Basically nothing gets to the floor without the agreement of the leader. A Trump bill from another legislator would have been pushed aside in favor of the Speaker's bill and most of the House GOP would agree with that. Even today, a vote would have almost certainly gotten a majority of GOP votes because most members support the leader.

And I'm saying that Ryan likes his job enough that he'd have played ball rather than risk being lynched for being a blatant obstructionist.

Trump made a mistake (or revealed his own true motives) by trying to involve him.

I think it's less showing his true motives and more just not giving a damn/wanting to put in the necessary effort. If you have to send out your lackeys to say how hard you worked, you probably didn't work very hard.

But he wouldn't have been seen as a blatant obstructionist. The majority, and probably a big majority, of GOP House members would have supported the speaker.

edit: You would have had a bill supported by most of the GOP members and a second bill supported by maybe thirty or forty members. At best you're hoping for Trump going to war publicly with Ryan, which would have gotten you no closer to passage.

The fundamental problem is any repeal results in millions losing healthcare coverage. That was why Ryan was trying to get it passed before scores came out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT3Px11xN-0

:popcorn:

Schumer seems to think otherwise.

Trump's real secret power appears to be the ability to maintain & grow power/menace, or at least the illusion thereof, whilst everything around him fails. He makes a flap, looks like an idiot, creates a big cloud of dust, everything falls to shit, but at the same time he's still pushing the needle somehow, and even if all of his promised legislation turns to dust, he's certainly still making a significant impact on the nation in a very short amount of time. Just like his business deals, the specifics & success of the deal seem less important than confusing the situation, starting a shit-storm, then exploiting and manipulating the chaos to his advantage, because that's much easier than actually conducting real business/politics.

His political future could fall apart entirely, and he could easily come away from the next few years looking like literally one of world history's greatest fools...but you can bet he's also going to come away not just richer, but also with a lot more global power and influence.

The GOP's version of winning and losing on the global & national political stage seem like they might be relatively worthless to Trump's ego, and he has a history of managing to pull some version of success out of apparent spectacular failure, so even these supposed major setbacks do little to make me think Trump would alter his thinking or behavior in the slightest. Success or failure, and any of the terms thereof, do not appear to matter to this dude, as long as it's loud. On the other hand he also takes any & every single criticism personally, and appears likely to spend the entirety of his term in a miserable rage, regardless of anything.

I think, or hope, that this is a front for negotiating a deal not to filibuster this nomination in exchange for a promise not to use the nuclear option during the next SCOTUS vacancy.

I'm specifically talking about the debt limit increase. I haven't seen anything where Schumer is talking about a filibuster on the debt limit. There isn't much on this yet, but I did find this Schumer quote from a few days ago:

The only thing he could have done to appease the far right—a full repeal of the Affordable Care Act—was not only legislatively impossible but would never pass the lower chamber of Congress. The vast majority of Republicans would have refused to eliminate Obamacare without knowing exactly what would replace it until months or years later.

Inside the GOP’s Health Care Debacle - POLITICO Magazine

So, they had some really bad options

A) try to thread a needle that wouldn't piss off the HFC and the Moderates (good luck with that)

B) try a full repeal (and that's all), piss off the moderates, and fail

C) Work with Demos to fix the ACA, which would cause several of them to be.. well, not primaried, but lynched due to "true believers" like our own Jon

Honestly, there's no good option there, other than say, hit Tax Reform first, but they were counting on starving Medicaid for the funds to do Tax Reform.

Said it before, and I'll say it again. the HFC is the part of the Republican party that wants to burn it all down, so they can piss on their enemies because they won't feel the effects of their actions. They think that "the poors" are getting handouts like iPhones regularly. so this will make them more industrious.

The man's inability to admit when he's wrong is impressive.

President Trump: I never said repealing and replacing Obamacare would be easy.

"Day one, it's gone." I feel like I heard that somewhere along the way.

They'll never settle for 50% when they can get 0%!

But PURITY!

That's the key i think. Trump had no idea what the bill did, put no work into crafting it. He just wanted the victory and assumed it would sail through Congress.

From Axios, an anecdote of a hard lesson that persuading members of Congress is completely different from running a web site: pic.twitter.com/rA3noT1nzs

— jimgeraghty (@jimgeraghty) March 25, 2017

Charlatan?

So Twitter is buzzing that Flynn had been flipped...

On CNN as well that he may have cut a deal with the FBI.

There was a talking head that was part of a panel last night on CNN who suggested that. Her point was that since the other big three, who were going to be compelled to testify, probably under oath, were instead voluntarily going to testify, in a closed session, and probably not under oath, and that Flynn hadn't been mentioned in that group, that that was the reason why.

