Trump says U.S. officials to make plea to lawmakers for border wall

US President Donald Trump is shown border wall prototypes in San Diego, California on March 13, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

People hold signs during a protest while standing in front of the current border fence and near the prototypes of U.S. President Donald Trump's border wall, in Tijuana, Mexico March 13, 2018. The sign on the right reads "Trump, walls can be jumped over". REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

US President Donald Trump inspects border wall prototypes in San Diego, California on March 13, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

People attach a sign reading "Trump, stop the mass deportations" to the current border fence and near the prototypes of U.S. President Donald Trump's border wall, during a protest in Tijuana, Mexico March 13, 2018. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

US President Donald Trump's motorcade arrives at the border fence in San Diego, California on March 13, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

People hold signs reading "No to the wall" and "Trump, put your wall, but in your territory, not in ours", during a protest near the prototypes of U.S. President Donald Trump's border wall, seen behind the current border fence, in Tijuana, Mexico March 13, 2018. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

US President Donald Trump is shown border wall prototypes with White House Chief of Staff John Kelly (L) in San Diego, California on March 13, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

A man holds a sign reading "Trump, put your wall, but in your territory, not in ours", during a protest near the prototypes of U.S. President Donald Trump's border wall, seen behind the current border fence, in Tijuana, Mexico March 13, 2018. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

US President Donald Trump arrives to inspect border wall prototypes in San Diego, California on March 13, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

People hold signs reading "No to the wall, Trump," and "Trump, we are not enemies of the USA" during a protest near the prototypes of U.S. President Donald Trump's border wall, seen behind the current border fence, in Tijuana, Mexico March 13, 2018. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

US President Donald Trump speaks during an inspection of border wall prototypes in San Diego, California on March 13, 2018. Donald Trump -- making his first trip to California as president -- warned there would be 'bedlam' without the controversial wall he wants to build on the border with Mexico, as he inspected several prototype barriers. The trip to the 'Golden State' -- the most populous in the country and a Democratic stronghold -- was largely upstaged by his own announcement that he had sacked Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

Mexican Federal Police officers stand guard the Mexican side of the Mexico-US border in Tijuana, Baja California state, from where prototypes of the border wall, which US President Donald Trump will inspect on the outskirts of San Diego, in the US, are visible on March 13, 2018. Fresh off a cabinet reshuffle, President Donald Trump was headed for Democratic stronghold California on Tuesday to inspect prototypes of the controversial border wall with Mexico that was the centerpiece of his White House campaign. / AFP PHOTO / GUILLERMO ARIAS (Photo credit should read GUILLERMO ARIAS/AFP/Getty Images)

People hold signs reading "Trump, we will not pay for the wall" and "Trump, stop the mass deportations" near the border fence between Mexico and the U.S., in Tijuana, Mexico March 13, 2018. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

Journalists gather at a rooftop near the US -Mexico border as President Trump is expected to inspect the border wall prototypes built outskirts San Diego, in Tijuana, Baja California State, Mexico, on March 13, 2018. Fresh off a cabinet reshuffle, President Donald Trump was headed for Democratic stronghold California on Tuesday to inspect prototypes of the controversial border wall with Mexico that was the centerpiece of his White House campaign. / AFP PHOTO / GUILLERMO ARIAS (Photo credit should read GUILLERMO ARIAS/AFP/Getty Images)

U.S. police officers use a ladder to climb up a truck parked in front of the prototypes of U.S. President Donald Trump's border wall, on the U.S. side of the current border fence, in Tijuana, Mexico March 13, 2018. REUTERS/Jorge Duenes

An agent faces Mexico while standing by the vehicle of U.S. President Donald Trump at the border near San Diego, California, where Trump reviewed wall prototypes designed to serve as a protective barrier against illegal immigrants, drugs and smuggled weapons, March 13, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol Agent sits on horseback near U.S. President Donald Trump's motorcade during a tour of U.S.-Mexico border wall prototypes near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in San Diego, California. U.S., March 13, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

TIJUANA, MEXICO - MARCH 13:Anti-Trump protestors demonstrate on the Mexico side of the border before the arrival of the U.S. President to inspect the prototypes of the proposed border wall on March 13, 2018 in Tijuana, Mexico. (Photo by Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

