Chuckie and the rest of the minority party played games like this when they were the majority and blamed Republicans for "obstructing" government.
Has anyone noticed the 4th estate has refused to make this comparison? Now it is the minority Democrats who are refusing to negotiate. It is the bull headed my way or the highway.
Kind of sounds like San Fran Nan doesn't it. Remember the Democrats stated they had not read the Obama Care bill. In her famous statement "The only way to find out what is in it is to pass it."
Like Halloween the minority is pushing for trick or treat without the treat.
Where is the 4th estate stating that Chuckie and his minority are not willing to keep the government open even as a CR?
With regards to San Francisco, Trump needs to announce to the present occupants of Old SF bunker bombs will soon be dropped. Therefore, everyone needs to get out of Old SF before it becomes a big hole in the ground in order to rebuild it from scratch to a New SF. Trump can move from socialist NY City and build his Trump Tower in New San Francisco. New SF can become the city of capitalism.
How are the followers of The Current feeling about the destruction of our heritage and history to make way for the new Sultan’s Palace Ballroom? If you are in favor of it, please tell us how you would have supported Obama doing the same.
Adding 90,000sf of ballroom to our publicly owned 55,000sf White House without any public transparency or approval is ridiculous, outrageous. I could care less if Trump’s $250M anticipated DoJ settlement and/or private donors pay for construction and furnishing of this ostentatious ballroom, that’s not the point. The timing of this project is wrong as the masses of Americans struggle and some left unpaid. Our country is $38T in debt! The optics are bad. Trump is messaging: 1) Go spend what you don’t have on a hedge you might be forgiven; and 2) If you’re not rich, you’re a nobody of no consequence or importance. I’m sickened.
The White House Announces White House Ballroom Construction to Begin – The White House
Plans were made public back in August and everything had to be pre-approved by the Capitol/WhiteHouse architects committed to historical design preservation. It is a practical solution for a prior need to install tacky tents, when large gatherings take place on this historic site.
No argument that 999 seating capacity is needed beyond that for only 200 guests; and that tents are considered inappropriate. But why must large events be held in White House? There are other DC venues.
Think of the money saved on a permanent security systems having larger events in this sort of controlled venue, rather than renting a random hall somewhere in the District.
I believe only the Hilton is large enough near by, or heaven forbid the former Post Office converted into a hotel by Trump himself. I like the idea America gets invited into the President's home for special events. It is an honor both ways.
Gasp, but what would happen if the only suitable nearby venue was a Hyatt (Pritzker) Hotel. Katy bar the door, in that case .
Not according to the OMB. I hadn't thought updating electrical, plumbing, security infrastutes, adding a garden to teach kids the importance of healthy living and converting the dining room to be on the public White House tour is egotistical self expression I have to think more on that.
Everything a president does to the White House is like a dog marking his territory and aptly described as egotistic self expression. I find Obama to be a repulsive ego-maniac whose pride is based on zero accomplishment. But for DEI, Obama would still be a community organizer.
Obama failed being a community organizer too, in his early joint project with Bill Ayers in Chicago. I think the project was intended to improve school scores for students, or something. But it didn't move the needle. Other than draining out the grant money.
Elections have consequences. It is such a lame thing to focus on. I wouldn't have cared what Obama did to the White House. Now his Obamacare turd is something worth getting riled up about.
Typo. I checked archives from Hannity’s shows and noted he went ballistic. Jeff hadn't heard about that, so I thought he'd might like to know. Just trying to be helpful.
I don't watch Hannity. Hannity does not represent the right nor does fox news which I believe is controlled opposition. I heard no opposition from the right to Obama's basketball court. Did anyone else of note object to the basketball court or to the vegetable garden for that matter. It is just so very lame of you to focus on the big beautiful ballroom. Can you find any substantive objection to our big beautiful president?
LOL. It looks gorgeous and a well-needed addition for the enhanced use of this illustrious building.. Obama put in $389 million tax dollars into White House restorations during his time, including conversion of the WH tennis court to become a basketball court.
But Obama's worst abuse was taking away all the historic names at Yosemite National Park, when he did an inside deal at the last minute switching the park franchise to his good buddy and Michelle Obama "Let's Move supporter, Aramark.
Oops, forgot to include the copyrights to all the park franchise names in Obama's last minute deal - no more Ahwanhee Hotel , no more Camp Curry, no more Wawona Lodge Are you overlooking this?
It took years to restore all the historic names, and only after millions were spent re-signing everything through out the entire park including all the road signs. The elegant Ahwanee gift shop had to stop selling its lovely franchised design items and sold only cheap Chinese crap for years . They even had to change the embroidered names on the Wawona guest bathrobes who had rented the rooms with bathrooms down the hall, and put all the original ones in storage.
Perhaps there should be a law preventing temporary President residents from modifying the appearance of the Whitehouse, including the names of whatever. All we need is a Texan President move in and turn the Whitehouse into a rodeo for his/her four-year term.
Thanks for your input. You didn't say if you would have supported Obama tearing down the East Wing to build a ballroom as was my actual question. I am guessing by what you are saying it you would have been welcomed it by him or Biden. I wouldn't agree to any of them doing such a major change without a lot more input and architectural review. But I am an independent for a reason. I don't much trust with party.
Gene, Why not find a place in your life that does not require drawing partisan lines in the sand?
Thank god, Trump is keeping the classical tradition of the WH and not going rogue like they just did to the formerly beautiful Princeton campus, stuffing steel, glass and angular concrete in its formerly hallowed halls of ivy.
Seeing what Obama's taste in architecture is today, I probably would have misgivings on aesthetic grounds only. Not unlike the Obama's questionable decor additions to their WH private family quarters but that was always intended to be only private for their own use. .
