Trump's final campaign stretch rattled by twin calamities

[webfact]

Trump's final campaign stretch rattled by twin calamities

By Steve Holland

 

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks at a campaign rally in Estero, Florida, U.S., October 31, 2018. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - When Donald Trump met with advisers about his plans for campaign appearances in the final weeks for the battle for control of the U.S. Congress, the president surprised them by insisting they add more events to an already-crowded schedule.

 

His strategy for the final stretch has been simple: Drive Republican turnout by focusing on an issue that appeals to his core supporters - illegal immigration - using as a foil a large group of Central American migrants making their way slowly through Mexico towards the U.S. border.

 

And he aimed to keep talking about how Democrats tried to block Brett Kavanaugh from ascending to the U.S. Supreme Court, plus economic gains in the country under his watch.

 

"This will be the election of the Kavanaughs and the caravans and law and order and tax cuts," Trump told a rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Oct. 26.

 

Trump's desire to focus on red-meat issues was rattled by two shocking cases of political violence as he ploughed into an eight-state blitz ahead of Tuesday's congressional elections.

 

Non-stop cable TV coverage of pipe bombs mailed to prominent political opponents of Trump and of a mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue upended his goal of dominating the news. And the freewheeling format of his rallies can complicate the White House's efforts at delivering a carefully crafted closing message to voters ahead of the elections.

 

Trump has had to divert from his usual stump speeches and make a rare appeal for political unity, even as he is accused of stoking divisions with his scathing attacks on key Democratic figures and figures in the U.S. news media.

 

Given the media's focus on the twin calamities, Trump and his aides are struggling to keep up the momentum ahead of the Nov. 6 vote, which will determine whether Trump's fellow Republicans retain majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives.

 

Trump upped the ante on Tuesday, saying he would issue an executive order curtailing so-called "birthright citizenship" to try to prevent babies born to undocumented immigrants from being automatically American citizens.

 

Such an order would immediately be challenged in federal court as unconstitutional, and some of Trump's network of outside advisers worried the president was creating an unnecessary distraction.

 

"The president is making a mistake when he’s trying to roll out a new immigration policy that is undeniably going to be stopped in the federal courts," said one Trump confidant, who asked not to be identified.

 

The White House countered criticism of Trump's proposal by saying there is a wider need for reforms. "We have massive loopholes in our immigration system that we have to close," spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Fox News.

 

'HUGE CROWDS'

Opinion polls indicate that Democrats have a good chance of making the net gain of 23 seats they need to win control of the House, but are less likely to capture a majority in the Senate.

 

Trump's final blitz of campaigning includes 11 rallies in eight states, mostly focused on U.S. Senate races. They include two stops in Florida, two in Missouri and visits to West Virginia, Indiana, Montana, Georgia, Tennessee and Ohio - all states Trump won in the 2016 presidential election.

 

"These are places where data and polling information tells us that the president is of best use. He doesn’t go to places that are sure-fire wins nor does he go to places that are sure fire-losses," said a Trump adviser.

 

Trump and his aides believe putting him in front of crowds will help convince voters who provided him with his upset victory in 2016 to turn out in a midterm election, when turnout is typically lower than in presidential years.

 

"These huge crowds - Donald Trump is still the only person who comes without a band, an instrument, a singing voice or a sermon to pack these houses," said senior Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway.

 

Republican Senator Jeff Flake, who is retiring and who has been a steady critic of the president, said Trump should be using his microphone to unite, not divide Americans after the mailed pipe bombs and the killing of 11 people at the synagogue.

 

“These events are horrific enough, so we ought to try to make something good come from the tragedy. Something good would be to unify the country and moving away from this kind of rhetoric. That’s what he hasn’t done," the Arizona senator told Reuters in a telephone interview.

 

The White House said Trump will continue to draw a contrast with his Democratic opponents.

 

'MASSIVE HOLE'

Trump aides acknowledge that holding onto the House is a challenging prospect, and say Republicans' goal this year is to minimise losses.

 

"The party in power usually loses many seats and there are 43 Republican retirements and I think that this a massive hole to dig out of," said Conway.

 

If Democrats take over the House, Trump's administration will suddenly be exposed to congressional investigations that would weigh heavily on him for the next two years.

 

Major legislation would also likely fall to the wayside, such as his signature bid to build a wall along the U.S. southern border with Mexico to thwart illegal immigration.

 

But for Trump personally, there could be benefits.

 

A Democratic House would give him a target ahead of his 2020 re-election campaign and would probably prompt what some consider house-cleaning in the Republican hierarchy in Washington - changes that could usher in more Trump allies.

 

Perhaps preemptively seeking a silver lining, the Trump confidant struck a contrarian tone and said Republicans winning both chambers of Congress would be a negative for Trump "because there will be no immediate desire to change anything."

