January 20-21, 2018
Jan 20 10:11 DACA: The Democrats' Waterloo? Jan 20 12:15 Fever Swampers aren't happy Jan 20 14:08 Shutdown full court press Jan 20 20:08 Klobuchar, Smith: Schumer's shills Jan 21 11:23 Day 2: Democrat hostage negotiations Jan 21 14:46 Is the 2018 electoral tide turning? Jan 21 23:30 Graham, Durbin are the problem
Prior Years: 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
DACA: The Democrats' Waterloo?
According to this article , a significant "majority of voters oppose shutting down the government over Democratic demands that a budget deal include provisions to shield from deportation illegal immigrants who came to the country as children, according to the latest Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll." Further, "when voters are asked whether they 'favor or oppose Democrats voting to shut the government down' if the funding measure does not restore work permits for those protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, 58 percent said they oppose a shutdown."
It's noteworthy that the "'poll suggests that a shutdown over DACA could well backfire as the public is hugely sympathetic to the Dreamers but don't think closing the government is the way to handle it,' said Harvard CAPS-Harris co-director Mark Penn."
The NYTimes admits that Democrats shut the government down , saying "Much of the federal government officially shut down early Saturday morning after Senate Democrats, showing remarkable solidarity in the face of a clear political danger, blocked consideration of a stopgap spending measure to keep the government operating."
If Republicans keep reminding the public that they're willing to fix DACA after Democrats vote to approve spending increases for the military, they'll 'win' this shutdown. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, is doing her best to affix blame where it properly belongs:
As you can see, Sarah Sanders' best is pretty awesome.
Democrats immediate launched their defense, saying that Republicans control the White House, the House and the Senate. That's spin. Republicans have majorities in the House and Senate but they don't control the Senate. To do that, they'd need 60 Republican senators. With Sen. McCain getting treatment in Arizona, Republicans have 50 senators to vote for their agenda.
Sen. Blumenthal is one of Sen. Schumer's reliable spinmeisters. Last night, he made the rounds spinning the notion that Republicans control the Senate. Sen. Blumenthal knows that Senate rules require 60 votes to invoke cloture and to proceed to a final vote on anything.
It's rather telling that Democrats are peddling this dishonest nonsense. I won't pretend that Republicans are saints. They aren't. I won't pretend, though, that Democrats are people of character. Every day, Democrats sell their message by spreading misinformation. Throughout this shutdown and in the run-up to the Democrats' shutdown, Democrats have lied and obfuscated.
For instance, at the eleventh hour, Democrats insisted they wouldn't vote for the CR unless there was funding for the opioid epidemic. Republicans will vote for funding of that in overwhelming numbers but you can't vote on something that isn't in legislative language. Democrats know that. They throw things like that out there because it sounds good. Democrats know, though, that it's impossible to meet that demand until it's in bill form.
I suspect that Democrats know that this strategy isn't working. Further, I suspect that they're only doing this because their special interest puppet masters are forcing them to do this. The question is whether the Democrats' special interest puppet masters will be the Democrats' demise.
Posted Saturday, January 20, 2018 10:11 AM
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Fever Swampers aren't happy
It's safe to say that Democrats living in the Fever Swamp aren't happy with certain Democrats. In fact, these Fever Swamp Democrats are threatening mutiny against Sens. Heitkamp, Donnelly, Manchin, McCaskill and Jones.
Some Fever Swamp Democrat with a screen name of e2247 was upset with those Democrats for how they voted, saying "Sure happy Jones beat Moore. As if that matters. Lucky we have McCaskill in there fighting for us - not. There was a report that Manchin was at the last minute whipping votes for the McConnell faction. Yay. Heitcamp [That's spelled Heitkamp but whatever] never could be trusted to back the Dem's. Reading names of Sen's. voting yes went by fast - sure hope I didn't make a mistake ;) sorry if I did."
