Althouse: The Wence.

December 19, 2018

The Wence.

Fund the #Wence! (Let engineers figure out how much is wall and how much is fence and other.)
— Scott Adams (@ScottAdamsSays) December 19, 2018

41 comments:

David Begley said...: Unless Trump can build The Wall some other way, he’s lost much of his base.

If he uses the military, some judge will issue an injunction.; 12/19/18, 5:44 AM
Howard said...: Trump can't lose his base because then they have to admit that they were conned. Like the mother of a criminal, they will make any excuse necessary; 12/19/18, 5:48 AM
Oso Negro said...: The ruling elite will have their illegals. Lots of ethnic food, cheap labor, and unfortunate poor to fuss over. Oh and lots more Democrat voters. So what if America becomes more like Mexico? NOT their problem; 12/19/18, 5:57 AM
Bad Lieutenant said...: Blogger Howard said...
Democrats can't lose blacks and Jews because...

FIFY; 12/19/18, 5:58 AM
Oso Negro said...: @Howard - “Conned”? No, not in the least. He is STILL not Hillary Clinton.; 12/19/18, 5:59 AM
David Begley said...: We know terrorists enter through the border so clearly the President, as Commander in Chief, can order the military to build a wall, but some federal judge in CA is the REAL CIC.; 12/19/18, 6:17 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "Unless Trump can build The Wall some other way, he’s lost much of his base."

No. He can't lose them. He could even shoot a man on Fifth Avenue.

He is loved as a man, not a policy or set of policies. He's also hated. It comes with the humanity.; 12/19/18, 6:27 AM
rehajm said...: My 'Build the Fall' movement fell flat.; 12/19/18, 6:45 AM
David Begley said...: I have NEVER loved Trump the man. For me (and many more) it is all about what he DOES.

I’m getting really tired of the drama and scandal. Trump is going to be impeached by the House. If he doesn’t perform, he’s out one way or the other.; 12/19/18, 6:48 AM
Jeff Brokaw said...: “He is loved as a man, not a policy or set of policies.”

This is misguided, the idea that every supporter is essentially a cult member. Let’s not try to read minds.; 12/19/18, 6:49 AM
gadfly said...: rehajm said...
My 'Build the Fall' movement fell flat.

"Fall" is much more descriptive, since not building the barricade is inevitable, Trump will therefore, most assuredly, "goeth before the Fall."; 12/19/18, 6:52 AM
Laslo Spatula said...: "I’m getting really tired of the drama and scandal."

That's been the plan.

Make it an emotional and psychological grind every unrelenting day, where relief can only then be seen by acquiescing to the elites.

It is the child screaming and crying in the store: everyone just wants you to give him his fucking candy so they can get some peace.

Most give up and give the candy.

I am Laslo.; 12/19/18, 6:53 AM
Laslo Spatula said...: The catch is that, once you give the candy, the crying might stop, but the people around you that socially pressured you to appease the child will not be thankful: they will look at you with disdain, because you have shown that you are weak.

And the child has now learned that tantrums work.

There will not be another Trump if Trump is gone: the point will have been made, the battle won. The deplorables will now be seen weak, and that they will -- always -- inevitably give in. The disdain will be the new noise floor.

Welcome to the Undertow.

I am Laslo.; 12/19/18, 7:02 AM
Wilbur said...: Laslo is exactly right.; 12/19/18, 7:03 AM
alanc709 said...: Surrender Trump to get more peace and quiet, and you'll have no one, and you won't get peace and quiet. The left will increase it's abuse, because it will be seen as working. For those of you too stupid to understand that, you deserve the result.; 12/19/18, 7:06 AM
Hagar said...: Trump's wall thing baffles me, but he appears to think the alarum useful and I bow to his superior sense of showmanship and skill in keeping it going.; 12/19/18, 7:12 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "I have NEVER loved Trump the man. For me (and many more) it is all about what he DOES."

I'm the opposite. Sometimes I love him — for no reason at all.

Just kidding.

Sort of!!; 12/19/18, 7:14 AM
Phil 314 said...: The old line regarding self-centeredness “But enough about me, let's talk about you... what do YOU think of me?” has morphed into

“But enough about me, let's talk about Trump.”; 12/19/18, 7:42 AM
tcrosse said...: Call Senor Wences.; 12/19/18, 8:51 AM
Howard said...: Hillary's minions are shuffling off the mortal coil. The Trump incels using Darwin to their demise; 12/19/18, 9:11 AM
Chuck said...: This has been the most laughably badly-negotiated thing in recent political history.

