It's high time Congress and we the citizens took control of the news cycle. I understand Trump is now planning to declare a national emergency, to supersede all discussion of the wall and also to push his pending impeachment trial out of the spotlight. I also believe he is trying to get Cohen not to testify due (purportedly) to fear of Trump and his goons. We already have all the evidence we need to remove this unfit person from the Presidency --witness tampering and obstruction of justice among them.
2
This whole shutdown is like a bad day time soap episode complete with enough side plots to keep it going for a long time. Except it is real. Also real is the appeasement of Putin and Kim Jong Un by this President.
With Trump - who holds a grudge like a kid hanging onto his candy - as President, I fear that the repercussions will continue long after the shutdown is settled. Probably till he hands off power in Jan 2021.
The only solution is a big sweeping takeover of all three elected bodies by the Democrats in 2020. Until then we will all be in survival mode. And hope no real security threat occurs.
Why would anyone expect Mitch McConnell to hold anything but a symbolic worthless vote. That seems to be all that he does. He is the poster child for term limits even at his advanced age.
2
I don't envy Pelosi having to communicate with these clowns - Curly (Trump), Larry (Giuliani) and Moe (McConnell). What a nightmare.
3
First of all, the only reason the Gov't is "shutdown" is because of the way the media & Never-Trump resistance crowd has responded to Trumps election & treated his supporters.
If it weren't for the hysterical reaction by the rabid, fanatical Progressive ideologues who detest Trump & call him & his supporters ...."racist, fascist, Nazi's".
People whom, are NEVER held accountable for placing such vile scarlet letters upon relatively innocent people. .....there would be no shutdown at all.
This is not a fight between Republicans and the Democrats. It is between the intransigent Republican leadership and America, its people and the Constitution.
4
The Nation, with the help of the Press, to grind to a stop and focus on one issue. Americans, who are out of work now because of this G.O.P., and this tendency of many of us to be diverted.
Trump's Wall is not going anywhere and it does not need to be fed or sent to school. Let us find a solution to break this gridlock.
The Ides of March are upon us, and let it be known that America has zero tolerance for injuring and causing fear in those of us, willing, capable and fit, to earn a decent living and pull those of us, less fortunate, through this despicable chapter in our history.
Stand strong, and let us remember that the privilege of being an American brings responsibilities toward others, under the banner of what could be the greatest Nation in the World.
2
The key question, of course, is why did Republicans in the Senate vote to keep government running a month ago, then vote today against what is essentially the same concept. Only they can answer. Either they stand for no principles whatsoever, or they kowtow to this president without thinking, or both.
7
I am with those commenters who objected to the implied equivalence of Pelosi with Trump. I realize from the context of the full essay that was not the intent, but in these dire and unprecedented times strenuous effort must be made to describe this and every other outlandish situation exactly as it is - a petulant child of a president goaded by the most extreme media aided by the most offensive senate majority leader in a generation.
93
Mitch Mconnell is a traitor to this country who continues to do terrible harm, not only to the citizens of Kentucky, but to every American.
he should be fired.
11
President Trump has made several offers now. Each one is instantly dismissed by Speaker Pelosi. Americans want a compromise. The president seems to understand this.
1
@AACNY: Do we really? How much do you like getting bullied or taken hostage? Many would like to have this very complex immigration reform negotiation take place without any side-issues further complicating consensus-building, and without afflicting anyone with personal financial crises.
1
Trump takes hostages and "makes offers" that amount to A demand of surrender by the Democrats.
1
I don’t know why the Democrats don’t see this as an opportunity. Trump is so desperate for a way out of this and his wall, he will agree to anything. Give him his stupid wall, but they get AOC’s green new deal, or a carbon tax etc. They are letting Trump and the media frame the debate around the fake “border security issue”. We should use this as an opportunity to address a real crises — like the planet is becoming uninhabitable.
14
@Chris Nye Appeasement doesn't work with sociopaths. It encourages them to greater abuses.
5
I'm horrified that the NYTimes Editorial Board seems to be equating Nancy Pelosi's behavior with that of 45. That's like equating the behavior of a responsible homeowner with the behavior of the rabid wild boar they're trying to remove from their yard.
I for one WANT Nancy Pelosi and her allies to put all their energy into doing whatever they can to prevent that rabid wild boar from destroying everything it comes near.
7
Nancy, don't negotiate with terrorists, dictators or bullies.
5
Both parties are feckless. They are all about power and nothing about common sense. McConnell, Schumer, Pelosi and their minions are now a clear & present danger to our nation. They have all abandoned any sense of common sense. Of these though, Pelosi and Schumer are especially dangerous because of their raw lust for power and willingness to engage in egregious hypocrisy. All of Congress is now just one big poster child in support of term limits.
1
@Alan: Government is a defined set of powers. We are trying to discuss how these powers are exercised competently and responsibly with an extortionist and con artist.
2
Pelosi and Schumer are doing their job: imposing same long-overdue checks and balances.
McConnell is a revolting apparatchik of the worst kind - a proponent of the idea that the end justifies the use of any means.
The idea of him doing something that benefits the country rather than himself or his party is a fantasy. It would be entirely out of character.
6
Worst president in the history of the US.
7
Mitch McConnell never steps forward to do anything but enrich his plutocrat friends (and himself) and block any legislation designed to help ordinary Americans (i.e. non-billionaires). He is a despicable, racist Republican neo-fascist hypocrite, who probably took Russian money laundered through the GOP's terrorist division, the NRA, making him as big a traitor as Trump. His state, Kentucky, is a Republican dump, the third most dependent state on blue state tax money - in other words. one of Romney's 47 % taker states, Federal Gov't moochers. He belongs behind bars, not running a government he seeks to destroy, on behalf of plutocrats like the Koch Brothers who have only contempt for the people he purports to represent. He's a Republican criminal, like the rest of his criminal party, as people should remember in 2020.
8
I've been saying for weeks that Nancy and Chuck need to offer to match whatever drumpf can get in direct payments from Mexico up to a combined total of 6 billion dollars for his wall. This gives drumpf an opportunity to both fulfill his campaign promise (albeit by half) that Mexico would pay for it and to prove his claim that he is a master negotiator. How could he say NO without looking weak and unsure of his own capability?
2
This "both sides-ism" is so, so, so very intellectually dishonest. If some people think the earth is flat, and some people think it's round, does that make it oblong by default?
5
The GOP will not step up and the President will keep digging in because all he thrives in chaos: discord, disagreements, insults, contradictions and unwillingness to work with and for the people. All this man is interested in are his ratings and TV appearances. The more chaos he sows in Washington, the more he is on TV and that is the only thing that matters for him. A wall would reinforce his egomaniac position in the world and that would be his own monument to himself. Unfortunately the GOP led by Mc Connell and hsi band of merry men are just as destructive as their puppet President. They have never had any empathy towards the American People. Why would they have any now? I hope they suffer at the polls next year. They will have deserved every bit of it.
4
I blame Trump for not taking the initial offer of ~2B for his wall and starting the shutdown, but since then I find equal blame on both sides.
Let's see what happens if Trump were to get his $5B. First, it will take many years to build such a wall/fence even if the eminent domain seizures ever get out of the multitude of legal challenges that would ensure. So in his remaining two years, Trump will get built only the easy portions that are probably the most needed anyway. The decisions as to where to build will be made by border control agencies and Trump will have little interest in the details.
Democrats always claim to be the more sympathetic party, and as of now they are putting the welfare of illegal aliens and a few thousand economic migrants ahead of 800 thousand americans. That would be a good reason for Pelosi to declare victory by ending the shutdown.
1
Ignoring party identifications for the moment and let us consider simply the tactics.
One group is refusing to pay 800,000 people while requiring some of them to continue working in high-stress, high-risk jobs. This group is saying that unless they get what they want, those 800,000 people shall suffer; with no regards for their inability to feed their families, pay medical bills, care for newborn, or pay monthly rent.
What sort of people in the world today, and since the 1950's, have used destructive and life-altering strategies and tactics for political gain? hint?
So what is a civilized society to do when faced with such a tactic? Concede now and risk encouraging more of the same in the future? Or finally stand firm and say we shall not ever negotiate with terrorists?
What is the difference?
Mrs. Pelosi needs to stand firm now to wean the GOP from such terror tactic. Once and for all, the GOP needs to face the political and human reality of their own destructive party-first impulses. No longer shall we allow our own Americans to be held hostage by a radicalized fringe political party who habitually resorts to terrorism to win political points.
This is not a contest of Wills, this is a contest of the civilized against evil. We all know who the evils are.
5
No, they won't step up.
I don't understand how compelling federal workers to do their job without paying them on time isn't a violation of the 13th amendment. This loophole is what Corrupt Donnie and Partisan Hack McDonnell are using to escape the consequences of their temper tantrum. If a private business tried this they would be in bankruptcy court.
3
This isn't a contest of wills. The Republicans are puppets to a handful of voices on TV and the radio. Their own "supporters" want them to act like they belong in power ... even his most ardent cultist will concede that the wall is a political pipe dream. This "contest of wills" is not between Democrats and Republicans. It's a battle between Trump and the so called "leaders" in the remnants of the Republican party.
The Democrats are stuck. They are the adult trying to maintain order in a dysfunctional household where one parent has left the room and refuses to deal with a destructively unruly child. No matter how much the Democrats try to control an irresponsible, immature tyrant they can't overcome the fear within the ranks of the Republicans.
It's become the real life version of the old Twilight Zone episode "It's a Good Life" where the child controlled life and death with his ability to create or destroy anything with his mind ... except it's only the Republicans that need fear him.
The joke about Trump bringing us "Reality TV" isn't a joke any more, Trump has brought TV to reality.
3
If the short-term CR is essentially the same one that the Senate unanimously passed in December--as suggested in this editorial--then Republican Senators have no excuse: They must "stiffen their spine" and vote for the Dems bill, or explain their hypocrisy.
3
When will we begin to start to think about beginning a discussion about migration and immigration to the US? These wacko conflicts over border walls, racism and drug dealers eats up a lot of bandwidth but none of that is relevant to the real issues. Can we please just have the adults in the room for awhile?
1
It must be a slower news day than I assumed, for the Editorial Board of the NYT to clog Page 1 with this editorial. Like virtually every American, I have a who's-right-and-who's-wrong view of the shutdown. But as the Editors themselves admit, expecting an editorial to change ANYONE'S mind "would be a waste." It offers a compromise that it then says no one would accept!
"Democrats have vowed that they will not bargain under such circumstances — period — lest they encourage Mr. Trump to behave similarly going forward."
Okayyyy. Then how about Mitch McConnell?
"But counting on this president to behave rationally has burned Mr. McConnell before."
So it looks like the only thing this editorial could possibly accomplish is to provide a dartboard for Commenters to vent their outrage. As if that's new!
Sorry, Editors. With Venezuala boiling over, major questions about the world economy being debated and that sticky China-U.S. trade thing, I think space on Page 1 could've been devoted to something more important than a food fight. That's MY editorial.
2
McConnell has ceded authority for half of the legislative branch to the Executive Branch. The remedy for Presidential recalcitrance, petulance, and obstruction is written into the Constitution and can be summed up in one word. Override Republican Senators are violating their oath and subverting the Constitution.
4
Trust the NYT to set up a false equivalency. One side starts something, so both sides are at fault. Trump takes his ball and won't play because he didn't get his way, so we have to compromise with him. When did the Republicans ever compromise? The problem is that the Democrats have moved so far to the right compromising that Nixon, in retrospect, looks like a socialist. The Republicans compromise? Never. Remember Merrick Garland? Did Obama shut down the government or at least refuse to consider any bills coming out of the Senate? No. "We're reasonable and you want to eliminate the Bear's Ears monument, so we propose you eliminate one half." Then the Democrats would compromise by eliminating 3/4. Do we have to keep learning Munich over and over and over again? If Trump takes the nation hostage over the wall and gets his way, what happens when he takes the nation hostage over cutting social security? Stop caving. Take a stand. Get a spine. Stand for something. No more of this one child is bad so all children stand in the corner crap.
7
One possible solution to the budget stand-off: the 6 Republicans who voted for the Democratic bill should temporarily caucus with the Democrats, thereby throwing control of the Senate to the Democrats, until the Democratic bill passes and is signed by Trump. How do you think Trump will like a Democrat controlled Senate? Perhaps an additional special investigator could be appointed? How will the GOP leadership like it, with no more right wing justices appointed? It's time be bold!
3
Remember that it was Trump who decided to hold the government and 800,000 workers hostage to get what he wanted. Nancy was forced to respond, something she has done with great skill, I think.
7
The US has a policy of not negotiating with terrorists and hostage takers. This policy should also apply to the chief executive that has taken over 800,000 hostages. This is only the employees, how big is the number if you include their families? Open the government, then negotiate.
5
The only way out will be to give both sides something they can point to as a victory. Trump is desperate for a wall. I say give it to him, in exchange for single-payer healthcare (or another major democratic platform). Trump, always eager to portray himself dealmaker, might be willing to take such an offer.
2
@Matt
Good idea but it might be better to wait for Trump to declare a national emergency over his stupid border wall. Given its very slim rationale, that would easily allow the next Democratic president to declare a SERIES of national emergencies over healthcare, global warming, crumbling infrastructure, insecure voting systems, compromised voting rights, gun violence, the opioid epidemic, underfunded public education, an illegitimately reconstituted federal judiciary, etc, etc.
1
@Matt: Trump does nothing but back out deals. Look at his record, from the Paris Climate accord, the Iran nuclear accord, the Trans-Pacific Alliance, etc. Expecting any good faith of that thug is a fool's errand.
Referring to the "Don and Nancy show" and characterizing a serious exercise of power as a continuing battle that "increasingly resembles an episode of 'Real Housewives,' with the attendant name-calling and hair-pulling" is an egregious and demeaning example of both-sides-ism (as well as sexism: when has Nancy Pelosi ever called anyone names?). Furthermore, it is belied by the rest of the article. We have all seen Trump on video saying he would be proud to cause a shutdown, we know how he switches positions according to the whim of the moment, and this very paper has published long lists of his lies. Why should Nancy Pelosi allow him a forum to distort the truth and outright lie while he holds 800,000 government workers hostage?
76
@Carol Fox. Bang on target! The Editorial Board has been lulled into the false equivalence that Trump is somehow like any other politician maybe a bit more extreme.
There is simply no comparison! We're talking about a truly disturbed criminal mind in the White House. There can be no accommodation and no illusions.
Impeach now!
6
If re-opening the government requires the GOP senators to materialize their spines, we are probably in for a long wait.
6
Ms. Nancy Pelosi, hold on to your guns. Don't allow this president to bully you into submission. His whimsical wall is not what the American people want. There are many strategic ways to prevent illegal immigration without building a stupid wall that would take take us back in time to days where technology was unheard of. This president's power to manipulate has no limits, so be "radicalized" if you must, but show the American people and the world that you can stand up to those who only think about themselves.
4
"They did it once, just a few weeks ago. How hard can it be to do so again?"
Just goes to show how hypocrisy is the only thing the GOP Congressional caucus is capable of in the time of Trump. A measure which would have kept government funded temporarily but long enough to negotiate a compromise and was passed almost unanimously by the Senate is now doomed to fail. Republicans in Congress, for the most part, are now being held hostage by a couple of loudmouth, bloviating right wing extremists and the president they manipulate. Limbaugh and Coulter are both millionaires who almost certainly aren't feeling anywhere near the kind of pain the furloughed federal workers and other Americans are feeling. They only know their extremism and the rabid base they pander to.
Is this what we've become? Apparently so and shamefully so as well. Not great. Not good. Not even passable. Just shamefully embarrassing.
3
These workers should be allowed to strike. No pay, then no work. Forcing them to work is a form of slavery.
49
find it interesting thatby the time the 41st NO vote had been tallied on The Trump amendment, a mere 10 votes for had been tallied. Could it be that our brave Republican friends waited until the measure had been defeated before casting their "ayes' Just showing their commitment?
2
If Democrats really wanted to solve the problem, they would pass the Trump proposal in the Senate, and let the House amend it. Then, go to conference and work out the differences. That is called the legislative process.
2
@Liberty hound
If Trump wanted his wall he wouldn’t have quashed the bipartisan proposal of $25B for the wall and bipartisan DACA solution in February 2018.
3
Legislating via extortion is unpatriotic no matter how you slice it. It's borderline treasonous. How does McConnell sleep at night?
6
@RHH: The guy looks sort of asleep most of the time.
If the border wall is so important to the POTUS, why didn't he pass the legislation for it when Republicans held both houses, before the midterm elections? Just curious. TT
59
@Tom Thumm
Because Republicans have no spine and put their own re-election bids (20+ months away) ahead of the interests of America. They don't want the wall either, but instead of sending Trump a full 12 month funding bill without wall funding back in December, when they KNEW they were losing the House, they intentionally pushed Trumps shutdown threat out to January, where they knew that Democrats would NEVER fund the wall. This allows them to blame Democrats for the shutdown that they caused. All because if they go against trump, they will lose votes from his base next time around. They need to pass a compromise bill with the House, forward it to Trump, and then override his veto, but they will NEVER do that because they are spineless.
16
@Tom Thumm
Likely busy with tax reform, SCOTUS confirmations, deregulation and prison reform.
4
@Tom Thumm: Obama did that with the ACA. Trump doesn't do anything the way Obama did it.
2
McConnell is too hopelessly soulless and cerebral to lead anymore.
When asked about his reaction to one of Trump's latest idiotic tweets, his response was to roll his eyes and admonish that he does not comment on them - as per his policy.
He's a bean counter on a hill of beans.
2
@Postette: McConnell never wavers from packing the federal judiciary with state's rights judges who call themselves"Federalists".
1
Both measures just failed.
GOP over country every time.
6
Why don't you suggest to Pelosi and the Democrats to come to a compromise with Trump to start building the wall and end this shutdown.
1
The Trump animus is so high here that few can see that Speaker Pelosi's behavior is equally stubborn and childish.
1
Is it legal to …..hold our government hostage ?
Is it legal to......demand ransom by the Executive Branch from
the Legislative Branch of our Government.
Well it this is legal....at this time...I believe the decision for
what is legal should be up to The Supreme Court...
What is the opinion of our Supreme Court Justices.
Do We the People have the right ...not to suffer our government being shut down for illegal reasons...or not ?
Are we the people being taken care of by those who took
oaths of office to defend and protect us...by our President and
our House of Representatives and our Senate.
I think we need to have this resolved by the highest court.
The Supreme Court.
@Carol B. Russell: It is obviously politically viable. The Republicans have been doing it for years. Democrats consider reliable delivery of public services the most important responsibility of governance.
2
@Steve Bolger
Then if this IS politically viable; those who must
interpret the US Constitution ...should explain
what We the People have as an option to
demand from OUR representatives and OUR
President/Commander in Chief...to be OUR
servants...and certainly...not the other way
around...We do NOT kowtow to a King or to
his Courtiers...: hence : the Declaration of
Independence...which I believe is now being
destroyed by "King Trump" and his Senate
servile courtiers...
What say you Steve Bolger..please respond.
@Steve Bolger
If as you say it (meaning an interpretation of
our rights...as those who are being served by
a President and a body politic who are sworn
to serve We The People...are being now
not served but are being made subservient to
the Senate and the President...don't you think
that this present injustice should/and must be
rectified by the co equal branch ...eg the
Supreme Court of The United States.
We are becoming the Slaves of the other 2
co equal branches of government...
Mitch McConnell, if he reverts to form, will be in full obstruction mode with divided government. The dynamics are different without Obama in office, but fundamentally he’ll want to negate the 2018 midterm results, optimize the chances for a resurgent Republican Party in 2020, and keep packing the federal courts with right wing ideologues. He also has to calculate when to ditch Trump.
Unfortunately, the latter assumes Barr can’t stifle the Mueller investigation and his report, and that Trump won’t get away with witness intimidation, and that new phony investigations of the Hillary server, the Clinton Foundation, the Uranium One deal, and the Steele dossier don’t hopelessly confuse the public.
So, the public should accept that not much will get done in DC beyond keeping the lights on. There will be lots of investigations, each with dueling partisan narratives. The Mueller investigation may get neutered or stifled. House Democrats will have to keep their cohesion and pass bills that expose Senate obstruction and true Republican values. And any serious talk of impeachment will have to await hard evidence that can be presented to the public.
The public’s job is to stay engaged and informed while continuing to organize for the 2020 elections up and down the ballot. Historical levels of administration incompetence, if not criminality, should lead to another blue wave across the country. Hopefully, we are now entering the beginning of the end for our national nightmare.
1
@Michael Tyndall: While they add to their next line of defense in the Federal Judiciary. The future looks drearier by the day.
1
The NYTimes is being very misleading referring to the shutdown as a "contest of wills" and to a "$5.7 billion border wall." No, the border wall would cost at least $25 billion and probably much more. Democrats support neutral, clean bills to fund the normal, ongoing functions of the government and pay employees. Trump and his Republican supporters are demanding $5.7 billion for unspecified expenditures on a project that has not been approved through normal processes and will actually cost much more in exchange for simply doing their jobs and meeting their obligations. This is not the way the US government is intended to function.
4
using federal employees in a game of brinksmanship is backfiring badly on the president. His senate should pass the house bills and they should all move forward on a $5B plan for border security
Instead of rally's in 2019 - Trump should hold federal worker appreciation events as he travels the country and apologizes for holding them hostage, damaging our agencies and weakening our standing in the world and then he should resign and let someone who really wants to lead - to lead
Someone like Speaker Pelosi.
6
While many people fixate on 800,000 federal employees victimized by the shutdown, it would be more meaningful to use a figure that encompasses both the employees and their families, in which case it would likely range from 1.6 million (two-person household) to 3.4 million (four-person household), or more.
4
@Mark
And contract employees. The figure likely leaps to 3 million.
2
This Presidency would actually be proceeding in a much better bipartisan light, with Republicans still getting much of what they wanted and possibly the GOP still in control of the House, if McConnell and his party had shown some spine early on. As in, from day one.
Trump is not a Republican beyond that being the party he joined to participate in the election. They could have forced him to work with them more, and in turn that would have led to Democrats working with them, because Trump would have understood that he couldn't get ANYTHING done without compromising. And he needed to compromise with his nominal party almost as much as with Dems.
The GOP might have lost the 10% or so of their base who are rabidly far right, but they would have picked up many more independents than they lost base - and probably more Dems than one might think.
Trump only respects power. Show him some, MCConnell, and not just enough merely to thwart Dems in Congress. Before he drags the GOP down to a place from which it may never recover without splintering completely.
3
@Barry Williams: Everything they do short of showing Trump enough votes to convict him of impeachment in the Senate will have no effect on him.
The longer the shutdown goes on, the more it makes sense for the unpaid, essential federal employees to walk off the job. While it may be illegal for these workers not to show up, it is certainly not fair that they are being compelled to work without pay. A walk out might be what's needed to focus the House's and Senate's attention on finding a solution, with or without the President's agreement.
1
@Dan Kleinjlokj: Steve Mnuchin no doubt counts every federal employee who walks away from a pension another side benefit from this shutdown.
2
Pelosi has flatly refused to negotiate, and every article I read is about Pelosi pulling a power move, Pelosi being an indomitable woman, Pelosi being a strong woman leader... apparently all that incredible woman-power comes entirely at the expense of any political instincts. Pelosi has Trump in a position where he's desperate to negotiate, he'll likely give up a lot to get that wall, and yet Pelosi is not intelligent enough to use Trump's lack of principles to the Democrats' advantage for once.
Hey Pelosi, make Trump an outrageous counter-offer, he might surprise you and the Democrats (and shock Mitch and the Republicans), with just how much he's willing to give up for that wall.
Or you could continue being a strong woman leader while the country burns.
9
@Alexander
Thanks to Trump, the country is already burning. When one appeases a dictator, the dictator will keep using the same tactics the next time he/she wants something. And again. And again. As history serves, there was one of those in the 1930s and 1940s. Trump wants his dictatorship. Pelosi is fighting for the very essence of democracy.
28
@Alexander America NEVER negotiates with a terrorist. Ever. And we won't start doing so now.
Trump will cave and he'll get nothing for it as soon as the airports close because no one will work for free. Watch and learn.
19
@Alexander
Pelosi is the obstacle to reaching a deal. Trump has been making compromise offers. She's making snarky comments and running away. Democrats will have to go around her.
1
NO they will not.
Funny how you never saw the phrase "hair-pulling" used to describe any of Mitch McConnell's stand-offs with Barack Obama.
1
@Michelle Frumkin: It could be Trump's hairdo at stake now.
2
Just a few little problems with this viewpoint. There are presently three caravans, at least, quite disorganized and not supervised by the usual immigrant aid organizations, headed from Central America to the Mexican border with the United States. And we do not have the unskilled but decently paying jobs for these people, a situation which is going to get a lot worse as AI takes hold. Are you persuaded that this is really a middle class group? Does it ever occur to the immigrant rights advocates that encouraging, for example, 13,000 doctors at last count to flee Venezuela is a rotten thing to do to Venezuela? Unless you want to see a permanent, badly educated, badly treated underclass of immigrants in this society, we'd better start talking about changing asylum laws and having a merit based immigration system. And what part of "temporary" as in Temporary Protected Status do the Progressives not understand? And where is the UN? How about they set up refugee camps right outside Central American countries? Mexico is wealthier than Central America, but clearly has hit its limit of tolerance. They do deserve thanks for their recent attempts to help, but we cannot expect them to stop the caravans by force or allow asylum in Mexico to all.
1
@Mary: Nobody is learning anything from the US about good-faith government anymore.
My preschool class has voted and they think the border should be guarded by sparkly, rainbow unicorns. We did have a couple of votes for sparkly lions
1
A contest of wills between Trump and Pelosi? Perhaps.
But Pelosi has the backing of the 2018 election. She has been passing bills McConnell has been ignoring. He then introduced bills blatantly offensive to Democrats further stonewalling progress to reopen the government. And just this morning, a White House spokeswoman appeared to be claiming on NPR that it can all be fixed if Pelosi goes to the White House to negotiate with a man who changes his mind several times a day. If it is a photo op with Nancy that the Donald craves, perhaps he should sweeten the deal rather than poison it.
4
@Chrisinauburn
But Pelosi has the backing of the 2018 election.
******
Yours is a short memory. In the previous midterm, right after Pelosi led democrats to pass Obamacare over widespread opposition, the democrats were trounced.
Then, like now, Pelosi dragged her party away leftward. Then, like now, she is refusing to heed the concerns of Americans, 70% of whom want a compromise.