Meanwhile, Sen. Mitch McConnell is applying the heat to these Fever Swamp Democrats. Last night, Sen. McConnell delivered this speech on the Senate floor. Among the things he said that'll sting Democrats is when he said "But what has their filibuster accomplished? The answer is simple - their very own government shutdown. Shutdown effects on the American people will come as no surprise. All week, as we have stood on the floor and begged our colleagues to come to their senses, Senate Republicans have described exactly what this will mean. For America's men and women in uniform, shutting down the government means delayed pay. For the many thousands of civilian employees who support their missions, it means furloughs. And for the families of fallen heroes, it may well mean a freeze on survivor death benefits. For veterans who rely on our promise of care, shutting down the government means threatening their access to treatment. For so many Americans struggling with opioid addiction, the same is true. And thanks to the Democratic Leader's decision to filibuster an extension of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, low-income families will slip closer to losing health coverage for their kids. And in many states this is an emergency. I'm having trouble understanding which one of those outcomes my Democratic colleagues could possibly be proud of. Which one of them? I think our friends on the other side took some really bad advice."
If this doesn't end soon, it won't end well for Democrats. Shutting down the government to protect DACA recipients is what the Fever Swamp Democrats insist on but it isn't something that'll play well with ordinary people. If Democrats think that not paying the military to force a showdown on DACA is a winner, God bless them. They're handing election victories to tons of swing district and swing state Republicans because I'll guarantee that this isn't playing well for Democrats on Main Street. Watch Sen. McConnell's inspired speech here:
[Video no longer available]
Anyone that thinks that parents whose children have health insurance through S-CHIP will be happy with Sen. Schumer's Shutdown is kidding themselves. Sen. Schumer's insistence on including a DACA fix when there's still a ton of time left is a major tactical error on his part.
If you want to laugh about this a bit, Kurt Schlichter's column is must reading:
What a tragedy it would be if Democrats made good on their threat and decided DACA was so important that they must shut down the federal government over it. Please don't! Why, I'd be heartbroken if the government did less and a bunch of foreigners didn't get rewarded for ignoring our laws. I think this is just the right hill for the Democrats to choose to fight to the death on, and I encourage them to do so. Throw us right in that briar patch, because you are smart and savvy and there's no way a big dummy like Trump could beat you and make you look like fools.
Again.
Fever Swamp Democrats never were that bright. Apparently, that affliction is spreading to DC Democrats, too.
Posted Saturday, January 20, 2018 12:15 PM
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Shutdown full court press
I suspect that Democrats got caught by surprise when Republicans took the fight to Democrats over the government shutdown. In the past, Republicans' messaging during a shutdown was ineffective. This time, Republicans, especially from the administration, has been aggressive and effective.
This morning at 6:17 am ET, President Trump tweeted "Democrats are far more concerned with Illegal Immigrants than they are with our great Military or Safety at our dangerous Southern Border. They could have easily made a deal but decided to play Shutdown politics instead. #WeNeedMoreRepublicansIn18 in order to power through mess!" At 6:33 am ET, Trump tweeted "This is the One Year Anniversary of my Presidency and the Democrats wanted to give me a nice present. #DemocratShutdown." Finally, at 6:44 am, Trump tweeted "For those asking, the Republicans only have 51 votes in the Senate, and they need 60. That is why we need to elect more Republicans in 2018 Election! We can then be even tougher on Crime (and Border), and even better to our Military & Veterans!" followed by the catchphrase '#AMERICA FIRST!'"
The administration wasn't finished. Last night, WH Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee-Sanders issued a blistering statement that said in part "Senate Democrats own the Schumer Shutdown. Tonight, they put partisan politics above our national security, military families, vulnerable children and our nation's ability to serve." Then she really blistered Democrats, saying "we will not negotiate the status of unlawful immigrants while Democrats hold our lawful citizens hostage over their reckless demands." Ms. Sanders finishes strong, saying "During this politically manufactured Schumer Shutdown, the President and his administration will fight for and protect the American people."
