Senate Embarrasses Trump On Border Wall 'Emergency'

Trump shouts VETO! because he's an asshole that way.

The Senate voted today to join the House in blocking Donald Trump's stupid "State of Emergency" declaration. Under the National Emergency Act, Congress is allowed to undo an emergency declaration, and since there's no goddamn emergency on the US-Mexico border, even some Republicans are against this thing. But Donald Trump is dead set on taking money already allocated for other purposes -- mostly military construction projects -- to pay for his dumb WALL, so he's already shouting he'll VETO the bill.

But who knows? The final vote was 59-41, with 12 Republicans voting with all 47 Democrats. That's just seven short of the number needed for an override, and would Trump want to risk that? Of course he would, don't be silly. He's confident he can keep Republicans bullied.

And since Yr Wonkette believes in reinforcing good behavior, the 12 Republicans who voted against the bogus emergy -- and yes, in favor of Congress's power to set budgets -- were:

• Lamar Alexander (Tennessee)

• Roy Blunt (Missouri)

• Susan Collins (Maine)

• Mike Lee (Utah)

• Jerry Moran (Kansas)

• Lisa Murkowski (Alaska)

• Rand Paul (Kentucky)

• Rob Portman (Ohio)

• Mittens Romney (Utah)

• Marco Rubio (Florida)

• Pat Toomey (Pennsylvania)

• Roger Wicker (Mississippi)

Of the 12, only two are up for reelection in 2020, Alexander and Collins. Alexander has already announced he won't run again, and as for Susan Collins, good for her. Maybe Sen. "Brett Kavanaugh respects Roe v Wade" isn't planning to run either, risking Trump's wrath? Not that we'd ever suggest craven electoral considerations may have been at play here.

Donald Trump blurted his verdict on the vote immediately:

VETO!

— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1552590991.0 

If we're lucky, that means he thinks he's actually vetoed the bill, and he'll forget the formality of issuing a formal veto, after which it will become law in 10 days.

Also, how's this for some interesting ass-covering -- or is it careful positioning for a vote to override, hmmm?

Sasse statement on why he oppose disapproval resolution after criticizing national emergency: "I think that law is… https://t.co/b7AQC8iDmL

— Aaron Blake (@Aaron Blake) 1552591070.0 

But assuming, on the off chance, thatStephen Miller remains awake and prods Trump to do the veto thing, the next steps will of course be a possible override effort, and of course lawsuits. Sixteen states have already filed a federal suit claiming the declaration is unconstitutional, as have a whole boatload of public interest/nonprofit groups including the Center for Biological Diversity, the ACLU, and the Border Network for Human Rights, which held that big march and counter rally with Beto O'Rourke in El Paso a while back when Trump held his big slob picnic.

Whatever happens, you can bet Trump will declare he's won and that, before a single pound of cement is mixed, the wall is already finished.

[ CNN ]

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