Prevent Shutdowns with Veto-Proof Majorities
Senators Portman (R-OH) and Warner (D-VA) have introduced bills (S.104 and S.198) designed to prevent most shutdowns of the US government. Both bills remove Shutdown as a key negotiating threat or factor in budget discussions: if a budget negotiation is stalled when a deadline is reached, that budget will be automatically renewed at its current level (each bill adjusts that level slightly). It should be relatively easy to combine S.104 and S.198 to yield a bill with broad bipartisan support.
Use online searches to read more about each bill.
S.104 "End Government Shutdowns Act"
S.198 "Stop STUPIDITY Act"
I urge Congress, Senate and House, to pass such a bill with veto-proof majorities.
Note: it appears neither bill tries to resolve ritual posturing when the Federal debt limit needs to be raised.
Expecting Mitch McConnell to do the right thing is like expecting Trump not to lie.
7
When Trump recently pronounced that the Buck "stops with everybody," a sign of true leadership, he was content to pass it along to the next logical recipient of "the Buck."
Mr. McConnell--your move!
4
McConnell is the real stumbling block in efforts to end the government shut down. his adamant refusal to allow a senate vote on house bills to reopen the government is nothing less than a protection racket for trump. mcconnell dosent want trump to have his fragile ego bruised by a veto override which would be a certainty if mcconnell allowed a vote in the senate. any republican senators who want to stand up to trump and end this impasse need to work with democrat senators to get rid of mcconnell and elect a senate majority leader who is not a trump toady
3
Week after week you ask the same question in one form or another: will the spineless GOP congress finally turn away from Trump and do their jobs? The answer is clearly no. Not Mitch, not screamin' Lindsey Graham, not Mitt Romney -- they are committed to the con man, the worst, lyingest, most unqualified person to ever hold the office, that much is clear.
5
Wilbur Ross just suggested furloughed federal workers take out loans.
Payday loans have up to 400 percent interest. the gang of millionaires in the executive branch really can't sink any lower into the swamp quicksand.
4
Come on, NYT. Enough with the false equivalence. The Speaker is doing her job with dignity and in adherence to the Constitution. The president is having a tantrum, whining about his self-created crisis, trying to deflect the blame he said he would shoulder, and failing in his duty to the country.
6
Include the phrase,"And Mexico will pay for the wall",along with opening the government and using 21st century technology on our borders including Canada
1
@Slow fuse
Watching what's going on in your country, we'll pick option 2.
You know, where the country to the south of the border pays for a big concrete wall.
Hopefully that will prevent the spread of the Trump lunacy northwards.
The sub-headline of this article is:" Mitch McConnell and the Senate have a chance this week to move toward ending the shutdown. Will they step up?"
As they haven't done much of anything in the past four years but obstruct and kow-tow, you can put me down for a 'no.'
4
Why should Mitch bother to step up? He and his Party believe that the federal government is full of useless bureaucratic employees who perform no real service and that the entire complex is simply wasteful spending and that States have a better way of handling things.
That's how Limbaugh, Coulter, Gingrich, Hannity, Savage and their ilk have been characterizing the feds for 30+ years.
Mitch is mocked on SNL as hiding behind an open briefcase. Pence is mocked on Colbert as a cardboard cutout
These are perfect jokes but the result is that the Party CANNOT GOVERN!
48
Here’s an idea:
1. Fully fund the government for the entire year (February 8 is just two weeks away. We’ll just go through this again)
2. Fund for one year for the Army Corps of Engineers to plan the wall – say $10 million. After all, a large infrastructure project like a 2000 mile wall needs some planning. You need environmental impact studies, budget, pricing, plans of execution, etc.
Planning will take at least five years to complete. By then, Trump maybe out of office, and interest in the wall may abate. Trump can declare victory because the planning for the wall is moving forward and once it’s complete, the wall will be built. The Democrats can claim victory that the wall itself Isn’t funded and the government is reopened. Next year, the study won’t get a cent, and the wall won’t be built. Both sides win.
1
The shutdown may be generally seen as a good thing (if your pay isn't being withheld.) It's making it harder for Americans to blithely ignore the dysfunction of our federal government and the tantrum-fueled power plays of the very stable genius "His Majesty the Baby" that 46% of our voters chose. Until we're hit in the pocketbook, or can't fly to see Aunt Tessie in Tucson, we generally don't care.
Trump is just a symptom, he's not the disease.
1
It's not just the 800,000 federal hostages, it is also the services they perform on behalf of all of US. It looks and feels like a natural disaster, but it is our very own national disaster.
6
"Mitch McConnell and the Senate have a chance this week to move toward ending the shutdown. Will they step up?"
No, Mitch McConnell will not step up and neither will the Senate Republicans. That is because if Mitch stands up to Trump, he would jeopardize the job of his wife, Elaine Chao, the current Secretary of Transportation. It is fair to say that Mitch has put himself in a position that allows Trump to blackmail him.
1
I disagree with this statement:
"But if the government reopens briefly, it could ease the conflict enough to get everyone back to the bargaining table."
If the government were to reopen, Trump would use the collective reticence to reenter a shutdown to his advantage - and it might, in fact, put more pressure on the Democrats to concede. He loses nothing with his diehard base by reentering a shutdown in a week or two. It will only weaken and put pressure o Democrats as the only adult in the room to solve the problem.
1
I hope that by encouraging both sides to rethink his or her positions, you aren't suggesting that the Democrats vote funds to build a physical border wall. There are more efficient and less expensive ways to improve border security. If Trump gets his wall, he'll think he's been elected emperor.
6
@Linda: Trump vies with Maginot to be history's biggest name in futile walls, even if it never gets built.
2
@Linda
That is exactly what they should be doing. Their refusal is childish and costing the country a bundle.
Awful logic and ignores facts and no, it is not the Don and Nancy show. This is a very serious situation that trump created and McConnell/republicans maintained. Thankfully many readers stated the situation accurately and more eloquently than I can.
NYT should correct their own erroneous assessment of the situation that is based on facts.
6
We are at the point now where everyone knows this government shutdown is highly damaging. Drop the blame game and get to work opening the government. To the rest of the world, the U.S. is a disgrace and a big disappointment.
Congress needs to appoint a sincere bipartisan committee to quickly come up with a workable way to reopen the government that is not packed with "poison pills" by either side.
Let Trump veto it, but put the responsibility where it lies with Mr. Trump. Then let the Congress override the veto, because both Republicans and Democrats actually care about the people and the functioning of the government. Trump does not.
If this is not possible--since the impasse is all about saving face now--hire a outside committee of 3 nonpartisan, experienced, professional mediators to work out a plan that neither Reps. or Dems would take blame/or credit for. But it is a practical solution where the focus is on just opening the government asap.
Finally, when this mess is over--and hopefully Trump and McConnell are gone, and the Democrats are in charge, pass a bill that makes it illegal for a president to close the federal government as a way of holding the country hostage to get what he/she wants.
2
@PB: If they really need to whip up the votes required to over-ride a veto, they might as well use them to remove Trump upon conviction of impeachment.
Try not to despair. Remember: there is always Brexit.
"Obviously, a short-term extension does not address the underlying issues that led to this shutdown. But by reopening the government, even briefly, the Senate could change the dynamic so that Democrats are not operating in a hostage situation — that is, negotiating with the president while he’s holding in his hands the livelihood of some 800,000 federal workers and those who rely on them. Democrats have vowed that they will not bargain under such circumstances — period — lest they encourage Mr. Trump to behave similarly going forward."
This seems like a hopelessly naive position. Reopening the government until only Feb 8 means that Trump will still have the shutdown card to play again in two weeks. Does the Times editorial board actually trust that Trump won't simply shut down the government again if he doesn't get his way? Have you been paying attention for the last two years?
3
Trump's wall is bull, an empty, inefficient, and ineffective symbol, a slogan that helped get him elected. Opposition to the wall is thus opposition to governance by empty symbols and support for evidence- and reality-based governance rather than reality show-based governance. Democrats are determined that Trump not get his symbol and his reality show, and that money spent on border security will be based on what people who watch over and live on the border say will work.
The contest is whether we continue to run our affairs by symbols or go back to running it with a mixture of symbols, reality, and experts.
3
If the President couldn’t get the wall funding with a Republican Senate AND House, this is clearly not an issue of party fealty to their respective bases. The very idea that shutting down the government because you don’t get everything you demand is in direct opposition to the underlying principles of a democratic federal republic.
Effective governance is the true art of the deal; governance is not belligerent rantings of a 5-year-old taking his marbles and going home. In this regard, Leader McConnell is failing in his duty to the Constitution while Speaker Pelosi is enforcing limits required under our Constitution.
Using government shutdowns to achieve political policy goals flouts any attempt at regular order. Further, it is irresponsible and dangerous to public safety, which is a primary responsibility of government – or so I’ve been told by all my teachers! This action should be legislatively prohibited or, at a minimum, require recorded votes in the House and Senate approving a shutdown; make the members own their responsibilities to We the People.
I have to wonder if this is a less than covert effort to fully break the government, a la Mr. Norquist's desires. If we need a vision of that future, look to Somalia.
7
@Billfer: This is the guy they all swore really their oaths to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grover_Norquist
The power Mitch needs to exert is privately, when delivering the over ride of veto vote, that the next such super majority vote will be the one of impeachment should the con act in any way less obsequious to Mitch than he does to Putin.
Allocation of blame for the shutdown: POTUS 80%, for threatening to do it and celebrating the fact that he could do it, and yet when he does it, still trying to blame someone else. McConnell 20% for abdicating his duties and turning the senate into a rubber stamp for the executive branch. By refusing to consider legislation the POTUS will not sign, McConnell has brought about the bizarre situation where Coulter and Limbaugh are a co-equal branch of the US government, and the Senate is not.
8
The "Matching Funds" compromise: Congress approves one dollar for the wall for every dollar Mr. Trump personally contributes to the wall (or gets Mexico to contribute).
2
As long as the Republicans continue to put more credence in Dopes With Microphones than the American people the chances of anything happening are slim.
The Republican Party has simply sold out.
They spend their time trying to demonize Nancy Pelosi and blaming unidentified liberals for all slights real and imagined when the real culprit is talk radio and Fox News who they do not have the guts to stand up to.
If they did stand up, they would earn some respect now they are nothing but a party of toadies.
6
We don't need to be completely Trump-obsessed, but we do need to be Trump-concerned. While praising the intelligence of the American electorate, Trump secretly knows that they can be led around like bulls with nose rings - only instead of bullrings, he uses their beliefs and prejudices to lead them wherever he wants.
If DJT doesn't destroy our fragile democracy, he has published the blueprint and playbook for some other demagogue to do it later. If a democracy like America's is going to exist, there will have to be a paradigm shift in human thought throughout the world.
In the near future, we will program the human mind in the computer based on a linguistic "survival" algorithm, which will provide irrefutable proof as to how we trick the mind with our ridiculous beliefs about what is supposed to survive - producing minds programmed de facto for destruction. These minds see the survival of a particular belief as more important than the survival of all. When we understand this, we will begin the long trek back to reason and sanity.
See RevolutionOfReason.com
if don con does not reopen government, VP Pence must use his article 25 powers to remove don con and reopen government.
If Pence fails, House should impeach don con AND Pence.
Hopefully, Mitch will realize that his blockage of conviction will set up Senate for a D overhaul in the next election. Mitch should give don con the ultimatum: Reopen or resign!
If Mitch chickens out, Maybe Mueller will give them a message.
1
It was fun hearing the same Mitch McConnell backing away to shield the GOP Senate discipline... and now it needs a stretcher.
Scenario 1: lets the Senators vote on any bill, GOP cracks a little. Executive vetoes... or lose face. McConnell is blamed. Senate under pressure. Loss.
Scenario 2: lets the Senators vote on any bill, GOP cracks a little. Executive forced to sign. McConnell is blamed. GOP current base "remembers". Loss
Scenario 3: lets the members vote, GOP maintains party-line. Executive is shielded. Senate back under pressure. Loss.
Scenario 4: no bills, no votes. GOP maintains party line. Executive is shielded. Senate back under pressure. Loss.
Doubling-down when falling in the rabbit hole... it's a lose-lose-lose-lose... Welcome to the GOP of Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush 1and Bush 2... though Bush 1 was actually knowledgeable on economics. What people will do for an Oval Office and their own pockets?
3
So why is it the Senate has to cave and not Pelosi?
1
@CHM Because she's right and they aren't.
3
@CHM
Because we say so- that’s why!
Will they stand up? Does a chicken have lips?
2
I don't believe for one second that Ditch Mitch will do the right thing as he hasn't done so in over 15 years.He is a man w/o shame and will take a close to the top position on the pile of putrid human beings.I will be working along with 100s of others to make sure he loses his senate seat.He is a stain on humanity, there is not a positive thing to say about this pathetic excuse for a man.
4
Chances slim to none that the Republican legislators --Mitch McConnell and the GOP Senate -- will step up to end Trump's shutdown. Where can we place wagers?
1
King McConnell has ruled the Senate and held the country hostage for 12 years because he couldn't stand the idea of a black man in the Oval office. The power has gone to his head. He is converting the legal system and courts into a racist, sexist, hatest nightmare with no reputation for justice and civility unless you are a white man w/money. He won't do the right thing now or down the road. He has to go for subversion of the government along with his choice of potus and vp. Unless The House can bring him under control..somehow, our last chance is Robert's Court. I don't have the faith in the integrity and ethics of The Robert's Court to rise to the crisis but I hope I am wrong. However I have renewed hope and faith in the Federal employees as they demonstrate their integrity, ethics above and beyond the call of duty. A sincere thank you to all of them
7
I'de think the New York Times could come up with something a bit stronger than this weak tea. Thousands are suffering financial harm and this is the best you could do?
3
we honorable marines invite our POTUS to give his SOTU address on board lovely camp JOSEPH PENDLETON.
SEMPER FI & GUNG HO!
1
@BILL WISNIEWSKI: Do you mean another one of his rallies?
1
The troops hardly need rallying. We know you stand with commander bone spurs.
I’m beginning to wonder if Trump is destabilizing the government for Putin. Republican Senators need to stop being rubber stamps for McConnell and vote to open the government. The senate is no longer a legislative body thanks to McConnell. Senate Republicans need to take back their power and vote to reopen the government.
1
To Princeton 2015: Democrats are not being dishonest. They accepted the Republican deal last month. This is all about principal. Trump can not get his way (and believe me it is All about getting his way). If Democrats cave in now, he will do this for every thing. He is like an angry spoiled child with his finger on the Nuclear Trigger. Federal employees who are needed for every type of job have the right to stability like any other worker. If your handle means you graduated from Princeton, bully for you. Just know that most of the people affected don't have your Ivy league advantages (or future advantages). Come to your senses please.
PS: I personally think the Democrats will give in. Not due to political pressure; rather they will give in in order to actually help the 800,000 workers, uncounted govt. contractors, Uncounted businesses who depend on the money all the Workers and Contractors spend and finally, the Millions of Americans who depend on the Good Work these people do. If you have any type of empathy (You probably do) please vote Trump out of office and please vote for democratic Senators in 2020. Good Luck to us all.
1
Mitch McConnell actually doing something productive ? Not likely. His forte is obstruction.
5
The only ones not hurt by this showdown are the ones entering our country illegally. Democrats are working hard to ensure they aren't inconvenienced at our border.
1
You mean the ones still landing at our airports?
Whatever happens, Trump cannot be allowed to receive $5.7 billion for a border well as a condition for ending the shutdown. Once Trump is allowed to subvert the will of the House by extortion, our form of government will essentially cease to exist.
4
Someone needs to remind Sen. McConnell that the Senate is part of the Legislative Branch, not a lapdog for the Executive. His position amounts to dereliction of duty.
3
My guess is no, McConnell will continue to play the shrinking Senate violet with all his nefarious ill-will, or attempt to advance a non-starter and blame the Democrats. He is not bound by citizenry, only by special interests, none which are related to the people of this country.
Perhaps the USA needs to fall, and fall hard, so that we can finally rid the country of its dark-souled politicians. Madame Defarge, multiplied by millions, is knitting.
1
Does anyone really thin Trump wants a wall? What he wants is deadlock and chaos. If he walks like a Russian asset, and talks like a Russian asset...
3
"This was always a dishonest narrative. Mr. McConnell’s refusal to have his members vote on the funding proposals coming out of the House has been a cynical political move, ..."
Merrick Garland (remember him?)
This is who McConnell is, a dishonest cynical politician. We got rid of Speaker Paul Ryan, who would have lost the Speakership even if he had run for re-election and had won in his district.
Time to get rid of worthless Mitch McConnell.
It is long past time to get rid of our APPRENTICE POTUS who lives in a reality tv world, not the real one.
9
The fundamental problem behind all these issues is Trump's incompetency as a leader or president. McConnell is essentailly looking out for Republicans only. He has in some way tied the future of the U.S. to the aims of his party. The Democrats are only partially in control. They cannot effect much of a significant change - as yet. Therefore, it is up to Trump to manage the country by bridging party differences and avoiding lousy outcomes such as a federal shutdown. Issues are multiplying mostly because Trump has failed at the most fundamental level in his profession. In fact, he doesn't even know what the fundamental requirements of his job are. Poor fellow that he is, not even sensing that listening to Rush, Coulter, Evengelicals and watching Fox is NOT the way to leadership or job competence. There will be more serious problems down the road due to his fundamental incompetence. Yes McConnell is contributing to issues. But Trump was elected for the job and he has failed catastrophically.
3
Fed. Worker should be use as Chess piece like Pawn. But Republican lawmaker and President Donald Trump will put blame on Democrats but Donald Trump mention put blame on him or mantle.
Russ Limbaugh his crazy talk show over 550 radio station mostly in Red States peddle his anti-Democrats or Nancy message across United States country cause division.
Lawmaker in Congress should be fine $1000. day not settle, Shut Down and put Fed. Worker back to work.
So...do we move the April 15 tax filing date out one day for each day of the shutdown? I'd vote for that!
3
@VM
This was floated weeks ago. No deal. Perhaps if enough IRS workers don't show up.
It would be good for democrats because they have been claiming the middle class won't benefit from the tax cuts, when in fact they will, so the longer they can keep the refunds from Americans the better.
1
The problem here is that people think this is about the wall, or about the people who have been furloughed.
But it's not.
This is about who wins the White House in 2020. If Trump gets the wall, it will be a political super-bowl level win for him, and he will likely get re-elected in 2020, by running on the twin victories of tax cuts for the wealthy and getting the wall funded, plus his rollback of pollution controls and neutering of the EPA .
Trump believes that by sticking this out, with no compromise, that he will break the back of the Dems, and remain President in 2020.
I think he's exactly right about that.
He has framed this battle so that there is no compromise possible.He either gets all 5.7B - every single penny of it - or he doesn't. Those are the only two possible outcomes.
The casualties will be the American political process, the economy (which will surely go into recession if this keeps up for several months), and of course the 800,000 people furloughed plus all the other people (think of their children) who are supported by those jobs.
The only solution is for the Dems to stick it out, and break the back of the president, who will then enter the 2020 arena as a severely wounded candidate. If Trump loses this battle, he likely will not even have enough voter confidence within his own party to survive the primaries.
I agree with Salon's position
https://www.salon.com/2019/01/23/dont-give-in-democrats-no-matter-how-long-it-takes-they-should-stand-firm/
3
McConnell has made it clear that he doesn't care what is best for America, only what is best for Trump and McConnell. He has offered a weak compromise that really does nothing but partially repair damage that Trump did to our dreamers already--and that the courts have partially repaired.
McConnell is all about power and should be voted out of office.
4
If Mitch (the Rich) and the Senate really cared, they'd donate monies from their vast financial wealth to help the "poor" government workers that they so righteously lament. Mitch, the third of fourth wealthiest Senator with a cool few hundred million in the bank, has stated that he'd like to cut funding for Medicare and Social Security. But you see, HE doesn't need it at all, since he's got healthcare for life and a pension that would make any of his constituents dance happy on the Wall that Trumpster wants to build. Left, right, it's all meaningless, since those in power love the "divide and conquer" strategy that keeps the rest of us biting our nails and pulling out our hair in anger over "the other side" and their agenda. Of course, if we took a closer look at the agenda of the Mitches and Pelosies we'd be in the streets demanding their resignation and take a page out of the French Revolution, and demand an offing of their heads. But thanks to the collusive media and those very same monied elites, all they have to do is drag out Julian Assange, Russians, Venezuelans, Syrians and all the nefarious schemes of election fixing, and distract us from the underhanded activities of the Clintons and the DNC, and in their bliss-state, go on pillaging the wealth of this once fine nation for their own personal gain. But look over here…it's a government shutdown! Don't blink, you might actually see the truth between their lies.
1
@Gerald Wadsworth: There sure are people who can be satisfied none of the time.
Speaker Pelosi has shown herself a worthy opponent. I think her iron will in dealing with Trump should convince her detractors in the Democratic party that they made the right choice. Stay strong Nancy!
4
This whole debacle falls squarely on Trump and as each day passes that blame is shared even moreso with the Republican party. This self-destructive behavior is not helping our country at all. Stop holding AMERICAN WORKERS hostage over a wall that the majority of AMERICAN PEOPLE do not want. Trump has done the office of the presidency and the American people a disservice consistently since taking office.
2
Trump did demand a border wall to cause the shutdown, after Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh reminded him of it. The fleas wagging the dog.
2
Hard-core repubs don't even want a government, aside from a military to protect their estates and golf clubs. So with the new Dem majority in the House being overshadowed by the shutdown, investigations out of the headlines, and chaos all around...hey, if I was as warped and immoral as DJT and Repub leaders, I'd probably want to keep the shutdown going forever too.
3
I wonder if food banks will accept government IDs for groceries.
With the likes of Wilbur Ross, Lara Trump and all of the other Trumplicons the shutdown won’t end until they have to bring their gold plated furniture and toilets to the consignment shop for extra cash.
“Wilbur Ross told CNBC that he doesn't understand why furloughed federal workers face a liquidity crisis when they can just take out a loan.”
Once again, no concern for contractors.
1
@Agent 99: Banks charge almost zero interest to people who don't need loans.
1
@Steve Bolger
And banks don’t make enTITLEment loans.
By holding employee pay hostage Ross and the rest of the Trumplicons have made it clear they consider getting paid by the federal government is an entitlement.
@Steve Bolger
And banks don’t issue enTITLEment Loans!
Clearly the Republicons have turned salaries into entitlements.
The drama is Senator Mitch McConnell's willingness to remove Congress as a co-equal, third branch of government, making it instead Donald Trump's annex.
One man, sent to Washington by the 5th least well-educated state in the country, upends the Constitution.
Who knew the Constitution was so weak?
I hope SCOTUS Chief Judge John Roberts is taking notes from Nancy Pelosi on how to save American Democracy from fascism.
1
@Mark: The Constitution doesn't say anything at all about a senate majority leader with specific powers to limit access of legislation to the floor. This is just a Senate rule, as easily changed as it was enacted. The Senate has afflicted McConnell upon itself. It is awesome masochism.
3
The NYT has joined the bandwagon to make this shutdown part of a squabble, an impasse, a failure to compromise.
It is not.
It is an attempt by the billionaire backers of the GOP who run McConnell and feed Trump with lines from Fox & Friends to remove the House from its role in government. Instead the House is to accept Trump can have his wall if only he’ll pay 800,000 workers who have no part in this.
Meanwhile McConnell is doing his part proposing putrid bills advertised as exemplary, aimed mainly at the “me good, them bad” message.
The aim of this billionaire cabal is to make the House impotent and the President an emperor (but THEIR emperor).
It’s called a coup folks, implemented by blackmail and extortion by holding 800,000 innocents without pay, forcing them to find work elsewhere.
Dismantling the Constitution before our eyes, while the media tut-tuts.
2
Even if you think “Trump is acting like a toddler.” The truth is HE IS NOT A TODDLER. He is the President of the United States. Nancy Pelosi is not his Mom, and has no such power over him.
Someone has to negotiate to end this mess. There is no good reason why the Democrats can’t give Trump what he wants and get something in return.
@Greg: A united House and Senate could flush away the toddler like Alexander diverting the river through the Augean Stables,
@Greg If he can't speak, write or even spell words like an adult, can't exercise self control; is fully directed by the dictates of his own ego and his heroes on Fox and talk radio; and uses playground bully tactics and nicknames (e.g. calling a congressional leader "Little Adam Schitt"), yes he's a toddler.
And his inner child needs a good thrashing.
“We voted for Trump but got Jeb instead “…Coulter.
So who’s wearing the pants in this administration?
Nancy Pelosi is the only one acting with maturity, principles and honor in this whole debacle.
147
@Madeline please, she hasn't done anything besides sit back and say "NO NO NO".
1
@Beth
Only if you ignore reality:
She's passed Mitch's Senate December spending bill through the House -- a Republican bill. You know, the one Trump said he would sign before he let Ann Coulter grab him by the you-know-what?
7
@Madeline:
Ha! That's funny. She had the opportunity to act like an adult, but instead chose to be the proverbial child taking her ball home with the "you shouldn't do the SotU address" baloney. The adult would have stuck to the message about ransoming the government instead of a pathetic attempt at one-upping of the Lord of the Flies.
"The people of Venezuela have courageously spoken out against Maduro and his regime and demanded freedom and the rule of law," Donald Trump
There you have it NYT. Precedent from the sitting President himself. Since much has been written concerning Mr Trump's incapability to properly conduct the affairs of his elected office. (including mental health professionals and former cabinet officials) Coupled with the Vice Presidents failure to fulfill his duties under the 25'th amendment. Perhaps Nancy Pelosi should declare herself interim President during the present crisis. Prior to convincing Charles Grassley to take up the office until 2020. Since much has been written of Pelosi not taking up a leadership position after the present congress.
So... nobody knows how this will play out. What if the American people come together to find available jobs that don't conflict with ethics laws, for those affected?
But there are other whatifs. In France it was the higher gentry who revolted against the royals, when things broke down. What if our federal workers, and other beneficiaries revolt?
On the other hand, what if the economy booms without the feds running? What if we learn we don't need or want them?
What if we learn that it is really the central bank that runs everything, and democracy was a sham? Only if it were true... or what if we learn it, but in fact it was false?
The Senate vote required to over-ride a presidential veto is the exactly the same number that is required to convict and remove a president impeached by simple majority vote in the House.
Who dares go there in Trump's timorous entourage?
1
The term "majority" when referring to the Senate Republicans is starting to ring as hollow at the term "Bolshevik" used to describe the Russian revolution.