That wasn't all. Mitch McConnell blistered Democrats in this speech on the Senate floor. Here's the key part of Sen. McConnell's speech:
But what has their filibuster accomplished? The answer is simple - their very own government shutdown. Shutdown effects on the American people will come as no surprise. All week, as we have stood on the floor and begged our colleagues to come to their senses, Senate Republicans have described exactly what this will mean. For America's men and women in uniform, shutting down the government means delayed pay. For the many thousands of civilian employees who support their missions, it means furloughs. And for the families of fallen heroes, it may well mean a freeze on survivor death benefits. For veterans who rely on our promise of care, shutting down the government means threatening their access to treatment.
For so many Americans struggling with opioid addiction, the same is true. And thanks to the Democratic Leader's decision to filibuster an extension of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, low-income families will slip closer to losing health coverage for their kids. And in many states this is an emergency.
I'm having trouble understanding which one of those outcomes my Democratic colleagues could possibly be proud of. Which one of them?
If Democrats were smart, (there's considerable doubt whether they are) they'd call Mitch McConnell and say that they'll agree to a long-term budget agreement, including a significant spending increase for the military.
It's possible to win a fight if it's just between which governing philosophy is best. The minute it's a fight between the military and vulnerable children on one side and illegal immigrants on the other side, it's over. That PR fight is finished.
Posted Saturday, January 20, 2018 2:08 PM
Comment 1 by Lisa at 20-Jan-18 03:41 PM
Democrats are evil
Comment 2 by Chad Q at 21-Jan-18 08:16 AM
Democrats are holding out on what is more than likely an unconstitutional Obama executive order.
Klobuchar, Smith: Schumer's shills
Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Sen. Tina Smith disgraced Minnesota by not voting to extend the CHIP health care program for children. What's disgraceful is that you wouldn't know that happened if you read this article . All it talks about is Sen. Smith saying "We have so much that we can work together on and I think in a lot of ways this is a Trump shutdown because of the way that he has - when you are trying to come to an agreement with somebody, you need to feel that you can talk with them and you know where they are coming from and you can try to find common ground. And he's just been kind of all over the place it makes it really, really hard to resolve, but we're going to keep on trying."
Negotiating means flexibility, which means not getting stuck in a single place and not moving. Sen. Smith staked out a position that's indefensible. Sen. Smith voted against a CR that would've funded the CHIP health insurance program for the next 6 years. CHIP "provides health coverage to eligible children, through both Medicaid and separate CHIP programs. CHIP is administered by states, according to federal requirements. The program is funded jointly by states and the federal government."
By voting against the CR, Sen. Smith (and other Democrats) voted against funding CHIP, funding our military and funding other national security considerations. Tina Smith said that protecting 700,000 illegal immigrants was more important than providing health insurance to 9,000,000 vulnerable children or paying 2,000,000 troops serving worldwide.
According to the article, "Smith says she is optimistic they will get this resolved and come to terms on a budget." I'm confident that, eventually, a budget will get passed. The question is why Democrats like Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar voted against funding the military, first responders and the CHIP health insurance program.
Minnesota's DFL senators aren't moderates. They've done whatever Sen. Schumer told them to do. They didn't vote to do the right thing. They didn't even vote for a bill that didn't contain a single thing that they objected to. They voted against a bill that they agreed with 100%. These DFL senators are partisans who voted against vulnerable Minnesota children's interests.
How despicable is that? About as despicable as saying that the White House and Senate Democrats were close to an agreement last night:
[Video no longer available]
Sen. Schumer wasn't close to a deal with President Trump last night. That's because Sen. Schumer isn't allowed to agree with President Trump on ending chain migration or the visa lottery. If Sen. Schumer agreed to either of those things, the immigration special interest activists would cut him off at the knees in a New York minute. Further, Tina Smith could've done the right thing and voted for funding the military and funding the CHIP program without getting Sen. Schumer's permission. So could Sen. Klobuchar.
