Well, we now have a government shutdown.  It is probably worth noting that both sides have a message they are using to blame the other party. The Republicans are saying that Democrats are willing to endanger our troops in order to protect “illegal immigrants” (aka Dreamers).  Democrats, as usual, have many messages and none of them simple.  I would advise them to stick to a simple one.  That is that the failure of the Republicans in Congress to take control of the agenda has left everyone waiting for leadership from the President who has demonstrated his lack of ability and understanding anything substantive. Since he can be counted on to not tell the truth about so many things, waiting for guidance from him on how to move forward is like waiting for Godot.  He knows nothing about anything involved with this current shutdown and any agreement that he might tweet is subject to the next impulse that runs through his finger or, as he might say, “his whatever.”

Meanwhile, his chief enabler these days is Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas.  Evidently, he must be a fan of Austin Powers movies because he has fitted himself as Trumps “mini me.”  His efforts to be like Trump in his vulgarity and mendacity is something to behold.  He is well educated and served with honor in the military.  He, therefore, knows better.  When he denies that he heard Trump talk of “shithole countries” and his defense is that the President said, “shithouse countries,” one could argue it was a distinction without a difference.  More importantly is his immigration stance that is channeling Steven Miller, the leader of the “boxcar” crowd, egging on the President.

What Cotton is trying out is whether anyone except Trump can be Trump-like and succeed politically.  While at first, it looked like he was trying out for CIA Director or Secretary of State, it now looks like he is going to be the new Trump if he can.  Imagine someone behaving as Trump does who actually has the acuity and knowledge to do it differently. If that is the future for the Republic, one can only hope that when the Trump show ends, the people will not want to bring out another one.  Or as someone once said, “if I don’t like the ventriloquist, why do you think I will like the dummy?”