border security, not for the wall. that s what we re willing to do. and that s a logical compromise, to say we ll do some plus-up for some fencing, for? additional border security, but we re not going to pay for this wall. and i think people know the democrats don t control the entire government. what they can do is say we have a different agenda. we have an agenda to rebuild our infrastructure. we have an agenda to secure voting rights for the american people. we have an agenda that can put people to work and donald trump is focused on a wall. and that s a very comfortable fight for democrats to have. to say, look, we were willing to compromise on border security but we re not going to pay for some wall that we don t need and people don t want. it needs to be stressed, $5 billion doesn t buy a wall. $5 billion is a fig leaf. and the question it s a way for donald trump to cover a retreat. the question, and it s going to be an interesting question what democrats decide. do they wan
immigration caravan message, popular with the base and those at president trump s rallies but also controversial and divisive, particularly with independents. the people who made their decision over the last few days voted democratic by a 12-point margin. christian, you were talking about this a minute ago saying that the political pressure shifts to the democrats, but i do wonder is that if the wall and immigration is going to be what defines this shutdown, is there a cautionary political note for republicans there in what just happened in the midterm elections? not really, no, because 86% of republicans favor what trump is doing on the wall, so he is actually doing what his base and what those who elected him want him to do. frankly, again, the democrats are the opposite, the negative of that. they are 90% opposed if you look at polls to building a wall. so why nancy pelosi has chosen this issue to fight on. the congressman made a good point i think, which is to lead in the new
dropping 1234i6significantly ov last decade. i think the democrats can say we ve been reasonable, we ll allocate money for border security, that s what we re willing to do. that s a logical compromise to say we ll do some plus-up for additional border security but we re not going to pay for this wall. people know the democrats don t control the entire government. what they can do is say we have a different agenda. we want to rebuild our infrastructure, secure voting rights for the american people. we have an agenda that can put people to work and donald trump is focused on a wall. that s a very comfortable fight for democrats to have. to say, look, we were willing to compromise on border security but we re not going to pay for a wall that we don t need and people don t want. it needs to be stressed, $5 billion doesn t buy a wall. it s a fig leaf. it s a way for donald trump to cover a retreat. the question and it s going to be an interesting question what democrats decide. do they wa
staff, meanwhile, mick mulvaney also piled on saying the democrats simply skipped town. i wish all options were open. again, we need folks to talk with us. we need folks to at least discuss with us. i cannot it still strikes me as very unusual that the democrats did not provide a kous counteroffer to our last office. the president is here. the president cancelled his plans. where are chuck schumer and nancy pelosi? they are not even talking right now. meanwhile a sense of urgency among republican who say still control the house for a few days at least. right now that may be missing on their part. congressman louis gomert of texas said without concessions on a border wall, the president should continue the shutdown indefinitely. because we keep seeing people losing their lives without one. how long, january, february? until hell freezes over. until hell freezes over. meanwhile, politico is
december 31st, new year s eve is coming up. there are people who have paid $200,000 annual membership to go to mar-a-lago and schmooze with the president. that s money that goes into his pocket. he s expected there. the secret service has paid $50,000 for tents for the secret service for them at this mar-a-lago new year s eve party. will president trump go? i assume he will want to go. how will things look the next day when there are images of the president in black tie talking to people who paid $200,000 a year for access to the president while people are out of work. this is a dynamic situation. and there is no exit for the president. he s already begging for a fig leaf. $5 billion doesn t build a wall is just an excuse. there will be a second offer. give us $2.5 billion. eventually give us $1.3. at that point democrats will say do they want to give the president cover and maybe for a lot of reasons they ll want to do that and proclaim it a victory or they won t and make him eat it.