The motorcade carrying US President Donald Trump drives past a US-Mexico border fence as Trump head for an inspection of border wall prototypes in San Diego, California on March 13, 2018. Donald Trump -- making his first trip to California as president -- warned there would be 'bedlam' without the controversial wall he wants to build on the border with Mexico, as he inspected several prototype barriers. The trip to the 'Golden State' -- the most populous in the country and a Democratic stronghold -- was largely upstaged by his own announcement that he had sacked Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

Mounted Border Patrol agents are seen as US President Donald Trump inspects border wall prototypes in San Diego, California on March 13, 2018. Donald Trump -- making his first trip to California as president -- warned there would be 'bedlam' without the controversial wall he wants to build on the border with Mexico, as he inspected several prototype barriers. The trip to the 'Golden State' -- the most populous in the country and a Democratic stronghold -- was largely upstaged by his own announcement that he had sacked Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

US President Donald Trump inspects border wall prototypes in San Diego, California on March 13, 2018. Donald Trump -- making his first trip to California as president -- warned there would be 'bedlam' without the controversial wall he wants to build on the border with Mexico, as he inspected several prototype barriers. The trip to the 'Golden State' -- the most populous in the country and a Democratic stronghold -- was largely upstaged by his own announcement that he had sacked Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

US President Donald Trump holds up a poster of before and after photos of a segment of the border wall prototypes with Chief Patrol Agent Rodney S. Scott (R) in San Diego, California on March 13, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

Speak Out: Use aid money to build wall, Pritzker tax hikes coming, Trump using Syria as distraction

Fuhgeddaboudit, Donald: The recent caravan of thousands from South America has spurred President Trump's initiative to build the border wall. He should have followed through with his promise as soon as he attained office. I say forget it, Donald. Let the Democrats handle their folly because it's just the beginning of the big surge.

Money for aid, not for wall: We can apparently afford $10 billion to give to Central America and Mexico, but we can't get $5 billion to build our own wall. Man, we just keep playing the idiot day in and day out.

Pritzker bad for Illinois: You people are going to be really sorry that you got Pritzker in office. Taxes are going to go through the roof. He probably does smoke marijuana and gets the munchies because he's big and fat. He has the best of everything. He has lobster and steak while we eat dog food on crackers.

Syria just a distraction: The big orange president is just pulling out the troops from Syria because he needs a distraction. He's always going to have controversy. I've never seen a president be so negative in the news. It's every day. It should tell you something about this president is not right.

No compliments necessary: Someone got complimented for a good job, some school teacher or worker. Well, that's their job.

Trump stock market effect: I get a big kick out of all the Trump lovers who say, hey, look at the stock market, how great it's been since he got elected. Has anyone looked at it this month? It's the worse it's been since the crash of 2009 thanks to Trump and his tariffs and everything else.

Cut Elgin's budget: Elgin isn't going to raise taxes, but they are going to (increase) fees. What kind of a joke is that? Just cut out half the things. A lot of these things can be handled by just one division.

Editor's note

Speak Out is a reader-generated column of opinions. If you see something you disagree with or think is incorrect, call us at 312-222-2460 or email couriernews@tribpub.com. Please include "speak out" in the subject line.

Man starts parody GoFundMe to build wall between CO, New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) - It's well known that President Trump is fighting hard for a wall on New Mexico's southern border with Mexico, but now a Colorado man is raising money to build one to our north.

"That's absolutely ridiculous," said Anna Wiley of Albuquerque.

"It's the time's we're living in," said Rhianna Nordquist of Albuquerque.

At first glance, people didn't believe what they were seeing.

"Stuff like that just really bothers me to be honest," said Wiley.

KRQE News 13 showed them a GoFundMe created by a man living in Denver. The original post asks people to donate money to his campaign so there can be a wall built all around Colorado, though the picture shows a tall stone wall in between CO and New Mexico.

"The idea of creating a border between us...is funny in a lot of ways," said Nordquist.

The creator, Will Hayden, said he wanted the wall because of the more than 70,000 newcomers who moved to Colorado last year.

In the post, he claims the people he calls 'outsiders' are 'jacking up our rent' and 'smoking our weed,' also saying he wants non-locals out.

"Out of Colorado? Haha that's great," said Nordquist.

Recently, Hayden admitted the entire campaign is a joke.

"I think his tactic - it makes sense in the current conditions," said Nordquist.

Hayden tells KRQE News 13's sister station in Denver he made the account to get people talking about the real border wall GoFundMe, which has raised more than $18.5 million in two weeks.

"I like it, but I do think there could kind of be a message lost," said Devyn Folk.

Hayden is against the wall and thinks people should donate their money to local charities, which is what he will do with the money given to his GoFundMe. 

