The real shutdown holdout

Francis Wilkinson at Bloomberg identified the real obstacle to resolving the current government shutdown: Mitch McConnell.

Some of McConnell’s Republican colleagues are looking at an uncertain path to re-election in their states. They are eager to get the government open, appear sensible, moderate and competent, and move on.

Pelosi should put the onus for doing so squarely and completely on McConnell — not Trump. After all, when two parents have a squabble, they don’t sit around and wait for their 2-year-old to resolve it.

This has been bloody obvious for weeks.

Our domestic Dear Leader doesn't give a shit about penniless federal workers whom he suspects don't like him anyway.

He doesn't give a shit about average citizens who are hurt by closed federal agencies. Again, he suspects those citizens don't like him anyway.

He doesn't give a shit about anyone but himself. His bottomless neediness doesn't leave room in his shriveled heart for anyone else. So he can't be shamed into compromise or rational behavior like a normal person.

McConnell, however, is slightly more human. He's a cold-blooded political opportunist with the morals of a crime boss, yes, but he is also more sensitive to bad political optics than our domestic Dear Leader.

The Senate's resident snake has been keeping a low profile, hoping we won't notice he's hiding behind our domestic DL's abnormal girth. Those of us paying attention, however, have snickered at his excuse of needing to have a bill he knows our domestic DL will sign. That's a crock. Nobody can say in advance what Don Trumpone will do, perhaps least of all Don Trumpone himself. Reneging on agreements is a Trumpone specialty; it's why he has been sued so often. The idea that if Donnie says he will sign off on a budget, he actually will, is ludicrous.

However, by putting the onus on Donnie, Mitch hopes he can stay out of the bruising fight. That's cowardly and it's time Mitch was called on his cowardice. You got your Justices and federal judges, Mitch. Now it's time to pay the price.

Madame Speaker, bring the pain to the snake of the Senate. That's the only way this shutdown will end.