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Leading Republicans on Monday praised President Trump's new U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, including his call for a major shift from "arbitrary timetables" for American involvement to a conditions-based approach in the region.

In prime-time remarks from Fort Myer, Va., the president discussed his evolving views on the 16-year conflict in Afghanistan and his plan for "principled realism" moving forward. Trump said his administration's primary goal in Afghanistan is to avoid leaving the same type of vacuum that gave rise to the Islamic State terror group in Iraq, though he declined to specify how many additional American troops will be deployed to boost existing counter-terrorism operations.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., who has been critical of Trump's previous failure to articulate a strategy, said the president took "a big step in the right direction" during his speech Monday.

"I believe the President is now moving us well beyond the prior administration's failed strategy of merely postponing defeat," McCain said in a statement, noting that Trump now faces the task of keeping "the right level of effort, in the right places, with the right authorities and resources [to] see this conflict through to success."

"To do this, the President must conduct himself as a wartime commander-in-chief. He must speak regularly to the American people, and to those waging this war on their behalf, about why we are fighting, why the additional sacrifices are worth it, and how we will success," said McCain, a naval aviator who spent more than five years as a prisoner of war.

Trump admitted Monday that his position on Afghanistan changed as he began to grasp his duties as president. It was a rare moment of self-reflection for the normally brash leader one that congressional Republicans like House Speaker Paul Ryan took note of.

"I was actually pleased with the way he went about making this decision," Ryan, R-Wis., told CNN. "I think I heard a new Trump strategy, or a new doctrine so to speak."

For the White House, the mostly positive reception to the president's speech was a welcome change from the barrage of criticism officials have faced in the wake of Trump's response to the violence in Charlottesville, Va. Republican lawmakers who criticized the president just last week were quick to praise him on Monday.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who described the president's speech as "excellent," said Trump's decision to base strategy "on the conditions on the ground not on arbitrary numbers and timelines is the right approach."

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., commended Trump for "refocusing our military efforts and supporting our brave warfighters by laying out a strategy that will help produce a more secure, stable, and sovereign Afghanistan."

And Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who the president accused of spreading a "disgusting lie" about himself last week, said Trump proved Monday that he has "the smarts and the moral courage to listen to his generals and take their advice."

"I am very pleased with this plan, and I am very proud of my president," Graham said in an appearance on Fox News.

"The President has outlined an important change from an approach driven by arbitrary deadlines to a strategy based on conditions on the ground," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, in a statement. "He also made clear that the Afghan government needs to do its part in defending its people, ending havens for terrorists, and curtailing corruption."

Ohio Congressman Mike Turner, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said Trump made it clear that congressional Republicans "act as soon as possible to repeal the sequestration of defense in order to appropriately fund our military" and give American servicemen the resources they need to carry out their missions.

But not everyone was pleased with the Afghanistan strategy Trump described in his remarks.

"I don't trust him," said Rep. Eric Swalwell, a ranking Democratic on the House Intelligence panel. "Sixteen years of war in Afghanistan is enough. Time for Donald Trump to come to Congress for a vote on further action."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., tweeted that the president's speech was "low on details but raises serious questions about the future."

"There's nothing hasty about ending America's longest war," tweeted Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., a rare GOP dissenter. Amash said Trump "bowed to the military-industrial establishment" and "doubled down on perpetual war."

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Republicans praise Trump for charting new course on Afghanistan - Washington Examiner

By Daryl Johnson By Daryl Johnson August 21 at 6:00 AM Daryl Johnson is the former senior analyst for domestic terrorism at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He now owns DT Analytics, a private consulting company for state and local law enforcement.

Here's why you can't ignore violent right-wing extremists when it comes to domestic terrorist attacks. (Monica Akhtar/The Washington Post)

Eight years ago, I warned of a singular threat the resurgence of right-wing extremist activity and associated violence in the United States as a result of the 2008 presidential election, the financial crisis and the stock market crash. My intelligence report, meant only for law enforcement, was leaked by conservative media.