Instead, Sen. Klobuchar and Sen. Smith decided that they were Democrats first, Minnesotans second. They put their political affiliation ahead of their responsibilities to Minnesota's most vulnerable citizens. They voted to protect illegal immigrants rather than pay our military or protect vulnerable children.
Minnesota, take a close look at Sen. Klobuchar's and Sen. Smith's disgusting actions. That's what Democrats do. The DFL puts party loyalty ahead of doing the right thing.
UPDATE: According to this article , "the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) ... provides health coverage for 125,000 children in Minnesota. Further, the bill that Sen. Klobuchar and Sen. Smith voted against would've kept "the doors open to community health centers that serve more than 180,000 Minnesotans and resources to combat the opioid epidemic that has taken the lives of hundreds of people in Minnesota and countless others across the country."
Minnesota's Democrat senators don't represent what's best for Minnesota. These DFL senators are actually Schumer's shills.
Originally posted Saturday, January 20, 2018, revised 21-Jan 10:10 AM
Comment 1 by Chad Q at 21-Jan-18 08:19 AM
We now have 2 senators from MN who lead from behind and haven't had an original thought come out of their mouths, ever. I'd lay dollars to doughnuts they both get re-elected even as worthless as they both are.
Response 1.1 by Gary Gross at 21-Jan-18 11:32 AM
I'll accept that bet on Tina Smith. I think she's creating a totally negative image for herself. She isn't well-known to the average Minnesotan, which gives Republicans the opportunity to fill in the description on her. Don't assume that she's as politically gifted as St. Amy of Hennepin County, either. People assumed that at first with Hillary. How'd that turn out?
Comment 2 by Chad Q at 21-Jan-18 03:48 PM
The democrats in MN will continue to vote for whomever has the D behind their name, recognition or not. Just look at CD-8 where there has been a democrat rep who has voted against that areas interests for years yet it's still held by a democrat. The GOP has filled the description of Senator Worthless Klobuchar for 12 years now and she still gets re-elected by huge margins. If Smith doesn't get re-elected (well elected this time), I'll donate $100 to your favorite cause. If she runs and wins, you donate to mine. Bet is off if she doesn't run. I hope I lose.
Response 2.1 by Gary Gross at 21-Jan-18 07:45 PM
I won't waste my time on someone who's all negativity all the time.
Day 2: Democrat hostage negotiations
Americans should view the negotiations between the Trump administration and the Democrats like a hostage negotiation. After all, Sen. Schumer is holding the U.S. military, the border patrol and the CHIP program hostage. By filibustering the CR Friday night, Sen. Schumer and his shills have held hostage the paychecks for our military, border patrol and first responders. With their actions, Democrats have earned the wrath of patriots from across the political spectrum. In addition to holding these paychecks hostage, the Democrats' filibuster has left 9,000,000 vulnerable children more vulnerable by not voting to reauthorize CHIP for the next 6 years.
If you add the 2,000,000+ people serving in the military to the 9,000,000 vulnerable children, that's quite the hostage taking.
If Democrats think this isn't firing up the GOP base, they're kidding themselves. If Democrats think that their filibuster isn't turning off independents, they're kidding themselves. Ronna Romney-McDaniel, the chair of the RNC, said essentially the same thing in this op-ed :
Last night, Senate Democrats shut down the United States government. They recklessly chose to jeopardize paychecks for our troops and border patrolmen to appease their far-left base. In triggering a totally unnecessary, easily avoidable shutdown, they put at stake the health insurance of nine million vulnerable children and a number of other critical programs, including veteran services and opioid treatment programs.
Part of the Democrats' talking points is to say that Republicans control the White House, the House and the Senate. it's true that they control the White House and the House of Representatives. They don't control the Senate.
Republicans did their job and offered a solution to keep the government running, but they couldn't stop the shutdown from happening on their own. Appropriations bills require 60 Senate votes to pass. With only 51 Republican senators, this means Democratic votes are necessary to secure funding.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and his Democratic colleagues own this shutdown. The American people are very well aware that the Schumer shutdown rests squarely on his party's shoulders. Their hypocrisy is on full display, as the same Democrats who once warned of the consequences of a shutdown eagerly embraced it this go around.
