Democrats Using Same Strategy Republicans Tried in 2013

The Spectator ^ | 21 January 2018 | Debra Saunders

[lowbuck]

In 2013, House Republicans shut down the federal government in a doomed effort to defund then President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act. It lasted 17 days and accomplished nothing.

Amazingly, Democrats have decided to follow the same lame playbook.

Back in 2013, Obama called it the “Republican shutdown” — and he was right, even if his party controlled the White House and Senate. Top aide Dan Pfeiffer likened the shutdown caucus to terrorists with a “bomb strapped to their chest.”

Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., had a similar view. The solidly conservative congressman called those pushing the shutdown “lemmings with suicide vests.”. . . snip

Ten Senate Democrats up for re-election this year hail from states Trump won in 2016. As the shutdown drags on, Republicans are more than happy to hammer them for their membership in a party that put undocumented immigrants before CHIP kids, as well as the underfunded military. Meanwhile, a rump of Democrats and Republicans have said they don’t want to pass another continuing resolution because temporary fixes shortchange defense.

[Sacajaweau]

Obamacare was a budget item.

DACA is NOT a budget item.

[lizma2]

[spokeshave]

I bet there is a sudden surge in sales of “The Art of the Deal”

[Susquehanna Patriot]

Exactly.

Given their non-negotiable position on DACA and chain migration, Dems have virtually no foreseeable leverage to get their wants into legislation when “comprehensive immigration” (dem-speak for amnesty) is taken up. They believe and have historical Charlie-Brown-kicking-the-football evidence that (1) the public will blame/punish the Reps, and (2) the Reps will cave. Except, unlike all other times, President Trump is in the WH, and their narrative is under strong assault unlike years past.

My guess is that their strategy is all about killing any immigration reform this year - hoping that they will win at least one of the chambers (Senate over the House), and then block the President. They do not want a DACA solution in March, they would rather run on no DACA being passed and hope to have the Trump version of Elian Gonzalez deportation pictures 24 hours a day all the way to Nov 2018. The Dickie Durbin’s unsubstantiated charges of racism in a closed meeting with the President is part of that strategy. They think this is a winning strategy, and they will use “Roy Moore” tactics in the election to avoid discussion of their positions which a majority of voters would reject if brought to their attention.

[vette6387]

‘1. Republicans were in the majority in 2013.
2. Fair or not, Republicans will always be blamed. “

Nick, I think that the “Media Landscape” is a lot different today. I think a couple of years spent battling with Trump has left their jockstraps torn and bloody, and they haven’t anything left in the tank to bull$hit the folks with. I know that the Republicans aways seem to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, but they are a separate entity from Trump. This time the $hit has hit the fan and the RATS and RINOs are the only ones getting hit. The one two punch here is the shutdown followed by the release of the FISA memo. Trump is letting this all play out without getting his hands dirty. Even the Communist News Network has Trump at 43%. It won’t take much more good news for him to sail over 50%, and with Congress at something like 17%, it will be clear sailing to the mid-terms.

[vette6387]

“We need a balanced budget amendment and we need it now!”

No, we simply need The Turtle to change the Senate rule regarding how many votes are needed to stop a filibuster. The Senate would start to function normally if a simple majority vote were all that was needed to pass anything, including any and all appointments. Secondly, it would be a good idea for that worthless MFer to start the Senate working on passing the 350 odd bills that he’s gotten from the House this past year. Every morning I wake up hoping McConnell has a brain tumor too.