Let's stipulate:
1. A $5.01 line-item in the budget bill is significant, but shouldn't be a huge deal-breaker.
2. As for general border security, the Democrats have voted for such expenditures before and there could be bipartisan support for general border security if the past is any indicator at all.
3. But Trump made "The Wall" his personal claim, and staked his candidacy and reputation (whatever his reputation might be) on "a great wall."
4. And then Trump boxed himself in even more, by saying that it would be his "mantle" to take full responsibility for a federal government shutdown if he didn't get the line-item money that he wanted for his wall funding.
5. All together, these things ramped up the political pressure and drama so much that Democrats realized that caving to this Trump demand would be taken by Trump as a huge personal win (as he does even when he doesn't deserve any credit for a political win, as with the Supreme Court nominations, or the tax bill).
6. And so Trump threw the Republicans in Congress under his own recklessly-driven bus, when it was doubtful that he even had the votes in the House (and certainly not enough votes, and barely enough Republican votes in the Senate).
7. Trump was not going to get the funding; Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan and most of their members didn't want a government shutdown over Christmas, and they were all in a box of Trump's making.

And now, the only way out is to cave on the line item, and define down Trump's terms for victory, and declare that Trump won by doing something other than what he talked about in his combative Oval Office meeting with Pelosi and Schumer.

If Trump had wanted to make a brilliant sophisticated deal to get the funding, he could have done it if he hadn't made such a big personal deal out of it. He could have quietly given something to the Dems, gotten a new name for the budget items, and otherwise made it work to get some federal funding. Trump didn't really want a deal, or funding, or a wall. Trump could not help himself; he wanted an issue. Now, he will get a loss. Government will be funded with a short term continuing resolution and he will not get $5b in the resolution.

So Scott Adams can call it whatever he wants. I am calling Trump LOSER on this.; 12/19/18, 9:33 AM
rhhardin said...: The Trump fence
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rhhardin/30202840911/sizes/o; 12/19/18, 10:01 AM
Kevin said...: I hope Hillary runs with the idea that since we've seen four years of Trump it will be a cakewalk for her.

Imagine her surprise when the country STILL doesn't want her.; 12/19/18, 10:40 AM
President-Mom-Jeans said...: Lifelong Incel Chuck says "I am calling Trump LOSER on this."

And I am calling you a spergy pretend lawyer and pretend Republican. The difference between my comment and your's is that mine is correct, and your's is the impotent tantrum of an internet cosplayer who everyone but a couple of lefty twats mock and despise.

Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal.; 12/19/18, 10:47 AM
Chuck said...: President-Mom-Jeans:

You continually write that I am a "pretend lawyer." I want to bet you $100,000 that I am a law school graduate, a licensed member of the State Bar of Michigan who passed the bar on the first attempt, and an "AV" rated practitioner by Martindale-Hubbell.

I feel confident that you probably don't have $100,000 to make such a wager, and for any less than that I don't think it is worth it to tell you who I am. But for six figures, I would never post another comment ever again on the Althouse blog and would have no regrets saying goodbye to all of you.; 12/19/18, 12:12 PM
Gahrie said...: I feel confident that you probably don't have $100,000 to make such a wager, and for any less than that I don't think it is worth it to tell you who I am. But for six figures, I would never post another comment ever again on the Althouse blog

I don't like the idea of rewarding bad behavior...but it would get rid of him. Somebody start a Go Fund Me campaign?; 12/19/18, 12:41 PM
Gahrie said...: As for general border security, the Democrats have voted for such expenditures before and there could be bipartisan support for general border security if the past is any indicator at all.

You mean the past that demonstrates that the Left lies about supporting border security to win a short term victory, and then reneges in the long term?

How many times are we supposed to let Lucy pull the ball away Chuckles?; 12/19/18, 12:45 PM
Chuck said...: Gahrie said...
"I feel confident that you probably don't have $100,000 to make such a wager, and for any less than that I don't think it is worth it to tell you who I am. But for six figures, I would never post another comment ever again on the Althouse blog"

I don't like the idea of rewarding bad behavior...but it would get rid of him. Somebody start a Go Fund Me campaign?