It’s a construction project (not destruction)…to enhance the WH & create much need space for important State-level events, for now & into the future…Obama’s spent over $300M on WH renovations…what did that buy US?
Have you toured the White House? I did and I admit I was surprised at how small the East Room is. The TV cameras make it look WAY bigger than what you see in person. That being said, it has worked for every previous President. It's not needed.
State dinners at the White House are held in the State Dining Room, which seats 120 people. The room must accommodate the official party and an equal number of administration people, leaving space for 40 couples.
The new White House ballroom, announced by President Donald Trump in July 2025, is expected to have a seating capacity of approximately 900 people.
It’s vey clever of you to christen it the “Schumer Shutdown.” I believe Johnson could get down the hill and out of the “Johnson Jam” in one minute. All the Republicans have to do is remove the cuts to Medicare and the Affordable Care Act that will take away health insurance from 11 million Americans.
MC: Paying extortion demands is not a preferred way to get out of the" Schumer Shut Down" demands. Johnson is doing what the voters wanted. Democrats are just being petulant.
It is the Democrats who need to reconcile they lost the 2024 election. That still seems to cloud their thinking.
Michael- we’re $38T in deficit spending. How are 11M losing medical insurance? The ACA enhanced COVID-19 added benefits expire soon regardless, are provided to illegal aka “undocumented residents” in CA. Isn’t there consensus that Congress must discuss and decide spending and which benefits to continue or cut? A CO is exactly a mere continuation of existing spending. Both parties lose when Americans go unpaid.
More political theater! Both political parties are losing voter support despite the Democrats unlawful demand that taxpayers financially support inclusion of illegal residents as beneficiaries the same as citizens and legal immigrant residents. Hungry residents don’t care about the how’s and why of public policy or partisan conflicts.
With the upcoming traditional American holidays centered around food, we find daily requests in our mailboxes for additional food donations. Supposedly 70% in Santa Barbara County are SNAP — taxpaid food beneficiaries. Last night a local farm owner forwarded direct requests to me for food from locals fearing loss of SNAP benefits. Cities and Counties have approved major fiscal allocations to protect and provide for “undocumented” illegals, but not for lawful residents.
That motivated me to look at SNAP program cost, # of households and individual recipients by State, and administrative cost per case. Legal resident status is not a prerequisite for program participation in CA.
There’s a huge variation state by state: it’s a state’s right to determine who is eligible and how much the benefit. FL disqualifies the highest number of SNAP applicants 16,510 as compared to only 1,840 claims rejected in CA. Administration cost per state vary too.
As Thanksgiving approaches, we give thanks for our good fortune of abundance. American depth of compassion for others has been unending worldwide. We are keenly aware of AG issues, needs, and fiscal realities; our Fed debt approaching $38T, with CA, and our County and City BROKE! We voted for America First.
What’s the solution when our leaders refuse to cut spending? Pass the Continuing Resolution, then drastically cut the next budget! The rest of us will go pay our property taxes before December 7, as we await many more tax increases.
Just think if we found a way to capture the $42 billion in remittences illegals send back to their "home countries" every year. Or what they lose nightly at the local casino. Seems only fair they pay their fair share, to keep getting "free stuff" in my book.
When I was a legal guest worker in two different countries, they did not even let you in the door if you did not prove you were covered by health insurance valid in their own countries.
$64.7 billion/year in 2024 remittances to Mexico ( a crucial lifeline for millions of Mexican households). Electronic transfers make up 99% of these and 47% of them originate in California. Sources: AI Overview via Fed ReserveBankDallas, CCIS,BBVA,MexicoDailyNews.
While US tax payers are forced to provide "crucial lifelines" for people not even allowed to be here legally. How is that supposed to work?
Time is overdue for them to pay their "fair share" - allegedly a $300 billion net debt owed every year to US taxpayers. Poof, vanished. While $64 billion dollars goes out the back door.
I posted this a couple days ago, I paid $17 for a burrito in Carpinteria this week. Prices are going up everywhere. So how do. you blame this on our local businesses?
The article is a simple victim and blame school yard level of reporting. A disgrace.
The party of responsible accounting is bereft of sense these days. Lets focus on the debt. The Republicans are doing notihng to reduce the debt. The Dems are worse, but that does not excuse reducing taxes on the wealthy by removing health care benefits.
The president is “increasingly reckless, acting like someone who is free from any consequences or the need for support from anyone beyond his admirers.” But “[t]he reality is that Trump is deeply unpopular.”
I do believe I could write a good article. It would contain facts and the present climate is to ignor those pesky details.
OMG- someone drunk a lot of No Kings pablum from the bogus rally the other day. Now they move into the blogs trying to close the deal, which has always smelled like pure astro-turf to even the most casual analysis.
I agree with Trump's own reaction: "I am not a King and I work really hard every day. " Case closed.
Though one thing about Trump is he appears to like being in the limelight. I would only recommend to him to better appear to seek recognition when he has accomplished a goal. Such as saying he'll have Putin under control when he hasn't. Trump thinks a lot different than an engineer. I never went around the engineering department saying I'm going to have a great solution to a problem ... if I did, I'd be laughed at.
BR: Here is a good challenge: Write a job description for any elected official, who is first required to claw their way through the current election process. What does it take to even get in the door?
Be sure to include an appendix dealing with the inherent fickleness of voters. "Democracy" is not working out the way we theoretically wanted it to work, 250 years ago. We took some wrong turns. But as they always say, it is still better than any other system.
What was that old joke about heaven being certain nationalities cast as politicians, cooks, and engineers, and hell being opposite nationality choices for those same tasks?
Yikes, you mentioned politicians and engineers in the same sentence <g>! Getting in the door requires the gift of gab, good looks, stamina and perhaps for some the help of the devil.
