I am seeing a poker analogy in the current political stand-off that boggles my mind, and no one seems to be seeing what I see. (I am non-party affiliated for what it is worth).

I was trying to figure out why the Dems are refusing to deal, as they seem to have some leverage, as indicated by Trump's recent unsolicited concessions (=weakness). Then it dawned on me, and it is so obvious. The Fed Government is PART OF THE ECONOMY, and the ultimate pain of an extended government shutdown could be literally unlimited. Recession, financial chaos, air travel system shutdown, border wide open, etc. In other words, the Dems have a strong hand, and it gets stronger over time, from a purely political perspective.

So what happens if the GOP and Trump drag this out till immense pain is felt, and they then COME AWAY WITH NOTHING? History hates losers. People hate losers. The GOP is going to lose unless the Dems up and fold. When (not if...when...I use that term because it seems a certainty at this point) the GOP comes away with nothing, the nation is going to say "you hurt us....you hurt me...and you got NOTHING out of it? "F*** you, you idiots". This is the long game. This is the showdown.

If the GOP gets any concessions from the Dems, they win, and can shift the blame...some blame, because they got something. But NOTHING is as far away from something as you can get. The GOP getting nothing has HUGE popular political ramifications. The Dems know this. They know the only way they lose, is to blink. They are not going to blink. In poker terms, the Dems have the nuts, and the only way they can lose is to fold (give a concession). Trump is bluffing into a made hand, and the pot is huge. Is Trump and the GOP pot committed?

Check your love or hatred of Trump at the door. This is not about that. This is just about the pure political calculus, and it seems Trump is in an unprecedented weak position here. Am missing something? This seems like a bad fight to pick.

you're right but you didn't need your own thread

first post in ten years and we get... that

We'll start with the military.

Did this get moved here from another forum? Because if so, I have a bone to pick with someone... If not, KTRacer, welcome to the forums, please feel free to stop by and check out the stickies. Pizza is served in the cafeteria on Fridays.

I think that's a great place to start.

Nixon made a lot of money playing poker in the Navy and look at what happened to him.

Many private sector jobs are also nonproductive (my own included)

Cheese Pizza?

only in oot