Trump's Bad Week

[c_hawkbob]

Yeah, it's just poor Donald being persecuted ... he starts a charity, and actually gives $6 to the Boy Scouts!, and all people wanna talk about is his using the charities funds to renovate a fountain in front of one of his hotels and have a 6' self portrait made ... "nothing to see here folks, more fake news!"

You defense of this weasel is pathetic.

[RiverDog]

You got it on D. Just another effort to try and find something, anything since the collusion and obstruction issues are all but gone now. What next, he spanked his kids at some point? CHILD ABUSE!!!!!

Yea, you're more predictable than sunrise and sunset!

Did you get a load of what the judge said to Michael Flynn at his sentencing hearing? ...U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan told the former Trump aide in a blistering rebuke that "arguably you sold your country out....I can't make any guarantees, but I'm not hiding my disgust, my disdain for this criminal offense," Sullivan said.

I suppose a district court judge using such unusually blunt language is over dramatizing, too?

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nat ... story.html

I'm going to have to start flossing my teeth twice a day with all this popcorn I'm eating!

[Hawktawk]

The judge the Faux hosts like the buffoons hannity and judge Janine Pirrero were saying would throw out Flynn’s charges called his behavior possibly treasonous. I been saying it for over a year. Conspiring with foreign powers is treason. Don’t know if the signed by DJT letter of intent for trump tower Moscow from late 2015 when he was running for president has been discussed but wow. Rudy Chump for trump let slip that negotiations continued until nov 2016!!!!!!!its going to be so ugly. Couldn’t happen to a more upstanding noble person

[RiverDog]

The judge the Faux hosts like the buffoons hannity and judge Janine Pirrero were saying would throw out Flynn’s charges called his behavior possibly treasonous. I been saying it for over a year. Conspiring with foreign powers is treason. Don’t know if the signed by DJT letter of intent for trump tower Moscow from late 2015 when he was running for president has been discussed but wow. Rudy Chump for trump let slip that negotiations continued until nov 2016!!!!!!!its going to be so ugly. Couldn’t happen to a more upstanding noble person

And it's only going to get worse. I hear that the incomming NY state attorney general is even more gung ho than the current one and that she intends on filing criminal charges against the Trump Foundation.

It's really hard for me to belive that Trump and his people could have been so clumsy. Only a fool wouldn't know that you can't pay lawsuit settlements through a charitable fund, continue to conduct business as usual with an adversarial country during a Presidential campaign knowing the potential for a conflict of interest, or pay 2 women 6 figure money less than two weeks before the general election then argue that it was for purely personal reasons.

2019 is going to be an interesting year.

[idhawkman]

And it's only going to get worse. I hear that the incomming NY state attorney general is even more gung ho than the current one and that she intends on filing criminal charges against the Trump Foundation.

It's really hard for me to belive that Trump and his people could have been so clumsy. Only a fool wouldn't know that you can't pay lawsuit settlements through a charitable fund, continue to conduct business as usual with an adversarial country during a Presidential campaign knowing the potential for a conflict of interest, or pay 2 women 6 figure money less than two weeks before the general election then argue that it was for purely personal reasons.

2019 is going to be an interesting year.

You can keep stating all the false narratives you want but it doesn't change the facts. I've addressed all of the allegations you list and the response has not changed.

[RiverDog]

You can keep stating all the false narratives you want but it doesn't change the facts. I've addressed all of the allegations you list and the response has not changed.

False naratives? You mean like Trump's long time personal lawyer and fixer, the man that once said he'd take a bullet for him, admits that he was lying through his teeth is a reflection on the man that hired him and kept him employed for 12 years is a false narative? Or that his former national security advisor being told by a district court judge that he "sold out his country" is a false narative? Or that Trump's "charitable" organization was shut down and faces possible criminal charges is false narative?

All I'm doing is reading back to you the news, and as you essentially admitted, all you have done is use predictable, generic responses to defend him.

[Hawktawk]

There’s wealthy people I have no problem understanding how they got rich . Then there’s trump. You’re right RD the things they did before and during this election cycle and continuing into the administration were flat out arrogant and plain old dumb as a rock. It’s a lot different being a shyster real estate mogul paying cash from who knows where for everything the past decade and facing federal scrutiny . It’s worse than we know imo, way worse . I got one question for ID hawk. What in God’s name will it take for you ? It’s not about Hillary anymore . It’s this utter criminal enterprise or mike pence....

[RiverDog]

There’s wealthy people I have no problem understanding how they got rich . Then there’s trump.

Yea, that's one of the major things that bothers me about Trump. I really don't care how he got rich, whether it was inherited or earned. But I do think that the fact that he's always been given everything, that he's never had to worry about people telling him no, that he's never had to deal with a difficult boss, that everything and anything is there for his taking has shaped his personality and given him this spoiled rich kid syndrome. IMO that's what's causing him so much difficulty now in that he's never had to face adversity.

I got one question for ID hawk. What in God’s name will it take for you ? It’s not about Hillary anymore . It’s this utter criminal enterprise or mike pence....

There's still not enough evidence there to warrent impeachment. Congress needs to take all these random dots and connect them in a way that paints a picture of corruption and/or election tampering. I am not quick to advocate the overturning of an election and that we must set the impeachment bar extremely high. My preference is that we vote the SOB out of office in 2 years.

[c_hawkbob]

I disagree, there is plenty of grounds for impeachment and I have no doubt that he will be, what you should be saying is that he probably won't be convicted upon impeachment.

[RiverDog]

I disagree, there is plenty of grounds for impeachment and I have no doubt that he will be, what you should be saying is that he probably won't be convicted upon impeachment.

