Q Anon: (3/22/18) FRiendly Freeper Collaboration

we-go-all.com/# ^ | 3/22/2018 | FReepers, vanity

[thingumbob]

Just wanted to clarify, the Qanon Board at 8chan has been theorizing that Trump is going to use the Army Corp of Engineers to build the Southern Wall that’s the only context that they have been talking about the AC of E being used.

[HoneysuckleTN]

LOL

[SkyPilot]

Thanks for that link thingumbob. Of course I won't shoot the messenger. It was kind of you to send it.

I worked in the DoD when Gramm - Rudman (also referred to as Gramm - Rudman - Hollings, but less often so). It was the first time the introduction of the "sequester" came about as far as I know. Basically, a sequester is a cancellation or clawing back of money that had already been appropriated by Congress. This is a bit in the weeds, but there is a difference between Appropriated, Authorized, Committed, Obligated, and Expended in terms of Federal money.

Here is the budget process in very simplified form (apologize in advance that they have Hussein's likeness on it):

Congress has to appropriate the money to be spend for a specific, given purpose (this is very important). This is part of the "power of the purse" that we hear so much about.

The Dept of Defense, or the Dept of Homeland Security, or the FBI may be authorized to spend a specific amount of money, but unless the funds are appropriated, they cannot spend that money.

Each agency or department is authorized to spend once Congress passes the legislation and the President signs it into law. The omnibus did this, in a massive bill that included several appropriations bills.

Let's say the DoD wants to pave a runway at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, and it is going to use a German contractor to do so. The funds for this had already been submitted in the President's Budget, they were appropriated, and then authorized when the President signed the bill. The funds are then reserved, or Committed. This is a pre-Obligation of the funds. Obligated means that those funds have been assigned to be spent, and are no longer available. Finally, when the contractor gets an electronic transfer or a paper check, the funds are Expended.

What a Budget Sequester does implement automatic spending "cuts." Monies that had already been authorized cannot be Committed, Obligated, or Expended.

While Gramm Rudman was the first time this was used, the Sequester was later implemented as part of the Budget Control Act back in 2011. That Sequestration was the same concept, but legally different from any previous legislation. That Sequestration that we hear so much about was terrible legislation for one main reason: it didn't touch mandatory spending (which is 2/3rds of all spending), only discretionary spending, AND almost 50% of all cuts had to come from one agency - the Department of Defense, despite it being only 15% or so of all spending and less than (at the time) 3% of GDP spending.

Keep in mind, when the Budget Control Act came about because Congress refused to enact cuts with the "Super Committee" and brought us to the "Fiscal Cliff" back in 2013, these Sequester cuts came about in the middle of the Fiscal Year. That is why agencies such as the DoD had to furlough vital civilians who were performing maintenance on aircraft, ships and all the rest (engineers, teachers, DoD doctors and nurses, etc). It was a mess. Those Sequestration cuts were for TEN YEARS (until 2023), and the DoD has been living under this cloud. This is why President Trump has been trying to re-fund the military (part of the reason anyway).

Now, having said all of that, what does that have to do with what you both posted?

It looks like Trump is trying to use the existing Gramm-Rudman law and also a National Emergency to claw back funds that have already been Appropriated and Authorized (now that he himself signed the bill).

In layman's terms, Congress gave a big FU to Trump regarding the wall, Planned Parenthood, billions of Welfare giveaways, etc. - and Trump is attempting to give them a big FU in return.

I don't know where this leads. I will tell you that Gramm-Rudman failed in its stated goal (reducing deficits). Deficits exploded since 1985, as has the debt. It was a pinprick.

The Budget Control Act only succeeded in further crippling out military. Sequestration was only another nail in the coffin, because Obama had previously cut the DoD by massive amounts even before Sequestration. The "Stupid Party" (GOP) in Congress agreed to this "Super Committee" which was composed of Democrats and Republicans, and there was NO WAY the Democrats were going to allow cuts to Mandatory spending. So, the DoD took it in the shorts.

Perhaps this combination of a "National Emergency" and using Gramm-Rudman is a weapon Trump can wield. But, we are in uncharted territory here.

[SkyPilot]

Just wanted to clarify, the Qanon Board at 8chan has been theorizing that Trump is going to use the Army Corp of Engineers to build the Southern Wall that’s the only context that they have been talking about the AC of E being used

Well, those anons, you, and others may been on target here.

From Trump's twitter account:

Because of the $700 & $716 Billion Dollars gotten to rebuild our Military, many jobs are created and our Military is again rich. Building a great Border Wall, with drugs (poison) and enemy combatants pouring into our Country, is all about National Defense. Build WALL through M!

[SkyPilot]

Combined with Trump's recent Tweet (see my post above), and this article, it looks like things will get interesting.

