The shutdown needs to end. McConnell needs to bring it up for a vote.

[kentuck]

The GOP has a majority in the US Senate so there is no logic or reason to ignore a bill that might open our government? It would be a dastardly partisan act. These are not normal times. The government, that we all need, is shut down. It cannot simply be ignored.

Spend what needs to be spent to fix the problem, if there is a problem?

Send it to the White House for a signature or a veto.

Let The trump know ahead of time that you cannot guarantee his veto will not be over-ridden.

That's the way to handle a bullying autocrat and wannabe dictator, and a possible traitor to our country.

[handmade34]

1. that is why

I call it the "Republican Shutdown"... Congress has the power to end it, the Republicans can override a veto... they just choose not to

[kentuck]

2. That would be the most patriotic thing they could do as a Party.

It would show Trump that he is not above the law.

Because he would see a veto vote as an impeachment vote. If they can do one, they can do the other. And that would scare the hell out of him.

A veto would be good for the entire workings of government.

[TrishaJ]

7. Yes, if Senate Republicans - and

especially Mitch McConnell - were actually working for the public. But they are not, which is the problem. I suspect that McConnell is eyeball deep in Russian treason, so he is going to do what is best for Mitch McConnell. The coup by the Russian mafia extends beyond the presidency and into the Congress and I fear that McConnell is compromised. Just a hunch. Is there not a better way to protect themselves from being held accountable by our institutions by working to shut them down?

[beachbum bob]

3. not going to happen

at least in the near future. We will have to go thru more pain first

[kentuck]

4. Unfortunately...

This is a very tough decision for Mitch?

[beachbum bob]

5. a snippet from my post I just did:

Trump cares nothing about any of this. Per my post this morning, its my belief this is the ACE he has been holding onto. Why NO SERIOUS action on this fricking $5 billion border wall has been taken by the GOP in congress. They are trying to use the pain of the shutdown to destroy the House Democrats. We all must stay resilient and the pain has even started. This is to THE HISTORIC moment in our history with a madman who wants to be a tyrant willing to destroy americans at will to achieve it.

[LakeSuperiorView]

6. Post Turtle.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_turtle

[spanone]

8. How is McConnell escaping scrutiny in this battle? He's nowhere to be seen?

[Vinca]

9. McConnell is like a hair clog in the bathroom drain.

There's no reason not to bring anything up to a vote. He's supposed to represent the people, not the dictator.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. ...........

[BumRushDaShow]

11. The Senate needs to return to regular order

just like the House is going to be dragged kicking and screaming back.

Regular order =

1.) Hearings
2.) Legislation/markups with ALL members in the relevant committees
3.) Important legislation that gets voted out of committee to the floor needs to be scheduled for debate AND A VOTE and let the chips fall where they may regarding whether the President signs it or vetoes it or lets it go into law without signature or pocket vetoes it

#3 is critical because not allowing votes on legislation has suddenly become the "in vogue" way to carry out business and this needs to end.

[onenote]

12. I agree, but isn't it likely that if the bill is brought to the Senate

it will be amended to include the wall funding, at which point the Democrats will have to filibuster it.

[localroger]

13. Even if such an amended bill passed...

...it would have to go to reconciliation, and the House Dems would never agree to keeping the amendment.

[localroger]

14. Question for Senate wonks

Assuming Trump digs in (which I think he will) and McConnell has his back (maybe Putin has Kompromat on him, who knows) if enough Republican Senators come on board, is there any procedure by which McConnell can be bypassed to force a floor vote?