Oh, I agree that the grounds for impeachment exist in that there are some serious, impeachable offenses that have not only been alleged, but proven in court as well. But a lot of what we are seeing and hearing remains unproven and/or untried. Nothing stand alone that I've seen warrants impeachment. IMO if they can tie some of this stuff together, say the bimbo payments combined with collusion with the Russians, in such a manner that it would render Trump's election as illegitimate, then I would have no problem supporting impeachment.

I doubt that the House Dems will even bring to the floor a vote on any articles of impeachment until they feel they have a better than 50/50 chance of conviction in the Senate, or at least that's my hope. It does no good to impeach him if he's not convicted in the Senate.

More than likely, I'm going to end up on your side on this issue, but I'm not quite there yet. I want a chance to read Muller's report before making up my mind.

[idhawkman]

You can keep stating all the false narratives you want but it doesn't change the facts. I've addressed all of the allegations you list and the response has not changed.

False naratives? You mean like Trump's long time personal lawyer and fixer, the man that once said he'd take a bullet for him, admits that he was lying through his teeth is a reflection on the man that hired him and kept him employed for 12 years is a false narative?

Oh for heavens sake River, are you dense or just trying to get me going? Again and for the last time, no, not that he admited HE lied but that what he pleaded to was a crime let alone adjudicated. C'mon man!

Or that his former national security advisor being told by a district court judge that he "sold out his country" is a false narative?

I know it must be challenging for you but again, no, not that Flynn lied and the judge is admonishing FLYNN for that but that what he actually did was not a crime.

Or that Trump's "charitable" organization was shut down and faces possible criminal charges is false narative?

No, that it was shut down is not a false narrative but that it is anywhere close to the violations that occur in all charities is quite alarming. The American Red Cross, and yes, even the Clinton foundation have had much more serious violations that have never been persued. Let me have a team of cops follow you around everywhere you go for two years and charge you with any little thing you do wrong and see if you like the double standard.

What this might do is get to Eric Trump (we all know how Mueller likes to threaten people's kids in order to get his way). Just be careful what you wish for as this will come back on the next occupant and many successors in the white house. Have fun trying to explain what went wrong to your kids when this place is on fire with another civil war because government is feckless and out of touch.

All I'm doing is reading back to you the news, and as you essentially admitted, all you have done is use predictable, generic responses to defend him.

The news? Did you once mention the prison reform act this week? no. You only cherry pick the tripe that you think hurts the president most. You are just as predictable as HawkTalk, Cbob and I am.

[idhawkman]

Yea, that's one of the major things that bothers me about Trump. I really don't care how he got rich, whether it was inherited or earned. But I do think that the fact that he's always been given everything, that he's never had to worry about people telling him no, that he's never had to deal with a difficult boss, that everything and anything is there for his taking has shaped his personality and given him this spoiled rich kid syndrome. IMO that's what's causing him so much difficulty now in that he's never had to face adversity.

That explains a lot now that you've come out and admitted you like class warfare.

[idhawkman]

There’s wealthy people I have no problem understanding how they got rich . Then there’s trump. You’re right RD the things they did before and during this election cycle and continuing into the administration were flat out arrogant and plain old dumb as a rock. It’s a lot different being a shyster real estate mogul paying cash from who knows where for everything the past decade and facing federal scrutiny . It’s worse than we know imo, way worse . I got one question for ID hawk. What in God’s name will it take for you ? It’s not about Hillary anymore . It’s this utter criminal enterprise or mike pence....

...and I'm wondering what in God's name will it take for you to realize the successes that he's had in less than 2 years? SMDH

[Aseahawkfan]

...and I'm wondering what in God's name will it take for you to realize the successes that he's had in less than 2 years? SMDH

What are his biggest successes? The tax cuts?

[idhawkman]

What are his biggest successes? The tax cuts?

Here's a few but not an exhaustive list:

Neil Gorsuch on the Supreme Court

Bret Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court

Stock Market reached an all-time high

Consumer confidence at 17-year high

More than 2 million jobs created

Mortgage applications for new homes rise to a 7-year high

Unemployment rate at 17-year low

Signed the Promoting Women In Entrepreneurship Act

Gutted Obama-era regulations and on the verge of being totally overturned

Ended war on coal

Weakened Dodd-Frank regulations

Promoted buying and hiring American

Investment from major businesses (FoxConn, Toyota, Ford, Apple and others)

Reduced illegal immigration

Portions of border wall built and more coming

Fighting back against sanctuary cities

Created Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office

Changed rules of engagement against ISIS

Drafted plans to defeat ISIS and defeated the caliphate

Worked to reduce F-35 cost

5-year lobbying ban

Sanctioned Iran over missile program

Responded to Syria's use of chemical weapons

Introduced and passed tax reform plan

Renegotiated NAFTA

Withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)

Removed The United States out of The Paris Accord

Created task force to reduce crime

DOJ targeting MS-13 (thousands removed)

Signed an Executive Order to promote energy independence and economic growth (now a net exporter and the largest oil exporter in the world)

Signed Executive Order to protect police officers

Signed Executive Order to target drug cartels

Signed Executive Order for religious freedom

Sending education back to The States

Fixing the Department of Veterans Affairs

SCOTUS upheld parts of President Trump's temporary travel ban Executive Order

Authorized the construction of The Keystone Pipeline

Created commission on opioid addiction

Combating human trafficking (both EO and action)

Rollback of Obama's Cuba policy

Food Stamp use lowest level in 7 years

Reduced White House payroll

Donating Presidential Salary

Executive Order on Obamacare subsidies

Would not certify the Iran Nuclear Deal

Successful trip to Asia

Signed trade deal with China and ongoing negotiations to remove tarrifs completly.

