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Trump sprang three traps on Pelosi and Schumer yesterday
American Thinker ^ | 12/12/2018 | Thomas Lifson

Posted on 12/12/2018 8:10:01 AM PST by SeekAndFind

President Trump clearly shocked House speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer yesterday with his televising of the Oval Office sit-down over his demand for $5 billion in funding for border security, including funding of critical mileage for his border wall.  Knowing well that Pelosi had already vowed publicly that "transparency and openness" would characterize the Democrat-run House starting next month, her plaintive request to speak in private scored points for Trump and revealed her hypocrisy before any substance at all was considered.

The remarkable body language during the meeting tells the story of Trump's dominance.  Here is the full video of the press gaggle, via Grabien:

That was merely the first of three traps Trump had prepared for the Democrats' congressional leadership.

Trump's second trap is his bold declaration of ownership of any "government shutdown."  Democrats have convinced themselves that what is called a "shutdown," but really means furloughing non-essential federal workers, is a tragedy, a scar on the nation's psyche.  The fact that federal workers are now a major and solid constituency for Democrats skews their perception of the public's concern.  Aside from canceling sleigh rides in national parks and other such photo drama, the fact is that life goes on well for nearly all Americans during the furlough.  They learn that there are a lot of non-essential government workers.

After multiple shutdowns, including the last one that bore the label "Schumer Shutdown" and was quickly conceded by the Democrats, the public is no longer afraid of non-essential services (roughly 25% of the government) being temporarily suspended.

Chuck Schumer took the bait on the second trap, and after the Oval Office meeting, he employed triumphantly the term "Trump Shutdown" as if he had won a victory through Trump's surrender.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 116th; borderwall; budget; pelosi; schumer; speakerpelosi; thomaslifson; trumped; winning
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The third trap is maneuvering the Senate Democrats into standing for open borders, or at least ineffective border security. The current House of Representatives will pass the funding. It is the Senate, where a 60-vote filibuster could be employed, that would be the obstacle.

Never forget that Trump was the most successful producer of reality television in the history of the medium. He understands drama and a story arc. Chuck Schumer leading a Senate filibuster right before Christmas to stymie border protection is exactly the story Trump wants the nation's TV-viewers to absorb.

1 posted on 12/12/2018 8:10:01 AM PST by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

I watched senile Nancy and Chuck yesterday. They talked about the need to start a dialogue on the subject and begin to work together. Blah BLah BLah.

They have been in Congress for decades. They have been talking about this for decades. Time is up.


2 posted on 12/12/2018 8:13:30 AM PST by shelterguy
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To: SeekAndFind
They learn that there are a lot of non-essential government workers.

If they are 'non-essential' why are we paying for them?.................

3 posted on 12/12/2018 8:13:44 AM PST by Red Badger (We are headed for a Civil War. It won't be nice like the last one....................)
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To: SeekAndFind

It was a thing of beauty.


4 posted on 12/12/2018 8:14:50 AM PST by Ancient Man
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To: SeekAndFind

5 posted on 12/12/2018 8:17:59 AM PST by Slyfox (Not my circus, not my monkeys)
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To: shelterguy

As someone else pointed out, Pelosi was so flustered she even forgot which house of Congress she belongs to. LOL.


6 posted on 12/12/2018 8:19:04 AM PST by Alberta's Child ("The Russians escaped while we weren't watching them ... like Russians will.")
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To: SeekAndFind
Three Traps

Three "mike drops"

Dims demolished, discombobulated and discouraged.

7 posted on 12/12/2018 8:19:39 AM PST by spokeshave2 (The Paradigm has shifted...the New World Order is Trumpian.)
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To: SeekAndFind

It was not even necessary to set them up, chuckie and nan are both dumb enough to self-destruct.

My two farthings.


8 posted on 12/12/2018 8:21:19 AM PST by heterosupremacist (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God.)
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To: Red Badger
If they are 'non-essential' why are we paying for them?.................

The term 'non-essential' is a specific term used in reference to a shutdown, and defines those positions not needed to keep the particular agency up and running as in, for example, a snowstorm. 'Essential' would be positions such as police and SOC, for example. 'Non-essential' would be clerical, IT, or other office positions.

