Trump's family separation policy tests the leadership abilities of Ryan and McConnell

[DonViejo]

Boldface print carried forward from the original article -- Don

By James Hohmann
June 20 at 8:16 AM

THE BIG IDEA: President Trump said during a private meeting with House Republicans last night that his daughter, Ivanka, told him the images from the border of kids being taken from their parents are terrible. “Can we do anything to stop this?” she asked her dad, according to a lawmaker who recounted Trump’s account of the conversation.

Nonpartisan factcheckers and experts agree that the president could stop the separations, a result of his administration’s new “zero tolerance” policy, with a simple phone call. Even a tweet would probably do the trick.

Instead, Trump continues to falsely blame Democrats for his unpopular decision and has punted what he describes as “a tough issue” and “sad situation” to Congress. A source in the room said he told lawmakers that the politics are not good and that’s a reason to act as soon as possible. White House officials have also said privately that the president sees the children who have become wards of his government as bargaining chips that give him leverage in negotiations for a bigger deal.

Trump’s refusal to unilaterally reverse his own policy leaves Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell holding the bag. Both likely recognize, in a way Trump apparently does not, that the family separation policy threatens to imperil GOP control of Congress in the midterm elections. And each is trying to fashion a solution that can unite their respective conferences.

It’s harder than it sounds, and there is no guarantee a bill will pass either chamber. Overhauling the immigration system, one of the defining issues of our time, has proved to be an intractable problem. George W. Bush and Barack Obama both failed despite making good faith efforts to work across the aisle to enact comprehensive changes to the system. Trump continues to show no appetite for making such an effort.

Hill insiders in both parties understand that if Congress tries and fails to pass legislation to end the separations Trump will have more ammunition to blame the legislative branch for the problem. Republicans know, however unfair that argument might be, it will resonate with their base.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/daily-202/2018/06/20/daily-202-trump-s-family-separation-policy-tests-the-leadership-abilities-of-ryan-and-mcconnell/5b29a6e730fb046c468e6f14

[C_U_L8R]

1. They've done nothing to protect the babies

Or anyone else. They stand for nothing and nobody. Ryan speaks a lot about 'values' but clearly he doesn't have any at all.

[Stuart G]

5. Well said, "They stand for nothing and nobody"...If they cared they would have criticized Trump..

for doing this. "They have done nothing to protect the babies.." You are correct.

[uponit7771]

2. Ryan And McTurtle support Red Don's baby snatching at this point, They should've spoken up by now

[Corgigal]

3. McConnell

is just staying busy trying to kill disabled and old American people right now.

Only white babies not born are important.

[hatrack]

4. Leadership abilities? Leading the vultures to the carcass?

Leading donors to the trough? Leading resigning staffers to K Street?

[Cha]

7. Yeah, really. Leading trump's Doormats.. BFD.....

[blake2012]

6. They aren't leaders. Fuck them all. GOP is poisonous wellspring of death

They should publicly repudiate Trump—especially Ryan who isn’t running for re-election.

I now know how powerless Germans felt as they watched their country be taken over by monsters.

[Soxfan58]

8. They failed!!!