TCR Brief: What If Trump Really Wants A Shutdown Because He Really Wants A Wall?

If He Thinks He Can “Sell” It To The Public As The Fault Of “Obstructionist Democrats” And Certain “Weak Republicans”, Why Not?

Eric J Scholl
Aug 24, 2017 · 3 min read

So many reports today about how Trump is single-handedly making Congress’ already monstrously difficult September agenda even harder to achieve. And as we pointed out yesterday, that does seem to fit the President’s M.O.: he often adds degrees of difficulty to things that are tough-going enough already, and plays his strategic hands too quickly (“Muslim ban”) or too slowly (Obamacare “Repeal and Replace”).

But while Congress seems to really want to get a spending and debt ceiling deal out of the way so they can deliver, or at least make progress on tax cuts, the President’s stated position as of today is he’ll shut down the government, and punish everybody, unless and until they give him his “wall.”

Most pundits and many politicians are writing it off as political posturing for a President who is daily losing leverage and thus is squeezing out every little bit he’s got. Anything that might continue to resonate with the still very excitable people who elected him. Anything that might take attention away from the Russia “cloud”. Anything that might take momentum away from bi-partisan efforts to stabilize health care. Anything that might distract from the fact that continually bashing lawmakers in your own party, makes it far less likely they’ll do you any favors.

But what if the explanation is actually the simplest one possible: he really is obsessed with “the wall”?

What if this is where he chooses to plant his flag vs. “Obstructionist Democrats” and “The Swamp”?

After all, there’s nothing more iconic than “Trump’s wall”.

Will he forever be remembered for cutting a deal to raise the debt ceiling? No way. Will he forever be remembered for huge tax cuts for the rich? Probably not. Will he forever be remembered for eviscerating education, environment and social programs in favor of the military industrial complex? Been done. Will he forever be remembered for whatever happens with North Korea? Maybe (if there’s anything left to remember). But will he forever be remembered for “the wall”? YES.

We so easily forget: Trump’s a builder. All he’s done all his life is build monuments to himself, then put his name on them. HUGE. He’s even put his name — HUGE — on things he didn’t build. His biggest boast at his shameless, repugnant rally in Arizona was that he has a “bigger, more beautiful apartment” than anyone else. In that context, “the wall” makes perfect sense.

But, you protest, would he risk losing one of the biggest boons of his young Presidency: the surging stock market that — as he continually reminds us — is at near-record highs? Yes, if he can place any and all blame squarely on his “enemies” and claim he had nothing to do with it. Also remember in May, Trump telegraphed the move, Tweeting “Our country needs a good “shutdown” in September”.

So while to “normal” people this may seem like a trivial thing over which to make his “last stand” (at least for his first year in office), Trump’s habits seem to indicate a compatibility, a synchronicity even, with the arrogant, self-aggrandizing, and imprudent General Custer, who famously stated: “I would be willing, yes glad, to see a battle every day during my life.” (See: Trump, Twitter feed).

(This story originally appeared in “The Chaos Report” Newsletter. Please subscribe at https://thechaosreport.com/subscribe/?scr=Medium)

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Eric J Scholl

Written by

Peabody award winning journalist. Streaming media pioneer. Played @ CBGB back in the day. Editor-In-Chief "The Chaos Report" www.thechaosreport.com

The Chaos Report

(@TheChaosReport) — All Your Daily Politics News in One Short, Sharp Shock.

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