Bruises Over Brains – Government Shutdown

By Sam Frescoe

http://samfrescoeproject.blogspot.com/ 

#SamFrescoe #shutdown 

Here we go again, right on schedule, it’s the earth-shattering, sky-falling, world-is-ending government shutdown (version 2018). [1],[2],[3],[4],[5]

On 20 Jan 2018, the Senate failed to pass a one-month spending bill triggering a government shutdown. In turn, a partisan blame-game began over who is responsible, singularly and collectively. The bill taken up by the Senate, H.R. 195, failed to pass the Senate by a 50-49 vote. Because the vote was short of the 60 vote requirement, the spending authority of the Executive branch ended. In turn, the “government shutdown” message was delivered.

“So What?”

In American politics, there is nothing new under the sun. Today’s spectacle is no different than many before (for example, the 2013 shutdown…same words, different parrots). Because the purpose of such an effort is to influence the beliefs of others, it’s in the interest of each citizen to see through the subterfuge.

The “spectacle” makes much of life ceremony and ritual; and
what is seen more important than what is known; and
what can be written more important than what can be proven. [6]
– John Adams –

Getting Started – The Senate (The Circus)

When the Legislative Circus comes to town my mind wonders to a darker, childlike place. Perhaps yours does as well. Imagine, if you will, a highly appointed gentleman, with a tall hat and bright coat with tails, enters the crossed beams of brilliant light. He steps with light foot and gleeful expression from the floor to atop a parapet. As he lands, he turns around for all to see, hat in hand, arms outstretched, and with a great voice begins to herald…

Ladies and Gentlemen! Creatures of the taxation herd. People of the mob. You, the sheepeople!

Step right up and cast your eyes to the center ring. No, good lady… No, fine gentleman… Do not look there, or there, or there. For, in the grand ring, there is a message waiting to be thrust upon one and all. For the means and methods witnessed here today are more than mere words; but a dazzling spectacle of bruising, innuendo, and egomania. For we, tonight, wish to sweeten the “shithole” aroma of emotional, party turf battle.

Yes, this is our grand ceremony. And, yes, this is our ultimate retreat. As of now, this tabernacle of party politics shall become a tangled labyrinth of disconnected worlds and dimensions.

So, come ye, all feeling and unfeeling, all thinking and unthinking, all those with their heads stuffed in a dark place, and from all corners and crevices. Come and enter here, and experience the mysteries of “vote for me” promises and “I care about you” caricatures.

Yes, my welcome friends, let…the…show…begin!

Blame Theory #1: The Democrats are at Fault

While it is true that the bill was blocked in a 50-49 procedural vote, well short of the 60 votes needed for passage. It is not true that the Democrats are solely responsible for its failure to pass. Regardless of the messaging, it is a fact that five Democrats votes FOR the bill; whereas five Republicans voted AGAINST the bill. However, it is equally true the Democrats did mandate the inclusion of terms already deemed objectionable by Republicans and the POTUS. – Therefore, this theory may be valid.

“Most of the stuff we agree on. One reason we ended up here, the shoehorning of illegal immigration into this debate,” said McConnell.

“Democrats are far more concerned with Illegal Immigrants than they are with our great Military or Safety at our dangerous Southern Border. They could have easily made a deal but decided to play Shutdown politics instead.” – Trump

Blame Theory #2: Republicans are at Fault

For this measure, or any measure, to pass a 60 vote hurdle, both parties must agree to bridge the vote gap. While the Republican Party has the majority of seats, neither party has the super-majority of 60 votes. – Therefore, this theory is not valid.

Democrats: Even though Republicans control both chambers of Congress, as well as the White House, they cannot lead.

Reality: The Senate is fully seated with 100 Senators (51-R’s, 47-D’s, 2-I’s caucusing with D’s). This means that a straight party-line vote produces a 51-49 decision. While the majority is clearly to the R’s, the R’s in of themselves cannot meet the 60 vote requirement. The D’s must get onboard. Still, even if all R’s and five D’s voted together, the final tally remains short of the 60 vote requirement (56-Yea and 44-Nay).