I assume in your line of work there are positions which would not be needed in the event of a shutdown, whereas there are others which would be essential.

9 posted on 12/12/2018 8:25:13 AM PST by COBOL2Java (Marxism: Trendy theory, wrong species)
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To: shelterguy

My impression is that Chuck and Nancy walked in and figured they’d be dealing with George Bush or any of the forty-odd GOP-pretenders. Instead, they got the full dose of introduction to Trump’s game. They can’t win....they can only latch on, holding for some small part of a deal.

I think once we get past the 16th day of shutdown....a new era opens up (that was the max we’ve ever gone to). Upon day 90...it’s a major problem for them. Trump doesn’t care, and I think behind all of this...he has zero interest in running in 2020....he’s going for the one dynamic left on the table, and it’s NOT the wall. It’s really a downsizing of the fed force in DC. If you dumped 20-percent of them, saying they were non-essential. You could write an extra tax refund in 2020....maybe giving folks paying $10k or more in taxes...maybe 2,000 more back in the refund.


10 posted on 12/12/2018 8:26:16 AM PST by pepsionice
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To: SeekAndFind
This is going to be fun to watch.

The “refugee” caravan has been exposed to be economic migrants looking for jobs (and welfare benefits in the Us ) not refugees fleeing violence. Many are violent criminals, drug traffickers, terrorists and gang members

In fact, they themselves became violent and tried to force entry into the US on camera when they were told told they would have to go through the proper refugee screening channels to be allowed into the United States

Now these so called refugees are demanding $50,000 payments from America to go back home.

I can't wait for Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer to shut the government down over these illegal aliens

11 posted on 12/12/2018 8:26:27 AM PST by rdcbn
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To: COBOL2Java

That’s what my boss tells me I am...............


12 posted on 12/12/2018 8:30:06 AM PST by Red Badger (We are headed for a Civil War. It won't be nice like the last one....................)
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To: pepsionice

The turd in the punch bowl is the open borders lackey Ryan, will he cave to his Chamber of Commerce masters and vote with Pelosi? I will be so glad when this little trader is gone.


13 posted on 12/12/2018 8:31:18 AM PST by sarge83
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To: SeekAndFind

The “traps” don’t seem to be working. Just look at the last election.....


14 posted on 12/12/2018 8:31:52 AM PST by Dandy (Drain the swamp baby!!!)
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To: lonevoice

II hope you heard all of the recordings of this meeting - they are well worth the listen. Our president hit it out of the park and the entire meeting was recorded. Talk about transparency.


15 posted on 12/12/2018 8:32:16 AM PST by Pride in the USA (Q)
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To: Red Badger
That’s what my boss tells me I am...............

Then I assume you wear a uniform and badge of some kind.

16 posted on 12/12/2018 8:35:02 AM PST by COBOL2Java (Marxism: Trendy theory, wrong species)
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To: SeekAndFind
Trump's second trap is his bold declaration of ownership of any "government shutdown."

THAT was powerful... Trump took away the battering ram Chuck and Nancy planned giving to the slugs at the Washington Post.

17 posted on 12/12/2018 8:36:05 AM PST by GOPJ (Term limit DC SWAMP bureaucrats - a permanent unelected ruling class is a threat to our democracy.)
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To: COBOL2Java

No, just an electronic technician in a factory...............


18 posted on 12/12/2018 8:37:40 AM PST by Red Badger (We are headed for a Civil War. It won't be nice like the last one....................)
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To: spokeshave2

Discombobulated? Yes if anyone actually saw it. The news I watched carefully edited the scene and gave Chuckie Cheese the last word
“Let’s do this in private?” After that it’s fade to black.


19 posted on 12/12/2018 8:40:52 AM PST by xkaydet65
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To: SeekAndFind
I was watching that whole thing yesterday and all I could think of was "Wow! Did PDJT punk Peloser and Chuckles BAD!"

He put them both on full display as being against securing our borders and allowing immigrants to flood into our country.

What a masterpiece our President orchestrated yesterday and the liberal media didn't know what hit 'em either. They put the truth on the air for all to see.

That's my President!

20 posted on 12/12/2018 8:41:12 AM PST by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
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