That would have the potential to make the extension the vote with real shutdown stakes and allow us to put the government shutdown squarely on the shoulders of the Republicans who reject the reasonable four-week extension.
However, as far as I can tell, the only way they could get the vote on the extension on the table at all was to surrender in advance with a statement from leadership against blocking cloture on the CR, and thereby removing risk of shutdown from the vote on the extension.
They are in a terrible bind. Getting the four week extension on the table was a good move and gives some taking points against the Senate Republican co-conspirators in the executive branch's lawlessness, but the preemptive surrender in is not exactly a show of strength.
That said, I understand they are facing an impossible Sophie's choice. I honestly believe there is no unequivocally "right" answer. They must make the choice and contend with the consequences, regret, recriminations, and second guessing.
I really don't know that holding firm on blocking cloture while decrying Thune for blocking a reasonable extension wouldn't end up with the public's growing rage at the chaos wrought by Trump's insanity being shifted to the chaos wrought by the "Democratic shutdown." Sure, maybe we could avoid that and keep the public's rage focused where it belongs. But maybe not.
Keep the pressure on them to do what you believe is right, but however it plays out, I beg we give the people who are on our side of this fight a little grace when we think they've done the wrong thing. Keep our own rage focused where it belongs -- on the enemies of America who are lawlessly dismantling the executive branch.
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