Both "majority" and "Bolshevik" mean the same thing in their respective languages--but both are deliberate distortions of reality. The US Senate "majority" does not represent the majority of the US population or even the majority of the votes cast for Senators in the past few elections.
Our own McConnell led "bolsheviks" also specialize in lies and propaganda, and utter contempt for their citizenry. No wonder McConnell and Trump are so entranced by their fellow fake "majority" politicians in Russia.
3
One would have thought that the Dems were pro-government; one knows that the Reps find government an inconvenience.
Whether Trump of Pelosi "wins," the American people lose.
Gee, I seem to remember learning in 8th grade social studies how the legislative branch has something called a veto override they can use. This is just not part of the conversation with this bunch of representatives.
When did our government become a rubber stamp for the president's ideas and lose its imagination?
5
@Kate: It could be dated to the one dollar one vote pay to speak Supreme Court Ruling by some of the most naive justices in the history of jurisprudence.
1
Tragically, the solution to our problem is in the hands of Mitch McConnell, the one man determined to do all he can to remove honor, integrity, and civility from our democratic process.
9
The Senate funded border security over 5 years ago. S. 744. The “Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act” Passed Senate on 68-32 vote on 6/27/2013. The law provided funding for border security including 700 miles of fencing (including double-layer fencing), infrastructure, and technology, including at ports of entry, should be deployed along the Southern border. The House Republican leadership refused to let this bill come up for a vote, even though there were enough votes to pass the bill. If this bill had passed, the government would be open today. Why not just bring up S. 744 for a vote in the Senate?
3
Like so many Americans, I am exhausted. Like so many Americans, I am completely disillusioned about how we ever got here. Like so many Americans, I am frustrated that our elected representatives on both sides, could not prevent this inhumane, embarasssing standoff to go on for so long and cause such inhumane hardship to the the hard working folks who come to work everyday to serve the needs of all Americans. And like so many Americans I am angry that grown up men and women serving in elected positions cannot see the forest for trees.
This is not about a wall, and it really is no longer about immigration reform. It is about big egos, on all sides, all of whom are being deilict in their fiduciary duties.
No matter how this ends, it will leave an indelible mark on our country’s history. So, when eevry Senator and Congressperson votes over the next few days, they should remember that this is not about them, and it really is not about their own contituents. It is about civility. Once we lose that, we should never expect that our President and elected officials will ever really accomplish meaningful reform on border security and immigration. And if this is how we behave now, imagine how poorly we will do on dealing with infrastructure initiatives, trade wars, climate change and health care reform
I am a lifelong Democrat, but so what. People are hurting, and for me, that is the most urgent and perhaps only issue we should be worrying about right now.
3
@MrMSW: The Electoral College selection to drain the swamp has clogged the drain. Not even he can be flushed.
Mr MSW
I too am sorry the government is shut down. However, you are doing exactly what Trump and his Republican enablers in the Senate want. The majority of Americans do not want a solid wall between the US and Mexico, but that is why Trump has shut down the government. There are no facts that support a wall. The wall is an empty campaign slogan that, by the way, Mexico was going to pay for. You are falling for Trump’s bait and switch. What will we do when he wants to get rid of all brown eyed people in the US? What if he shuts down government for that reason? I have green eyes, so I would e fine, but my wife’s eyes are brown. So either I would lose my wife of 49 years, or we could leave the country together or we can stay and fight. I choose to stay and fight.
@MrMSW
A lifelong Democrat? You seem determined to make it the Democrats' fault: "on all sides, all of whom are being deilict" (sic); "both sides".
Trump-speak.
No wall or drones will keep poor desperate people from risking their lives to come here as long as they can get jobs and their children born here can get the full benefits of citizenship. Yet neither party will go to the root of the problem: businesses and individuals who hire illegal workers with no fear of penalty. I haven't heard E-verify mentioned in any of the "negotiating." Both parties do the will of business owners who want to hire the cheapest, most compliant and docile labor rather than raise wages and improve working conditions that Americans will work for. The influx of illegal immigrants guarantees that labor unions cannot be formed in many industries. It suppresses wages and benefits. Shame on both houses for allowing this to continue.
1
Last night, union leaders representing air traffic controllers, pilots and flight attendants issued this warning: “We cannot even calculate the level of risk currently at play, nor predict the point at which the entire system will break. It is unprecedented.” Here is a thought, if all air traffic controllers, pilots and flight attendants were to go on strike tomorrow or collectively call in sick, the shutdown issue would be resolved immediately. The pressure on Trump to cave in would be insurmountable. Shut down the airports and see what happens...
4
President Trump principally seeks to erode the quality of our government services and staffs through the prolonged shutdown. Note the departure of skilled employees. The agencies most affected are those whose demise would most impact what he and the Far Right have sought to weaken or eliminate all along. The signs of "who he really is" abound.
4
The only way out for Trump now is if the Republican Senate votes to pass the Democrat's bill, with his "silent" approval.
Yes Trump will lose the fight but he wouldn't be the one who'd surrendered it was his "field soldiers" who'd lost the battle. So while we'll all know the Truth Trump can at least feel that he'd fought to the end.
Delusion will be his savior in this case.
4
@bohdan yuri
ultimately though, Trump would have to sign the bill into law. doubt that would ever happen, but if so that's one signature he wouldn't be displaying proudly to the cameras.
Sorry Occam,
If a bill sits on Trumps desk for 10 days it becomes law whether he signs it or not. He is not obligated to veto it or sign it.
1
Two things will become evident after today:
First, is the Senate ready to start doing its job now that they no longer have a rubber stamp in the House? When it comes to calling trump's bluffs, it's been an incestuous dance between the two chambers: "You go first." "No, you go first." Now the House has gone first. Will the Senate live up to its centuries old reputation of being the mature adult in the room?
Second, will congress finally put a stake in the heart of trump's endless distractions with manufactured crises of the week? We have no border "crisis", at least none that a cartoon wall can fix. But we do have plenty of other real ones: out of control medical and insurance costs, homelessness, opioid addiction, stagnant wages, crumbling infrastructure, among others.
I fear I already know the answer to both questions.
6
The proposal from the NYTimes editorial board is very appropriate. I would hope, however, that if Republican senators have the courage to open the government, even for a short time, that subsequent negotiations would include the formulation of legislation that would prevent future shutdowns from occurring. If such a bill became law, then one party would never be able to hold American citizens hostage to their particular desires. This would allow for adult-like negotiations and compromise that would result in future legislation that has strong bipartisan support.
2
@Michael Numan: The Congress cannot even make credible laws to govern itself. The debt ceiling is just another excuse to shut down the government.
1
First McConnell and his cabal will have to acknowledge that Trump is a sociopath who needs therapy and that they must work with the people to remove him from office and get him the medical health he so desperately needs. They must drop their pride and get him treatment. Trump is not a politician but rather a very sick man who needs help! HELP him!!
2
The Senate should be abolish; the sooner,the better.It is an utterly anti-democratic institution put in place to close a deal with the confederates to smooth their fear of the afro-Americans folowing the Confederation's defeat.It is obsolete and gives to much control to the rural states over the whole populationof the country.Trump is showing in full light the flaw in the system...it has to be fix!Best
@yves rochette: Testing for scale-independence is the only rationale for bicameral legislatures that makes sense. If 6 out of 10 people will vote for something, 600,000 out of 1,000,000 should too.
At this point, everyone on planet earth knows what and who Trump is. The world wasn't exactly sure who Pelosi and Schumer were until now.
Now, we know Trump, Pelosi, and Schumer all swim in the same swamp.
McConnell is a secondary player in all of this.
Schumer and Pelosi had an opportunity here and they absolutely blew it. Instead of leading and playing offense they decided it would better serve them to sit back and watch Trump fail.
Trump was absolutely right to call Washington a swamp.
1
"Mitch McConnell and the Senate have a chance this week to move toward ending the shutdown. Will they step up?"
LOL. Why on earth would they do that?
After a lede like that, I can't even bring myself to read the article.
2
Everyone is blaming Trump for this Government Shutdown. As it should be because he proudly takes on the mantle in a video recording. But now he is back blaming the Democrats. What's new! But Mitch McConnell by omission is even more to blame. By being person non grata he is enabling this President. As the Senate Leader, he should be bringing a bill to end this Government Shutdown to the floor. A bill that is a compromise acceptable to both Republicans and Democrats alike, Trump not withstanding. True this incalcitrant President is going to veto it. But the Senate has the power to over-ride the veto. Which is why I think McConnell is even more guilty than this insensitive and stupidly stubborn President.
4
Why isn't what Trump is doing to this country considered terrorism? He lost the fight for the wall so he stomps his feet and closes the government. Having no human feeling Trump can carry this shutdown until he's out of office. In the meantime, we are facing real safety concerns on multiple fronts. We can't stand much more of this and if Trump can then we must say it loud and clear: Trump is a terrorist. For the man who wants to get rid of NATO for his benefactor, Vladimir Putin, it is not a stretch at all to think that there is method to this madman's madness. Trump hates everybody and, believe me, he wouldn't mind if you were dead. Some president.
3
Trump has created a hostage situation and using federal workers as the bait. This person who calls himself president is an ignorant narcissistic wanna-be that won the presidency because of the electoral college. This outdated system needs to be changed.
What happened to one women/man one vote? If Trump gets away with this he will threaten a government shut down whenever he doesn't get his way. This is the thinking of a childish bully. Also the wall is a blurted out campaign promise from his grandiose mouth that has no great usefulness. Someone should take him to tour the over 200 tunnels under the existing walls right now.
This president has no human feelings for anyone but himself. The "great negotiator" is a farce. And not paying border security guards, et al, is way beyond a sane person's thinking.
2
In the age when you can buy a new car from your phone while stepping out of the shower, he wants a wall.
... when you can find your lost keys by saying, "Alexa ...," he wants a wall.
... when you can track and kill terrorists from 12k miles away while eating a sandwhich, he wants a wall.
It is not about the wall.
3
The 800-pound gorilla in the room is employment reform. Instead of worrying about walls or DACA, our elected leaders need to be holding businesses accountable for the hiring and employment of illegal immigrants. And workers need to be given better wages and a better healthcare system, if they're interested in doing it right.
Not going to happen any time soon, of course. To paraphrase Noam Chomsky, we're a one-party state, the business party, with two factions, Republicans and Democrats.
4
How about a coalition of the brave, perhaps led by Mitt Romney and including the centrist Republicans Gardner, Collins, Murkowski, with perhaps others like PortMan, McSally? Is it possible that Romney would exert enough force of personality to bring a sufficient number of Senators across the divide and put Trump in his place?
2
@Paul Walker
Outside of fiction, the mouse never roars.
1
The only way to end this contest of wills is to go to the people who are truly in control of the United States government - the Faux news commentators.
Speaker Pelosi should request Limbaugh, Coulter & Co. to directly address the House and specify what legislation they will allow trump to sign.
At last we would all know exactly where we stand.
4
If Trump believes in the Wall, why doesn't he just pay for it out of his own multi-billion-dollar pocket?
Trump doesn't need the money.
Unlike the government workers he's throwing under the bus, Trump lives rent free in the White House.
Trump doesn't even have to pay for his meals.
The American tax payer pays Trumps rent and for his meals.
Furthermore, Trump will get a generously funded pension after he leaves the presidency, again paid for by the American tax payer.
So, he can pay for it out of his own pocket and he won't feel a thing.
Finally, he'll eventually get his money back when Mexico finally pays for the wall, as he promised.
So there is no need for state action here.
He can do it himself.
He can put his money where his mouth is, demonstrate that he actually does have some principles and some patriotism.
This time, bone spurs will not get in the way of Trump demonstrating his patriotism by paying for the wall out of his own pocket.
I think people should be speaking out against the President's blatant "bait-and-switch" tactic regarding the wall.
He campaigned on a Wall that would not be paid by Americans. (It would be paid by Mexico).
Now he's shutting down the government in order to get Americans to pay for the wall.
That's called "bait and switch."
None of this needs to happen. If he believes in it, he should be the one making the sacrifices, not government workers who live paycheck to paycheck & again, unlike them, Trump won't feel any pain.
4
I would be happy if they banned the State of the Union speech forever. It is a waste of time. One side sits with somber faces while the other side shouts and stands with support. Justices are there for no real reason. They aren't going to judge which side won. But this time there will be long term consequences. Pelosi treats this like they won all three branches. That did not happen and everything they propose over the next two years will have to get by the Senate and the President. This has set the tone. But her not one penny for the wall approach may well be the tag on anything she proposes over the next two years. Something could have been worked out. Security funding could have been increase and a small portion allocated for a certain number of strategic places. But not one penny gets us nowhere. Pelosi's concern for those effected by the shutdown, should be seen coupled with her plan to take a bunch of her pals to Afghanistan for a while at our expense instead of staying to work something out. Instead the lawyer Cohen production can carry on regardless of Muller speaking up and saying "That didn't happen." There was a time when a split of the three branches worked for us and brought some balance their work. But this is another time and the “Not one penny” approach seems to be the path of the future. Working together doesn't seem to be an option
Except that the House, under Speaker Pelosi HAS offered funding for border security - SIGNIFICANT funding for border security, but the Senate, under "Leader" McConnell, will not allow a vote on the funding to come to the floor. So, there goes that argument, if you're interested in facts, rather than partisan talking points, that is...
1
@PatriciaNot exactly. While Pelosi was saying not one penny, no negotiation until the government goes to work and demanding none in her party freelance, movement was taking place. As another article said, “other members of Democratic leadership had already started "freelancing" and exposing cracks in Pelosi's no-talks armor.” That includes Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and House Majority Whip James Clyburn. He offered to give Trump the $5.7 billion he requested for more border security. So, while Pelosi is standing around doing nothing but demanding, “Not one penny” others are working to put an end to the shutdown. In the Senate, they have come up with two versions they will vote on. What they do have is an offer by Trump with a lot of changes including a hope for the Dreamers. Pelosi’s “Not one penny” also is a blow to that proposal.
The New York Times seems hellbent to credit the President with courage when he is truly a weak man. His life from draft dodging to caving in to the likes of Limbaugh, Hannity, and Coulter is a case history in spinelessness.
7
Elections have consequences! Who gave McConnell the power to thwart the will of the people. Show me where in the constitution majority leaders are given the power to prevent my representative from voting on my behalf. Keep digging GOP the hole is almost deep enough for your own burial.
7
Step up? Please.
1
all this over a wall along a southern border to stop what? Terrorists? Suicide bombers? Nope. Just people willing to do hard work for a better life (and less money than regular Americans are willing to do). Supply meets Demand. The wall is intended to cut off supply, but as we all know, you can't dam up supply. This isn't just a river. This is free market principles, and I thought Republicans understood that. The flow will find a way.
Mr. Trump had two full years with a lapdog republican House and a lapdog republican Senate to fund his wall and he couldn’t do it. Where were the shrills of the Hannity’s, Limbaugh’s and Coulter’s during that time? Now all of a sudden, these idiots make policy for the country? The gall is breathtaking.
Democrats should not even offer to negotiate for a wall that Mr. Trump promised would be paid for by Mexico. When Mexico sends a check, or alternatively when the overpaid Hannity’s, Limbaugh’s and Coullter’s put their money where their mouth is and fund it themselves, then build the damn thing. Until then Ms. Pelosi should hold firm. I am a taxpayer, I voted Democrat in the mid terms to provide an oversight on this president, and I refuse to pay for it.
3
With McConnell being merely an extension of the president, I doubt that they will rise to the occasion.
1
McConnell won't do anything to upset his wife's boss.
Why hasn't that glaring conflict of interest been reported on more? Does the media really think that Mitch McConnell would be immune from that sort of corruption?
3
It's time for a general strike, with a comprehensive, reasonable and fair immigration platform as the demand. I'm a nurse, and I'm in.
6
Mitch McConnell has had multiple opportunities to end the shutdown. He hasn't taken a single one of these. He's at the point now where the rest of us are beginning to question his loyalty to America, as we have questioned Donald Trump's since the campaign. 800,000 Americans are without a paycheck. Revenues are down on the DC Metro as well as at private businesses nationwide. Aviation safety is at risk. Criminal investigations at the FBI are at risk. National security is at stake. Principles? The man has none. He demonstrated that with the Merrick Garland affair. What else could motivate Senator McConnell other than that somehow he and his family benefit in some way from the shutdown.
So, to answer the question in the sub-head. No, he will not step up, and the spineless Republicans in the Senate will march along in lock-step.
6
Question McConnell’s loyalty to the U.S. now? Currently? He was a traitor when Obama was elected when he declared he would make Obama a one term president. McConnell - GOP and power first, country last.
2
Now that there seems to be agreement about spending $5.7 billion on border security measures, the time has come to pass a bill that immediately reopens the government and simultaneously commits Republicans and Democrats to establishing a bipartisan (equal numbers of members appointed by both parties) blue ribbon commission of immigration experts to recommend the best and most efficacious way of spending that money. The commission should be established within 30 days & report back with its recommendations 30 days thereafter.
5
I constantly hear the numerical amount of $5.7 billion that Trump wants to build his wall. It's stated repeatedly in the press and on television. This is such a misnomer, that amount will only get the wall started, not even 200 miles of wall. Estimates are that the wall will actually cost between $25 billion and possibly as high as $70 billion. Does this mean that every time the President wants another 5 billion he is going to shut down the government again? It will cost every household in the US an additional $500 in taxes to pay for the wall. If I had an extra $500 to pay in taxes, I'd rather it go toward paying down our national debt and not adding to it.
7
Given Trump's lack of interest in reading, McConnell could bring any bill to him and he would sign it. So pass the CR and then tell Trump he got money for a wall. He really won't know the difference.
5
Unfortunately, Ann Coulter would tell him.
Hoping Mitch does the right thing for the American people is kind of like rubbing a Lotto ticket and hoping you win. There is near certainly that you will be disappointed. This is the shutdown that Trump wanted, he couldn't care less about human suffering, national security or airline safety. He only cares about himself and about distracting attention away from his own blatant corruption.
7
how about this, the house and senate pass responsible legislation, the president vetoes it and then congress overrides his veto. that would teach the president something about power. it is sad that our politicians especially McConnell lack such backbone.
13
Folks , I am sorry
There is no such thing in any decent, civilized, western nation , government shutdown.
Rest is detail.
We should all go back where we come from ( except native Americans) game over here. This is not serious , not credible and in any respect not a trustable reliable establishment.
This is not democrat or republican issue anymore. This about being a responsible character issue, American politicians clelalry showed , they do not have a character.
2
To spend over $5 billion on a wall that most Americans don't want verges on the criminal. This country needs health care for all, not a wall that will ultimately be ineffectual anyway.
Trump seems to epitomize wanton immorality. He is determined to get his way about building a wall no one wants, while refusing to consider universal health care. My young Uber driver last night has been quite ill for a month, but cannot afford either health insurance or the medicines that can ameliorate her symptoms--disgraceful.
Mitch McConnell's attitude towards forcing Trump to rescind the shutdown is surely molded to some degree by his Russian donors who have enriched him to the tune of well over $6 million, along with too many other Republican congress members who have accepted money from our adversaries in Russia. They are loving the shutdown.
7
Unfortunately current "leadership" in both Congress and the Executive branch most closely resembles a kindergarten class. Until Donny and Nancy put aside their personal squabbles and recognize the greater good, dedicated civil servants in the TSA and U.S. Coast Guard will bear the brunt of both sides' poor decisions.
1
I thought Congress--including Mitch McConnell--represented their constituents.
Now it's abundantly clear that Mitch is a servant of Trump. We need to have senate leadership that respects the authority vested in it instead of cow-towing to King Trump.
Trump owns this shutdown and was "proud" to do it. Now he's stuck with his ego in the WH.
4
All the Ds and NYT readers who oppose the wall and call it a hostage situation, inexplicably and conveniently forget that this wall was the main campaign pledge Trump was elected POTUS to fulfill. It is not something he concocted AFTER he was elected, in opposition to what he promised in exchange for the votes.
2
This Editorial is wispy. Republican Senators should vote to reopen the government for the two weeks proposed by the Democrats. This will allow workers to be paid and give a couple of weeks for negotiation. Since the Trump bill is designed to fail a vote, the Republican Senators have a choice to make — do their duty and vote for the temporary opening or cave to Trump. If they cave, the Democrats in their states should brand them as the weaklings that they are and remove them to private life in their next election.
2
While taken as a whole this editorial shows that Pelosi is utterly land completely justified in her position, you just couldn't resist creating a false equivalency. "The continuing battle increasingly resembles an episode of “Real Housewives, with the attendant name-calling and hair-pulling." No. What Trump is doing is wholly against norms of governing and should not be looked at as a normal part of legislative negotiations. This is bad governing to the point of being criminal, pure and simple. All I can say is thank God for Nancy Pelosi. She's the only one who can contain the Usurper-in-Chief.
3
Mitch McConnell's prowess as a lawmaker isn't making laws. His forte is obstructing, mucking up the process, usually through an arcane point of procedure, a rule of some sort.
But like the 2008 recession, McConnell is sitting on the sidelines, betting his inaction, backed up with some cognitively dissonant speechifying (see everything McConnell said upon Merrick Garland's nomination to the Supreme Court and upon the confirmation of Boof Kavanaugh for the same court vacancy for spot-on examples), will make the Democrats say uncle.
Doesn't look like it's happening this time. Looks like the sidewalk just ended, Mitch. You're in the middle of the busy thoroughfare
The time to stop playing games is way overdue. (Also way past time for Kentucky to sober up and stop sending this hack back to DC.)
3
With all due respect this editorial is all over the map.
Fortunately, after making statements like "as an alternative to the Don-and-Nancy drama.." suggesting speaker Pelosi's attempts at establishing the house as an equal branch of government is anything less than a constitutional requirement for the house to act as a check on the executive. The NYT's demeans Ms. Pelosi by suggesting a tit-for-tat equivalence here. This is one of those rare moments in politics when the responsibility is truly one sided (Trump/McConnell).
Fortunately the NYT's veers back in the right direction towards the end of the piece and places the responsibility for this fiasco where it rightly belongs - the Republican party.
3
Congress, particularly Senators, should receive no compensation whatever until they stop the ridiculous game of continuing resolutions and pass a budget. The endless cycle of CRs is nothing more than kicking the can. It's their job to do so by Constitutional Mandate. No budget, no pay. Why not write something about that every now and then?
1
By his own actions Mr Trump is behaving like the dictator he would like to be. His current position is "give me the wall I want or I will torture millions of my fellow citizens until I get what I want." Speaker Polosi is right to stand up to this attempt at governance by blackmail. In a world where negotiation is a useful tool Mr Trump might have said " I really want this wall, what can I offer you in exchange for me getting the wall". The answer might well have been " a viable and irreversible path to citizenship for all DACA recipients". But Mr Trump doesn't what to negotiate. His philosophy appears to be: it is not enough for me to win, it is also necessary for you to lose. So here we are. In my view the adult in the room is Speaker Polosi who rightly refuses to be cowed by the thuggish behavior of a dictator want to be. I hope the Speaker and American democracy prevail.
4
Will Republicans step up? I wouldn't hold my breath. We’ve gone from “Mexico will pay for it!” to Americans paying dearly for it daily during the longest shutdown in our history – with nothing to show for it. Yesterday McConnell blocked a bill to reopen the government. Today he will allow a Senate vote on two bills, neither of which will pass. Democrats want the shutdown to end. Republicans want Trump to “win.” This is your government on Republican policy. Any questions?
3
What could be worse for federal workers?
Perhaps, to be his hairdresser...
2
The Democrats have no choice but to stand firm. We cannot have government by tyranny, and that is exactly what this president considers to be the "art of the deal." If the Democrats cave, Trump will consider this his go-to strategy when he wants concessions from congress. He is a cruel man, backed by an ever-more cruel party. Yes, government workers are being used as pawns in this ridiculous self created crisis. But if the Democrats bend to Trump's will, it will happen again, making their problems even worse. Government workers have the power enmasse to walk off the job. This would bring the country to its knees and end this insanity once and for all.
3
The irony in all this is that most Republicans probably share the Democrats’ belief that funding the wall is an obscene waste of money and will have negligible, if any, effect on drugs and illegal immigration. Yet, in spite of that presumption, they considerate it more important to support their “team” than to honor their obligation to represent the interests of the American people.
2
Dear Media, Here's a thought on journalist responsibility:
Instead of enabling the monster the media created, and continuing to throw fire on this gas lighting horror, how's about spending some time talking about the actual underlying problem - how do we deal with a narcissist? I'm quite serious. Inundate the public with the truth, that we have a pathological personality disorder at the helm, how they maintain power (give specific examples from his tenure) and what the solution is. And don't stop until you have assisted in developing a new culture of educated Americans who can skillfully navigate these types today and in the future. Covering every single rant as though the screaming and Screamer matter is the problem. And certainly keeps your circulation up. Responding with the actual assessment of how impaired he actually is, every single time, from the experts, is what we are actually waiting for. Develop a back bone and quit throwing gasoline on the public. Respectfully, Louise
2
Our enemies are salivating. There is something far more pernicious going on. What will it take for some action to be taken?
1
Everyone talks about how history will remember men like Trump, McConnell, Ryan. Let's for a moment talk about how history will remember Nancy Pelosi--as the woman who almost single-handedly brought tyrants to their knees and saved the American Republic.
4
Given the personality and past behavior of Trump, is any compromise even remotely possible?
And with GOP Senators deathly afraid of alienating Trump and his base, will they sacrifice their careers for the nation?
If the Dems 'give in' to Trump, it sets the precedent that; whatever Trump wants, he gets, or he closes down the nation.
One rotten apple can spoil the whole bunch.
2
There are no "Republican senators with even a faint spark of independence." They don't exist.
3
Mitch will only step up if commanded by his lord and master. Which by the why is not the people who elected him to office. Thank very little for your disservice to the nation.
2
Why is it because a woman, Nancy Pelosi, is making the point
that the SOTU, should be postponed until after the shutdown ends, because that is the current state of the union. Should this serious problem affecting this country be likened to a soap opera tv show?
Why is this being likened to a drama? is that because a woman is standing up to a man, and that makes it theater where women emote.
If Speaker Pelosi were a man, wouldn't he be lauded for his fortitude. Who writes these editorials?
3
McConnel, the trump enabler extraordinair can only seem to find a spine when a Democrat is in the WH and then he just folds his arms like a child who doesn't want to eat his dinner and becomes an obstructionist. Now he is using that other familiar childish stance of blaming the problem on his two siblings and maintaining a posture "that it wasn't me". Kentucky voters need to show this man the door in 2020.