Just let me know how I can help you accomplish this.; 12/19/18, 12:46 PM
Chuck said...: Gahrie said...
"As for general border security, the Democrats have voted for such expenditures before and there could be bipartisan support for general border security if the past is any indicator at all."

You mean the past that demonstrates that the Left lies about supporting border security to win a short term victory, and then reneges in the long term?

How many times are we supposed to let Lucy pull the ball away Chuckles?

Hey don't bitch at me. Trump can say no! Trump can veto the CR this week. I think that maybe Trump SHOULD veto the CR this week. He'd be a big hit with his most ardent fans. He could make an even larger personal-reputation wager on The Wall.

After all that he's said, and all of his posturing, Trump is really kind of a pussy if he rolls on the CR that is apparently being negotiated.

I'm watching Trump on this and seeing if he is going to let Lucy pull the ball away.; 12/19/18, 12:51 PM
Birkel said...: A fopdoodle is hoping Democrats and their Chamber of Commerce GOPe allies score a victory not to secure the border.
Imagine my surprise.; 12/19/18, 1:10 PM
Chuck said...: Birkel I confess to being interested what the GOP's historic allies in the Chamber of Commerce think.

I do not care what Democrats think.

I am in favor of more border security. I am not in favor of any wall whose purpose is to serve as a political stunt for Trump. I think that some wall, some fence, some electronic security, some other administrative measures to stem illegal entry into the U.S. along our southern border would be fine. We'll need Democratic compromisers on that, and Trump is a personal impediment to a lot of that bipartisanship. Just because he is such an asshole.

As for Trump, I am quite happy to see him rack up political losses. Just because he is such an asshole.; 12/19/18, 1:32 PM
Birkel said...: Sure, fopdoodle. It was Trump preventing all you claim to want between 1986 and 2016. That must have been it.

You're a fucking liar and a coward.

Enjoy your Democrat overlords.; 12/19/18, 1:34 PM
Darrell said...: Yeah, Trump is a pussy. Like pulling us out of the Paris Accords and Iran Deal. And ending economy-killing regulations by Executive Order. And allowing Vets a private doctor if they need it. Or allowing terminal patients access to trial drugs, even if not fully FDA approved. Or any other fucking things that the Republican elite slugs never do when given the chance. Like even trying to get The Wall built. Or properly vetting immigrants.; 12/19/18, 1:36 PM
Jim at said...: He is loved as a man, not a policy or set of policies.

Nope. Not even close.; 12/19/18, 1:45 PM
Chuck said...: Darrell I need to interrupt your rant to remind you that the Commissioner of the FDA is former Wall Street Journal columnist Scott Gottlieb. He's been the guy who is executing on much of the very good agenda you are talking about.

Along with Betsy DeVos, Jeff Sessions, Justice Gorsuch, Justice Kavanaugh and a number of others, Scott Gottlieb is someone whom I thought was a wonderful nomination by Trump. So good, in fact, I wanted to know who proposed it to Trump and how they got Trump to accept the advice on that/those nominations.

I said so, a year and a half ago.; 12/19/18, 1:49 PM
Darrell said...: Where's McCain's fence?
Oh, right, the prick didn't even try to do something serious about that. He was probably working on that detailed, totally thought out, replacement for ObamaCare that the Republican elites spent years on.

I hope you contributed to Michelle Field's bionic arm gofundme.; 12/19/18, 1:57 PM
Birkel said...: Also a WSJ alumnus: the guy who runs Fusion GPS, Glenn Simpson.

Fuck all the big government Republicans.; 12/19/18, 2:26 PM
Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...: Good King Wences Lost; 12/19/18, 5:36 PM
Gahrie said...: Just let me know how I can help you accomplish this.

You could walk away and stop tormenting us for free......; 12/19/18, 6:34 PM
Rosalyn C. said...: Michael Cohen is a lawyer. James Comey is a lawyer. Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, Eric Holder have all been lawyers. So what? All big time liars. So big deal. Who cares if commenter Chuck is also a lawyer?; 12/19/18, 10:54 PM
Jakirus said...: It is exciting news for me because there is a lot of information on this blog.field-mn.org; 4/1/19, 9:11 AM