Will extortion work?

[kentuck]

First of all, Trump and the Republicans do not worry so much about who may be hurt or suffering from their shutdown. Trump wants a "win". In his view, power is not worth much unless you are willing to use it. He is willing to abuse it.

Trump has said he is willing to keep government closed for months or years to get what he wants. He says he wants a "wall". He believes a wall will fulfill one of his promises. It doesn't, but he believes he can make his supporters believe that Mexico will pay for the wall with his new trade agreement.

Democrats did not shut down the government but they are concerned about the suffering of those affected by the shutdown. They can try every way they know to open the government but it will all fall on deaf ears unless Trump gets his way, assisted by Mitch McConnell.

Should the Democrats permit themselves and our government to be extorted in such a way?

[lagomorph777]

1. Nope. Time is not on Trump's side.

He's eroding the support he will need when Mueller's report comes out.

[kentuck]

4. I think you are right.

Democrats have no choice but to stand firm. They can continue to offer legislation to open the government but if Republicans are not permitted to vote, and do not raise their voices to demand a vote, the people will finally see who is to blame.

To paraphrase the ex-President of Mexico, "There ain't going to be no fucking wall!"

[dem4decades]

2. Nice country you have here. It'll be a shame if anything happened to it.

[beachbum bob]

3. we are seeing the cracks form now with GOP'ers in house and senate BUT

they are also the same ones that are either vulnerable to 2020 election losses

AND/OR

their state derives lots federal money sent to it...

the cracks will grow week by week as McConnel refuses to bring votes on Pelosi's appropriation bills to have aspects of the govt reopened shielding the trump from vetoing AND then facing veto override votes in the House and Senate. It takes 67% to override, the same percent needed to convict impeachment in the senate...

[Zoonart]

5. Democrats do not cave to terrorists.

*45 is a terrorist who has taken 800,000 federal workers hostage for his demands. If the Democrats cave, the congress might as well fold it's tent and go home.
*45 will have proven that they are a toothless institution and the will of the people has no meaning. In other words, the end of our democracy. He will close the govt. or declare a national emergency every time he does not get his way.