Editor, Times-Union:
According to Donald Trump and his MAGA club, there is a crisis, a catastrophe unfolding at the southern border. Hoping to bully and petrify voters, they warn that terrorists, drug dealers, deranged people released from prisons and mental institutions are being welcomed into our country by the thousands — every day! They threaten that these invaders are coming in to replace all pure, white citizens, and they proclaim the Democrats refuse to fix the problem. Only they, the new Avengers, once in control, can and will save you from peril. Holy Moly! Shouldn’t somebody do something — now?!
Well, surprise, surprise …. a bipartisan group of lawmakers worked tirelessly for several months and came up with a plan that was heralded by members of both parties as groundbreaking. The National Border Patrol Council (which endorsed Trump in 2020), waited eagerly for this most welcome help and endorsed the bill. It appeared to be the most conservative bill to address the border immigration issue in decades. It met every demand made by the most conservative Republicans, and the president stood ready to gratefully sign the bill immediately.
Well, surprise, surprise again. Once the news of an impending bill was released, but before it was even written and/or read by anyone, the Trump club realized with shock and awe that the only issue they had left to falsely frighten the voters with would soon become a non-issue. They had already come to the realization that they could not win elections by demonstrating a poor economy (it is flourishing), or overturning the Affordable Care Act (another 1,000,000 people recently signed up for that), or promising a federal ban on women’s reproductive health care (women and new state amendments are becoming a force to reckon with). Biden and the Democrats would chalk up another accomplishment.
Can’t have that! So citizen Trump sent the word out: “... only a fool, or a Radical Left Democrat, would vote for this horrendous Border Bill. It would be ”a death wish for the Republican party.” (So spoke the “executioner”) Then, as expected, Mike Johnson, House Speaker and Trump lap dog, announced the bill would be “DOA” in the House if it should pass the Senate. Following their implied “orders,” the Senate blocked the bill when Minority Leader Mitch McConnell fell back in obedient line once again as he changed his mind and decided the issue should remain a Trump campaign issue, and they should not make it difficult for him.
Is the border issue a crisis or isn’t it? Shouldn’t a crisis or catastrophe be dealt with sooner rather than later? We have been dealing with this “crisis” for many years. What’s a few more months — as long as the Democrats are taking the blame. Republican playbook: Demand, Negotiate, Win, then renege. Keep telling the American people government isn’t working; then make sure it doesn’t.
Reminds me of Lucy tricking Charlie Brown with the football over and over and over.
Jeanne Schutz
Winona Lake, via email