The dream is turning into a nightmare for the 800,000 young men and women affect by President Trump’s announcement that he will terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy in six months.
This puts the lives of these folks in total limbo, whereas before they were in partial limbo, until either the Congress takes action to make DACA law or they are deported in six months. But there is a but, as we’re learning there is often with President Trump.
In a tweet he said: “Congress now has 6 months to legalize DACA (something the Obama Administration was unable to do). If they can't, I will revisit this issue!”
Now here is the self-claimed master negotiator saying that if Congress doesn’t act (and when does it ever act), the President will revisit and, supposedly, take an action. Or will he?
This is one of Trump’s major problems as President. As President, you lead…you don’t depend on others to lead. I agree with the President that DACA likely is an example of presidential over-reach and there needs to be a law passed codifying it. There were several paths to that outcome.
But that doesn’t mean I would put 800,000 contributing citizens at risk of being sent to a country they barely know, and likely don’t even speak the language of. And they are not all “kids” by the classic definition. Median age is 25. But they were given, in effect, a promise by the government that if they came forward, gave their addresses and other info, they could be DACA-ok’d. Many are college students, many Ph.D. students, many working in fine jobs and lesser jobs and paying taxes. Each a contributing citizen.
This is one of those difficult problems that needs a solution. But that’s why we elect men and women – to take on the tough problems and find a solution on our behalf, not their behalf.
Trump could have sent up a draft bill to back up his supposed belief that these Dreamers should be allowed to stay. It wouldn’t break precedent for a White House to do that. But that’s not what this White House does.
It released a one-page list of generalities it calls tax reform and demands the Congress act. It demands Obamacare be repealed without proposing a replacement.
Send up draft legislation. List your markers on what you want. Why keep us guessing on if you’ll hold up a Dreamer solution for money for your wasteful border wall? Don’t play games. Lead.
Leading means….leading. Going to the front of the pack, taking a position and negotiating an outcome that moves the ball down the road. Trump’s alleged take-no-prisoners approach to governing doesn’t work. It won’t work with the Dreamers, and it won’t work with North Korea as he positions the U.S. to take military action, even if he doesn’t mean it.
He says he “loves” the Dreamers and if Congress doesn’t act, he will “revisit” it, whatever that means. And in a Trump government, it can mean everything from he taking an executive action (which he says is illegal) or nothing.
If those of us who oppose(d) Trump figured we’d get anything with him, it’s a president who negotiates well.
Mr. Art of the Deal has displayed no such skills as President.
This puts the lives of these folks in total limbo, whereas before they were in partial limbo, until either the Congress takes action to make DACA law or they are deported in six months. But there is a but, as we’re learning there is often with President Trump.
In a tweet he said: “Congress now has 6 months to legalize DACA (something the Obama Administration was unable to do). If they can't, I will revisit this issue!”
Now here is the self-claimed master negotiator saying that if Congress doesn’t act (and when does it ever act), the President will revisit and, supposedly, take an action. Or will he?
This is one of Trump’s major problems as President. As President, you lead…you don’t depend on others to lead. I agree with the President that DACA likely is an example of presidential over-reach and there needs to be a law passed codifying it. There were several paths to that outcome.
But that doesn’t mean I would put 800,000 contributing citizens at risk of being sent to a country they barely know, and likely don’t even speak the language of. And they are not all “kids” by the classic definition. Median age is 25. But they were given, in effect, a promise by the government that if they came forward, gave their addresses and other info, they could be DACA-ok’d. Many are college students, many Ph.D. students, many working in fine jobs and lesser jobs and paying taxes. Each a contributing citizen.
This is one of those difficult problems that needs a solution. But that’s why we elect men and women – to take on the tough problems and find a solution on our behalf, not their behalf.
Trump could have sent up a draft bill to back up his supposed belief that these Dreamers should be allowed to stay. It wouldn’t break precedent for a White House to do that. But that’s not what this White House does.
It released a one-page list of generalities it calls tax reform and demands the Congress act. It demands Obamacare be repealed without proposing a replacement.
Send up draft legislation. List your markers on what you want. Why keep us guessing on if you’ll hold up a Dreamer solution for money for your wasteful border wall? Don’t play games. Lead.
Leading means….leading. Going to the front of the pack, taking a position and negotiating an outcome that moves the ball down the road. Trump’s alleged take-no-prisoners approach to governing doesn’t work. It won’t work with the Dreamers, and it won’t work with North Korea as he positions the U.S. to take military action, even if he doesn’t mean it.
He says he “loves” the Dreamers and if Congress doesn’t act, he will “revisit” it, whatever that means. And in a Trump government, it can mean everything from he taking an executive action (which he says is illegal) or nothing.
If those of us who oppose(d) Trump figured we’d get anything with him, it’s a president who negotiates well.
Mr. Art of the Deal has displayed no such skills as President.
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