Trump vs. Freedom Caucus: President takes names, starting with Amash

[roamer_1]

What's so frustrating about Pres. Trump and his people attacking the HFC members is they both claim to represent the same people. It's clear that Pres. Trump has moved away from representing the "forgotten man" and begun to embrace the DC careerists. It is the HFC members who were elected to stop DC from governing against the will of the people (obamacare). The HFC held true to their mandate of repealing obamacare. It's Pres. Trump and the DC careerists who reneged on their promise.

He has never been capable of representing Conservatism, And don't you worry... He'll hit 'Oh Hell No!' territory sooner than later (this health care thing will probably undo him)... and then there's no going back. Folks will have their eyes opened.

[Applewood]

@Cripplecreek
@ConservativeGranny

I would like to see government run like a business -- in the sense that it should be accountable as far as our tax dollars are concerned.  I want to know where my money is going and how and why is it being spent.  And I want efficiency in government -- reduce or eliminate rampant fraud and waste.  I don't want to have to take a congress critter's word that money is running out in this department or that and we need to raise taxes or come up with new ones.

I would also like to see government run on a budget -- a real budget, not some spending authorizations.  What Congress comes up with year after a year is not a budget.  It's more like a blank check -- for many agencies and departments, it's Santa Claus.  Government should have a set amount of money to work with and be made to live with that amount.  None of this robbing Peter to pay Paul shell game.  If you spend your allotted amount within the fiscal year, too bad. You don't get more.  Next time, take the allotted amount when you get it and work within it, instead of blowing it all on parties, retreats and other frivolities.

[Cripplecreek]

   @Cripplecreek

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCZwhIgCtD0

I wonder how that guy feels now that more than a half dozen of the highest ranking administration officials are Goldman Sachs alumni. Its quickly shaping up to be one of the wealthiest, if not the wealthiest administrations ever.

[Right_in_Virginia]

He has never been capable of representing Conservatism, And don't you worry... He'll hit 'Oh Hell No!' territory sooner than later (this health care thing will probably undo him)... and then there's no going back. Folks will have their eyes opened.

No worries @roamer_1 ----the President is "on" it!  Meeting with Rand Paul today at his sons' golf course in Virginia---and they have great weather, too.  I sure do hope this is okay with you....  ^-^

[roamer_1]

No worries @roamer_1 ----the President is "on" it!  Meeting with Rand Paul today at his sons' golf course in Virginia---and they have great weather, too.  I sure do hope this is okay with you....  ^-^

It couldn't matter less.

[Cripplecreek]

It couldn't matter less.

LOL

I just knew it was coming, a photo op with simple Trumpers declaring it to be a win based on the fact that Trump got a photo with Paul.

[Silver Pines]

From what I gather there are a lot of NeverTrumpers in the HFC, NeverTrumpers will never work with President Trump to Make America Great Again so Trump wants them gone. Makes prefect sense to me.

@jpsb   

You must be gathering it at TOS.  Never trust anything those fringe kook nutcases tell you.  They'll have you searching a pizza restaurant's non-existent basement for evidence of an Alex Jones murder-pedo conspiracy.

[Silver Pines]

LOL

I just knew it was coming, a photo op with simple Trumpers declaring it to be a win based on the fact that Trump got a photo with Paul.

@Cripplecreek   

Well, Trump was once photographed shaking Reagan's hand, which makes him the heir to Reagan's legacy, so what's your problem?   

[Cripplecreek]

@Cripplecreek   

Well, Trump was once photographed shaking Reagan's hand, which makes him the heir to Reagan's legacy, so what's your problem?   

That was before Trump declared Reagan to be a failed con man so it doesn't count.

[Emjay]

He has never been capable of representing Conservatism, And don't you worry... He'll hit 'Oh Hell No!' territory sooner than later (this health care thing will probably undo him)... and then there's no going back. Folks will have their eyes opened.

Trump is now saying that the health care thing is still on the docket and they are working on it.

[Silver Pines]

That was before Trump declared Reagan to be a failed con man so it doesn't count.

Well, damn.

[Emjay]

It couldn't matter less.

Why do you say that?  Rand Paul was an opponent of the health care bill that was presented.  If Trump is picking his brain or trying to influence him, I'd say it matters.

[Right_in_Virginia]

It couldn't matter less.

