Discussion: Divided Republicans Await Clarity From Trump On Key Issues

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“That dog doesn’t hunt,” GOP Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina, head
of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, declared flatly of a central
element of the plan, tax credits extended regardless of income.

Well aren’t you just precious! Bless your heart!

Yet for defense hawks, Trump’s Pentagon spending didn’t go far enough.
Sen. John McCain of Arizona complained that Trump’s plans represented
just a small increase over Obama’s recent Pentagon wish list.

A $50 billion increase isn’t enough for you? Fuck you, John McCain!

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can’t Republicans find a leader that can lead from the front instead of finding someone to hide behind?

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Await Clarity ? Don’t hold your breath, while you wait…

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And, Trump’s budget would leave large deficits intact while sparing Social Security and Medicare, the entitlements that make up an enormous and growing share of the federal budget. That puts Trump in direct conflict with Ryan and other leading Republicans who’ve long advocated reforming entitlement programs to put them on a more sustainable footing and get deficits under control.

Oh screw you AP, while this is certainly what Republicans think on the issue restating their position without pointing out that their fear-mongering over Social Security and Medicare it is a load of crap is bullshit. Simply accepting the Republicans framing of issues without question makes you complicit in their disinformation efforts.

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I must say, it’s nice to hear “Repubs in disarray” stories–thought that trope only applied to Democrats.

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Clarity? From Donald Trump? That’s funny!!

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No, please do hold your collective breath, GOP. If it gets tough to hold it, try a plastic bag over your heads.

On the increase in the Pentagon’s budget, just how much will be funneled to United Technologies to thank them for providing cover over PeePee’s Carrier “look how many jobs I saved?” lies?

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Trump: Just do opposite of whatever Obama would have done.

Awaiting clarity from Trump is like "flipping on the landing lights for Amelia Earhart."

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Thank you for flagging! Also, even the term “entitlements” is a trap set by Pete Petersen and his Wall St cronies - they are Earned Benefits, dammit!

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If it gets him to vote nay, I’m all for it - whatever the stated rationale. Comrade Chaos can only lose three Senate R’s - and passage in the House is by no means a sure thing:

[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/27/us/politics/trump-budget-military.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=a-lede-package-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0][1]

A whole lot of his agenda rests on passage of his budget - in both chambers…

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“Flailing and divided, congressional Republicans are hoping for clarity from President Donald Trump”. Well, now you see, there’s your problem.

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The word is that Trump is springing a special guest to his speech before congress. His initials are VP (hint: it’s not Mike Pence).

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One of the news programs (maybe NPR?) was talking about how the Dems might react to Trump’s speech … whether there will be any yelled comments, or just booing. I think they ought to just break into laughter when he lies or says something especially ludicrous. He would have no idea how to react. He loves confrontation and drama, but a united reaction of laughter would really throw him, I think.

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They are indeed “entitlements,” because you are entitled to those benefits.

It’s not a dirty word, despite Republican efforts to make it so.

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Budget resolutions are suggestions, and do not have the force of law—only appropriations bills can do that.

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Actually I would argue that turning the term “entitlement” into a negative is the real trap, because they are entitlements in that they are services you are entitled to because you have been damn well paying for them your entire working life. An entitlement is simply something one is entitled to or has a right to, the problem is the unspoken “unearned” lie that the Republicans always imply when talking of them.

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Let’s contrast two Presidents, one revered by others, the other self-congratulatory. Lincoln loved equally applied law and hard work while distrusting mobs. Trump loves mobs and the intellectual and physical sloth of privilege that passes the buck for failure to others while dismissing any rules not of his own making. We need the shared table of Lincoln. We have the selfish gluttony of Trump.

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Awaiting ‘clarity’ from Trump. Hahahahahahaha!

ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…

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