I watched about 5 minutes of the “negotiation” among Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and Donald Trump yesterday and then lost patience. There is a transcript here. I have also read quite a bit of commentary on the exchange.
I think that Trump and the Pelosi-Schumer combine both won to the extent that they got something they wanted. They got Trump to say he’d take the heat for any government shutdown which they think will work to their benefit. And Trump got Pelosi and Schumer to say they were satisfied with the status quo on the border which he thinks will work to his.
Beyond that who you think won or lost the exchange depends on the views that you came into the discussion with.
Both won with their bases. The rest of us lost. I sometimes listen to the Patriot channel while driving, and coupled with the release of the Carlson book there is growing sentiment that Trump has failed them because he hasn’t gotten the wall done. Those folks will LOVE what Trump said. Pelosi and Schumer know that their base oppose the wall, as do the majority of Americans.
Steve
“Beyond that who you think won or lost the exchange depends on the views that you came into the discussion with.â€
Actually, I think you hit the nail on the head in paragraph 2. Although it was entertaining to see what we all know, normal politicians hate to have things out in broad daylight, preferring canned spin.
As for the merits, who knows. A barrier can’t be worse, can be part of a more comprehensive approach, and the economic argument against is laughable.
I would think Trump won, his idea to make the meeting public. He was overbearing but personally polite. They all interrupted each other. Trump ended the meeting after he said he’d take responsibility for that feared partial government shutdown.
You know, 5 billion dollars is small potatoes to the federal budget.
But I’m sure Nancy thinks it could be better used to fund the $50,000 per head the Honduran migrants are now demanding as “reparations”.
I guess what I think is pretty amazing is the Democrats won’t trade wall funding for DACA. The wall is 90% symbolism, but I guess that probably explains it.
When your view is strictly zero sum, i.e. the only way to win is for the other side to lose, it isn’t surprising at all.