No, Biden didn’t take FEMA relief money to use on migrants — but Trump did

[The Barbarian]

The swamp was there long before Trump got involved in politics.

Trump set a new record for the number of underlings indicted, convicted, or pleading guilty of crimes in his administration. He also set a record for pardoning the criminals who worked for him.

I've personally complained, to Congress and the Executive branch, and there is virtually no accountability in the federal government.

The perps in Watergate, Iran/Contra, and Russiagate would disagree with you. And it's coming for Trump.

 

[The Barbarian]

It's against the law to use taxpayer money for political purposes. And that's exactly what happened, federal government agencies, on the taxpayer's time, contacted social media in order to put out fake stories so Joe could win the election.

Sounds terrible. Why not bring out the evidence and show us? (Barbarian checks)

Maybe you can find something.

 

[Valletta]

The perps in Watergate, Iran/Contra, and Russiagate would disagree with you. And it's coming for Trump.

The African Americans used in the Tuskegee experiment, the Japanese Americans thrown in internment camps by FDR, the victims of MKULTRA and radiation experiments and many, many others would disagree with you.

 

[The Barbarian]

The African Americans used in the Tuskegee experiment, the Japanese Americans thrown in internment camps by FDR, the victims of MKULTRA and radiation experiments and many, many others would disagree with you.

The last of this ended over a half-century ago. You might as well assail the government for segregation laws. Which also was despicable, but it ended a long time ago.

On the other hand, the criminals involved in Watergate, Iran/Contra, and Russiagate were brought to justice and punished (except for the criminals Trump pardoned).

 

[Hans Blaster]

They are using personnel from FEMA according to Mayorkas. Don't at least the FEMA salaries for FEMA personnel come out of the FEMA section of the budget? Here is a clip from a White House briefing on May 11, 2023:

And the CBP money for migrant sheltering administered by FEMA almost certainly contains funds to cover most if not all of the administration costs. If you go to the FY2024 (or 23) appropriations law and find the DHS "division" and inside that the CBP section and then scan for the migrant shelter program it will have some language like "$Y to FEMA for migrant shelters provided no more than $X is used for salaries and administration".

It is very standard language both for normal appropriations (like the general one for CBP operations in the same section) and for special funding like the one-time "Bipartisan Infrastructure Law" which has things of this sort (not a direct quote): "$1.7 B for light rail construction grants, provided no more than $2.3 M be expended on salaries and administration". In each case a special funding source is given to an agency to cover a task and with it some amount of that special funding to cover the administrative costs and not burden the administration of the regular programs of the agency (FEMA, or DOT).

FEMA will then use the $X funding to hire any full time people new to the CBP funded migrant shelter program and partial salaries as it can for people doing some work on the program apart from the regular duties at FEMA HQ. Any funds used to cover those partial salaries is saved by the main FEMA administration account and can be used to add personel that cover the tasks that were being done by the "part-time people". If the CBP shelter funding ends, FEMA would reduce their staff due to not having the migrant shelter administration funds available (or the need to do those tasks). In the meantime, the positions funded by CBP inside FEMA would be "FEMA personel".

 

[Valletta]

The last of this ended over a half-century ago. You might as well assail the government for segregation laws. Which also was despicable, but it ended a long time ago.

On the other hand, the criminals involved in Watergate, Iran/Contra, and Russiagate were brought to justice and punished (except for the criminals Trump pardoned).

Watergate occurred over a half century ago. As I've said, I've been involved and there is plenty of government misconduct. Too often the good guys get pushed out and the corrupt advance.

 

[Yarddog]

You know some guys figure everyone else is as despicable as they are. "So", they figure, "if I did it, surely everyone does it."

Yes, it's their way of justifying their actions. Kinda like the adulterer accuses their spouse of adultery to put them on the defensive first.

 

[FreeinChrist]

Trump mentioned at the Al Smith dinner that he predicted that the government would also go after Democrat Eric Adams (as they did Trump) because he dared oppose Biden/Harris on migrants and sure enough they are going after Adams as well. Kamala wasn't there to respond (Trump said he understood the real reason she wasn't there was that she and Walz were off hunting.)

That is just Trump claiming he is wiser than he is. Some folks run at the mouth.

His speech was booed. Some clapped, but you can hear the boos

 

[The Barbarian]

Watergate occurred over a half century ago.

The first modern scandal. It slightly overlaps the last of the traditional government overreach scandals (ended in 1973, one year after the initial crime in Watergate, so there a pretty good boundary)

 

[Valletta]

That is just Trump claiming he is wiser than he is. Some folks run at the mouth.

His speech was booed. Some clapped, but you can hear the boos

Overall Trump's speech was very well received. Traditionally roasting goes on at the Al Smith Dinner. There were plenty of digs and plenty of laughs. It was also nice to hear Trump speak of divine providence and grace. I thought Kamala's choice of that Saturday night live Catholic character for a skit with Kamala for the recording was poor. Though not as bad as Whitmer's.