Trumps approval is inching up. Now 51% and beyond while Congress struggles in the single digits. Who isn’t inspired by a leader who works 24/7 for the people, lost a good portion of his wealth, taken a bullet and dodged another, spent stacks of money and endless days in courtrooms over bogus charges, endured a Russia hoax for the entire 4 years of his first term. He is admired, respected and imitated on the world stage. The haters who keep trying to spin it differently need to move on. Seriously, it’s time.
This is the latest brain worm Democrats are trying to insert into the conversation - Trump is deeply unpopular with his supporters. They looked apoplectic when they were countered with the fact Trump support continues to grow. Just last night a neighbor asked where he could get a No on Prop 50 yard sign.
I guess Democrats are exploiting a dubious ''survey " finding there is less approval for deportation of "non-criminal" illegals, but no lack of support for deporting criminal illegals which is in full swing right now as promised.
But that one survey premised mainly on a barage of unsupported Democrat lies about the lawful deportation process that in fact is getting carried out and were lied about yet again in the bogus No Kings rally. So this goosey single issue poll is no indication of growing disapproval of everything that was promised in the RNC 2024 platform.
I have now heard this same thing claimed by two totally different people(D) in this town using the exact same words - "Trump is losing, or badly losing GOP support, how do you feel about this since you are a Trump supporter".
Hive mind in action again when you suddenly hear the exact same thing from your few remaining "liberal" friends who have not gone 100% TDS on you. Plus it gets repeated on the conservative blogs as well. Be really for it. Mockingbird media strikes again.
Is this why you were sent over here to do exactly that same thing? Insert the Trump is losing GOP support brain worm? He is not. Carry on.
I liked your SB Current submission on bringing both sides together, but your comments on this thread seem a little harsh to the other side.
Obamacare saved me after going without health insurance for 14 years. You didn't like it, I get that but I loved it.
And I don't think bringing up the new ballroom is defection in any way. If fact the cartoon caught my eye as being totally inappropriate for this post. It shows what is going on at the White House right now!
Obamacare is the reason my health insurance went to $10,000 a year to subsidize all the new reciepients of free coverage. You are welcome. Apparently we need nationalized healthcare to pay the doctor bills to treat the chronic illness caused by western medicine. I am opposed to insurance based or government based healthcare because it just deepens the pockets from which our corrupt healthcare system can extort our hard earned money. If everyone had to pay their own doctor bills the cost of healthcare would magically become affordable by the average citizen. Same argument for college tuition.
Some readers like to be critics of what is written. Some criticize leadership but offer no ideas or solutions. Meanwhile, the debt was not an issue during the last 4 years. Not a mention of debt, nor anything for that matter … just beach time and ice cream stands.
Daniel: Did you get KY US Senator Rand Paul’s mailing this week with prepaid response request to hold out? He is the only Republican Senator determined to cut and not simply approve. He spoke last year at YAF Reagan Center on State St. He heard locally that attendees expect fiscal cuts. How do we end the status quo ‘go along to get along, scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours’ DC spending mentality? Rand Paul cannot do it alone. Joe Manchin quit.
I do admire Rand Paul, even though he does come off as quirky sometimes. His father, Ron Paul sounded the financial alarm years ago. He makes a sound argument for returning to the gold standard.
DH: Provisions written into Obama/Biden programs have forced their successors hands to keep spending money we do not have. How about writing an article about that?
Everyone does need to get their arms about Democrat run-up debt, even in our own fair city now running only on fumes and ideological fantasy land demands.
I fully support just taking on the Democrat employee union structurally underfunded pension debts. Looking forward to your article how we can resolve just that one bottomless pit of future debt demands.
Hear hear, no argument from me except trying to assign equal blame in a one party super-majority Democrat state like California, now rolling in red ink. We do need to get this topic out in practical, and no partisan terms. Especially to those who will bear the biggest brunt of this current profligacy.
Except how many in Gen Z want even more socialism? What will convince Gen Z it is their duty now to vote only for accountable government budget hawks? Not run with their tail between their legs when the first cuts take place.
Let's both carry on with this critical topic. Did it jump right out at you when reading the Noozhawk report on the city finance meeting - ways to increase tax revenues but nary a whisper about how to cut expenses. Ouch, those hurt as they all whimped out again.
Well ouch, so do higher and higher taxes going for fewer and fewer public at large benefits. Just learned from Transparent California today our city director of "Sustainability and Resiliency" makes more than even Governor Gavin Newsom!
Step one: Get off this city hall expenses escalator that only goes up.
Great insights. The high art form of "saving face".
Trump appears to have well-mastered this as well. Though with far less finesse than often hoped for upfront. It would be an interesting survey to record the positive reversals that man has accomplished, even after his often initial withering attacks.
His own cabinet and senate support is but one example, after his many 2016 sustained attacks against those who one can today call some of his fiercest defenders and flame carriers. Democrat and media attacks against Trump have left no bargaining space which is their failing; not Trump's.
That is what makes Democrats today so wearisome. There is no Art of the Deal amongst them. It is all scorched earth, my way or the highway. Take no quarter, give no quarter. One more cul-de-sac Democrats marched themselves into, and now they cannot get out absent burning the whole place down.
Not the point Monica. The White House is OUR HOUSE, We The People. Jeff posted he could care less what Obama did. Well, millions of WE AMERICANS do care what our Americans First POTUS is doing. Trump’s huge mistake … he does not own the White House: we do! Heads are shaking as redistricting is occurring, important New Jersey and Virginia elections approach, and 2026 primaries need to be won. O.S. I’m appalled that CA’s Newsom is spending $1.2-$1.6B renovating our State Capitol at taxpayer expense
Montercito93108. You should check your facts just a tad because when you assume something is correct without knowing if it is, you reduce the credibility of your other writings. First off, my husband does not post on The Current and secondly my point was to counter another writer as to who is paying for the White House ballroom. I did not say I was for or against the project.