Designated North Korea a terrorist state

Ending US involvement in Syria

Recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital

Signed 130 bills into law

Made 136 Presidential Proclamations

Signed 64 Executive Orders

Appointed hundreds of Federal Judges

Bi-partisan agreement on prison reform

Lowest black unemployment in history

Lowest hispanic unemployment in history

Highest black homeownership in decades

And all of this while being under a microscope by Mueller and over 90% negative press

[burrrton]

What are his biggest successes? The tax cuts?

Do you not think those were a success (although they should have been paired with a severe, by DC standards, cut in the ridiculous Fed spending)??

[burrrton]

Reduced illegal immigration

Er, illegal immigration is going up, ID (although, to be fair, for largely the same reason they dropped under Obama- the condition of the economy).

[idhawkman]

Er, illegal immigration is going up, ID (although, to be fair, for largely the same reason they dropped under Obama- the condition of the economy).

Actually, it dropped when he first took over and then after the 9th circus let the world know that he wouldn't be allowed to enforce the border they started streaming in again before he gets the wall up.

NOTE: The reason everyone in DC resists the wall is that it will work no matter who the president is. The great wall of China is still standing how many centuries later? Technology and agents can be shut off and let go when the next admin comes in and that's why they don't want the wall.

[idhawkman]

Here's a more comprehensive list as of October of this year. Remember, all of this is during a time when he's had a microscope up his sphincter, no Dem support (resist movement), 90+% negative media coverage, hold over leakers in his administration, a corrupt Intel community completely trying to overthrow him, etc.

Economic Growth
4.2 percent growth in the second quarter of 2018.
For the first time in more than a decade, growth is projected to exceed 3 percent over the calendar year.

Jobs
4 million new jobs have been created since the election, and more than 3.5 million since Trump took office.
More Americans are employed now than ever before in our history.
Jobless claims at lowest level in nearly five decades.
The economy has achieved the longest positive job-growth streak on record.
Job openings are at an all-time high and outnumber job seekers for the first time on record.
Unemployment claims at 50 year low
African-American, Hispanic, and Asian-American unemployment rates have all recently reached record lows.
African-American unemployment hit a record low of 5.9 percent in May 2018.
Hispanic unemployment at 4.5 percent.
Asian-American unemployment at record low of 2 percent.
Women’s unemployment recently at lowest rate in nearly 65 years.
Female unemployment dropped to 3.6 percent in May 2018, the lowest since October 1953.
Youth unemployment recently reached its lowest level in more than 50 years.
July 2018’s youth unemployment rate of 9.2 percent was the lowest since July 1966.
Veterans’ unemployment recently hit its lowest level in nearly two decades.
July 2018’s veterans’ unemployment rate of 3.0 percent matched the lowest rate since May 2001.
Unemployment rate for Americans without a high school diploma recently reached a record low.
Rate for disabled Americans recently hit a record low.
Blue-collar jobs recently grew at the fastest rate in more than three decades.
Poll found that 85 percent of blue-collar workers believe their lives are headed “in the right direction.”
68 percent reported receiving a pay increase in the past year.
Last year, job satisfaction among American workers hit its highest level since 2005.
Nearly two-thirds of Americans rate now as a good time to find a quality job.
Optimism about the availability of good jobs has grown by 25 percent.
Added more than 400,000 manufacturing jobs since the election.
Manufacturing employment is growing at its fastest pace in more than two decades.
100,000 new jobs supporting the production & transport of oil & natural gas.

American Income
Median household income rose to $61,372 in 2017, a post-recession high.
Wages up in August by their fastest rate since June 2009.
Paychecks rose by 3.3 percent between 2016 and 2017, the most in a decade.
Council of Economic Advisers found that real wage compensation has grown by 1.4 percent over the past year.
Some 3.9 million Americans off food stamps since the election.
Median income for Hispanic-Americans rose by 3.7 percent and surpassed $50,000 for the first time ever in history.
Home-ownership among Hispanics is at the highest rate in nearly a decade.
Poverty rates for African-Americans and Hispanic-Americans have reached their lowest levels ever recorded.

American Optimism
Small business optimism has hit historic highs.
NFIB’s small business optimism index broke a 35 year-old record in August.
SurveyMonkey/CNBC’s small business confidence survey for Q3 of 2018 matched its all-time high.
Manufacturers are more confident than ever.
95 percent of U.S. manufacturers are optimistic about the future, the highest ever.
Consumer confidence is at an 18-year high.
12 percent of Americans rate the economy as the most significant problem facing our country, the lowest level on record.
Confidence in the economy is near a two-decade high, with 51 percent rating the economy as good or excellent.

American Business
Investment is flooding back into the United States due to the tax cuts.
Over $450 billion dollars has already poured back into the U.S., including more than $300 billion in the first quarter of 2018.
Retail sales have surged. Commerce Department figures from August show that retail sales increased 0.5 percent in July 2018, an increase of 6.4 percent from July 2017.
ISM’s index of manufacturing scored its highest reading in 14 years.
Worker productivity is the highest it has been in more than three years.
Steel and aluminum producers are re-opening.
Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and NASDAQ have all notched record highs.
Dow hit record highs 70 times in 2017 alone, the most ever recorded in one year.

