The Democrats have never even threatened to shut down the government over the debt ceiling, but because the Republicans have done so for each of the last 3 Democratic Presidents, Trump and Vance are afraid that they will do so now. It’s standard Trump projection.
But the bipartisan agreement that was reached on a CR really is pretty minimal: extend current funding, provide disaster relief funding, extend various health care deadlines, give Congress a pay raise. I don’t think that they deserve the raise, but good luck arguing against disaster relief funding. Well, scratch that last thought, as the Republicans have previously tried to vote against disaster relief with no blow back b/c the Democrats suck at messaging.
He’s saying he doesn’t want a debt ceiling to get in the way of his agenda, so it has better be gone before he takes office.
If this Congress doesn’t want to play his game, they can blame the Dems for being sore losers, and any uncooperative R’s as RINOs.
The D’s at least can take comfort that the voting public has a short memory. They have no reason to not make this one last push to get something before the GOP trifecta of terror begins in a few weeks.
My how the GOP has changed, with the party leader openly demanding freedom to spend however much he wants…
Well, Elmo was the guy who recently asked people to come work 80-hour weeks for him, for free.
(In fairness, if I didn’t have other commitments, and if I didn’t want to keep my corporate subsidy for health insurance…I might have been tempted to look into the opportunity. I might disagree with him and Trump, but I have to admit it’s at least a fascinating puzzle that I’d love to examine more closely.)
IMO there isn’t a world where a government shutdown over Christmas, called for by President-Elect Trump and Elon, just before 4 years of Trump Presidency, doesn’t blow back on the GOP.
Of course those lost to MAGA will still blame it on Democrats. They weren’t voting for a Democrat, shutdown or no. But only one party routinely uses shutdowns as a threat so they can throw tantrums.
A shutdown frustrates federal workers. Even if they figure they will eventually get back pay, they know work is piling up and they aren’t getting paid today.
It’s one more reason to look for some other job. Exactly what Musk wants.
Milei is making big changes in Argentina. He’s fine with creating unemployment as part of his shock therapy. Musk looks at that and says he can do the same thing here.
Hourly government contractors won’t get back pay. E.g., my recollection is that the cafeteria workers at the Capitol don’t get back pay, but the security guards do.
They must’ve been practicing outside my building the other day, as one or more locals were playing “Pin The Peed-In Plastic Grocery Bag On The Bushes” out front.
