The Democrats’ critics on the left are demanding that the minority party use all of its leverage to stymie the Trump agenda, even if that means forcing a government shutdown. Fortunately, more mainstream party members can now use Trump's "Shithole"” comment as a pretext to drop their support for an immigration compromise in the hope of eventually coaxing Republicans into a better deal.
Meanwhile, the GOP had concluded that it would be unable to reach a long-term spending accord by the Friday deadline, which means that chances of a government shutdown have increased this week as yet another "stop-gap" deal is the only option. The government has been operating on short-term spending authorizations since the last two-year budget expired in September. The current short-term spending bill expires Friday at midnight.
Last week, members of a bipartisan senate group that had been negotiating a DACA compromise for four months said they'd reached an agreement in principle. Then the Washington Post published its story about Trump's response to leaving measures protecting Haitian and El Salvadoran immigrants intact.
There also appears to be some resistance from the White House. This morning, Trump retweeted a tweet he had sent Monday accusing Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, a member of the Democrat’s congressional leadership, of lying about the “shithole” remark, an affront that, Trump suggested, could preclude a DACA deal, the Washington Post reported.
Senator Dicky Durbin totally misrepresented what was said at the DACA meeting. Deals can’t get made when there is no trust! Durbin blew DACA and is hurting our Military.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2018
Should a deal be reached, the most likely outcome would be another short-term spending stopgap that would expire in mid-February. According to WSJ, Freedom Caucus leader Rep. Mark Meadows suggested that his faction would agree to a short-term compromise if there was no other alternative to avert a shutdown. Extending the deadline would require what is known as a continuing resolution.
“There’s a great pushback to another CR, but with that being said, I don’t see that a shutdown’s an option, so obviously a CR is probably the only thing we’ve got in our tool bag before the 19th,” he said.
But some lawmakers, tired of perpetual can-kicking, have said they might not vote for a short-term bill.
“There’s a double chance I might not vote for it,” Rep. Tom Rooney (R., Fla.), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said about his support for a short-term spending bill. Among other things, he is concerned that disaster-relief money needed by orange growers in his state would be left out.
Of course, there are several other issues in addition to reauthroizing DACA that could disrupt the negotiations. Congress is also figuring out how to pay for a long-term reauthorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program and lawmakers in areas affected by recent natural disasters are asking for an increase in relief funding, which could complicate negotiations over even a short-term solution.
Aides to key negotiators from both parties planned to meet Tuesday in an effort to rekindle budget talks, setting up a Wednesday meeting of the leaders themselves. If they cannot agree, the government would shut down at midnight Friday for the first time since 2013.
Per Politico, Democrats will try to push Republicans into some sort of promise on DACA in exchange for cooperation with spending, but Republicans and Trump could blame them if a deal isn't reached. Despite the finger-pointing, Politico reckons that Speaker Ryan may have the most to lose.
"A government shutdown would be nettlesome for him, to say the least. He and his leadership team are seeing projections that they could lose something like 40 seats - which would cost them their majority. A shutdown does not do him any good. Ryan will need to cobble together 218 Republican votes to proceed without any Democratic votes.
Separately, one Forbes writer argued that Trump needs a shutdown to reassure his base that he’s still in control of the Republican Party.
Given the various firestorms that have occured just this past week - the book, the remark about Haiti and African countries and the hush money paid to a porn star - Trump may want to reassure his base that he is still very much in charge by refusing to sign even a simple, clean and short-term extension of the current continuing resolution. Even if it doesn't include anything about immigration, Trump could still demand funding for his wall and say he is more than willing to shut down the government until he gets it.
Trump would say this shows he is indeed the toughest of negotiators, that he's still determined to protect the U.S. and that he's keeping his campaign promises. All of these would be red meat for the Trump base and, in the White House's mind, would move the narrative away from the book, the remark and the porn star to something politically positive.
But rest assured: If a shutdown occurs, it probably wouldn’t last longer than a couple of days. According to Forbes, Trump would then tell Congress that he will accept a short-term bill because “progress” had been made during weekend negotiations. This, of course, presupposes that Democrats and Republicans agree on a deal first.
But unless Trump decided to do something extraordinary like shutting the air traffic control system, the only real direct impact over the weekend would be on the very few people trying to use the suddenly closed national parks.The positive political impact Trump would be seeking from the shutdown would be immediate, however.
For that reason, if there is a Trump-induced shutdown this week, it wouldn't be at all surprising if it only lasted until next Monday. Trump would then tell Congress he will sign a short-term CR to reopen the government because (regardless of whether or not it was true) there was progress made over the weekend.
He would also at least hint that he'll shut the government again in the future if that's what it will take to get what he wants.
Meanwhile Republicans are already accusing Democrats of hamstringing the military, but Democrats, like Trump, have an optics problem: They need to prove to the #resistance that they’re capable of standing up to Trump and the Republicans. Since the start of his administration, they’ve appeared to be retreating. With the midterm elections coming up later this year, the pressure to change that perception will only intensify.