Deregulation
Achieved massive deregulation at a rapid pace, completing 22 deregulatory actions to every one regulatory action during his first year in office.
Signed legislation to roll back costly and harmful provisions of Dodd-Frank, providing relief to credit unions, and community and regional banks.
Federal agencies achieved more than $8 billion in lifetime net regulatory cost savings.
Rolled back Obama’s burdensome Waters of the U.S. rule.
Used the Congressional Review Act to repeal regulations more times than in history.

Tax Cuts
Biggest tax cuts and reforms in American history by signing the Tax Cuts and Jobs act into law
Provided more than $5.5 trillion in gross tax cuts, nearly 60 percent of which will go to families.
Increased the exemption for the death tax to help save Family Farms & Small Business.
Nearly doubled the standard deduction for individuals and families.
Enabled vast majority of American families will be able to file their taxes on a single page by claiming the standard deduction.
Doubled the child tax credit to help lessen the financial burden of raising a family.
Lowered America’s corporate tax rate from the highest in the developed world to allow American businesses to compete and win.
Small businesses can now deduct 20 percent of their business income.
Cut dozens of special interest tax breaks and closed loopholes for the wealthy.
9 in 10 American workers are expected see an increase in their paychecks thanks to the tax cuts, according to the Treasury Department.
More than 6 million of American workers have received wage increases, bonuses, and increased benefits thanks to tax cuts.
Over 100 utility companies have lowered electric, gas, or water rates thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
Ernst & Young found 89 percent of companies planned to increase worker compensation thanks to the Trump tax cuts.
Established opportunity zones to spur investment in left behind communities.

Worker Development
Established a National Council for the American Worker to develop a national strategy for training and retraining America’s workers for high-demand industries.
Employers have signed Trump’s “Pledge to America’s Workers,” committing to train or retrain more than 4.2 million workers and students.
Signed the first Perkins CTE reauthorization since 2006, authorizing more than $1 billion for states each year to fund vocational and career education programs.
Executive order expanding apprenticeship opportunities for students and workers.

Domestic Infrastructure
Proposed infrastructure plan would utilize $200 billion in Federal funds to spur at least $1.5 trillion in infrastructure investment across the country.
Executive order expediting environmental reviews and approvals for high priority infrastructure projects.
Federal agencies have signed the One Federal Decision Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) streamlining the federal permitting process for infrastructure projects.
Rural prosperity task force and signed an executive order to help expand broadband access in rural areas.

Health Care
Signed an executive order to help minimize the financial burden felt by American households Signed legislation to improve the National Suicide Hotline.
Signed the most comprehensive childhood cancer legislation ever into law, which will advance childhood cancer research and improve treatments.
Signed Right-to-Try legislation, expanding health care options for terminally ill patients.
Enacted changes to the Medicare 340B program, saving seniors an estimated $320 million on drugs in 2018 alone.
FDA set a new record for generic drug approvals in 2017, saving consumers nearly $9 billion.
Released a blueprint to drive down drug prices for American patients, leading multiple major drug companies to announce they will freeze or reverse price increases.
Expanded short-term, limited-duration health plans.
Let more employers to form Association Health Plans, enabling more small businesses to join together and affordably provide health insurance to their employees.
Cut Obamacare’s burdensome individual mandate penalty.
Signed legislation repealing Obamacare’s Independent Payment Advisory Board, also known as the “death panels.”
USDA invested more than $1 billion in rural health care in 2017, improving access to health care for 2.5 million people in rural communities across 41 states
Proposed Title X rule to help ensure taxpayers do not fund the abortion industry in violation of the law.
Reinstated and expanded the Mexico City Policy to keep foreign aid from supporting the global abortion industry.
HHS formed a new division over protecting the rights of conscience and religious freedom.
Overturned Obama administration’s midnight regulation prohibiting states from defunding certain abortion facilities.
Signed executive order to help ensure that religious organizations are not forced to choose between violating their religious beliefs by complying with Obamacare’s contraceptive mandate or shutting their doors.

Combating Opioids
Chaired meeting the 73rd General Session of the United Nations discussing the worldwide drug problem with international leaders.
Initiative to Stop Opioid Abuse and Reduce Drug Supply and Demand, introducing new measures to keep dangerous drugs out of our communities.
$6 billion in new funding to fight the opioid epidemic.
DEA conducted a surge in April 2018 that arrested 28 medical professions and revoked 147 registrations for prescribing too many opioids.
Brought the “Prescribed to Death” memorial to President’s Park near the White House, helping raise awareness about the human toll of the opioid crisis.
Helped reduce high-dose opioid prescriptions by 16 percent in 2017.
Opioid Summit on the administration-wide efforts to combat the opioid crisis.
Launched a national public awareness campaign about the dangers of opioid addiction.
Created a Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis which recommended a number of pathways to tackle the opioid crisis.
Led two National Prescription Drug Take Back Days in 2017 and 2018, collecting a record number of expired and unneeded prescription drugs each time.
$485 million targeted grants in FY 2017 to help areas hit hardest by the opioid crisis.
Signed INTERDICT Act, strengthening efforts to detect and intercept synthetic opioids before they reach our communities.
DOJ secured its first-ever indictments against Chinese fentanyl manufacturers.
Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement (J-CODE) team, aimed at disrupting online illicit opioid sales.
Declared the opioid crisis a Nationwide Public Health Emergency in October 2017.

