“Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” Those famous words, spoken by US Navy Admiral David Farragut on his way to winning the Battle of Mobile Bay, might as well have come from President Trump this past weekend.
Trump has pressed Congress to compromise – for months – on a combination of personal and corporate relief for struggling Americans. His negotiators worked week on week – to no effect.
On the House side, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) thought she had him over a barrel. She got her leftist caucus to pass a massive $3.5 trillion bill. Disingenuously, she called it the “HEROES” act, another feckless Washington acronym, that fooled no one. It reeks of unfunded giveaways, inducements to dependence on government, in a word, socialism.
Ironically, the name was “to honor those on the front lines,” even as Democrats pressed defunding the police, which endangers everyone from state and local police to first responders and those trying to manage social unrest in the health, transit, and other sectors.
Beyond extending the $600 a week federal top-up of state unemployment benefits, which disincentivizes return to work, Pelosi used the bill to bail out bankrupt public unions in Democrat-led states, give up to $6000 to families, expand Obamacare, pay mortgages and rents, increase federal entitlements like “SNAP” (food stamps), and pre-set mail-in federal elections.
The 1,800-page Pelosi bill ramped up Post Office spending, underwrote a vote-by-mail campaign and same day registrations, textbook for mismanagement and fraud – as evidenced by Democrat primaries. To this, she added senseless, indefensible spending. On whose nickel? Yours.
President Trump issued a veto threat, explaining the bill amounted to a “longstanding partisan and ideological wish list.” Senator McConnell (R-Ky) called it “unsalvageable,” filled with “absurdities.” https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pelosi-tries-to-rally-support-for-3t-coronavirus-relief-bill-in-face-of-veto-threat-gop-ridicule.
Pelosi ignored the Republicans. In fine Washington tradition, she pushed for everything – causing her caucus and Senate Democrats to crater everything. She and Senate Democrats blocked compromise on stimulus, while stiff-arming black Republican Senator Tim Scott’s (R-SC) attempt to secure a thoughtful police transparency bill. In short, dead and dead.
Pelosi and Senator Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) thought they had Republicans – and President Trump – in a corner. They would get Trump to fold, win their goodies, advance socialism, dependence, and debt – or blame Trump for no stimulus and a wobbly economy.
Trump tried – he really did. He worked on a compromise for weeks, sent Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, Secretary of Treasury Steve Mnuchin, and half the Administration looking for light. But there was no light to be found or joy to be had. The Democrats refused compromise.
In truth, they had no interest. Pelosi doubled down, saying she would not put a price tag on the bill, then said Republicans did not “give a damn” about those in need, and flayed an NPR reporter who dared ask why she could not compromise, as Republicans were being “flexible.”
No, like her arrogant, intransigent, take-it-or-leave-it, socialist House caucus, Pelosi gave no quarter. She was happy to launch torpedoes, create a minefield that worked against the American people – if it would also impair the President. Her bloated stimulus package was a campaign document, never had a chance of passage.
So, what did President Trump do? After trying – with his top-tier negotiating team – to reach sensible compromise, he said “enough.” On August 8, he signed four executive actions into law. They will lift the economy, help taxpayers and businesses, save trillions in what would have been mass overspending – and give a firm “no” to Pelosi’s socialism.
Specifically, the four executive actions – which may be challenged, but to no end – will “extend unemployment benefits, suspend payroll taxes, and offer federal eviction and student loan relief,” while setting the stage for compromise on side issues. Call it, “art of the deal.”
As a result, “enhanced unemployment benefits” will continue at $400 per week, not the work-killing $600 dollars a week. States are authorized to cover 25 percent of that, from previously awarded federal aid. This will be a lifeline for some, help others return to work, and bridge the gap to recovery. Notably, the economy unexpectedly created 1.8 million new jobs in July.