Blame Theory #3: Embarrassing Trump is Critically Important

The Democratic Party intentionally acted to cause a failure of the legislative process in order to create a situation in which President Trump could be blamed; thus, presenting the Democratic Party as the reasonable faction. – In my view, this is exactly what happened.

For American politics, aggravating secondary effects is more profitable than reducing primary concerns. In this case, the secondary effect is a demonstration of Democratic Party power against the POTUS by causing a legislative failure that supports Party messaging: the Democratic Party is good and reasonable, because the President is bad and problematic. Whereas, the primary effect is the willful failure of the Legislative Branch to resource the Executive Branch.

Republican: “What we have just witnessed on the floor was a cynical decision by Senate Democrats to shove aside millions of Americans for the sake of irresponsible political games,” said Mr. McConnell.

Democrat: “The dynamic of the past few weeks, during which the congressional Republicans looked to the president for guidance and the president provided none, prevailed again today, unfortunately,” Mr. Schumer said. – Do you smell that?  

President: “This is the One Year Anniversary of my Presidency and the Democrats wanted to give me a nice present,” Trump tweeted. – The partial government shutdown coincides with the first anniversary of President Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Your View

Your thoughts and perspectives are important. I invite you to tell me what you believe with the comment section.

© 2018 – SamFrescoeProject.Blogspot.com – All Rights Reserved

Related Posts

The Durbin “Shithole” Spectacle

Parroting the Durbin “Shithole” Spectacle

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[1] https://www.wsj.com/articles/showdown-looms-as-senate-democrats-prepare-to-reject-spending-bill-1516364692 (180120)

[2] https_www.cnbc.com_2018_01_19_government-shutdown-bill-fails-    (180120)

[3] https://www.wsj.com/articles/showdown-looms-as-senate-democrats-prepare-to-reject-spending-bill-1516364692 (180120)

[4] http_www.foxnews.com_politics_2018_01_20_dems-deserve-blame-f    (180120)

[5] https_nypost.com_2018_01_20_trump-jokes-government-shutdown-I   (180120)

[6] John Patrick Diggins, “John Adams”, Times Books, 2003, ISBN: 0-8050-6937-3 (paraphrased)

Parroting the Durbin “Shithole” Spectacle

By Sam Frescoe

http://samfrescoeproject.blogspot.com/

#SamFrescoe #Trump #Durbin #shithole #DACA #media #

Part-2 of the Durbin “Shithole” Spectacle – It’s time to unpack the “shithole” stack.

In politics, there is nothing new under the sun. This is a truism that reaches back through the centuries to a time before American politics. Now, as then, the common variant of mass media is being used to adjust the political landscape. Because the purpose of such an effort is to adjust the beliefs of others (including the citizenry, nationally and internationally), it’s in the interest of each citizen to see through the subterfuge.

WARNING: It’s going to get extremely dirty, shabby, or otherwise unpleasant.[1]

Getting Started – Background

On 12 Jan 2018, multiple news media outlets reported that President Trump made a “shithole countries” comment during a meeting at the White House on 11 Jan 2018. At first glance, those outlets claimed that Trump (in fact) made such a statement; and, Trump’s statement was further evidence that Trump is an open racist. That same day, Trump wrote on Twitter, “The language used by me at the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used.”^[1] Later, Sen. Durbin spoke at a press conference to confirm the Press.

“Shithole” #1 – Senator Durbin 

Bottom Line: Senator Durbin is a “hitter” on the political theater stage. – Regardless of opinions, thoughts, beliefs, or delusions, this was a strike at the President himself. Because there is no evidence to substantiate or refute the hearsay of Durbin, or the further separated hearsay of the news media, there can be no other explanation.

The motives of human action are emotions:
rivalry, envy, jealousy, revenge, pride,
and demand for recognition. [2]
– John Adams –

Q: Why would Durbin do such a thing?

A: If Durbin is to appear superior, then someone else must look inferior. In this case, that someone is President Trump.

