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Whew, that was painful, but I do believe I have it now. I think I had it all along but my tongue got tangled between my “I” teeth and I couldn’t spit it out.

So to override the Veto the House would need 290 voting aye and the Senate 66.

19 GOP Senators would thereby have to go on record in support of the continuing resolution without the wall funding.

And apparently McConnell didn’t think he could hold those votes.

February 15th is going to be a very interesting day.

I believe that you have it now. Hey FRiend, that is what we are here for is to help each other! Or it was when I joined. Over the years, FReepers have helped and encouraged me many times. In closing, as Michael Savage is/was fond of saying,”We live in interesting times.”

. . . apparently McConnell didn’t think he could hold those votes.

I don't think that was the case. Neither the Senate nor the House has had 2/3 agreement on anything for a long time. But the government bureaucrats - which includes long-term congresscritters though they don't formally work in a 'bureau' - didn't like the idea that their primary constituents (other bureaucrats) weren't getting paid. My interpretation of the situation is that the career politicians told Trump it wasn't working - after all, that's what the Washington Post and New York Times were saying - so he should let Lucy pull the football back one more time. I don't think the issue of overriding a veto would ever be allowed to happen. Just because they would *not* get 2/3 to override, a lot of the DIABLOs (Democrat In All But Label Only) would vote against the president, knowing it would not matter in the end. The politicians told Trump that would be bad.

Regardless of the actual political calculations on votes, from the heartland this looks like a cave. Trump has lost big time on this, and it may very well be the end of his effectiveness. If he threatens/does shut down the government again, then Pelosi knows she just has to wait him out. It worked this time. I don't know if he has any other approach that he is pursuing, but it would take a huge win to offset this huge loss.