Comments
Ask not what your shithole can do for you, ask what you can do for your shithole
Extend and pretend
In reply to Ask not what your shithole… by Dilluminati
Not a shithole.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj6r3-sQr58
In reply to Extend and pretend by Haus-Targaryen
It's all about your base and the appearance you are supporting your base. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. But it is all about appearances and not fact.
In reply to Not a shithole… by eclectic syncretist
Hi,
I'm the contemporary environmentalist movement, have we met?
In reply to They need to prove to the … by Cognitive Dissonance
I don't want no trouble with Trump,
but he ain't no Do-Right Daddy.
In reply to Hi, … by Haus-Targaryen
If it hadn't been shithole, it would have been something else.
In reply to I don't want no trouble with… by Deep Snorkeler
Wholly shit methinks
In reply to If it hadn't been shithole,… by Joe Davola
Let the shit hit the fan if the Dims pull this stunt... Good luck in the mid-terms!!!
In reply to Wholly sit methinks by ShrNfr
LOL ... 'Shithole-Gate'
The Circus Show must Go On ...
In reply to Let the shit hit the fan if… by Keyser
Heck no, let the government get shutdown for a few weeks.
I'd love to hear all the human interest stories about federal employees having to be permanently laid off and fill in the ranks of the H1B's that are being sent home.
Less government = Better government.
In reply to LOL ... by BaBaBouy
Off topic, but an inconvenient fact is that the average IQ for Haiti (arguably "A Shithole Country" that was robbed blind by the Clintonistas) is a whopping 67.
FORWARD!
In reply to Heck no, let the government… by SilverRhino
I am Shitholio. I must have T.P. for my bunggggghooooole.
Are you threatening me?
In reply to Off topic, but an… by MagicHandPuppet
It's ironic that conservative voters have been asking the GOP to cut spending, and if necessary shut down the government to do it, but they've never done it because they love the spending (e.g. the GW Bush spending when the GOP controlled both the House and Senate). Now the Democrats want to shut it down, but to get DACA.
I agree, let them shut it down for weeks or months. That will affect everyone who gets government checks (welfare queens, bureaucrats, and those on Social Security). Everyone will blame the Democrats, and rightly so. At least it will save taxpayers some money and show the productive how little we need most of the government.
In reply to Heck no, let the government… by SilverRhino
The Judeo-Left is willing to shut down the government on behalf of illegal aliens.
Think about that.
Imagine China shutting down over some Burmese who snuck across the border. Imagine Japan shutting down over some Norks who swam the channel. Imagine Israel shutting down over some Arabs who tunneled under the wire.
Imagine the government shutting down over people who don't belong here, who broke the law to get here, who break the law by staying here. It would never happen in a serious country.
Fine. Shut down the government. Let the Death Squads eliminate all Enemies without federal interference.
We don't have to live like this. Kristallnacht is coming to Weimerica.
In reply to LOL ... by BaBaBouy
Still waiting for a recent emmigrant from a shithole to come forward and say, "Nooooooooooooo, that place is not a shit hole. It's a lovely country. Why, I wouldn't mind living there myself ..."
In reply to Wholly sit methinks by ShrNfr
I'm not like the idiots in Washington. I actually know people from these countries...guess what. NONE of them even want to return to their "homelands" to visit. These countries where 99.x% of the people would leave in a heartbeat and NEVER look back. THAT IS THE POINT!!
I truly do not believe Trump was making a black/white comparison because I don't think he is wired that way. He compares to a country like Norway because 99.x% of Norwegians would NOT leave their country to come to the US. THAT IS THE POINT!!!
It's not racist either to ask the question no one wants to answer. Maybe Oprah can help us with this one.
Why is it, that in countries with a population that is 90+% "black", 90+% of the people want to leave that country?
This is a disturbing, and very inconvenient truth that no one wants to address.
In reply to Still waiting for a recent… by PT
Trump bluntly said what 100M US Deplorables are thinking. Hooray for Trumpian honesty!
In reply to I'm not like the idiots in… by Antifaschistische
Still waiting for a recent emmigrant from a shithole to come forward and say, "Nooooooooooooo, that place is not a shit hole. It's a lovely country. Why, I wouldn't mind living there myself ..."
In reply to Wholly sit methinks by ShrNfr
Look at that! Duplicate comments five minutes apart. That's why I'm leaving it there. The duplicate appeared when I was trying to respond to a different comment. Bizarre.
Next time I'll edit and minimize.
In reply to Still waiting for a recent… by PT
You just pushed the Save button twice. We've all done it.
In reply to Look at that! Duplicate… by PT
Five minutes apart???
In reply to You just pushed the Save… by Lord Raglan
Almost like the Hedge has become a ... shithole.
In reply to Five minutes apart??? by PT
Look at the audacity of these jerkoffs! 20 years ago, the populace would’ve seen right through the shithole distraction, but today’s citizenry is beyond retarded... and TPTB know it. Actually, they created it.