It's worth noting that Republicans hold a majority in the Senate, which is useful in determining which bills get committee hearings. That simple majority is meaningless, though, when attempting to pass simple funding bills.
Democrats have used the filibuster to insist that President Trump sign a bill that includes amnesty for 700,000 illegal immigrants and millions of their relatives through chain migration. Fighting to protect illegal immigrants while not protecting vulnerable children is what despots do. The Democrats' actions don't rise to the level of what third-world dictators do but the Democrats' actions are disgusting.
Many constituents of the Democrats rely on the government-funded programs that are being handicapped by the shutdown. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) put nearly 83,000 children's health care at risk with her vote. Sen. Bob Casey (D-Penn.) did the same for more than 342,000 children, Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) for nearly 45,000 children, and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) for 66,000 children. Their constituents are going to demand answers.
Good luck explaining that away.
Sen. Mitch McConnell took to the Senate floor last night:
[Video no longer available]
This paragraph especially jumped out at me:
None of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle can point to a single thing in it that they oppose . That is why a bipartisan majority voted for it last night. It would have passed smoothly and been sent on for the president's signature. Except that the Democratic Leader took the extraordinary step of filibustering this bipartisan bill and initiating his very own government shutdown.
If Democrats want to continue filibustering this funding bill, they have that right. Senate rules permit it. Just because it's legal doesn't mean it's smart, though. Democrats shouldn't think that this isn't turning off independents. Democrats shouldn't think that this isn't firing up the GOP base.
The Democrats' foolish decision is doing both those things. Hell hath no fury like a bunch of voters who've gotten ignored by elitist Democrats who protect lawbreakers but don't protect our troops and our most vulnerable.
Posted Sunday, January 21, 2018 11:23 AM
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Is the 2018 electoral tide turning?
For the past 6-9 months, we've heard predictions that Democrats would retake the majority in the House and possibly in the Senate, too. According to James Freeman's latest column , that's looking less likely.
According to Freeman's column, "Mr. Trump remains underwater on the general question of his handling of the presidency, with a majority in virtually every poll expressing disapproval. But he is showing increasing strength on the issue of the economy, which just happens to be the issue that frequently decides elections. This week, the Economist/YouGov survey shows him ten points above water , with 49% approving of his handling of the economy compared to only 39% who disapprove."
As more people notice bigger monthly paychecks and as people feel the effects of cheaper electric bills, Trump's approval rating will strengthen. That's just the tip of the iceberg, though. The latest Star Tribune-Minnesota Poll isn't great news for the DFL:
Minnesotans are more narrowly divided on whether they are likely to vote for a Democrat or a Republican in November's congressional elections than the rest of the country. A new Star Tribune Minnesota Poll found that 47 percent are now inclined to vote for a Democrat, while 45 percent said they'll probably vote for a Republican - a statistical tie given the poll's 3.5 percentage point margin of error.
That's great news for the MnGOP. This will help them hold the seats they currently have while giving them a shot at flipping Tim Walz's seat in Southern Minnesota.
I'd be surprised if Democrats weren't counting on flipping MN-3 and MN-2 while holding MN-1. If the DCCC's dream isn't realized, that's a major blow to them retaking the House.
Why should 2018 be any different? When lawmakers enacted the Reagan tax cuts in 1981, Republicans blundered by agreeing to delay the implementation of many provisions. Without the immediate pro-growth boost, the U.S. economy shrank by nearly 2% in 1982 and voters registered their displeasure.
This notion that the party that holds the White House loses seats is statistically accurate but it isn't automatic. Patterns are patterns until they aren't anymore.
Ninety-five percent of Democrats and the same percentage of Republicans said they're inclined to vote for candidates from their own parties. Among independents, 43 percent said they lean Democratic and an identical percentage said they're more likely to vote for Republicans.