What Durbin did was about revenge (reprisal for rejecting his proposal in a way that hurt Durbin’s feelings). It was not about Congressional power (there are not enough votes to defeat a veto); it was not about advancing the party platform (the platform advances ONLY when favorable legislation is enacted into law); it was not about his duty as a Senator (he aired dirty laundry from a private meeting…grossly unprofessional); it was not about building consensus (his actions created a poisonous, all-or-nothing landscape); it was not about showing strength (he clearly stated that he was going to “beg for votes”); it was not about countering racism (those that presuppose racism are still presupposing racism); and it was not about DACA-favorable messaging (CNN,[3] Time, and others went on a “Trump is a ‘shithole’” marathon, not a “let’s get behind DACA” marathon, for nearly 24-hours).

“Shithole” #2 – Politicians 

DACA is just not important.

While the date and agenda of the meeting seems to be well understood, the list of invited and actual attendees is not clear.  However, the mismatch between the reports of invitees and attendees seems obvious enough.

-       Invitations: Prior to the meeting on the 11th, the Washington Examiner reported that 23 Senators were expected to attend: 13 Republicans and 10 Democrats.[4] Specially, Sen. Feinstein (D-Ca), Sen. Bennett (D-Co), and several members of the Presidential staff were mentioned.

-       Attendance: According to multiple Press reports,[5] the attendees were President Trump, Sen. Durbin (D-Ill), Sen. Graham (R-SC), Rep. Diaz-Balart (R-Fla), Rep. Goodlatte (R-Va), Sen. Cotton (R-Ark), Sen. Perdue (R-Ga), and “other government officials.” That makes 5 Republicans and 1 Democrat in attendance.

Question: If this meeting was to address a national crisis (as claimed by Durbin), then where were the other 8 Republicans and 9 Democrats? And why?

This was a set ambush!

On 12 Jan 2018, multiple political actors responded to the reported “shithole countries” comment attributed to Trump.

• -       President Trump wrote on Twitter, “The language used by me at the DACA meeting was tough, but this was not the language used.” – The President DID attend the meeting.
• -       Rep. Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla)[6] said, “Language like that shouldn't be heard in locker rooms and it shouldn't be heard in the White House.” – The Representative did NOT attend the meeting.
• -       Rep. Love (R-Ut)[7] [8] said the comments were “unkind, divisive, elitist, and fly in the face of our nation’s values.” – The Representative did NOT attend the meeting.
• -       Sen. Blumenthal (D-Ct)[9] said the comments “smacks of blatant racism…masquerading poorly as immigration policy.” – The Senator did NOT attend the meeting.
• -       Rep. Rice (D-NY)[10] Tweeted, “Racist.” – The Representative did NOT attend the meeting.
• -       Sen. Durbin (D-Ill)[11]            said the President “said things that were hate-filled, vile and racist.” – The Senator DID attend the meeting.
• -       House Speaker Ryan (R-Wis)[12] criticized Trump’s remarks. – The Representative did NOT attend the meeting.
• -       Sen. Cotton (R-Ark) and Sen. Perdue (R-Ga)[13] said, “We do not recall the President saying these comments.” – The Senators DID attend the meeting.
• -       Former Vice President Biden[14] condemned the remark on Twitter. – The former VP did NOT attend the meeting.
• -       Rep. Gutierrez (D-Ill)[15] said the comments “will shake the confidence that people have” in the ongoing immigration policy talks. “The answer is this racist outburst of the president.” “They (Republicans) don’t believe in immigration – it’s always been about people of color and keeping them out of this country.” – The Representative did NOT attend the meeting.
• -       Rep. Richmond (D-La), chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus,[16] said on Twitter that Trump’s remarks “are further proof that his Make America Great Again agenda is really a Make America White Again agenda.” – The Representative did NOT attend the meeting.
• -       Rep. Espaillat (D-NY)[17] said, “If he’s walking around with white supremacists and supporting them, this kind of talk doesn’t surprise me.” – The Representative did NOT attend the meeting.
• -       Haiti’s ambassador to the US, Paul G. Altidor[18] said, that “the President  was either misinformed or miseducated about Haiti and its people.” – the ambassador did NOT attend the meeting.
• -       Alix Desulme, North Miami city council member,[19] said the president’s latest remarks were “disgusting.” “This is alarming. We know he’s not presidential.” The council member did NOT attend the meeting.
• -       The African Union continental body[20] told The Associated Press it was "frankly alarmed" by Trump's comments. – The body did NOT attend the meeting.
• -       South Africa's ruling African National Congress[21] called Trump's comments "extremely offensive." – The African National Congress did NOT attend the meeting.
• -       Rupert Colville, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights,[22] said that if confirmed, "these are shocking and shameful comments from the president of the United States. Sorry, but there is no other word one can use but 'racist.'” – The UN did NOT attend the meeting.

