The chart above is from a new ABC News / Washington Post Poll -- done between January 15th and 18th of a random national sample of 1,005 adults, with a margin of error of 3.5 points. It shows who the public blames for the shutdown of the government. It's not surprise that Republicans blame the Democrats, while Democrats blame Trump and the Republicans. The interesting part is who the Independents blame, and that's Trump and the Republicans by a 21 point margin.
The sad part is that the shutdown was not necessary. All the Republicans had to do was include in the continuing resolution a provision making DACA once again the law of the land. They have been talking for days now about how they want to pass DACA, but when they had the chance they refused to do it. The truth is that they don't care about the Dreamers. They just want to use them as hostages to try and force Democrats to pass other immigration measures (such as building a wall and stopping "chain-immigration" -- measures that are not needed and would be bad for the country).
How long will the shutdown last? Which side will blink first? I hope it's not the Democrats. Time is running out for the Dreamers as 122 lose their protected status each day -- and they will all lose that status in the first part of March. The Democrats need to stand fast, and pass no continuing resolution that doesn't include re-instating DACA. I'm proud that the Democrats took a stand Friday night. Now they need to follow through.
But as intransigent as the congressional Republicans have been, this government shutdown has to be laid at the feet of Donald Trump. He bragged during the campaign about what a great negotiator he was, but has been an absolute failure at negotiating anything once sworn in.
Last week, he said he would sign any deal brought to him. But when Democrats and Republicans agreed on a deal that could pass Congress (including DACA, stronger border security, and some money to start Trump's wall), Trump changed his mind and refused to accept the deal. Then yesterday, Minority Leader Schumer thought he had worked out a deal with Trump, only to have the White House call a couple of hours later to say the deal was off.
Trump has shown both parties in Congress that he cannot be trusted. If he gives his word, he will probably change his mind. He has left Congress unable to figure out just what it is he wants. They are realizing that all it takes to get Trump to change his mind is a little flattery and a whisper that his base won't like something. This is a failure of leadership -- and that lack of leadership will make it harder for Congress to finally reach a deal to end the shutdown.
This whole mess just illustrates that even though the Republicans control both houses of Congress and the White House, they are incapable of governing.