If the President does try to use the military (and contracts through the military departments) to build the wall, we can expect a massive war with the courts, Congress, and the news media.

Calls for Impeachment will reach a crescendo.

Did Trump Just Hint at Building the Border Wall Using the Military?

President Donald Trump briefly threatened to veto a giant spending bill on Friday and then reluctantly signed it to keep the military funded.

The lack of funding for a border wall with Mexico is likely one of the president’s biggest frustrations. Trump mentioned the wall when he threatened to veto the bill. The $1.3 trillion budget includes just $1.6 billion for wall construction along the southern border, far short of the $25 billion needed to accomplish Trump’s signature campaign promise.

To make matters worse, the spending bill specifically prohibits Trump from building the kind of wall he wants. The president nevertheless celebrated the progress and pointed out that construction can begin immediately.

But Trump also dropped an eyebrow-raising hint that he could take an unprecedented option and build the wall using the enormous military budget.

“I want to address the situation on border security, which I call national defense,” Trump said. “I call it stopping drugs from pouring across our border. And I call it illegal immigration. It’s all of those things. But national defense is a very important two words. Because by having a strong border system, including a wall, we are in a position, militarily, that is very advantageous.”

For the first time, Trump underlined the significance of the barrier as a military structure and a matter of national defense. Up to now, the president promoted the wall as a way to curtail illegal immigration and stop the deadly flood of illicit drugs. The introduction of the wall’s military function is significant, especially in terms of funding it. Roughly half of the spending bill is dedicated to the military for a total of over $654 billion allotted to the Pentagon’s base budget and overseas counterinsurgency operations. That’s enough to build the wall 26 times.

Immediately after he alluded to the wall’s military function, Trump called upon Gen. James Mattis to comment on the newly secured military budget.

“In 1790, in George Washington’s first annual address to Congress, he stated, to be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving the peace,” Mattis said. “Now, it’s our responsibility in the military to spend every dollar wisely in order to keep the trust and the confidence of the American people and the Congress.”

----------------------------------------------------------------------

It could also be that Trump has a two pronged attack here:

1. Threaten to use a National Emergency and the 1985 Gramm-Rudman law to starve funds that Congress and Democrats have already won through the recently signed omnibus in case they push back on his wall construction using the military

2. Start the wall using the military, be sued in court and receive fire from Congress and the media, and dare them to stop him

[Cboldt]

Thank you. Saw it, and when asked, remarked on it at post 1824.

[Cboldt]

-- Has any one checked this out and understand the meaning and purpose? --

See post 1824 for my take on the letter from the WH, concerning the 2018 Omnibus Appropriations Bill.

[Cboldt]

Later tweet suggests the amount of money that will be directed to construction of the wall ...

Much can be done with the $1.6 Billion given to building and fixing the border wall. It is just a down payment. Work will start immediately. The rest of the money will come - and remember DACA, the Democrats abandoned you (but we will not)!

@realDonaldTrump 6:42 AM - 25 Mar 2018

[MNDude]

HA!! We from this thread new this since Friday!

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

That is how the Piquine plant is distributed. Bugger of a time starting one at home. An old Tejano once told me it NEEDED the bird poop to germinate.

[Cboldt]

See post 719.

There are 73 IG in the federal government.

[StormFlag]

Who provides oversight of congress! Is it only the ethics committee?

[bitt]

thanks, pinged that article out...

[Cboldt]

-- Who provides oversight of congress! Is it only the ethics committee? --

Depends on what the issue is, but generally you have it, Congress has no oversight other than the public.

[WildHighlander57]

Bookmarking your post

(way behind... trying to catch up)

[aMorePerfectUnion]

😊

[Billyv]

One must NEVER let the facts and truth get in the way of the narrative!

MAGA! GOD, POTUS and FREEREPUBLIC (the last bastion of hope for those suffering from TDS) Whuuuup, Whuuuup! Let the games begin!

[antidisestablishment]

Haven’t tried that one that I remember. I’ve had all kinds of ghosts, scorpions and the like with various suggestive names. I like really hot sauces, but they’ve got to have flavor— I think many vendors don’t actually taste their ghost sauces as they’re prepared. I always try them before purchase and I don’t buy any with perverse names.

Firehouse subs carries a good selection usually, but Tijuana Flats has the best line. They range from Old Bay spice level to truly hot—though you may have to ask. Most don’t leave ghosts out because they’d get sued soon as a kid put it in his eyes.

[ichabod1]

The point of the super hot peppers is to add a lot of heat to the dish without adding a lot of pepper flavor. Jalapenos can taste just as hot, but you have to take more of it so it tastes more peppery.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

congress-slyly-diverts-pentagon-money-to-fund-donald-trumps-border-wall