my other generals..."

    Kelly's lasted longer than I thought he would (don't we still have an ongoing contest on that one...??), but he's got to have a breaking point, right?

    Michale [11] -

    No, that question's been answered: the Democrats can bend Trump over a barrel in negotiations,as they've successfully done twice now, much to Ryan and McConnell's consternation. That's pretty much a proven fact, at this point.

    neilm [17] -

    Well, that is not good news...

    thanks for the link in [18] too.

    Michale [19] -

    OK, please list the Dems (not entertainment folks or journalists, but actual Democratic politicians) who have been involved in accusations of child molestation in the past two decades.

    I can think of one: Anthony Weiner. He's in prison now. So for all your other "whataboutism," let's match apples for apples, here. Weiner --> in prison. Moore --> possibly about to be a US Senator.

    So which party really cares about such things? If Anthony Weiner ran for the Senate from his jail cell, what would you have to say about it, hmmm?

    Michale [27] -

    When are you people going to learn??

    My smugness NEVER evaporates!!! :D

    Well, there's SOMETHING in this world we can all count on, right?

    Heh.

    :-)

    neilm [29] -

    I'm really torn, myself. I can't decide whether I'd like to see a Dem from AL in the Senate, or whether I'd like to see GOP senators squirm all year long, whenever Moore opens his mouth...

    It's a conundrum, that's for sure...

    Heh.

    Michale [30] -

    Do you remember when Rush Limbaugh was accused of being a racist because the, in essence, said what a bunch of racists sports reporters are??

    No, but I remember when he was accused of being a sex tourist to prey on young children. He was caught with a bunch of Viagra crossing back into the US after a vacation in the Caribbean. This was, of course, even before we learned he was the poster child for opiate abuse, due to the thousands of pain pills he took.

    It's tough to keep track of all the sordid details about Limbaugh, that's for sure... we can agree on that, right?

    :-)

    Balthasar [32] -

    That is an excellent point. The one about the lack of duck hunting photo ops, I mean. That indeed says a lot. And no, I'm not kidding. The Dem platform can work, if people just listen to it.

    neilm [40] -

    Don't worry... Trump is going to "handle" it -- just like he "handled" the last one, as he promised. By begging China to do something. "Please, China, do something, because we just can't!"

    I mean, do any of Trump's supporters register any of this stuff? Sheesh...

    Michale [41] -

    Man, you're slipping in your old age.

    I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.
    - Ellen Ripley, Aliens

    Thppppdbbbbbtttt! [imagine Bronx cheer]

    :-)

    OK, that's it for now, folks...

    -CW

  45. [45] 
    Balthasar wrote:

    [34]For example....?

    Allison Ikley Freeman, a 26-year-old lesbian, who bested Republican Brian O’Hara to win a seat in west Tulsa, Oklahoma’s conservative Senate District 37.

    Hers was the fourth Oklahoma State Senate seat to fall to Democrats this year.

  46. [46] 
    Michale wrote:

    CW,

    OK, please list the Dems (not entertainment folks or journalists, but actual Democratic politicians) who have been involved in accusations of child molestation in the past two decades.

    Well, if you have to narrow the parameters so much.. :D

    You seem to have forgotten Bill Clinton.. :D

  47. [47] 
    Michale wrote:

    You're ducking Michale.

    Says the guy who is afraid to quote Trump's Access Hollywood quote because he KNOWS I'll decimate his argument.. :D

  48. [48] 
    Michale wrote:

    Well, there's SOMETHING in this world we can all count on, right?

    Heh.

    Abso-frakin'-loutly!!! :D

    I am like the energizer bunny :D

  49. [49] 
    Michale wrote:

    Man, you're slipping in your old age.

