Analysis: GOP senators struggle to escape no-win border vote

AP via Yahoo ^ | March 2nd, 2019 | LISA MASCARO

[Mariner]

WASHINGTON (AP) — One by one, the Republican senators floated their ideas. They were trying to find a way out of a seemingly impossible dilemma: how to support President Donald Trump's U.S.-Mexico border wall without approving the national emergency declaration he invoked to build it.

And one by one, during a private lunchtime meeting that ran hot at times, they found no easy answers.

As a deadline for voting looms, it's increasingly clear that Republican senators are deeply uncomfortable with Trump's use of executive power to build the wall and desperate to devise a way around the vote.

Senators know whatever they decide will make history. It's the first time Congress is voting to terminate a national emergency. Even if Trump vetoes the measure, as expected, it will set precedent for other money grabs by future occupants of the White House.

This is why they tried to talk Trump out of invoking national emergency powers and why they're now in a no-win situation as they prepare to vote.

"People are caught between the need for border security — and agreeing with what the president's trying to do — but not how he's trying to do it," said Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the senior-most Republican senator.

In the days ahead, senators will be required to vote on a resolution, already approved by Democrats in the House, to terminate Trump's executive action.

Senate Republicans don't have the votes to stop what Trump is doing, nor do they necessarily want to. Many of their constituents want the wall, and senators, especially those up for re-election in 2020, don't want to run afoul of the president whose supporters they'll need.

[robowombat]

I don’t see how 300 deaths every week from the drugs flowing across the border is not a national emergency.

The leftist take is it is the fault of Americans who consume the drugs, This is a public health issue only and a lot of money on unlimited rehab programs is required. If Americans weren’t so immature and weak there would be no problem.

[lurk]

Cowardly compromisers trying to avoid being sure of anything.

[an amused spectator]

Nobody ever had a problem with pResident Phone and uh Pen.

uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh...

Shaddup you mouth, Zero.

[Vendome]

It’s not “Trump’s Wall”.

The wall already exists, thanks to 38 current sitting Democrat senators who voted to fund its existence

We are now in now In Monopoly mode and improving property....

[newzjunkey]

AMEN

[sergeantdave]

You posted from both AP and Yahoo. That’s super-duper left wing BS. Carry on, good sir.

[SharpRightTurn]

“As a deadline for voting looms, it’s increasingly clear that Republican senators are deeply uncomfortable with Trump’s use of executive power to build the wall and desperate to devise a way around the vote.”

The Republican party is the worst excuse for a political party I can imagine. Any small town civic group would have twice the backbone of these pantywaists.

[Brilliant]

Its only a no win if you are trying to straddle the fence.

[GailA]

TN RINO Lamar Alexander says others way to fund 234 MILES!

[lodi90]

Re-pansy-cans. CONgress seems very appropriate these days. Just think if they actually worked FOR the country.

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There is nothing pansy about this. The Republican Party is fighting tooth and nail to keep the border wide open. How pathetic is that?

[lodi90]

We now have taxation without representation. Congress represents K Street lobbyists and not Main Street voters. This will not end well for the GOP.

[lodi90]

WAY too late ***holes, you had two years [and in some cases, decades] to get it right.

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Yep. The GOP has lied to its voters for 30 years about wanting to secure the border. Now the chickens are coming home to roost due to POTUS and they are scrambling to find anther beltway fairy tale to spin on us.