A political backlash ensued because of an objection to the label right-wing extremism. The report also rightly pointed out that returning military veterans may be targeted for recruitment by extremists. Republican lawmakers demanded then-Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano rescind my report. The American Legion formally requested an apology to veterans. Some in Congress called for me to be fired. Amid the turmoil, my warning went unheeded by Republicans and Democrats. Unfortunately, the Department of Homeland Security caved to the political pressure: Work related to violent right-wing extremism was halted. Law enforcement training also stopped. My unit was disbanded. And, one-by-one, my team of analysts left for other employment. By 2010, there were no intelligence analysts at DHS working domestic terrorism threats.

Since 2008, though, the body count from numerous acts of violent right-wing terrorism continued to rise steadily with very little media interest, political discussion or concern from our national leaders. As this threat grew, government resources were scaled back, law enforcement counterterrorism training was defunded and policies to counter violent extremism narrowed to focus solely on Muslim extremism. Heated political campaigning by Donald Trump in 2016 pandered to these extremists. Now, right-wing terrorism has become the national security threat which many government leaders have yet to acknowledge.

[The Trump administration is showing white nationalists it wont fight them at all]

The mere existence of so many heavily armed citizens filled with hate and anger toward various elements of American society is troubling enough in its own right. They number in the hundreds of thousands. More troubling is the violent convergence now underway within right-wing extremist movements sanitized with the label alt-right. Largely under the media radar, disaffected extremist groups with long histories of squabbling have been independently pooling resources, some even infiltrating our government through the outreach efforts of right-wing extremist groups such as the Oath Keepers and the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association. Over the past year, weve witnessed political violence erupt between right-wing extremist protesters and counterprotesters at pro-Trump rallies in Minnesota, Washington, California and now Virginia. This rebranded alt-right extremist movement has the ultimate goal to disrupt civil society, undermine government institutions and pick which laws if any they will abide by, and what supposed justice they will administer on their own authority.

But the story, in a very real sense, didnt begin in 2017. As with the Waco and Ruby Ridge sieges during the 1990s, the 2014 Bundy standoff in Nevada and the 2016 Malheur National Wildlife Refuge siege in Oregon have served not only as recruitment opportunities for anti-government and hate groups, but they also serve as a radicalization facilitator. Why? Because extremists in the 2014 and 2016 standoffs were allowed to take up arms against the federal government and threaten law enforcement officers without suffering any legal consequences.

[Not punishing the Bundys for the Nevada standoff led to the occupation in Oregon]

More recently, the renewed debates over Confederate monuments, same-sex marriage and Black Lives Matter has reinvigorated alt-right extremists to mobilize toward a more radical fringe element capable of violent action at any moment. Of further concern, a new generation of charismatic leaders within the white supremacist movement has emerged after Trumps election, creating an opportunity for disparate groups to unite under one banner.

Neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klan members, militia extremists, and other radical right-wing zealots march side-by-side at pro-Trump rallies across the country. Trumps endorsement of the border wall, the travel ban, mass deportations of illegal immigrants these ideas were touted on white supremacist message boards merely 10 years ago. Now theyre being put forth as official U.S. policy. Such controversial plans have placated white supremacists and anti-government extremists and will draw still more sympathetic individuals toward these extremist causes along with the sort of violent acts that too often follow, like Charlottesville.

Rhetoric from the president has further emboldened the alt-right. After the violence in Charlottesville, former KKK leader David Dukewelcomed President Trumps remarks: Thank you President Trump for your honesty & courage to tell the truth about #Charlottesville & condemn the leftist terrorists in BLM/Antifa. Similarly, other white nationalists praised the president for not attacking them.

[When white supremacists strike, police dont always strike back]

America finds itself overwhelmed with domestic terrorist attacks, increased terrorist plotting and the emergence of new polarizing political issues. Meanwhile, the U.S. government has not only failed to implement an effective strategy to combat right-wing terrorism; it is afraid to even raise the subject in public for fear of political backlash or contradicting its narrow-minded terrorism narrative (e.g., terrorism only comes from Muslims).

Extremists no longer hide anymore. They number in the hundreds of thousands and are extremely well-armed. The political apparatus and the news media appears confused in their reporting of the scope of the domestic terrorist threat some ignoring it completely. When 9/11 happened, the government made an effort to connect the dots beforehand, but failed because of a lack of communication among agencies. In this case, the government isnt even trying and worse, it appears to be enabling the threat to flourish.

