![\"trump](\"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/trump-oval-office-e1545767898212.jpg\")
President Donald Trump stated: “It\u2019s a disgrace what\u2019s happening in our country. But other than that, I wish everybody a very Merry Christmas.\u201d | Zach Gibson\/Getty Images\nBy DAVID COHEN <\/p>\n
President Donald Trump stated: “It\u2019s a disgrace what\u2019s happening in our country. But other than that, I wish everybody a very Merry Christmas.\u201d | Zach Gibson\/Getty Images
\nBy DAVID COHEN <\/p>\n
President Donald Trump used a Christmas morning gathering in the Oval Office to reiterate the reasons he insists funding is needed for a border wall, even if it means the federal government will continue to be partially shut down.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t tell you when the government is going to reopen,\u201c Trump said, according to pool reports. <\/p>\n
Not until, he explained, \u201cwe have a wall, a fence, whatever they\u2019d like to call it. I\u2019ll call it whatever they want. But it\u2019s all the same thing. It\u2019s a barrier from people pouring into our country.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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The president said he thought that even those federal workers who were losing their paychecks would be supportive of his efforts.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think they understand what\u2019s happening,\u201c he said. \u201cThey want border security. The people of this country want border security. It\u2019s not a question of me. I\u2019d rather not be doing shutdowns.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I can assure President Trump DON civilians, myself included, would rather not be doing shutdowns, either. Non-essential employees will be furloughed and go home without pay; the lucky exempt folks, including myself, will go in tomorrow and work without pay. Since this isn’t a sequester, there’s a reasonable belief that lost pay will be reinstated. Pretty good deal for the furloughed, who get an unexpected paid vacation, even if the pay is belated. What really chaffs my ass is this is for only $5B USD, which is essentially a rounding error in the US budget. Money isn’t the issue of course, or even The Wall. It’s brinkmanship between Trump and Schumer with us caught in the middle. Again. <\/p>\n
Lars, before you jump in with both feet loudly declaring how Trump sucks, take a calming breath and try for that rational sweet spot you hit yesterday, and recognize that both sides pretty much suck here. Thanks.<\/p>\n
The rest of the article may be viewed at: The Politico<\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"