Law and Order
More U.S. Circuit Court judges confirmed in the first year in office than ever.
Confirmed more than two dozen U. S. Circuit Court judges.
Followed through on the promise to nominate judges to the Supreme Court who will adhere to the Constitution
Nominated and confirmed Justice Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
Signed an executive order directing the Attorney General to develop a strategy to more effectively prosecute people who commit crimes against law enforcement officers.
Launched an evaluation of grant programs to make sure they prioritize the protection and safety of law enforcement officers.
Established a task force to reduce crime and restore public safety in communities across Signed an executive order to focus more federal resources on dismantling transnational criminal organizations such as drug cartels.
Signed an executive order to focus more federal resources on dismantling transnational criminal organizations such as drug cartels.
Violent crime decreased in 2017 according to FBI statistics.
$137 million in grants through the COPS Hiring Program to preserve jobs, increase community policing capacities, and support crime prevention efforts.
Enhanced and updated the Project Safe Neighborhoods to help reduce violent crime.
Signed legislation making it easier to target websites that enable sex trafficking and strengthened penalties for people who promote or facilitate prostitution.
Created an interagency task force working around the clock to prosecute traffickers, protect victims, and prevent human trafficking.
Conducted Operation Cross Country XI to combat human trafficking, rescuing 84 children and arresting 120 human traffickers.
Encouraged federal prosecutors to use the death penalty when possible in the fight against the trafficking of deadly drugs.
New rule effectively banning bump stock sales in the United States.

Border Security and Immigration
Secured $1.6 billion for border wall construction in the March 2018 omnibus bill.
Construction of a 14-mile section of border wall began near San Diego.
Worked to protect American communities from the threat posed by the vile MS-13 gang.
ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations division arrested 796 MS-13 members and associates in FY 2017, an 83 percent increase from the prior year.
Justice worked with partners in Central America to secure criminal charges against more than 4,000 MS-13 members.
Border Patrol agents arrested 228 illegal aliens affiliated with MS-13 in FY 2017.
Fighting to stop the scourge of illegal drugs at our border.
ICE HSI seized more than 980,000 pounds of narcotics in FY 2017, including 2,370 pounds of fentanyl and 6,967 pounds of heroin.
ICE HSI dedicated nearly 630,000 investigative hours towards halting the illegal import of fentanyl.
ICE HSI made 11,691 narcotics-related arrests in FY 2017.
Stop Opioid Abuse and Reduce Drug Supply and Demand introduced new measures to keep dangerous drugs out the United States.
Signed the INTERDICT Act into law, enhancing efforts to detect and intercept synthetic opioids.
DOJ secured its first-ever indictments against Chinese fentanyl manufacturers.
DOJ launched their Joint Criminal Opioid Darknet Enforcement (J-CODE) team, aimed at disrupting online illicit opioid sales.
Released an immigration framework that includes the resources required to secure our borders and close legal loopholes, and repeatedly called on Congress to fix our broken immigration laws.
Authorized the deployment of the National Guard to help secure the border.
Enhanced vetting of individuals entering the U.S. from countries that don’t meet security standards, helping to ensure individuals who pose a threat to our country are identified before they enter.
These procedures were upheld in a June 2018 Supreme Court hearing.
ICE removed over 226,000 illegal aliens from the United States in 2017.
ICE rescued or identified over 500 human trafficking victims and over 900 child exploitation victims in 2017 alone.
In 2017, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested more than 127,000 aliens with criminal convictions or charges, responsible for
Over 76,000 with dangerous drug offenses.
More than 48,000 with assault offenses.
More than 11,000 with weapons offenses.
More than 5,000 with sexual assault offenses.
More than 2,000 with kidnapping offenses.
Over 1,800 with homicide offenses.
Created the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office in order to support the victims and families affected by illegal alien crime.
More than doubled the number of counties participating in the 287(g) program, which allows jails to detain criminal aliens until they are transferred to ICE custody.

Trade
Negotiating and renegotiating better trade deals, achieving free, fair, and reciprocal trade for the United States.
Agreed to work with the European Union towards zero tariffs, zero non-tariff barriers, and zero subsides.
Deal with the European Union to increase U.S. energy exports to Europe.
Litigated multiple WTO disputes targeting unfair trade practices and upholding our right to enact fair trade laws.
Finalized a revised trade agreement with South Korea, which includes provisions to increase American automobile exports.
Negotiated an historic U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement to replace NAFTA.
Agreement to begin trade negotiations for a U.S.-Japan trade agreement.
Secured $250 billion in new trade and investment deals in China and $12 billion in Vietnam.
Established a Trade and Investment Working Group with the United Kingdom, laying the groundwork for post-Brexit trade.
Enacted steel and aluminum tariffs to protect our vital steel and aluminum producers and strengthen our national security.
Conducted 82 anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations in 2017 alone.
Confronting China’s unfair trade practices after years of Washington looking the other way.
25 percent tariff on $50 billion of goods imported from China and later imposed an additional 10% tariff on $200 billion of Chinese goods.
Conducted an investigation into Chinese forced technology transfers, unfair licensing practices, and intellectual property theft.
Imposed safeguard tariffs to protect domestic washing machines and solar products manufacturers hurt by China’s trade policies
Withdrew from the job-killing Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Secured access to new markets for America’s farmers.
Recent deal with Mexico included new improvements enabling food and agriculture to trade more fairly.
Recent agreement with the E.U. will reduce barriers and increase trade of American soybeans to Europe.
Won a WTO dispute regarding Indonesia’s unfair restriction of U.S. agricultural exports.
Defended American Tuna fisherman and packagers before the WTO
Opened up Argentina to American pork experts for the first time in a quarter-century
American beef exports have returned to china for the first time in more than a decade
OK’d up to $12 billion in aid for farmers affected by unfair trade retaliation.

