With President Trump saying that while he prefers to negotiate with Congress on building a border wall he may still declare a national emergency to make it happen, Sen. Lindsey Graham spoke out Thursday to call on the president to do just that.
The Republican senator from South Carolina said that there is no path forward with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi refusing to negotiate in good faith and that it is time for Trump “to use emergency powers to fund the construction of a border wall/barrier,” according to a statement released by his office.
When asked by a reporter what changed his mind on supporting the use of executive power, Graham repeated that message.
“I’ve always said it would be the last resort. We’re there. There’s no pathway forward that I can see,” the lawmaker said.
With no end in sight to the partial government shutdown and Democrats working to exploit federal employees without paychecks for the PR value in their quest to force President Trump to cave on his demand for funding to build a wall, Graham said he was “depressed” over the lack of progress.
“I think we’re stuck,” Graham said. “I just don’t see a pathway forward. I don’t see a way forward. I have never been more depressed about moving forward than I am right now. I just don’t see a pathway forward.”
Graham took to Twitter with a warning for Trump: “Mr. President, the Democrats are not working in good faith with you. Declare the emergency, build the wall now.”
Mr. President, the Democrats are not working in good faith with you.
Declare emergency, build the wall now.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 11, 2019
Pelosi is accustomed to Republicans on Capitol Hill folding like cheap suits and looks to be playing a waiting game for the faint-hearted in the party to begin peeling off from backing Trump’s play — if successful, the tactic could have far-reaching consequences in 2020.
Weak-kneed GOP lawmakers are being urged along by sellouts like Never-Trumpers Bill Kristol and Rick Wilson, two popular CNN contributors who put hatred of Donald Trump over the country’s best interests.
While Democrats threaten to sue Trump if he declares a national emergency, and the political class insisting he doesn’t have the legal authority to do so, Jonathan Turley, a liberal law professor at George Washington University, wrote in an op-ed that the president does have the authority.
The professor said such a declaration should be opposed by Congress, but intimated that even if Trump is challenged, it may play out in his favor.
“Moreover, Trump does not have to ultimately prevail to achieve part of his objective,” Turley wrote. “Even if a court were to enjoin construction, the declaration could afford Trump the political cover to end the government shutdown, as the issue moved its way through the courts.”
Meanwhile, on social media, the debate rages on — here’s a sampling of responses from the toxic wasteland known as Twitter:
I think that's going to happen. He's going to declare an emergency and build the wall. It's the only way it's going to get built
— Sean Longhouse (@Stryker505) January 10, 2019
Just do it!!!
— kay freck (@kayfreck) January 10, 2019
Lindsey 2.0 is definitely my favorite version.
— Jshep72 (@j_shep72) January 10, 2019
Let’s go live to The Oval Office pic.twitter.com/1q0e1aRx1T
— Jeremy ?? (@nhgator13) January 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/Swtladee/status/1083488458113351680
We will regret this https://t.co/FjKOh2GJeg
— Allahpundit (@allahpundit) January 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/EWErickson/status/1083488681632124928
holy hell, @LindseyGrahamSC, this tweet is going to age like tuna salad at a summer picnic
— shauna (@goldengateblond) January 10, 2019
I can’t wait for President Harris/O’Rourke/Biden/Warren to declare a national emergency on a Climate Change and/or Gun Violence. You will reap what you sow.
— Eddie (@Mayday_DreDay) January 11, 2019
And A national emergency for healthcare. More Americans have died from lack of healthcare/medications then from immigrants coming from the south
— JuJu (@JuJuPie3) January 11, 2019
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