FYI, the cost for the unnecessary ballroom has risen to $300 million. As for the Republican shut down, I don’t know why some of you just don’t get what everybody knows. I guess it could be because you’re all blocked and locked on the maga propaganda. The demands that the Democrats are making is that subsidies stay in place for the Affordable Care Act and for Medicare benefits not to be cut. It’s a simple as that. Illegal immigrants have never received free medical care or been eligible for it, it’s written into the legislation. The demands the republicans have is that they get to keep all the money saved on benefits for themselves.
Mexican illegal immigrant and convicted child rapist Jose Trinidad Arreola-Ortega received over $7,000 in taxpayer-funded healthcare through Medicaid. Source: HHS.
I’m not sold on a dainty ‘getting down the hill’ strategy - this is a great opportunity for the GOP to ‘sell’ the unwashed masses on how stupid and contrary the Commie-Dems really are. How? With a massive advertising, promotion sales-effort. Hey! It works with soup, soap and cigarettes!
If the Dem voters think their party is right promoting this shutdown it’s up to us Trumplicans to change their minds!
CA taxpayers are now funding one of the top 10 most expensive projects in the nation — private or public. The 2018 CA State Capitol $543M renovation project has already doubled in cost to $1.2 billion projected at $1.6 billion to complete —This taxpayer funded project project makes the CA State Capitol "one of the most expensive buildings in the United States” ranked in Top Ten nationwide.
CA and Santa Barbara Voting majority want tax increases and more taxpayers to flee. We tried recalling Newsom twice. Too many fiscal conservatives fail to vote!
We have a new power center in this state rivaling SEIU and the teachers union; the construction trades unions who feast off government construction projects They get way with things no private contracting should ever allow.
Who is watching them? Monique Limon and Gregg Hart. Some how I doubt it.
Pay attention to this tax dollar sucking new state power center, every time voters keep passing bond issues. $90 million promised to build the SBCC new gymnasium. Taking bets - will it come in under/over or on-budget?
You sound like an old out-of-touch boomer who really benefitted out of the neoliberal ideology that has left so many people hurting. There’s a reason it’s shutdown and maybe you should realize that before spewing drivel
I'm a pro-Trumper, but I have to question the ballroom construction spending. I accept that changes can be made and the heritage/history aspect isn't a major concern of mine, a ballroom would be nice. However, we are trying to pay off the national debt, and major construction seems to come at a bad time.
Donors funding the entire ball room probably did not want to divert their own personal money to bail out the Democrat-generated national debt. I don't blame them.
It is a truism in charitable fund-raising: donors much prefer making bricks and mortar donations; not ongoing operational costs donations.
The new ballroom adds to the GDP & will benefit not only the industries that supply the goods & services, but American & Americans in Our Future…all paid for by private citizens that choose to sponsor the gift to US…
Myself, I'd prefer to see a traditional carillon. A carillon tower with bells is visual to everyone all the time. A ballroom is hidden from the public most of the time.
I have the benefit of having just read this article after reviewing most replies. I'm currently in another time zone.
I have nothing to bring to the party except I'm a little amazed at the childish acting out of the anti-Trump folks who are playing small ball over something like Trump improving the infrastructure of the White House. As I'm sure most readers of this forum...seemingly educated and up-to-date on contemporary issues...are well aware of the fact sitting Presidents have historically made significant changes to the Whitehouse...although probably no one out of pocket like President Trump.
The absurd "issue" provides a springboard for the anti-Trump TDS groupies to vent their misguided frustrations over not only Trump's winning the election, but his enormous subsequent successes achieved as chief executive.
Must suck to be a Democrat these days... Not only because of Trump's/America's successes, but the revelations of the massive corruption of the preceding administration.
Else… thank you for your thoughts. Discussion is essential to understanding the various opinions in today's world. I honestly appreciate hearing your viewpoint.
Getting down the hill?
Chuckie and the rest of the minority party played games like this when they were the majority and blamed Republicans for "obstructing" government.
Has anyone noticed the 4th estate has refused to make this comparison? Now it is the minority Democrats who are refusing to negotiate. It is the bull headed my way or the highway.
Kind of sounds like San Fran Nan doesn't it. Remember the Democrats stated they had not read the Obama Care bill. In her famous statement "The only way to find out what is in it is to pass it."
Like Halloween the minority is pushing for trick or treat without the treat.
Where is the 4th estate stating that Chuckie and his minority are not willing to keep the government open even as a CR?
WOW.
Good article.
With regards to San Francisco, Trump needs to announce to the present occupants of Old SF bunker bombs will soon be dropped. Therefore, everyone needs to get out of Old SF before it becomes a big hole in the ground in order to rebuild it from scratch to a New SF. Trump can move from socialist NY City and build his Trump Tower in New San Francisco. New SF can become the city of capitalism.
How are the followers of The Current feeling about the destruction of our heritage and history to make way for the new Sultan’s Palace Ballroom? If you are in favor of it, please tell us how you would have supported Obama doing the same.
Obama's egotistic self expression was at taxpayers expense while Trump's is paid for himself and by donations.
Adding 90,000sf of ballroom to our publicly owned 55,000sf White House without any public transparency or approval is ridiculous, outrageous. I could care less if Trump’s $250M anticipated DoJ settlement and/or private donors pay for construction and furnishing of this ostentatious ballroom, that’s not the point. The timing of this project is wrong as the masses of Americans struggle and some left unpaid. Our country is $38T in debt! The optics are bad. Trump is messaging: 1) Go spend what you don’t have on a hedge you might be forgiven; and 2) If you’re not rich, you’re a nobody of no consequence or importance. I’m sickened.
