# Trump declares "National Emergency" to build The Wall-Will it hold? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 15, 2019, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-declares-national-emergency-to-build-the-wall-will-it-hold/829617 "2019-02-15T17:54:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-declares-national-emergency-to-build-the-wall-will-it-hold/829617/61 "2019-02-15T20:39:54Z")
I was doing a tally for the thread, so far there is zero support for Trump’s move. I didn’t see the need to single anyone out by name in that post. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-declares-national-emergency-to-build-the-wall-will-it-hold/829617/62 "2019-02-15T20:42:21Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > You guys can just say my name. I’m not (quite) Voldemort. I guess then these items are becoming popular once again: 🙂 [https://topatoco.com/products/goat-rfv-stickers](https://topatoco.com/products/goat-rfv-stickers) ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-declares-national-emergency-to-build-the-wall-will-it-hold/829617/63 "2019-02-15T20:46:53Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > He was banned. Oh, too bad. (For him, not us.) ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-declares-national-emergency-to-build-the-wall-will-it-hold/829617/64 "2019-02-15T20:50:15Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > So there’s literally nobody in this thread that thinks this is a good idea. Got it. Seems like a savvy political move for him. The question in this thread was “Do you think this will survive Congress and/or the courts?” not whether it was politically-savvy or not. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-declares-national-emergency-to-build-the-wall-will-it-hold/829617/65 "2019-02-15T20:53:11Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > The question in this thread was “Do you think this will survive Congress and/or the courts?” not whether it was politically-savvy or not. Oh I didn’t realize I wasn’t allowed to mention that :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-declares-national-emergency-to-build-the-wall-will-it-hold/829617/66 "2019-02-15T21:18:42Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > Oh I didn’t realize I wasn’t allowed to mention that :rolleyes: You’re allowed to mention all sorts of things. However somebody-who-shall-not-be-named questioned whether there was anything to debate given that no person with functioning brain cells thinks the wall is a good idea, so “This thread isn’t actually about that” is a fair rejoinder. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-declares-national-emergency-to-build-the-wall-will-it-hold/829617/67 "2019-02-15T21:22:22Z")
I don’t know, the “will it hold” part of the title could be a sub question. I don’t see why we need to limit ourselves in order to prevent somebody in particular from having to admit something uncomfortable. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-declares-national-emergency-to-build-the-wall-will-it-hold/829617/68 "2019-02-15T21:33:42Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > I don’t know, the “will it hold” part of the title could be a sub question. I don’t see why we need to limit ourselves in order to prevent somebody in particular from having to admit something uncomfortable. So maybe the debate should be: Will it hold and, if so, how much new wall will actually be standing on Jan. 21, 2021? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-declares-national-emergency-to-build-the-wall-will-it-hold/829617/69 "2019-02-15T21:36:23Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > I don’t know, the “will it hold” part of the title could be a sub question. I don’t see why we need to limit ourselves in order to prevent somebody in particular from having to admit something uncomfortable. Actually, “Will it hold” is the main question in the title. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-declares-national-emergency-to-build-the-wall-will-it-hold/829617/70 "2019-02-15T21:38:46Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I don’t know what you expected. Fire-and-brimstone outrage over it? It’s like 0.2% of the federal budget, to do something I’m not opposed to. Sure, I’d prefer he not go about it this way (via an emergency declaration), but I’m not going to wake up in a cold sweat tonight because he did. Like I said, I don’t think it’s especially precedent-setting. It is not, in the words of our former vice president, “a big fucking deal”. How about you put forth the kinds of objections you’d be raising if a Democratic President was doing the same thing that Trump is doing? Then right wingers like yourself would be calling for congressional hearings, impeachment, and criminal charges over the worst constitutional outrage ever committed. But when a Republican President does it, you feel that we should allow it to stand after registering mild disapproval. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-declares-national-emergency-to-build-the-wall-will-it-hold/829617/71 "2019-02-15T21:45:08Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > How about you put forth the kinds of objections you’d be raising if a Democratic President was doing the same thing that Trump is doing? Then right wingers like yourself would be calling for congressional hearings, impeachment, and criminal charges over the worst constitutional outrage ever committed. But when a Republican President does it, you feel that we should allow it to stand after registering mild disapproval. You could go look up my objections to DACA, and see if any of them might be applicable to this scenario. While you’re at it, you may want to explore your own feelings on DACA. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-declares-national-emergency-to-build-the-wall-will-it-hold/829617/72 "2019-02-15T21:51:30Z")