Let’s tally it up! – Remember, the meeting was not recorded; more on this in the next section.

• -       25 condemnations (1 from an attendee, 24 from non-attendees)
• -       3 denials (3 from attendees, 0 from non-attendees)

“Shithole” #3 – News Media

Bottom Line: News media companies are just as they are, companies. Therefore, their first duty is to stay in business while maximizing revenues. In order to accomplish this, the company must provoke traffic across its modes of media (print, video, television, internet, etc.). In turn, this traffic prompts revenues via advertising and/or company market/exchange value.

If it bleeds, then it leads.

Fact-1: The DACA meeting in the Oval Office at the White House on 11 Jan 2018 was not recorded by stenography or the news media. Therefore, there is no direct, publicly-available evidence of the meeting. – Without direct evidence, it is impossible to substantiate information received from other persons. Taken together, the “shithole” statement is hearsay, a rumor.

Fact-2A: Because the news media went to press based on hearsay, the facts become open to question.

Example-1, Reuters:[23] Reuters reported that an immigration bill briefing took place in the White House to discuss the Temporary Protected Status program. During that discussion, Trump referred to some nations as “shithole countries”. This is according to two sources familiar with the comments and “asked not to be identified.”

Example-2, Associated Press via Yahoo News:[24] Yahoo News reported: As for Africa, he asked why more people from "shithole countries" should be allowed into the U.S., the sources said.

Example-3, Yahoo News embellishes:[25] Based on the prior AP release, Yahoo News posted, “Trump's contemptuous description of an entire continent startled lawmakers in the meeting and immediately revived charges that the president is racist according to people briefed on the conversation.”

Example-4, Washington Post presumes guilt:^[26] The Washington Post published, “The White House did not deny Thursday that Trump used the vulgarity confirmed by numerous other news outlets.”

Questions:

• -       Why did the sources request anonymity? Why was it granted?
• -       How do you know that the sources were in a position to know what they claimed? Did they witness the statement? Why is “familiar” objectively sufficient for this case?
• -       Who was invited to the meeting? Who attended? Who did not attend and why?
• -       What is the serial number of the bill discussed? Is it filed in the Library of Congress?
• -       When did the meeting adjourn? When did you (the Press) first learn of the statement?

Fact-3: The time span between the end of the meeting (let’s assume 1700 on the 11th) and when I first observed the Press reports (0400 on the 12^th)…is…11-hours. – This means that in less than 11-hours: the “shithole” comment was fed to the Press; Tweets were posted by actors not in attendance; and (tabloid) stories containing statements of American and foreign politicians were written, posted, and replicated throughout the internet and cable networks. – Let that sink in.

“Shithole” #4 – The “Sheepeople”  

Given the tenor, voice, and mass of comments, it was not a flock, it was a mob.

The problem isn't that citizens can't read.
The problem isn't even that citizens can't think.
The problem is that citizens don’t know what thinking is;
they confuse it with feeling.
– Thomas Sowell (amended) –

A person is smart.
People are dumb, panicky,
dangerous animals!
– Men In Black (paraphrased) –

Your View

Your thoughts and perspectives are important. I invite you to tell me what you believe with the comment section.

