General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI'm Beginning To Realize Why The Repugs Are Stonewalling Another Covid Stimulus Bill.....
It is apparent to me that the first stimulus - at the urging of the Dems - kept the economy from totally caving. Any good numbers we're seeing with respect to the economy I have to attribute to the efforts of Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer in standing their ground and getting the compromises necessary to get the first stimulus plans passed.
It just makes sense - the money that was put into the hands of the American People went right back into the economy. It wasn't put in the bank. People spent the money on food, utilities, rent and other necessities of life. So I give credit to the Dems on this.
I think what is happening this time around and why the Repugs are stonewalling this current stimulus negotiation is that Trump sees an opportunity here. A new con that he can take advantage of.
If Congress can't come to any agreement (on purpose because of Repug stonewalling) - Trump - by Executive Order - puts out the plan. And with 'timing being everything' and what he and the Repugs learned from the first go round of the stimulus - is that any money that the American People get - will be put back into the economy and be spent. The result is that the effects of such will impact the economy right around the November election.
Enter Trump here. Now Trump gets the opportunity to take credit for any positive effects of this stimulus by Executive Order. I can hear him saying 'It is because I'm such a great and benevolent president that the economy is doing so well. If we left it up to the Dems - we'd be in trouble right now and if you re-elect me - the economy will 'rock and roll' going into next year.'
So my theory here is that the Repugs are dogging things on purpose - so that Trump can - by Executive Order - push some stimulus through - so that he can directly take credit for any positive results come November.
Any thoughts here?
samsingh
(17,571 posts)stopbush
(24,376 posts)He can try to shift money from one program to another, but he has largely failed when hes tried that in the past.
The $600 unemployment benefit costs around $15-billion a week. Where would tRump come up with that amount of money thru an EO? He wont.
Thekaspervote
(32,606 posts)0rganism
(23,855 posts)if he gets the money allocated, he can brag endlessly and present himself as a conquering hero
if he fails to allocate the money, instead he can blame Democrats endlessly for his failure and causing Americans to suffer
either way, he can accumulate goodwill and sympathy for the executive branch
this is a powerful strategic play, we should not pretend otherwise
stopbush
(24,376 posts)Most of the country believes everything he says is a lie. His lies are dying quickly these days as the Ds and even the media are calling him on his bullshit.
0rganism
(23,855 posts)clearly Donald J Trump has as much aptitude for planning and foresight as a rabid baboon; his advisors, on the other hand, are not to be underestimated.
you can tell me all about ungiven credit due to "the Average Joe" when Trump's averaged approval ratings are sub-40% for 2 weeks straight.
i've seen "the media ... calling him on his bullshit". usually, the first thing they do is repeat the bullshit, amplifying and normalizing Trump's craptastic messages. even news media unsympathetic to the asshole play into his hands with their standard (and normally quite reasonable) journalistic practices. still, most will instantly go hog wild over any rumor of a Joe Biden gaffe while letting the president get away with bragging about his covid-19 response. (note: "falsely claims" is not the same as "lies" )
Srkdqltr
(6,126 posts)zaj
(3,433 posts)Response to zaj (Reply #5)
zaj This message was self-deleted by its author.
Wounded Bear
(58,437 posts)One of the factors in Hitler's rise was an inability of their legislature to accomplish anything, largely because the minority NAZI party exploited rules to basically shut down any laws being passed, and block anything being done. German chancellors/presidents used a lot of "executive action" in order to get anything done.
Thus, when Hitler got in and essentially fired the legislature, nobody really cared because hell, they weren't doing anything anyway.
It's Authoritarianism 101. All part of the playbook. Repubs have been seeking one-party rule since Reagan, at least.
Arkansas Granny
(31,483 posts)That and a stimulus, even if it's just for show, might be enough to keep the koolaid drinkers in line.