The Islamist militants who brought down the World Trade Centers twin towers 16 years ago (or the ones who rammed their vehicles into pedestrians in London, Paris and Barcelona recently) had no domestic constituency. Their acts werent enshrined instantly on social media or obliquely heralded by the president, duly elected representatives or rationalized by media ideologues dead set on preventing a political backlash. The terrorists I have dedicated my life to stopping have had all that going in their favor. This is more than a formula for disaster. It virtually invites the disaster upon us.

Read more:

This is how you become a white supremacist

Attacks like Portlands will keep happening unless we all fight white supremacy

White supremacists love Vikings. But theyve got history all wrong.

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I warned of right-wing violence in 2009. Republicans objected. I was right. - Washington Post

AUGUSTA Several Republican lawmakers are expected to announce their concerns Tuesday about expanding Medicaid, a first step toward what could become a formal campaign to oppose the question voters will face on the Nov. 7 ballot.

Rick Bennett of Oxford, a former Maine Senate president and former chairman of the Maine Republican Party, will join three sitting Republican lawmakers at an 11 a.m. State House news conference to make an announcement of importance to Maine taxpayers, senior citizens and families, said Brent Littlefield, a Washington-D.C.-based political consultant who also advises Gov. Paul LePage and Maines 2nd District U.S. Rep Bruce Poliquin.

The news conference is not meant to be a kickoff event for a campaign opposing Question 2, which would expand Medicaid in Maine under the federal Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, Littlefield said.

Its going to be much more specific than that, he said. But he noted that a campaign may follow.

Joining Bennett at the news conference will be Reps. Heather Sirocki, R-Scarborough; Paula Sutton, R-Warren; and Stephanie Hawke, R-Boothbay Harbor.

Maine Equal Justice Partners, a progressive advocacy group for low-income people, gathered more than 67,000 signatures of registered Maine voters to put the Medicaid expansion question on the Nov. 7 ballot. The proposal would expand Medicaid coverage to adults under 65 who earn below $16,000 for a single person and $22,000 for a family of two.

Currently, 19- and 20-year-olds, individuals with disabilities, the elderly and certain low-income parents qualify for Medicaid, which operates as MaineCare.

David Farmer, a spokesman for the expansion campaign, has said it will reduce the number of people without health insurance, it will create jobs.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called Maines uninsured rate of 8.8 percent in 2015 an all-time low, but Maine Hospital Association President Steven Michaud has said state eligibility rules cut MaineCare enrollment by 75,000 people in recent years, according to The Associated Press.

Michaud said that move shifted costs to Maine hospitals, which are providing about $250 million a year in charity care while Medicaid payments to hospitals are decreasing.

Expanding Medicaid is estimated to cost Maine $54 million each year once it is fully implemented, according to the ballot questions fiscal note.

That figure includes $27 million in estimated savings and the cost of 103 new state positions to administer the expansion. The federal government would chip in $525 million each year, and lawmakers would have to appropriate the $54 million if the ballot question passes.

But Republican opponents to the expansion, including Gov. Paul LePage, have said the expansion, even with the matching federal funds, would decimate the state budget and cause the Legislature to increase state tax rates to cover the shortfalls.

LePage has repeatedly told radio talk show hosts the expansion would set the states fiscal house in disarray for decades to come. Also in question is whether the Affordable Care Act will remain in place under President Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress, where both lawmakers and Trump have promised to repeal and replace the landmark law, which is considered a key accomplishment of former President Obama.

The ACA provides federally matching Medicaid funds for states that expand the health insurance program for the nations poorest citizens, and while the repeal effort has yet to succeed, the issue remains a top concern for lawmakers in Washington. Under the ACA, states that expand Medicaid would see a gradual tapering of the federal reimbursement rate to a low of 90 percent of a states expansion costs in 2020.

