In a dramatic turnaround, Senate Democrats voted to reopen the government on Monday after receiving a commitment from Republicans to hold a vote on immigration legislation — paving the way to end the three-day shutdown.
The Senate voted 81-18 to move forward on a bill to fund the government through Feb. 8 after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) agreed to end the shutdown and continue to negotiate on immigration and spending matters. If a broader deal is not reached by Feb. 8, the Senate would take up legislation to protect hundreds of thousands of young undocumented immigrants who are losing legal protections, as long as the government remains open…
Democrats had been deeply skeptical of McConnell’s commitment, but indicated after a party strategizing session that they’re willing to trust the majority leader.
I have a different—or perhaps I should say “additional—take on it. I think that the story, “The Republicans are to blame when Republicans shut down the government and the Republicans are to blame when Democrats shut down the government” didn’t play all that well in Peoria, and didn’t even play so very well in the Democratic equivalent of Peoria. The government shutdown was always theater anyway, and if the audience isn’t clapping it’s time to book another play in the same theater.
The Democrats are thinking that their next show will be more of a success:
In agreeing to break the impasse after a three-day shutdown, Democrats are banking that they have successfully pigeonholed Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell into opening an immigration debate in the coming weeks and that an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote for an immigration bill would put pressure on the House and White House. They are already warning that if their demands aren’t met, another government shutdown could happen on February 8, when the three-week short-term funding bill runs out. And next time they won’t have Republicans dangling a six-year funding extension for the Children’s Health Insurance Program over their heads.
Does that coming attraction excite you?
Previously a lifelong Democrat, born in New York and living in New England, surrounded by liberals on all sides, I've found myself slowly but surely 
January 22nd, 2018 at 3:43 pm
Damn…. just as I was beginning to enjoy smaller government.
January 22nd, 2018 at 3:44 pm
“The Democrats are thinking that their next show will be more of a success:”
Those democrats don’t know shit from Shinola….
January 22nd, 2018 at 3:53 pm
No matter how often the D’s and their fellow party members in the media recite a false narrative … they lost this one to President Trump.
Most Americans care little, if at all, about illegal immigrants.
Except when the bill for their yard work is so low because the landscaper doesn’t have to pay even minimum wage. Then they are happy about ‘undocumented workers’.
Immigration is a losing issue for the D’s even though it ‘excites’ their base. I hope they continue to push it in the upcoming election cycle.
MAGA!
January 22nd, 2018 at 4:13 pm
The major problem Democrats had on this one is their past comments when the roles were totally reversed were even too much for them and their media friends to cover up. Topped off by Schumer himself bringing up this exact scenario a few years ago.
The reality of this was a bridge too far even for the craven.
January 22nd, 2018 at 5:33 pm
I believe DACA dreamers are wonderful and smart people so I would never doubt their ability to assimilate, back into the Mexico society, unlike the racist democrats. If they are all as well educated and capable as the democrats claimed Mexico needs them more than we do, they should bring their talents back to their homeland to make it great, America shouldn’t be so selfish stealing valuable human resource from other more underdeveloped countries.
January 22nd, 2018 at 5:42 pm
They all have to go back.
January 22nd, 2018 at 5:44 pm
I agree with Tuvea. This win belongs to President Trump.
The optics were framed by Trump, showing him a willing participant in the process, demonstrating he was willing to compromise (to the consternation of conservatives), and when the Democrats balked, made it obvious the Democrats were never sincere.
This was very cleverly done.
If the Republicans don’t cave to their own open borders instincts, the issue will continue to work toward serious compromises. The problem is many Republicans are just a globalist/open borders as their progressive friends.
January 22nd, 2018 at 5:52 pm
Does anyone have more details on the Polish immigrant doctor who was arrested by ICE? The reporting makes it seem like an egregious case of overreach, threatening him with deportation over a minor offense made when he was a juvenile. I just have to believe there’s more to the story given the resource limitations and discretion that ICE has. Why take an action with such terrible optics at this particular moment?
January 22nd, 2018 at 6:39 pm
Gothamite:
There’s either more to the story or ICE screwed up. Either or both are highly possible.
January 22nd, 2018 at 6:42 pm
Neo: of course the spin on this has been one sided and over the top
January 22nd, 2018 at 8:21 pm
Good comment Dave. Putting the shoe on the other foot.
January 22nd, 2018 at 8:31 pm
I found it telling this morning when the big radio station in Detroit, WJR, talked to a Republican and our Democratic darlings Peterson and Stabenow were unavailable for comment. They usually love going on about their wonderful schemes.
January 23rd, 2018 at 12:40 am
Illegal immagrants are, by definition, here illegally. They should have no protection for thier acts.
If the parents sneak a kid into Disneyland, the child does not get to stay, when they are caught by Disney Security.
January 23rd, 2018 at 1:48 am
Gothamite Says:
January 22nd, 2018 at 5:52 pm
“Does anyone have more details on the Polish immigrant doctor who was arrested by ICE?”
the WaPo article says these were In January 1992, a conviction for malicious destruction of property and in the same year, for receiving and concealing stolen property and a financial transaction device. these are presumably Michigan crimes that the fed immigration law defines as “Crime(s) Involving Moral Turpitude”. doesn’t matter if these crimes were misdemeanors or not, and it doesn’t matter if the conviction was, as the WaPo puts it, “scrubbed” from the public record.
he’s deportable, but also probably eligible for “cancellation of removal”, which would end deportation proceedings. can’t really tell without seeing the file.
that’s the law, doesn’t matter if he came from Poland or Mex.
January 23rd, 2018 at 10:23 am
…also known as Baal-Peoria?
January 23rd, 2018 at 10:29 am
I just hope the hard left Democrats screaming about betrayal by Schumer are in charge of messaging for the fall election.
They just might be as they are very noisy and, as we all know, the Democrat Party runs on noise.
January 23rd, 2018 at 12:14 pm
democrats love to lie about the economical contribution of illegals and like to claim how beneficial they are to our economy. First, those are lies that have been debunked many times over. second even if they are, so what? rule of law is more important than any possible economic gain they might bring. I still would kick a home invader out of my house even in an extremely unlikely circumstance this home intruder happened to be Santa Claus leaving a big bag full of 100 dollar bills by my bedside, sorry he still have to go. You can’t encourage the despicable behavior of the democrats to intentionally let in many people to break our laws and force us to legalize them just because way too many people have already done it and removing them all is now extremely difficult.