 

[FreeinChrist]

Overall Trump's speech was very well received. Traditionally roasting goes on at the Al Smith Dinner. There were plenty of digs and plenty of laughs. It wasalso nice to hear Trump speak of divine providence and grace. I thought Kamala's choice of that Saturday night live Catholic character for a skit with Kamala for the recording was poor. Though not as bad as Whitmer's.

There was booing at the end. I watched those speeches when it was Obama and McCain, then Hilary and Trump. Trump didn't measure up to the other three at all.

 

[Pommer]

And the CBP money for migrant sheltering administered by FEMA almost certainly contains funds to cover most if not all of the administration costs. If you go to the FY2024 (or 23) appropriations law and find the DHS "division" and inside that the CBP section and then scan for the migrant shelter program it will have some language like "$Y to FEMA for migrant shelters provided no more than $X is used for salaries and administration".

It is very standard language both for normal appropriations (like the general one for CBP operations in the same section) and for special funding like the one-time "Bipartisan Infrastructure Law" which has things of this sort (not a direct quote): "$1.7 B for light rail construction grants, provided no more than $2.3 M be expended on salaries and administration". In each case a special funding source is given to an agency to cover a task and with it some amount of that special funding to cover the administrative costs and not burden the administration of the regular programs of the agency (FEMA, or DOT).

FEMA will then use the $X funding to hire any full time people new to the CBP funded migrant shelter program and partial salaries as it can for people doing some work on the program apart from the regular duties at FEMA HQ. Any funds used to cover those partial salaries is saved by the main FEMA administration account and can be used to add personel that cover the tasks that were being done by the "part-time people". If the CBP shelter funding ends, FEMA would reduce their staff due to not having the migrant shelter administration funds available (or the need to do those tasks). In the meantime, the positions funded by CBP inside FEMA would be "FEMA personel".

Walk me through the “complaint”, please.

It appears that people are upset that FEMA Director Mayorkas used funds available to his Department to pay the people that he needs to send help to people and by doing so, is engaging in “electioneering”, (somehow).

Am I close?

 

[DaisyDay]

Walk me through your “complaint”, please.

From what you’ve cobbled together here it appears that you’re upset that FEMA Director Mayorkas used funds available to his Department to pay the people that he needs to send help to people and by doing so, is engaging in “electioneering”, (somehow).

Am I close?

Pretty sure that @Hans Blaster isn't upset....

 

[Hans Blaster]

Pretty sure that @Hans Blaster isn't upset....

Not at FEMA, but I am bothered by those who promulgate nonsense and wish they would stop. (Hopefully they will.)

 

[The Barbarian]

And of course, it runs out that Trump's patron is behind a lot of this...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia has helped amplify and spread false and misleading internet claims about recent hurricanes in the United States and the federal government’s response, part of a wider effort by the Kremlin to manipulate America’s political discourse before the presidential election, new research shows.

The content, spread by Russian state media and networks of social media accounts and websites, criticizes the federal response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, exploiting legitimate concerns about the recovery effort in an attempt to paint American leaders as incompetent and corrupt, according to research from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. The London-based organization tracks disinformation and online extremism.
https://apnews.com/article/russia-h...38797a1a827e57?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-us

 

[The Barbarian]

Took part in trying to get rid of corrupt government employees.

He pardoned them. C'mon.

Astonishing how many corrupt government officials are on the list of people he allowed to escape punishment. These are just the public officials.

List of people granted executive clemency by Donald Trump - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Joe Arpaio
Mike Flynn
Scooter Libby
Patrick James Nolan
John Bubala
Angela Stanton-King
David Safavian
Bernard Kerick
Duncan Hunter
Philip Lyman
Mary McCarty
Joseph Occhipinti
Mark Siljander
Randall Cunningham
Paul Erickson
Robert Hayes
Steve Bannon
George Gilmore
William Henry
Richard Renzi
(Lots more; see the link)

List of people granted executive clemency by Donald Trump - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

We have a number in the Biden/Harris administration who lied about the border and also many colluded with social media to see that Biden was elected.

Show us the list and the evidence. My list of corrupt government officials Trump freed is only for those actually convicted or pleading guilty of crimes. But by all means show us the evidence. What do you have?

 

[Valletta]

Show us the list and the evidence. My list of corrupt government officials Trump freed is only for those actually convicted or pleading guilty of crimes. But by all means show us the evidence. What do you have?

Do you believe the Biden/Harris administration has been truthful when they say the border is safe, secure, and closed? I say those officials were not telling the truth. Likewise do you believe the Hunter Biden laptop was Russian disinformation? I say those officials were not telling the truth.

 

[DaisyDay]

Do you believe the Biden/Harris administration has been truthful when they say the border is safe, secure, and closed? I say those officials were not telling the truth. Likewise do you believe the Hunter Biden laptop was Russian disinformation? I say those officials were not telling the truth.

So no actual evidence then?

 

[Valletta]

So no actual evidence then?

Tons of evidence. I just don't want to waste my time with a Hunter Biden laptop denier or one who buys the border is safe,secure, and closed hoax.

 

[Pommer]

Pretty sure that @Hans Blaster isn't upset....

Edited fer clarity