Energy
Presidential Memorandum to clear roadblocks to construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline.
Presidential Memorandum declaring that the Dakota Access Pipeline serves the national interest and initiating the process to complete construction.
Opened up the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge to energy exploration.
Coal exports up over 60 percent in 2017.
Rolled back the “stream protection rule” to prevent it from harming America’s coal industry.
Cancelled Obama’s anti-coal Clean Power Plan and proposed the Affordable Clean Energy Rule as a replacement.
Withdrew from the job-killing Paris climate agreement, which would have cost the U.S. nearly $3 trillion and led to 6.5 million fewer industrial sector jobs by 2040.
U.S. oil production has achieved its highest level in American history
United States is now the largest crude oil producer in the world.
U.S. has become a net natural gas exporter for the first time in six decades.
Action to expedite the identification and extraction of critical minerals that are vital to the nation’s security and economic prosperity.
Took action to reform National Ambient Air Quality Standards, benefitting American manufacturers.
Rescinded Obama’s hydraulic fracturing rule, which was expected to cost the industry $32 million per year.
Proposed an expansion of offshore drilling as part of an all-of-the above energy strategy
Held a lease sale for offshore oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico in August 2018.
Got EU to increase its imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States.
Issued permits for the New Burgos Pipeline that will cross the U.S.-Mexico border.

Foreign Policy
Moved the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
Withdrew from Iran deal and immediately began the process of re-imposing sanctions that had been lifted or waived.
Treasury has issued sanctions targeting Iranian activities and entities, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force
Since enacting sanctions, Iran’s crude exports have fallen off, the value of Iran’s currency has plummeted, and international companies have pulled out of the country.
All nuclear-related sanctions will be back in full force by early November 2018.
Historic summit with North Korean President Kim Jong-Un, bringing beginnings of peace and denuclearization to the Korean Peninsula.
The two leaders have exchanged letters and high-level officials from both sides have met resulting in tremendous progress.
North Korea has halted nuclear and missile tests.
Negotiated the return of the remains of missing-in-action soldiers from the Korean War.
Imposed strong sanctions on Venezuelan dictator Nicholas Maduro and his inner circle.
Executive order preventing those in the U.S. from carrying out certain transactions with the Venezuelan regime, including prohibiting the purchase of the regime’s debt.
Responded to the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime.
Rolled out sanctions targeting individuals and entities tied to Syria’s chemical weapons program.
Directed strikes in April 2017 against a Syrian airfield used in a chemical weapons attack on innocent civilians.
Joined allies in launching airstrikes in April 2018 against targets associated with Syria’s chemical weapons use.
New Cuba policy that enhanced compliance with U.S. law and held the Cuban regime accountable for political oppression and human rights abuses.
Treasury and State are working to channel economic activity away from the Cuban regime, particularly the military.
Changed the rules of engagement, empowering commanders to take the fight to ISIS.
ISIS has lost virtually all of its territory, more than half of which has been lost under Trump.
ISIS’ self-proclaimed capital city, Raqqah, was liberated in October 2017.
All Iraqi territory had been liberated from ISIS.
More than a dozen American hostages have been freed from captivity all of the world.
Action to combat Russia’s malign activities, including their efforts to undermine the sanctity of United States elections.
Expelled dozens of Russian intelligence officers from the United States and ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle, WA.
Banned the use of Kaspersky Labs software on government computers, due to the company’s ties to Russian intelligence.
Imposed sanctions against five Russian entities and three individuals for enabling Russia’s military and intelligence units to increase Russia’s offensive cyber capabilities.
Sanctions against seven Russian oligarchs, and 12 companies they own or control, who profit from Russia’s destabilizing activities.
Sanctioned 100 targets in response to Russia’s occupation of Crimea and aggression in Eastern Ukraine.
Enhanced support for Ukraine’s Armed Forces to help Ukraine better defend itself.
Helped win U.S. bid for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Helped win U.S.-Mexico-Canada’s united bid for 2026 World Cup.

Defense
Executive order keeping the detention facilities at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay open.
$700 billion in military funding for FY 2018 and $716 billion for FY 2019.
Largest military pay raise in nearly a decade.
Ordered a Nuclear Posture Review to ensure America’s nuclear forces are up to date and serve as a credible deterrent.
Released America’s first fully articulated cyber strategy in 15 years.
New strategy on national biodefense, which better prepares the nation to defend against biological threats.
Administration has announced that it will use whatever means necessary to protect American citizens and servicemen from unjust prosecution by the International Criminal Court.
Released an America first National Security Strategy.
Put in motion the launch of a Space Force as a new branch of the military and relaunched the National Space Council.
Encouraged North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies to increase defense spending to their agree-upon levels.
In 2017 alone, there was an increase of more than 4.8 percent in defense spending amongst NATO allies.
Every member state has increased defense spending.
Eight NATO allies will reach the 2 percent benchmark by the end of 2018 and 15 allies are on trade to do so by 2024.
NATO allies spent over $42 billion dollars more on defense since 2016.
Executive order to help military spouses find employment as their families deploy domestically and abroad.

