Jeff Stein · Thursday, January 26, 2017, 12:18 pm
PHILADELPHIA — Congressional Republicans are prepared to pay for Donald Trump’s border wall. They don’t question his unsupported claims about “voter fraud.” They express no concerns over reports that he may reopen the CIA’s controversial secret prisons abroad. They see no need to investigate his international business conflicts.
For now, at least, the Capitol Hill branch of the GOP is willing to march to President Trump’s tune — and more than happy to admit it. That is the clear story emerging from the party’s policy retreat here this week: the degree to which Trump has dictated the agenda the party leadership is assembling for the next 200 days.
“[Trump] gives an order to build a 110-story structure, and he doesn’t tell you how deep to make the foundation. But you know he wants a very tall building,” said Bill Cassidy, a Republican senator from Louisiana, in explaining the congressional GOP’s relationship with the president. “It’s the same thing with us here.”
It’s long been clear that leading Republicans and Trump share several policy goals on the congressional agenda, including dismantling Obamacare and cutting taxes. But there have been big differences, too, in areas such as immigration and social safety net spending. The past few days have revealed just how much leadership is deferring to Trump in those areas.
“I don’t have any advice to give to the president,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said at a press conference Thursday when asked if Trump should tone down his rhetoric about demanding that Mexico pay for the wall. “The president can deal with his relations on that issue and on other issues.
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http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/1/26/14365998/donald-trump-gop
This blog will focus on political images I have found all around the Internet, though I will intersperse some commentary and quotes that I find interesting.
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