Both parties are loving this.  Just rile up the base.

Shutting down govt for 300M+ Americans over 1M illegals.  That's pretty powerful stuff.

And it's always effective to point a finger at Trump and make him look like a clown.  Makes you wonder if Durbin leaking the "shithole" comment wasn't all part of the plan for pulling this stunt.  Or it's possible with that comment, and maybe derailing DACA talks period, that Trump DID put this train in motion.

Ha!

Reporter just asked "Trump shutdown is trending ahead of Dem/Schumer shutdown and Repub shutdown?".  The media is actually tracking twitter hashtags for purposes of determining who is "winning" the shutdown.  What an absolute joke Washington and the media have become.

posted by gut

Ha!

Reporter just asked "Trump shutdown is trending ahead of Dem/Schumer shutdown and Repub shutdown?".  The media is actually tracking twitter hashtags for purposes of determining who is "winning" the shutdown.  What an absolute joke Washington and the media have become.

 

The true winner of the 2016 presidential election: Twitter. Went from a popular social media site to the one thing everyone winds up talking about and linking to every single day.

posted by Heretic

The true winner of the 2016 presidential election: Twitter. Went from a popular social media site to the one thing everyone winds up talking about and linking to every single day.

And the media is making a killing, too.

If the liberal media really wants Trump gone, they won't give him BILLIONS in free coverage next election.  But you can bet they will.  He's been too good for ratings.

posted by Heretic

The true winner of the 2016 presidential election: Twitter. Went from a popular social media site to the one thing everyone winds up talking about and linking to every single day.

Good point, because I recall twitter was struggling before the election. 

This whole shutdown is just complete bullshit and an indication nothing, nothing, has changed since 2013 and in fact things have gotten worse. Trump's own promise that he only can make deals are empty words. The Ds and Rs are acting to their own shitty bases and completely ignoring rational poliocy and solutions. Everybody agrees on passing DACA, so pass the fucking thing.

This is just a systems failure, and while sure, most Government functions will continue, the people that are furloughed will still get paid, so we are just wasting money on lost time. 

I don't blame Trump or the Ds for the shutdown, I blame the whole fucking system. 

On the plus side, at least traffic will be light in the DC area tomorrow. 

Trump can't use his negotiating skills with people who dont want to negotiate.  Congress is a waste.  The shutdown is BS.  Talked with a guy at Wright patt AFB.....he was hoping for a week off with pay.

posted by ptown_trojans_1

This whole shutdown is just complete bullshit and an indication nothing, nothing, has changed since 2013 and in fact things have gotten worse. Trump's own promise that he only can make deals are empty words. The Ds and Rs are acting to their own shitty bases and completely ignoring rational poliocy and solutions. Everybody agrees on passing DACA, so pass the fucking thing.

This is just a systems failure, and while sure, most Government functions will continue, the people that are furloughed will still get paid, so we are just wasting money on lost time. 

I don't blame Trump or the Ds for the shutdown, I blame the whole fucking system. 

On the plus side, at least traffic will be light in the DC area tomorrow. 

This is why I maintain that we need to fire each and everyone in Washington....from POTUS on down through both houses.

They are not acting in our best interests...they are acting in the same petulent, spoiled child manner that they have been for years.   The only way to fix the issue is to completely wipe out the entire group, send them all home, elect new blood and pass term limits. 

Thankfully this shutdown will not stall the Mueller investigation.

posted by majorspark

Thankfully this shutdown will not stall the Mueller investigation.

You wonder if the whole thing wasn't an elaborate set-up to get to Trump's financials - a very wealthy individual with substantial business interests, guaranteed there is some shady shit (likely not clearly illegal, but gray areas that are probably justification for impeachment).

When I say "shady", I mean questionable though not clearly illegal shelters and deductions that an army of lawyers, accountants and bankers make a living advising wealthy people on.  The worst that would usually happen is a negative ruling/decision and backtaxes along with possibly a fine.

posted by superman

So, if 87% of the government still works because this shut down only impacts "non-essential" government functions, why does that 13% exist?  Sounds like a lot of federal adorning we can eliminate.   

If 35% of government were eliminated, no one would even know it happened. 

posted by QuakerOats

 

If 35% of government were eliminated, no one would even know it happened. 