4
Let's get to the basics, which this editorial fails to do. Candidate and now President Trump claimed on several occasions he would build a 20 billion dollar wall and Mexico would pay for it. The idea that Mexico would pay for it was preposterous to anyone with at least a third grade education; but his minions in the Congress and Senate went along with the idea. A bill to have US taxpayers pay for such a wall has never passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate. And clearly has no chance whatsoever with a Democrat majority House of Representatives. So what is President Trump doing? Holding most of the federal government hostage in order to get something he could not and can not get approved by the House and Senate. This is not how laws are made by the US government. This is, however, a tactic of dictators.
3
Nancy Pelosi said it this morning: this shutdown fits perfectly into a republican strategy to shrink the size of the federal government.
3
@Erik Van Dort
She fell right into the trap.
January 24, 2019
The American family for living its politics would best harmonize itself and form its doctrinal expression for the Party that wins its purpose and loyalty to either Democratic or Republican and indeed it small Independent banner. As the families live and seek its politics starts with home by home, and community by community - and with as we say grass roots politics - ferment and hearts and minds then we can bypass what is the national divided electorate - putting in office the best for serving its power as National leaders
2
There's a silver lining to every cloud...
This is the perfect opportunity to rid the government payroll of tens of thousands of loafers who only have jobs because of patronage-related rules that protect them from being fired for poor performance.
These people, who would be fired in any other normal business, should be "not re-instated" as a result of this shutdown.
Politicians such as Senator McConnell and Senators Hatch, Graham and Grassley do not breathe unless President Trump gives them permission to do so. They are nothing but shameless shills for Mr. Trump and his agenda. They could care less about how long the shutdown lasts because their lives will not change one iota because of it. No matter what these individuals say regarding any matter affecting the United States, in the end, they fear President Trump and will always bow down before him. The shutdown will end when Mr. Trump realizes that more and more people dislike him, blame him for the shutdown fiasco and do not believe any more of his lies, false statements and ridiculous tweets. People's suffering will unfortunately continue because our commander in chief makes decisions based on vanity and not on facts and reality.
3
Wouldn't it be nice for the country if GOP Senate defections from Trump's incompetent, venal and intentionally divisive "leadership" start to add up?
2
Mitch McConnell is the prototype for politicians who put the narrow interests of their party above the interests of the nation. His behavior since the election of Obama, has been a disgrace, and I believe, rises to the level of disloyalty. Don't expect anything good from him.
4
Trump operates outside of the political process, inserting his emotional and intuitive priorities into the job, uninterested in the repercussions. It would stand to reason then that the resolution sits in Trumps ego. He forced the shut down because Coulter and Limbaugh made him feel weak, which is his own poison pill.
So why don’t Democrat’s hammer him for being so weak that he’s enslaved to the whims of these two? If he is being pilloried for not standing up to two irrelevant people, opening the government will be his position of strength. It’s the blessing of dealing with a narcissist.
NYT should be ashamed of itself for painting any sort of “false equivalence” here.
And the “Don and Nancy drama” and “Real Housewives” analogies are a slap in the face of the American People, who finally, after two years of waiting, have representation through Pelosi’s refusal to capitulate. There is no negotiating with an authoritarian.
This editorial will not age well.
3
Maybe Trump would accept his face on Mt. Rushmore as a monument in lieu of the wall.
Republicans have reduced themselves to the level of boot-licking “cabinet members” of a third rate Republic run by an unhinged dictator. The upcoming vote will pull the curtain away from their dereliction and self-interested support of Trump to some extent, but until Republicans begin to see their support of Trump as dangerous to their careers it will be business as usual. Democrats must continue to hold the line against Trump.
2
A group of 5 women PTA Presidents would have settled this issue in a single meeting in one afternoon...complete with a clearly defined plan and budget.
Time for a smart female President who understands the "Art of Compromise" not "Dim-witted Deal Making".
3
Mitch won't wake up or step up. Trump has emasculated him.
He is not doing his job. He needs to go home, permanently
2
Maybe some Dem Billionaires should find and fund some Kentucky GOP right-winger to primary Mitch in 2020.
3
This is not the "Don and Nancy show". This is and always has been a solo act. Just little Donny. If only "journalists" would stand up to this con man in chief the way Pelosi is......but I'm asking the media to do what it is incapable of doing. Focus on facts, evidence, and the truth, not concocted narratives that sell advertising - like the "Don and Nancy show".
As for McConnell and the republicans, they will keep doing what they have been doing. Nothing. It's pointless to expect anything from them. Especially anything helpful to the American people, especially those who aren't disgustingly wealthy.
2
Psych 101: "He who cares the least, controls the relationship."
This is not a contest of wills, it's a contest to demonstrates who cares the least.
Traditionally the GOP has cared the least which is why we have dystopic right wing dominance of the government by breaking rules, norms and ethics - in favor of voter suppression, gerrymandering, and anything else to thwart the will of the people in favor of the interest of concentrated wealth & power.
I recall after the 2006 election, where the Dems won in reaction to the realization what a mess of corruption and destruction the GOP had created by lying the nation into an unnecessary war in Iraq. Bush got half the message: America wants change, so he pored more troops into Iraq. At the time there wasn't enough budget to fund "the surge." Bush didn't care, he sent the soldiers over there and left it for the Democrats to provide funding or watch our soldiers starve to death in Iraq. Essentially he used our armed forces to extort Democrats. He didn't care about the soldiers, but he knew the Dems would care and so he used that against them.
The GOP hasn't changed. What has changed is that the Dems are willing to hold out. This is what the President wants. Putin wants our government destroyed &/or in chaos. Trump is delivering. He doesn't care about anything that isn't him.
The shut down is a set up. If the GOP didn't want the shut down they could have passed a funding bill in December. The fact is, they just don't care.
4
Sorry, but all deals must first be approved by President Limbaugh-Colter
5
This week, try compromise. Next week, storm the Bastille
4
The issue of immigration is the most important issue facing our society. To our leaders it is more urgent that a few thousand well paid government workers have had their paychecks delayed. In the end, many of these workers will earn more because they will be paid overtime. Some contract workers will really suffer but thousands of Americans have died or have been permanently disabled in wars. We need to resolve the immigration debate. It is more important than any other issue facing our society. It defines who we are. It defines who America will be in the future. Stop whining about the shut down and debate the fundamental issue.
1
President Trump faces almost certain impeachment in the House. His actions seem designed to delay the impeachment vote by keeping attention on the government shutdown.
But the Senate has lots of power here. After all, for Trump to actually be removed from office, about 20 Republicans would need to vote for conviction in the Senate.
At some point the cost of keeping the government shut down should convince some Republicans to break with the president and come to whatever deal is possible with Democrats to keep the government open.
Democrats should be working on Senate Republicans to come up with a deal, even if it is not pre-approved by the President. Achieving a veto-proof majority in favor of such a deal would send a clear message to the President. The same Republicans that craft such a bill will ultimately be called upon to decide on whether to remove Trump from office.
I actually support a version of the President's position on immigration. I do believe that we should work to stop illegal immigration completely. I am not terribly enthusiastic about the Wall which I regard as a symbolic act.
But I also strongly favor impeaching Trump. Although he gave voice to concerns of many of the poor who have been forgotten by liberals, his antagonistic take no prisoners style has led to numerous mistakes.
One of those is a largely pointless trade war with China, which threatens to take the US into recession.
In my view, impeachment cannot occur soon enough.
3
The argument that, as with terrorists, you don’t negotiate with a president holding government hostage in an attempt to blackmail Congress into giving him what he wants, because then, government shutdowns would become the go-to means to leverage demands by the executive branch, even after Trump is gone, is only half the story.
The most important reason for not negotiating until after Trump ends the shutdown is because Trump is challenging the Constitution, the power of the House to provide funding for purposes it, by majority vote, through the legislative process, makes into law, as the Constitution “requires” for all spending authorizations—not blackmail and hostage-taking. Further, the House, being most representative of the “Will of the People,” is the only body empowered to raise and direct the use of funds; not the Senate, the courts, and certainly NOT the president.
Bottom line? To cave to Trump’s blackmail and hostage-taking would weaken American democracy by diluting the separation of powers the Constitution creates between the separate-but-equal branches as both a barrier to the abuse of power and as a protection for freedom. Trump seeks to abscond with the power of the House and turn it to his own ends.
If Democrats stand their ground until the shutdown is ended, the vile practice of holding government hostage to the passage of funding bills might come to an end, finally being seen as too damaging and costly, and that would be a victory for democracy and America.
5
"Republican lawmakers are helpless observers in some tacky war between the president and congressional Democrats.
This was always a dishonest narrative."
No, what is dishonest are Democrats. I don't even care that much about the illegal immigration debate. With a wall or without one, we're still going to have millions of illegal immigrants - and we seem to get along just fine. Yes, we understand the human tragedy involved in the potential for deportation. But that has existed for a long time and is unlikely to be resolved here.
Instead, we're talking about $5 bn. Let's put that in context. The government budget is $4.1 tn ! So the money for the wall is barely over 1% - a drop in the bucket. By comparison, Obama increased the national debt by over $10 tn during his time - more than every President in history combined. How can the money even be an issue for Democrats ?
Instead, this is a petty squabble where the parties might as well be arguing about which is better - Coke or Pepsi ? And, of course, it's about symbolism ... and fealty to constituents. Democrats don't want to look weak to Hispanics and Trump doesn't want to lose immigration hard-liners. That fight will surely continue. But even former Obama speech writers who now host a liberal podcast, Pod Save America, advocated for funding for a wall in exchange for DACA during the last government shut-down. Why is it so hard to make that deal and live to fight another day ?
20
@Princeton 2015
Democrats know that if the "crybully" get his way through extortion and threats he will have the military surrounding the House of Representatives tomorrow.
64
@Princeton 2015 I don't want to spend $5.7 billion on some farcical wall, money that could better be spent a million different ways, and I'm very happy that my Democratic representation in Congress feels the same way. Despite that amount only being less than a percent of the budget, it's still a lot of money. Think about how many infrastructure projects it could fund. Over the last few decades, the Dems got derailed by giving up too much. Now it's time we stand for what we believe in.
81
@Princeton 2015
Why didn't Trump get funding for the wall during the first two years of his presidency? Republicans controlled the house and senate.
But it's the democrats fault, right...
201
FYI for folks who live outside of Kentucky. Mr. McConnell is ultimately protecting his reelection chances and nothing else. The president's base is alive and well in rural Kentucky. Because Mr. McConnell is incredibly unpopular in his home town of Louisville and the other urban areas, he desperately needs the Trump Base to vote for him if he is to remain in Congress. Therefore...
3
What we need (New Mexico and other border states) are 1) upgraded points of entry - Mexico is our biggest trading partner and we need efficient means for commerce and people to travel back and forth, 2) changes in immigration law plus personnel and technology that will address the humanitarian crisis of people dying in the vast desert on our southern border, which in their desperation they try to cross, 3) a humane way to deal with families seeking asylum, most of whom present themselves legally at border crossings, that does not include separating children from accompanying family and most of 4) a President who understands these issues rather than a racist showman who exploits these problems with a simplistic, environmentally destructive, impractical, and ridiculously expensive "solution" that is merely designed to address the fears of people who don't live here and that he has encouraged and fed. Oh yes, and a Congress that does its job, especially a Senate Majority Leader, who puts the good of the country and the American people above all, but especially above political gamesmanship. The Democrats are doing their job - opposing the setting of a dangerous precedent. It's time for Mitch McConnell and GOP Senators to step up and do theirs.
2
Where’s the traitor Mitch McConnell?
3
Republican Senators could end all this immediately and should. If necessary they should override a presidential veto. They must stop pretending that they are out of the loop when they are the problem.
6
What has become clear is that the GOP is waging an ideological and cultural battle regardless of the cost to the welfare of their constituency, the folks that are trying to survive and feed their families. They are willing to lose this temporary optics battle to win the war. This is about building both a symbolic and real wall around their America. It's an attempt to protect cultural, social, and political institutions that are white and of European heritage as well as the ultra-rich oligarchic hegemony that thrives as a result. This is straight-up Ann Coulter stuff. It doesn't matter how many Americans have to suffer if they succeed in cementing their dystopia in the long run.
6
In this juvenile game of chess, Trump has put himself in check. He will not make a move without receiving a green light from Coulter and Limbaugh. With Pelosi and Schumer standing firm against his wall conniption, unpaid workers will continue to suffer from the shutdown with no end in sight. Want proof? Just look at the probability of either proposal passing in the Senate today. Trump and Congress are fiddling while people's lives and livelihoods are burning.
4
"Mitch McConnell and the Senate have a chance this week to move toward ending the shutdown. Will they step up?"
They might; he won't.
5
McConnell should allow veto-proof legislation to get through instead of turning his job into a routine task of asking "Mother May I?" to his Lord and Master.
Any minute now, I expect him to start eating flies while referring to himself as Renfield.
5
I am deeply offended by the NYTvs use of the phrase, the "Don-and-Nancy drama." Trump is a corrupt, lying, traitorous, anti-intellectual, authoritarian figure, elected by a minority of voters. Pelosi and Schumer are the leaders of our opposition, protecting the people of this country from continuing our descent into full blown, oligarchic fascism. I expect more from the NYT, but then again, I also expected more from the NYT than its biased coverage of the Sanders-Clinton race in 2016.
7
By no means should Pelosi ever give in to the Trump hostage taking and temper tantrum.
McConnell is like Trump except more shifty and slimy. The former only thinks of himself. That is, whatever benefits McConnell, and only what benefits McConnell moves forward. Both are bottom feeders.
And anyway, I thought Mexico was supposed to pay for the wall.
7
I continue to be amazed and stunned by the NYT's irresponsible reporting on a number of matters. This one is front and center. The "Don and Nancy show". Really? The President takes the whole country hostage in order to get his way on a matter that has incredibly low support among both Democrats and Republicans and you "both sides" it? This is not about winning. This is not a political stunt on the part of Pelosi. The NYT cynical opinion pieces do as much to depress voter turn out as FOX news and Russian interference. Please be careful in your approach to these issues as 2020 is right around the corner. This piece of opinion is why we got DJT in the White House to begin with. Be better!
9
US Democrats must understand that Donald Trump is using the identical Strategy - historically proved immensely effective - as Narendra Modi in India, Rodrigo Duterte in Phillipines, Adolf Hitler in Germany etc. And that is to keep their Lies, however Brazen, in the public eye at all times to earn credibility by sheer persistence. The polite letters from Speaker Nancy Pelosi are drowned by Donald Trump’s public condemnation of Democrats on the populist Issue of Border Security. Democrats must engage in a constant Public Discourse exposing the Trump Shutdown - yes, the Trump Shutdown - does Nothing for Border Security, Trump’s Wall - yes, Trump’s comic Wall - does Nothing for Border Security. Democrats must Publicly & constantly present the new Technology & Infrastructure Investments they Propose to really ensure Border Security.
5
Excuse me...Don-and-Nancy-Drama? Whose side are you on, NYT? This is a Trump/Mitch shutdown. Nancy...Speaker Pelosi we should say...is doing everything in her power to end this nightmare. May she prevail!
7
Is anyone else starting to think, "Nancy for President" ?
7
By the way, it looks like the viral video of the encounter between the MAGA anti-abortion high school students and the Hebrew Israelites was first been sent out by a fake Twitter account. Can anybody still argue that such stuff didn't influence American voters in 2016?
See:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/23/technology/covington-video-protester-congress.html?action=click&module=Latest&pgtype=Homepage
3
If the government were truly shutdown income tax withholding collections would stop. Then we would really see how people feel about a federal shutdown. We might prefer it.
1
Where is McConnell? Why isn’t he doing his job? He’s supposed to lead the Senate, which implies movement. There has been no movement from him. Instead he waits. Someone should inform him that his job is to serve the country, not wait in stasis for the demands of the Executive branch. He could move this process by allowing a vote, Trump could veto, and Congress could override. Problem solved, at least for the moment. Then we need some law limiting the power of the executive to take the government hostage.
8
Calling this the Don-and-Nancy drama is unacceptable. Speaker Pelosi is the only leader in the two years of decline, brought about by Donald Trump’s failed presidency, to stand up to him successfully. The editorial board agrees with passing the bill to re-open the government the democrats passed as H.R. 1, weeks ago, but has a need to include the aforementioned both sides meme. Just exactly where has she misstepped?
If any group is to blame for this horrendous mess, it is the Republican leadership in Congress whose supine enabling of Trump for two years gave him the impression that he was in control of the Legislative Branch of the U. S. Government. Since his ignorance of The Constitution is and remains profound, it’s no surprise that is how he sees it.
9
Democrats sound like children when they accuse Coulter and Limbaugh as the reason for the shutdown. The reason for the wall is because of caravan, after caravan, after caravan of uneducated, welfare-seeking, illegal, mostly male, cellphone-carrying masses assault the southern border. These caravan masses are not stupid. They know exactly what they are doing and it is not beneficial to the USA.
3
@Carlito Brigante
Dodge Caravan or Gypsy.
Are you also afraid of Flamenco dancers?
Unless and until the shutdown is ended, Nancy and the House should continue to say no to, the SOTU.
4
You can see the Ed board positioning itself to cave on the wall by using false equivalence. “The Don and Nancy show”
5
It is amazing how the readers of the NYT opinion pages do not get what this standoff is about!
This is a campaign promise from a man elected to fulfill his pledge. Plastic Nancy is going nowhere after this, but a cushy job consulting or a suit in a huge political law firm. She does not need the money, but wants it as she is denied power by Trump. Hail Donald give all Dims a stick in the eye with a second term.
A quality of life maintenance is what is at stake here. There is no morality to this debate.
This is about the not so hidden message: We do not want more people coming here! We have too many people here already.
Why would we want more economic and welfare benefit vampires here?
Limbaugh and Coulter are political barometers. Trump is very savvy heeding their opinions.
A good type of government is a small government and the best government is a shutdown government!
Question to the editors and reviewers of opinions sent in to the NYT question:
Why is it so difficult to get a conservative opinion put it?
There are ten times the number of comments on the liberal side of the discussion versus a conservative comment.
Why?
2
@Pogo As a lifelong reader of the NTY this shameless bias happened once Dean Baquet, the executive editors, was appointed Executive Editor of the NYC during the presidency of Obama. As a matter of fact, the comments section used to be even worse in the 4 years before Trump was elected when the NYT sold hard the open borders of Europe and pushed Merkel to open the doors. Back then, most contrarian opinions were not published to pretend a unanimity of the LEFT that reminded me of my native communist country, I legally left of the US, decades ago.
The problem, of course is not the president. The problem is Republican senators, and their leader, Mitch McConnell. Republicans are the ones who are holding our nation hostage, and betraying their country. America needs to ignore the criminal and treasonous president, and instead look and see who is feeding him and propping him up (besides V. Putin.).
2
This is not the "Don and Nancy Drama" - this is the Don and Mitch disaster. Ms. Pelosi is showing resolve in the face of a maniac in the White House. Stop equating the two sides. Donald Trump is a mess and it is every American's duty to do what ever they can to stop the unfolding national nightmare.
8
McConnell is neither a leader nor a patriot. Just the worst of political slime. To expect him to rise to the occasion is hopeless.
3
If the information in this article can be verified, I believe it could be the underlying reason for Trump's "Build The Wall Now" stand. That would certainly conform to what we have learned about his past business practices. Please, please investigate and if it is correct then beat the drums and sing to the heavens that this is what he's been up to....more plans to profit by ripping our country off. The sooner he is convicted the better for our country and the world.
https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/letters/2019/01/19/letter-who-will-profit/
2
These days two names keep popping into my mind: "Bugsy Trump" and "Meyer McConnell"
2
Time to investigate McConnell.
2
Trumpty Dumpty needs to understand, once and for all, forever, that he was not elected KING.
It's the Presidency, Donald. If you would just act like it, you could be the President. Don't we wish.
2
AGREE NYT Editorial Board!
Our own WI Senator Ron Johnson is Chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, but we've heard nothing but crickets from him during what is supposed to be a (cue the hair-on-fire visual) "homeland security crisis".
There are no live staffers available for a meaningful phone conversation at any of his Senate offices - and I've tried them all. No, Senator Chicken, I mean Johnson, appears to be a coward of the highest degree, abdicating stewardship of the taxpayers money by remaining silent on this boondoggle-of-a-wall nonsense, and providing no leadership on what REAL homeland security should look like.
I second the sentiment of the NYT: "Speak Truth to lies, Senator Johnson, and grow a spine!"
2
Mitch is using his Merrick Garland playbook. We all lose. He is a despicable man.
3
The Border Patrol asked for a wall.
The radicalized Democrats are offering drones.
Whom should we trust?
1
@John that’s untrue! They have repeatedly said otherwise. Stop watching Fox “not news”.
1
Giving the raging liberals in The House that Nancy cannot control, I'm doubtful anything will get done!
As to the poison pill in the immigration policy, give credit where credit is due. Homeland Security requested it!
The Senate has patiently waited for Nancy and her army of flying liberal monkeys to realize their folly before stepping up.
In the end, the wall will be built. It's time for the liberal debutants in The House to stop their petty bickering, finish the spending bill, and move forward with their much touted agenda of change. While we're on the subject, where are all these amazing pieces of legislation that the Socialist Democrats promised? I guess they're still in Oz!
2
@George
Wrong, wrong, wrong. Homeland security and border agencies did not request a “Wall”! They have repeatedly said otherwise. Same old tune from your ilk-oh my, everyone with any semblance of rationality is a “liberal”. Well, hear us roar!
1
"As an alternative to the Don-and-Nancy drama...."
No, an alternative to the Trump and Mitch shutdown pushed by Coulter and Limbaugh. Let's get something straight: Pelosi is standing for reality. We don't need a stupid wall. Don't write that this is her fault.
7
Paying ransom for hostages encourages the hostage taker to take more hostages. This is the situation we find ourselves in. If Trump is rewarded for holding the government hostage, what will prevent him from doing the same thing with the next must-pass bill? Say, the debt ceiling increase due this summer? And in any case, how can one negotiate with someone who will not hesitate to renege at any time? The Dems have obviously concluded that they cannot, and it's hard to blame them.
Republicans, wake up. This is your guy, you helped elect him and have enabled him ever since. Remember that Congress, not the President, has the power of the purse. Grow a backbone. Pass the required legislation, and override a veto if necessary.
4
WE don’t negotiate with Terrorists, foreign OR domestic.
PERIOD.
4
lost me at Housewives.
2
There's just something wrong when Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh's criticisms and opinions directly and negatively harm 800,000 government employees, who knows how many government contractors, and damages the economy overall.
2
By denying the wall, the main campaign promise that voters expected by voting Trump, the Democrats are denying the outcome of the elections. A lifelong Democrat, I voted for Trump because I liked his positions, including on immigration, but I also voted for Democrats in Congress, as I have had in the last couple of decades. I voted for the Dems because I thought that once HRC was out of the picture they could do more for American people than the Republicans. Turns out I was wrong, and not because the Rs are doing anything grand, but because the Ds only care about illegal aliens and the Dreamers.
2
@Alexgri
What you've said about the Dems is utterly untrue. In fact, it's nonsense. (I speak as a Democrat of 36 years standing whose political consciousness began during Watergate.)
Through this stupid shutdown, the GOP has now shown itself to be the single greatest impediment to the practice of democracy in the United States.
The Dems this week have been negotiating with the GOP Congressional leadership for a variety of sensible, smart, and comprehensive security measures that don't include this obsession the current occupant of the Oval Office has for a wall.
Remember the Berlin Wall? Well, it didn't stop East Germans from escaping to the West. It's now just a memory, having been torn down in late 1989.
1
@Alexgri Then shame on you for voting for a LIAR. And the midterm election is being ignored by the LIAR but the truth will prevail with or without you.
1
Google 'people climbing the wall images.' You'll see folks easily climbing it. Or tunneling under it. Or swimming around it.
Although it's difficult to keep track of all the proposals, I thought the House proposed giving $5B for a 'barrier system,' but was rejected by DT?
At this point, it's a no-win impasse. We are a Constitutional democracy, not a kingdom. The Senate must do its job and over-rule POTUS.
4
This is not a Contest of Wills. This is a Contest of Wonts. What we need isn't a contest. What we need is adult leadership.
72
@basejumper
First, reopen the government and stop punishing the 800,000 federal workers who have absolutely nothing to do with funding Trump's 14th century wall idea.
Then give Trump $1 million to first fix the 700 miles of walls and barriers we already have...and another $1 million to plug up the hundreds of tunnels the drug cartels have dug under these proven useless walls.
Pour billions into increasing border security agents and installing high tech, surveillance technology that can identify and deter illegal crossings from a remote location.
By now the vast majority of Central and South American people know that they will be denied asylum.
5
@basejumper
Looking for adults. Not:
Pelosi
Schumer
Trump...
How about Pence, Pompeo, Durbin, McCarthy, Hoyer?
@basejumper, correct, this is not a contest of wills, it is refusing to give your lunch money to a bully. It has nothing to do with the money, it has to do with the principles of governance.
7
Respectfully disagree; passing either of these bills and re-opening the government until February 8th guarantees only that government shuts down again on February 9th. This would be the height of cruelty to federal workers, tantalizing them with 2 weeks of work only to send them home again.
There is nothing to indicate a softening of Trump's demand for or Pelosi's rejection of a border wall. Absent this, what would be the substance of those 2 weeks of negotiations, and what would lead us to believe that this intractability would be resolved in just 2 weeks? At this point the contest between the president and the speaker has deteriorated to where any compromise by either of them will be seen as absolute defeat, a position neither is willing to accept.
That means Trump and Pelosi must be removed from the equation, which leaves us with Mitch McConnell, a man whose name regularly appears in sentences that include the words "dishonest" and "cynical". It is up to McConnell to signal that he will bring to the floor a veto-proof bill that funds the government long term and provides ample funding for border security. It is up to McConnell to determine what both Trump and Pelosi will have to give up in order for this bill to achieve bi-partisan support: Trump gives up a solid concrete wall, Pelosi accepts a barrier of some design.
This is the least to be expected from the Senate leader. It's a long shot at best, but far shorter than expecting Trump or Pelosi to come to terms.
1
The Democrats have offered more money for border security (and specified what that means): just no wall. THAT is the compromise. Mitch McConnell is not doing his job, nor are most GOP Senators.
6
during the "thirteen days" of the Cuban Missile Crisis, incremental side negotiations between the USSR & and USA stagnated at one point, when USSR altered the course of negotiations in a new letter, negatively affecting the minor progress.
one insightful USA team member [RFK?] suggested that USA instead agree to terms suggested by USSR in the immediate prior communique. That allowed for an agreement. and end to the Crisis.
