I'm gonna trust Schumer on this one.

[Tom Rinaldo]

I am not willing to make that statement in regards to all things political, but I will make it now in regards to the shutdown. He's there (in Congress), I'm not. I'm one of those people who consistently believes that experience matters, that we need political leaders who understand how to get things done, who have the relationships needed to get things done, even (in some cases) compromises with the dark side. Schumer is one of those people. He also understands where the Democratic base is at. He isn't stupid.

It angers me to no end that Republicans have put Dreamers in particular through hell for over a decade, and through triple hell during the last six months. But all the tea leaves (including those from within the Tea Party) tell me that they will not get deported en masse, that some type of legal protection will ultimately go into law for them. What is happening now is hard core political gamesmanship; with equal parts spin and extortion at play. It's like a wrestling match with each wrestler circling his opponent trying to seize the best hold so as to score the most points possible. That's Schumer's area of expertise, not mine.

What is important to me is that Democrats not accept a permanent budget deal until the Dreamers are finally safe. A rule of thumb I might suggest is that any and all subsequent suggested continuing resolutions to buy time while a final deal is worked out (should it come to that) each be much shorter than the last. So come February 8th, if Schumer thinks a final deal is close but not quite there, maybe a three day continuing resolution could be passed, and then maybe a 24 hour one after that if signs were hopeful. After that we could shut it down tight if Republicans don't come through, and we will have virtually the full public behind us. That point in time would be reached before the initial resolution that was voted down on Friday night would have expired. We are entering the end game now - no turning back.

So when I say that I trust Schumer on this, what I'm saying is I will let him scope out what type of guarantees and commitments it is worth considering in return for reopening government now tor three weeks. I am actually heartened by the fact that he did not commit tonight to supporting what McConnell offered. Let Schumer do due diligence between now and Noon Monday. Based on that I will trust him to respond appropriately.

[samnsara]

1. this is the T party vs TheResistance..who do we want to win?

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. You could start a poll on that but the results won't be close

I am betting on the resistance. But anyone can play a good hand poorly. That is really the question. What tactics will be most effective to reaching the goal we want while coming out of this shutdown stronger than we entered it?

[UTUSN]

3. I trust him and most Dems on a lot of things.

[OliverQ]

4. We also know that Democrat leaders often fold under pressure, because

they want to do the right thing, despite Republicans being evil liars. I feel like Schumer might get played by McConnell.

[tblue37]

5. In a hostage situation, the one who doesn't care about the well-being of the hostage is the one with

more leverage.

The Republicans don't care about the well-being of the Dreamers, the unpaid federal workers, or the country and the ordinary people of the country, so they have more leverage to put pressure on the Democrats, because the Dems do care.

[Tom Rinaldo]

6. It's possible

No denying that. But Schumer is a pretty shrewd, and unlike us he has to take into account keeping a diverse caucus together and he has done fairly well with that so far without rolling over for anyone.

The bottom line is the final deal, not the formal content of a potential three week continuing resolution being voted on at noon. No passage of that without credible assurances regarding the way forward. No final budget without successful negotiations that protect the Dreamers, CHIP, disaster relief etc. No more subsequent continuing resolutions that can be measured in weeks rather than hours. Either real progress gets made quickly or the charade ends and we are on full war setting in a shutdown again in less than one month.

[KPN]

9. I think you are probably right about strategy and the thought behind it. If the Rs don't

follow through on any agreement that Schumer/Dems reach with them to end the shutdown, the charade ends -- is over. I'm just not sure the charade isn't ALREADY over. At what point does capitulation on a principle become "we give up" or worse, "we are defeated"? My fear is that we are already there and don't even know it -- meaning maybe we should be at war right now. Maybe we should be filling the streets in DC right now. Maybe we should be storming Congress right now. Are we playing Neville Chamberlain with a world danger here?

[jazzcat23]

7. OK

I like Schumer, however, he's too ready to compromise and I fear we won't get enough in the bargain. I hope I'm wrong on that. I believe it IS time for the Dems to play hardball, enough of playing "nice", we get run over every time. We need to be ready to go on public media, radio, tv, whatever, and force their hands. Call them out on their bullshit...explain to the public what they really mean, with those little catch phrases. Time to be our own wordsmith...Frank Luntz is gone, he has been the repukes words! We have to be out there - telling the truth - rebuffing their lies. But the Dems are silent in the mainstream media...we must force our way back in, get the exposure we need to take back our country!

[BigmanPigman]

8. I agree 100%!

I am past ready to play hard ball. 8 years of obstruction with Obama did it. The GOP needs to be kicked in the ass once and for all. Now is the time. The Anniversary of the Inaug., the Women's Marches and the Shutdown combined to create the perfect storm to sink the GOP.

[KPN]

10. The Rs have forced and got the blame for all three prior government shutdowns.

What did that get them? They have the WH, both houses of Congress, and the SCOTUS now.

We are already at war within this country. Time to recognize that in my view ... before it's too late. Does anyone here really think we're winning the public information (propaganda) war? We are consistently painted as dangerous socialists who would have government control everyone's life. That portrait is never going to go away except when the proof is in the pudding -- if it ever gets that chance. Capitulating to avoid "blame" isn't going fix that one bit. It will only add fuel to the "weak, bleeding heart liberals/socialists" branding; and embolden the right/Trumpists to further clamp down on media, free speech, voting rights, freedom to organize labor, and further dumb-down public education to achieve their desired caste system of those who are worthy and those who are not.

We are at war. Fight like it. Lead like it.