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If a criminal takes hostages demanding $2 billion dollars, they don’t get credit for lowering the demand to $1 billion... and giving back hostages only temporarily.
And the cops aren’t equally to blame for refusing the ransom.
And the cops aren’t equally to blame for refusing the ransom.
2/ This is Trump’s and the GOP’s brinkmanship hostage-taking shutdown.
And not just because Trump said so himself. A common sense understanding of the history and legislative politics days so...
And not just because Trump said so himself. A common sense understanding of the history and legislative politics days so...
3/ Some conservatives say: “It takes both Congress and the president, both parties, to tango.” However, this is not how shutdowns play out, practically, politically, and legislatively. When the pres and Congress reach a budget impasse...
4/ ... the conventional next step is to pass a continuing resolution to keep the government funded at the status quo, to extend the previous budget while negotiations continue.
Sometimes , a side says, “No, no continuing resolution unless we get X, a change in the status quo.”
Sometimes , a side says, “No, no continuing resolution unless we get X, a change in the status quo.”
5/ Practically and politically, the side that rejects the continuing resolution because of a demand to change the status quo is the side bearing more responsibility for the shutdown.
Unquestionably that’s Trump, McConnell, and GOP.
Unquestionably that’s Trump, McConnell, and GOP.
6/ And that’s true even while the GOP is shifting positions and lowering their ransom for the hostages. Here’s my @Slate piece:
slate.com/news-and-polit…
slate.com/news-and-polit…
