Hi’.
A short diary to say what could hold in a comment but really, I feel like something isn’t underlined enough. If not ignored.
I’ve spent time pointing out that while Trump announced the “compromise”, it wasn’t actually Trump’s. That guy is too incompetent to understand the 101s of politics. His whole strategy was to whine and hold his breath, and any more advice he would get was from TV. I can’t even tell if I am exaggerating or not with this guy.
This is why I’m saying it’s McConnell’s deal, McConnell’s plan and McConnell’s strategy. And there are two reasons I’m insisting on this.
The first reason is because the spotlight needs to be on McConnell. We all know this. He is the one who could end all this yet tries to stay as far away from the mud as can be. Yet he was directly involved in making this deal and he is the one eager to pass it in the Senate ASAP. The more his name is heard the better.
The second reason is why he is making this move to begin with.
Remember how all the other “compromises”, made from republicans by republicans for republicans, eventually ended: from Graham’s to Pence’s, they all died at Trump’s feet. During those weeks, Trump was certain that being a brat would win the day, and all of the republican cult wouldn’t dare question it. Then suddenly, McConnell comes here and basically forces Graham’s deal down Trump’s throat. That’s quite a change. Why is that?
The answer is obvious, and very encouraging: he is feeling the heat. McConnell is under pressure by his caucus to get out of this. The turtle is forced out of its shell.
And no, it was never going to just be 51 republicans waking up one morning and saying in unison “you know what? Let’s be american for a change”. Pressure is gradual and as more and more in his caucus complain, McConnell was bound to go from total passivity to getting on the ring. He is still trying to hide behind Trump but that is him being forced out of his hiding spot.
That is extremely good. Why? Because this deal is a joke, and Pelosi&Schumer will have no trouble defusing it. It should be seen for what it is: desperate attempts by McConnell to escape the grave Trump dug for them all.
Trump is now under pressure from the hard-right to return to pouting.
McConnell will be under pressure to offer more and more as his attempts fail.
Democrats are in the best possible spot ever.
Next week, democrats in Congress will likely show a unified front yet again, and counter this with their own offers yet again. We’re not even sure if republicans won’t crack before the “deal”, but even if they keep a straight face they will have to keep doing this, and have the far-right bark, or look like giving up to the public and lose whatever gains they possibly made.
The real headline is “McConnell is breaking under the pressure”.
Watch them run out of excuses before they surrender.