This post is not intended in any way to be a political post. It doesn’t matter what side you are on, it’s purely about deal making. We all do it here. Buying, selling or leasing you are in the business of negotiating. I can’t help but think that our president doesn’t really need 5.7 B , he just started high on his asking price. SAME AS WE ALL DO WHEN WE SELL. Then when it comes to actually building it he will negotiate for a lower price ( like he did with AirForce1). SAME AS WE ALL DO WHEN WE BUY. I thinking it is investor style leadership. I’m not saying it’s right or wrong but it would at least make sense to me. Political affiliations aside, do my fellow LLs think this is an effective strategy on such a large scale?

I believe that you have accurately outlined what is taking place.

Don't forget time. By making something stretch out in the political world you leave your opponent time to make a mistake. By knowing your next move, should your opponent slip up you are right there with your next solution.

Look ahead to book titles which will highlight "wall" in their titles.

Probably yes. But given typical Govt delays, cost over-runs, and lack of any significant accountability my guess is the final figure will be at least 10x whatever is approved.

It's all about negotiating and posturing to prove you're tough on whatever your side wants. I see that on social media all the time. "Watch how Politician A DESTROYS Politician B!" The Comment sections are always amusing and prescient.

Interesting, and thanks for the summary about the book.

Whoa, S i d, that's a smooth allusion to Caesar's "panem et circenses"/"Bread and circuses."

Rents,

Good topic!

MY non-political response:

I tell my 30-something age offspring that in their adult lifetime, the time they have been aware of anything political from teen govt class forward, they have only seen weak or mild mannered presidents. Suddenly we have a pres who talks like a Get 'er Done business person working a deal, much like most LLs here.

I tell them to stay calm he has a plan, it's just not normal mealy mouth politics.

Don't let the media's hissy fits get to you.

Politics is not about doing the right thing, it's about showing power. If you figure out you are not getting the power, maneuver a way to allow the thing that's going to happen with or without you to happen while SAVING FACE, perhaps even taking credit for it!

ASSUMING the wall thing passes, this pres will go down in history as the guy who made it happen.

Plus the door will be opened for more wall money.

Fun Fact: $5 billion is only .8% of the federal budget. Less than 1%!

I agree, he is playing a smart, coy game.

BRAD

PS What about El Chapo's $14Bill? for the wall I don't think anyone would disagree!

Pmh, it may not pertains to landlords but it certainly pertains to investors. It's a "don't show em all your cards" lesson.

Ask for way more than you expect to get, let them talk you down and land on target. Negotiation basics on a huge scale.

Putting things in perspective on how much we spend on things. Our local newspaper contributors seem to wring their hands and moaning over the 5.7 bill But really compare it to other things we spend on,..

I agree with PMH.

And I think the attempt to spin this as "Yeah, this was his plan all along to ask for $5B because he only needed much less" is a joke. Most estimates show the actual cost for what he wants well above $5B. And, as was said above, the original ask was like 5 times that.

This is simply NOT a situation where he's just being a clever negotiator to get what he really wanted. That just isn't what happened.

- John...

I have a question:

Suppose a complete wall is built under DT.

As a landlord, I WANT more people to legally immigrate here, especially properly vetted Mexicans. I have found them in general to be family oriented, polite, pleasant, and hard working; unlike many of the entitled deadbeats who bounce from eviction to eviction. We should make the process of immigrating more efficient and less bewildering than it is now.

Our country is currently at less than Zero population growth. Properly entered immigrants will pay into the social services system as they work legitimate jobs. Their children will grow up to do the same. We landlords will likely get many people renting from us who fit our criteria (eventually).

That all said, I also want beefed up border security to help to keep out the criminal element. And ZERO "sanctuary cities", where the criminal element is permitted to be unmolested while they spread their drugs and crime.

Fred:

A new scenario came up in the news about Amazon not going into NY.

The discussion is not supposed to be on the merits of such a move but rather what was or was not offered by the parties involved.

With this move I imagine there were multiple groups that would gain or lose. Addressing all of them and their concerns may be what broke down the deal.