Though, New Mexicans who KRQE News 13 spoke with still wouldn't donate.

"Absolutely not," said Wiley.

"No, I don't think so," said Folk.

Back in the 1930s, then-governor of Colorado actually proposed building a wall between the two states to protect jobs in Colorado. Obviously, the proposal did not get far.

A wall is easier to build than to tear down

By John Crisp

Tribune News Service

The budgetary stalemate that has partially shut down the government persists, prolonged by the tension between two equally preposterous ideas that pull at each other from distant poles.

The first is that the Democrats favor so-called open borders, across which immigrants, criminals, terrorists and drugs flow unimpeded. No rational Democrat defends this imaginary position. It was created by President Donald Trump for political purposes.

At the other pole is the equally fanciful border wall that Trump made a central feature of his bid for the presidency. The specifics varied considerably during the campaign, but the most extreme version reached 65 feet in height for the entire length of our 2000-mile southern border.

Cost estimates for Trump's wall were as outrageous as its proposed height and source of funding. Mexico, of course, was never going to pay for it.

So here we are: Democrats are accused of holding a position — open borders — that no reasonable citizen would accept, and Trump is still committed to something that can be called a "wall," even if it's only the intermittent fencing that has been used along the border for decades.

Who knows how this will turn out? But it's probably worth remembering why a wall that is anything close to the one that helped Donald Trump get elected is such a bad idea.

Critics of a border wall have pointed out its ineffectiveness. One calls it a 5th-century solution to a 21st-century problem. Others point out that a majority — as much as 66 percent, according to the Center for Migration Studies — of those who join the undocumented population each year overstay a valid visa and thus would be unaffected by a wall.

In addition to its enormous expense, the kind of wall that Trump ran on would have to be built in a more or less straight line on this side of a very crooked river, effectively relinquishing thousands of acres of American territory into a useless no man's land. The impact on the animals that frequently cross the river would be significant. There are problems of right of way and the ongoing costs of maintenance. And so on.

But a wall's impact on the border would be psychological and emotional as well as physical. A wall even half as formidable as the one that Trump imagines is a stark repudiation of more than 130 million Mexicans, nearly all of whom are not criminals, rapists or terrorists. Further, it would demonstrate contempt for the reliable trading partner and ally that Mexico has been for decades, as well as for the important role that Mexican labor — legal and illegal — plays in our economy.

This is what poet Robert Frost was talking about in "Mending Wall," where he says that before building a wall, we should ask "to whom I was like to give offense."

Mexico has its problems, but they are probably less permanent than the kind of wall that Trump has in mind. Trump will be president for somewhere between one and six more years. But the stark concrete barrier that so excited Trump's base during the campaign will be incredibly permanent.

And the psychological and emotional offense that such a wall will commit against one of our most reliable allies will be just as permanent, enduring long after Trump is gone.

Should we care? My Tea Party neighbor down the street says that we should not care in the least what other nations think of us. I'm not so sure. Someday we may really need a friendly Mexico.

And in 20, 40 or 60 years, when Americans may change their minds about other countries, a near-permanent concrete wall — with all its psychological and emotional damage — may still stand between us and Mexico.

Bridges are easier to burn than to build. Walls are different. They're hard enough to build, but they're even harder to tear down.

Democrats should resist the pressure to placate Trump with $5 billion to construct even a part of a very bad idea.

Wizards believe they have enough to make playoffs despite losing John Wall for the year

In a way, the situation the Wizards find themselves in with John Wall's extended injury absence is familiar, in that just one season ago he missed 41 games.

This time, however, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. 

Wall is not due to return late in the year, which would offer the Wizards an opportunity to simply stay afloat. Whatever they accomplish this season, or fail to accomplish, will be done without him.

Wall is set to undergo surgery to relieve his left heel of bone spurs and to repair what the team called a chronic Achilles tendon injury. He will miss six-to-eight months, meaning the rest of this season and likely much of the summer as well.

The Wizards were already dealing with a host of injuries, including Dwight Howard's recovery from back surgery. What's left of them will have no choice but to move forward, hoping bad injury luck doesn't completely derail their chances to compete night in and night out.

After processing the news, the consensus in the Wizards' locker room is that Wall's surgery, though a tough blow, is not a death sentence. They believe they can still make a postseason push, despite sitting nine games under .500, even after Saturday's win over the Charlotte Hornets.