The FBI does not flip witnesses for fun. If he has indeed been granted immunity to testify (impossible to state how big that "if" is), then we are about to live through the greatest political scandal of my lifetime. (I was born just after Watergate)

Recall Ryan had to be begged into the job and no one else wanted it.

anybody have a link to a story about Flynn flipping?

THere's a tweet from someone named Juliette Kayyem. That's where it appears to have started. I'm skeptical at this point.

Juliette Kayyem - Wikipedia

I'm going to assume it's clickbait until proven wrong/right

thanks dig-that led me to this "article"

CNN Political Analyst Juliette Kayyem Says, Per Sources, Michael Flynn May Have Flipped On Trump | The Intellectualist

I don't know if Flynn has flipped, but people sure seem to be scared about something. The pro-Trump National Enquirer wrote about Trump catching Flynn, a Russian spy, just before he could do serious damage and Russia has threatened to release info if leaks continue.

Wait...what?

Someone needs to start a rumor that since Putin kills all his political opponents that Flynn has gone into hiding because of his fear of Trump doing the same thing.

It certainly seems more than coincidental that all these Russian diplomats are turning up dead now.

Well that guy in NY probably just had a heart attack.

And that other guy probably slipped and fell off the roof.

And that other other guy probably jumped in front of a bullet to save someone else.

I'm very intrigued by all this. Seems like it would make a hell of a TV series.

1- Trump tweets to watch Judge Jeanine

2- Judge Jeanine starts show calling for Ryan to resign

3- ?

Judge Jeanine opens that box?

#3 is always Profit, which he seems to be doing quite well of late.

Wait when did the discussion switch to Whitewater?

Tiny hands, tiny box

That sound you hear is Grover Nordquist and the Freedom Caucus grabbing their hearts.

Eric Geller on Twitter: "Also, this. https://t.co/3zm8xCOl0R"

what I did not hear when Merkel was visiting, he actually gave her a bill for $300 billion to pay NATO for defending Germany.

Germany slams ‘intimidating’ £300bn White House bill | World | The Times & The Sunday Times

I get the impression he was really expecting politicians to roll over to his 'dominance' in the same way small contractors do in business with him, hopefully he's starting to understand that things don't work that way ... although I doubt it ..

Don't worry guys, Fox News has assured us Trump worked in the White House all weekend. Except for those Instagrams of him at his golf club the last two days watching golf on TV and being out on the course. He just worked like every other rich, old, white guy. That we're 10 weeks in, and his PR had to say he's actually working on the weekend seems kind of pathetic.

Personally, I'd rather he be on the course everyday. While I enjoy pointing out his hypocrisy, there's less a chance of the world getting more fucked up if he just swings clubs all day.

We obviously don't have the full story yet re: Nunes. It seems new info is popping up everyday and it'll eventually come out.

Regardless, think its too late for Nunes and time for him to recuse himself.

It's amazing that all these talking heads are saying we don't need an independent council. I mean, they wanted one for Bill Clinton lying about some head. Here we have a bunch of people contacting one of our enemies (not quite, but pretty close), and the guy in charge of oversight is getting private viewings on the White House, giving info to Trump and the press before the committee, and worked for the transition team he is investigating. This is nuts.

Master. Negotiator.

The Republican House Freedom Caucus was able to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. After so many bad years they were ready for a win!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2017

Hey people, I tweeted something this morning. Watch my friends talk about this thing I tweeted.

Watch @foxandfriends now on Podesta and Russia!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2017

lol. Hard to believe this asshat is our president. Way to heal the political divide you dipshit

Coal was an easy win for Trump. Another is getting the Wall built (even if Mexico doesn't pay for it) or at least, showing its moving towards getting built.

Ready for Tax Reform and whether Trump will fund the medicaid expansion portion of Obamacare.

Trump thinks he's the guy on the ship, but he's really the guy in the water hoping for a life preserver.

It may get there but I don't think he's in the water yet.

https://consumerist.com/2017/03/28/h...l-information/


I'd like to hear a good argument on how this will benefit me, or any average person. (And why we should ever care about any data leak ever again.)

Don't have an answer for you but I've been thinking about getting a VPN service. That should take care of the problem right?

Meanwhile, in Kentucky, our Trump wannabe Governor vetoed a bill that had near unanimous support in both houses and had been years in the making and he had given no impression that he was opposed to it in any way prior. KY was trying to become the 45 state with laws on the books to help stop the cycle of jail and homelessness that the mentally disabled are nearly unable to navigate. His reasoning was that it would put the civil liberties of people at risk.

So on the the one hand you've got companies free to monitor your data because you have to use their infrastructure, and on the other hand you've got mentally disabled, who are still at risk because signing this bill might infringe on someones civil rights even though 44 other states already have the law.

Until they're outlawed, anyway. After all, who would want to hide their online activity but a terrorist?

