Amid opposition, Trump makes low budget request for Mexico border wall

Reuters ^ | 05/23/2017 | By Julia Edwards Ainsley

[Rusty0604]

President Donald Trump is asking Congress for $1.6 billion to begin building a wall along the border with Mexico, far short of the amount needed for a project sharply criticized by Democrats and even some conservative Republicans.

An internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) plan in February estimated the total cost for the wall at $21.6 billion, but the White House's budget proposal for 2018, released in full on Tuesday, included a request for just $1.6 billion.

Two Republican aides in Congress said the modest request is an acknowledgement from the White House that full funding is not realistic given opposition from Freedom Caucus conservatives in the House of Representatives as well as Democrats in the House and the Senate.

Unless Trump is able to rally broader support and win more funding for construction in another fiscal year, his plans for a "big beautiful wall" that he promised during his election campaign last year may not be realized, the aides said.

The budget, which includes 10-year projections for spending for most areas of the government, did not include a 10-year plan for funding wall construction. "We are absolutely dead serious about the wall," White House budget director Mick Mulvaney told reporters on Tuesday.

[DoughtyOne]

You stated that Mexico would never pay for the wall.

Trump claimed it would.

Your statement claimed Trump would be a failure at getting Mexico to pay for the wall.

To this moment, you still can’t grasp the truth of that.

You went shooting your mouth off, and you got called on it.

Some of us are tired of watching assholes like you keep hurling negative comments in Trump’s direction.

Screw you and the Democrat Airport Express you road in on.

We support Trump here in case you didn’t know it.

If you can’t take the heat for making moronic statements, stop making them. Either that or move on over to Democrat Underground where they love comments like yours, because everyone there makes them.

Buck up! It’s going to be a long four years buttercup.

[JimRed]

I’ve yet to hear how this is going to work regarding access to the Rio Grande.

The border is mid-river, is it not? Then that's where the wall goes. Open steel mesh with concertina wire so the flow is not impeded, all the way to the bottom. Might chop up a few fish for the enviroweenies to whine about, but...

[Lakeshark]

This constant nit picking every few minutes about some perceived weakness or another is self-defeatist.

It's far worse than that, it's believing a media that wants to divide us and lies at every turn. This constant whining unintentionally signals weakness towards the big agenda that Trump IS following through on every day. It's an agenda that should make us giddy, conservatism is being implemented in so many ways all at once.

We haven't had it this good since Reagan, and daily people here act as if we're in the bamsters' first two years of scorched earth destruction.

Sum Ting Wong.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks Lakeshark.

In addition to what you said, which was good, I keep running into the same dang people making the negative comments too.

When you address them, they claim they really support Trump. The next time you run into them, it’s more snide comments about Trump.

Either they are lying to me in total, or they have no idea what they are doing. Nobody is that dumb.

[Jim W N]

Your statement claimed Trump would be a failure at getting Mexico to pay for the wall.

That is a lie. I never called Trump a failure. That's YOUR negativity showing out. You're so far gone you can't tell the difference between what I actually said and your brain-damaged interpretation of what I said.

Your are part of the problem there Doughty. You lie (deliberate misrepresentation is a lie) and you cry like a baby when someone truthfully calls out your man (in this case Trump, who also is my man). Your head-up-your-a$$ approach is what got us into this mess to begin with. When Reagan got elected, many like you went to sleep and the next thing we knew Bush was in the WH and we've had 28 years of leftist tyranny ever since.

Go away you're a waste of time.

[Lakeshark]

Why such intense negativity to D1 on this thread?

Your disagreement is about whether Trump will get Mexico to pay for the wall, which none of us can predict or see clearly yet.

If you think the wall will be built and have positive effects, if you are a Trump supporter, you shouldn't be so harsh with your critique. Just step back and take a few deep breaths, you'll feel better.

[DoughtyOne]

Are you conceptually challenged? If you are, just way the word and I’ll leave you alone.

I had tried to treat you as a person what could reason their way to their next breath, but I obviously gave you too much credit.

Breathe. Breathe... keep it up until I get back.

(Now, will he make it? Not putting money on it...)

[Jim W N]

Excuse me?

This D1 is attacking me because I’m telling the truth that these requests to Congress are not Mexico paying for the wall. He then lies about what I said by taking my statements out of context and deliberately misinterpreting them as though his interpretation is fact.

