The most important feature of the shutdown politics—both for the eventual solution and for how it affects wider politics—is that the Wall unites Democrats and badly divides Republicans.
Tactics, news cycles, arguments are fine. But that’s the power dynamic.
Tactics, news cycles, arguments are fine. But that’s the power dynamic.
If congressional Republicans were actually united around the idea of a border Wall, they would have put it on the agenda prior to Trump forcing it there via shutdown. Instead, they spent the entire 115th Congress ignoring it.
google.com/amp/s/www.nati…
google.com/amp/s/www.nati…
There’s just a huge difference between reluctantly supporting the position of POTUS, and fighting for a policy you care about. A border Wall far from the core issues for the congressional GOP, even among those who care about it.
I still say we get a face-saving deal where Trump gets to say he got a Wall, the Dems provide almost no money, and the various GOP positions can claim whatever they want.
But that deal will happen either when GOP leaders convince Trump to fold, when GOP private defections force Trump to fold, when GOP public defections imply a tough upcoming veto decision for POTUS, or when the actually override a veto.
I suppose there could be a grand deal—Wall+comprehensive immigration reform—but I doubt it. And absent a massive public opinion swing, there’s very little chance of the Dem unity cracking.