The White House Announces White House Ballroom Construction to Begin – The White House
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/07/the-white-house-announces-white-house-ballroom-construction-to-begin/
9 things to know about the $250 million ballroom Trump is adding to the White House | PBS News
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/9-things-to-know-about-the-250-million-ballroom-trump-is-adding-to-the-white-house
Plans were made public back in August and everything had to be pre-approved by the Capitol/WhiteHouse architects committed to historical design preservation. It is a practical solution for a prior need to install tacky tents, when large gatherings take place on this historic site.
No argument that 999 seating capacity is needed beyond that for only 200 guests; and that tents are considered inappropriate. But why must large events be held in White House? There are other DC venues.
Think of the money saved on a permanent security systems having larger events in this sort of controlled venue, rather than renting a random hall somewhere in the District.
I believe only the Hilton is large enough near by, or heaven forbid the former Post Office converted into a hotel by Trump himself. I like the idea America gets invited into the President's home for special events. It is an honor both ways.
Gasp, but what would happen if the only suitable nearby venue was a Hyatt (Pritzker) Hotel. Katy bar the door, in that case .
Not according to the OMB. I hadn't thought updating electrical, plumbing, security infrastutes, adding a garden to teach kids the importance of healthy living and converting the dining room to be on the public White House tour is egotistical self expression I have to think more on that.
Everything a president does to the White House is like a dog marking his territory and aptly described as egotistic self expression. I find Obama to be a repulsive ego-maniac whose pride is based on zero accomplishment. But for DEI, Obama would still be a community organizer.
Obama failed being a community organizer too, in his early joint project with Bill Ayers in Chicago. I think the project was intended to improve school scores for students, or something. But it didn't move the needle. Other than draining out the grant money.
Elections have consequences. It is such a lame thing to focus on. I wouldn't have cared what Obama did to the White House. Now his Obamacare turd is something worth getting riled up about.
I remember most on the right had a cow when Obama rebuilt the tennis courts as multiuse tennis-basketball courts.
I remember no such thing.
Jeff, I think the ballroom subject is simply a deflection tactic to minimize Schumer's stupidity. Not going to work, though.
I think the cartoon chosen for this piece kind of begged Gene to comment on the ballroom.
Agree
I just checked Hannity achieves and he went ballisticover changing tennis courts to mixed-use sports courts.
Thank you. Hannity doesn’t write for the Current and is not (yet) on our ever expanding distribution list.
Typo. I checked archives from Hannity’s shows and noted he went ballistic. Jeff hadn't heard about that, so I thought he'd might like to know. Just trying to be helpful.
I don't watch Hannity. Hannity does not represent the right nor does fox news which I believe is controlled opposition. I heard no opposition from the right to Obama's basketball court. Did anyone else of note object to the basketball court or to the vegetable garden for that matter. It is just so very lame of you to focus on the big beautiful ballroom. Can you find any substantive objection to our big beautiful president?
He sure wouldn't have put in a pool.
I don’t recall this being a big public expense deal (Obama’s basketball court).
LOL. It looks gorgeous and a well-needed addition for the enhanced use of this illustrious building.. Obama put in $389 million tax dollars into White House restorations during his time, including conversion of the WH tennis court to become a basketball court.
But Obama's worst abuse was taking away all the historic names at Yosemite National Park, when he did an inside deal at the last minute switching the park franchise to his good buddy and Michelle Obama "Let's Move supporter, Aramark.
Oops, forgot to include the copyrights to all the park franchise names in Obama's last minute deal - no more Ahwanhee Hotel , no more Camp Curry, no more Wawona Lodge Are you overlooking this?
It took years to restore all the historic names, and only after millions were spent re-signing everything through out the entire park including all the road signs. The elegant Ahwanee gift shop had to stop selling its lovely franchised design items and sold only cheap Chinese crap for years . They even had to change the embroidered names on the Wawona guest bathrobes who had rented the rooms with bathrooms down the hall, and put all the original ones in storage.
Great Obama spin. Gotta love your creativity. Well done, elce.
Perhaps there should be a law preventing temporary President residents from modifying the appearance of the Whitehouse, including the names of whatever. All we need is a Texan President move in and turn the Whitehouse into a rodeo for his/her four-year term.
Thanks for your input. You didn't say if you would have supported Obama tearing down the East Wing to build a ballroom as was my actual question. I am guessing by what you are saying it you would have been welcomed it by him or Biden. I wouldn't agree to any of them doing such a major change without a lot more input and architectural review. But I am an independent for a reason. I don't much trust with party.
Gene, Why not find a place in your life that does not require drawing partisan lines in the sand?
Thank god, Trump is keeping the classical tradition of the WH and not going rogue like they just did to the formerly beautiful Princeton campus, stuffing steel, glass and angular concrete in its formerly hallowed halls of ivy.
Seeing what Obama's taste in architecture is today, I probably would have misgivings on aesthetic grounds only. Not unlike the Obama's questionable decor additions to their WH private family quarters but that was always intended to be only private for their own use. .
It’s a construction project (not destruction)…to enhance the WH & create much need space for important State-level events, for now & into the future…Obama’s spent over $300M on WH renovations…what did that buy US?
https://x.com/collinsfortx/status/1981051305637675119?s=61
Have you toured the White House? I did and I admit I was surprised at how small the East Room is. The TV cameras make it look WAY bigger than what you see in person. That being said, it has worked for every previous President. It's not needed.
Agreed to Disagree…
State dinners at the White House are held in the State Dining Room, which seats 120 people. The room must accommodate the official party and an equal number of administration people, leaving space for 40 couples.
The new White House ballroom, announced by President Donald Trump in July 2025, is expected to have a seating capacity of approximately 900 people.
https://x.com/fnowisthetime/status/1387774917337403396?s=61
Why?
