Democrats should be willing to compromise because they value the DACA fix more than their opposition to border funding. They are instead doing the same thing Republicans did to Obama, refusing to compromise in order to whip up their base.
Any politician that compromises an inch these days will be portrayed as an immoral enemy and attacked by some vocal part of their own base.
"They are instead doing the same thing Republicans did to Obama, refusing to compromise in order to whip up their base."
Democrats are in the minority though, not the majority like the Republicans had during Obama's tenure. If they want something done then they can do it.
Republicans started out in the minority during Obama’s term, but Democrats bled seats like crazy, especially after ACA. They are using the same playbook now, using tax reform as the rallying cry like ACA was.
It's hard for me to politely express just how disappointed I am in the direction this conversation has gone. It's total garbage. It started with what should have been a "holy shit" point, just a few comments above, and almost immediately turned into an "us vs. them" argument with basically zero value to anyone.
Look at how polarized politics has gotten. It's happening right here.
We have media mega-businesses now which are feeding total garbage to people, astroturfing it so that viewers feel like they're getting information from someone they can trust, and we have a President that is getting information from the same kind of sources and is citing that when announcing policy decisions.
I don't care which "side" you're on, I think that's wrong, corrupt, and terrifying. If it were a Democrat doing it, hell, even citing NPR, I'd still be horrified.
Some of Trump's base thinks there's some kind of deep state thing going on, where there are people in government that are controlling things behind the scenes, independent of whatever administration is in office at the time. You know what? They're absolutely right, save for one little thing: the people doing the controlling aren't in government, they're in offices in shining skyscrapers, and they own the news.
And they would really appreciate it if we wouldn't talk about that, and instead just continue to argue about the stupid wall.
The funding in that bill was over 10 years, with very little up front. It was also missing key immigration reforms that Trump said he needed to see.
He is pretty clear about what he wants to see, and I’m pretty sure that he sees no deal as better than a bad deal. He’d rather keep the issue in play through mid-terms, or collect some additional policy points (gun control?) that he can throw in the mix to ultimately craft a bill that achieves his core policy objectives around national defense and immigration.
I think immigration policy will be the big issue for the midterms, it will be interesting to see it all play out.
> It was also missing key immigration reforms that Trump said he needed to see.
"Key immigration reforms" is a great way to spin additional constraints on legal family-reunification, that exact program which allowed Melania's family to join her here in this country. He's closing the doors that he and his family used to come here and amass wealth.
Well it was more than just chain migration he wanted changed. Also the “diversity lottery” and overall limits.
No question Trump represents a large segment of Americans who want to see less immigration overall, and more selective granting of visas and green cards.
The doors, so to speak, would remain decidedly open, to the tune of about a half million green cards per year. Historically average.
Visas would be disproportionately skewed toward people from well-off countries, effectively closing the door to people who want to pursue better lives in America for themselves and their families.
>No question Trump represents a large segment of Americans
There is plenty to question here. Given the CA news and additional leaks regarding the campaign he ran, Trump does not in fact represent a large segment of Americans. At best, he represents a well-targeted, vocal minority.
Specifically, with his actions and his words he is representing and providing a megaphone for the worst xenophobic elements of our society [1].
>The doors, so to speak, would remain decidedly open
Speak to anyone with DACA or TPS, those doors are decidedly closed.
You might want to recheck Trump’s approval ratings.
Oh and the “Trump Defends White Nationalists” trope? Here’s the video [1] and here’s the quote;
“You had some very bad people in the group. But you also had people, that were very fine people, on both sides.... So you know what, you’re changing history, you’re changing culture, and you had people, and I’m not talking about the neo-nazis or the white nationalists, because they should be condemned totally, but you had many people in that group other than neo-nazis and white nationalists, okay, and the press has treated them absolutely unfairly.”
If you have an issue with DACA maybe talk to your congressman. Trump’s been trying to get a legal fix for DACA for months now.
As far as TPS is concerned, maybe the “T” doesn’t stand for what I think it does, but 2001-2018 seems pretty generous for the Salvadorans. Unless you’re telling me those countries are still too ravaged from natural disasters over a decade ago to return to?
But I’ll stand by the assertion that while we do have borders and we do enforce immigration law, we also provide entry for half a million immigrants a year. It seems like you’re claiming that because you can cite a specific special interest that isn’t being granted special citizenship outside the legal system that has existed for decades, therefore the doors are closed and that’s somehow xenophobic. I personally think that’s inaccurate and perhaps hyperbolic. While you’re entitled to your opinion, I think a large portion of the country will continue to have reasonable and open debate as to what levels of immigration is right for the country, and how we should select for those immigrants, without resorting to calling it xenophobic.
>you had many people in that group other than neo-nazis and white nationalists, okay, and the press has treated them absolutely unfairly.
You should recall what the rally was about, and what "that group" was trying to accomplish. That group was opposing the removal of monument to a general that fought a treasonous war against our country over the right for humans to keep other humans enslaved. Heather Heyer, an anti-racist protester, was murdered by a member of "that group" that ran her over with a car.
>Trump’s been trying to get a legal fix for DACA for months now.
Trump has been using these children as pawns in a ploy to close doors for legal immigrants. He does not offer fixes, the conman only offers cons.
> As far as TPS is concerned, maybe the “T” doesn’t stand for what I think it does
TPS was a compromise reached with a cadre of powerful xenophobes. It in no way excused or repaired the damage done to El Salvador by the civil war promulgated by the US-backed right-wing government[1]. The people that were displaced by the war and earthquake should have been granted asylum and a path to full citizenship, instead they were left in limbo and abandoned by our leaders, on both sides of the aisle.
They didn’t want to budge on chain migration or the lottery, Trump ran on both those so wasn’t going to budge either. He didn’t back out so much as never get in.
Wish congress would have moved forward and put a bill on his desk, despite his statements he would have had to sign it or lose face.
McConnell and Ryan refuse to consider bills unless 50% of their party supports it. This essentially prevents any bipartisan deal on issues such as immigration.
Polls have indicated that the DREAM Act is supported by an overwhelming majority[0]. If representatives don't mirror that support, then the problem is with them, not the bill.
You are right! But also, the problem is that in red states, Republicans have managed to gerrymander the crap out of their districts to ensure they won't get unseated no matter how badly they represent their constituents.
Any politician that compromises an inch these days will be portrayed as an immoral enemy and attacked by some vocal part of their own base.