Here's the link to the article @roamer_1  @Cripplecreek :  [Warning:  Not all words used are monosyllabic) 

Trump takes Rand Paul on a golf outing to discuss healthcare
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/article/2619140/

[Emjay]

It may be illegal according the the Hatch Act. If not it certainly is unethical for the POTUS or member of his administration to do this. I believe it is an abuse of power.

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/dan-scavino-justin-amash-liability-trump-freedom-caucus-236780

Congress is not there to do the president's bidding. They are there to do the bidding of the people of the US. Trump is not running his own little kingdom there in DC. Threatening and intimidating those who disagree with him will not win him support for his policies.

As I've said once before, running a government is not the same as running a business. The Congress doesn't work for the POTUS. They are employed by the people and are answerable to them not to Trump.

It's funny but before the election one of the criticisms that was oft repeated about Cruz was that he wasn't well liked and couldn't get along with anyone. I have never heard Cruz insult, intimidate or threaten those he didn't agree with but rather try to persuade others to his point of view.

I read that criticism about Ted Cruz a lot and it just didn't wash with me.  Besides being extremely conservative and super intelligent, Cruz is a pleasant person and I've never seen him deal in insults.  That was just Trump propaganda. 

[corbe]

WH pushes back after Trump aide comes under fire for tweet urging GOP primary challenge

 By Rebecca Savransky - 04/02/17 03:11 PM EDT


The White House is pushing back against allegations that a tweet from a top Trump aide violated longstanding prohibition on using an official position to influence an election.

"Dan Scavino's tweet does not violate the Hatch Act as it clearly comes from his personal account and not his official White House account," a White House official said, according to ABC News.

"He created an official account upon entering the White House to ensure compliance with the Hatch Act and he has taken the necessary steps to ensure there is a clear distinction between both Twitter accounts."

The Hatch Act prohibits executive branch employees from using their offices to try to sway elections or influence campaigns.
The comments come after White House social media director Dan Scavino on Saturday posted a tweet calling for a primary challenge to Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.), a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus who opposed the GOP healthcare plan last month.
 

".@realDonaldTrump is bringing auto plants & jobs back to Michigan. @justinamash is a big liability.#TrumpTrain, defeat him in primary," Scavino tweeted Saturday.

After the tweet was posted, Richard Painter, a former chief ethics lawyer in the George W. Bush White House, argued Scavino violated the Hatch Act.

Scavino sent the tweet from an account labeled as "personal," but Painter pointed to the account's image — Scavino pictured in the White House — and called for him to be fired.

"Ethics 101- You can't put official titles and WH photos all over your "personal" Twitter page and use it for partisan politics. Hatch Act," Painter tweeted.

Daniel Jacobson, a former lawyer for the Obama White House, also claimed Scavino had violated the Hatch Act.

He tweeted that White House staff "can't use an official or de facto govt Twitter acct (which this is) to call for defeat of a candidate."

Amash responded to the tweet, saying the Trump administration and establishment have "merged into #Trumpstablishment."

 "Same old agenda: Attack conservatives, libertarians & independent thinkers," Amash tweeted.


http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/326926-wh-pushes-back-after-trump-aide-comes-under-fire-for-tweet-urging-gop

[Emjay]

I've never been a fan of the canard that government is like a business. There are too many fundamental differences for them to be at all alike. Business provides services and goods with the intent of earning a profit and government should never seek to earn a profit or provide much in the way of goods or services. Also people pay businesses by choice, that's not so with government. I've never seen a business where people in individual departments elected foremen to represent them further up the line. In business, foremen and middle management personnel are chosen from above and follow orders from above.

Agreed about Ted Cruz being able to tame the savage beast. I've never seen a politician so willing to engage an opponent and talk them down from a ledge. Medea Benjamin from code pink was left speechless when Ted Cruz invited her to come up ans speak to him face to face. She ended up calling him a patriot and told people that Ted Cruz had shown more respect for her than democrats have. It was the same with the farmer angry that Ted Cruz said he would end ethanol subsidies. The only ones Cruz couldn't talk down were irrational fools who supported another candidate and were screaming about him being "Ineligible" to be president or how he was "Owned by Goldman Sachs".

Ha, ha.  I doubt that the 'owned by Goldman Sachs' thing will be brought up again.  Somehow I just don't see that happening.

The TOS people just couldn't get over thinking that Ted was Canadian.  Don't hear that much anymore either.

