Reading and watching the news over the past couple days has been frustrating, right? I know, what else is new... But I really want to make the case that, starting tomorrow,the framing of this government shutdown must shift to ground that Democrats can control.
What can nobody control? Donald Trump's message.
If you think there's merit arguing with a crazy man in crazy-land using his crazy language, just ask “Pocahontas” Warren how that goes. And that is what Chuck, Nancy, and most others are doing – and thus, what the incurious media are doing, too. Laying out the logical, sensible case that the wall is dumb, the wall is political, the wall is wasteful. And that's an argument we'll be stunned to lose, regardless what the current polls say.
On that basis, as the shutdown drags on, how will the majority of the American people paying attention respond? They'll say, “A pox on both their houses! Why can't these people just negotiate over a relatively small number in the federal budget?” And we can argue till we're blue in the face (as we are...) that it would be tossing good money after bad, that we're for border security too, that the wall won't work, that it’s racist – and in the end, we could lose that fight. We could lose control of the whole argument. That's fighting on Don-The-Con's turf, in crazy-land. That’s fighting over a billion dollars here or there. Any compromise is a win for Trump and his vision. Period.
Don't talk about The Wall. Talk about the need to protect our democracy against the whims of tyrants. Talk about the Constitution, our one true wall against demagogues and huckster politicians.
Literally. When talking about The Wall, say it and be clear:
“This Is Not About A Wall.This is not about borders, immigration, or the budget. This is about protecting our Constitutional process against a President who declares that if he doesn't get what HE wants, he'll shut the country down. It does not matter what the issue is. Today it's The Wall –tomorrow, something else. If America gives in to these dictatorial whims, then we don't have a democracy worth defending. And we are damned sure not going to give up on our government system without a fight. And this is a fight we will win. Open the government, let's get back to America’s business, and then we’ll talk. No negotiation until then, period. We are not negotiating with a blackmailer or a hostage-taker. We choose to solve this problem, and all problems, like Americans. Get used to it.”
Don't talk about the wall. Say you won’t answer questions about the idiot Wall. Then, don't answer questions about the wall. Don't negotiate about the wall. This is not about The Wall. Demand that the President and his GOP lapdogs in Congress reopen the government. No conditions, no deals. Then we can talk. But not a second before.
I hope our Congressional leadership is listening.