Scott Thistle can be contacted at 791-6330 or at:

[emailprotected]

Twitter: thisdog

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Republicans organize to raise concerns about Medicaid expansion in Maine - Press Herald

President Trump on Aug. 15 said that "there's blame on both sides" for the violence that erupted in Charlottesville on Aug. 12. (Bastien Inzaurralde/The Washington Post)

The party of Lincoln is now the party of Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis and Southern slave owners who decided to kill fellow Americans so that they could keep men, women and children enslaved. The Republican Party, in other words, has obliterated its entire historical legacy and become the party of the Enemies of Lincoln.

And lets be clear: Republicanscannotsay, Thats not us thats just President Trump. They supported him, they elected him, they defended him and they gave him the aura of a normal presidency. They cannot be the party of Lincoln and be the party of Trump. In that vein, we can dispense with Republicans outrage, frustration, anger and all other meaningless expressions of internal sentiment. Unless and until they are prepared to do something not just send tweets to politically disown Trump, the party is toast and none of its members should be elected or reelected.

How would they do this? First, elected officials must deny Trump the audience he so desperately craves. They need not appear with him, nor invite him to the Hill. (The State of the Union can be delivered from the White House or in writing; he would besmirch the House by appearing there.) Lawmakers and state officials should not troop to the White House for photo ops. They can communicate with the White House by phone or through aides. In short, Trump must be shunned and ostracized. He is not fit for polite company, let alone the presidency. He has demolished the rules of civilized behavior, and therefore should enjoy none of the ceremonial niceties that are extended to normal presidents.

Second, beyond resolutions condemning Trumps remarks, every member of Congress should do his or her utmost to remove the neo-Nazi iconography in their districts and states. Neo-Nazis have claimed the Confederacy as their own and therefore have reminded the rest of us that the Confederate statues are not tributes to patriotism, gallantry or liberty but to treason, inhumanity and slavery. That is why neo-Nazis identify with these symbols of the Old South. That is why they have no place in a democratic society built on the principle that All men are created equal. State and local officials need to carefully examine school curriculum to make sure students are not confused as to the heroes and the villains in the Civil War. Every student should learn to spot and debunk the Lost Cause propaganda. Perhaps April 9 should be a national holiday commemorating the Confederacys surrender and the magnanimity displayed by President Abraham Lincoln and U.S. generals toward their defeated foes.

Third, Cabinet members, sub-Cabinet officials, staffers and outside participants on councils, commissions and committees must leave the administration. Its not enough, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, to look on with a pained expression as the president declares that some of the white nationalists were very fine folks. He deceived you and others as to what he would say and he has shown himself unfit. You cannot serve in the administration of a neo-Nazi sympathizer. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, why stay in an administration in which you command so little respect and in which you must lend your own reputation to a disgraceful president?(Defense Secretary Jim Mattis should remain, a final backstop to prevent a military disaster.)

Fourth, Republicans must treat the president as they would someone not of their party for he is not, to repeat, of the party of Lincoln. If Hillary Clinton refused to release her tax returns, hired unqualified relatives, kept business ventures that posed a conflict of interest and violated the Constitutions emoluments clause, Republicans would commence hearings and pass legislation to put an end to all of it. Its long past the time that Trump should be permitted to escape the kind of inquiry Republicans would insist upon for any Democratic president. By refusing to do so, the GOP is saying: Hes one of ours. Hes a Republican, so we dont rock the boat.

Fifth, now would be a fine time for formation of a third party, one that can at the end of the Trump presidency repeal and replace the GOP. The Free Republican Party, the Appomattox Republicans (It cannot be said enough: The Confederates werelosers) or whatever ex-Republicans in the center-right call themselves can endorse for office defectors from the GOP and reclaim Republicans who have disassociated themselves with the GOP thanks to Trump. Moderate Republican House members of the Tuesday Group, the newCentrist Project(dedicated to backing independent candidates), members of Stand Up Republic (founded by 2016 conservative independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin and his former running mate, Mindy Finn) and others have the chance to stake their claim as the true successors to the party of Lincoln. Those who have wrestled with the question as to whether the GOP could be reformed or whether it should be discarded in light of Trumps GOP takeover have their answer. If they cannot disgorge him, they must start over.