    I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.
    - Ellen Ripley, Aliens

    Thppppdbbbbbtttt! [imagine Bronx cheer]

    I just made a mistake on the attribute.. That was Hicks who said that, not Ripley... :D

  50. [50] 
    Michale wrote:

    I can think of one: Anthony Weiner. He's in prison now. So for all your other "whataboutism," let's match apples for apples, here. Weiner --> in prison. Moore --> possibly about to be a US Senator.

    Only one?? Clinton ring a bell???

    Weiner was found guilty by a jury of his peers..

    Moore has ONLY been accused and there are simply NO FACTS that support the accusation and PLENTY of facts that give lie to that accusation..

    So, unless you want to concede that, for Republicans, the accusation is sufficient to ascertain guilt, you are comparing apples and eskimos...

  51. [51] 
    Michale wrote:

    I can assure you, Trump is feeling the heat. Anyone needing proof isn't paying attention.

    Isn't that convenient..

    You make a bullshit statement and then insult anyone who might ask for facts..

    That's not how this works..

    Do you have ANY facts to support your claim???

    Any facts at all??

    No??

    Didn't think so...

  52. [52] 
    Michale wrote:

    No, but I remember when he was accused of being a sex tourist to prey on young children. He was caught with a bunch of Viagra crossing back into the US after a vacation in the Caribbean. This was, of course, even before we learned he was the poster child for opiate abuse, due to the thousands of pain pills he took.

    Which has nothing to do with the question before us...

    But I don't begrudge you for taking irrelevant pot shots at Limbaugh.. He's such an easy target.. :D

  53. [53] 
    Michale wrote:

    The Dem platform can work, if people just listen to it.

    Yea, cuz it's worked SO WELL to date, eh?? :D

    How quickly ya'all forget the lessons of 2016, 2014, 2012 and 2010....

  54. [54] 
    Michale wrote:

    Kelly's lasted longer than I thought he would (don't we still have an ongoing contest on that one...??), but he's got to have a breaking point, right?

    Yea, I would love to hear how wrong everyone has been... :D

    More failed predictions.. :D

  55. [55] 
    Michale wrote:

    No, that question's been answered: the Democrats can bend Trump over a barrel in negotiations,as they've successfully done twice now, much to Ryan and McConnell's consternation. That's pretty much a proven fact, at this point.

    No, that's spin.. :D

  56. [56] 
    Michale wrote:

    No, that question's been answered: the Democrats can bend Trump over a barrel in negotiations,as they've successfully done twice now, much to Ryan and McConnell's consternation.

    So, Democrats have legitimized President Trump as the President Of The United States.. :D

    Which is exactly what the Democrat base did NOT want.. :D

  57. [57] 
    Kick wrote:

    Michale
    52

    I can assure you, Trump is feeling the heat. Anyone needing proof isn't paying attention.

    Isn't that convenient..

    You make a bullshit statement and then insult anyone who might ask for facts..

    In no way whatsoever did make a "bullshit statement" nor endeavor to "insult anyone who might ask for facts." I simply stated that if anyone can't see that Trump is feeling the heat, then they aren't paying attention. That happens to be a fact. If you were insulted by my factual statement, that is simply an unintended but entirely welcome bonus.

    Do you have ANY facts to support your claim???

    Yes. The fact that Trump is feeling the heat is obvious to anyone with the wherewithal to pull their head out of their ass and pay attention.

    Didn't think so...

    You needn't keep reiterating and repeating that you "don't think." That too is obvious to anyone paying attention. :)

  58. [58] 
    Michale wrote:

    In no way whatsoever did make a "bullshit statement" nor endeavor to "insult anyone who might ask for facts." I simply stated that if anyone can't see that Trump is feeling the heat, then they aren't paying attention. That happens to be a fact.

    No, that's an opinion...

    Yes. The fact that Trump is feeling the heat is obvious to anyone with the wherewithal to pull their head out of their ass and pay attentio

    What what FACTS do you have that Trump is feeling any sort of heat??

    Answer.. NONE...

  59. [59] 
    Michale wrote:

    I accept your concession...

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