The guy pisses me off. It’s OK, I’ll get over it but IMO this D1 is more part of the problem than part of the solution.

I’d be glad to talk to you about the wall-payment thing if you’re a reasonable guy, but this thing with D1 is about his unreasonableness and deliberate misrepresentation about what I said.

Did you read my initial comment (post #3)? My critique of Trump is true but not harsh - I’m cheering his resolve however the job gets done. I love the guy. But but my defense against this D1 is pretty harsh because his attacks on me are uncalled for and harsh.

[DoughtyOne]

Trump claimed he would get Mexico to pay for the wall.

In post three here, you said Mexico will not pay for the wall.

Thus you charged that Trump would be a failure at getting Mexico to pay for the wall.

My how embarrassing someone else has to come along and explain what you did. If I were that helpless, I’d stay off the internet.

Buckle up. It’s going to be a long four years Buttercup.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3554580/posts?page=43#43

[Jim W N]

The only challenge I have here is not responding to someone as unreasonable as you.

I used to think you were a good guy. Then you tangled with me about my critique about the Mexico thing awhile back. IMO your arguments were utterly unreasonable. Then you replied to me later about something else and you seemed like a pretty good guy or at least normal. But now this.

I will do my best to not respond to you in the future. DoughtyOne is definitely on my “No Fly” zone list.

Good bye and good luck.

[DoughtyOne]

Jim, if this were the first time I had addressed you over trash talking Trump, I might give you some slack. It isn’t and you know it.

You are a first class jerk.

You came here to trash Trump on the issue of him getting Mexico to pay for the wall, flatly stating Mexico would not be paying.

That right there is a straight up charge that Trump will be a failure at getting Mexico to pay.

Just because you don’t have the tools to reason, doesn’t mean that others don’t.

You got caught with your anti-Trump bias showing, and I called you on it.

STFU if you can’t stop carping on Trump.

I don’t know if you’re a NeverTrumper, a guy trying to make points by trashing Trump every time you think you have an opening or what, but I’m damned sick of your act, and I know others are too.

Knock it off.

Buck up. It’s going to be a long four years Buttercup.

[Jim W N]

Thus you charged that Trump would be a failure at getting Mexico to pay for the wall.

There you go again. You're hopeless. Although what I said was true, I never said anything about "failure". You skip over the truth part that gets your panties in a wad and then lie about what I said. Hopeless.

Go away.

[DoughtyOne]

Read your number three post. LINK

You really don't see any evidence in there to support the idea you claimed he would be a failure at least in part.

Man you are obtuse.

[Jim W N]

Oh, I see, now it’s “evidence to support”. But that hasn’t been your argument up until now has it. You’ve directly accused me of call Trump a failure which I did not. In fact if YOU read my post #3 after you clear your muddled head, you’d see that I’m applauding Trump’s efforts regardless of how the freaking wall is paid for.

So the evidence of what I meant is contained in the whole passage, not in your twisted interpretation of what you took out of context, like the Lying Left does. Again, like the Lying Left, you skip over the truth that gets you panties in a wad and then lie about what I said.

The truth. Try it sometime. It actually works.

Good by and good luck.

[DoughtyOne]

Jim, with each post you're getting more idiotic.

Where did you find the rule that you have to use the word "failure", for me to charge you with saying Trump would be one?

Trump said he would get Mexico to pay.  You said Mexico will never pay.  That means, you're stating Trump will be a failure on this effort.

Incredibly, I'm having to explain this to you, and you're still beating the horse that died many posts ago.

Oh, I see, now it’s “evidence to support”. But that hasn’t been your argument up until now has it. You’ve directly accused me of call Trump a failure which I did not. In fact if YOU read my post #3 after you clear your muddled head, you’d see that I’m applauding Trump’s efforts regardless of how the freaking wall is paid for.

OMG, you are one whacked out individual.  Did Trump or did he not say Mexico would pay.  Did you or did you not state Mexico would never pay?   He said he'd get Mexico to pay.  You say he won't.  You said he would fail on this.  No, you didn't use the exact word, but you inferred it as stridently as if you had.  You can deny it for the next few years if you like.  What's done is done, and you did infer he would be a failure.  Get over it!