It’s vey clever of you to christen it the “Schumer Shutdown.” I believe Johnson could get down the hill and out of the “Johnson Jam” in one minute. All the Republicans have to do is remove the cuts to Medicare and the Affordable Care Act that will take away health insurance from 11 million Americans.
MC: Paying extortion demands is not a preferred way to get out of the" Schumer Shut Down" demands. Johnson is doing what the voters wanted. Democrats are just being petulant.
It is the Democrats who need to reconcile they lost the 2024 election. That still seems to cloud their thinking.
Michael- we’re $38T in deficit spending. How are 11M losing medical insurance? The ACA enhanced COVID-19 added benefits expire soon regardless, are provided to illegal aka “undocumented residents” in CA. Isn’t there consensus that Congress must discuss and decide spending and which benefits to continue or cut? A CO is exactly a mere continuation of existing spending. Both parties lose when Americans go unpaid.
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/5332414-congressional-budget-office-estimate-health-insurance-losses-gop-megabill/
More political theater! Both political parties are losing voter support despite the Democrats unlawful demand that taxpayers financially support inclusion of illegal residents as beneficiaries the same as citizens and legal immigrant residents. Hungry residents don’t care about the how’s and why of public policy or partisan conflicts.
With the upcoming traditional American holidays centered around food, we find daily requests in our mailboxes for additional food donations. Supposedly 70% in Santa Barbara County are SNAP — taxpaid food beneficiaries. Last night a local farm owner forwarded direct requests to me for food from locals fearing loss of SNAP benefits. Cities and Counties have approved major fiscal allocations to protect and provide for “undocumented” illegals, but not for lawful residents.
That motivated me to look at SNAP program cost, # of households and individual recipients by State, and administrative cost per case. Legal resident status is not a prerequisite for program participation in CA.
Check out this website for 39 pages of state by state data. https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/snap-sar-fy23.pdf
There’s a huge variation state by state: it’s a state’s right to determine who is eligible and how much the benefit. FL disqualifies the highest number of SNAP applicants 16,510 as compared to only 1,840 claims rejected in CA. Administration cost per state vary too.
SNAP Admin Cost Per Case
CA $75.04
FL $13.63
IL. $26.30
KY $70.44
ME $23.33
W.VA $21.23
As Thanksgiving approaches, we give thanks for our good fortune of abundance. American depth of compassion for others has been unending worldwide. We are keenly aware of AG issues, needs, and fiscal realities; our Fed debt approaching $38T, with CA, and our County and City BROKE! We voted for America First.
What’s the solution when our leaders refuse to cut spending? Pass the Continuing Resolution, then drastically cut the next budget! The rest of us will go pay our property taxes before December 7, as we await many more tax increases.
Just think if we found a way to capture the $42 billion in remittences illegals send back to their "home countries" every year. Or what they lose nightly at the local casino. Seems only fair they pay their fair share, to keep getting "free stuff" in my book.
When I was a legal guest worker in two different countries, they did not even let you in the door if you did not prove you were covered by health insurance valid in their own countries.
$64.7 billion/year in 2024 remittances to Mexico ( a crucial lifeline for millions of Mexican households). Electronic transfers make up 99% of these and 47% of them originate in California. Sources: AI Overview via Fed ReserveBankDallas, CCIS,BBVA,MexicoDailyNews.
While US tax payers are forced to provide "crucial lifelines" for people not even allowed to be here legally. How is that supposed to work?
Time is overdue for them to pay their "fair share" - allegedly a $300 billion net debt owed every year to US taxpayers. Poof, vanished. While $64 billion dollars goes out the back door.
Thanks for the very important statistics, Cate.
I posted this a couple days ago, I paid $17 for a burrito in Carpinteria this week. Prices are going up everywhere. So how do. you blame this on our local businesses?
Hi Dan, burrito prices are around 20% less expensive in Red States like Texas. Why could that be?
The article is a simple victim and blame school yard level of reporting. A disgrace.
The party of responsible accounting is bereft of sense these days. Lets focus on the debt. The Republicans are doing notihng to reduce the debt. The Dems are worse, but that does not excuse reducing taxes on the wealthy by removing health care benefits.
If you think you can write a better article you should submit your masterpiece to The Current.
The president is “increasingly reckless, acting like someone who is free from any consequences or the need for support from anyone beyond his admirers.” But “[t]he reality is that Trump is deeply unpopular.”
I do believe I could write a good article. It would contain facts and the present climate is to ignor those pesky details.
OMG- someone drunk a lot of No Kings pablum from the bogus rally the other day. Now they move into the blogs trying to close the deal, which has always smelled like pure astro-turf to even the most casual analysis.
I agree with Trump's own reaction: "I am not a King and I work really hard every day. " Case closed.
Though one thing about Trump is he appears to like being in the limelight. I would only recommend to him to better appear to seek recognition when he has accomplished a goal. Such as saying he'll have Putin under control when he hasn't. Trump thinks a lot different than an engineer. I never went around the engineering department saying I'm going to have a great solution to a problem ... if I did, I'd be laughed at.
BR: Here is a good challenge: Write a job description for any elected official, who is first required to claw their way through the current election process. What does it take to even get in the door?
Be sure to include an appendix dealing with the inherent fickleness of voters. "Democracy" is not working out the way we theoretically wanted it to work, 250 years ago. We took some wrong turns. But as they always say, it is still better than any other system.
What was that old joke about heaven being certain nationalities cast as politicians, cooks, and engineers, and hell being opposite nationality choices for those same tasks?
"Heaven is where the cooks are French, the mechanics are German, the police are British, the lovers are Italian, and it’s all organized by the Swiss.
Hell is where the cooks are British, the mechanics are French, the police are German, the lovers are Swiss, and it’s all organized by the Italians."
Yikes, you mentioned politicians and engineers in the same sentence <g>! Getting in the door requires the gift of gab, good looks, stamina and perhaps for some the help of the devil.
