Mitch McConnell should do the obvious right thing, reopen the government.

[elleng]

BY HERALD-LEADER EDITORIAL BOARD

'In recent days we’ve learned that President Donald Trump concealed details of his conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that U.S. counterintelligence agents opened an investigation into whether Trump had become a Russian asset.

That news renders Trump’s claims of an emergency at the southern border even emptier. Our longtime adversary’s nuclear-armed, authoritarian regime poses a real threat to security and peace. Ragtag refugee “caravans” do not.

Trump’s detractors have long accused him of being compromised by or in cahoots with the Kremlin, but last week it was revealed for the first time that U.S. counterintelligence agents had been alarmed enough by Trump’s actions that they opened an investigation in 2017 into whether he was working, perhaps unknowingly, against U.S. interests for Russia. That inquiry presumably has been folded into Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.

Trump on Monday denied helping Russia. But in such unsettled times the nation needs a fully functioning government and Congress. It needs an FBI, Department of Homeland Security and State Department that are funded and paying employees who are the front line against terrorism.

Yet, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell sits on his hands, afraid of Trump’s wrath and voters, even though McConnell could end the government shutdown by allowing the Senate to vote on a spending plan and then overriding any Trump veto.

When McConnell does emerge, he touts the merits of Trump’s wall, raising a question: If McConnell really thinks that Trump’s wall is critical, why didn’t he push for more funding during the two years when Republicans controlled both chambers of Congress? It would have been much easier to win approval then than after Democrats won the House. . .

Unquestionably loyal to Trump, McConnell blocked a bipartisan announcement that Russia was interfering in the election in 2016 and a bill protecting the Mueller investigation in November.

Facing his toughest test yet, McConnell should do the obvious right thing and reopen the government.'

https://www.kentucky.com/opinion/editorials/article224510660.html?

[duforsure]

1. Republicans should tell him reopen or else they will switch parties

And the new majority leader will . They have the power , they just need to use it now. This isn't about parties, this is about this country, and using people as hostages for political reasons , and using their position as a weapon. This should be stopped. Millions are affected, and being hurt.

[Midnightwalk]

4. Agree

The heat death of the universe will happen before McConnell does the right thing. I'd like to start seeing ads going after republican senators telling them to stand up against McConnell and pass the bill to reopen that passed close to 100-0 last session.

Federal employees deserve to be treated fairly and with respect. Not paying the coast guard, TSA and air traffic control makes us less safe.

[duforsure]

5. Totally agree

And republicans have the power to force McConnell with threats to switch over if he refuses, and force him to act or they will against him to get the government reopen , instead of being dragged to hell with trump on this losing issue for them, and face another election disaster in 2020. Is putin behind this shutdown by trump?

[TEB]

2. Mcturtle has no decency

Or honor or compassion

[atreides1]

3. He won't

If Mitch tries that, then some very embarrassing information, like why he was discharged from the Army, will be released...

[Scarsdale]

6. Linsey Graham

is acting like a rabid dog at the moment. WHAT is causing the gop to go completely off the rails for a president that until recently, they had nothing but disgust for? Is Putin really so powerful that they will commit TREASON for him??

[murielm99]

7. I don't believe that Putin is that powerful.

Putin may have compromising information on some of them. But I think most of them are just desperate to hang onto their power. They are more terrified of losing their elections than anything else.

[joshdawg]

8. This kind of shit is what happens when republicans are "elected" to office.

They don't want to govern, they want to rule and control.
Voting for republicans is brain-dead stupid. Has been for decades.