So the evidence of what I meant is contained in the whole passage, not in your twisted interpretation of what you took out of context, like the Lying Left does. Again, like the Lying Left, you skip over the truth that gets you panties in a wad and then lie about what I said.

Trump said he would get Mexico to pay for the wall which will cost $15 to $25 billion.  You said Mexico won't pay.  Now you are running from your charge that Trump would not be able to get Mexico to pay.  In anyone's book, that's considered a failure.

You are one giant jackass fella.

Oh, I never used the work failure.  I never used the word failure.  You're so unfair.  And later on I applauded Trump's efforts.  How dare you call me on saying he would fail at getting Mexico to pay.  How dare you!

You really think that's going to work don't you.

The truth. Try it sometime. It actually works.

 I used the truth on the whole thread.  Too bad you didn't.

On your way to voicing support for Trump, you also inferred he lied.  Just wish he’d been straightforward about these implied ways of paying for the wall from the beginning.

Nobody who supported him had any problem following along.  He didn't use weasle words or lie.

My, so much support for Trump in one fairly short post.  LOL

Good by and good luck.

Buckle up.  It's going to be a long four years Buttercup.

[WVMnteer]

The Mexico paying for the wall thing was a fun line for rallies, but did anyone really think that was true?

I know the “take Trump seriously and not literally” thing has been beaten to death, but he said a million things on the campaign trail and a lot of them contradicted each other. You will drive yourself nuts if you actually try to hold him to all his “promises.” Wasn’t one of his promises that everyone will be happy all the time or something to that effect?

Anyway, who cares who pays for the wall as long as it gets built?

[DoughtyOne]

I appreciate the comments, but I do believe he will find a way to offset the costs of the wall, and it will be Mexico related.

Did I think Mexico would somehow transfer funds to build the wall? Of course not. Will there be some sort of levy, import fees, money transfers fee, I believe so.

I don’t see this as a comment like, “Folks will be happy all the time.” Frankly, I am. Trump is doing a great job.

[WVMnteer]

I think he’ll look at a change in the trade deficit or healthcare budget or whatever and declare it a “win.”

That’s really what he should do.

I really don’t particularly like any of the making allies/enemies/etc. pay for things rhetoric. It’s a little too Roman tribute for my tastes.

[DoughtyOne]

Mexican policy has severely damaged the United States.

Mexico owes us. I have no problem whatsoever demanding Mexico make some form of restitution, and the wall cost is very fitting.

Mexico gets something like $30 billion dollars from the U.S. in person to person remittances each year. A 5% fee on that for a decade or so would pay for the wall.

[Jim W N]

To any who are still following this semi-incoherent mish-mash between DoughtyOne (D1) and me, my post #3, copied below, is what all the fuss is about.

“Trump’s expressed plan for paying for the wall: Mexico will pay. Not gonna happen. Trump’s implicit plan for paying for the wall: America will pay, but will benefit from the protection and will absorb the cost because of the greater wealth derived from Trump’s economic plan. It’s happening. Just wish he’d been straightforward about these implied ways of paying for the wall from the beginning.”

D1 attacked me with accusations ad infinitum, ad nauseum, that I “declaring it a major failure on this topic” which is untrue as you can see. D1 refused to acknowledge the entire post which applauded Trump’s efforts. The inference in the post is failure to have Mexico is a nit because Trump’s economic plan will more than make up for it. But I did and do call Trump to task for repeatedly promising something he couldn’t deliver – that Mexico would pay for the wall. That is our job as American citizens and Trump supporters, not becoming blind “yes men” as D1 is.

I will continue to hold elected officials including Trump who I greatly admire accountable for their promises which is what all of us should do. Electing a politician is like a treaty with a foreign government. You’re giving them power based on promises made. So, as Reagan said, you “TRUST BUT VERIFY”. I don’t know why Trump often repeated how Mexico would pay for the wall. What D1 deliberately or obtusely misses entirely in his eagerness to attack and accuse me is the obvious point that building the wall is important, not how it’s paid for. The issue of Mexico paying for the wall is only relevant because it is what Trump repeatedly promised. The truth is Trump in this request for money from Congress did fail to keep this promise. That’s important. But it certainly is not a “major failure” regarding building the wall or protecting American citizens or in what I posted, as D1 obfuscates.