Perhaps Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer should act similarly: publicly and dramatically accept the concerns Trump put forth about border security in his previous Saturday address from the White House - endorsing and acknowledging the president for proposing a solution, including it in proposed funding legislation; and just not talk about building a wall/fence/slats.
@gene s minkow: This stupid flirtation with global doom happened because the US was slow to remove obsolete Redstone missiles from Turkey, adjacent to the USSR.
1
Ssshhh. Listen.
That low drumbeat you hear - underneath the falsetto of Trump and McConnell's conniving for a 13th century era Wall - is the Coulter-Limbaugh funeral dirge that keeps Trump up at night, tossing and turning for his Wall like a baby crying for a pacifier:
PRESIDENT PENCE, PRESIDENT PENCE.
Trump is truly stuck - his presidency crazy-glued to a Wall that started as a racism mnemonic for his rallies. Now he can't stop until he gets it, no matter how much the supposedly terrorized people in McAllen, Texas, one of the safest cities in America, protest.
8
So what did Mitch do with that $2.5 million his PAC received in 2016 from the pro-Kremlin oligarch?
Do you think Vladimir wants the shutdown?
3
Yes. There is nothing Vlad likes better than chaos: Brexit, yellow jackets in Paris, and an election scandal and no federal government in the U S. A trifecta of chaos for his profit & pleasure.
1
When in the last several decades has the GOP ever tried to work with the Democrats? The Republican Party has never shown any interest in supporting legislation that doesn't cater to the wealthy. They vilified Clinton because he committed adultery. The premise for impeachment was that he lied under oath. Republicans have produced a President that lies every time he opens his mouth.
They wanted to lock Hillary up yet they praise a President that is enamored with Vladimir Putin and every other tyrannical leader in the world.
Regarding Health Care Republicans want to destroy Obama Care yet their old House Speaker John Boehner said "In the 25 years that I served in the United States Congress, Republicans never, ever, one time agreed on what a health care proposal should look like. Not once,” Boehner said. “And all this happy talk that went on in November and December and January about repeal, repeal, repeal—yeah, we'll do replace, replace—I started laughing, because if you pass repeal without replace, first, anything that happens is your fault. You broke it.”
6
Mitch McConnell is the grim reaper of democracy. With the gerrymandered Republican control of the Senate he holds all the power yet skates a majority of blame. Mitch is allowed to stand by and grin on the sidelines as chaos erupts. Trump is simply a front to McConnell's true dictatorship. Zero term limits will allow him to rule his kingdom till death. Welcome to McConnell's United States of Fascism. Some day Trump will be gone and McConnell will usher in a new puppet. McConnell is the real cancer and Trump is only an annoying symptom.
4
Senator McConnell has just two tactics: stick his head out and engage with the world or withdraw himself and the Senate back into his carapace.
It worked for President Obama's SCOTUS nomination and appeared to work for a while with this wasteful shutdown.
As a taxpayer, I am galled to pay US Senators to hide out in the Capitol and do nothing. Do. Your. Job.
-- assist constituents
-- hold hearings
-- deliberate on bills
-- VOTE THEM UP OR DOWN
Wash, rinse and repeat.
Let the president do his (or her) job to sign or veto the legislation the Congress passes.
We can only cashier 1/3rd of the Senate every two years. This is Sen. McConnell's time in the barrel. Tick, tock.
5
The "Way Out" of this shutdown has been hiding in plain sight all along. McConnell controls introduction of any bill via UC (Universal Consent), since a single objection amounts to a veto.
The MTP (Motion To Process) may be introduced by any Senator and is subject to simple majority vote. Democrats have waited to use this option in order to let T dig his hole so deep he cannot possible escape.
When Dems sense there is enough Repub support to override a presidential veto, the dam will break and the Legislative Branch will govern in defiance of an oppositional president.
1
I am just disgusted with the sexist, trivializing language of this opinion piece. I expect SO much better from the paper of record. "Hair pulling" !!!!!! Really?!!! As Dan Rather has pointed out eloquently: the President has not even presented real legislation for his "wall." No plan. No cost analysis. No feasibility studies. No expert opinion. Our government should not operate like a terrorist organization. Speaker Pelosi in this case is entirely, and courageously, in the right.
9
I'd say "farther" down the rabbit hole. It's the English teacher in me.
1
Dear Donald, what’s so bad about breaking one more vow or promise? You are an expert at it by this time.
Signed,
US Bankruptcy Court
US Banks
The Trump Bankrupt Small Business Association
Ivana
Marla
Melania
Various independent contractor
Trump College graduates
4
That's a good drawing!!!!
What is it with journalists that they want to reduce anything that happens in DC to a sports match about who's winning and who's loosing ... ?
Don't you see how this cultivates cynicism, and reinforces the false GOP narrative, whereas further below in this editorial you perfectly explain why that narrative has always been false, and why it so horribly damaging to the country ... ?
No, this is not an episode of Real Housewives, this is one party fighting with dignity, a clear moral compass, and constitutionally allowed measures, against another party that no longer respects the constitutional duty of the executive branch of government to executive existing law, and lies and cheats in order to falsely blame the first party of their irresponsible decision.
It is NOT because you're fighting against immoral bullies that you are by definition a bully yourself.
You can do so with dignity and restraint, and if you believe that that is NOT what Pelosi is doing, as your language at the beginning of this editorial suggests, could you then at least try to explain why ... ?
4
Is there a way to see "reverse reader picks"?
Seeing the most recommended comments just reinforces the bubble for NY Times readers. Makes them close-minded.
How do I petition for this? It's almost as if that functionality needs to be taken away so folks can start to gain their critical thinking back.
Love the illustration, complete with McConnell's ever-present frown.
Trump is Putin's puppet and McConnell is acting as though he is Trump's puppet.
McConnell is better suited to head the the Federal Assembly, the national legislature of the Russian Federation, than the Senate.
5
Trump created this problem. Trump can end this problem. He is aided and abetted by McConnell and a bunch of GOP cowards in the Senate and House.
This is not a "Don and Nancy drama" -- it is a debacle created by an egotistical fool in the White House. You demean Speaker Pelosi for taking her responsibilities seriously and demonstrating what it really means to govern.
Submitting to blackmail is not a choice any rational person, much less the Editorial Board of The Times, should recommend to Speaker Pelosi or the American people. It will not end with this shut down if the Trump is pacified.
6
Trump's depredations have no limit because he has no empathy, no reservoir of compassion. No beliefs except his reptilian instincts, and no interests in doing what's right for the nation. Watch out, because men like him get their pleasure from watching things burn.
5
>
It is simply unbelievable that the Republicans cannot roundup enough Senators with the moral integrity and will to override DJT and pass THEIR OWN spending bills. All they need to do is tell McConnell enough is enough.
What happened to Mittens, Mr. independent from Utah, pathetic.
1
Trump said "Pelosi is afraid of the truth." Trump has never said anything remotely truthful his whole life. We cannot tolerate this immature, insensitive, selfish, egotistical maniac anymore. End the shutdown and impeach Trump. Save our country.
3
Time to demand brain scans and mental exams for both McConnell and Trump.
It looks like both have Alzheimer's in various degrees.
Both smirking while destroying Democracy.
I'm really not sure who is worse. The smirking me. McConnell or the ranting Mr. Trump.
1
Come on Mitch show some spine.
Speak up , you could do better and here is a chance to speak up against the liar and chief.
The rumor is you can not stand him and don`t get along.
Just know trump has no loyalty toward anyone.
Take a look at Kelly, Cohen and so on.
Time to shine...
2
Only a small group of people are holding the rest of Americans back. This is a coup d'etat struggling to succeed. Grover Norquist, MM, Limbaugh, Coulter and FOX NEWS are our enemies today. NYT Editorial Board, you're being too milquetoast in your "bothsidesism" approach to satisfy your readers. Start reporting the danger America is in.
6
Even The Board is confused as to why we have a shutdown.The main reason is Trump is using the shutdown to stymie discussion about the Trump/Russia connection.
It is time to admit Trump is evil, must be impeached and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, including imprisonment.
New York Times be the New York Times. Tell it like it is. if you won't, who will?
8
The Buck stops with everybody as Trump stated as he never accepts responsibility for any situation he causes ,a trait he learned as school yard bully in Queens. The most cowardly president we have ever had punching down at the powerless ,gold star families m\,handicapped reporters and like all bullies he cowers before Putin who holds his presidency in his safe at the Kremlin. A frightened little toddler who did not expect to win the presidency but become the proud owner of a Moscow Trump Hotel with Putin's 50 million $ penthouse the cherry on top , now what ill equipped for the job who can he blame.
If the "orange baby" with the weird hair-do would look beyond his nose, then this might have a better chance of ending sooner than later. That said, McConnell and the remaining Chump supporters should step up and do what they were elected to do! Period! case closed!
1
Mc and Dons right wing nothingburger drive thru with a side of word salad. What happened to the free tacos? I was promised free Rio Grande tacos piled to the sky. I'm furloughed and could use some lunch.
2
Anybody that spends their entire life worrying about what the score is... is... quite obviously ... a loser.
People that are well in the mind don't even consider the subject.
How unfortunate for the nation it is... that the president is ill.
Happily, not everyone is.
Or maybe McConnell and his band of traitors has been compromised by Putin as much as the impotent Trump. Putin is the only one who benefits from this mess.
3
Sic 'em, Nancy. If Putin's Puppet and Mitch are determined to bring America to it's knees, we can at least put up a fight.
Care to know where you tax money really goes?
http://www.governing.com/topics/finance/gov-companies-receiving-largest-federal-subsidies.html
To add insult to injury many on this list are shell companies owned by the wealthiest people in the WORLD.
But the first 13B goes to Boeing. American company executives have to be BRIDED to hire Americans.
1
McConnell is a dishonest man who apparently disdains American governmental institutions and even American democracy as a whole. How else explain his desire to have President Obama fail, to gut the procedures of the Senate, or to steal the Supreme Court? Or, for that matter, his cynicism in respect to support for Trump....a selfish and corrupt and incompetent liar?
2
Trump is a bully and McConnell is craven. Pelosi knows as many of us do through our life experience that a bully must be confronted and a coward needs to see someone is not afraid of the bully.
McConnell was betrayed by Trump. Instead of standing up to him to defend his diminishing reputation and that of the Senate as a coequal branch of government he crawled back into his shell waiting for someone else, anyone to solve the problem Trump created.
3
NYT...everyday the headline should read.....Trump and GOP with Full Control if Congress never made this an issue!
4
Stop talking about reasonableness, when the president is holding the government, and now, millions of Americans, hostage in order to distract us from a hundred of his crimes and failures.
Shut him and his repulsive administration of thieves and liars down, and open up the government.
This is a needless power play that uses people - and when you add contractors, millions of people - as pawns so that each group - the fresh Democratic majority, McConnell's majority and the President can have a bulldozer win.
The President put us in this pickle, because he is a braying idiot, and Pelosi simply cannot cave at the first irrational demand made by an erratic President, which leaves the debacle firmly in McConnell's hands.
And until Pelosi handed the President the ultimatum that he finish his vegetables if he wanted dessert, by withholding the State of the Union, McConnell hid firmly in his shell.
We put the Democrats in the House because we need compromise, and the only one who can deliver one is McConnell, who won't. What a Charlie Foxtrot.
There is a compromise: reduced spending - to match the Dems notion that they are expected to allocated money sanely, but more than the 1.3B they originally had on the table; apportioned for border security, some but not all of which can be a wall; and permanent DACA relief, which must be structure as a bill and not as Presidential whim.
It isn't really rocket science. It just takes spine and soul.
The loser president has an impressive string of bankruptcies
(bank corrupt sees).
Why would Comrade Trump, Puppet-in-Chief of Vladimir Putin, hesitate to lead America into our greatest recession ever?
2
Trump is like a computer virus—Putin will bring the world to its knees without Putin firing a single bullet.
2
Senator McConnell refuses to bring any bill to a vote that Trumpov will not sign, which makes a mockery of checks and balances and abdicates the proper role of the Senate. There are more than enough Senators willing to support re-opening the government to end Trumpov's hostage taking of 800,000 civil servants, members of our Coast Guard and a large number of contractors.
The Congress can do what he will not but it will take both houses, and we know the impediment is an owlish man from Kentucky given to the theft of Supreme Court seats and a servile attitude toward the idiot occupying the White House.
4
This is ridiculous! Trump had two years with a republican controlled house and senate and he couldn't get his stupid wall.
Open the government and then get to work on an agreement. Obviously the two sides are not going to come to this agreement overnight so why inflict this unnecessary pain and suffering on hard working people who are just trying to get by? Trump cannot be allowed to take hostages to accomplish what he could not get done legislatively.
2
Thank god for Nancy Pelosi. That woman has moxey.
4
It is shameful, although not unprecedented, that the most influential newspaper arguably on this planet would construct a false premise and proceed to defend it. There are not two sides to the shutdown. This miserable situation was caused by an illegitimate leader abetted by a political party drunk with power. If the paper of record cannot clearly define the problem, then the entire nation will join The New York Times and fall further down the rabbit hole, with no bottom in site.
3
So we’ve now to the point where if the Senate doesn’t filibuster a bill that was passed before it won’t be passed to stopgap us from this shutdown to the next one – or would have, from the last shutdown to this one, if it had only been signed...
In your view - that might be a first sign of spring...
You just don’t get it...
Once Ann and Rush Clue the big guy in as to how warm and cuddly a cold and cruel winter can be for approval ratings...
And coal consumption...
He’ll simply shut down spring – starting with delaying its first day indefinitely...
The equinox may come and go in 2019 for the citizens of Stonehenge – but, for alt-advanced civilizations – it’s when the emperor says it is...
In fact, he may dispense with the whole month of March – historically not a good month for emperors...
After February 28th – simply fast-forward the day-calendar to April 1st, and keep it there forever...
That day and every day after, at 7 AM sharp, “I Got You, Babe” will blare from DC public-address systems...
Until the day Trump gets everything correct...
Which is perhaps John Kelly stayed as long as he could...
Just one more day...
PS
Well, I got down on my knees
And I pretend to pray
You know the preacher likes the cold
He knows I'm gonna stay
California dreamin'
On such a winter's day
2
I put Zero faith in Trump Puppet McConnell to do anything in America's best interests. He's nothing but a blind follower serving the blind, whose shrill little heart is as shriveled as his scowl.
The worst of the worst of this rotten intrusion is that he's more than callous. He's demented.
3
This is a dirty game of politics. Do we let a loud-mouth group in of fascists, in minority, rule the country; or, do we demand that they sit down, shut up, and learn a little democracy? Forget Mitch! $100 million of Koch Brother's money will save him. He is hated and despised in his home state.
1
Crazy Nancy illustrates why America cannot trust the democrats to make important decisions like securing our borders. If the democrats continue to allow illegal aliens to stream into America with no wall, the dems can only be termed as traitors. Shades of Obama!
1
@spiris
Trump said he would never put border security into the left's hands. He was absolutely right.
Who cares about what the anonymous editorial board opinion is in any case who remembers last week's
McConnell The Obstructionist has ‘stepped down’ so far he’s now in Hades and can’t get up
Trump is a parasite on the national and international scene. It is time to remove him for office. Intimidation, bullying, stupidity and gross incompetence- whether on this or numerous issues are destroying the vitality and purpose of America.
I think it is kind of cute that the New York Times thinks there is still a member of the Vichy GOP who has a backbone and a sense of shame.
3
I am for Senator Warner's proposal to make sure a shutdown never happens again.
Trump, the greatest national security risk America has, blabbed a security leak on Nancy's trip to Afghanistan. He cannot be trusted with the safety of others or information on national security. Look what he revealed twice to Russian ambassadors he met with! He is a clear and present danger and I don't care if this phrase is overworked.
Meanwhile, there are 7222 secret service agents and 6000 of them are not getting paid. Some of them just issued a collectible challenge coin hoping they will get their back pay.
Trump, the crude, rude, lewd, and corrupt would certainly try to screw them out of money although they are protecting him and his family. After all he has screwed creditors out of money in a lifetime practice. A lifetime practice of hiding his assets and then declaring bankruptcy.
America you have sunk so low with this creature in office. Please pick yourself up from the ground, dust yourself off, and get rid of him.
2
How about that, “the Don and Nancy drama” — much more about Nancy standing up to Trump’s childish antics.
The Donald boldly said he would own the shutdown and Madam Speaker is seriously holding his feet to the fire. The bully in chief understands nothing else. Double Bravo!
As for the State of the Union, it is mostly bad political theater under the best conditions. Forgoing it altogether would be a boon to actually solving some serious issue verses a useless laundry list that will go into the shredder as soon as the last round of partisan applause have been heard.
Finally what the hell happens after the 8th of February? Longest shutdown #2?
2
I've given hoping for any sensible actions by Trump and his rotating team of toadies. Or the Republican leaders who have buried themselves up to their necks in his filth.
Now I just hope that if an airliner goes down due to the decreased security at our airports, it finds Trump.
1
Paragraph 9: government by Rush and Ann. Are you kidding?
The country, the unions, the federal employees need to put the squeeze on Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter who pressured Trump into this rediculous situation. Mitch McConnell and rank and file Republicans need to stand up and say enough is enough. That dog and pony show of pundits doesn’t run this country. Trump is cowtowing to them and he’s too big a fool to admit it. Boycott the whole bunch. Boycott every advertiser on all of their shows.
Once again, Trump has displayed his cowardice for all the world to see.
He capitulated to Coulter.
He capitulated to Pelosi.
The Trump presidency is over—he just doesn’t know it yet.
Coming up, Mueller.
Followed by the NYAG.
Tick tock tick tock tick tock.
i would pay a greater subscriptioncost to eliminate distracting ads.
1
@diane
There are free ad-blocking packages. I use Ghostery.
Democrats' counter-slogan to Trump's build a wall, crime will fall sound bite: Don't none of y'all fall for the wall.
1
Breaking news, trump just tweeted that he is confident that his "copomise" bill will pass. He stated that he cleared the bill with Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter and they gave him permission to proceed. See, said trump, when you involve the American people, good things happen.
1
i would like to see the corrupt and obstructionist mcconnell taken down as part of the mueller investigation -- the NRA money washed from russia, the knowledge of other corrupt money streams, the source of other funding
3
The Times might have thought that "the Don-and-Nancy drama" was cute, but it suggests a false equivalence and, as the comments show, it is widely NOT appreciated.
Please be more careful and accurate in both reporting and opinion.
3
I truly hope it doesn’t take a plane crash...
At this point Trump should call her bluff and give President Pelosi her CR, for 14 days. Long enough to get these people their next paycheck
Then NeverNancy has an opportunity to come to the table, which she will not,to once and for all reform this immigration problem.
The problem is however, you have to admit there is a problem.
1
If there was ever a stand your ground moment, it has arrived.
Thanks to the Times for backing Nancy in refusing to pay ransom to Double Cross Donnie and the GOP for taking fellow Americans hostage as the nation slowly fails.
Better dead than Donnie.
Can't touch that!
Bye, bye GOP till America gets back to work.
1
Or perhaps, the senate will pass the clean funding bill with a 2/3 majority, and it won't matter what Trumper Tantrum boy does.
As long as Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin and Mohammed bin Salman are still smiling and smirking there is no domestic "contest of wills" in Congress and the Oval Office of the White House that really matters.
As long as Mexico is not going to pay for Trump's border wall this is all nonsense.
As long as the son of Confederate Alabama Addison Mitchell McConnell,Jr. is whistling"Dixie" and waving the "Stars and Bars" trying to reverse the outcomes of the Civil War and Civil Rights eras " Resistance is futile."
As long as Congress funds the federal government via irregular off the books continuing resolutions instead of regular order budgeting there are no wills to contest.
3
Everything we need to know about this is “The State of the Union speech has been canceled by Nancy Pelosi because she doesn’t want to hear the truth,” Mr. Trump told reporters.
From the all-time biggest liar in the history of American politics this is hilarious, notwithstanding the particular circumstances. Factoring those in ... it's on par with Spicey hiding in the bushes, but of course Donald is too delusional and narcissistic to have the least hint of self-awareness.
No doubt the Don will make the world appraised of the "truth" ... as he sees it. The facts of the issues are clear however, and they aren't Donald's.
I must confess I'm enjoying watching Trump flounder in his self-made disaster, and watching Mrs. Pelosi dish out the subtle cuts that make it clear she's been around a lot longer and knows reality a lot better than he does. A better man might learn something from it; Trump won't.
Has it crossed Trump's mind at all that giving a speech, particularly Trump's typical "I'm-so-great" extravaganza, may play very poorly under the circumstances?
I doubt it. What a dummy.
1
Well, the Republican bill was written to fail, after it fails Trump can blame Democrats for the shutdown, end of story. It has zero to do with anything other than shifting the blame. So, no pressure whatsoever to end the shutdown, just shift the blame....
The Democrats bill allows for re-opening the government and funding the government, through 9-30 I believe, with more money for border security, but no money for Trumps monument
How will it turn out? It depends in Mitch McConnell and the Republicans...Trump can veto either of the bills, but the Republican bill is a lock for the trash heap, the Dems have a chance....it passes, it then will pass the House and on to the White House.
Trump can veto it, or let it sit for 10 days and the crisis will be over
What a country.....its like being back in HS, on a backstabbing, catty student council.......
1
TSA workers can end the shutdown .
A mass sickout of at least 25% of TSA screeners would essentially shut down our commercial airports, crush some airlines and really gut the overall economy. And, if they need doctors’ notes, they could probably get them. If not actual physical ailments, they could be suffering from mental stress, depression and lack of sleep. No President could prevail against such a level of response, especially the Con Man in Chief..
TSA employees you have taken enough of this madness from The Con Man in Chief and his band of Senate Republican enablers . TSA employees must stand up for themselves their families , the rest of the federal workforce and in general the welfare of our country by demanding a pay check on Friday or the TSA employees will stand down on Friday. All like minded federal employees could also call out sick Friday. The freak show in the White House and the many enablers in the cabinet and throughout the administration will only react when big money is involved and when you shutdown the airline industry the ramifications will cause immediate action and quite possibly other significant emotional events for the madman in chief like impeachment and conviction. NYT readers please share this comment unless you have a solution that forces swifter and more immediate pay checks and opening of our government because our society can not continue to be held hostage and held in servitude by The Con Man in Chief.
1
I cannot buy into the scenario of this shutdown being a hair-pulling contest between Donald Trump and Nancy Pelosi. Donald Trump is holding the government of our country hostage to an insane and useless desire to spend megabucks on a monument to paranoic folly of his own devising. Nancy Pelosi is simply sticking up for the rule of law and reason and saying 'no'. There's no hair pulling in that.
The true culprit in all of this is Mitch McConnell who lies back
grinning and tallying up the ways he may turn all this to his own political advantage. He's the 'jam' in the logjam. Get a couple strong lumberjacks out on the river with logpikes to work on him and you can break open this logdrive. How about it, Senators Collins and Murkowski?
2
I understand why Trump and McConnell don't want the government to open. After it does, and it will, Trump will be impeached, and the stupidity of closing the government that Republican Newt Gingrich invented when he couldn't get his way is going to get a legislative fix so that it can't happen this way again. McConnell will have nowhere to hide; McConnell owns the unnecessary length of this shutdown, the pain caused to federal workers and their families, and the endangerment of the American people, all to placate the brainwashed Republican minority who worship Fox entertainment spew and Russian bot Facebook.
Mitch McConnell is probably the 2nd most despicable person in Washington. Let's not forget that it was he who said his job as a U.S. Senator was not to represent the dreadful state of Kentucky and its hapless inhabitants, but to ensure that Obama is a one term president.
1
"Mitch McConnell and the Senate have a chance this week to move toward ending the shutdown. Will they step up?"
Why should they? McConnell and the Government of Putin party have already been paid off by Putin and his oligarchs.
McConnell is a lying schemer, Machivellian in his deviousness in undermining the previous President and acting as lackey to the current Oval Office occupant.
It is a contest of wills, but also a question of tactics. It is one thing for the president to reject a budget because it contains unwanted spending, which can be justified to reduce waste, but to say he will not even allow spending that he agrees is necessary if the bill does not include an item he wants is a different matter. To get his wall he needs to offer the other side something they want and make a deal (the art of the deal is his specialty, after all).
Instead, he is holding the government hostage. If the Democrats accede to his demands, they would set the precedent that paying ransom is acceptable. Then what would prevent Trump (or a future president) from doing the same thing whenever another must-pass bill comes up? Say, with the debt ceiling increase due this summer? No, the Dems must remain firm. Demanding that the government reopen before further negotiation is perfectly defensible.
Might I recommend the Kremlin as an alternative venue for Trump's state of disunion?
1
If Putin doesn't want Trump to back down, Trump won't back down
How I miss having a President who understands they are part of the US Government.
2
The editorial board over-thought this. It borders on declaring Trump’s “Wall” to be a proposal with respect to immigration.
Trump’s “wall” is Trump’s symbol, not unlike the American eagle (a noble symbol), or his MAGA hat (nobility is not appropriately used to describe it). That political symbols can be evil is, of course, illustrated by the German swastika. In the case of “the Wall,” it must be denied to him, because of its nature as a symbol. Pelosi is right. It’s immoral.
To equate Trump’s “Wall” with any “immigration proposal” is to misrepresent it. The editorial borders on equating objectivity with some bipartisan solution to the present political impasse.
1
the democrats should propose permanent protection for the DACA kids in exchange for a temporary three year wall. makes as much sense as Donnie's offer.
1
TSA workers can end the shutdown now.
A mass sickout of at least 25% of TSA screeners would essentially shut down our commercial airports, crush some airlines and really gut the overall economy. And, if they need doctors’ notes, they could probably get them. If not actual physical ailments, they could be suffering from mental stress, depression and lack of sleep. No President could prevail against such a level of response, especially the Con Man in Chief..
TSA employees you have taken enough of this madness from The Con Man in Chief and his band of Senate Republican enablers . TSA employees must stand up for themselves their families , the rest of the federal workforce and in general the welfare of our country by demanding a pay check on Friday or the TSA employees will stand down on Friday. All like minded federal employees could also call out sick Friday. The freak show in the White House and the many enablers in the cabinet and throughout the administration will only react when big money is involved and when you shutdown the airline industry the ramifications will cause immediate action and quite possibly other significant emotional events for the madman in chief like impeachment and conviction. NYT readers please share this comment unless you have a solution that forces swifter and more immediate pay checks and opening of our government because our society can not continue to be held hostage and held in servitude by The Con Man in Chief.
