Donald Trump has Mexico over a barrel

American Thinker ^ | June 5, 2019 | Fritz Pettyjohn

[detective]

Mexico is going to cave, and it's not just the tariffs. We've got the Mexicans over a barrel on energy, and if we want, we can wipe their economy out. Without American energy imports, the Mexican economy collapses.

This actually doesn't make any sense. Mexico is awash in petroleum and natural gas. But the Mexicans just can't get it out of the ground. American petroleum engineers were critical to the early success of the Mexican oil industry. From 1918 to the late '20s, Mexico was second only to the United States in oil production, and it was number one in petroleum exports. But the bounty was not fairly shared, and an inflamed Mexican nationalism booted the American oil industry out of the country. The Mexican oil industry never recovered.

Take a look at a map of the Permian basin, the source of millions upon millions barrels of daily oil production. You'll notice that the geological formation containing this plentitude of hydrocarbons extends well into Mexico. But there is no oil development on the Mexican side of the border. They can't get to the oil without our help.

[detective]

The corrupt Mexican economy is totally reliant on the United States.

All the United States needs is some strong leadership to get Mexico to help us solve the border problems.

[Its All Over Except ...]

When that 30k strong Mother of All Caravans in Mexico and heading north to the U.S. border is stopped, and they are all deported, then I will believe that Mexico has capitulated and acquiesced.

[Migraine]

Mexico HAS TO cave; but boy oh howdy they are being given plenty of incentive to foot-drag by our bold and gallant (R) Senate. I am livid at them, including “my” (R) senette, Martha McSellout.

[escapefromboston]

Don’t worry...the GOP will grab defeat out of the jaws of victory

[Levy78]

good... now open the lid and hold their head under water. F.U. Mexico... you’ve been our enemy for 175 years.

[gasport]

If they can’t take a joke, ...

[PGR88]

Sadly, the Mexican socialists are not friends or partners of the USA. They are implicitly participating in the invasion of America, to weaken the USA, and to promote Mexican racism and their own corrupt interests.

[SpaceBar]

Mexico needs to repatriate ten million as a good-faith gesture before any ‘talks’ commence.

[TonytheTiger7777]

ive heard the cartels control 70% of the country. there is literally NO Mexico anymore

[proust]

The cartels have set up their own encrypted cell network. That’s how bad it’s gotten.

[ZBM-2]

DEFEATIST! Anyhow, Trump is leader of the GOP - and he will have his way!

[Eddie01]

What's the origin of the phrase 'Over a barrel'?

This is an American phrase and first appeared in the late-19th century. It alludes to the actual situation of being draped over a barrel, either to empty the lungs of someone who has been close to drowning, or to give a flogging.

Either way, the position of helplessness and in being under someone else's control is what is being referred to.

An example of such a literal "over the barrel" experience was recorded in the Delaware newspaper The Daily Republican, July 1886, which reported the initiation ceremony of a college fraternity:

He was bound hand and foot and rolled over a barrel. Next he was stripped naked and placed upon a cake of ice... and branded on his back with the fraternity emblem.

Soon after that 'over a barrel' took on the figurative meaning of 'in trouble; without any hope of deliverance.

This usage is recorded in The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, January 1893, in a story of an unfaithful wife:

The good, true, loving wife she appeared to be, being, to use a slang phrase "over a barrel." The woman who is "over a barrel" was Mrs. Nellie Brundage, and the man "not her husband" was S. R. Clute.

The modern-day usage of 'over a barrel' has softened somewhat. It is now used to refer to anyone in a situation where they have little choice.

[Mr. K]

Put a 50% tax on the remittances. They’ll take care of the drug problem and build the wall for us.

Plus there would be a lot of dead cartel leaders.

[SMARTY]

“We’ve got the Mexicans over a barrel on energy...”

This President knows what to do with power. Not weaponizing US agencies to ‘f’ with US citizens... but using US power FOR the US!

“O” was clueless and everyone knew it. Power is useless and even dangerous if you don’t know how to use it.

[nikos1121]

Trump has so many options here it’s not funny.

Listening to that dumb SOB again saying that the Tariffs will be paid by the consumer, and he mocks Trump for saying that companies will bring back their factories here to avoid tariffs.

The dumb SOB doesn’t realize that if the Mexican companies pass the tariffs off to American consumer...guess what... American consumer won’t buy their products....they’ll buy from other countrys or from our own farmers.

So, they won’t pass on the tariffs, rather they’ll take a hit on their profits...

In short they’ll lose their competiveness.

Can’t believe how dumb Cavuto is...

[Ancesthntr]

They have us over a barrel, too. If Mexico’s economy tanks, we will have 500,000 refugees a month, more if a bunch of Communists come to power.

It is in the interest of both countries to settle this. Someone will have to be the loser, and that needs to be the cartels. We should do a deal to help the Mexican army destroy them, utterly. This will help Mexico normalize their economy, slow the flow of refugees and slow the entry of drugs here.

[Jeff Vader]

we’re going to have to primary her, she’s sure to lose in 2022. she just doesn’t know how to win

[FrdmLvr]

I read something this morning that the Mexican government was buying bus tickets for illegals all along the border in order to spread out the impact.

[dfwgator]

We tell Mexico upfront, either you clean up your mess, or we will.

[sarge83]

The GOP senate is useless. Other than confirming judges I can’t think of a damned thing they have done. They wail and go on about the cost of tariff’s to Americans yet are oblivious to the damage and cost of illegal immigration which runs into the billions of dollars and not to mention all those American citizens who are beaten, raped and murdered by illegal immigrants.

The GOP in congress truly has their collective heads up their asses, I have never seen a more craven and stupid bunch of greedy wingnuts than these goobers. The Democrats are selling us out for votes, the GOP is selling us out for the almighty dollar.