In reply to If it hadn't been shithole,… by Joe Davola
Since we are on the topic of shitholes...
Every time I read one of your posts, I am reminded of this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qYiX_b35EQ
In reply to I don't want no trouble with… by Deep Snorkeler
dimwits are once again demonstrating they can't get out of their own way
guess kiddies will now have to pay for their own healthcare
or is it just the entitlement baby machine mommies with 5 different daddies
In reply to Hi, … by Haus-Targaryen
The proper term is "Baby Daddy".
In reply to dimwits are once again… by sabaj49
You might have met Tricky Dicky Durban who was elected to represent citizens of this country—the USA—but sounds more like he was elected to represent assorted Latin American nations, but mostly the country of Mexico. It is tricky to figure out which country’s citizens Dicky represents.
In reply to Hi, … by Haus-Targaryen
You should see the district he represents, it's a shithole!!!
In reply to You might have met Tricky… by Endgame Napoleon
“None of the rights in the Bill of Rights are absolute.” ~ Dick Durbin
Actually, they are absolute, DICK, and your opinion of them is irrelevant.
In reply to You might have met Tricky… by Endgame Napoleon
Sh*tholes have movements
In reply to Hi, … by Haus-Targaryen
Dont worry Trump will cave. We will have DACA, Haitians, More welfare, and money for orange groves that arent there..... the 5 people left in the middle class and their kids will pay for it.
In reply to They need to prove to the … by Cognitive Dissonance
Trump seeks forgiveness for this loose tongue by giving away the store piece by piece, giving us away. He needs to STFU and quietly crush the troublemakers.
In reply to Dont worry Trump will cave. … by gatorengineer
Actually his big mouth in this case has spurned an honest debate over who should really be allowed to come here and why. We've brought in 100,000 Somalians under the Magic Negro. Why? They are generally illiterate, hard core Muslim, won't assimilate and some say they have an average IQ of 68, barely smart enough to drive a car. That's the case with nearly all the Sub-Saharan African immigrants, coupled with the inherent cultural dishonesty they, like the Mexicans, bring with them.
In reply to Trump seeks forgiveness for… by two hoots
Who the fuck would drive our cabs if not for the Somali's?
In reply to Actually his big mouth in… by Lord Raglan
We already got the increased child tax credits of up to $6,444 for illegal aliens with US-born kids, adding to their $116 billion in yearly upkeep costs. Those help illegal aliens to undercut citizen job seekers who must cover their household bills with earned-only income, un-augmented by monthly welfare and child-tax-credit welfare. Hope you are wrong about cave #2.
In reply to Dont worry Trump will cave. … by gatorengineer
Global Warming just froze all the Florida orange groves. So nothing to save.
In reply to Dont worry Trump will cave. … by gatorengineer
President Trump will hold his ground. He attempted to negotiate in good faith and the Demon-rats blew a golden opportunity to help the people they purport to want to help. PRESIDENT TRUMP: SHUT IT DOWN UNTIL YOU FORCE THEIR HAND TO FUND THE WALL.
In reply to They need to prove to the … by Cognitive Dissonance
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/16/08/482F083900000578-0-image-a…
shithole indeed
In reply to Not a shithole… by eclectic syncretist
Give the guy that designed that an H-2B visa and get him over here. Kind of people that we need....
In reply to http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i… by Dilluminati
I have the flu.. I need an industrial shithole just for the gas I'm passing now.. saliva gathering.. I think I'm going to puke
In reply to Give the guy that designed… by otschelnik
That's why they want to come over here. They don't have the technology to fix this shithole so they have to come over here to use ones that work....
In reply to http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i… by Dilluminati
I saw that at the UK as a "hack" and it well sort of looked like a good shithole pic. The funnel and red warning cone.. classic There are two actually funny cartoons I couldn't find where trump is betting money he could trend the word shithole and another betting money he could make CNN say it.. I don't do social media so I can't find them.. but actually the best commentary on the whole thing to date.
In reply to That's why they want to come… by Lord Raglan
Same difference, or so I've been told.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgbpcthTejs
In reply to Not a shithole… by eclectic syncretist
Shut it down for good
In reply to Extend and pretend by Haus-Targaryen
We can only dream ...
In reply to Shut it down for good by HockeyFool
Cmon, man! .Gov is NEVER gonna give the sheeple the opportunity to recognize how little .gov is needed. It's like the little kid threatening to hold his breath til he passes out. If only we could be so lucky.
In reply to We can only dream ... by Haus-Targaryen
Government workers, like a lot of other retained crony-parent workers, are frequently absentee, anyway. So, in effect, it is shut down.
In reply to Shut it down for good by HockeyFool
But still on payroll.
No bueno.
In reply to Government workers, like a… by Endgame Napoleon
I saw some funny cartoons where Trump is betting that he can make CNN say shithole 200 times.
In reply to Extend and pretend by Haus-Targaryen
Pagination