Second, Trump directed Treasury “to allow employers to defer payment of employee-side Social Security payroll taxes through the end of 2020,” for those earning below $100,000. Third, he authorized forgiveness of deferred payroll taxes, and pledged to make permanent “payroll tax cuts” if reelected. Finally, responding to public urgency, he froze evictions from federal housing and “paused” student loan payments through yearend. See, https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/511186-trump-signs-orders-on-unemployment-benefits-payroll-tax-after-talks
So, what just happened – in practical, economic, and political terms? In practical terms, the President tried in good faith to reach compromise, demonstrating again that deals can only be made when both sides act in good faith – and congressional Democrats had no interest.
In practical terms too, Trump saved millions of individuals and families, small businesses, those in federal housing and struggling students continued stress. He offered real relief – because that is what they needed. He showed, when push comes to shove, he cares about people – not games.
In economic terms, even if challenged, the move is a shot in the arm for America’s economy – in two ways. First, people will have a backstop, less worry, with more seeking jobs, finding work, spending, and creating jobs with new consumption. Second, by forestalling more federal debt – Trump gave the Federal Reserve and future generations less to fret.
In political terms, Trump took the initiative, showed leadership. Some will say that was bold, but Trump is Trump. Trump’s patience – with dissembling Democrats, who impeach and implore, pretend they are for the front lines but defund police, pass “unsalvageable” bills – ran short.
If Pelosi and Schumer want to play games and lay mines, let their anti-Trump animus run wild, so be it. Trump will keep getting things done. In a nod to Admiral Farragut and the Battle of Mobile Bay, President Trump seemed to say: “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”
Prayerfully the American citizen.has seen what the left has been trying to do and will vote them ALL out come November!
OMG. The Dems are trying to make it look as if they are doing something however, the proposed bill is not realistic and HOW WOULD IT BE FINANCED??? OH WELL. JUST MORE PROOF THAT DEMS ARE OUT OF TOUCH WITH REALITY?
Love this country, love our president, and love Amac. Thank you to Amac for being really for the people and giving us the news we need.
For any AMAC members in Californication, please encourage all your friends and neighbors to vote Pelosi, Swalwell, and all the other fruits and nuts OUT on November 3!
In light of the fact that our President has spent about 75% of every day he has been in office defending himself against the Demicoms’ (and frankly, most of the pub leadership’s as well) evil and devious attempts to undermine everything he has tried to do for the American people, and ultimately remove him from office, I think he should be granted three 4 year terms in office, not two. As it is, he has gotten more positive things done for real Americans than all previous presidents combined in my lifetime. God bless ‘im.
Thank you, Mr. President.
What you did is what a rational, business-leaning person would have done to “save our ship”. Pelosi and her thugs will stop at nothing to defeat this president and the American people. I, for one, refuse (to the extent I can…) to bail out underfunded pension plans in Ill/annoy and other blue states. Why should any hard-working taxpayer have to foot the bill for inept financial policies going on in other states?
AMERICANS FIRST.
TRUMP 2020.
A second comment for today-Why is the voting age 18? We have concluded that the legal drinking age (in most states) is 21, so why is it wise to hold off on letting our youth decide how much is too much, when we give them much more responsible decision-making capability in allowing them to make decisions on who is in charge when they are still teenagers?? Need I say that the Liberals go after these kids as if their brains were made of silly putty, which, basically most are!
It is shameful how transparent the Democrats have become in their stopgap measures! It never ceases to amaze me how some of these people ever got elected in the first place! I believe this is one area where our voting strength is weak! When the polls open and the voting takes place, most of us don’t know much about the candidates, other than their party affiliation, and most of us don’t have time to research the necessary information. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has voted for a candidate because of their looks, or their name! When I was working, I was lucky to make it to the voting booth at all! It certainly would be advantageous to the average person to have at least a condensed version of what the candidates stood for. We get all those flyers in the mail a few weeks before voting day, and when it’s time to vote, all the names merge together, and you forget what each stands for! Some local elections-judges, for instance-don’t even publish whether the candidate is conservative or liberal, or somewhere in between! Perhaps there are rules governing release of this information, but in a “free” society, I can’t see why!
