# The president has gone full terrorist, and he's actively holding the government hostage. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 6, 2019, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-has-gone-full-terrorist-and-hes-actively-holding-the-government-hostage/827306 "2019-01-06T19:23:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2019, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-has-gone-full-terrorist-and-hes-actively-holding-the-government-hostage/827306/1 "2019-01-06T19:23:03Z")
I’ve been pretty quiet about most of the clusterfuck, but at this point the government actually has a **duty** to take this terrorist out. He’s holding the government hostage and threatening to keep it shut down until he extorts money from them (for his retarded wall idea). That is the literal definition of terrorism. What is the United States government’s official policy for dealing with terrorists? I don’t think we have had a terrorist for a president before so there is no precedent for this situation, but there is definitely a government agency that should be empowered to deal with this. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2019, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-has-gone-full-terrorist-and-hes-actively-holding-the-government-hostage/827306/2 "2019-01-06T19:28:37Z")
I hate Trump as much as the next totally reasonable purpose, but this is not terrorism. It’s not extortion, either. Congress can and should be doing its job, which is passing either a real budget or a CR. If Trump vetoes it, they have the votes (even in the Senate) to override the veto. And if he simply refuses to either sign or veto, it will become law in 10 days after landing on his desk anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2019, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-has-gone-full-terrorist-and-hes-actively-holding-the-government-hostage/827306/3 "2019-01-06T19:35:26Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > I hate Trump as much as the next totally reasonable purpose, but this is not terrorism. It’s not extortion, either. > > Congress can and should be doing its job, which is passing either a real budget or a CR. If Trump vetoes it, they have the votes (even in the Senate) to override the veto. And if he simply refuses to either sign or veto, it will become law in 10 days after landing on his desk anyway. If we had adults (or even responsible children) in charge of the Senate, this would work perfectly. ---
**Author:** ![Walton\_Firm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/45deac/32.png) [@Walton\_Firm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walton_Firm)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2019, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-has-gone-full-terrorist-and-hes-actively-holding-the-government-hostage/827306/4 "2019-01-06T20:43:15Z")
Forgive this European for not being up to speed on all the nuances, but isn’t this government shutdown, like, a yearly tradition in American politics? Isn’t this just part of the standard [brinkmanship](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brinkmanship) which characterizes the inter-party negotiations? And if the two parties are both willing to suspend the government over these negotiations until the other side capitulates, then how do you determine which side is the hostage-taker? ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2019, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-has-gone-full-terrorist-and-hes-actively-holding-the-government-hostage/827306/5 "2019-01-06T20:44:12Z")
> [@Walton\_Firm](#): > > Forgive this European for not being up to speed on all the nuances, but isn’t this government shutdown, like, a yearly tradition in American politics? Isn’t this just part of the standard [brinkmanship](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brinkmanship) which characterizes the inter-party negotiations? > > And if the two parties are both willing to suspend the government over these negotiations until the other side capitulates, then how do you determine which side is the hostage-taker? You’re not wrong at all. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2019, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-has-gone-full-terrorist-and-hes-actively-holding-the-government-hostage/827306/6 "2019-01-06T21:09:03Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > You’re not wrong at all. Not wrong, maybe but not very perceptive either. Only one side has made demands for accomodation here. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2019, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-has-gone-full-terrorist-and-hes-actively-holding-the-government-hostage/827306/7 "2019-01-06T21:13:46Z")
> [@Walton\_Firm](#): > > And if the two parties are both willing to suspend the government over these negotiations until the other side capitulates, then how do you determine which side is the hostage-taker? The Democrats and Republicans in Congress passed funding bills. The President approved, but later didn’t like them. In many cases, it may be hard to tell who the bad guys are. In this case, it is clear. Trump ran for this office on the express assertion that he was a master deal maker, that he could get along with “Chuck and Nancy” and that nobody would have an easier time governing than he would. I don’t blame the Democrats for exposing his incompetence. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2019, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-has-gone-full-terrorist-and-hes-actively-holding-the-government-hostage/827306/8 "2019-01-06T21:51:12Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > He’s holding the government hostage and threatening to keep it shut down until he extorts money from them (for his retarded wall idea). That is the literal definition of terrorism. Um, no. 😕 It may be the literal definition of extortion, or of hostage-holding, but according to every [definition of terrorism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definitions_of_terrorism) I know, terrorism involves violence. This post should in no way shape or form be read as a defense of Trump or his actions. ---
**Author:** ![UCBearcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/77aa72/32.png) [@UCBearcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UCBearcats)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2019, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-has-gone-full-terrorist-and-hes-actively-holding-the-government-hostage/827306/9 "2019-01-06T22:21:44Z")
Every single one of these fucking idiots should be recalled/impeached. They work for themselves and special interests. They do not care about the 90% of the middle class people of this country. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2019, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-has-gone-full-terrorist-and-hes-actively-holding-the-government-hostage/827306/10 "2019-01-06T22:28:30Z")