In sum, Republicans words are insufficient and, at this point, insufferable. When we look back at this time, the only thing people will ask is: What did you do? Republicans will need a better answer than I was outraged and gave tough quotes on background.

Read more from the original source:
Republicans, cut the outrage. Its time to disown Trump ...

Frustrated Republicans lashed out at President Trump for saying there is blame on both sidesafter violent protests staged by white nationalists over the weekend in Charlottesville, Va.

Trump had been facing criticism for failing to immediately condemn racist protesters, including neo-Nazi groups and the KKK by name, a step he took at a Mondaypress conference.

Buton Tuesday, Trump said the racists were not the only ones responsible for the violence. He also blamed alt-left protesters, claiming they ignited violence against the racists by coming at them and swinging clubs.

Republicans strongly rebuked the president's remarks.

"We must be clear, Speaker Paul RyanPaul RyanGOP chairman to discuss Charlottesville as domestic terrorism at hearing Trumps isolation grows GOP lawmaker: Trump 'failing' in Charlottesville response MORE (R-Wis.) said on Twitter. White supremacy is repulsive. This bigotry is counter to all this country stands for. There can be no moral ambiguity.

Sen. Marco RubioMarco RubioScarborough: Trump has chosen the 'wrong side' THE MEMO: Trump reignites race firestorm RNC spokeswoman: GOP stands behind Trump's message 'of love and inclusiveness' MORE (R-Fla.), who had slammed Trumps initial failure to condemn white supremacist groups by name, said the organizers of the event initially meant as a protest against taking down a Confederate statue are the only ones deserving of blame.

The organizers of events which inspired & led to #charlottesvilleterroristattack are 100% to blame for a number of reasons. 1/6

They are adherents of an evil ideology which argues certain people are inferior because of race, ethnicity or nation of origin. 2/6

When entire movement built on anger & hatred towards people different than you,it justifies & ultimately leads to violence against them 3/6

These groups today use SAME symbols & same arguments of #Nazi & #KKK, groups responsible for some of worst crimes against humanity ever 4/6

Mr. President,you can't allow #WhiteSupremacists to share only part of blame.They support idea which cost nation & world so much pain 5/6

The #WhiteSupremacy groups will see being assigned only 50% of blame as a win.We can not allow this old evil to be resurrected 6/6

Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas), who has a black father and white mother, told a story on CNN about how his dad had experienced racism while growing up in Texas.

Hurd noted that former KKK leader David Duke thanked Trump for blaming alt-left protesters.

I don't think anybody shouldbe looking at getting props froma Grand Dragon of the KKK as anykind of sign of success, Hurd said.

The Texas Republican said he was not proud of how Trump had initially responded to Charlottesville and that the president had a unique opportunity to fix his error but had failed.

Apologize, Hurd said. Racism, bigotry, anti-Semitismof any form is unacceptable.The leader of the free worldshould be unambiguous aboutthat.

GOP Sen. Jerry MoranJerry MoranRepublicans rebuke Trump over Charlottesville remarks GOP senator wants classified briefing on North Korea McConnell faces questions, but no test to his leadership MORE (Kan.) said that Trump's remarks were particularly egregious for a sitting president.

White supremacy, bigotry & racism have absolutely no place in our society & no one - especially POTUS - should ever tolerate it. Full STMT: pic.twitter.com/dufC1MGWgB

Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), the No. 3 Republican in the House, also criticized the comments on Twitter.

I was clear about this bigotry & violence over the weekend and I'll repeat it today: We must defeat white supremacy and all forms of hatred. https://t.co/iOaVvE8txs

I don't understand what's so hard about this, tweeted Rep. Steve Stivers (Ohio), the head of the National Republican Congressional Committee. White supremacists and Neo-Nazis are evil and shouldn't be defended.

I don't understand what's so hard about this. White supremacists and Neo-Nazis are evil and shouldn't be defended.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) also took to Twitter to criticize Trump.

Blaming "both sides" for #Charlottesville?! No. Back to relativism when dealing with KKK, Nazi sympathizers, white supremacists? Just no.

This story was last updated at 6:57 p.m.

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Republicans rebuke Trump over Charlottesville remarks | TheHill