The Parties Are Over

Donald Trump gave the Democrats what they wanted?  Yes.  And the Republicans are really upset.

Trump agreed with House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer to extend the debt ceiling by three months and to pass a stopgap spending bill to fund the government, which made the heads of House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell explode.  Ryan, McConnell, and other Republicans wanted an eighteen-month extension of the debt ceiling, hence it would have pushed a decision on the issue to March 2019 - after the 2018 midterms.  This deal between the White House and the Democratic congressional leadership ensures that the GOP will have to answer for its ineffectiveness in this Congress, and it allows Trump and the Democrats to govern in a bipartisan fashion.

But to what end?  It's no secret that Trump wanted the debt ceiling issue pushed back - and hurricane relief settled - to promote his tax plan, which would benefit the wealthiest Americans.  Also, even if his base doesn't necessarily vote for Republicans in the midterms, he's made himself look reasonable and eager to "get things done" - and keep his base in his corner for his re-election bid in 2020.  Thus, he could get re-elected.   And Pelosi and Schumer - both of whom have served in Washington since Ronald Reagan was President and are old enough to remember when Ronald Reagan was an actor - have just fallen into Trump's trap.  They are such clueless insiders that they demonstrate why seniority is just another variation of senility.  The Democrats need new, bold leaders who can stand up to Donald J. Trump, not a couple of old pros who are seasoned enough to screw up everything by dealing with him.  

As Martin O'Malley said, now we fight.  As Pelosi and Schumer say, "Who is Martin O'Malley?" 

The congressional Democratic leadership is not doing anyone any favors by working with Trump.  You don't lie down with dogs . . . lest you wind up with fleas. :-p       

However, with the Republican Party having been burned by their own President and with the Democratic Party about to be burned as well, the resulting collapse of the current two-party system can only be a good thing.  Note to progressives: Call a convention and form a new party now.