Quote:
Originally Posted by microbet
If this goes on for long, especially if very young babies are involved, some of them are going to die. Dunno if we'll find out about it though.
Microbet:
While it's hard to quantify "too long," I have a feeling this will not drag on indefinitely. In fact, I have a feeling Congress will act fairly quickly to bring family separations to a halt.
I can't find the video clip, but long time Republican consultant Mike Murphy appeared last night with Brian Williams on MSNBC. Mr. Murphy was asked to give a "battlefield damage assessment" of the political damage to the GOP from the events of the past week. I'm paraphrasing a bit, but Mr. Murphy said the past week has been "a disaster" for the GOP. He stated that Trump is leading Republicans "right over the cliff" and this policy of family separation amounts to self inflicted political suicide. (I'm paraphrasing, but Mr. Murphy was pretty blunt.) He went on to state an additional 70 to 100 Republican House seats are now in play in the upcoming mid-term elections. (If only half of that range flips from Republican to Democrat, Nancy Pelosi becomes Speaker-of-the-House.) I've noticed that Texas senator Ted Cruz, who just happens to be up for re-election in November, has proclaimed that family separations have to stop. (Even Cruz realizes the threat this debacle is having for his continued political viability.)
If this continues dragging on unresolved through the summer, (and polling numbers become increasingly unfavorable for Republican incumbents), fear of Trump will be replaced by fear for their own political survival. Fear of their own angry constituents will motivate the GOP to buck their President and make this "problem" go away. Although they won't openly admit it, the smart political move for Democrats is to hold out as long as possible, let Republicans cook in their own "Trump generated" stew, and settle for the best deal possible as Republicans become increasingly desperate to make the TV images go away. (If some of those "tender age" children manage to die while being held in a shelter, it will be panic time for Republican incumbents ...)
The dream scenario for Democrats is to hope this debacle drags on right up to September/October with Republicans arguing among themselves (and Trump) on how to end it. (I don't think that will happen, but that's the best [partisan] outcome for the Dems.) Trump is insisting that he wants "full funding" (i.e. $25 BILLION), for his wall - a condition virtually no Democrat will agree to. The problem for the GOP is that any legislative solution to this train wreck is going to require at least some Democratic votes. (If Trump is adamant about his wall, Republicans will have to secure enough Democratic votes to overcome a Presidential veto. The price for that Democratic support will be high.)
Trump pulling this stunt is political malpractice. He's managed to find a way to pull defeat from the jaws of victory. As Mr. Murphy concluded last night: "Republicans are going to pay dearly for this fiasco."