Politico reports–a sign of things to come?
Many Republicans were furious with President Donald Trump’s budget deal Wednesday, stunned that the president quickly gave in to Democratic demands to pair hurricane relief with a three-month debt limit hike — though getting nothing in return.
But in calls with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Thursday morning, Trump raved about the positive news coverage it had received, according to people familiar with the calls, and he seemed very pleased with his decision…
“He seemed super upbeat,” one person familiar with the calls said.
Another person familiar with the calls said Trump told Pelosi her coverage was even better than his. “The press has been incredible,” Trump said.
As President Donald Trump has languished under a continuous barrage of negative headlines since taking office–made much worse by the continuous failure of the GOP-controlled U.S. House and Senate to accomplish basic stated priorities like the repeal of the Affordable Care Act–we’ve been wondering when Trump might make an end run around dysfunctional GOP congressional leadership and approach Democrats to get something done. Trump’s conservative ideology is not believed by anyone to be deeply held, and he could be willing to step well outside his party’s comfort zone in order to make deals that keep the government running.
The simple fact is that Trump has got nothing to lose by engaging Democrats–certainly not the loyalty of a party that has repeatedly abandoned him, only to come crawling back once Trump prevailed. But Trump does have support to be gained beyond his blindly loyal base, who would in large numbers follow him out of the Republican Party in the unlikely event he were to leave it. Either way, with public opinion turning against the Republican agenda on everything from health care to immigration, Trump has an unknown but potentially vast range of headroom if he decides to shift his agenda leftward.
We’re pretty sure there’s no better way to encourage that than giving a guy like Trump good press.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
BY: 2Jung2Die
IN: Tuesday Open Thread
BY: ParkHill
IN: Tuesday Open Thread
BY: spaceman2021
IN: Lauren Boebert Picks Up George Santos’ Favorite Side Hustle
BY: harrydoby
IN: Tuesday Open Thread
BY: notaskinnycook
IN: Tuesday Open Thread
BY: Duke Cox
IN: Lauren Boebert Picks Up George Santos’ Favorite Side Hustle
BY: allyncooper
IN: Tuesday Open Thread
BY: spaceman2021
IN: Friday Open Thread
BY: spaceman2021
IN: Lauren Boebert Picks Up George Santos’ Favorite Side Hustle
BY: 2Jung2Die
IN: Tuesday Open Thread
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay in the loop with regular updates!
If the headline in this thread doesn't smoke our little moran out of his hole, this should do the trick…
Pelosi urged Trump to tweet DACA reassurance
Then, this happened…
It's a pox on two fringe houses…….
We will see both Fluffy and Zappy's ideologically-pure heads explode over this bipartisan moment.
Apparently Trump is still in his bipartisan mood with this:
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/06/trump-heitkamp-dakota-senate-tax-reform-242404
Supposedly the at-large Republican U.S. Rep who is mulling a run against Heidi was none too pleased.
M. Bennet just creamed his creased and cuffed Chemin de Fer jeans.
I don't like it, but if it wakes up the GOP to get more done Trump may be the one smiling in the end. The last thing the left wants is for Republicans to get our act together. Watch out, it might happen yet!!
I'm sure you'll use my honesty against me. IT only makes you look bad.
You mean using your deplorable honesty against you makes you look bad. You are the one who said that people who are arrested for anything deserve inhumane treatment. Or that people dying because their health insurance kicked them off for havong a preexisting condition was a-ok. You're the only one who looks bad Moldy.
But, you are right. Your side doesn't have it's shit together.
Your honesty makes your butt look big, Fluffy. You need to change your style of
sheeter, I mean dress. The mathematical probability of your side getting its shit together anytime soon is zero. Hint: corpses don't 'shit'.Pooty-Poot gave a stand down order?
Moderatus, I don't agree completely with your analysis but I believe you're on the right track here.