Anonymous VPN Service From The Leaders | Private Internet Access

I can vouch for these guys. I don't use their service anymore (cheaper local option now), but I was subscribed for a couple of years and had zero issues.

VPN or Tor, depending on how you want to do things.

lol

I shutter the thought, if a black man with no experience, would have said that very same thing, in that very same way, with the very same expectation.

Unless I'm mistaken, Netflix and the like don't really work if you're using a VPN. Its been hit or miss with mine. I got a cheapo one for like $30 with a lifetime license. It worked great when I was overseas, but I really only used it to keep up with work and facebooking pictures/skype.

I use them as well. The thing with them is that while a lot of providers say they don't keep logs, PIA was subpoenaed in court and force to provide everything they they had on one of their customers. Which they did. Which was nothing. In essence they are the only ones to have had that claim tested.

Wow. Bill Baroni sentenced to two years for his role in Bridgegate.

edit: And 18 months for Bridgit Kelly.

Christie sure f'ed them.

PIA lets you turn it on and off. If you're using Netflix, just turn it off. If you're surfing the web, turn it on.

Protesters raise more than $200,000 to buy Congress’s browsing histories

I really hope they're successful.

'Cards Against Humanity' Creator Vows To Buy And Publish Congress's Internet History

Hmmm...

Expert at Senate intelligence hearing tells Senator Rubio that his 2016 presidential campaign suffered from Russian media manipulation.

— Patricia Zengerle (@ReutersZengerle) March 30, 2017

But wasn't it put out there that "Putin hates HRC" was a (if not THE) major motivation for this??? Doesn't make sense that they'd sabotage the campaign of the person widely considered the best option to beat HRC.

When was the major motivation considered anything but "do whatever will end up best for Putin"? Rubio was a competitor to Trump first. If this is true it could just serve as more evidence of him knowing that Trump was his easiest path to accomplishing what he wants.

Trump was the only one stupid enough to go along with Putin?

"stupid" carried Trump to the White House

The video in this tweet is fantastic. Have to watch until the last second.

These Trump voters are magnificent! Please watch till the end. Like fine wine… https://t.co/hsOKhB6AiE🥂

— rob delaney (@robdelaney) March 30, 2017

Question here for JoninMiddleGA (who I am using as my best insight into Trump's supporters).

I am still interested in the actual physical wall on the Mexican border. If such a wall is not built, would you consider that a betrayal of a core promise?

Let's say that the administration hires a lot of new border guards/ICE agents. And that they start enforcing the laws on the books much more aggressively than previous admins. And they get Congress to pass some new laws making enforcement easier. And they use the power of the purse to discourage "sanctuary cites" and to encourage local law enforcement to help enforce federal immigration law. And that as a result of all of these actions, there is a real and documented reduction in illegal immigrants coming to and remaining in America. But the actual wall never gets built.

Would you be upset at that? Or would you be ok because the general thrust of the sentiment (reduce illegal immigration) was fulfilled and real results were reached?

And this statement shows why Trump got elected.

Are you ever going to figure this out?

Why don't you explain it to me?

I like this. Not because of the GOP in-fighting that will result but because I think for Trump/Ryan to have any chance to govern well, there needs to be a reconciliation one-way-or-another. Let's get it on ....

Trump: ‘We must fight’ hard-line conservative Freedom Caucus in 2018 midterm elections - The Washington Post

Not speaking for JIMG but I personally would still want to see the wall to be built. It may not be the GOT Wall, but it will show/reinforce determination and be a reminder for years to come.

I never thought that Mexico would pay for it but am good with it.

Guess he got his 5 mins of fame

Condescending statements like this drove the working class, middle American voter out in droves.
They feel like the parties are against them. That the ruling elite are against them. That the entertainment elite world are against them.
So they voted against liberals.

Get it?

I got that you completely misread my post.

The stupid I referred to was this sentence, "Trump was the only one stupid enough to go along with Putin?"

All I was saying that getting into bed with Putin seems to have worked out for Trump.

I know. But The perception of what you posted is the type of stuff that pushed Trump to victory.

It could be read as you calling people who voted for Trump as stupid. Thus the condescending line.

I know it is a fine line. And I may be off base. But I feel like this is where the whgole Deplorable thing came from.

Hmm, lemme see here {reads question twice}

I'm about end results more than methods. I'm not interested in the wall as a symbol, it's of interest to me only as a tool to accomplish a job. The wall itself has never been my top preference for prevention anyway, so if he gets there through another means then it's not an issue to me.

Mileage would vary among difference groups within the Trump support base IMO however but I'd say it's a largely pragmatic group so no more than 20-25 percent would be pissed about it.

My two cents, fwiw.

