Goalposts

I was highly vexed by my understanding of the deal to re-open the government, until I found out that CHIP funding was included.  That was the necessary "win" for Democrats.  However, there is a great deal of anger at Chuck Schumer for "allowing" the government to re-open.  I suppose the thinking is that Democrats always cave, and they caved without getting what they wanted: a DACA fix.  They kicked the can three weeks down the road.

Some of this is simply the instant gratification culture at work.  Some of this is the legitimate worry that the closer we get to March 5th, the closer we get to actual deportations. 

Going into the next round, the question is fundamentally this: Is a DACA fix worth funding the Wall?  Where is the moral imperative here?  Is it protecting 700,000 DREAMers?  Or is it opposing Trump's signature issue?  The Wall is a fundamentally stupid idea from a stupid person that appeals to other stupid people.  But it's become more than that.  Opposing or supporting the Wall is a litmus test, a shibboleth that identifies your place in the Resistence. 

The problem is that Democrats will almost certainly have to concede some Wall funding in return for getting a DACA fix.  Some, like Luis Gutierrez, say that it's perfectly acceptable to waste money on the Wall in order to protect the DREAMers.  Others feel it's a capitulation to Trump and his racist impulses about Hispanics.

Wherever you fall on this issue, the fact is that it probably behooves the Left in general to figure out whether opposing the Wall is more important than protecting the DREAMers.  Because that's the only deal out there, and you will need to know where the goalposts are before you try and calculate whether you won or lost.