Each day that passes brings new revelations about Donald Trump’s venality, incompetence and collusion with Vladimir Putin. He owns the shutdown, because he declared in the now famous confrontation with Pelosi and Schumer in the Oval Office that he would be proud to close the government. His position has shifted and now he wants to blame the intransigent Democrats. The reason he gave then and continues to give is that he wants Congress to give him the money to build the Wall on the border with Mexico. Are Republican senators and congressmen willing to go down with Donald Trump? It is very clear that he will not be able to fulfill the promise he made to his followers numerous times. Furthermore, the closing has affected border guards, the Coast Guard and other federal agencies forcing public servants to stand in line to receive food and to accept help in order to pay their bills.
Trump lost a vote in Congress 357-22 in a clear message to the president that the U.S. cannot withdraw from NATO. Trump’s lapdog, Mitch McConnell has finally agreed to bring two competing bills to the floor in order to fund government operations until the first week in February. Senate leaders have stood up to other presidents. But McConnell fears the president, and he didn’t dare to bring the bills to the floor. Former senator Harry Reid has said about the senate leader: “Mitch McConnell has ruined the Senate”.
This cowardly politician, chinless and spineless, has adversely affected the lives of 800 thousand federal employees and paralyzed many crucial government operations like the FBI and Homeland Security, operations that his party claims are crucial to our security. Norm Ornstein of the American Enterprise Institute rates McConnell dead last among senate leaders: “By acclamation”.