A little buyers' remorse may be settling in when we think of who we could have had.

[roamer_1]

Why do you say that?  Rand Paul was an opponent of the health care bill that was presented.  If Trump is picking his brain or trying to influence him, I'd say it matters.

Because single payer is where Trump's mind is, and where it has always been.
ANY conservative willing to kick the can in that direction is doomed.
Anything other than free market solutions will not work, and anyone who carries Conservative principles will know that perfectly. There can be no meeting of the minds between the two.

[Emjay]

Because single payer is where Trump's mind is, and where it has always been.
ANY conservative willing to kick the can in that direction is doomed.
Anything other than free market solutions will not work, and anyone who carries Conservative principles will know that perfectly. There can be no meeting of the minds between the two.

I remember thinking that during the primaries and Trump did say some things that suggested it but I don't think it was a core value with him.  I think he wants a bill passed that will repeal Obamacare.

[XenaLee]

I remember thinking that during the primaries and Trump did say some things that suggested it but I don't think it was a core value with him.  I think he wants a bill passed that will repeal Obamacare.

Then.... why was he pushing Ryancare, instead?

[Emjay]

Then.... why was he pushing Ryancare, instead?

I have no earthly idea.  I wish I knew.

[r9etb]

Any group on the Hill standing to stop any POTUS' agenda should be smart enough to know the POTUS is going to fight back and move them politically out of the way.  It is the law of politics.

Read slowly what you typed there..... Trump, shoving the "opponents" -- in his own party (supposedly) -- out of the way.  That's not a law of politics, that's a vindictive child having a stompy-fit, and very much to the detriment of his "agenda." 

Let's be honest about Trump for a minute.  He's not a man who wants to be president, a job that requires him to work with a co-equal branch of government.  He's a man who wants to rule as a king -- he gets to say what the "agenda" is, and he gets to rid  himself of the "troublesome priests" who oppose him.

This isn't a healthy administration.  It's comical little farce starring a man who would be a better suited to the role of South American strongman, than the president of a great nation.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Ha, ha.  I doubt that the 'owned by Goldman Sachs' thing will be brought up again.  Somehow I just don't see that happening.

There are an awful lot of smart people with Goldman Sachs --- with high acumen in global economics.  The issue during the campaign season focused not on the ability of these folks, but on their financial contributions and the very real probability of administration policy being influenced by this quasi quid-pro-quo.

The campaign is over and the President does not have this problem ... since he owes them nothing.  There is nothing to debate any more. 

The TOS people just couldn't get over thinking that Ted was Canadian.  Don't hear that much anymore either.  A little buyers' remorse may be settling in when we think of who we could have had.

You may be reading too much into this @Emjay

Whether or not Cruz is a natural born citizen is no longer an issue.  He does not need to be to win a seat in the US Senate or to be confirmed for any US Court.  Should Cruz seek the Presidency again, this issue will return.  It is his political albatross.

TOS is subject to the same highs and lows as TBR .... albeit for different reasons.  TOS tends not to celebrate a Trump setback.
But, as the initial passions cool ..... and facts are brought back into the discussion, the discussions tend to return to civil, informative debate with most rooting for the President to succeed.

[r9etb]

LOL

I just knew it was coming, a photo op with simple Trumpers declaring it to be a win based on the fact that Trump got a photo with Paul.

Well, it could possibly be an encouraging sign, if Trump is actually willing to listen and respond to legitimate criticism and suggestions.

Not holding out a great deal of hope, but you never know.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Read slowly what you typed there..... Trump, shoving the "opponents" -- in his own party (supposedly) -- out of the way. 

What confuses you @r9etb?  You seem perfectly fine with members of the President's own party stopping him from fulfilling his promises to the American people.  Why is this celebrated by you and the Administration clearing a path, should it become necessary, to keep its word condemned?

BTW.. the inflammatory word "shoving" .. is yours and not mine.

[r9etb]

What confuses you @r9etb?  You seem perfectly fine with members of the President's own party stopping him from fulfilling his promises to the American people.  Why is this celebrated by you and the Administration clearing a path, should it become necessary, to keep its word condemned?

BTW.. the inflammatory word "shoving" .. is yours and not mine.

If calling for the defeat of people supposedly in the same party isn't "shoving," then nothing is. 

As for what I'm "perfectly fine with," you're sadly uninformed.