The Morning Briefing: A Raw Deal, Crazy Train Derailed and Much, Much More

Good Wednesday morning.

Here is what’s on the president’s agenda today:

The president and first lady participate in the arrival of the president of the Republic of Colombia and Mrs. Ruiz Sandoval
The president and first lady meet with the president of the Republic of Colombia and Mrs. Ruiz Sandoval
President Trump participates in an expanded working lunch with the president of the Republic of Colombia
The president and first lady participate in the departure of the president of the Republic of Colombia and Mrs. Ruiz Sandoval
The president delivers remarks at the Major County Sheriffs and Major Cities Chiefs Association Joint Conference

Let’s not make a deal

What is in the monstrosity cooked up by Democrat and Republican Trump enemies (that’s most of the elected Republicans)? Here’s what The Hill says:

The deal includes $1.375 billion to build 55 miles of barriers along the border in the Rio Grande Valley.

They say the deal reduces the number of beds from 49,057 to 40,520 through the end of the year, a 17 percent reduction. That figure is still well above the opening offer Democrats made, which would have reduced beds to 35,520 and phased out family detention.

In addition to DHS, the agreement will tie up six unrelated appropriations bills: Agriculture; Commerce, Justice and Science; Financial Services; Interior and Environment; State and foreign operations; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development.

A congressional aide said the six bills include a $1 billion increase for the 2020 census, a $30 million increase in funding to combat the country’s opioid epidemic and a 1.9 percent pay increase for federal workers.

The president said he is “not happy” with the bill and also seems to think he somehow will be getting $23B for the wall.

….Will be getting almost $23 BILLION for Border Security. Regardless of Wall money, it is being built as we speak!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2019

I don’t think Trump knows how he has been played by “our” party. He could have passed immigration reform and appropriated money for the wall when the GOP held the House and Senate. But the GOPe dragged their feet, made future promises that didn’t pan out, and hemmed and hawed because they don’t care why the people elected Trump and they don’t really want immigration reform. Failure theater, business as usual for the GOPe. Whatever Trump has been promised, it’s safe to assume that if it isn’t in the bill, it isn’t happening. All of these promises like, “Oh it’s just a down payment.” NOPE. This is all you are getting from the legislative crowd. Swallow that.

“I told him I shared that, we all do. But realizing after I talked with him … that he’s getting a good down payment,” Sen. Richard Shelby added, describing the president’s tone on the deal.

“First of all, I hope he signs the bill, and second, I think he ought to be free to use whatever tools he can legally use to enhance his efforts to secure the border. So, no, I would not be troubled by that,” Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said when asked about the possibility the president might use his transfer authority to move money around.

What do you think? Should Trump accept a “down payment”?

Vote on the New Green Deal

Yes, yes, yes. Let’s get these jokers on the record supporting this glorious mess. When Cocaine Mitch is good, he is real good.

The move by McConnell is an attempt to use the plan spearheaded by freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to paint Democrats — including a half dozen presidential challengers —as far to the left of the American public in their support for a measure Republicans have derided as a “socialist fantasy.”

“I’ve noted with great interest the Green New Deal and we’re going to be voting on that in the Senate,” McConnell said. “We’ll give everybody a chance to go on record and see how they feel about the Green New Deal.”

One cranky Senator is particularly salty about the possibility of voting on this clown show: author and supporter Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.)

Don’t let Mitch McConnell fool you: this is nothing but an attempt to sabotage the movement we are building. He wants to silence your voice so Republicans don’t have to explain why they are climate change deniers. McConnell wants this to be the end, this is just the beginning. https://t.co/GUxJ5HG2jb

— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) February 12, 2019

“This isn’t a new Republican trick. By rushing a vote on the #GreenNewDeal resolution, Republicans want to avoid a true national debate & kill our efforts to organize. We’re having the first national conversation on climate change in a decade. We can’t let Republicans sabotage it,” he tweeted.

Dude, why don’t you want to vote on your resolution? Own it and fly your green freak-flag high.

All aboard!

I hear these words in Ozzy’s voice at the beginning of “Crazy Train.”

So the giant $77 BILLION high-speed rail boondoggle in Californiastan has been “cut back.”

“Let’s be real. The current project, as planned, would cost too much and respectfully take too long. There’s been too little oversight and not enough transparency,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in his first State of the State Address on Tuesday. Remember who has controlled California for all these years? There is virtually no Republican presence in the state anymore. This is all on the Democrats.

“Right now, there simply isn’t a path to get from Sacramento to San Diego, let alone from San Francisco to L.A. I wish there were,” he said.

Check out this government math:

Newsom said the state will complete a 119-mile (191 km) high-speed rail link between Merced and Bakersfield in the state’s Central Valley. In March 2018, the state forecast the costs had jumped by $13 billion to $77 billion and warned that the costs could be as much as $98.1 billion.

WAT?!? $13B to $77B? Anyway, just think of all the cars that will have to drive on the roads now because Newsom doesn’t think our precious planet is worth $77 billion.

“Abandoning high-speed rail entirely means we will have wasted billions and billions of dollars with nothing but broken promises, partially filled commitments, and lawsuits to show for it,” Newsom said. “And by the way, I am not interested in sending $3.5 billion in federal funding that was allocated to this project back to Donald Trump.” Oh, I see. This is really about deranged Trump hatred. I love how the left has such conditional values.

Spoiler Schultz roundup

Howard Schultz takes questions at CNN town hall

Good news! You can pay more if you want, right now! Schultz: ‘I should be paying more taxes’

Howard Schultz, asked about racial bias, says he doesn’t ‘see color’

Historical picture of the day:

In this Monday, Oct. 31, 2005 file photo, Associate Justice Antonin Scalia joins the members of the Supreme Court for photos during a group portrait session, at the Supreme Court Building in Washington. On Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, the U.S. Marshals Service confirmed that Scalia has died at the age of 79. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Other morsels:

Graham in no rush to protect Mueller

Lesbian Activist Defends ‘Biological Reality’ After Being Booted From Baltimore LGBTQ Commission

!!!!! Dog drama dominates Westminster with ineligibility, boos for top pooch

Ugh, this guy again. Ex-AG Eric Holder to decide on 2020 bid ‘in the next month or so’

New York detective killed by ‘friendly fire’ while responding to robbery

Striking Denver teachers to resume talks Wednesday, strike enters third day

Uh oh. Lawyer Fires Back at Top Senate Republican as Post-Surgery Photo of Cohen at Restaurant Incites Ire

Feminine hygiene products to be available to House lawmakers using congressional funds

Twitter sued by feminist blogger blocked over ‘men aren’t women’ tweet: lawsuit

BuzzFeed News employees plan to unionize after layoffs

FBI investigating fire at Planned Parenthood clinic as possible hate crime