Bingo again. We’re here because Donald Trump doesn’t have the fortitude to stand up to Ann Freakin’ Coulter.
The shutdown occurred with Republicans in control of the house, senate, and white house. If the people who want the silly wall can’t agree about it, what do you suppose the Democrats are responsible for doing about it?
What can the Republicans possibly do?
Mitch needs 10 Democrat votes to pass a bill in the Senate. That’s assuming every Republican supports the bill.
No one wants to see the The 60-vote rule end. That’s just making a bad situation worse.
We certainly don’t want to end bipartisan support entirely. It’s served the country well for too long.
Compromise.
To stand up for a principle or a goal, you first have to have one. Donnie, at some point, seems to know he’s out of his element, and is easily swayed by people who seem to him both to know what they’re talking about and to be happy to lick his boots. Fox to the rescue. He isn’t standing up to Coulter or Ingraham or any of them because he literally wants them to tell him what to do.
Trump should be forced to meet the Democrats all they way, not half way. Never give an inch, that’s what I say. Individual One needs to be dealt a complete and utter loss. Since this is a stupid issue, it’s perfect for sticking it to him.
They can vote the Democratic budget in with a veto-proof 60-person majority, then Mitch can go to the President and say “we have the votes to override your veto.”
They can, but they won’t. Not yet.
The Democrats support the bipartisan position – the bill that the Senate passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. Trump supports the Limbaugh/Coulter position. Further, Trump is dishonest and dishonorable, and regularly changes his mind even after agreeing to things. There’s no way to negotiate with such a dishonorable and dishonest party.
He had 47 Democrat votes and two independent votes to pass a republican-written bill in the senate. What happened to that? 
Washington Post has a well written article on McConnell’s role in the shutdown negotiations.
He’s been uncharacteristically disengaged since the shutdown.
Probably posted already, but WaPo has an article detailing Pelosi’s strategy starting tomorrow:
- Break up the appropriations into a series of bills, only one of which could possibly contain funding for the wall.
- Pass these bills with the same appropriations the Republicans voted for in December 2018.
- For the one appropriations bill which impacts Homeland Security, pass with no increase in DHS funding but only fund DHS for one month, allowing the wall issue to be punted for a month while the rest of the government is funded through September.
- Dare the Republicans to vote against their own, already-agreed upon, appropriations for, say, the Dept of Agriculture because a completely unrelated bill has no wall funding.
Aceplace, this sounds like a strategy which accomplishes all your goals - gets the gov’t funded while still not nixing Individual-1’s plan for a wall. Do you agree with it? Does it sound like the Democrats are doing the best they can with the bad faith actor(s) on the other side?
At 4:01 pm today, Paul Ryan could call for a House vote on the CR that the Senate passed 100-0. (Remember that? :))
If there were such a vote, it would almost certainly pass the House.
Mitch could only get 47 votes for the House bill. If he can’t get all of his own caucus to vote for a bill, why should the Dems help?
News to me. Got a cite for that?
Obviously most Americans aren’t even aware of the rule. But among those that are, many would like to get rid of it - hell, even Trump has spoken against it! On the Dem side in particular, many activists have wanted to see the filibuster end for a long time now, as they know it gives 41 Senate Republicans a complete veto over any Dem legislation.
Bipartisanship is good. Any evidence that this rule aids it?
That’s the party that voted against their own health care plan. Don’t think they won’t do it again, not if they think the Deplorables want it that way.
They are trying to weaken the bargaining position for Republicans. Leaving nothing but DHS’ budget to negotiate.
It is a way to end the stalemate. It may be the only way to get people back working.
Er, it takes 67 votes to override a veto, not 60. Also, it takes 290 votes in the House; do they have that as well?
The “no wall” funding bill passed 100-0 in the senate, it would pass overwhelmingly in the house. Trump could veto it like he’s promised and then the senate could override it.
But that will make Trump look bad, so there’s a chance McConnell won’t even hold a vote on it until Trump announce that he’ll sign it.
They are called pro forma sessions. It happens on a regular basis in both the House and Senate, regardless of which party has the leadership.
And what is the minority party supposed to do during a pro forma session? Trump seems to think they should have done something. What should they have done?
And it takes one side to completely fuck up a debate.
Trump is not interested in compromise. Never has been, never will be. Trump will not shift his position. He might lie and SAY he will, but then he will change his mind and shaft the other party. This is what he does. He has made no secret of this.
Anyone who expects Trump to change his methods now for some reason is a fool.
Paid the ransom? In pesos.