I suggest the way to deal with these bloated overfed OVERPAID skunks is to STOP THEIR PAYCHECKS until they wake up and fly right, as my late mother would say! Most of them are CAREER politicians, and need to be replaced by new folks with TERM LIMITS as soon as possible!
How did Trump come up with $400 unemployment & then he says state will pay $100 of this. So will Feds send 300 to state ?? Looks to me like most states are broke from paying unemployment and coronavirus costs & do not have this in their budget. As far as I know, states get money to pay unemployed from amount that employers send them per employee. With 40-million people unemployed, where does money come from? And why did Trump cut to 400 instead of the 600 is only to harass Congress & the other party. Kudlow on news today and was very mixed up today and kept saying it was 800. This executive order is discombobulated & so is tax deferral of FICA taxes. My advice “Two heads are better than one”
I cant believe it.what Trump has done is in part illegal. Suspending payroll tax just postpones. He has done nothing to help the thousands of Americans who can’t put food on their tables, while he plays golf. His november defeat cannot come soon enough.
Well stated, but no matter who is the next President will have a hard time putting Humpty Dumpty back together again, unless the virus is brought under control by then.
I am so sick of the demise that this demoncrats are playing because they are afraid that they loosing their plush living status by playing in the hands of the enemies like Iran China and other who knows what Country just for their own gain.I wonder if the IRS dos not check on them to account for the money they make because when I was in business I had to show all my expenses and if I had any unjustified difference I had to pay it back. I love Donald Trump because he is a straight man who cares for his Country and us the people of this beautiful Country and hope it will stay that way but we know if the liberals take over it will be over. We ran away from socialism and to think what this people want to do its sickening and scary and I pray that this will never happen. I know that this Country was built on Christian principals and God will not let anything to happen without his will.Lets pray hard for God’s Blessings and for Donald Trump and his Family because we know that God put him in power for this times,Amen……
I love this President! God be with him! My father was an immigrant from Mexico and was so grateful to become a citizen that he always taught us not to seek free handouts. This president would have made my father proud!
Just gotta love my president! God bless him in all his endeavors.
Nancy Pelosi is an evil woman. Her only intent is to see President Trump removed from office by any means possible, legal or illegal. She tried once with an illegal coup attempt, trying to impeach the President for no valid reason at all. Now, she is trying to bankrupt this country by pushing through funding for wasteful democratic schemes to benefit democratically run credit unions which are bankrupt in themselves. She is pushing programs that will benefit democratically run states and organizations that do nothing for this country.
That is the way a real president that cares about people and the country should and did act.Keep it up trump.
May God continue to bless our President with divine wisdom!
Good job President Trump, but what about people on Social Security? Young people that were out of work were getting more than people living on Social Security that paid into the system for decades.
President Trump is the first president we have had in a long time who thinks like the majority of Americans think! We need to keep him in office another four years!
Yes, he can set the all time record for Executive Orders that currently is owned by Obama.
I’m on the fence on this one. I approve of the leadership. I appreciate the good faith attempt to negotiate. I understand that Trump has to deal with a “resist everything at all costs” Democrat party. In fact, I beleive the Democrats have crossed the line, (several, really) and are now an anti-American party. I get all that. I am a bit uncomfortable with rule by executive order (as I am with many governors ruling through emergency orders). I also feel the only stimulus package America needs is to end the absurd lockdowns (part of that resist all all costs thing). Hopefully voters have noticed. Hopefully the American voter will come to realize that more than voting for a president matters, from Senators all the way down to your locally elected city officials. Get out and vote. Vote for ALL elective offices (see note following) and put a little effort into it. And for Godsakes never EVER vote for ANY Democrat. (Note: here in the People’s Republic of California and our absurd “jungle” primary system, we often end up with a choice between two Democrats in the general election as our only options. I leave those blank.)