Trump schools GOP Congress to play hardball

American Thinker.com ^ | January 17, 2018 | Monica Showalter

[Kaslin]

Something good is happening in Congress these days.

Instead of rolling over for Democrats and virtuously claiming they've "reached across the aisle," as they always have done, Republicans are now playing hardball. They've maneuvered to put entitlements and swing state-sensitive tax cuts on the line as bargaining chips to avoid a government shutdown. In doing this, they have just laid out a plan to beat the Democrats at their own game.

According to Wednesday's front-pager in the New York Times:

WASHINGTON – With little hope of an immigration agreement this week, Republicans in Congress are looking to head off a government shutdown this weekend by pairing another stopgap spending measure with long-term funding for the popular Children's Health Insurance Program, daring Democrats to vote no.

The bill would leave in limbo hundreds of thousands of young immigrants brought to the country illegally as children. But Democrats would still be left with a difficult political decision: withhold their votes unless the plight of such immigrants, known as [DREAMers], is addressed and risk a government shutdown, or vote to keep the government open and fund the Children's Health Insurance Program [known as CHIP –ed.], which provides coverage for nearly nine million children.

Down farther in the story, the Times notes that CHIP isn't the only Democratic prize on the line. The other bargaining chips are even more significant, which might be why the news was buried:

[Red Badger]

The Dems play hardball.

Republicans play Tiddlywinks..............

[Lurkinanloomin]

It’s not that they are stupid or scared.

They are COMPLICIT.

[GOPJ]

Getting the GOP is move is like pushing a string... God Bless President Trump... if anyone can make these wimps into men it’s Trump.

[rjsimmon]

So which is it Dems? Do you care more for illegals or American children?

I know, rhetorical question...

[Red Badger]

Not all of them, only the so called leadership.........

[chris37]

Guess which one is the GOP.

[Lurkinanloomin]

There are just 5 Senators on the side of the citizens and the rule of law.
Cotton, Grassley, Paul, Perdue and Cruz.
That’s it.

[shotgun]

That and the lint balls in their belly buttons...

[robroys woman]

It’s not that they are stupid or scared.

They are COMPLICIT.

---

That’s how I see it. I firmly believe it is a uniparty vs Trump*.

*Trump = outsider

[sickoflibs]

Trump needs to stop acting and talking like Linda Grahamnesty (Lindsey Graham ) is his friend and treat him like the slimy backstabbing Weasel that he is.

I saw Graham say that Republicans will not be able to blame a Democrat Senate DACA based shutdown on Dems, basically that if Dems block the budget over DADA its the Republicans and Trump’s fault and they will get the blame.

[Brian Griffin]

At one time a few years back I believe that the Democrats demanded a “clean bill” to keep the government running.

[DoodleDawg]

Hardball my foot. The Democrats can paint this as a victory in finally getting the Republicans to extend the CHIP program. They can point to the continuing discussions with the Gang of Six as evidence that the Dreamer issue will be settled long before this continuing resolution expires in February.

And when February comes, what do the Republicans use to get the Democrats to sign off on the next continuing resolution?

[Seaplaner]

All the GOP has to do is look to the booming economy and its lingering sore spots for clues.

Well, okay; however the GOPers' biggest concern is the potential ire of GOP (and Indie) voters who have somehow finally discovered what a huge voting bloc we are, and how we simply do not want compromise on key (read "immigration" and "border") issues.

BTW

(Build The Wall!)

.

[rigelkentaurus]

I see this as giving the Rats way to much in return for kicking the can a month. And, what and we getting in this bill that exceeds what the Rats are getting? Nothing that I have seen.

Keeping the government open for another month is of no interest to me.

[Basket_of_Deplorables]

Can you imagine the fun Trump would have if the dems shut the government down?!?

He wouldn’t shut down the parks, that’s for sure. Other than the msm sob stories and screaming, we’d hardly notice. Then after 2 months, (Trump via twitter):

“If all these furloughed gov workers are non-essential, do we really need them back? Has anyone really noticed they are gone?!?”

[Major Matt Mason]

They are COMPLICIT.

Let's be more specific - the moderate Republicans (or GOPe) are complicit since they are the enablers of Democrat corruption. The GOPe problem must be solved, otherwise Trump's presidency will be a small island in an ocean of corruption.

[Ann Archy]

The Dems play VICIOUS, CHEATING Hardball.

The Republicans play house with them.