> [@UCBearcats](#): > > Every single one of these fucking idiots should be recalled/impeached. They work for themselves and special interests. They do not care about the 90% of the middle class people of this country. Assuming the fucking idiot in question is POTUS, I agree entirely. (Of course, you’re not referring exclusively to him, so you’re just doing the old “cranky grandpa” schtick. Boring, trite, silly.) ---
**Author:** ![UCBearcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/77aa72/32.png) [@UCBearcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UCBearcats)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2019, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-has-gone-full-terrorist-and-hes-actively-holding-the-government-hostage/827306/11 "2019-01-06T22:48:58Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Assuming the fucking idiot in question is POTUS, I agree entirely. > > (Of course, you’re not referring exclusively to him, so you’re just doing the old “cranky grandpa” schtick. Boring, trite, silly.) Not even close to being a grandpa. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-has-gone-full-terrorist-and-hes-actively-holding-the-government-hostage/827306/12 "2019-01-07T01:19:07Z")
> [@Walton\_Firm](#): > > Forgive this European for not being up to speed on all the nuances, but isn’t this government shutdown, like, a yearly tradition in American politics? Isn’t this just part of the standard [brinkmanship](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brinkmanship) which characterizes the inter-party negotiations? The brinkmanship is a yearly tradition, but shutdowns used to be rare. Trump of course has two (plus a third funding lapse that was fixed before anyone actually got furloughed, apparently). Calling the shutdowns normal is another example of normalizing Trump’s behavior. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-has-gone-full-terrorist-and-hes-actively-holding-the-government-hostage/827306/13 "2019-01-07T01:38:18Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > I’ve been pretty quiet about most of the clusterfuck, but at this point the government actually has a **duty** to take this terrorist out. > > He’s holding the government hostage and threatening to keep it shut down until he extorts money from them (for his retarded wall idea). That is the literal definition of terrorism. I believe, as you mention, it’s a bit closer to the literal definition of extortion, but whatevs. > [@](#): > > What is the United States government’s official policy for dealing with terrorists? I always thought it was, “we don’t negotiate with terrorists”. Not sure if that extends to extortion. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-has-gone-full-terrorist-and-hes-actively-holding-the-government-hostage/827306/14 "2019-01-07T02:11:48Z")
> [@Walton\_Firm](#): > > Forgive this European for not being up to speed on all the nuances, but isn’t this government shutdown, like, a yearly tradition in American politics? Excluding the current clusterfuck of an administration, the last time there was a federal shutdown was in 2013, and the time before that was in 1995 and 1996. ---
**Author:** ![Dacien](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dacien/32/5663_2.png) [@Dacien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dacien)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-has-gone-full-terrorist-and-hes-actively-holding-the-government-hostage/827306/15 "2019-01-07T03:06:03Z")
Democrats used to be on board with a wall, but because Trump wants it, they have to be strong for their base and oppose it, even though the amount is quite small comparatively. This is really what it’s all about. Democrats cannot, under any circumstance, give in to something they have vilified so completely. Conversely, Trump desperately needs to show his base that he is serious about the wall that he promised. I don’t know how either side extricates themselves from this. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-has-gone-full-terrorist-and-hes-actively-holding-the-government-hostage/827306/16 "2019-01-07T03:07:18Z")
> [@Dacien](#): > > Democrats used to be on board with a wall, but because Trump wants it, they have to be strong for their base and oppose it, even though the amount is quite small comparatively. This is really what it’s all about. Democrats cannot, under any circumstance, give in to something they have vilified so completely. Conversely, Trump desperately needs to show his base that he is serious about the wall that he promised. > > I don’t know how either side extricates themselves from this. Can I have some cites for the Democrats being on board with a wall? ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-has-gone-full-terrorist-and-hes-actively-holding-the-government-hostage/827306/17 "2019-01-07T03:19:29Z")
> [@Dacien](#): > > Democrats used to be on board with a wall, but because Trump wants it, they have to be strong for their base and oppose it, even though the amount is quite small comparatively. This is really what it’s all about. Democrats cannot, under any circumstance, give in to something they have vilified so completely. Conversely, Trump desperately needs to show his base that he is serious about the wall that he promised. > > I don’t know how either side extricates themselves from this. You seem to have conveniently forgotten that _both sides_ had already agreed to a CR that did not include funding for the (stupid fucking) wall, with a _unanimous_ voice vote by the Senate. This was based on an understanding between the dipshit occupant of the Oval Office and McConnell – until the dipshit’s Magabot whisperers, Limbaugh and Coulter, hurt his feewings by saying he’d lose Teh Base™ if he couldn’t deliver on the (stupid fucking) wall promise. _No one_ wants the (stupid fucking) wall, and the only person who is unable to extricate himself from making such a ridiculous, empty promise is the dipshit. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-has-gone-full-terrorist-and-hes-actively-holding-the-government-hostage/827306/18 "2019-01-07T03:29:43Z")
> [@Dacien](#): > > Democrats used to be on board with a wall, … You trying to win the “Stupid Fuck Of The Year” award? ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-has-gone-full-terrorist-and-hes-actively-holding-the-government-hostage/827306/19 "2019-01-07T03:32:09Z")
I tried to tell you. I’ve got news for you all: this is just the beginning. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2019, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-has-gone-full-terrorist-and-hes-actively-holding-the-government-hostage/827306/20 "2019-01-07T03:44:09Z")
> [@Dacien](#): > > Democrats used to be on board with a wall, but because Trump wants it, they have to be strong for their base and oppose it, even though the amount is quite small comparatively. This is really what it’s all about. Democrats cannot, under any circumstance, give in to something they have vilified so completely. Conversely, Trump desperately needs to show his base that he is serious about the wall that he promised. > > I don’t know how either side extricates themselves from this. The Secure Fence Act was not about a WALL. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-has-gone-full-terrorist-and-hes-actively-holding-the-government-hostage/827306.md?page=2)