Let's talk about Trump caving to Democrats on TSA funding.... - Belle of the Ranch

[TexasTowelie]

Well, howdy there Internet people. It's Belle again. So, today we're going to talk about Trump caving to Democrats on TSA funding.

Trump continues to demonstrate that he has no actual position on anything and that his entire agenda at this point is simply doing whatever the last person in the room told him to do. Shortly after Republicans blocked TSA and other DHS employees from being paid via unanimous consent, he then posted a giant rant demanding Republicans tie DHS funding to the SAVE Act and whether or not trans people can play sports. He has once again caved to the Democratic party's demands by doing exactly what they want in a different way so that he can pretend to still have power over Congress.

Trump posted an angry rant on social media that in relevant part said, "I am using my authorities under the law to protect our great country as I always will do. Therefore, I am going to sign an order instructing the Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, to immediately pay our TSA agents in order to address this emergency situation.

Okay. So, he's going to pay TSA employees without appropriations for ICE or Border Patrol. I'm sure Senate Democrats thank him for finally seeing things their way. Remember, this whole thing was caused by Trump and the GOP refusing to reform immigration enforcement. Democrats wanted things like no masks and body cams. Trump, to totally outsmart the Democrats, refused to allow those reforms to pass and then deployed ICE to locations where they were on cameras, surrounded by witnesses, and maskless.

When he apparently realized this was not the stable genius plan he thought it was. He has now decided to pay TSA employees by claiming a national emergency and writing an executive order. Democrats have repeatedly offered to fund all other agencies in DHS while they negotiate the reforms for ICE and Border Patrol. Trump and Republicans have blocked those moves. So once again, Trump is doing exactly what Democrats wanted while pretending to play hard ball.

Besides giving up and further cementing his own lame duck status, there's also a big question about whether or not he can even do this legally. There is probably a mechanism that might allow it in theory in some situations, but because of Congress's open opposition, this may run afoul of the major questions doctrine and the court might block it. But his attempt also creates another question.

If Trump has had the ability to pay TSA this entire time with the stroke of a pen, why hasn't he? Surely he wasn't holding the paychecks of employees back and damaging the US economy in an attempt to get leverage over Congress, right? He wouldn't ever put his own ego over the interests of the country, right?

Trump is now doing exactly as Democrats demanded while claiming he's rescuing the country from a problem he created. And the worst part is that much of his base will buy it.

Anyway, it's just a thought. Y'all have a good day.