Neither
side is giving an inch during the impasse.
Earlier this month I opined that the government shutdown
orchestrated by President Trump would be a losing bet politically similar to
his other bad choices he’s made throughout his gilded life. At the time, though, I believed the shutdown
would be short-lived because of this political risk he’s taking.
I was wrong.
Following the much
ballyhooed and delayed “major address” on border security on january 20, it is clear that
both sides have not budged much. Trump
continues to offer up nothing new in a “deal” and, alas, never mentioned the plight of the over 800,000 federal workers (plus contractors) furloughed or being forced to work without pay, the impact of the
shutdown on their families and local businesses as well as the hit the overall economy
is taking the longer this goes on.
The delivery of his speech resembled
a hostage video, and like most of his addresses, it was devoid of sincerity and
empathy—and facts. The proposal that
minors can apply for asylum in the very country his or her parents are fleeing
for their lives, is laughable if he had meant it as a joke. He didn’t.
In short, Trump’s address was
like a Broadway musical opening without an orchestra. And rightly so, it was
panned by the critics.
Democratic leaders labeled his
proposals as non-starters. The
government must open first before negotiations on how best border security should be implemented can begin in earnest. If he refuses to end the shutdown impasse,
shutdowns could be used down the road when other squabbles emerge and again
federal employees would be used as pawns.
Even Ann Coulter, one of a
handful of right wing hard line commentators who are seemingly devising policy
for the president, criticized some of his proposals as they pertain to the
Dreamers and those affected by Temporary Protected Status as too soft and leading
to that dreaded “amnesty.”
Sure, Trump can say he put “reasonable”
and “common sense” proposals on the table and, therefore, Democrats will now
assume the mantle of the shutdown if they don’t give in on his border wall or
barrier or whatever.
That strategy didn’t work. He’s boxed in. Polls are against him. He’s a terrible
negotiator. Trump’s rabidly anti-immigrant base needs to be mollified. So, what
can he do?
Earlier in the month he threatened
to declare a national emergency along the border in which Department of Defense
funds could be diverted to build the wall.
He bragged that he has the “absolute right” to do so but has been
reluctant to take that step.
The main problem with this, assuming
a national emergency can indeed be established and aside from the fact Congress
has the power of the purse, is the precedent it would set for future Democratic
presidents.
A future president could declare
the burgeoning deficit a national emergency and inflict a 70 percent tax rate
on high income earners. The climate
could be recognized (and should be) as a national emergency and a Democratic
president could impose draconian cuts on fossil fuel usage. A future president
could determine that the health care system is a national emergency and order a
Medicare-for-all program be devised. I
believe Trump is aware of the risk a move like this would create and why he is hesitant
to impose it thus far.
But it seems to be the only exit ramp short of a cave-in by either side who are emboldened by their respective
bases. He should punt his way out of this, re-open the federal government and
let the courts decide its legality.
Trump can tell his base that he
tried his level best to acquire funding for a wall but the obstructionist
Democrats will not give in. He desperately needs that base because, well, that’s
all he has.
Democrats can say that Trump
is employing outlandish tactics to fund a medieval Trump Wall vanity project
and indeed, precedent will have been set.
It’s an unseemly prospect but as
of now, it’s the only exit ramp in view.