© 2018 – SamFrescoeProject.Blogspot.com – All Rights Reserved

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[1] https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/shithole (180115)

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[1] https_www.washingtonpost.com_politics_trump-acknowledges-toug (180112)

[2] John Patrick Diggins, “John Adams”, Times Books, 2003, ISBN: 0-8050-6937-3 (paraphrased)

[3] http_www.thegatewaypundit.com_2018_01_cnn-goes-off-shthole-sh (180112)

[4] http_www.washingtonexaminer.com_daca-fate-hangs-in-the-balanc (180112)

[5] http://news.trust.org/item/20180112022611-rbq55 (180112); https_www.washingtonpost.com_politics_trump-acknowledges-toug (180112); https_www.washingtonpost.com_politics_trump-attacks-protectio (180112); https_www.usatoday.com_story_news_politics_2018_01_12_senator (180112)

[6] http://news.trust.org/item/20180112022611-rbq55 (180112)

[7] http://news.trust.org/item/20180112022611-rbq55 (180112)

[8] https_www.yahoo.com_news_lawmakers-renew-immigration-effort-s (180112)

[9] http://news.trust.org/item/20180112022611-rbq55 (180112)

[10] https_www.yahoo.com_news_lawmakers-renew-immigration-effort-s (180112)

[11] https_www.washingtonpost.com_politics_trump-acknowledges-toug (180112)

[12] https_www.washingtonpost.com_politics_trump-acknowledges-toug (180112)

[13] https_www.washingtonpost.com_politics_trump-acknowledges-toug (180112)

[14] https_www.washingtonpost.com_politics_trump-acknowledges-toug (180112)

[15] https_www.washingtonpost.com_politics_trump-attacks-protectio (180112)

[16] https_www.washingtonpost.com_politics_trump-attacks-protectio (180112)

[17] https_www.washingtonpost.com_politics_trump-attacks-protectio (180112)

[18] https_www.washingtonpost.com_politics_trump-attacks-protectio (180112)

[19] https_www.washingtonpost.com_politics_trump-attacks-protectio (180112)

[20] http_www.cbc.ca_news_world_trump-immigration-africans-reactio (180112)      

[21] http_www.cbc.ca_news_world_trump-immigration-africans-reactio (180112)      

[22] http_www.cbc.ca_news_world_trump-immigration-africans-reactio (180112)      

[23] http://news.trust.org/item/20180112022611-rbq55 (180112)

[24] https_www.yahoo.com_news_lawmakers-renew-immigration-effort-s (180112)

[25] https_www.yahoo.com_news_lawmakers-renew-immigration-effort-s (180112)

[26] https_www.washingtonpost.com_politics_trump-acknowledges-toug (180112)

Durbin’s “Shithole” Spectacle

By Sam Frescoe

http://samfrescoeproject.blogspot.com/

#SamFrescoe #Trump #Durbin #shithole #DACA

Political theater and breakfast collided on the morning of 12 Jan 2018: headlines blazing with profanity. Trump! Shithole! Racist!  Hysteria, a dramatic frenzy, seemed to cover the internet. – Once again, the news media was asking us to believe that Trump is a root of evil in the United States.

The motives of human action are emotions:
rivalry, envy, jealousy, revenge, pride,
and demand for recognition. [1]
– John Adams –

While the breadth and depth of the “shithole” spectacle is worth unpacking, such a discussion is well beyond the scope of this article. As such, this article examines the video of Senator Durbin (D-Ill) speaking to the news media. A summary of the Senator’s comments, with views and commentary, are provided in upcoming sections.

“So What?”

In politics, there is nothing new under the sun. This is a truism that reaches back through the centuries to a time before American politics. Now, as then, the common variant of mass media is being used to adjust the political landscape. Because the purpose of such an effort is to adjust the beliefs of others (including the citizenry, nationally and internationally), it’s in the interest of each citizen to see through the subterfuge.

The “spectacle” makes much of life ceremony and ritual; and
what is seen more important than what is known; and
what can be written more important than what can be proven. [2]
– John Adams –

Getting Started – Consider the following spectacle

Suppose…

-       …a board member attended a private meeting with the CEO and others.