Veterans affairs
Signed the VA Accountability Act and expanded VA telehealth services, walk-in-clinics, and same-day urgent primary and mental health care.
Delivered more appeals decisions – 81,000 – to veterans in a single year than ever before.
Strengthened protections for individuals who come forward and identify programs occurring within the VA.
Signed legislation that provided $86.5 billion in funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the largest dollar amount in history for the VA.
VA MISSION Act, enacting sweeping reform to the VA system that:
Consolidated and strengthened VA community care programs.
Funding for the Veterans Choice program.
Expanded eligibility for the Family Caregivers Program.
Gave veterans more access to walk-in care.
Strengthened the VA’s ability to recruit and retain quality healthcare professionals.
Enabled the VA to modernize its assets and infrastructure.
Signed the VA Choice and Quality Employment Act in 2017, which authorized $2.1 billion in addition funds for the Veterans Choice Program.
Worked to shift veterans’ electronic medical records to the same system used by the Department of Defense, a decades old priority.
Issued an executive order requiring the Secretaries of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs to submit a joint plan to provide veterans access to access to mental health treatment as they transition to civilian life.
Increased transparency and accountability at the VA by launching an online “Access and Quality Tool,” providing veterans with access to wait time and quality of care data.
Signed legislation to modernize the claims and appeal process at the VA.
Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act, providing enhanced educational benefits to veterans, service members, and their family members.
Lifted a 15-year limit on veterans’ access to their educational benefits.
Created a White House VA Hotline to help veterans and principally staffed it with veterans and direct family members of veterans.
VA employees are being held accountable for poor performance, with more than 4,000 VA employees removed, demoted, and suspended so far.
Signed the Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act, increasing the number of VA employees that can assist justice-involved veterans

[idhawkman]

Ball's back in the Congress' court now that Trump just told the Republicans that he would not sign the continuing resolution that was passed out of the senate last night. More popcorn please...

[c_hawkbob]

Now "the adult in the room" Mattis has had enough. Evidently Trump's blindside decision to pull out of Syria was his last straw.

This reality show presidency of his is a real dumpster fire.

[idhawkman]

Now "the adult in the room" Mattis has had enough. Evidently Trump's blindside decision to pull out of Syria was his last straw.

This reality show presidency of his is a real dumpster fire.

Totally disagree on this one. He's keeping his promise to not go deeper into debt building other nations when ours is slowly crumbling. They can take care of themselves and fight their own battles instead of having our youth and fortune spent with very little national interest in return.

[RiverDog]

Now "the adult in the room" Mattis has had enough. Evidently Trump's blindside decision to pull out of Syria was his last straw.

This reality show presidency of his is a real dumpster fire.

Agreed. Mattis was a man respected both in military circles as well as on both sides of the aisle in Congress.

One more item on the bad week checklist. But this one hurts more than just DJT.

[c_hawkbob]

Now "the adult in the room" Mattis has had enough. Evidently Trump's blindside decision to pull out of Syria was his last straw.

This reality show presidency of his is a real dumpster fire.

Agreed. Mattis was a man respected both in military circles as well as on both sides of the aisle in Congress.

One more item on the bad week checklist. But this one hurts more than just DJT.

I think of all the things on the bad week checklist this one hurts the most. Now he'll be unfettered, surrounded by nothing but yes men.

[Hawktawk]

ID Jesus man I hope you copied and pasted all that or I’m worried about you getting carpal tunnel.

Equating all that stuff as being the work of a semi senile asshat on twitter from the shitter at 1 am is a bit of a stretch .

Most of what you lauded would have been possible with any republican administration, particularly coming out of the extreme overegulation of the Obama administration but minus the captain chaos danger to humanity in the Oval Office .

The good hires he admittedly made are all gone now , economy is slowing , Wall Street is on a pace for the worst December since the Great Depression . Housing starts are slowing dramatically and interest rates are rising.

See ID the economy and stock market are like an aircraft carrier . They take a long time to turn around and this boneheaded pussy grabbing imbecile inherited a 7 year economic expansion and equally long bull market run that is now being called the longest bull run in history . That’s called inheriting a barn full of hay, being born on 3rd base and scoring a run and saying you hit a grand slam. Story of his worthless oxygen wasting life.

Frankly I don’t give a GOD DAMN If it’s been the best economy in history and it hasn’t. This reprehensible POS belongs in the penitentiary, not in the empty chair that’s supposed to be occupied by the leader of the free world .

[RiverDog]

I think of all the things on the bad week checklist this one hurts the most. Now he'll be unfettered, surrounded by nothing but yes men.

I expressed the same thought in the other thread. My fear is that Trump will end up selecting someone that will tell him only what he wants to hear and nothing more. He's not going to have anyone in his inner circle with the balls to say something when he's wrong.

But, according to Idahawkman, Trump's never wrong.

[Hawktawk]

Mitch McConnell letter to trump expressing “dismay” at the resignation due to “sharp disagreement over foreign policy “ and referencing our adversarial relationship with Russia also expresses McConnells hope that trump
In fact appoints someone who believes what Mattis believes .

Well good luck. We will never know how many times Mattis has stopped this idiot loon from damaging America , it’s allies and its interests around the world as well as permanently reducing our status and stature but there won’t be another Mattis.


Time for windbag McConnell and the rest of the legislative body to do their job: impeach or 25th amendment NOW. This is not going to get any better .

[RiverDog]

Yea, I saw McConnell's statement. Considering Trump's unexpected rejection of their plan to keep the government running for another 2 months, being forced to return to the capitol for a vote on what's sure to be a rejection of the House's bill just before the Christmas holiday AND the sudden announced departure of Secretary Mattis over policy disagreements, they can't be in too good of a mood.

[burrrton]

It's all part of his 32-dimensional chess game, RD.

[idhawkman]

ID Jesus man I hope you copied and pasted all that or I’m worried about you getting carpal tunnel.

Equating all that stuff as being the work of a semi senile asshat on twitter from the shitter at 1 am is a bit of a stretch .

Most of what you lauded would have been possible with any republican administration, particularly coming out of the extreme overegulation of the Obama administration but minus the captain chaos danger to humanity in the Oval Office .

The good hires he admittedly made are all gone now , economy is slowing , Wall Street is on a pace for the worst December since the Great Depression . Housing starts are slowing dramatically and interest rates are rising.