1
By calling this the "Don and Nancy show", you trivialize the serious concerns that House democrats are standing on. If the Editorial Board feels that those concerns are trivial, then go ahead and pretend for at least some readers that their positions on these issues are co-equal. Your use of the "phrase Don and Nancy Show" leads readers to think that this really is tit-for-tat when the issues are far more serious. If you want to be clever, and not misleading, you need to be much more clever than you are now.
3
I'm afraid I've lost respect for my country. How is it that we allow these puerile, mean-spirited, spoiled-brat men impose their tantrums on the entire citizenry of our once-proud country?
Trump? McConnell? Once upon a time we were strong enough to throw off the King of England.
Everybody who is going to hate Trump for the shutdown already hates him.
At this point, who cares. Continue the shutdown until we get a Wall.
After all, the government is way too big anyway and the workers are generally lazy / inefficient. Also, DC is 90% Dem.
1
Certainly with their votes being recorded the republican senators have to know that better than 50% of their constituents back ending the shutdown without any funding for the ridiculous, never going to be built wall. Polling even in the reddest of states, including McConnell's KY has shown them this reality. Voting against the workers shows they both believe their constituents to be stupid and will either forgive or forget by 2020 and that they have abandoned their oath to be an equal branch of government. Lose/lose for the GOP.
What have we come to when people like Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter have the ear of the president of our country??? And of course he can't speak on the floor until he reopens the government and funds it. Duh. Doesn't this president know any of the rules that govern the office that he holds??
1
What? Is this editorial seriously suggesting Senator McConnell lead his Senate Republicans to do something in the interest of the common good and fund the government? Surely you must be kidding. McConnell has wrapped made his bed with Trump and now they must both lie in it. Trump, McConnell and the modern Republican Party are a disgrace. A disgrace to 1,000,000 Americans forced to work with no pay and a disgrace to the ideals this nation was founded on. The moment McConnell denied our duly elected president a fair hearing on his Supreme Court nominee was the day he embraced the fight to the finish. There must be no compromise with hostage takers.
Blankface McConnell is part of the problem. It's hard to see how this insufferable sycophant can move anything forward; his only impetus is securing a position of strength for the GOP at the expense of the country. Party over people, that's McConnell. Don't hold your breath.
"The continuing battle increasingly resembles an episode of 'Real Housewives,' with the attendant name-calling and hair-pulling."
This is shallow and lazy. The President and his Senate allies are trying to break the House's power to check the Executive, and force the House to surrender its constitutionally assigned powers of the purse. This is a would-be strong man making a grab for uncheckable power.
Shame on the Times for its vain assumption that these stakes amount to a sort of catfight. The backhanded effect is to legitimize the strongman's power grab. Both sides do it, you know.
MCCONNELL IS nothing if not obstinate, obdurate and, yes, obedient to his "master," the master baiter, Trump Dump Lump Thump Rump Hump Mump Pump Bump Gump Tump Sump (these are about the only civilized four letter words I can think of). The shutdown that Trump said he'd be proud to own, may end up being the albatross around his neck (DISCLAIMER The figure of speech about the albatross around the neck is an allusion to the poem by Coleridge Taylor. No harm is intended toward the person of the president). So far, the shutdown has proven beyond any shadow of a doubt that Trump is completely incapable of empathy or remorse. It has, by some estimates, removed $1 TRILLION from the US economy. Trump dared the Democrats to impeach him, saying that the stock market would crash. NEWS BULLETIN: Trump's shutdown is going to cause the stock market to crach sooner rather than later. Should the shutdown last another month, that means that it will have removed $2 TRILLION from the economy. For the '17 to '18 fiscal year, the US GDP was $20.66. By that measure, the one month shutdown has cost about 5% of the current GDP. If it lasts a second month, it will have cost about 10% of the current GDP. I'd dare say that the gravest danger to the US economy is Trump's shutdown! Now what would a 10% hit on the value of the financial markets look like. The Dow's high last year was about 26,951. Less 10% for Trump's 2 month shutdown it would be about 24,256. Way to go Trump! DUMP TRUMP!
This inane shutdown will end when the rich begin complaining. In the corporate plutocracy called USA Inc. the plight of working stiffs means absolutely nothing whatsoever. However, let the business press start haruuumphing about this affecting the precious growth rate along with their bonuses and it will be over in a minute.
Democracy - the great American nonsense word.
1
Trump suffers from malignant narcissist personality disorder. That's the cause of this. No matter what the Democrats propose, he will continue to move the goalposts. He is also a bully, and the first rule of dealing with bullies is that if you give in once, that bully will pound you worse and demand more the next day. It's time for the press and Congress to wake up to the fact that when dealing with a mentally ill man, no amount of reason, persuasion, appeals to the greater good, or common decency and compromise will work. The Republicans in the Senate need to put on their big girl pants and pass a bill that will withstand a Trump veto if they believe in their oath of office at all.
On other fronts, the billionaires who own these politicians - Mercers, Adelson, Koch brothers, et al need to start screaming and threatening to withhold money. That should do the trick.
Trump owns this - he wanted to own this. There are countless speeches - videos - of him lying about every aspect of this.
The Democrats - Nancy Pelosi - can not give a penny, cannot move a millimeter. It is time for a lesson to be taught. Apparently, Trump has gotten through his entire seedy, dirty, entitled life without anyone ever standing up to him.
Nancy Pelosi - just keep saying NO. No wall for you, Trump!
What democrats don't realize is that right now President Trump is the only one offering a compromise. Considering over 70% of Americans want a compromise, he is the one actually abiding by their wishes.
1
@AACNY
No he is not. He is refusing to let the government run, which is refusing to do his job, to throw a temper tantrum that is not meant to get a wall but rather to get "the base" worked up and angry and resentful and mean for the 2020 election cycle.
There is no crisis at the border which this administration did not create for the purpose of this charade stunt to wind up voters with more propaganda so they stick with the GOP.
Will Mitch McConnell step up? Hard to say.
Mr McConnell is not exactly unpredictable.
Block, obstruct, blame the democrats.
Repeat.
Block, obstruct, blame the democrats.
Repeat.
Mr. McConnell may, all of a sudden, change course and begin to actually work with democrats.
Work with democrats.
He may say something like "It's time to put partisan politics behind."
"Put partisan politics behind..."
He may add, in sonorous tones, "We must do this for the good of the country."
"For the good of the country".
He will sound like a church organ but he is strictly a street grinder cranking away at an old barrel organ. And the monkey with the tin cup? The orange hair and the red cap?
Who could that be?
2
The Editorial Board clearly is able to point the finger in the right direction but has an issue when it comes to not including confusing language that throws some specter on House Democrats and Speaker Pelosi.
There is no "Don-and-Nancy drama" there is only a "Don drama". Speaker Pelosi's only contribution to the "Don drama" is that she is trying to preserve our democracy.
And that is the problem with the most trusted news outlets. They are weak when it comes to just calling it like it is. Would the Vietnam War have dragged on further had Cronkite not admitted that there was no victory ahead? Would McCarthy's reign of terror not have continued had Murrow not called him out for the demon he was?
We rely on trusted news outlets now more than ever because the forces of FOX are most formidable. And yes, it is truly remarkable that Trump can't find a way to tell Coulter and Limbaugh to shut-up and sit down. But for the NY Times to presume they can provide more "balanced" reporting and editorial coverage by tossing a "Nancy" into a "Don" piece is shockingly disappointing. Who needs that type of coverage at such perilous times.
And the same goes for the coverage of Senate LEADER McConnell as well as the other Republican Senators. We already know that McConnell will go to tremendous lengths to serve himself and not the American people. But what is missing from this piece is the NY Times calling out by name, every newly minted or moderate GOP Senator. Today's number is 66.
3
Call me radical, but I think your recap of recent events trivializes the gravity of what is happening in plain view. We have, right before our eyes, a president of the United States of America, the target of a counter-intelligence investigation, who is, by causing and continuing the partial shutdown of the United States government, damaging (along with all the obvious damage) the essential institutions which may put his very self in legal jeopardy. This is not a matter of "tit for tat." This is deeply alarming.
3
Just to say that what I really want to say would be moderated off this page "for civility," which is something Mr. McConnell possesses none of. Over and over again a traitor. The focus needs to move off the cartoon of a president we've got and over to the Senate, where one corrupt hypocrite controls the swiftly deteriorating fiasco that is this country.
3
The sad truth that seems to be escaping everyone is the fact that there are real people who are not getting paid to do very critical jobs, and for no fault of their own. The posturing and politics played by both sides makes me sick to my stomach! It's unbelievable that the country once known as the "Arsenal of Democracy" could stoop this low. Listen, there is a simple way out if people just step up. There are two points that both sides agree on: (1) Nobody wants this shut down and (2) Everyone agrees that Border Security is required. If both sides can agree to just those 2 statements, we can re-open the government in full right now. So, what then? Let's look at this simplistically - the "Experts" on the border are USCIS (Immigration), DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) and CBP (Customs & Border Patrol). Form a committee of experts in these areas, and let them tell us (the country) as to what is required. When their report comes out, we do AS THEY SAY - no more and no less! No more posturing and playing with peoples lives! If we don't step up now, the next election will see the Democrats and Republicans ousted from office in favor of a "Common Sense Party". There is no time to lose! The world is looking at all of us.. and right now, we don't look so good!
It is important to recognize that the Shutdown is about immigration, not money. Donald Trump has addressed that by offering a poison pill immigration deal. If he truly will not back away from his Wall stand, that leaves the Democrats with a decision about whether to offer a trade for a real immigration deal; legalizing Dreamers, with a path to citizenship, strong protections for the legal rights of asylum seekers, protections for the millions of undocumented immigrants who have not committed a felony. I believe Democrats should offer such a trade. Dreamers are widely popular. Asylum seekers are a sympathetic group also. And hard working immigrants, setting aside felons, are not unpopular. This kind of offer will put Trump's feet to the fire.
1
We will never ever see the big picture through the eyes of Trump.
1
McConnell has never - never - counted on Trump to behave rationally. He supports Trump because his judicial appointments and backtracking of the progress we've made over the past 50 years hurts people, and that's what McConnell wants most. His disdain for the public has never been hidden. And he has waved away any bills that offer a real chance to end the shutdown.
Counting on Republicans to do the right thing? Ha! Better that you bet on the sun not rising tomorrow.
3
If you think Pelosi cares how long the government is closed, you do not understand what is happening. She is willing to sacrifice federal employees to end Trump’s presidency. Trump THINKS this is about him, Pelosi knows this is about preserving our Republic and the constitutional democracy that governs it.
This editorial shows that as time as passed with this shutdown the board has lost its mind. How can you compare Pelosi's behavior to that of Trump's as equal. His actions are those of a terrorist, holding his country hostage. Her actions are those of a woman trying to save our democracy and structure of governing. We cannot let Trump act like Putin. This is not Russia. Pelosi has passed years of legislation that help people. Trump has done nothing. I would like to see the editorial board write a different piece tomorrow. I am truly disappointed in the board at this time.
3
When this mess is over, something needs to be done to prevent future shutdowns. Shutdowns need to be illegal. Barring that, anyone who starts and/or sustains a shutdown should be made to pay the price. And I don't mean in the next election. They need to pay a price during the shutdown instead of being allowed pass the pain to innocent workers. What if the president and Congress were the ones not paid during a shutdown and not allowed to get back pay afterwards? After all, they aren't living from paycheck to paycheck. Let them lose the money permanently! What if Trump, specifically, had sleep on a cot for the duration and eat nothing but salads for the duration? What if he had to pay all 800,000 government workers out of his own pocket? He claims to be rich enough. People who don't mind hurting others need to find out what pain is like.
1
I keep wondering when (not if) the trump administration will be in the position to completely sell out the American people. I really cannot imagine why trump's base and the GOP are supportive of Russia, China, and North Korea but I find it very concerning. I am not a conspiracy theorist by any measure--just give me provable facts--however, the latest book by fiction mystery writer David Baldacci (Long Road to Mercy) was interesting as it touches on the subject of the government attempting to sell out the USA. I've found that fiction writers often touch on subjects of concern....
This is a hostage situation plain and simple. The president is holding federal employees and the critical services that they provide hostage. His ransom demand is 5 billion dollars for a wall designed primarily to bolster his political standing among his most ardent followers. And just as our government has taken the often difficult stand that we do not pay ransom Democrats need to adhere to the same principal or face a future of unending hostage taking.
2
When you see streams of people forced to leave their homes in Central America, then contemplate the effects of overpopulation. If the U.S. had had a barrier at the western edge of the original thirteen states, we would be busting at the seems now too. Women’s health and family planning in Central Americaare are the only way to stem famine and disaster in the future. And yes, the U.S. should help. Big time.
1
Not able or willing to pay the Coast Guard and the FBI and other agencies necessary for our health and security, says a lot about the impotence of the Republicans in the Senate.
Mr. Trump was not anointed king. Remove the crown he has placed on his head, and, " for god sakes", lead before it's too late.
3
You give McConnell too much credit for simply allowing a vote on these bills. All Americans are held hostage in this situation because we are all served by the Federal government in many ways. And the tit-for-tat perspective on Donald-versus-Nancy is inaccurate. She just arrived on the scene of a disaster: 2 years of DJT's presidency.
4
The "name calling and hair pulling" tone of the shutdown debate is frustrating to many Americans. There are certainly many who would prefer to take the high road while our President leads in the groveling in the mud.
Nevertheless, Trump, the bus driver, is the lead "name caller and hair puller" and lives in a locked cage in the driver's seat. He is unable to communicate and negotiate except on a level that involves bully aggression and the temper tantrums of a 2-yr old. Until opponents can get him out of the driver's seat, there is no way to avoid aggressive tactics of their own.
Rest assured, even if Trump is forced to compromise on $5.7B for his steel barrier, he will carry the grudge associated with that loss into every future negotiation.
It is all about Trump's ego and winning and not about the American people and not about the Constitution that he swore to uphold.
The President needs to be removed from the drivers seat as soon as reasonably possible with a thoughtful and thorough impeachment process. He's a cancer that needs to be removed or else he will continue to gnaw at the country and the ethics that it stands for.
5
i do not see this as a battle of wills. i see it as democrats finally trying to end the republican tactic of using a government shut down to get their way. schumer says that if they give in trump will use this method again and again..... don't blame this all on trump. they have been doing this for 10 years already. obama and the democrats should have put an end to this long ago.
2
McConnell must have forgotten one thing: History will not be kind to the extremists who ruined our democracy for partisan gain.
4
The GOP Senate should vote to end the shutdown immediately, and hopefully that means now, today. Ideally, there are enough GOP Senators with a brain and a spine who can figure out that they will be following Trump over a cliff if they do not take action to reopen the government and that it is their constitutional duty to do so.
Trump's shutdown to appeal to his base on the "wall" issue (and to divert attention from Trump's growing political and legal problems) is built on the backs of federal workers who have been forced to scrounge for financial support for themselves and family for an an indefinite time. The whole concept is extortionate, underhanded and cruel, a Trump specialty.
It is also very stupid, another Trump specialty. No clear planning was done by Trump. Every day since the "shutdown," other constituencies emerge who are made to suffer: federal contractors, farmers, supporting businesses, others in need of government subsidies, law enforcement agencies, the Coast Guard, courts, immigration courts, airline travelers, the tourist industry, and the economy in general. In the end, Trump and the GOP will be blamed for Trump's attempted end run around Congress to fund his so-called "wall," and they fully deserve to be blamed. The GOP Senate should end Trump's "extortion shutdown" immediately and then get back to the job they were elected for: legislating.
2
It’s disgenous and damaging to frame this as a contest of wills. On one side you have an out of control Presedent destroying our country, on the other side finally someone willing to stand up to the nonsense.its time to end the both sides are equally responsible non-sense and speak to the truth.
1
Don't let Trump continue bullying everyone in an effort to show how good he is at making deals. Just look at his history of how many of his deals failed - even though he lies about them. Someone has to really and truly call this guy out and put him in his place. I don't care if he's the (choke) President of the United States. He can't be allowed to his highly-touted (by him) negotiating skills. His negotiating skills in real estate have included not paying his contractors their 15% holdback (normal). His retort: "Sue me." What's the equivalent of suing the President?
If anyone has been caught off guard by this govt shutdown, then you haven't been paying attention over the last thirty or so years.
From Ronnie Raygun's "the nine words that should terrify everyone is the phrase "I'm from the government and I'm here to help", to Grover Norquist's pathetically idiotic philosophy to "make the govt so small it can be drowned in a bathtub", Republicans have been trying to, to borrow the phrase, Make America A Great Plutocracy.
And now, with over 800,000 federal workers about to miss a paycheck for the second time, not to mention the collateral damage it does to those businesses that depend on federal worker's paychecks, the Republican plan for plutocracy by the billionaires, of the billionaires and for the billionaires is nearing the finish line.
Unless we take more forceful action to get back to Democracy.
2
Let's face it - this shutdown continues because Senate republicans are afraid of being primaried and losing in their next election if they cross Trump.
5
Counting on McConnell is a pipe dream. He has already proven his faithlessness to the Constitution by subverting it in order to pack our courts with neo-con jurists intent upon selling the Democracy to the uber wealthy and destroying the middle and working classes.
What Trump and McConnell are doing is holding the entire nation hostage to their blackmail. Knowing that the measure would never pass either chamber of Congress , they have taken their ball and gone home to Mommy like any discontent toddler.
Except they are not toddlers . They are adults. And the method they are employing is extortion , plain and simple.
Give in to that and the Constitution will continue to be thwarted by a Republican party that cares not a fig for this Democracy and would prefer a dictatorship instead.
MAGA
3
The criminalization of Democrats proceeds at warp speed.
McConnell views his job as treating the majority of US citizens as invisible while he promotes the bought and paid for Republican party as the only game in town.
Shameful and shameless.
And it's time to stop pretending there is any equivalence. We have a toe in the door, and breaking the foot is not the answer. Listen to the people!
2
History will not recognize Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as a statesman nor as a representative of democracy . His actions during the presidencies of Mr. Obama and Mr. Trump have weakened our democratic system of government and contributed to the bitter partisan atmosphere that exists today. This has lead to a government unable to function and to the disillusionment of the American people towards our representative system of of government.
9
I totally agree with your assessment of Mitch McConnell, who like Trump seems only to care about himself rather than his constitutional responsibilities.
Thank you for this
4
Actually, if McConnell wants to help out Individual-1, he should push for a veto-proof bill to re-open the government. If trump vetoes it, and Senate and House over-ride the veto, it gives trump cover--he did his best (worst?) for the wall, but Congress failed him.
I'm guessing, though, that McConnell only wants to help McConnell. He's staring at a possible bloodbath in the 2020 election, where the Republicans in Senate are facing greater hurtles than the Democrats did in 2018. It's a political calculation: How can he keep control of the Senate, while also bailing out trump? A vote to open the government would endanger Republicans in the primaries; a vote to continue the shutdown would endanger them in the general election.
3
As the shutdown drags on, Mr. Trump should give a care that "his" eeconomy, which he has wrapped himself in like a magic cloak, doesn't turn into his shroud. Mr. Trump's base may forgive the wall not being built, but what they won't forgive is a big fat recession.
Mr. Trump has already done irreparable damage to portions of the agricultural sector, with some part of the 30% of our total agricultural product market which depends on China, jeopardized by Chinese retaliatory tarrifs, and to the US manufacturing that uses steel and aluminum, strugglimg to keep afloat or in remain in the US, due to his increased tariff price on these. Add to that a slowing global economy. And now, we have the the weekly slip of GDP by a percentage point with each week of the shutdown which I expect will have additional repercussions we haven't even yet imagined.
Sure, Mr. Trump is a masterful blamer, but how far can that really go when the growth he boasted would be well above 4% in no time at all with him in charge, heads into negative territory? Will this fairy tale wall be worth it then?
2
Pay attention to McConnell's long game! Republican's have the advantage in this shutdown. There is no end to this shutdown unless Republicans start feeling some loss, and they won't as long as their pet agencies are still chugging along.
And, there's a bonus for the Trump in that without funding, the Mueller probe will have to stop.
I suggest the press dig deeper here, if they really want to stop the shutdown.
@Studioroom
Actually, I doubt the Mueller probe will suffer. It's the rest of the FBI. But you are right, Republicans are delighted to slow down the IRS, the FBI, the FDA, science, and anyone else who calls their filthy greed what it is.
3
...or unless they start feeling the pain from their largest donors, aka the industries who themselves are feeling the pain and who are beholden to shareholders as they watch this nonsense continue to affect their portfolios!
Is it possible that, as a Russian agent, trump not only feels no qualms over inflicting direct harm on millions by shutting down the government, but indeed relishes it? And what does this mean about Ann Coulter?
I think dealing with trump going forward we should accept the likelihood that your worst fears are true.
8
Framing this as a "Don-and-Nancy" reality show drama is doing a disservice to the country. Pelosi is doing the hard work of keeping the country safe from "Don" and his Republican enablers by holding to Constitutional norms. And being both-sided seems to be the thanks she gets from the editorial board of the paper of record.
When will the media learn that their fate, and the fate of the country, rests with keeping the Constitution safe? We elected the Democrats to protect us and stay strong for us, and that's what they're doing. A little respect - and historical accuracy - is in order.
16
Well said.
The Democratic plan to open government through February 8, 2019 is a gift to trump. If it passes, (and it should) he can give the State of the Union Address on time and make it clear that the Democratic plan shuts down government on February 8. Everyone will agree that the Democrats must do the right thing on border security and immagration before February 8.
Both sides will take credit for a happy ending. All will be happy that Nancy Polosi is not running in 2020 against Mr. Trump.
1
McConnell needs to understand that Trump's puppet masters Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh have been playing him for a clown. I wish the average American GOP voter would understand this, but since the government allows false reporting, they likely will not. But, McConnell should know.
5
Is it time to ask ourselves why exactly Mitch McConnell refuses to protect our country?
1. Prior to the election with intelligence reports stating that Russians were attempting to interfere in the election, he told then President Obama that any public discussion would be tantamount to election interference
2. He has refused despite bipartisan support to pass any legislation protecting the special counsel, Robert Mueller
3. He has said nothing about an unconfirmed appointment of Matt Whittaker as acting AG, usurping the usual chain of command, and conceding yet another legislative power to King Donald.
3a. Nor has he asked whether Whittaker has intervened in the Mueller investigation as it might appear to us that he has
4. His only response to Mattis resignation was a milquetoast “too bad”. No response to yet another acting cabinet member, one in a crucial position for our national defense
5. Voted along with other Vichy Republicans to let Mnuchin lift sanctions on Oleg Deripaska who received live polling data from Manafort during the campaign
6. Speaking of the campaign, why wouldn’t the Republican Party show absolutely no curiosity about how and who changed their platform plank during the Republican convention?
7. Showing no appetite to confront Trump for this stupid and potentially dangerous shutdown, in spite of public opinion, in spite an increasingly danger to our public well being, in spite of financial outcomes
All of this for judges? Really?
14
McConnell spineless shepherding of the Senate will circle down the drain the same way as the Paul Ryan speaker-ship of the House will be forgotten as the enabler of a mad man.
It comforts me that we are half way through this nightmare but every passing day is getting harder.
8
“The State of the Union speech has been canceled by Nancy Pelosi because she doesn’t want to hear the truth,” Mr. Trump told reporters."
Thus saith one of the worst liars in the country.
9
If Democrats in the House simply roll over and fund Trump's campaign nonsense to build a wall he promised the foolish that Mexico would pay for, what will come next?
Remember Trump wants to lock Hillary Clinton up. Will the FBI have to arrest her and perp walk her to prison? If not, will Trump shutdown the government until they do?
What kind of banana republic are Republicans supporting?
9
Air traffic controllers told Congress that accidents will happen under the current stress
TSA workers can end the shutdown in one day.
A mass sickout of at least 30% of TSA screeners would essentially shut down our commercial airports, crush some airlines and really gut the overall economy. And, if they need doctors’ notes, they could probably get them. If not actual physical ailments, they are suffering from mental stress, depression and lack of sleep. No President could prevail against such a level of response, especially the Con Man in Chief..
TSA employees you have taken enough of this madness from The Con Man in Chief and his band of Senate Republican enablers . TSA employees must stand up for themselves their families , the rest of the federal workforce and in general the welfare of our country by demanding a pay check on Friday or the TSA employees will stand down on Friday. All like minded federal employees could also call out sick Friday. The freak show in the White House and the many enablers in the cabinet and throughout the administration will only react when big money is involved and when you shutdown the airline industry the ramifications will cause immediate action and quite possibly other significant emotional events for the madman in chief like impeachment and conviction. NYT readers please share for immediate pay checks and opening of our government because our society can not continue to be held hostage and held in servitude by The Con Man in Chief
6
Based on Trump's history of bankrupt businesses, failure to pay contractors, bogus university, bogus charity, adultery, lies, collusion, narcissism, immoral behavior, incessant lying, and total lack of empathy (have I left anything out ?), this is clear evidence that he will not give up his wall no matter the suffering of 800,000 federal employees. The only solution is for the republicans in the senate to pass funding, that does not include the wall and is veto proof.
2
The cruelest aspect of this shutdown is that the perpetrators - the president and the Congress members -have made certain that they kept their own salaries and daily stipends intact while depriving almost a million government workers (and their families) of the paychecks needed to buy food, pay bills, etc.
In the future no government worker or workers should have their salaries cut or withheld unless the same is done to the salaries of the president and Congress members. We must also enact mandatory voting for all citizens to prevent this dastardly act which we are living through to happen once again.
We are now the laughingstock of the whole world, and our Congress members and (especially) our president are mostly responsible for this. Shame on them!!
4
Mitch must've got permission from Trump to hold a vote. Barney Frank talked about how crazy and unprecedented this is the other night on Maher's show. Mitch won't bring up any legislation for a vote unless Trump approves it before hand, thus surrendering the power of the Senate to the Don.
What a travesty. What a cowardly act. Mitch, like Don, has zero compassion for those impacted by financial loss - facing missed mortgages, falling behind in bills, or even eviction or worse. Typical elitism and disconnection from the real world. Mitch, drunk with power. Don, having never experienced anything resembling real life - the silver spoon man/baby that never learned what it's like to not be a rich's man's spoiled son.
Everyone must vote in 2020. Everyone. Even Marshawn Lynch should vote. Even if you distrust the system (for good reason); even if you're frustrated that corporate America owns our politicians; even if you don't like the new alternative much - VOTE. VOTE. VOTE.
7
Has anyone noticed that Tweetsie hasn't dared to give Speaker Pelosi one of his famous derogatory nicknames? Has anyone noticed that the brunt of his differences with her is always directed at Chuck Schumer? He has always been a bully and a coward. And he knows she knows, and she's obviously and dangerously (to him) not impressed.