That's not exactly what Trumpy said - He said "I work my ass off every day" And he does! Love that hustle!
Trumps approval is inching up. Now 51% and beyond while Congress struggles in the single digits. Who isn’t inspired by a leader who works 24/7 for the people, lost a good portion of his wealth, taken a bullet and dodged another, spent stacks of money and endless days in courtrooms over bogus charges, endured a Russia hoax for the entire 4 years of his first term. He is admired, respected and imitated on the world stage. The haters who keep trying to spin it differently need to move on. Seriously, it’s time.
You read like someone who drank the koolaid 😂
Keep reading, Nick. We insert brain worms here too.
This is the latest brain worm Democrats are trying to insert into the conversation - Trump is deeply unpopular with his supporters. They looked apoplectic when they were countered with the fact Trump support continues to grow. Just last night a neighbor asked where he could get a No on Prop 50 yard sign.
I guess Democrats are exploiting a dubious ''survey " finding there is less approval for deportation of "non-criminal" illegals, but no lack of support for deporting criminal illegals which is in full swing right now as promised.
But that one survey premised mainly on a barage of unsupported Democrat lies about the lawful deportation process that in fact is getting carried out and were lied about yet again in the bogus No Kings rally. So this goosey single issue poll is no indication of growing disapproval of everything that was promised in the RNC 2024 platform.
I have now heard this same thing claimed by two totally different people(D) in this town using the exact same words - "Trump is losing, or badly losing GOP support, how do you feel about this since you are a Trump supporter".
Hive mind in action again when you suddenly hear the exact same thing from your few remaining "liberal" friends who have not gone 100% TDS on you. Plus it gets repeated on the conservative blogs as well. Be really for it. Mockingbird media strikes again.
Is this why you were sent over here to do exactly that same thing? Insert the Trump is losing GOP support brain worm? He is not. Carry on.
You could 'write a good article' - ? Would love to see it! :)
I liked your SB Current submission on bringing both sides together, but your comments on this thread seem a little harsh to the other side.
Obamacare saved me after going without health insurance for 14 years. You didn't like it, I get that but I loved it.
And I don't think bringing up the new ballroom is defection in any way. If fact the cartoon caught my eye as being totally inappropriate for this post. It shows what is going on at the White House right now!
Obamacare is the reason my health insurance went to $10,000 a year to subsidize all the new reciepients of free coverage. You are welcome. Apparently we need nationalized healthcare to pay the doctor bills to treat the chronic illness caused by western medicine. I am opposed to insurance based or government based healthcare because it just deepens the pockets from which our corrupt healthcare system can extort our hard earned money. If everyone had to pay their own doctor bills the cost of healthcare would magically become affordable by the average citizen. Same argument for college tuition.
I’m with you on all of that.
You have mistaken me for someone who cares to compromise with the left. I have never proposed bringing both sides together.
OK
Some readers like to be critics of what is written. Some criticize leadership but offer no ideas or solutions. Meanwhile, the debt was not an issue during the last 4 years. Not a mention of debt, nor anything for that matter … just beach time and ice cream stands.
Daniel: Did you get KY US Senator Rand Paul’s mailing this week with prepaid response request to hold out? He is the only Republican Senator determined to cut and not simply approve. He spoke last year at YAF Reagan Center on State St. He heard locally that attendees expect fiscal cuts. How do we end the status quo ‘go along to get along, scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours’ DC spending mentality? Rand Paul cannot do it alone. Joe Manchin quit.
I do admire Rand Paul, even though he does come off as quirky sometimes. His father, Ron Paul sounded the financial alarm years ago. He makes a sound argument for returning to the gold standard.
https://www.cato.org/case-for-gold
DH: Provisions written into Obama/Biden programs have forced their successors hands to keep spending money we do not have. How about writing an article about that?
Everyone does need to get their arms about Democrat run-up debt, even in our own fair city now running only on fumes and ideological fantasy land demands.
I fully support just taking on the Democrat employee union structurally underfunded pension debts. Looking forward to your article how we can resolve just that one bottomless pit of future debt demands.
Else- please write such an article to be published by SBCurrent. New writers welcomed by readers!
Elce
Spending more than you earn is not healthy. Both Dems and Reps are responsible.
We need more of a Rand Paul style response to the budget from both sides of the aisle.
Hear hear, no argument from me except trying to assign equal blame in a one party super-majority Democrat state like California, now rolling in red ink. We do need to get this topic out in practical, and no partisan terms. Especially to those who will bear the biggest brunt of this current profligacy.
Except how many in Gen Z want even more socialism? What will convince Gen Z it is their duty now to vote only for accountable government budget hawks? Not run with their tail between their legs when the first cuts take place.
Let's both carry on with this critical topic. Did it jump right out at you when reading the Noozhawk report on the city finance meeting - ways to increase tax revenues but nary a whisper about how to cut expenses. Ouch, those hurt as they all whimped out again.
Well ouch, so do higher and higher taxes going for fewer and fewer public at large benefits. Just learned from Transparent California today our city director of "Sustainability and Resiliency" makes more than even Governor Gavin Newsom!
Step one: Get off this city hall expenses escalator that only goes up.
DH: You have two different agendas that simply do not meet in the middle:
1. Reducing taxes on the wealthy.
2. Removing health care benefits.
Ditch the unfounded class envy divisiveness, and the one size fits all solution for everything - "tax the rich". Thank you.
OK then. Write an intelligent, fact based, article. Please accurately cite factual references and attributions. Look forward to reading it.
Great insights. The high art form of "saving face".
Trump appears to have well-mastered this as well. Though with far less finesse than often hoped for upfront. It would be an interesting survey to record the positive reversals that man has accomplished, even after his often initial withering attacks.
