In Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game, author Michael Lewis explains how Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane upended decades of traditional practices in Major League Baseball by, basically, taking what other club were offering. IMHO, Chuck Schumer is playing Moneyball.
Schumer was making a calculation: He knew that the shock of a government shutdown had done as much damage to the Republican/Trump brand as was likely possible. But, a prolonged government shutdown would probably not “age well” for Democrats. Sure, the public supports Dreamers in the abstract, but when services are cut for weeks or months...not so much.
Remember, the Republicans were holding DACA and CHIPs hostage...a total of over 9 million people. The Republicans offered up the lion’s share of those hostages up...8 million plus CHIPs recipients...in a deal to fund the government for three whole weeks. As an added bonus, the got Yertle McConnell to commit to a real debate and vote on the fate of DACA. It’s a win if they get that vote (win or lose) and even win if McConnell backs out, since the ensuing firestorm would be intense.
What did the Republicans get...clear demonstrations that there is no leadership at the top of the party...and the complete uselessness of one “Artist of the Deal”.
Update:
Some great commentary. Some further thoughts. The only thing the Republicans “won” in this latest battle is a two-week window to figure out what they want to do. McConnell desperately wants to get past DACA and, with a real deadline coming up in March, may accept any bill that can get 60 votes and then drop it in Paul Ryan’s lap. The Speaker could then either succumb to the Steve King wing nuts or GULP! and send it to the House for a vote. There are plenty of roadblocks and the Republicans could very well throw in so many “poison pills” that Democrats will be forced to walk away. If that’s the case then, yes, it sucks to be a Dreamer, but the issue...as a purely political issue...moves from medium cool to white hot for the Democrats.