Finally, a journalist at CNN who is willing to suggest that the president could work out alright! Much to the consternation of Wolf Blitzer, John King, and Gloria Berger, the CNN panel discussion (see the video) about Trump's White House meeting on immigration brought this thunderbolt from Dana Basch: "This is the presidency than many people thought Donald Trump was capable of." Her epiphany? a televised, open, extended negotiation session with administration staff and Senators and Representatives from both parties; preparatory discussions to ensure that there was a chance for success; an agenda covering the DACA kids, the wall, prioritization of people with needed skills rather than family members, and abolition of the current lottery to ensure that immigrants from all countries get to enter; a looming deadline; Trump promising to sign what the parties could agree to. While the deal isn't yet sealed, it is worth some optimistic observations.
1. Trump began this negotiation during the campaign when he promised to build the wall. Much ink has been wasted by the Left trying to catch Trump backtracking - or at least trying to incite his supporters to revolt if he did backtrack. He committed that the Mexican government would inconceivably pay for it to avoid an argument about the cost. This is Salena Zito's observation at its best: Trump's supporters take him seriously, but not literally; his opponents take him literally, but not seriously. Come the day of reconning, we find that it is a metaphor - we need to protect the southern border before we legitimize any illegal immigrants. It doesn't have to be the whole distance - forget the rivers and mountains. A fence is OK if it works. We'll save money if there are fewer immigrants making payments to their families back in Mexico. The details are negotiable.
2. This is what the American people want to see. The Republicans need Democratic votes in the Senate to pass anything on immigration; that implies a bill that will lose some House conservatives, but pick up some moderate Democrats. In the lead up to the meeting there was little positioning - the Left's dream of legalizing 11 million was not mentioned; the discussion is legal residence, not immediate citizenship. What is on offer is legal surity which will allow this generation of imigrants to get on with their lives in exchange for stopping the flow.
3. The experiences of Obamacare repeal and tax reform have taught the Republicans important lessons. With the firing of Bannon in August, General Kelly has brought adult supervision. When Trump bypassed Republican Congressional leadership to reach a hurricane spending and debt ceiling agreement with Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi in September, he served notice that bipartisanship was acceptable if he said it was. Opinions of key staffers like Stephen Miller matter, but only so much. By committing to sign what Congress delivers, Trump made it easier for Republcans and Democrats alike to compromise without fear of sacrificing themselves for no purpose.
4. Trump is also displaying an appreciation - which President Obama lacked - for forcing Congress to make difficult decisions, by giving the Congress a deadline of March 5 for ending the DACA program which Obama's frequently stated exceeded his authority. Some 200,000 Salvadorans have been here for decades with 18 month temporary authorizations. Ditto 50,000 Hondurans. This president supports the rule of law. He will implement the laws which congress passes, but not endlessly kick the can down the road.
5. This cannot be what Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer want. They cannot appear to oppose legalization of the children after years of using them as a wedge issue, yet Trump is on the edge of resolving the most contentious aspects of the immigration problem. And he will get the credit. Worse, the claim that the administration is in a chaotic shambles is itself in shambles. First comprehensive tax reform, then immigration reform. And the economy seems to be doing OK.
As an extra note, "eyes wide open" conservatives have learned that there is always a crudely offensive Donald lurking just below the surface, and that the media opponents will be pouncing on his unfiltered commentary in the final negotiations. (See the Washington Post's reporting on Trump's reaction to including immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador, and Africa.) In separating the desirable policy direction from the flawed person, It helps the objective observer to have spent some time in a high school locker room or a foxhole.
Happy 2018!
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This week's video is an extract of the introductory comments from the January 9, White House immigration meeting.
bill bowen - 1/12/18
Well put.
Sent from my iPhone
Posted by: Bill Bowen | January 12, 2018 at 12:37 PM
Always good to read the political beat from the conservative trenches of the left coast. One has to remember how and why President Trump was elected President by the "deplorable" voters. We were saturated with do-nothing politicians accountable only to their lobbyists and each other. We did not want another politician to hold the office of President. We chose a brilliant, somewhat unpolished, businessman. A patriotic man with appreciation and love of country and respect for the military. We haven't had a true constitutional Republican party for many years. This President not only is denied support from both party's but has what I now call the Joseph Goebbels 'Ministry of Propaganda' fake news media driving a mantra of hate.
So when the Pelosi's and Durban's react in an offensive manner to the Presidents choice of words I submit we should all be offended of both political parties for failing the voters and the many disasters they failed to address for years, kicked down the road only to end up on President Trump's plate. And we should be further offended by their self-ingratiating obstruction as he attempts to right all the previous administrations, wrongs.
Posted by: Fred Szczypien | January 12, 2018 at 11:23 AM