I had a different answer than this, but it's a good time for me to point out that -- even with my different answer -- I would have no problem at all with it being built as an additional protection.

(My original answer basically covered "I don't have to have it be the first step/primary solution")

As long as we are playing Ask Jon, let me ask this.....

How many of the 12 million undocumented immigrants already here need to be gone by 2020 in order to not face a backlash?

Really comes across as "We didn't like him, think he was competent or the best thing for the country, but we voted him in just to piss the Libtards off.". Of course when I say that I get insults hurled my way, but I just don't know what else it could mean.

Based on his past and his close ties to the neo-con foreign policy folks, it isn't surprising that the Russians would work against him. Without knowing exactly when the Russians decided to go from pro-chaos to pro-Trump, it's hard to determine if work against Rubio had anything to do with Trump.

George W. Bush, the voice of America...

What George W. Bush Really Thought of Trump’s Inauguration

Well Rubio hasn't exactly been someone who would be friends with Russia. And was a big supporter of sanctions on Russia, especially after the invasion of the Crimea.

Log In - New York Times

so, the source that Nunes got the (still not shared with even his fellow Republicans) information that members of Trump-team might have been caught up in incidental collection.. was a member of the White House staff who was put in by Flynn, was going to be moved out by the new NSA leader, due to complaints, but ran to Trump and got the move overruled.

Is it me or is some of this stuff getting so ridiculous you wouldn't believe it in a fiction novel?

Attention Required! | Cloudflare

For the general supporters? Half, probably. Or something close enough to spin that way AND be trending upward.

For me? About 80% or more, otherwise he failed that task.

On the wall, even some conservatives aren't as much law-and-order as I am. Still, I have to say that;

** I haven't seen any evidence that terrorists are trying to cross that border. Canada has had more 'noise' in that regard. But nobody's suggesting a wall there.

** A much more effective way, which is probably why it isn't being tried, to dry up the illegal immigration problem(and I think people who say it's not a problem are a little on the irrational side on this issue) is to crack down on the businesses employing them. Kill the demand and the supply will go away.

** To satisfy me(which he pretty much never does and I'm against most of his agenda but anyway), Trump would need to have a policy in place which stops basically ignoring the problem. I've never understood the whole train of thought wherein it's considered reasonable to expect people to be productive members of a society which they disregarded the law to join in the first place. I want far more legal immigration, but those who come here illegally have already flunked the entrance exam and I do think they need to go.

As I said after the election, a world in which Trump can be elected POTUS is a world in which anything is possible. I could wake up tomorrow and find out gravity no longer worked and I'd only be mildly surprised.

The only question would be if Trump tells Fox News he made it happen (what a weight loss solution!!) or just blamed it on the Dems and Freedom Caucus (we all floated into space and combusted).

Voting against your own self interests just for spite is the definition of stupid.

I don't mind better border security and even a wall where it makes sense. But this idea is the best. You fine companies huge amounts of money for employing illegals and things change.

Is it not true that a huge chunk--maybe even a majority--of illegals aren't border-jumpers, but people who overstayed visas? I know that some American companies (chicken farming comes to mind) hire Mexican workers legally but then when the visa is up, they just stay.

I'm all for holistic immigration reform including addressing "guest" workers, allowing highly educated immigrants etc. There is a demand on this side of the wall as others have said.

Then maybe they should do something to become legal.

Just a thought.

Before they think about doing that, they need a much better system in place for verifying the eligibility of workers. E-Verify has had its issues that make me question its usefulness. One example would be millions of social security numbers for people well over 100 years old don't have death dates attached to them. People using those numbers would not be flagged by E-Verify.

The way its done right now is a joke. I know most, if not all people working for me are working under social security numbers of deceased people. Yet it has been years since we've received a no-match letter saying that the names don't line up. I could be raided by ICE tomorrow and while I'd probably be missing several workers afterwards I'm pretty confident I'd be free and wouldn't even pay so much as a fine. I have I-9s on file for everybody, copies of their Permanent Resident Cards and the whole works.

For all the tough talk from the new administration, I don't see anything on my end changing anytime soon.

We need a "whoooooosh" smiley around here, evidently.

The way things are now the costs are pretty prohibitive. One guy working for me is considered a Dreamer. He's about $20,000 into becoming a permanent resident (not a citizen), and doesn't have much to show for it yet.

The H-1B visas have been horribly abused by companies. I'm sure there are some fields that need more demand but it's also being used by companies to drive down high paying jobs.

For instance, Zuckerberg only fights for immigration because he wants cheap programmers.

So, who else often asks for immunity when testifying about your boss?

https://www.wsj.com/articles/mike-fl...ity-1490912959

Flynn offers to testify.. but in exchange, he wants immunity.

Weeeeelllll now.

There had been rumors floating for awhile that Flynn was ready to flip.