Trump visits Wall-y World; Dems try the Tea Party approach: OnPolitics Today
Just days after non-interventionist Steve Bannon was ousted as White House adviser, it looks like we’re about to let loose with some intervention. But along with a troop surge in Afghanistan, are we about to get another push for the Great Trump Wall? Let’s get to it in your Tuesday edition of OnPolitics Today.
Afghanistan victory: Are we there yet?
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President Trump unveiled his “path forward” in Afghanistan in a nationally televised speech Monday night before a military audience at Fort Myer, Virginia.
USA TODAY
When he was a citizen, Donald Trump spoke out against America’s military presence in Afghanistan. But now that he’s in charge of the aforementioned military presence, it looks like we’re gonna ramp things up.
“My original instinct was to pull out, and historically I like following my instincts, but all my life I’ve heard that decisions are much different when you sit behind the desk in the Oval Office,” he said Monday night in a speech at Fort Myer, Virginia. Trump said bailing out of Afghanistan altogether would create a power vacuum like the one that fostered the rise of ISIS.
The speech was light on details, and that was by design, Trump said. “I will not say when we are going to attack, but attack we will,†he said.
Trump wouldn’t be the first guy to stick out a lousy situation, even if it goes against every instinct he has. Sure, you could blame it on someone who sat in your chair before you did, but they’re long gone, man.Â
Day trip to Wall-y World
Prior to his Tuesday night rally in Phoenix, Trump visited the U.S.-Mexico border for the first time since taking office. In Yuma, he’ll see a predator drone, Border Patrol river patrol boat, and surveillance truck — but no “great, great wall.”
The issue, as it has been for months, is funding. Mexico says they’re not paying, the U.S. Senate has yet to pass anything, and none of the other 193 countries on earth have offered to foot the bill either.Â
The trip likely won’t be a complete disappointment for Trump, however. The topography of the border in many areas will make wall construction difficult, but the area around Yuma already has 62 miles of fencing built. Customs and Border Patrol officials said Yuma is a “good example” of “securing the border through a wall.”
Now it’s just a matter of finding $70 billion …
Are the costumes part of the deal?
Democrats have a plan to take back the House of Representatives in 2018: Copy the GOP’s 2010 playbook. Party leaders hope to kick-start a Tea Party-style grassroots effort by recruiting several new-to-politics candidates to run in so-called Obama-Trump districts — the ones President Trump flipped red in 2016.
“We are now at a critical turning point in the story of our country,†said Brendan Kelly, a first-time candidate from Illinois. “The outcome will be determined by people who are willing to step forward and show a little courage.â€Â
Democrats need to win 24 seats to retake the majority in the 435-seat House, and 23 of the seats in Republican hands are in districts that Hillary Clinton won last November. Manufacturers of silly hats are cautiously optimistic.
Elsewhere in politics
- Navy orders pause in operations, safety review after USS John S. McCain collision (USA TODAY)
- No pardon for Arpaio tonight (Arizona Republic)
- But here are some fun facts about presidential pardons anyway (Arizona Republic)
- Jury selection underway for New Jersey senator’s bribery trial; if convicted, Christie could name his replacement (The Record, Bergen County)
- Nevada governor will greet Trump at airport, ask him for stuff (Reno Gazette-Journal)
- Arizona governor will greet Trump at airport, but is too busy to attend the rally (Arizona Republic)
- Reno councilwoman on Trump visit: Maybe some other time? (Reno Gazette-Journal)
You’re a leech on society. BTW, do you like Game of Thrones?
Louise Linton, the wife of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, tried really, really hard to channel both Ayn Rand and Mr. Rogers on Instagram yesterday, letting a critic know that they could be friends even though Louise is a maker and her critic is a taker. The social media response was swift and brutal.
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