This is my take on the deal the President made with Senator Schumer and Rep. Pelosi. Let's begin last year and the meaning of the election. Most people were extremely disappointed in the House and Senate last year and they blamed both political parties for the deadlock and obstructionism that had paralyzed Washington. One of the primary reasons Trump won was because he was an outsider and promised to get things done (forget for the moment any prejudices you may have against what those things are) and break the gridlock in the capitol. He wasn't elected to enact the ideology of the Freedom Caucus.
But what happened after his inauguration? Nothing. The Republicans fumbled health care and the do nothing ways continued. To the average voter, that was a signal the Republican Party is the root cause of the obstructionism gripping Washington.
After almost eight months in office, Trump sensed all of this and knew that if he ends the year without any accomplishments, he'll be relegated, in the public's mind, to the status of just another politician who can't or won't get anything done. He would have the badge of do nothing obstructionist pinned to his chest.
So he decided to be bold and cut a deal with Pelosi and Schumer. At least for the moment that results in two positive perceptions among the electorate and a third that is damaging to right-wing ideologues. The first one is a good one for Trump – he's actually accomplished something – in a small way he's doing what he promised to do. The second is good for the congressional Democrats. It gives them the image, at least for a moment, of a party that is ready to negotiate and compromise and accomplish something in the capitol. The third perception may not be a lasting one either but it is very bad for the congressional Republicans and especially groups like the Freedom Caucus. It paints them as the obstructionists who refuse to compromise.
No one knows if Trump will continue to make deals with Democrats but if he does and legislation begins to pass the House and Senate, the extreme right-wing ideologues in the Republican Party will be relegated to the back benches and the nation in the words of Winston Churchill can "move into broad sunlit uplands." Let's all hope so.
It gives them the image, at least for a moment, of a party that is ready to negotiate and compromise and accomplish something in the capitol.
Don't let that get back to Zappy. Better to be ineffective but pure than effective by compromise.
Your entire premise and your facts are just plain wrong. You are confusing Trump's 140 character "Pronouncements" with actual accomplishments:
…
Trump has been extremely successful with his accomplishments:
Trump has packed the government departments with extreme right-wingers, Wallstreet finance types and Corporate shills who are proceeding to destroy the infrastructure of US government.
– EPA/Pruitt is removing regulations against pollution, and eliminating protective action against climate change.
– Trump/Kelly racism has unleashed ICE to round up and deport immigrants.
– Trump/Perry climate change denial and anti-science are in control of the Energy Department.
– Trump/Krushner kleptocracy is selling influence and monetizing the Presidency to the tune of Billions to their own pockets.
– Trump/Kobach is putting in place a voter suppression program.
So I would say that Trump has been extremely successful with his accomplishments. The purpose of the twitter feed is to distract you from noticing what's really going on.
I think you missed my point.
I hope that your analysis is correct. It's hard to really ascribe rational thought and planning to our chief executive.
But maybe it really is all part of a master plan to undermine democracy in the US, eroding faith in government ("they're all corrupt"), science, and even rational truth itself. And meanwhile, while everyone is fascinated with the Clown Train Wreck, pass some extremely corporate-friendly policies which benefit the top 1%. As parkhill says, below.
The goal is a pervasive, numbed, uncritical cynicism among the electorate. A nightmare for any patriot.
Thanks MJ. I agree with Park Hill regarding the specific policies Trump is either undoing or implementing but my original comment was an attempt to look at Trump's deal with the Democrats from the point of view of everyday citizens/voters who, unlike most of us, pay less attention to the details of politics.
Speaker Gingrich? (Again) Speaker Santorum?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gingrich-or-santorum-as-speaker-house-conservatives-plot-mischief-for-the-fall/2017/09/07/8df6ab60-9316-11e7-aace-04b862b2b3f3_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-cards_hp-card-politics%3Ahomepage%2Fcard&utm_term=.19d41c6713a4
This must be what Moldy had in mind when he expressed hope that GOP would get its act together.