See ID the economy and stock market are like an aircraft carrier . They take a long time to turn around and this boneheaded pussy grabbing imbecile inherited a 7 year economic expansion and equally long bull market run that is now being called the longest bull run in history . That’s called inheriting a barn full of hay, being born on 3rd base and scoring a run and saying you hit a grand slam. Story of his worthless oxygen wasting life.

Frankly I don’t give a GOD DAMN If it’s been the best economy in history and it hasn’t. This reprehensible POS belongs in the penitentiary, not in the empty chair that’s supposed to be occupied by the leader of the free world .

And that's where I stopped reading because it has been avialable but it hasn't happened until Trump.

[idhawkman]

I expressed the same thought in the other thread. My fear is that Trump will end up selecting someone that will tell him only what he wants to hear and nothing more. He's not going to have anyone in his inner circle with the balls to say something when he's wrong.

But, according to Idahawkman, Trump's never wrong.

I am like Cbob on this issue. Don't speak for me and I have never said that.

[idhawkman]

Yea, I saw McConnell's statement. Considering Trump's unexpected rejection of their plan to keep the government running for another 2 months, being forced to return to the capitol for a vote on what's sure to be a rejection of the House's bill just before the Christmas holiday AND the sudden announced departure of Secretary Mattis over policy disagreements, they can't be in too good of a mood.

Give me a break. Trump told them he wouldn't sign another CR last March when McConnell promised him the wall would be funded. So Turkey neck should be dismayed at only himself as Trump has been clear on this.

Regarding Graham's and McConnell's shock at the sudden announcement of Syria, Afghanistan and Mattis, they are just pissed because they had no forewarning to sell their defense stocks and get out of the sweetheart deals they were in around those conflicts. Follow the money.

[idhawkman]

I noticed no one mentioned anything about the Asylum seekers being processed from Mexico - YUGE win there.

No mention of the House passing the wall spending bill last night either - making Pelosi look like the fool she is.

[RiverDog]

It's all part of his 32-dimensional chess game, RD.

You'll have to clarify. I don't understand that analogy at all.

The only thing I can think of that would explain these recent moves of his is that he's trying to deflect attention from his personal issues.

[Hawktawk]

The only thing I can think of that would explain these recent moves of his is that he's trying to deflect attention from his personal issues.

Bingo. Nailed it.

Problem is Trump is willing to do about anything to wag the dog away from his criminal enterprise and utterly chaotic lack of governance. He is so off base on military and foreign policy decisions he is the first president in the HISTORY of this nation to have a secretary of defense hand deliver a letter expertly written that cuts like a scalpel and makes clear his resignation is a protest of everything Trump stands for.

Dumb ass inadvertently created one of the biggest controversies/stories of his administration with that one and continues to alienate Republican senators that he will absolutely need to finish his first term.

Nobody is even talking about the excellent criminal justice reform bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support because Trump can't stop tripping over his little mushroom.

[idhawkman]

The only thing I can think of that would explain these recent moves of his is that he's trying to deflect attention from his personal issues.

I know you are not used to it but he is keeping his promise of not fighting never ending wars in the middle east with no goal in mind. I know it is a simple thing that is often overlooked but it is what he has been stating far longer than just since his campaign and tenure.

[RiverDog]

I know you are not used to it but he is keeping his promise of not fighting never ending wars in the middle east with no goal in mind. I know it is a simple thing that is often overlooked but it is what he has been stating far longer than just since his campaign and tenure.

Yea, but it's the timing of the withdrawl that makes it suspicious, coming the same week he flip flopped on the border wall/govt. shutdown and all his legal troubles with the SDNY, and a week after the Republican Senate rebuked him over Saudi Arabia. He could have withdrawn troops at anytime in the past 22 months. Why now?

The Russians are cheering him, his Secretary of Defense resigned in protest, the first such resignation in our history, our allies are stunned, and you see nothing wrong.

[idhawkman]

Yea, but it's the timing of the withdrawl that makes it suspicious, coming the same week he flip flopped on the border wall/govt. shutdown and all his legal troubles with the SDNY, and a week after the Republican Senate rebuked him over Saudi Arabia. He could have withdrawn troops at anytime in the past 22 months. Why now?

Totally disagree. If he had announcd this 22 months ago it would have been ridiculous. Even 12 months ago it would be ridiculous. but after taking down Rocca and the other caliphate strong hold he needed to do some cleanup. If anything I think it is a month or two premature but with what Turkey is doing, he had no choice to move the time frame up. Turkey forced his hand on this but I think he welcomes it with some moderately open arms to deflect from the legal stuff. The border wall thing is working out well in his favor especially after having the vote today in the house making Pelosi look stupid.

The Russians are cheering him, his Secretary of Defense resigned in protest, the first such resignation in our history, our allies are stunned, and you see nothing wrong.

There are things wrong but there is also no other choice as I've outlined in this thread extensively.

[idhawkman]

I noticed that no one pointed out the success with getting China to designate opioid manufacturing issues as a major crime there. It may not seem like much but it makes crimes in China around manufacturing Opioids a capital offense.

Here's a link to the agreement but it actually was added this week to their controlled substance list this week.

https://freebeacon.com/issues/xi-tells-trump-china-will-schedule-fentanyl/

[Aseahawkfan]

I noticed no one mentioned anything about the Asylum seekers being processed from Mexico - YUGE win there.

No mention of the House passing the wall spending bill last night either - making Pelosi look like the fool she is.

Pelosi sucks. She's every bit as bad as Trump in my book.