Generally speaking, the side that is winning in a stand-off just stands pat. They don't need to do much of anything.
The side that's losing? They start making bigger and bigger demands, uttering larger and more desperate threats.
To be fair, "generally speaking" has been pretty uncommon over the last few years. But I have to believe that Trump's upping the ante (threatening to close the entire border with Mexico, even though we export $3 billion in goods and services, let alone the dependence on imports through that border) is a sign he feels he's losing the debate, along with trying to fob off responsibility for a government shutdown he was happy to take credit for only a week ago.
What that will actually mean in the long run, of course, is anybody's guess at this point.
Trump threatens to close ‘Southern Border entirely’ if Dems don’t fund wall
President Trump on Friday threatened to “close the Southern Border entirely” if Democrats do not agree to provide money to “finish” building a wall on the Mexican border.
The only way he could possibly shut down the entire border would be to deploy the Military , and I don't believe he has the power to do that unilaterally (unless maybe he intends to declare war on Mexico would still involve Congress) .
IMO , a wall would be mostly useless…. if it were ever approved & completed it would be more of an eternal vanity edifice (The Great Wall of Trump) than the deterrent he would like us all to believe .
If he can totally close the southern border why does he need a "wall"? Hmmm…Just curious…😏
+Eric Swanson I concur a wall would be largely useless, esp. since most illegal entries (whether of migrants or criminals/smugglers) are through legal checkpoints.
What he's threatening with shutting down the border is closing all legal checkpoints, cutting off trade and travel between the US and Mexico. Which is, of course, insane, but, then, Trump.
Tijuana Tunnel & Light is still in business.
Except for one very large point: the things that his base want are fully funded (except for the DHS which could get tricky is he shuts the border) and they WANT all of the government shut down so this is a good start for them.
So, for Trump and his base it’s win-win, and as time goes on, rightwing dems night decided to side with Trump, give him his wall and end it within 2 or three weeks tops, and Schumer will do nothing about it because he is a horrible minority leader.
Trump's just trying to get U.S. industry to back his wall fantasy. He hopes that they, fearing their revenue will stall, will pressure their representatives to approve the $5 billon in wall money.
He's essentially saying, "give me five billion dollars or I will bankrupt American business".
Which apparently is America Great Again, and not extortion at all. Even though it's obviously extortion:
Extortion: Illegal use of one's official position or powers to obtain property, funds, or patronage.
+Stan Pedzick actually congress has not funded the secure fence act of 2006.
Of dam, those pesky facts.
And that bill was supported by the Democrats.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure_Fence_Act_of_2006
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure_Fence_Act_of_2006
Awwww, will he have a temper tantrum if they don't???
+Michael Verona The question is, will industry put pressure on the Dems to settle, or put pressure on Trump to give in? Trump seems to have backed himself into a corner on this, which might make it more difficult to get him to budge.
(I leave the Senate GOP out of this because, honestly, they're useless in the debate — they won't override Trump's veto of a no-wall budget, and they both can't and won't influence him.)
+Stan Pedzick The question then becomes what this shows about the actual size of his base, vs fellow-travelers who might start finding a government shutdown by their Dear Leader to be a growing inconvenience.
Campaign promise: "Mexico will pay for the wall" So this egoistic piece of shit shuts down the government because the Dems don't want to pay for his ridiculous wall. There is no end to this man's ignorance, stupidity, and dishonesty. May God take him home sooner than later.
When Democrats embraced the 'Southern Border Fencing Strategy
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/byron-york-when-democrats-embraced-the-southern-border-fencing-strategy
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/byron-york-when-democrats-embraced-the-southern-border-fencing-strategy
+Link master Spitz … as part of a comprehensive immigration reform package, not as a xenophobic "shut out all those raping drug dealing Mexican" vanity project. As even the article from a source like the Washington Examiner notes.
+Dave Hill – Industry will do both, I think. Their only real concern is the bottom line.