"We've gotta make up [some] games, but I'm trying to shoot for the playoffs for sure," guard Bradley Beal said.

"We're here to win games," head coach Scott Brooks said. "We're not here to make excuses. I never made them as a player, I don't make them as a coach and I'm not going to start right now."

Brooks opened his pregame press conference on Saturday night with a statement about Wall's injury that veered into a look ahead at how the Wizards can make do without him. Clearly, this means more of an onus on Beal to lead the way, but plenty of pressure will be put on others, including Tomas Satoransky, Wall's replacement at point guard.

Satoransky played well in his first test without Wall against the Hornets. He poured in 20 points to go along with six assists and four rebounds.

Satoransky helped the Wizards stay level at 20-21 in the 41 games Wall missed last season. Though that pace won't cut it this time around, he believes the team can draw from that experience to turn their season around while Wall recovers.

"It's not a new situation for us. Obviously, in the long-run it's a tough loss. You always want another All-Star on your team. It's going to be a tough adjustment, but we have been in that situation," Satoransky said. "We have to keep believing in each other. Like I said last year when it happened, everybody has got to step up."

"He's ready for it," Brooks said of Satoransky. "He got 41 games last season... This gives him a great opportunity to grow because you always want to get better."

Brooks went on to discuss in specifics how Beal will have to step up. The 25-year-old guard has followed up his first All-Star campaign with another strong year. He's averaging 23.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

Beal will have to lead the Wizards' offense as their top scorer and do so while dealing with the best defenders on each team every night. Teams will design their gameplans to stop him, and he will have to counter.

Beal had success under those circumstances last season. Brooks believes it all comes down to patience, both with his own situation and those around him.

"It's not all going to be on Brad's shoulders. He's going to have to continue to lead and sometimes be very patient. That's part of being a leader," Brooks explained. 

"You've got a young center [in Thomas Bryant], you've got young players and you have to instill confidence in them. Brad was a young player at one time, we all were. You need veterans to help you through a season."

There was a human element to the Wizards reacting to Wall's injury. They know him as much more than a basketball player. Both Beal and Satoransky acknowledged they knew Wall's injury had significantly affected his play this season.

Beal mentioned how it is always a fine line between playing and sitting out with an injury. Guys want to fight through pain to help their team and sometimes it is to a detriment.

Wall's teammates understand how important the big picture is in all of this. Wall is 28 years old and set to enter a supermax contract worth $170 million that kicks in next season. For himself and the team, it's important he gets his health in order.

"We talked about it before he went to see the specialist," forward Markieff Morris said. "He has to do what's right for his body. He still has a long career in front of him. If it bothers him, then that's the best decision he can do is have surgery. I think that's what he should do."

"He's at a crossroads right now. All we can do is be positive with him," Beal said.

MORE WIZARDS NEWS:

Wall easier to build than tear down

The budgetary stalemate that has partially shut down the government persists, prolonged by the tension between two equally preposterous ideas that pull at each other from distant poles.

The first is that the Democrats favor so-called open borders, across which immigrants, criminals, terrorists and drugs flow unimpeded. No rational Democrat defends this imaginary position. It was created by President Donald Trump for political purposes.

At the other pole is the equally fanciful border wall that Trump made a central feature of his bid for the presidency. The specifics varied considerably during the campaign, but the most extreme version reached 65 feet in height for the entire length of our 2,000-mile southern border.

Cost estimates for Trump’s wall were as outrageous as its proposed height and source of funding. Mexico, of course, was never going to pay for it.

So here we are: Democrats are accused of holding a position â€" open borders â€" that no reasonable citizen would accept, and Trump is still committed to something that can be called a “wall,” even if it’s only the intermittent fencing that has been used along the border for decades.

Who knows how this will turn out? But it’s probably worth remembering why a wall that is anything close to the one that helped Donald Trump get elected is such a bad idea.

Critics of a border wall have pointed out its ineffectiveness. One calls it a 5th-century solution to a 21st-century problem. Others point out that a majority â€" as much as 66 percent, according to the Center for Migration Studies â€" of those who join the undocumented population each year overstay a valid visa and thus would be unaffected by a wall.

In addition to its enormous expense, the kind of wall that Trump ran on would have to be built in a more or less straight line on this side of a very crooked river, effectively relinquishing thousands of acres of American territory into a useless no man’s land. The impact on the animals that frequently cross the river would be significant. There are problems of right of way and the ongoing costs of maintenance. And so on.