And now that Wily Coyote Mitch McConnell has seen that she has cowed the President in front of everyone, that it can be done, and he's now exposed for what he really is, he's quietly changing direction.
Maybe, just maybe her show of backbone will be contagious to the Republican jello in the House and Senate and they too will stand up for what the absolute majority of Americans are clamoring.
5
Love politicians.Both sides.
1
TRUTH: We dont need 90% of Gov't programs &/or institutions!
And, Americans are realizing this because though the Gov't has "shutdown" .....it has had very little effect on most Americans lives.
1
I thought this was about one George Will, and his intellectually bankrupt, discredited, regressive, "conservative" "ideas."
1
Fortunately for us this is a democracy and the democratic process of checks and balances are in place. Thank Pelosi, the mid-term election and the New Democratic house that represents the other half of our equation. Trump and his base can cry all they want but they don’t represent all of us. They had two years to do whatever they wanted. Now the party is over.
Is it any surprise that Trump would throw this power play at the on eve of the new session and Pelosi’s reign? for him to capitulate to a Woman... he’s a bully
5
Mitch McConnell is a disgrace to his party and country, abdicating his responsibility to Congress to pay fealty to the mad king in our White House.
Democrat leaders are fulfilling their Constitutional oaths of office to be a co-equal branch of the government to check and balance inequities. However, the Republicans supporting Trump and his make Russia great agenda is allowing him to rot the foundations of our government daily.
To have government workers protect and defend our country without pay while the so called commander-in-chief whittles away our democracy thinking that he can storm the House of Representatives to give the State of the Union Address is tyranny.
The State of the Union is in distress SOS due to a president not elected by the people but manipulated there due to Kremlin machinations.
If this isn’t a Constitutional crisis created by the man who swore to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, what is? He wants to destroy the very fibers of democracy. The time to act is now.
5
Ronald Reagan is spinning in his grave this very moment.
A contest of wills: on one side the willful tantrums of spoiled destructive babies with no thought but for themselves, on the other side the will of the American People and the laws of the land. This shutdown has only one side to blame, the side that is doing everything it can to cause pain and harm to this country.
2
Can anyone tell me why Trump just doesn't declare a national crisis at the border? I mean it's the only way I see out of this.
1
The way out is to codify leaving it to border, immigration, and security professionals to figure out the best ways to secure our borders and ports of entries.
Trump is the roadblock, because it is all about his ego - and nothing else. McConnell is is lapdog.
1
For McConnell it is all about power and nothing about the American people. Whatever keeps him and his party in power---by hook or crook---he will do it. A question--did he graduate from that Catholic School in Kentucky?
2
The Don-and-Nancy show? This belittles Pelosi, who is the only one in government who has the guts to face down the president. No, she says, you can’t have your wall! No, you can’t have your state of the union address in the House! That’s the sort of chutzpah, the strong leadership, the fight, we didn’t get out of Obama and certainly not out of her lapdog predecessor. Stay strong, Nancy!
6
The problem with this "analysis" and the comments is that we all know there will be no funding to repair and extend our border wall with Mexico unless the Democrats have something to lose.
2
Although Trump "owned" this shutdown until he didn't, could it be more obvious that this pathetic creature needs to be rescued from his own incompetency, mendacity and lack of empathy and have the shutdown ended for him by outside forces beyond his control which he could then scapegoat? Otherwise, he will rather see the country totally destroyed before he is seen to have given in. So once it was clear that Trump had backed himself into a corner and was incapable of yielding on the wall, this became McConnell's shutdown.
In the end it is Congress' responsibility to determine what monies are spent and how; the president only gets a veto, which can be overridden. And so it is McConnell and his fellow Senate Republicans who could reopen the government anytime they are willing to stand up to Trump and take some fallout for the good of the country. Yet ever-politic but cowardly McConnell shrugs his shoulders and pretends it is out of his hands. But he is in fact the only one now who can resolve this mess.
2
Trivializing Pelosi’s stance on the State of the Union address by comparing it to reality TV or using cute descriptors like ‘the Don and Nancy Drama’ misses the point. Trump has shut down the government because he feels pressured to fulfill an idiotic campaign promise. It would be wrong - and the NYT would surely point it out - if Congress acted as if it is business as usual and gave him the opportunity to pose as the leader of our nation in their chambers.
3
I too must complain about the false equivalence your editorial uses in phrases like "Don-and-Nancy". This is Trump's fiasco, and his alone. In addition, why would you ever use the words "Republican" and "spine" in the same sentence ?
3
"Don and Nancy drama?" Hardly.
For once, we have a Speaker who knows how to treat a spoiled, disrespectful, brat of a kid—who happens to be the President of the United States of America. Mrs. Pelosi has plenty of experience dealing with the likes of Donald Trump.
Trump only understands one thing: stimulus and response. Very basic, very elemental, very puerile.
4
Every day that passes with the government closed is a nail in the Republican Party's coffin and if it continues for another month that party will be DOA in 2120 and Trump will not be nominated. Mr. McConnell you will be out of a job in 2 years along with Trump unless sooner impeached. GOP you either deal with that cruel and petulant man/child squatting in the WH or this country is going to swing left in 2021 and that will be for generations. Trump supporters your guy is deeply unpopular and you are is hot water now and you either swim of drown and you still have the power to save your selves.
Yes that is common sense but there real question is what country does Trump represent, certainly not the U.S.A., and likewise who do the GOP represent when they know that democracy is the greatest threat to the very existence of the GOP, because where people can vote in fair elections Republicans lose except in the Confederacy which lost on the battle field and lost in the Senate 50 years later. So again who do these Republicans really represent, other than themselves and maybe the same people that Trump answers to and I don't mean right wing pundits like Limbaugh and Culter. .
1
“The Senate has a chance this week to move toward ending the shutdown. Will it step up?”
Nope. Maybe down the road a bit once more polls crater. But, now? That would require country over Party.
Hang tough, Democrats.
1
What's do hard about mentioning that the Senate, led by McConnell, could override Trump's veto and end the shutdown?
Has even the Times let itself be ensnared in this Lilliputian mess?
2
Watch now as McConnell and the Republicans, at the behest of their owners in billionaire land and Russia, use the extended shutdown as an excuse to terminate or gut programs they decide are unnecessary. It's coming. They are just that arrogant.
1
I’ll be looking for a piece in tomorrow’s edition calling for Mrs. Pelosi to step up and end the shutdown as well.
1
@Thomas Aquinas I'm still waiting for the piece on why was this not an issue when the GOP had full control of the House and Senate, followed up by the piece about why Mexico is not paying for the wall.
1
@Steve
Good questions. I would like to know that as well.
Democrats should just stop fighting the wall. The idea that they would shut down the government because of a "wall" is preposterous.
Just fund the wall. Grow up. Move on. Let's secure our border.
1
In addition to $, Mr. Emoluments seems to respect power. If McConnell & Republican Senators want to end this standoff, they need to uphold their constitutional oath, assert their power, & vote to open the government as they did unanimously before Mr. Emoluments caved to the Fox & Co echo chamber.
1
Mitch McConell is the most unethical, characterless piece of waste in American politics.
Will he step up? Are you kidding?
His only agenda--along with people like McCarthy and Peter King--is enabling Trump run the dictator's playbook for as long as he can get away with it.
2
I agree. 100%.
2
Some people say just let Trump have the wall and move on. Even the Times' own David Brooks said this on PBS. I'm sorry, but NO. Presidents don't get to have anything they want just because they're in the White House. By Constitutional authority, Congress controls the power to spend money; you better believe we the people don't want them to be in the business of wasting our money, and Trump's wall is a waste of money. It would be one of the largest, most complicated, most expensive infrastructure projects in US history, and it's been pointed out, again and again, that it would not work for its intended purpose. About half of undocumented immigrants arrive by plane and overstay visas. Drug runners have testified that they cross the border at ports of entry or dig tunnels. A wall would solve none of the above. You wanna know how stupid this idea is? Even Republicans didn't want to pass it when they controlled Congress. Why should the Democrats give Trump something even his own party didn't want? Meanwhile, there's also the small matter of giving a President what he wants simply because he held a gun to our heads. Not only should his wall funding be rejected, he should be censured for this reckless and disrespectful stunt. No President should think they can get their way by holding the American people hostage.
4
In reality, the source of this shut-down is the Senate Leader, Mitch McConnell.
We all know Trump is in it to please his base. He is not going to change.
But it is well within the power of the Republican controlled Senate to force the re-opening of the government. Pass a bill that the House Democrats will pass (no border wall) and if the president vetoes it, over-ride his veto.
But Mitch is too afraid to do that because it would destroy any power left with this pathetic excuse for a president (the great deal-maker!!!). McConnell needs to grow a spine and come to the realisation that he put his money on the wrong horse...
Re-open the government Mitch!
4
Republicans had TWO YEARS to fund a border wall when they controlled both chambers and the White House. They didn't have to bargain with Pelosi for a second. Obviously, they didn't want it -- they wanted tax breaks for the rich and corporations. Democrats should be making (i.e. shouting) this point at every public appearance
Now, they need to tell Tweety Bird-in-Chief to knock it off and reach an intelligent compromise with the House.
But, they likely won't because they are rigid, spineless conmen in their own right who have betrayed the working class in their respective states.
Maybe, just maybe, there will be a reckoning in 2020 when the duped realized they've been conned. In the meantime, it's a free for all as the Republic hangs on by a thread.
3
This is the truth and I'm happy to see you have laid it out fairly and squarely. This mess lies with McConnell and Trump. I am not sure how many times it needs to be said that the wall is ridiculous. Democrats are more than ready and willing to go ahead with increased border security. Trump is a child and McConnell just doesn't care about Americans anymore.
4
If Democrats bend to Trump’s shutdown, we will be living under the threat of his tantrums for the next two years, every time he doesn’t get what he wants. I am so glad the he won’t be able to give the State of the Union address at the capital. He lies and violates norms every day. This shutdown is on him and Mitch McConnell and all the other Trump sycophants. Under Trump, they are destroying our country.
2
"As an alternative to the Don-and-Nancy drama,..."
This is an exceptionally flagrant example of false equivalence. Who created this mess? Trump. Who reneged on his promise to sign the bill that McConnell took to him? Trump.
Nancy Pelosi has been the adult in the room, and if we're to avoid this Trumpian nonsense ad infinitum, she must teach the Whiner-in-Chief that temper tantrums will not be rewarded.
I presume you already know all this, so please stop contorting yourselves in the name of false equivalence.
4
This mess is owned by two malevolent actors. One a lifelong political hack, one a lifelong con man and recent political hack. Both continually on the wrong side of history.
2
I applaud Pelosi and crew for standing up to the onslaught of Trump’s bullying and temper tantrum. Unfortunately for him and lucky for us this is a democracy. We now have 50% of the power back. Weather he likes it or not the party is over. He had his own show for the first 2 years ....and still no wall. Is it just coincidence that he starts this new Congressional sessions with his outrageous demands and power play. He’s a bully!
Keep up the great work Ms. Pelosi!!! There is no upside dealing with this conman.
2
Asking Mitch just to do his job would be against his religion.
1
@damon walton Mitch sees his job as getting richer and winning. Doesn't matter what he wins, just that he wins. The money is just the way the overclass and their Congressional employees keep score.
1
It's precious that the NYT editorial board thinks McConnell has any capacity to do the right thing. Whoever his owners are, they have programmed Mitch to be an ethical and human vacuum. We alreaddy know trump's despicable depths. We should have learned from the Obama era that Mitch is worse. He is a sad kernel of a man with no guts, no patriotism, no sense of duty and no humanity whatsoever. And the GoP is forming itself in his image. It's up to the citizens of the nation to decide whether to keep rewarding these horrid individuals with seats in Congress, or to sweep them out of office in the next election and let grown ups handle the important business of running the government. Mitch is utterly useless.
5
The country, the unions, the federal employees need to put the squeeze on Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter who pressured Trump into this rediculous situation. Mitch McConnell and rank and file Republicans need to stand up and say enough is enough. That dog and pony show of pundits doesn’t run this country. Trump is cowtowing to them and he’s too big a fool to recognize it or admit it. Boycott the whole bunch. Boycott every advertiser on all of their shows.
1
I am so tired of the media portraying Nancy Pelosi as petulant or childish. She is literally defending us from a tyrant. He is holding federal workers hostage. He is forcing a border wall on us even though a majority of Americans are against it. He is refusing to allow the legislative branch to do their constitutional duty, with Mitch "Kentucky" McConnell as his accomplice. Enough already. Stop with both siderism. It is what got us in the banana republic we are now in.
6
At last! Some concerted action by Democrats that has a realistic chance of driving a wedge between and erratic and irresponsible Trump and his enablers.
It would be nice if, just once, McConnell set aside his ability to be a "wily tactician," and thought long-term, strategically. You know, for the good of the country.
It would also be really nice if he would say, "hey, between the money we've thrown at the Pentagon, and now this wall, what's happening to the deficit? something that has obsessed the Republican Party for decades. It's okay to spend money as if there were no tomorrow, especially when it creates a shortfall for schools, infrastructure, health care? the things that those of us who cannot afford tax shelters and trips to the Cayman Islands are paying for?
5
@Joe: McConnell is one of the most opaque people I have ever seen. I have no idea what he actually enjoys.
Any border security agreement must end family separations at the border and dedicate funding to reunite families. We can't lose sight of what's right. This is about more than Dreamers now. Pelosi showed that Trump will bend when backed into a corner, like he did with the SOTU. Time to put him and the GOP on the defense and stop letting them define the rules.
1
The EB does the country no favor when it tries to reduce a complex issue - the right of a president to dictate how money is allocated in the federal budget - to a personal snit. I don't believe that Pelosi is doing this for any personal reason, not even re-election. I believe she is working for the restoration of the balance of power and the Constitution, something her predecessor abdicated.
She is not thwarting Trump's tantrum - although many of us would cheer her on for that alone - she is asserting the power and dignity of one House of Congress while the other House cowers in the corner and hopes not to be noticed.
It is terribly condescending of the Editorial Board to mischaracterize Pelosi's actions as equally juvenile to the childishness of the chief executive. I have to ask: If Pelosi were a man, would you characterize her demand for a good faith and free-of-threats negotiation in the same way?
Not all insults against powerful women about her clothes, makeup or hair. Really, it will be good when the NYT gets a new group on the editorial board. It is still the old boys club from what I see here.
9
@nora m
I second your position. I'm equally tired of this reducing Mrs Pelosi to Nancy thing. Unconscious or conscious misogyny, either way be aware of this and stop it!
Don't you get it? Trump will insist that any funding legislation use the words "wall" or "barrier." The Democrats are equally determined that it will not include those words because they know Trump will then gloat that he got his "wall." Everything else is just window dressing.
The shutdown is not about the border wall. It is about destroying the administrative state, which was Steve Bannon’s goal. The border wall is a hoax.
3
"The assumption now is that Mr. McConnell is looking to send a message to Mr. Trump with this pair of votes. "
Mr Trump doesn't understand these kinds of nuances. This is wasted on him. He's like a baby, give him the shiny cheap toy he wants and take what you need in exchange, he won't notice the raw deal he's made.
1
Being someone affected by this shutdown I do have a dog in the fight. Full disclosure I am a moderate independent. I know Trump said he owned the shutdown and I think as President he does. Having said that I also believe that all politicians in particular those in leadership positions are responsible to the country first as a whole and their respective constituents last. They are not there to spend their days finding ways to get re-elected or working for their party. Sounds naive given politics today, but that’s how it should be. Trump has not wrapped himself in glory with his rhetoric or has acted professionally but the constant calls of “resist” has become tedious and tiresome. If you’re going to trash someone for their poor behavior you don’t respond in kind. It takes away any credibility and looks cheap and petty. Nancy in particular as Saturday Night Live portrayed her, looks vindictive and unstable. If the democrats hate Trump that much as was stated on The View and will do anything to undermine him, I wish they would step back and realize they have the opportunity to look “bigger” if they actually gave Trump what he wants, gain things for DACA that has long been a goal, and reopen the government to achieve other goals that are mutually beneficial to the country. That’s what statesmanship looks like. Negotiate means give something up to gain something. It doesn’t mean I won’t deal until I get what I want.
2
Step up for what?
If it was about hurting someone, perpetuating a fraud in a massive scale, or destroying the republic - these republicans would clamor to be first in line.
But, doing anything to help people? Nah!
2
The public already knows "exactly who favors moving forward and who would rather keep the government closed to satisfy the president." McConnell and his band of shirkers and sycophants await orders from their master, while Democrats are eager to get on with their work. This new group of Democrats has some great ideas for the country, but are being stymied by McConnell and his do-nothing slackers. McConnell won't act without orders from the Loafer-in-Chief, and he won't act until Fox & Friends tells him what he should do next. The Trump "administration" is a joke.
2
I imagine McConnell can't wait for Robert Mueller and/or the House of Representatives to take steps that will lead to Trump's removal from office. For now, he'll toady up to him for their shared interests in making the rich richer at the expense of the working class, filling the Judiciary with rightwing justices, and freeing industry of any responsibility for not destroying the planet.
But McConnell doesn't want this wonderful opportunity to end in 2020 and he knows there is no way Trump will be re-elected. His impeachment would put the more polished Pence in the Oval Office, putting lipstick on the pig that is today's GOP.
3
The President didn't just blink overnight, his position crashed and burned. Now it is time for lawmakers of both parties to get together before:
*Planes start falling from the skies
*The agony of 800,000 federal workers working without pay or effectively laid off--not to mention hundreds of thousand more contract workers--brings the economy to a screeching halt
*Everything from ambulance and hospital service to legitimate commercial and industrial development because payments of federal grants and loans halt--endangering millions of more people's lives and health and causing even more damage to the economy.
This isn't about who looks strongest--it is a matter of who looks smarter and, more important, who is willing to BE smarter by finding a reasonable compromise which includes:
*No more wall talk--period.
*No more more shutdown--period.
*Improved border security which requires smart use of technology--and getting the Cost Guard, Homeland Security and other vital agencies back to work.
3
I take your lumping " don and Nancy " as an insult to me and especially The Speaker of the House. I have always seen the House as the representatives of the rank and file Citizens, my Union Reps. This Union is charged with the job of protecting Equality, promoting the Common Good and instituting proper working and social safety conditions. So I take offense lumping my Union Rep with an extortionist, an extortionist who believes in listening to Ann Rush to guide governance of My country.
4
"But counting on this president to behave rationally has burned Mr. McConnell before." But Trump IS behaving rationally and in his own self-interest. He has shut down the agency that will be central to investigating his tax evasion - the IRS.
Simple solution? The Dems should offer to pay the cost of a border fence rental equal to the time he offers to protect the Dreamers. Three years for dreamers - three years fence rental. Put up or shut up.
What doesn't the New York Times and the Democrats get? This whole mess is simply a distraction and cover up of Trump's collusion with Russia and a resulting impeachment.
Where is the spine of Congress, both Republican and Democrat? Not very long ago the Democtrats were saying no wall. Now they are talking about funding $5.9 biillion for a wall not needed.
Surely all other world leaders are trying to figure out the post Trump world order. Our influence will be diminished. The winner in this feasco is Russia and if they are not punished severely expect more of the same.
congrats Heir Putin.
I wish Norway wasn't so cold and dark in the winter. People have counted on the US to commit regime change in their country. Who will get rid of our Taliban?
Trump campaigned on the “deconstruction of the administrative state” (translation: destruction of the US government) with the shutdown apparently another step in that direction. Problem is that voters are beginning to realize that perhaps some parts of the federal government are a good thing.
So the Republicans are losing their extortion gambit in more ways than one: they’re being blamed (especially after Trump said he would be proud to shut down the government) according to the polls, and people who had been brainwashed with the anti-government spiel are beginning to wake up and see the value of government services.
Although Trump and the Republicans are requiring federal employees to work without pay so that voters can’t see the full impact of the shutdown, the media are helping expose the extent of this debacle.
Unfortunately it may take a disaster like a plane crash or terrorist hijacking to convince Republicans to do their jobs and end the shutdown, but by then they’ll all have (more) blood on their hands.
2
So what if the President rejected a “bipartisan” spending bill at the last minute? In no way does that require the President or the Republicans to cave into Pelosi’s demands now.
The President has an agenda, just like everyone else- and he has veto power and the Oval Office- which makes him immensely powerful. He’s been demanding a wall for years. It was a key part of the campaign to get him elected. Anyone who claims Congress was blindsided by this showdown is fooling themselves.
Give him the money to build the stupid wall and reopen the government (and maybe get something else in return) It’s as simple as that.
“The State of the Union speech has been canceled by Nancy Pelosi because she doesn’t want to hear the truth,”
that is the pot calling the kettle black? When, when, when has Trump ever been willing to listen and/or apologize.
Trump needs to own this horrible shutdown even on his dying bed.
3
Asleep at the switch of American history Mitch McConnell I hope he takes the whole party with him.
2
The 2016 election of Trump was Republican and Evangelical coup. Insert religion into public policy, shove the twisted tax cuts into law despite the deficit created, dismantle agencies and obliterate any Obama policy or agreement because it was instituted by a black man. There wasn't one Dr. Faustus in this scenario but an entire Party. The two who could have prevented the damage to our country: Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell.
2
Have you, editorial board, forgotten that McConnell is a child of the Kochs and their obscenely wealthy allies? That he has been bought and paid for, as have most of the so-called republicans in the Senate? They do not serve this country as they swore to do. They serve only what they perceive to be their own self interest. They lie, cheat, and steal. They follow Trump in the mistaken belief that he can give them the wealth and power they crave. But they misread him. They are not not on parallel tracks. The day of disillusion will come when they open their eyes and see that there is no longer a country to govern.
3
"Will they [the senate] step up?" That the question needs to be asked gives you the answer.
1
Here is what Nancy Pelosi is up against.
First, Mitch McConnell has never given a thought to what is best for the county. Like New Gingrich, he is only about acquiring power for the party, to enrich himself and, of course, his donors.
Trump has spent his career demanding nothing less than a win for himself. He has cheated and lied his way through life. He was coached by none other than one of the worst deplorables in political history: Roy Cohn taught Trump to never back down, to never apologize, never admit guilt, go for the kill.
Then, there were two campaign advisors, Sam Nunberg and Roger Stone, who came up with the wall concept to amplify Trump's anti-immigration promises. It just wasn't his idea. But he made the promise of a wall to venom-dripping rally mobs.
On top of all that, Ms. Pelosi knows Trump will shut down the government at the drop of a hat every time his policies meet strong opposition. That will send tens of thousand of people who have "kept the trains running on time" running to the exits for better jobs. That may appeal to the smaller-government-is-better Ayn Randians, but this is a big country and it needs a lot of people to run it.
All of this means, Trump and his nearly-as-evil twin, Stephen Miller, could care less about federal employees keeping roofs over their heads, food on the table and kids in school
So I hope Ms. Pelosi has some great ideas on how to make Trump think he won even though, well, (fill it in ...).
4
Don't forget it was Trump whisperer Steve Bannon who said 'he wanted to topple and smash the state and the establishment.' Looks like things are right on track.
1
The obvious answer to your question is, "No."
This is a classic stand-off, pure and simple. It will only be resolved in the polls, which are almost certain to get worse for trump and the GOP the longer it goes on. There is no positive end game for them. The real politicians know this.
trump and his white house cronies will milk this distraction for all it's worth to keep Mueller out of the headlines, then they will simply "declare victory and depart the field." It's difficult for me to see this whole thing as anything more than political theatrics, except for the real damage done to real people and the economy.
All I know is that if we as Americans (and I mean ALL of us) don't wake up to this nonsense soon, we may not have a country to wake up to.
1
It won't be solved by giving into Pelosi's outrageous demands
We need the Wall and changes in the law to make is easier to deport central American. We need to end the loopholes in out Asylum laws. None of this can happen if we cave into Pelosi's demands
@judyweller
What is outrageous about opening up the government and then negotiate to your heart's content?
The Constitution expressly prohibits involuntary servitude. It's time for the House to introduce articles of impeachment against Trump and the head of every agency and department that's making employees work without pay. We're talking about a dictatorship that expects its employees to act as slaves. Wake up!
3
Why is no one turning this around???????????
How would Republicans like it -- if the NEXT Democratic President shuts down the government to force them to vote for universal healthcare for all. Presidents will just start acting like autocrats to FORCE their policy on Congress.
That is the legacy of the CON MAN we have in the Office.
3
If that drawing is supposed to be McTurtle, the artist is much too kind.
1
@Chip: Haha! That was my first thought, too!
Trump likes the shutdown. He's trying to slow down the DOJ investigations into him, and into the Russians.
1
Here’s a wild idea on how to end the shutdown.
Ignore Trump and McConnell.
Ignore Pelosi.
Just listen to the experts – the Border Patrol. They say we need a wall to protect the border.
Let’s give it to them.
Since virtually every angle of the wall and SOTU shutdown show has been focused on already, I'll focus on one that I have not seen yet: lost opportunity cost.
While the US in a complete state of chaos (aka impenetrable stupidity) over a $5.7 billion down payment on a $25 billion wall, China is investing in the future. The US which was once the hands down leader in all STEM categories, now suffers from a critical mass of the population that is mind numbingly math and science illiterate. This is really quite sad. Pax Americana is in an accelerating rate of decline. A country cannot remain at or near the top for long after what appears to be its arrival at its 'Dark Age'.
https://www.insidescience.org/news/china-leader-quantum-communications
"The success of these projects and experiments has made China the leader in quantum communication. It showcases exactly the kind of technological advances that can be driven by scientific discoveries, as well as scientific discoveries through technological advances," wrote Juan Yin, one of the authors of the latest Physical Review Letters paper that detailed the science behind the landmark video call, in an email to Inside Science.
Chinese government. The government is now doubling down on the technology by investing another $10 billion dollars for a brand-new research center dedicated to quantum information sciences.
2
Terrorists take hostages. Trump has 800,000 of them. We The People must not negotiate with him. Madame Speaker Pelosi has the right approach to save our democracy: to quote another famous woman in politics: "Just say no!"
3
The wall is a defective strategy. No different than taking a knife to a gun fight, only the knife costs $5.7 BILLION dollars. Let's get Mexico to pay, as promised, OR go back to the original comporimise struck for $1.6 Billion which is what the White House, Senate and House requested WHEN THE GOP RAN IT ALL. I mean, wow.
2
"Republican senators with even a faint spark of independence remaining should stiffen their spines." it's hard to stiffen something that doesn't exist in the first place.