 

Full U.S. election coverage: https://www.reuters.com/politics/election2018

 

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell in Washington; Editing by Jason Szep and Frances Kerry)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-11-01

[natway09]

The big moneyed caravan  May the richest man win..... US elections

[stevenl]

" "The president is making a mistake when he’s trying to roll out a new immigration policy that is undeniably going to be stopped in the federal courts," "

No problem, he is not trying to roll out a new immigration policy, he is only pandering to his base.

[Jingthing]

" "The president is making a mistake when he’s trying to roll out a new immigration policy that is undeniably going to be stopped in the federal courts," "
No problem, he is not trying to roll out a new immigration policy, he is only pandering to his base.

Yep.
So did his fans already forget about the wall? You know the one that is never going to be built. They need some new big lie to get their blood flowing. It would be hard to invent a worse president if you tried. However I do get his nihilistic entertainment value.

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[Thingamabob]

GOP losing the House could work well for Trump in the long run. It, not Trump, will be blamed if things start going wrong.

[mtls2005]

The rumble is that Mueller has subpoenaed Trump, and the first court of appeal has upheld the subpoena. One assumes it will go to SCOTUS.

 

I would imagine this has Trump rattled, and explains his ever-increasing cray-cray behavior, and 3:00 AM tweets?

[Srinivas]

they all pander to get votes for their side. The point of campaigns. but trump is consistent on most topics he is pushing since late 80s

 

Can't say the same for democrats

who proposed border wall now attack for same. 

proposed ending birthright citizen ship but attack now for same

proposed curbing illegal immigration but attack now for same

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 1, 2018 by Srinivas

[Jingthing]

GOP losing the House could work well for Trump in the long run. It, not Trump, will be blamed if things start going wrong.

Only by the "trump" fans.

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[Jingthing]

The rumble is that Mueller has subpoenaed Trump, and the first court of appeal has upheld the subpoena. One assumes it will go to SCOTUS.
 
I would imagine this has Trump rattled, and explains his ever-increasing cray-cray behavior, and 3:00 AM tweets?

Hard to believe that has happened as yet.

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[bristolboy]

14 minutes ago, Srinivas said:

they all pander to get votes for their side. The point of campaigns. but trump is consistent on most topics he is pushing since late 80s

 

Can't say the same for democrats

who proposed border wall now attack for same. 

proposed ending birthright citizen ship but attack now for same

proposed curbing illegal immigration but attack now for same

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

more nonsense

Democrats supported a plan for about 700 miles of fendding

Unless Harry Reid is all or most democrats, your characterization of dems as supporting repealing birthright citizenship is more nonsense

Democrats are not opposed to curbing illegal immigration. Which is what the border patrol does and has been doing for decades. they are opposed to the huge amount of funding Trump wants to devote to it and the drastic measures he has authorized.

 

[Srinivas]

Just now, bristolboy said:

more nonsense

Democrats supported a plan for about 700 miles of fendding

Unless Harry Reid is all or most democrats, your characterization of dems as supporting repealing birthright citizenship is more nonsense

Democrats are not opposed to curbing illegal immigration. Which is what the border patrol does and has been doing for decades. they are opposed to the huge amount of funding Trump wants to devote to it and the drastic measures he has authorized.

 

bill and hillary proposed a border wall when it was election time.

As did Fienstien, Schumer all said same as Trump.

want videos, easy to find yourself though. In their own words.

 

[Jingthing]

more nonsense
Democrats supported a plan for about 700 miles of fendding
Unless Harry Reid is all or most democrats, your characterization of dems as supporting repealing birthright citizenship is more nonsense
Democrats are not opposed to curbing illegal immigration. Which is what the border patrol does and has been doing for decades. they are opposed to the huge amount of funding Trump wants to devote to it and the drastic measures he has authorized.
 

Yes. Reasonable barriers at tactical locations already exist and improving that system also with virtual walls enjoys massive bipartisan support. The wall thing was always a demagogue game and only morons took it literally.

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[bristolboy]

37 minutes ago, Srinivas said:

bill and hillary proposed a border wall when it was election time.

As did Fienstien, Schumer all said same as Trump.

want videos, easy to find yourself though. In their own words.

 

Hillary Clinton supported the fence and electronic monitoring, not the wall.

https://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2018/jun/27/cal-thomas/did-hillary-clinton-support-border-wall-mexico/

In fact none of these democrats supported a wall that is anything like what Trump has proposed.

[Srinivas]

Just now, bristolboy said:

Hillary Clinton supported the fence and electronic monitoring, not the wall.

https://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2018/jun/27/cal-thomas/did-hillary-clinton-support-border-wall-mexico/

In fact none of these democrats supported a wall that is anything like what Trump has proposed.

wall, fence, elctronic monitor, buffer, secure perimeter whatever you want to call it. same same but same.

 

Actually the military might build it within their big national security budget. I suspect the troops wont leave till its secured. or it will only encourage support of more caravans imo 

[bristolboy]

1 minute ago, Srinivas said:

wall, fence, elctronic monitor, buffer, secure perimeter whatever you want to call it. same same but same.

 

Actually the military might build it within their big national security budget. I suspect the troops wont leave till its secured. or it will only encourage support of more caravans imo 

I guess if you actually don't know what Trump's proposal is, and what the democrats voted for, you might think it's same same. But it's not. Not even close.

