A Political Dilemma? Not Really.

From article, "Jared Kushner: Trump is closer to Chuck Schumer’s vision of the coming infrastructure bill than Mitch McConnell’s"

(...a political dilemma for Schumer and the Democrats. If it’s Trump who’s likely to get most of the political credit for doing things their way, with a trillion dollars in new federal spending, why the hell should they help him pass this bill? They’re potentially signing their own political death warrant. There’ll be thousands upon thousands of families across the country who owe their new jobs to the “Trump stimulus” and are apt to reward Trump for it in 2020 — and maybe the GOP in 2018, even if most Republicans vote against the bill. Imagine if the Senate passes Trump’s plan with 60 votes, 48 from the Democratic caucus plus 12 squishes from the GOP, and most conservatives like Ted Cruz and Rand Paul vote no. Trump will hit the trail in 2018 for his party even though they crossed him on the bill, and if Bannon’s right about the political benefits, Trump’s endorsement could end up helping Republicans win some of those vulnerable Democratic seats in red states like Montana and Missouri. Schumer, in other words, could end up tanking his party by making Trump’s great infrastructure victory possible.)

Me, "The Republicans tried obstructionism during the Obama administration. Doing everything to stime progress. There was a reason why this Congress was voted one of the worst producing Congresses ever. I think the only way Democrats can get anything done is to work with President Trump. The above dilemma makes it seem that Republicans can win more seats by claiming that they went along with the President even though they didn't. I'd like to remind voters that House and Senate Democrat and Republican votes are recorded. So, if the Democrats help out Trump they can go back to their constituents and say I voted for this legislation; I did good by you. So, no matter what President Trump says they have their voting record to fall back on. And really if you want to get things done in Washington you have to cross party lines. Obstruction does not work."

Continuing from article, (That’s the great hope for Schumer on infrastructure. If he and his caucus deliver for Trump, will it also be seen as their victory? Specifically, if Jon Tester votes for the bill and Trump goes into Montana in 2018 and asks red-state voters to defeat Tester anyway, whom do voters there side with? The president who spearheaded the big jobs program or the Democrat whose support was critical to making it law? Same goes for McCaskill in Missouri, Manchin in West Virginia, Bill Nelson in Florida, and on and on for all sorts of Dems who are up for reelection in states Trump won. Can Schumer get a guarantee from Trump in return for supporting the infrastructure bill that Trump won’t personally campaign against any Democrats who end up voting for it? He’d better get something in return. If Dems make Trump’s spending dream happen and Republicans get the credit, the GOP could end up with something close to a filibuster-proof Senate majority in 2019 — with an outside shot at 60 seats or better. Democrats would be completely locked out of government. The left would implode.)


Me, "Hopefully, this Congress can work with Trump and do great things."