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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRepublicans lose all the way around on this shutdown
Last edited Mon Jan 22, 2018, 12:09 PM - Edit history (3)
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...their entire calculation that Democrats would be blamed for shutting down government for protecting Dreamers, or whatever, is based on their belief that the public is going to react by blaming one side or the other, and the winner runs the table.
There's a question of how much the public will really notice or care, but right now republicans are taking the most heat, because of the obvious fact that they are in charge of all three branches of government. It strains credulity to blame Dems (as republicans have) for choosing 'illegal immigration' over Americans affected by the shutdown, because people can see Trump pulling the rug from under the Dreamers, manufacturing a crisis where there was already a productive solution in place. They can see Trump immorally risking making these young folks into criminals with his reversal of DACA - children of immigrants who were promised there would be no repercussions from registering under the immigration order.
People can see Trump and the republican party arbitrarily refusing to extend health benefits to children under CHIP. They can see republicans refusing to put the extension to a vote - that is until it was convenient to use children's health as a bargaining chip in their cynical scheme to short-fund the government with these costly continuing resolutions.
Thing is, republicans need government to open, more than Democrats. There's little reason for Democrats to grease the skids for republicans to further tear away at the benefits and protections the middle-class and working poor rely on to survive. There's no reason to open the door to more attempts to eviscerate health benefits, or stand aside so republicans can further loot the treasury for their wealthy friends - no reason to remove obstacles to business as usual for republicans if they're not willing to include Democrats in the decision-making process, and willing to allow votes on Democratic amendments.
If republicans aren't willing to, at least, keep their promises to Dreamers and children's health, there's no reason at all for Democrats to budge. The burden of responsibility for keeping government running in the interest of the American people is on the party in power, no matter who republicans blame for their ineptness and incompetence in allowing this shutdown to come to pass.
It won't be long before the public remembers how negligent this republican Congress and their president have been in producing and delivering anything of substance or value. If they think about it long enough they're going to realize these republicans haven't succeeded in anything more than feathering their own wealthy nests; republicans throughout government encouraged in their graft by the grifter-in-chief whose family flaunts their limitless wealth in front of our struggling workers - much of that wealth enhanced by exploiting and trading on their positions in our government.
Democrats have very little to lose by holding firm as the republican party soaks in this hot water they've drawn for themselves. Their dystopian fantasy ends here. They've thrown themselves, headlong, into this boiling kettle, curiously demanding that Democrats stop throwing more logs onto the fire. Time to watch them burn.
BumRushDaShow
(129,081 posts)The comments from Drumpf from 2013 about the "President being responsible for a shutdown" have been making the rounds.
BumRushDaShow
(129,081 posts)Date: January 21, 2018
Contact: Elena Gaona
Email: egaona@americanprogress.org
Washington, D.C Two days into the government shutdown, Americans clearly blame President Trump and congressional Republicans for the closure, a new poll released tonight finds.
Fifty-two percent of Americans said they blame Donald Trump and the Republicans in Congress for the government shutdown, according to the poll, which was conducted by Public Policy Polling (PPP) for the Center for American Progress Action Fund.
The research released today also finds strong support (58 percent overall) for protecting Dreamers as a part of a funding bill to reopen the government, including 42 percent strongly favoring such a provision.
Most concerning for President Trump and congressional Republicans, their current position of blocking protections for Dreamers even if it means the government remains shut down is supported by only 33 percent of Americans.
https://www.americanprogressaction.org/press/release/2018/01/21/169587/release-americans-blame-president-trump-republicans-congress-government-shutdown-new-poll-shows/
bigtree
(85,998 posts)...is a big leap from some polls before the cloture vote which had it about even.
This isn't too complicated for most of the public. Most want to do the right thing by these young folks and others who came to this country as children.
Link to tweet
titaniumsalute
(4,742 posts)A week after the shutdown everyone will forget about it anyway and we will have more porn stars, sexual abuse victims, North Korea missiles, stupid Tweets, Russia-Gate, Nunes stupidity, etc.
bigtree
(85,998 posts)...more indictments.
BumRushDaShow
(129,081 posts)Iliyah
(25,111 posts)moral compassions even tho they claim GAWD is on their side. In my opinion, they have lost any credibility.
bigtree
(85,998 posts)...republicans are open and unapologetic about their bigotry, channeling the Klan right now.
NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)but, Republicans still picked up 9 friggin' seats in the Senate and 12 or 13 in the House. The shutdown got their base fired up to get out to vote. The liberal base was not nearly as fired up, even though Obama did issue some second term executive orders that we cheered about. That 9-0 pickup stopped Merrick Garland from being on the Supreme Court
bigtree
(85,998 posts)...it had much the same dynamic as today with voters desperate to undo the results of the presidential election fired up and dominating at the polls.
Midterms are mostly 'anti' election contests with voters more concerned with voting against something or the other than satisfied voters showing up to register their support or approval.
gemini60616
(5 posts)Never underestimate the stupidity of the American voter. After all, that's how Dump got elected.
bigbrother05
(5,995 posts)Losing only 12/13 was a strong result for Obama.
This whole exercise is a GOP ploy to try to hold on to the House in the midterms. Right now they have a 24 seat cushion, anything more than an average margin will sweep the swamp.
If the Senate swings as well, Trumpolini will explode, no more GOP witch hunts.
pressbox69
(2,252 posts)women, people of color and immigrants are fired up this time. Very fired up and perhaps loaded for Russian elephant in 2018.
bdamomma
(63,868 posts)will crash and burn.
FSogol
(45,488 posts)they'll get angry. Unfortunately, the longer it is shutdown, the more the economy takes a hit and the more people suffer.
bigtree
(85,998 posts)...is putting the spotlight on the most vulnerable recipients of government resource and funding.
There's certainly risk which increases as this thing wears on, but it's interesting how it is actually forcing real, working discussions between lawmakers right now about finding compromise solutions for DACA and CHIP, discussions and interest in these issues that just wasn't there a few weeks ago.
I think this a perfect flashpoint, mostly because it was republican arrogance and obstinance that brought us here, believing they would benefit, for instance, in holding out on CHIP to use children's health as a bargaining tool in the budget debate.
If this brings about any semblance of regular order in Congress and the Senate, Dems' resistance will be well worth it. It's not as if government has been under perfect guardianship up until now.
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,414 posts)it still seems surreal and unimaginable that Trump got elected President and everything is unfolding the way it is.