-       …the member presented an idea: a major policy change.

-       …the CEO became disagreeable and disruptive.

-       …the idea was rejected with commentary deemed offensive by the member.

-       …the member became upset and emotional.

-       …because it’s private, there are no minutes, notes, or transcripts of the meeting.

Suppose the snubbed board member engaged the court of public opinion, and…

-       …placed dirty laundry in the local paper and online.

-       …the CEO was named.

-       …the member was named.

-       …associates of both where named.

-       …and those associates provided commentary of their own.

Suppose the news media…

-       …repeated, embellished, and repeated again comments of their choice.

-       …repeated those comments until clients assumed they are objectively true.

Suppose…

-       …everyone scrambled to separate themselves from the CEO.

-       …the CEO was liabled, slandered, defamed, and adversely characterized.  

-       …the reputation of the board was smeared, nationally and internationally.

Suppose the snubbed board member continued to need the concurrence of all those impacted by his campaign, especially the CEO.

What do you think? How do you feel?

Are you offended? Are you entertained?

Would you do such a thing? Would you tolerate others doing such a thing?

Does circumstance matter? Should there be a pass for certain people (or roles)?

The Durbin “Shithole” Spectacle

Link to Video

In my view, the Senator Durbin’s comments are intended to communicate an issue and related sub-issue.

The Issue

       

Given the total of his comments, it seems Senator Durbin is driving an implied issue: The United States is facing an immigration crisis that will start with the expiration of DACA on 5 Mar 2018. Because DACA will expire, and remove legal protections for more than 700,000 “Dreamers” residing in the United States, a suitable replacement must be enacted. – It seems that this issue is the primary legislative concern for Durbin and others. He claims that the most recent proposal (a draft bill) represents four months of dedication.

Sam:

Give me a break! – First, the United States is NOT facing an impending immigration crisis. For more than two centuries, the United States successfully addressed the needs, wants, and desires of those concerned with accepting immigrants. Given the record, it seems reasonable that the United States is fully capable of addressing current needs, wants, and desires of same.

Second, on one hand, thank you for doing the job that you were elected to get done: negotiate the making of law. On the other hand, I don’t hand out trophies or favor for claiming to do your job. Get back to work.

On 11 Jan 2018, President Trump disapproved of the proposed DACA replacement in a manner deemed hateful by Durbin. Durbin supported his claim by saying that the President “said things which were hate-filled, vile, and racist.” “He said these hateful things; and he said them repeatedly.” Durbin warranted his claims by saying, “You’ve seen the comments in the Press. I've not read any of them that’s inaccurate.” In my view, Durbin used a combined empathy-credibility rhetorical style to single out and attack President Trump. “I cannot believe, that in the history of the White House, any President has spoken the words our President did yesterday.” “That was the nature of this conversation.”

Sam:

Grow up! – You voluntarily walked into the “authoritarian den” with a proposal that ran counter to the needs, wants, and desires of the Chief Executive. What did you expect would happen? If you can’t (or won’t) check your emotions long enough to hear past the words to the message, then take your ball and go home.

The Press, all of it, is accurate. Really? – Let me get this straight. You want me to believe or agree that the Press is 100% accurate because you (a four term idea broker) claim to have not read an inaccurate report? Really?

-       Question-1: Who made the decision to feed the originating narrative to the news media on the 11th?

Believe…just…stop. – To disrespect the President himself is bad enough; but, to smear the entire Office and its history in a bid to make you look righteous is magnitudes worse? Your behavior is unprofessional and unacceptable.

The Senator continued to comment and made the following claims: Trump said, “Haitians, do we need more Haitians?” – Trump called “the nations they come from shitholes.” (Nations refers to African nations.) – Trump “used (a) vile and vulgar comment…not just once, but repeatedly.” – Trump disregards the belief held by African-Americans “migrated to America in chains.” – They (includes Trump) “scoffed” at the notion of “family reunification.” The US is “a nation with values families, with the flag as the most important symbol of our future.” “It was a heartbreaking moment.”

