Well this is interesting – while libs are freaking out that Trump said earlier today that he has the power to build the border wall without Congress, one Democrat admitted that yes, he can do that.

Seems POTUS has broad authority under the National Emergencies Act to undertake military construction projects if a national emergency is declared. So the question is not whether he is in possession of this power but rather whether it ought to be used this way. — Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) January 4, 2019

I know this isn’t the main thing but this doesn’t sound “conservative” or like “small government.” https://t.co/oaGFnkTTIk — Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) January 4, 2019

This is what Trump is best at – figuring out how to ignore traditions and assumptions that keep others from pushing their political imprint. He does it all the time. What’s odd about this one is that he seemed like he got the idea from the reporter who asked him!! But, some might argue, that spending $5 billion might be beyond the scope of what emergency powers were intended. I’m sure they’ll say that. And he won’t care.







Either way, libs are freaking the eff out at the very thought of it:

There is a national emergency alright. He lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. — Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) January 5, 2019

This is the same kind of "national emergency" that brought you the Travel Ban. Trump has spent too much time with Putin.



Absurd and deeply illegal. https://t.co/rU02fYVg6B — Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) January 4, 2019

So Trump is promising to use eminent domain to seize private property and to declare a national emergency to pay for part of his wall without congressional approval but the important thing is that Obama overreached on executive authority amirite?! — Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) January 4, 2019

Factual basis for a national emergency:



-Violent crime DROPPED according to latest FBI data.



-Property crime also DROPPED.



-Immigrants, both documented a

& undocumented, commit LESS CRIME than native-born Americans.



Courts would strike down this @realDonaldTrump power grab. https://t.co/sCNKBmCLIl — Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) January 4, 2019

Doesn’t matter. ALL THE CRIME that could have prevented by enforcing laws that would kick out 22 MILLION illegals is a national emergency. Sorry, idiot.

Today Trump said he might keep the gov't shut down for YEARS, then threatened to declare a national emergency and use the military to seize land along the border.



But hey, let's talk about the Democrat who said "motherfucker." — Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) January 4, 2019

When you push reckless policies that squander our resources, defy our values, leave 800,000 federal workers unpaid and millions of Americans without needed services, you don’t need to declare a national emergency.



You are the national emergency. — Adam Schiff (@AdamSchiff) January 4, 2019

Then there’s this – which is always the problem with simply ignoring tradition:

Before you endorse the notion that the executive branch can broadly use "national emergency" powers in order to get what it wants, consider this:



Your party won't always control the executive branch. — Kevin Madden (@KevinMaddenDC) January 4, 2019

It’s called the Harry Reid maneuver.