His own cabinet and senate support is but one example, after his many 2016 sustained attacks against those who one can today call some of his fiercest defenders and flame carriers. Democrat and media attacks against Trump have left no bargaining space which is their failing; not Trump's.
That is what makes Democrats today so wearisome. There is no Art of the Deal amongst them. It is all scorched earth, my way or the highway. Take no quarter, give no quarter. One more cul-de-sac Democrats marched themselves into, and now they cannot get out absent burning the whole place down.
My understanding is that Trump and private doners are paying for the ballroom, not the taxpayers.
Don’t worry, will end up paying for it one way or another.
Not the point Monica. The White House is OUR HOUSE, We The People. Jeff posted he could care less what Obama did. Well, millions of WE AMERICANS do care what our Americans First POTUS is doing. Trump’s huge mistake … he does not own the White House: we do! Heads are shaking as redistricting is occurring, important New Jersey and Virginia elections approach, and 2026 primaries need to be won. O.S. I’m appalled that CA’s Newsom is spending $1.2-$1.6B renovating our State Capitol at taxpayer expense
Montercito93108. You should check your facts just a tad because when you assume something is correct without knowing if it is, you reduce the credibility of your other writings. First off, my husband does not post on The Current and secondly my point was to counter another writer as to who is paying for the White House ballroom. I did not say I was for or against the project.
FYI, the cost for the unnecessary ballroom has risen to $300 million. As for the Republican shut down, I don’t know why some of you just don’t get what everybody knows. I guess it could be because you’re all blocked and locked on the maga propaganda. The demands that the Democrats are making is that subsidies stay in place for the Affordable Care Act and for Medicare benefits not to be cut. It’s a simple as that. Illegal immigrants have never received free medical care or been eligible for it, it’s written into the legislation. The demands the republicans have is that they get to keep all the money saved on benefits for themselves.
“Illegal immigrants have never received free medical care or been eligible for it…”
direct from you favorite corporate media…thanks for the chuckles
You are deflecting, stop it.
Haha, just wanted to give thanks for the laugh…”Illegal immigrants have never received free medical care…” 😂
Mexican illegal immigrant and convicted child rapist Jose Trinidad Arreola-Ortega received over $7,000 in taxpayer-funded healthcare through Medicaid. Source: HHS.
I’m not sold on a dainty ‘getting down the hill’ strategy - this is a great opportunity for the GOP to ‘sell’ the unwashed masses on how stupid and contrary the Commie-Dems really are. How? With a massive advertising, promotion sales-effort. Hey! It works with soup, soap and cigarettes!
If the Dem voters think their party is right promoting this shutdown it’s up to us Trumplicans to change their minds!
My Goodness. How did we get from government shutdown to Trump privately funding renovation of the existing white House ball room?
CA taxpayers are now funding one of the top 10 most expensive projects in the nation — private or public. The 2018 CA State Capitol $543M renovation project has already doubled in cost to $1.2 billion projected at $1.6 billion to complete —This taxpayer funded project project makes the CA State Capitol "one of the most expensive buildings in the United States” ranked in Top Ten nationwide.
CA and Santa Barbara Voting majority want tax increases and more taxpayers to flee. We tried recalling Newsom twice. Too many fiscal conservatives fail to vote!
We have a new power center in this state rivaling SEIU and the teachers union; the construction trades unions who feast off government construction projects They get way with things no private contracting should ever allow.
Who is watching them? Monique Limon and Gregg Hart. Some how I doubt it.
Pay attention to this tax dollar sucking new state power center, every time voters keep passing bond issues. $90 million promised to build the SBCC new gymnasium. Taking bets - will it come in under/over or on-budget?
You sound like an old out-of-touch boomer who really benefitted out of the neoliberal ideology that has left so many people hurting. There’s a reason it’s shutdown and maybe you should realize that before spewing drivel
As a Boomer I'll just sing you a little ditty. To the tune of the Dr. Pepper commercial from the 1970's.
"I'm a boomer, she's a boomer, he's a boomer, they're a boomer
wouldn't you like to be a boomer too?"
I'm a pro-Trumper, but I have to question the ballroom construction spending. I accept that changes can be made and the heritage/history aspect isn't a major concern of mine, a ballroom would be nice. However, we are trying to pay off the national debt, and major construction seems to come at a bad time.
Donors funding the entire ball room probably did not want to divert their own personal money to bail out the Democrat-generated national debt. I don't blame them.
It is a truism in charitable fund-raising: donors much prefer making bricks and mortar donations; not ongoing operational costs donations.
The new ballroom adds to the GDP & will benefit not only the industries that supply the goods & services, but American & Americans in Our Future…all paid for by private citizens that choose to sponsor the gift to US…
Myself, I'd prefer to see a traditional carillon. A carillon tower with bells is visual to everyone all the time. A ballroom is hidden from the public most of the time.
Sounds kinda cool…we need to resurrect bells!
I have the benefit of having just read this article after reviewing most replies. I'm currently in another time zone.
I have nothing to bring to the party except I'm a little amazed at the childish acting out of the anti-Trump folks who are playing small ball over something like Trump improving the infrastructure of the White House. As I'm sure most readers of this forum...seemingly educated and up-to-date on contemporary issues...are well aware of the fact sitting Presidents have historically made significant changes to the Whitehouse...although probably no one out of pocket like President Trump.
The absurd "issue" provides a springboard for the anti-Trump TDS groupies to vent their misguided frustrations over not only Trump's winning the election, but his enormous subsequent successes achieved as chief executive.
Must suck to be a Democrat these days... Not only because of Trump's/America's successes, but the revelations of the massive corruption of the preceding administration.
Else… thank you for your thoughts. Discussion is essential to understanding the various opinions in today's world. I honestly appreciate hearing your viewpoint.