 

Right, the military is going to build a wall that is unauthorized by Congress. Do you have any knowledge about how things work in the USA? It seems not.

 

And the troops won't leave until what's secured? The little area where the caravan is expected to cross? And what about the rest of the border?  Or are you seriously contending that these support troops are going to go on building things and leave medical personnel and such in place for an indefinite period of time? Do you have any idea how armed forces function? The best way to reduce the readiness of those troops would be to keep them on duty near the border for an extended length of time on the chance that more unarmed caravans might be heading that way. Ridiculous.

[Srinivas]

15 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

I guess if you actually don't know what Trump's proposal is, and what the democrats voted for, you might think it's same same. But it's not. Not even close.

 

Right, the military is going to build a wall that is unauthorized by Congress. Do you have any knowledge about how things work in the USA? It seems not.

 

And the troops won't leave until what's secured? The little area where the caravan is expected to cross? And what about the rest of the border?  Or are you seriously contending that these support troops are going to go on building things and leave medical personnel and such in place for an indefinite period of time? Do you have any idea how armed forces function? The best way to reduce the readiness of those troops would be to keep them on duty near the border for an extended length of time on the chance that more unarmed caravans might be heading that way. Ridiculous.

Trump does not need authorization from congress to secure borders with wall, fence,  whatever sounds pleasant to ya.

president needs auth for funds , which is tricky with the way congress works.

the huge military budget can handle if deemed for national security.  its a theory of what Trump might attempt .

 

[Patriot1066]

2 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

GOP losing the House could work well for Trump in the long run. It, not Trump, will be blamed if things start going wrong.

Succulent point 

[Patriot1066]

19 minutes ago, Srinivas said:

Trump does not need authorization from congress to secure borders with wall, fence,  whatever sounds pleasant to ya.

president needs auth for funds , which is tricky with the way congress works.

the huge military budget can handle if deemed for national security.  its a theory of what Trump might attempt .

 

No your correct he has power if a national security issue 

[Becker]

6 minutes ago, Patriot1066 said:

No your correct he has power if a national security issue 

What if the guy in power is the national security issue as is the case now?

[Patriot1066]

4 minutes ago, Becker said:

What if the guy in power is the national security issue as is the case now?

He’s not an issue at all why would you say that?

 

 

[Becker]

2 minutes ago, Patriot1066 said:

He’s not an issue at all why would you say that?

 

 

I hope for your sake you're joking.

[Tug]

It will be nice after the midterms to get a real look at trumps taxes imagine there will be more from muller Donald is is desperately trying to devide and deflect he cannot survive the light of truth 

[Slip]

53 minutes ago, Srinivas said:

Trump does not need authorization from congress to secure borders with wall, fence,  whatever sounds pleasant to ya.

president needs auth for funds , which is tricky with the way congress works.

the huge military budget can handle if deemed for national security.  its a theory of what Trump might attempt .

 

Quite so.  Poor old Trump with his majority control of both the house and senate is still a lame duck, and a treasonous one at that.  All he can do is stamp his feet at women an children thousands of miles away.

 

Take heart, hopefully everything will change on the 6th and we will see him and his partners in crime heading to jail.

[Jingthing]

He’s not an issue at all why would you say that?
 
 

Sarcasm?

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[Srinivas]

11 minutes ago, Slip said:

 

Take heart, hopefully everything will change on the 6th and we will see him and his partners in crime heading to jail.

is this the beginning of the end again? hoping nor voting will not put someone in prison. I think you need evidence and prosecution for that. 

[Patriot1066]

44 minutes ago, Becker said:

I hope for your sake you're joking.

No he’s done well protecting the free World from terrorists. His work in the Korean Peninsula? Better trade deals for the US?

 

why would I be joking.

[Patriot1066]

22 minutes ago, Slip said:

Quite so.  Poor old Trump with his majority control of both the house and senate is still a lame duck, and a treasonous one at that.  All he can do is stamp his feet at women an children thousands of miles away.

 

Take heart, hopefully everything will change on the 6th and we will see him and his partners in crime heading to jail.

Why is he a traitor?

[bristolboy]

1 hour ago, Srinivas said:

Trump does not need authorization from congress to secure borders with wall, fence,  whatever sounds pleasant to ya.

president needs auth for funds , which is tricky with the way congress works.

the huge military budget can handle if deemed for national security.  its a theory of what Trump might attempt .

 

What's your source for this stuff? Or are you just pulling it out of something?

[Tug]

Donald acts just like a criminal desperately trying to prove some perceived malfeasance on the part of the prosecution hopefully after nov.6 we will have the majority in the house so we can get an unfiltered look at this man

[Patriot1066]

19 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Sarcasm?

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No sarcasm god forbid, why is he a national security issue? More than Clinton with her e mail server and not so private e mail server? More than Obama with his very weak foreign policy? 

 

Hes is a great asset in my opinion but you are correct let’s see how the mid terms turn out?????