But a wall’s impact on the border would be psychological and emotional as well as physical. A wall even half as formidable as the one that Trump imagines is a stark repudiation of more than 130 million Mexicans, nearly all of whom are not criminals, rapists or terrorists. Further, it would demonstrate contempt for the reliable trading partner and ally that Mexico has been for decades, as well as for the important role that Mexican labor â€" legal and illegal â€" plays in our economy.

This is what poet Robert Frost was talking about in “Mending Wall,” where he says that before building a wall, we should ask “to whom I was like to give offense.”

Mexico has its problems, but they are probably less permanent than the kind of wall that Trump has in mind. Trump will be president for somewhere between one and six more years. But the stark concrete barrier that so excited Trump’s base during the campaign will be incredibly permanent.

And the psychological and emotional offense that such a wall will commit against one of our most reliable allies will be just as permanent, enduring long after Trump is gone.

Should we care? My tea party neighbor down the street says that we should not care in the least what other nations think of us. I’m not so sure. Someday we may really need a friendly Mexico.

And in 20, 40 or 60 years, when Americans may change their minds about other countries, a near-permanent concrete wall â€" with all its psychological and emotional damage â€" may still stand between us and Mexico.

Bridges are easier to burn than to build. Walls are different. They’re hard enough to build, but they’re even harder to tear down.

Democrats should resist the pressure to placate Trump with $5 billion to construct even a part of a very bad idea.

Otto Porter Jr. set to return to Wizards’ lineup, ready to make an impact with John Wall out

Candace Buckner

National Basketball Association with an emphasis in covering the Washington Wizards.

January 1 at 5:59 PM

After his coach had shared his vision for how the Washington Wizards must play moving forward, and after the team's starting point guard had just talked to local reporters for the last time before undergoing season-ending surgery, forward Otto Porter Jr. strolled through the team's practice facility with a little extra bounce.

Porter, who has been sidelined for 10 games with a quadriceps strain, spent Monday afternoon running, cutting and shooting with his teammates for the first time in weeks. After participating in practice and feeling free of pain, Porter is slated to return to the lineup Wednesday night against the Atlanta Hawks.

"I'm back," he said through a wide smile. "I love playing basketball."

Porter had to temper his enthusiasm, though. When he returns, the Wizards (14-23) will be a different team in light of John Wall's pending surgery on his left heel. The Wizards have played for long stints without Wall, including when he missed 41 games last season, so losing him isn't a shock. Still, without Wall, changes are afoot within the Wizards' ecosystem.

"We all have to step up," Porter said, "including me."

Last season, in the 27 consecutive games Wall missed after surgery on his left knee, the Wizards relied on moving the ball and created 28.5 assists per game, three more than their team average for the season.

Porter benefited from the distribution; 95.9 percent of his made three-point shots came from assists. Although Bradley Beal emerged as the go-to scorer, Porter stepped into the "Robin" role during Wall's absence and averaged 16.6 points during that stretch.

For the remaining 45 games of this season, Coach Scott Brooks said he does not want to burden Beal with all of the responsibility. Brooks predicted the Wizards will embrace more ball movement, giving more players freedom to create for their teammates.

"There's definitely things that we have to do, because we don't have [Wall's] playmaking and speed and ability to be a one-man fast break," Brooks said. "We do a lot more pass-aheads, and then other guys are going to have to be playmakers as well. It's not just going to be put on Brad's shoulders to make a play for everyone. We had 35 assists last game, and a lot of guys had it."

This philosophy should open more opportunities for Porter. While Porter believes his biggest impact will come in securing rebounds, the upcoming stretch should reset the Wizards to their preseason pledge to give Porter space to grab a rebound and push the ball in the open court.

"We want to play that way, and we have to," Brooks said, looking back on the team's preseason emphasis on passing. "With John, there's always a balance. We're not going to take away one of our best players' strengths that has been so effective for a lot of years and just say, 'You're just going to be a pass-ahead guy, and you're going to go to the corner and you're going to come off of a down-screen or a pin-down action.' But now, we have to have more of it.

"Brad is still going to be able to take that role. He can now be that guy, and he can initiate our offense with his playmaking. So we can still play that way," Brooks continued, "but we're going to have to have definitely more opportunities for other guys to make decisions."

Porter has not played since Dec. 12, and Brooks was noncommittal about putting him back in the starting lineup for his first game back. Still, Porter's arrival should help make up for the loss of Wall.

"He feels good. He looked good," Brooks said. "We obviously missed him and [are] glad that he's back."