> [@Falchion](#): > > How would that allow HHS to authorize the treatment of aliens at military hospitals? How would the HHS Secretary have the authority to require (or authorize) military hospitals to do anything? Since they are presumably under DOD jurisdiction. What am I missing? The Economy Act provides that agencies may perform services for other agencies on a reimbursible basis. To the extent the HHS can waive requirements of Medicaid et al under a national emergency, an interagency agreement may be able to direct DoD hospitals to accept payment from HHS’s waived requirements. So, migrants get free healthcare at DoD hospitals. If you don’t think it’s possible, I suppose we can just let the courts decide, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-declares-national-emergency-to-build-the-wall-will-it-hold/829617/73 "2019-02-15T21:53:39Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > On this particular issue, my view is rather unsupportive. You’ve developed this funny way of posting in which you say that nothing Trump does is a big deal, it’s all legal, everyone else’s position is wrong because of some nitpick you have… but then fifteen posts in, you admit that you don’t really like it. And yet, it always takes fifteen posts. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-declares-national-emergency-to-build-the-wall-will-it-hold/829617/74 "2019-02-15T21:57:03Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > You’ve developed this funny way of posting in which you say that nothing Trump does is a big deal, it’s all legal, everyone else’s position is wrong because of some nitpick you have… but then fifteen posts in, you admit that you don’t really like it. And yet, it always takes fifteen posts. The question asked in the OP was “Do you think this will survive Congress and/or the courts?” not whether we supported it or not. My first post was intended to provide some additional information with regard to the legality of it. Later on (it was my third post IIRC), I was asked what my view of it was and I answered. There’s nothing inconsistent about saying “I don’t like it but I think it’s legal”. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2019, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-declares-national-emergency-to-build-the-wall-will-it-hold/829617/75 "2019-02-15T22:07:07Z")
Its true that the Constitution says that only the House can appropriate funds, but only when it is appropriate. If it isn’t, then the President can appropriate other funds for the appropriate purpose. ---
**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:** [February 15, 2019, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-declares-national-emergency-to-build-the-wall-will-it-hold/829617/76 "2019-02-15T22:13:42Z")
I liked the part where Trump The Insecure tells us that he has a lot of money. TRUMP: “I’ve built a lot of wall. I have a lot of money, and I’ve built a lot of wall.” THE FACTS: He’s built no new miles of wall, lacking the money. His new construction to date has replaced existing barriers. > **[Fact check: Trump declares emergency with faulty claims](https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-fact-check-trump-emergency-20190215-story.html)** > > There's nothing common about a president taking command of billions of dollars without the approval of Congress to pay for a campaign promise. (There’s other fact checking in the article, guess how he did?) ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-declares-national-emergency-to-build-the-wall-will-it-hold/829617/77 "2019-02-16T00:00:48Z")
In the humor section, we have the Governor of Puerto Rico threatening a lawsuit: > [@](#): > > [NEW: Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rosselló to Pres. Trump: “Is it now Puerto Rico and California (American Citizens) that will pay for the wall? If this is the case, we’ll see you in court.”](https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1096180053048741888) Yes, [THAT Puerto Rico, the one known for all the federal tax dollars it pays](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_tax_revenue_by_state#Fiscal_Year_2015). ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-declares-national-emergency-to-build-the-wall-will-it-hold/829617/78 "2019-02-16T00:04:49Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > In the humor section, we have the Governor of Puerto Rico threatening a lawsuit: > > Yes, [THAT Puerto Rico, the one known for all the federal tax dollars it pays](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_tax_revenue_by_state#Fiscal_Year_2015). Explain the joke, please. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-declares-national-emergency-to-build-the-wall-will-it-hold/829617/79 "2019-02-16T00:07:25Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > In the humor section, we have the Governor of Puerto Rico threatening a lawsuit: > > Yes, [THAT Puerto Rico, the one known for all the federal tax dollars it pays](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_tax_revenue_by_state#Fiscal_Year_2015). Where is the line drawn for how much tax dollars a state/territory has to pay before you think a lawsuit from them has merit? (really asking) ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2019, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-declares-national-emergency-to-build-the-wall-will-it-hold/829617/80 "2019-02-16T00:07:47Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > Explain the joke, please. I think the joke is the idea that the US has any obligations to brown people. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-declares-national-emergency-to-build-the-wall-will-it-hold/829617.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-declares-national-emergency-to-build-the-wall-will-it-hold/829617.md?page=5)