Hotler
(11,353 posts)it drives them nuts knowing that tax dollars (their tax dollars) are being handed out to lower class people.
tinrobot
(10,848 posts)Perhaps they want to hand the Democrats a huge mess in January.
zaj
(3,433 posts)Identify an enemy
Enacts policies that create pain in their own supporters
Blame the pain on the enemies
Presents themselves as the strongmen who can fight and defeat the enemies
kickitup
(355 posts)I don't mean to be a negative Nancy, but what Trump and his base refuse to admit is that this virus isn't "going away." Fall will be brutal. The IMHE just updated its model and is predicting 130,000 more dead by December. The economy is NOT going to do well regardless of any measures put into place by either party.
modrepub
(3,467 posts)Everything this administration touches turns to S#$T on a shingle. He's so scatter brained and narcasistic he's utterly incapable of doing anything that takes some type of concentration to accomplish. He surrounds himself with flattering boobs (both types I'll add) who are just as incapable if not more so than he is. In short, he couldn't fight his way out of a gasoline soaked paper bag with a flame thrower. The only reason this race is close is because a large part of the electorate is convinced no matter how bad things are, Democrats are worse.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)This is not just stupidity.
uponit7771
(90,225 posts)SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)Imho, this mess is not due to dump's incompetence, although he is an idiot, this is by deiberate manipulation.
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)Hoover and Rs in Congress just didn't get it. It was inconceivable to them that assisting the populace could help things.
They let the Hoovervilles stand, except for the one with the Bonus Soldiers, but didn't do shit to help the occupants. They were no better than they were in the depression of the 1890s when Coxey's Army marched on DC.
And then Hoover ordered Gen. MacArthur to take down the Bonus Soldiers camp, with two of them shot an killed on the first day. Major Patton had a great time running his tanks over the hovels and Eisenhower, MacArthur's adjutant, was reputed to have said the "dumb sonofabitch had no business going down there pitting the military against veterans." MacArthur, btw, had defied Hoover's orders not to attack the camp.
BComplex
(7,980 posts)if the relief doesn't come pretty soon. Landlords are already evicting people. The 5th of the month is usually the grace period for rent due for the month, before fines or notices start coming out. Some places it's a 10-day grace period (1/3 of a month), but landlords aren't known for giving renters a free ride. They usually have mortgages to pay, and the bank doesn't like it when people miss their mortgage payments. It's a domino effect.
Baked Potato
(7,733 posts)and try to play God with his Law and Order bullshit. He needs to have people with nothing to lose to come out so he can beat them down. Democrats probably will fight him hard to stop this scenario.
durablend
(7,416 posts)If he loses he leaves a mess that even Biden can't fix
If he wins he can finish the country off for his master (Putin)
Yeehah
(4,523 posts)Would be my guess.
DIVINEprividence
(443 posts)It is my understanding that only Congress can appropriate money. He may be able to extend eviction moratorium for example but not much else. I think they are in disarray and are dealing with a GOP circular firing squad
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)McCamy Taylor
(19,240 posts)Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,064 posts)What fucking good would that do for people who aren't working?
machoneman
(3,951 posts)thar was suspended anyway. The rules a somewhat convoluted but firms know that their share must be paid later or face stiff fines. Point is, the temporary suspension only affect the worker....or better said, those who do currently work as the suspension does nothing forthe unemployed.
Read this: https://money.yahoo.com/coronavirus-stimulus-trump-floats-executive-order-payroll-tax-162254700.html
O.K. some basic math. Even if the employer does suspend the 7.5% deduction and passes it through to the employee, it's a pittance. Further, let's say our example worker gets paid every 2 weeks. At a nominal $30,000 per year, that's 26 pay periods at $1,154 each. Twice a month approx. $2,300. That 7.5 % cut then equals about $173 per month. Not so hot, eh?
Further, unlike even that paltry, one-time lump sum of $1,200 given before, the $173 per month won't even cover but a small fraction or rent, food, utilities, etc.
So why do it? To make SS, Medicare and even Medicaid insolvent, a long-held Republiscum wet dream.
Demsrule86
(68,348 posts)Atticus
(15,124 posts)to appropriate a single cent.
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)payroll tax which will launch a thousand Dem ads saying so. Mitch McConnell was against the payroll tax suspension and refused to include it in the last bill because he knew that ads would be run against Senators.
rlegro
(338 posts)... who stand to lose if Trump unleashes his usual nonsense. They will in many cases feel compelled to reassert congressional authority over spending, returning to the table with Democrats. The cypher in that case will be McConnell, who then will have to come clean and go with the flow or back Trump. He's a jerk, but he isn't in league with Trump at this point because Trump will likely be toast in November no matter what happens or doesn't happen before then.