It seems to me there is widespread false premise that the only "win" would be getting an extension of the ACA subsidies. But there were two ways to win:
1) Trumpublicans ended the shutdown by adding an ACA subsidy extension
2) Trumpublicans ended the shutdown by jettisoning the filibuster.
The shutdown was going to end. Under increasing pressure from the malignant narcissist-in-chief and rank and file dread of their constituents hating on them over Thanksgiving Dinner, Thune would have ended the filibuster. The result:
-Instead of saying, "Why oh why did the Dems subject us to this pain for nothing," more would be livid with: "You mean you could have ended this by getting rid of the filibuster before it even started!!!"
-Democrats would be the ones that stood strong, doing battle on behalf of the American people with the leverage they had right up to the point that that leverage was forcibly taken from them.
-Our Democratic electeds would have demonstrated an unprecedented strength.
-People who support the Democratic Party would be riding as high as they were on Friday. Enraged by the ACA loss, but proud as hell of the strength demonstrated.
-The depravity and cruelty shown by the felon during the shutdown would be all the more evident as his Trumpublicans took 100% responsibly for the horror show.
If you are angry, as I am, when we contact Democratic leaders I think we need to be crystal clear that they failed us, not be failing to get their demands met, they failed us because in this fight we had faith that they would (1) make their demand, (2) hold out until either (a) MAGA R's met the demand, or (b) MAGA R's went nuclear and ended the shutdown on their own, without the complicity or capitulation of the Democrats.
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