That remark could apply equally to the president and Republican senators, especially Majority Leader Mitch McConnell whose only skill-set seems to be partisan political gamesmanship.
3
@John lebaron
Most Republican senators think the spending bill should include money to strengthen the existing border fence and build 200 miles of new fence in the Rio Grande Valley.
Thanks for pointing out how recently the Senate voted in support of a compromise bill on immigration that did not include $5 billion for Trump's wall and that Democrats could have accepted. I don't think we can remind President Trump or Mitch McConnell often enough that they controlled the government, through a Republican majority, for the last two years.
Why didn't the Republicans build the wall then? Why change positions and stage a fight with Democrats who now control only the House and who would likely vote for the earlier Senate bill? How about governing instead of providing theater that only a handful of Americans can appreciate? In caving to FOX's influence, Trump is actually narrowing his base and making white supremacists his only constituents.
5
How about a more efficient and transparent process for renewing/enforcing visas? Would be a better choice than a jingoistic wall.
1
What is left out of the dialog is any possibility of a congressional override of a presidential veto
As the 3rd most dangerous man in America...Speaker McConnell knows that both the house and senate would eventually vote to override mr. trumps veto..so he refuses (or refused) to let that legislation move forward.
10
Exactly. Republicans could end this shutdown at any time by growing a spine and voting to end it. What Trump wants is irrelevant. Override him. Do your jobs, Republicans!
"But if the government reopens briefly, it could ease the conflict enough to get everyone back to the bargaining table."
Is there some reason they can't do both at the same time?
President Trump has always felt or thought that the Congress is an extension of the White House. He does not understand that the Congress is a co - equal branch of government. At the same time, even if that thinking is not the case, he expects agreement and loyalty from republican party members in the Congress. We witnessed this in the Congress, prior to the November 2018 elections. When both houses were republican party controlled. That was when the party members did nothing to question or challenge the president. It was all party interests over the best interests of the country.
Today, the situation is different. Yet, the check and challenge is from the Democratic party majority in the House of Reps. The situation in the Senate is another story.
No matter which party is in power in the White House, or the Congress. What we are seeing is that the elected leaders have a preference and loyalty to their party. That becomes the priority. The people and country becomes secondary.
A vote is scheduled today in the Senate, with both parties presenting their own Bills. Will this help end the govt. shutdown?
Mitch McConnell has the power to separate the Wall issue and concentrate in reopening the govt. It is unclear if he would do just that. McConnell should have taken the initiative to work with the Democrats in the Senate, and compelling the President that ending the govt. shutdown is more important than the Wall. He owes that duty to the people, and not appease the President.
7
Play this out in the long term and the GOP has big problems. The party has been doing nothing on immigration and reproductive rights for decades, preferring to keep these festering sores as campaign issues. It has worked, but now the strategy is breaking. Immigration has to get fixed and the shutdown demonstrates why. Any resolution that doesn't produce a comprehensive solution will make 2020 a very hard year for the GOP in federal races and beyond. But resolution also points the way to solving the abortion issue. A large majority of Americans don't want to change Roe v. Wade and attempts by the GOP majority in SCOTUS to do so could have national repercussions. This era in America is forcing change on the GOP, not in the way many thought it would but politics is a funny business.
7
The Constitution provides that all revenue bills must originate in the House of Representatives, but it doesn’t give the House full authority over the federal budget. The House shut down government by crafting a spending bill it knew the Senate would not send to the president and that the president would no signed if it reached his desk.
House Democrats pretend that the shutdown is justified because it prevents the president from spending billions on the border wall that he promised to build in campaign speeches, but this is a fiction. Trump long ago gave up plans to build a solid wall from San Diego to Brownsville. He now proposes to build the type of border barrier the Border Patrol says it needs. The $5.7 billion would pay to strengthened the existing 700 miles of border fence and 200 miles of new steel-slat fencing in high-traffic areas, mostly in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, which is now the epicenter of illegal border crossings. No one is talking any longer of building a wall across the the Texas despoblado.
4
@William Case
Sorry, but this just doesn't jibe with the facts. While it is true that there is a very small amount of the existing wall/barrier that is needed and can be approved upon, no amount of obfuscation, claiming the the Border Patrol itself approves of this $5.7 billion expenditure for example, can justify the absurdity of shutting down large parts of the federal government, simply because of the pig-headedness of the current occupant of the White House. If he needs a win so badly, let him play the lottery. His odds would be better.
1
@TRA
The Constitution provides that all revenue bills must originate in the House of Representatives, but it doesn’t give the House full authority over the federal budget. The House shut down government by crafting a spending bill it knew the Senate would not send to the president and that the president would not signed if it reached his desk. The House is keeping the government shutdown by refusing to compromise with the Senate and White House. Instead, Pelosi keeps saying "Non-Starter" to compromise proposals.
@William Case: what are you talking about? House Dems are "pretending" nothing. You should know that by now, especially with Nancy Pelosi as the Speaker. She doesn't lie, she is as smart as a whip and she is tough as nails. Unlike the lying, petulant so-called prez and the conniving, mean Mitch. The "border patrol" has said nothing about "needing" a wall. They need smarter technology for the border AND other ports of entry (like airports, which are now stunningly understaffed with the idiotic trump-owned shutdown). Incidentally, the wall trump wants would not be completed in his lifetime and would cost far more than what he is petulantly claiming. The wall is relatively easy to get over and under, as well.
1
The Times should not belittle Speaker Pelosi as a seeming equivalent part of "the Don-and-Nancy drama". Hers is a principled position, rightly highlighting the threats to national safety and security caused by shutdown furloughs at the FBI, diplomatic, intelligence, and cybersecurity services, public safety and inspection bodies, the TSA and air traffic control, and more. It would be unconscionable for a gathering of the leadership of three branches of government to draw personnel away from these functions. She has courageously demonstrated the co-equal role of the Congress envisaged by our Constitution. Majority Leader McConnell and the Senate should do the same and override any Trump veto that continues this dangerous shutdown.
16
@Georgina
Nothing courageous about Crazy Nancy, she's just a power hungry specimen out to denigrate everything Trump and republican. We need to build the wall and pass comprehensive immigration reform, but it looks like we will have to wait another two years for the conservatives to retake the House.
There are two intertwined explanations for what is going on in Trump world right now. None of which have to do with border security, of course.
The first is that Trump, one-upping Nixon, is in his end game and needs as many Reichstag fires as possible to delay and obfuscate Mueller and the host of other lawsuits coming after the Grifter-in-Chief.
The second explanation, the outlier, is that a government shutdown is at the very heart of current Republican Party Dogma. That is, no government is the best government. In this idealized dog eat dog world, private companies take over everything.
Napoleon Hill (Author of "Think and Grow Rich"-1937) would be thrilled at Trump's fulfillment of his campaign promise to wreck the government.
Needless to say, the problem with hyper-libertarianism is that only the Oligarchs win. Indeed, its far worse than this, because every one else is thrown off the plane.
Folks that voted for this man were largely thinking of the visceral beauty of libertarianism without fully understanding how violent the movement can be. Ayn Rand and Napoleon Hill were so wrong. So wrong.
4
@David Kesler
You are giving mr Trump too much intelligence.
Occam's razor points out that the simplest solution is that he is narcissist...and will do anything to make himself look good (build the wall) at any cost (to the detriment of the country and govt workers)
As someone who is amoral (ie has NO morals)..he doesn't care who gets hurt..as long as he gets his way
this was clearly evidenced in the NY Times article earlier this week about his dealings w/ the casino.and the lengths he went thru to 'win'
2
Looking for an assertion of power that will end this fiasco. The Supreme Court, on its own, reaches down to a trial court, administrative hearing - where the claim of federal worker slavery is claimed as a Constitutional violation. It spends a day, pretending to consider the obvious- and renders a unanimous decision.
Essential workers then go home, slaves no more. Congress moves immediately to reopen government and issue paychecks. And shutdowns as any sort of political ploy, passes into history.
5
Mitch McConnell has only one objective and that is satisfying the RNC and its mega donors including Russian oligarchs tied to Putin. He could care less about the wishes of the majority of Americans. By being subservient to the President, McConnell has removed the Senate from its constitutional role of debating and considering issues from the perspective of the interests of individual states. He has voiced his hatred for Nancy Pelosi publicly in the Washington Post thereby creating the deadlock that currently exists. He is not capable of performing his role in the Senate and must be removed.
6
Over 2 years of empirical evidence of Trump's behavior and what motivates him and we still feel obliged to temper our comments (out of respect for the office or hope of his redemption?).
"The only thing Mr. Trump seems to respect is power. "
"Seems to respect"? - absolutely no need to qualify Trump's unvarnished need and quest for crushing power.
6
We are told here that the Democrat Nancy Pelosi should not give in, however the Republican McConnell should get involved now for the sole purpose of giving in.
That is a purely partisan take on events. It sees just one thing.
2
The only thing senate Republicans need to give in to is themselves, Mark. One month ago they passed a bill to fund the government. Unanimously! When Trump objected, instead of completing the job and overriding his veto, they sat on their hands for a month. Now, faced with a nearly identical proposal, every Republican senator is expected to vote No.
Republicans couldn’t be bothered to begin to start funding The Wall during the 2 years they held both houses. Tax cut, yea. Obamacare, almost. Wall? Crickets.
Trump is insisting on the Wall because he’s decided his political future depends on it. Republicans likewise stand by him because he’s their best shot at the presidency in 2020. The actual merits of the wall, never mind governing the country, take a backseat because, as ever with Republicans, it’s party before country.
4
@Mark Thomason
I believe what is said here is that Mitch McConnel is not doing his job but instead using his position to block access to the senate. His job is not to protect a President, but let the elected officials express, by their recorded votes, the will of the people they represent. If this were done in a non partisan way...democracy would start to work.
@James K. Lowden: I wish I could "recommend" this comment a thousand times. Thank you.
"The only thing Mr. Trump seems to respect is power." That seems to say it all, and should be addressed accordingly.
6
The government shutdown is more the fault of Mitch McConnell than anyone else. He alone could end this mess tomorrow, but what's in it for him? I am sure that many Senators are more than happy to see government shrinking. Remember Steve Bannon and his desire to deconstruct all of government? Seems like his plan is happening, after all.
13
An NBC News analysis suggested that McConnell's inaction has been a winning strategy for Republicans because "viewed from a purely political perspective, McConnell's approach has been a resounding success — at least, so far: only 5 percent of registered voters surveyed in a Politico/Morning Consult poll this month blamed congressional Republicans for the shutdown while 47 percent blame Trump and 33 percent blamed Democrats."
This shows the sad state of civics education in the US that so few voters understand the proper role of Congress as a check on the Presidency.
9
When Mitch McConnell brings the continuing resolution to the Senate floor the question he will place before our Senators is not one of border security but one of presidential power—the power to use the shutdown of our government to override the will of Congress, to impose his own will even after an undivided legislature declined to give him his way.
So today I am writing to one of my senators (Johnny Isakson; the other one is a lost cause) urging him to vote in favor of the continuing resolution that would give a window, however small, for the resolution of the border and immigration issues that have ground our government to the longest halt in American history—and urging him to consider that a vote against it is a vote in favor of unbridled executive power: “A president who would shut down government until he gets what Congress refused to give him even when it was undivided is one unconstrained by either the Constitution or the rule of law on which our nation was founded. Now, more than ever in our history, we need a legislative branch that would check the power of a man who would be king, not one that would facilitate it. Please vote to keep Congress the coequal branch our Constitution envisioned.”
26
The media is not doing a service to our democracy by keeping the focus on Trump, the House and the Senate. This is an opportunity to educate people about who pulls Trump's and McConnell's strings and what qualifications or rights they have to do so. We need to hear much more about Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh and the crowd that caters to the money boys of the Republican party. It seems the elected officials are just a front for democracy. The real action -- behind the scenes -- is conducted by the oligarchs and their agents at Fox News and other outlets. We need to hear about them and understand them. Out of the pain of 800,000 workers let us rescue our democracy. We owe it to them.
31
If Mitch is the prophet that will lead us out of the Wilderness then we should all throw our support behind Mitch - galling as that may seem. Mutually Assured Destruction is not an effective strategy - it won the Cold War but that took 50 years. After 30 days of Trump and Pelosi trying to break each other - enough is enough. Then, listening to Wilbur Ross explain how Federal Employees should go get loans ( who cares about a little interest - my God what a statement ). This Country will not move forward with wins by either Pelosi or Trump. If there are moderates in Congress ( on both sides ) now is the time to step up and dump party affiliations. Maybe now is the time for a third party - one of Reason - to form. I fear there is no hope with either of the current Political Agendas
1
There will always be disagreements in politics, and so people negotiate to get what they want - and compromises are based on who has how much power when they sit down to the table.
Trump reportedly used strong arm tactics when dealing with small businesses, offering them a fraction of the agreed upon price, and then daring them to take him to court by threatening a lengthy and expensive battle. That isn't negotiating, that's bullying. It appears that Trump is attempting to use the tactics he is familiar that served well enough in the business world, but those are not well adapted to governing.
20
@pk
Wow, your "reasoning" is right out of the rabbit hole. Please learn to discern the truth from the cacophony of lies.
There are 800,000 federal workers not earning a paycheck because of this nonsensical "wall".
This editorial continues the false equivalence motif that permeates the New York Times news articles on this issue or any other issue in which Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer oppose Trump. One reason Trump and the GOP know that the can continue to get away with prolonging the shutdown or refusing to compromise on any other issue is the normalizing and excusing through false equivalence of all things Trump and Republican. The Democrats are always equally wrong and have been since 2009. Along with Trump, media outlets like the New York Times own a good portion of the shutdown and in fact the entire southern border/immigration issue with the everybody's to blame mantra. History will not be kind to the media. And I'm getting tired of trying to be.
15
@Meg
I would be interested in reading the reasoning behind your statements?
@Meg: Exactly. The false equivalencies being driven by mainstream media is sickening and galling. Even PBS and NPR are guilty of it."Both sides" are NOT to blame. The republicans, including those few who do still have remnants of consciences, have been trying to "drown the government in a bathtub" (promoted by the unkempt weirdo, Grover Norquist) for years, going on decades.
The Editorial Board complains the GOP proposal “included enough poison pills to gag all but fervent hard-liners.” This is in reference to programs and initiatives that would reduce illegal immigration while ending the “child migrant crisis” by making the asylum application process easier for Central American minors.
Currently asylum seekers must present their applications at legal ports of entry and wait in Mexico or Canada while their applications are being processed. The proposed GOP bill would create a program to allow Central American minors to apply for asylum in centers that would be built in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama.
Democrats consider the propose asylum application program a “poison pill” because they want migrant children to continue crossing the border illegally in numbers large enough to overwhelm migrant children centers and U.S. immigration courts. Although the migrant children centers are the same centers operated under the Clinton, Bush and Obama administration, the Democrats now compare them to Nazi death camps.
5
@William Case
Democrats have fought every measure attempted by Trump to secure the border. Will they have any credibility left on immigration after Pelosi? This won't be the first time she has led her party over a cliff.
Not “allow”. The bill would *require* asylum seekers to apply in their home countries, and would severely tighten the grounds for asylum.
Give us a break. Democrats can’t even agree on a carbon tax or universal healthcare. What makes you think they’re so well organized on who’ll vote for them in 20 years? And why are you so sure all those migrants will be Democrats? Ted Cruz and Donald Trump both come from fairly recent immigrant families.
Not everything is about politics. The violence in Central America is real; the stories we hear are heartbreaking. And the problem is manageable. Last year asylum applications totaled 97,000. In a country of 330 million, that’s a drop in the bucket, a whole stadium full of migrants.
A humane president and a humane country would manage the problem: judges, facilities, assistance, foreign aid. That’s how we used to behave.
Instead we have bombast and an insistence on building a wall that would solve nothing, prevent nothing. Its only purpose is to re-elect Trump. For that, he’s willing to shut down the government.
Just another thought for you to ignore, since you referenced nazi death camps its apt. Many of the people fleeing the nazis sought refuge status and entry to the United States. They were denied and often sent to their deaths. That you would do the same to the adults and children fleeing death squads, gangs and corrupt narco governments in Central America is telling. You would have them wait for imaginary centers that Trump and company will never build and asylum that they will never grant then return to their homes and patiently wait for death or enslavement to the narco gangs. Indifference to the suffering of others is a hallmark of Trump apologists and fits well with nazis and death camps. Well done.
1
Our current situation totally reflects the reality that is inherent in any situation involving beliefs vs. facts. There cannot be any conversation, let alone meaningful negotiations. Those that call for both sides to come together are simply deluded and are part of the problem, the normalization of the absurd, the attributing of normal human capacities in an absurd situation.
This shutdown is the work of one man, who wants to win at any cost. Pity those that cater to him, since they will, fall when he falls, and that will happen sooner than later. He is trapped by his own inadequacies. This is the moment in time, when he would normally walk off the project, declare bankruptcy, and leave everyone else holding the bag, but since he can't do that in this situation, he is in totally uncharted waters, lost at sea. Woe is us!
23
Trump must realize (as many Republicans do) that he's made a shoot from the hip error or shutting down the gov't. to get his wall built. It should have been something else, because apparently most Americans of all political persuasions are sympathetic tho 'hard-working' people who, though not fault of their own can't pay their mortgages. On the other hand, when I heard Pelosi saying that the wall was 'immoral', I snorted & giggled. What's immoral is the beyond the beyond funding for the military/industrial complex!
6
Well done Nancy Pelosi. From now on you are Mighty Mouse. This is the first time someone with veto rights called his bluff. It is the first time he has been made to look a complete and utter, self-centred fool, not by the liberal media or late night comedians but by someone with the legal means to call his bluff. This is what elections are about.
Mr. Trump, and you may now see the insanity of your claim that the mid-terms were a massive victory for you and your fascist party.
16
Why does this editorial ignore the fundamental issue at stake - namely, that Trump is holding the United States government hostage to his own political interests, which involve pandering to his base and right-wing radicals like Coulter and Hannity. This, as the Democrats have pointed out, is extortion, plain and simple. And it must not be countenanced.
26
To end the shutdown, I suggest a bill which terminates luxurious health care benefits for all three branches of government. If that fails then the a bill which terminates luxurious retirement benefits to all three branches of government. As they still bicker, a bill which provides Medicare, ACA, or Medicaid should be passed for all three branches of government when they come to agreement on the shutdown. As they still bicker a bill to give the three branches of government the same retirement benefits as the common citizen. It is time that the three branches of government represent the people.
9
@Peter Casale, these are all wonderful ideas...that will never happen as long as those bills would have to be introduced by the very people theypunish. This is the problem with today's politics: the checks and balances are just plain gone; the current crews have found work-arounds and end-runs to what the Founding Fathers put in place. The Constitution never considered ways to stop a government shutdown. It was never designed to end the Senate majority leader refusing to hold votes on bills. All of these political games and tactics are, bluntly, loopholes to subvert the design and intent of the Constitution, and both sides are equally culpable in this.
2
Will the Senate in general and McConnell in particular "step up?" CERTAINLY....just as soon as they're TOLD its permissible to do so, and what orders their LEADERSHIP needs follow.
4
The republicans will not address DACA - so forget about it.
2
As painful as the shutdown is in terms of human suffering, it is actually preferable to impeachment and conviction as a means to finish Trump. If Trump can take the government hostage and wins, that would empower him to become more of a dictator. If he's impeached and convicted, even if he's proven to have committed treason, his "followers" will become radicalized and dangerous. If he loses with his hostage tactic, he's finished. It's not about the wall; it's about the will of a dictator. He knows that and thus his position. When McConnell figures this out, he'll have to fall on his sword and signal his Senators to vote Trump down.
9
@Mark...."If he's impeached and convicted, even if he's proven to have committed treason, his "followers" will become radicalized and dangerous."
______________________________________________
And it is exactly those people that elected this fool! As George W. Bush once said..."Find'em, smoke'em out and run'em down!"
@Mark, are you one of the people suffering from this shutdown? If so, my deepest condolences. If not, how dare you say that this is preferable to anything? There are parents out there that can't get their children medication because they can't afford it, in our bloated medical landscape. They're having to make the hard choice between medication and shelter, or food. I'm personally dreading the first reported death due to this shutdown.
You might want to think about what you say before you comment something like that.
The State of the Union Address doesn’t have to be given live or even in the Capitol. The Constitution mandates that the President “shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” (Article II, Section 3, Clause 1).
Nothing about where or when. This whole thing is another weird dance between Trump and the Democrats.
1
@Lenny-t Not a weird dance, but rather a tradition evolved over time. The Constitution's wording states merely that the President/executive branch is expected to provide information regarding national conditions and issues to Congress. Giving a speech in the House chamber is a COURTESY granted by the Congress to the President. It is solely at their discretion. The President has opportunity to give speeches and press releases at any time 365.24 days a year. What you describe as weird is simply the House taking (or refraining from taking) the actions they see fit.
3
@Lenny-t, agreed. "After 1913, Woodrow Wilson, the 28th U.S. President, began the regular practice of delivering the address to Congress in person as a way to rally support for the President's agenda. With the advent of radio and television, the address is now broadcast live across the country on many networks." (Wikipedia)
The speech debacle is a sideshow. The people suffering from this shutdown is the tragedy.
1
@Lenny-t only because trump has no idea what the constitution says about anything.
I am relieved that Nancy Pelosi is piercing the alternative reality that the right wing has been constructing as a protective bubble for Trump. No mas! I can't believe this charade has gone on for so long, but that shows the effectiveness of the narratives supporting Trump. If nothing else, this moment in history gives us impetus to (re)educate ourselves about our country's founding documents.
11
What, I wonder, are Mr. McConnell's motivations?
He doesn't seem to care about the Trump corruption, the likely Trump conspiracies, the Trump indictments, the Trump felonies, the likely Trump treason.
His silence over the past several weeks is a continuation of his longstanding program of protecting and enabling Mr. Trump.
Is he scared that the Trump base will vote him out?
Does he also believe that he may and must do anything at all in order to seize and retain power on behalf of his rich white Republicans?
Is this a white nationalist thing for him, too? Is he also willing to burn the whole thing to the ground if he cannot get what he wants?
Does he care at all about the real wellbeing of the people of Kentucky? I wonder. Consider, for instance, the tax cut, Republican attempts to repeal or sabotage the ACA, Republican plans to decimate Social Security and Medicare.
I do wish the evidence were more reassuring.
4
McConnell and his 52 cronies know where their bread is buttered. As long as Trump is president, Democrats can do nothing about anything that matters: climate change, universal healthcare, income in equality, etc. re-electing Trump in 2020 is their best option. Undermining him might well cede the presidency and perhaps the senate to the Democrats.
Party before country, power is all: today’s GOP.
1
What is wrong with Senate Republicans who are apparently almost sure to vote against something they voted for in December, to reopen the government even briefly? Have they all been paid by Putin?
2
Mitch McConnell won't do anything to benefit the country unless it's an unintended consequence of him helping himself and his hard-right paymasters. He epitomizes the dysfunction in Washington. Sadly, he has been--and will continue to be--a great beneficiary of Washington's gridlock, pettiness, and spineless "leadership."
One can only hope that his constituency tires of him enough to vote him out of office.
11
Will they step up? Sure they'll step up, because you can always count on Mitch McConnell to step up. He loves stepping up so he can look down on others.
1
@Richard Mclaughlin, look down...or step on?
Some questions, suchas this one ("Will the GOP step up?) can be answered simply. in this case, the answer is a resounding "NO."
1
The Shutdown is Obstruction. All the court actions, investigations, suits, and indictments targeting Trump are ceased or slowed down with this shutdown. The Shutdown is also Distraction. Trump does not want his base to recognize the unconscionable removal of sanctions on Oleg Deripaska; now the oligarch's business can provide a funnel to move other sanctioned money back to Moscow. Trump has likely holed up in the White House for fear Putin will poison him unless and until he gets his money. This nightmare will end when Mueller indicts Trump's children; Trump’s immediate response will be to pardon them. Then the farewell helicopter will arrive at the White House to whisk Trump away as he clutches a pardon signed by Pence. While waiting for all of this to unfold, Trump will have Federal employees to torture because sadism is his drug of choice for assuaging his infantile emotions. Finally, to bolster the memory of Democracy in America, the most constructive move would be to impeach Mitch McConnell.
4
From day one I started posing the question, why is McConnell getting away with a nonsense refusal to bring a whole week's worth of bills sent to him by the House who stayed in town to do their work? Some said it was because trump burned him on the last border bill and wasn't going to be trump's fool again. Others said he was keeping the Senate out of the fray to insulate it (and him) from the fallout.
He took and oath as did the President to serve. That means they do their job and they don't act like little seven year old's with a spat between them. The play politics with people's lives while Rome burns. It's just about 22 months until the next election. May we have learned our lessons well.
5
Look. The media portraying this as some kind of end of the world event is pathetic. If 800k Americans, a lot of whom are college educated and probably making 50k a year or more, cannot make it several month without cash then there is something serious wrong with them and their way of life. They should still have another month or two of dry goods (you know, beans, rice, flour STAPLES) before they even start feeling concerned about food. If they are patriotic enough to continue working, then they should have enough money for gas to get back and forth from work for at least a couple months.
And as for suffering it is causing to other Americans, who? where? Give me a list of names of American citizens who have died on American soil as a result of this shutdown.
The wall should be built. The wall should have been built many decades ago. Here is one scenario. A plague or famine strikes South America as a result of climate change, as has happened elsewhere. Millions of scared, desperate people flee north. There is nothing stopping them. They overwhelm border states and efforts to prevent their entry or contain them fail. Looting, rioting, death and hardship to American citizens is caused. Disease spreads. The only option would be to quarantine those states to prevent the spread of the disease and the, well, invaders. Millions of American citizens die and trillions in damages are done.
So, why is a border security wall and program a bad thing again?
Just Build It....
2
@Walter Westfall, who do you think you are to question how someone else lives, or what their lifeis like? Get over yourself and show some humanity. Just because you think that someone else should be able to afford to live without a paycheck (because obviously you've never had to), is just pathetic. Maybe their larders are full of beans. Does that pay for a child's insulin, or other medication? Does that cover the mortgatge that's due regardless of the games in Washington?
Stop being judgmental and use your brain instead of your mouth. Your comment shows that it could use the exercise.
PS: You're going to eat these words the first time a child dies due to not getting their needed medication. That day, I fear, is coming sooner rather than later...
No one can trust Trump and McConnell to do the right thing.
1
The "way out" is for trump to acknowledge that their will be NO WALL.
The Democratic Party will *not* fold.
1