Sam:

Haitians – Question: Given the education and industrial ability of the typical Haitian, how would such an addition improve the ability of America to create wealth?

Nations – Given the video evidence, the only person communicating the use of “vile and vulgar” language is you. However, while I’m on this point:

-       Question-1: How does removing the best and brightest of underdeveloped African nations benefit the development of those nations?

-       Question-2: How does removing the least and dullest of underdeveloped African nations benefit the best and brightest of United States?

-       Question-3: If we cannot trust you to maintain professional bearing in the face of troubling words, then why should anyone trust your troubling words regardless of your professional bearing?

Chains – Really? You want me to believe or agree that African-Americans believe they “migrated to America in chains” is a blanket truth (all or nothing)? – Question: How and why does anyone benefit from this belief?

Families – Do you hear yourself when you talk? Is there a coherent thought here?

The Sub-Issue

       

The sub-issue is also implied: addressing the immigration crisis by protecting “Dreamers” is virtuous, and he (Durbin) is their champion. – “I have a single mission. And the mission is this. To give these Dreamers, and as many members of their families as possible, I chance to be part of America's future in a legal status.”

Sam:

Give me a break! – As the second in command for the Democratic Party in the Senate, your single mission is to push and secure the party platform (virtue by championship). – In Illinois, per the 2016 census, there are 12.8 million citizens. Of those, 0.33% are “Dreamers” protected by DACA.[3] That means there are 42,200 voters that are absolutely dependent on the protection of the federal government.

Question: How does the current immigration system and criteria unjustly target, restrict and exclude “Dreamers?”

“I am convinced that there is a majority in both the House and the Senate, both Democrats and Republicans, who support that concept.” “We're going to prepare a bipartisan agreement for introduction into the Senate next week.”

Sam:

Okay. – You are in a position to know; and are empowered by the Constitution to act in your capacity. Please continue.

“I know there's an overwhelming majority of Americans who support that concept.”

Sam:

Give me a break! – There is no way you can know this to be true. You are either lying, delusional, or both.

“I'll be on the phone today with my Republican colleagues, and my Democratic colleagues, begging them to support this measure.” “Time is running out. We have to get this done.”

Sam:

Beg, boy. Beg! – You want me to believe or agree that the deal is worthy of support because you intend to beg for supporting votes?  Why should any other Senator accept your personal crisis as a mutual problem?

“I'll tell you that I'm not going to quit.”

Sam:

Dang.

Parting Thoughts

To the best of my research, the DACA related meeting in the Oval Office at the White House on 11 Jan 2018 was not recorded by stenography or the news media. Therefore, there is no direct, publicly-available evidence of the meeting.

The Washington Post claims to be the first to report Trump’s use of vulgarity during the meeting. – Given that the meeting was not attended by the Post, and the source is not identified, then report is hearsay.

Later, The Washington Post supported and warranted its original report with matching reports from “numerous other news outlets.”[4] – Given that the prior report is hearsay, as are all subsequent reports for the same reasons, then the entire line of reporting is hearsay (at best) or illegitimate (at worst).

Finally, consider this, for the news media to populate the internet as it did with nearly identical stories prior to Durbin’s appearance on the 12^th, those reporting outlets received that information after the meeting on the 11^th and well ahead of his appearance on the 12^th.

Bottom Line: Senator Durbin is a master “hitter” on the political theater stage.

Your View

Your thoughts and perspectives are important. I invite you to tell me what you believe with the comment section.

© 2018 – SamFrescoeProject.Blogspot.com – All Rights Reserved

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[1] John Patrick Diggins, “John Adams”, Times Books, 2003, ISBN: 0-8050-6937-3 (paraphrased)

[2] John Patrick Diggins, “John Adams”, Times Books, 2003, ISBN: 0-8050-6937-3 (paraphrased)

[3] https://qz.com/1069844/who-are-the-dreamers-and-where-do-they-live/ (accessed 180114)

[4] https_www.washingtonpost.com_politics_trump-acknowledges-toug (180112)