Based on the fact that the Minnesota Poll consistently oversamples Democrats, I'd argue that the DFL ought to be worried. This isn't good news for the DFL.
If the economy keeps improving nationally, that will help Republicans across the nation. Additionally, the RNC has pulverized the DNC in terms of fundraising and organizing:
Perez started off his tenure with some lofty goals and inspiring promises. In addition to funding the Democrats' national efforts for the midterms, the new chairman recognized that their state-level organization was in disrepair. He pledged an additional ten million dollar fund specifically allocated for state parties to rebuild and staff up for the 2018 battles. Thus far, however, Vice reports that it simply hasn't happened. In fact, not only have they not sent ten million dollars to the state parties, they don't even have ten million on hand.
It's still a long ways off and momentum can shift at least 20 times between now and Election Day. Still, the fundraising numbers and the popularity of the Trump/GOP tax cuts are things Republicans can feel good about heading into 2018.
Finally, the Schumer Shutdown is hurting Democrats. While they're fighting for illegal immigrants, Republicans are blistering them with criticisms. This video is mild compared to some of the McConnell speeches:
[Video no longer available]
This is the most recent year that Democrats insist that they'll retake the House. While it's their best opportunity to retake it, that isn't the same as saying they're guaranteed to win.
Posted Sunday, January 21, 2018 2:46 PM
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Graham, Durbin are the problem
After reading this article , it's safe to say that Sen. Graham, (R-SC), is part of the problem. When it comes to immigration, Sen. Graham is a mainstream Democrat. Now he's shooting his mouth off because the Trump administration just criticized him for being a total squish.
Appearing on Meet the Press, Sen. "Cotton said on NBC's 'Meet The Press' he did not tank the deal proposed by Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Lindsey Graham, (R-SC), that would have codified the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in exchange for increased border security funding."
Sen. Cotton added that "'I don't think anyone got to Donald Trump. Donald Trump studied the proposal that Dick Durbin and Lindsey Graham put before him and realized it didn't address any of our key priorities,' he said. 'It gave legal protections to the people in the DACA program and gave mass amnesty to the parents as well, the people who created the problem to begin with.'" Democrats have been the true problem children in this negotiation over the future of DACA and about 800,000 illegal immigrants brought to the country as children, Cotton said. There's no real way to negotiate with the Democrats in good faith, he argued."
Then Sen. Cotton spoke the truth:
"It's hard for the president or for Senate Republicans to negotiate when the Democrats sitting across the table don't get what they want," he said. "They run out and they misrepresent what was a good faith effort to listen and to build trust, claim that some ridiculous deal was made and then claim that the president walked away from that deal, and the media buys it, hook, line, and sinker."
Democrats want a DACA fix. They aren't willing to secure the US-Mexican border, though.
If Democrats, including Lindsey Graham, don't appropriate money to build the wall, Republicans should walk away from negotiations. Let it be known that building the wall, ending chain migration and the visa lottery must be included in any DACA deal. If Democrats say no, then beat them over the head with it from now until Election Day. Put it to the voters -- again. Here's Sen. Graham pushing his nowhere immigration legislation:
[Video no longer available]
The White House issued this statement , which said "As long as Sen. Graham continues to support legislation that sides with people in this country illegally and unlawfully instead of our own American citizens, we're going nowhere." Then the statement said of Sen. Graham that "he's been an outlier for years."
The White House added that they weren't that close to a deal, saying that "the deal not only would have legalized DACA recipients but their parents as well -- about 8,000,000 people." That's why chain migration must be part of the immigration package.
Sen. Graham keeps talking about phase 1 and phase 2. Apparently, he hasn't studied history. That's the same deal that President Reagan signed onto, only to have Congress renege on the deal and not fund true border security. Unless the legislation has different phase-in dates for funding the wall, ending chain migration and the visa lottery, Republicans should reject the Democrats' proposals. A promise to do something by a specific date shouldn't be trusted because Sen. Schumer can't be trusted.
Posted Sunday, January 21, 2018 11:30 PM
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