You mean 35% of the people, not the spending.  And I think there is a lot of waste and bureacracy probably triplicated at the state and local levels.

But medicare/medicare/SS is like 60% of spending, and then military is another 20%.  Defense employs over 800k CIVILIAN contractors - that is ridiculous.  I really think we should come up with a plan to cut defense spending in half.

You could cut everyone of them, substantially, with not much pain.  Of course, I am talking about real cuts even though some of things are technically 'hands off' ...............screw that; solve the damn spending problem.

Looks like the senate compromised to pass the CR with "commitment" to vote on DACA.  In other words what they were doing before the shutdown. What a waste of time. 

posted by like_that

Looks like the senate compromised to pass the CR with "commitment" to vote on DACA.  In other words what they were doing before the shutdown. What a waste of time. 

Yep, they "negotiated" and got nothing so opened it back up (I think it is temporary until Feb 8th, which they should have done in the first place). Or Schumer couldn't handle being blamed for the whole thing.

posted by like_that

Looks like the senate compromised to pass the CR with "commitment" to vote on DACA.  In other words what they were doing before the shutdown. What a waste of time. 

Comical grandstanding.  Basically the weekend, and then a paid day off for like 13% of govt.

The media is bad, and gotten much worse.  But Washington politics now is mostly about manufactured "crisis" moments for the purpose of pointing fingers.

The reason none of this really matters is because there simply isn't much to do that anyone has a decent solution for.

posted by iclfan2

Yep, they "negotiated" and got nothing so opened it back up (I think it is temporary until Feb 8th, which they should have done in the first place). Or Schumer couldn't handle being blamed for the whole thing.

Schumer was probably told that he better not do anything that would get him blamed for it. With Ds winning state-level seats from Rs and looking to have some degree of momentum, they don't want to do anything that will rock that boat because party politics.

posted by Heretic

Schumer was probably told that he better not do anything that would get him blamed for it. With Ds winning state-level seats from Rs and looking to have some degree of momentum, they don't want to do anything that will rock that boat because party politics.

That's exactly what he was doing.  Cut their losses and live another day. 

posted by like_that

That's exactly what he was doing.  Cut their losses and live another day. 

Yeah, apparently there is no deal to assure they will vote on DACA before March. 

At this point, I doubt there will be a DACA vote. The Dreamers will just be screwed. 

Dow + 142 today

more winning

At the end if this....the dems shut down the government and would rather stand with illegals.  Trump will get his wall

  Dems will gain nothing in 2018 and not win the WH in 2020

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/leaked-document-shows-white-house-plan-for-major-rural-infrastructure-program/article/2646702

The forgotten man gets a hand ....

This is decent. 

Here is the "leaked" document. https://www.axios.com/draft-white-house-infrastructure-plan-1516644555-0d43f417-6ccd-43f7-9eae-3ccbe711314d.html

I was actually on a call about this yesterday with ARTBA, a transportation group. 

The full plan will be rolled out near the State of the Union. It will still be $200B in federal funding, with the other $800B coming from states, local players and the private sector. It not only focuses on highways and bridges, but also water, waste water, and broadband, which is great. 

I'm still unsure how they get states and private firms to pony up $800B.

What is key is not only this, but the adminstration needs to continue to fund the existing transportation programs like Infragrants and how Transportation racks and stacks the programs. Those programs have been flatlined the last 2 years. 

The highway trust fund is still a big issue, as it is nearly broke. The chamber of commerce noted last week they are in favor of a raise on the national gas tax. So, are most transportation industry groups. 

I think if the administration rolls this out correctly, gets both sides of the aisle on board, it will pass easily. 

posted by Spock

  Dems will gain nothing in 2018 and not win the WH in 2020

No idea what way 2018 goes (and I don't trust polling, especially at this point).  Dems could take back the House and Senate.....OOOOORRRRR the Repubs could end-up with a supermajority (and that is not a good thing).

If they pass immigration, the economy and markets keep booming, Donald rolls out an infrastructure program....going to make it tough on Dems to win, especially if this Russia collusion thing blows up in their face.

posted by ptown_trojans_1

 

I'm still unsure how they get states and private firms to pony up $800B.

 

Same way Trump will get Mexico to pay for his wall.