Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and her House Democratic caucus have perfected the art of ignoring President Donald Trump’s threats, non-facts and efforts to sway the electorate, thereby putting pressure on Democrats. As to the latter, he’s shown again and again (most recently in his totally ineffective Oval Office address on the border) how little he can move public opinion.
Indeed, it’s fair to say the only hope for the GOP and the country is to ignore Trump entirely and govern as the first branch of government - even on foreign policy, which is usually the province of the executive branch.
On foreign policy, Republicans have started doing just that. The New York Times’ Peter Baker writes: “More than two years into his administration, the disconnect between President Trump and the Republican establishment on foreign policy has rarely been as stark.
In other words, Republicans are not prepared to adopt Trump’s lies and misconceptions of the world, nor listen to advisers such as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who insist on perpetuating them.
They’ll stick with the facts - and they’ll listen to the senior intelligence officials who remind us that Russia really is seeking to disrupt our democracy, the Islamic State really hasn’t gone away, North Korea really hasn’t shown a willingness to give up its nukes and Iran really isn’t violating the nuclear deal .
As The Washington Post’s Josh Rogin points out, “Internationalist Democrats and Republicans are increasingly finding common cause, not only in promoting robust U.S. foreign policy positions but also in asserting the legislative branch’s role in national security decision-making and oversight.” In short, they are ignoring Trump’s lead, in fact pulling against him in ways that are striking for members of the incumbent president’s party.
On the domestic front, lawmakers would do well to adopt a similar approach - ignore Trump.
However, as Pelosi rhetorically when Trump caved on the shutdown, “Have I not been clear on the wall?” There won’t be a wall. Democrats know it.
Experienced appropriators on the conference committee know it. The days of asking Trump permission before deciding and voting on a plan must stop unless Republicans are prepared for politically devastating shutdown 2.0.
In sum, ignore the president on foreign and domestic policy, find areas of common agreement across the aisle and then put it on Trump’s desk.
He’ll find a way to spin it as his own idea anyway. You see, it seems not even the president has the nerve to set off a second shutdown.
Jennifer Rubin writes reported opinion for The Washington Post.
Posted in The Bristol Press, Editorials on Sunday, 3 February 2019 19:51. Updated: Sunday, 3 February 2019 19:54.