What does a TRUMP presidency look like?

[Tamas]

America is weird.

[Habbaku]

America is weird.

You would be too if you were under 30+ constant emergencies.

[FunkMonk]

Well I think the worrying bit is Donald using the fig leaf of national emergency to redirect funds already appropriated by Congress to his pet project.

Power of the purse and all that. Why even have a Congress if the Executive can spend whatever he wants under the guise of a national emergency. 

[celedhring]

Here's a list, for those interested. Most of them seem related to imposing sanctions in the wake of foreign crises.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_emergencies_in_the_United_States

[The Minsky Moment]

The president won't create a bill.  He will sign the bill, and then declare that the border is an emergency.  He'll then try to steal money from other military construction projects to build a wall from sea to shining sea.  The localities where the money was to be spent will sue, on the grounds that he hasn't demonstrated an emergency.  A stay of his redirection of funds will be issued, and the case will drag on in the courts until January, 2021, when it will become moot.  The money will never be spent, either on the wall or on the authorized military construction.  Everyone will lose, but Trump will declare himself, and the country, as the winners.

That or some variant is a likely outcome.
Declaring a state of emergency is the easy part, but a border fence is not a military construction project.

[Tamas]

Declaring a state of emergency is the easy part, but a border fence is not a military construction project.

What if he deploys the military to shoot at border crossers? That'd make it a military project.

[Legbiter]

Here's a list, for those interested. Most of them seem related to imposing sanctions in the wake of foreign crises.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_national_emergencies_in_the_United_States

Huh. According to this there are at least 30 "National Emergencies" active today. 

[garbon]

I was reading an article earlier that suggested the US might have over 30 ongoing national emergencies.

[Valmy]

Well I think the worrying bit is Donald using the fig leaf of national emergency to redirect funds already appropriated by Congress to his pet project.

Power of the purse and all that. Why even have a Congress if the Executive can spend whatever he wants under the guise of a national emergency. 

Yeah. The previous "emergencies" seem more in line with powers the executive is supposed to have, like with foreign affairs. We'll see.

Though a couple of those seem like they should just be made laws, like not exporting Weapons of Mass Destruction. I am confused why we are still so concerned about the peace process in the Western Balkans.

[Tamas]

IIRC the US has over 30 national emergencies ongoing at the moment.

[PDH]

I am confused why we are still so concerned about the peace process in the Western Balkans.

Did you consider that this declaration of emergency is the only thing keeping Balkan peace?  So short sighted...

[FunkMonk]

Donald just said "I didn't need to do this, I just want to do it faster" in his announcement  of a national emergency over the border wall

[FunkMonk]

I hopeful byproduct of this whole embarrassing and wasteful affair is Congress rewriting and updating the National Emergencies Act.

[Valmy]

I hopeful byproduct of this whole embarrassing and wasteful affair is Congress rewriting and updating the National Emergencies Act.

Sure. But then Donald can veto it.

[Admiral Yi]

Is there in fact a National Emergencies Act?  I figured there were emergency powers clauses imbedded in a range of legislation.