Broken

If you are to believe the Democrats, the entire government shutdown hinges of Donald Trump's stand on immigration in general and the "dreamers" in particular. After all, Trump did the unforgivable. He asked congress to pass laws governing both illegal immigrants and their children, rather than reliable on the questionably constitutional executive orders of Barack Obama. He also allegedly using the term "sh**hole" to describe a collection of broken countries—countries in which corruption, violence, poverty, and general chaos lead to a dystopian atmosphere. Many people who live in those countries want out because the rule of law is tenuous, the leadership is dishonest and often amoral, the economy is in shambles, education is spotty, healthcare is poor, and the day-to-day stresses of living are enormous.

The trained hamsters in the main stream media, along with far too many Democrats, have become obsessed with the word "sh**hole," and now suggest that a single word is enough to derail legislation that just might reform immigration policy because the person who uses it is a "racist!!"

A question worth asking is whether calling a person a "racist" is any less offensive than calling a country a "sh**hole?" The answer, I think, is "no."

When you label someone a "racist," you bundle that person with those who are among the worst of humanity, people who have a long and sordid history of actions against specific groups. Donald Trump, for all of his faults, doesn't exhibit that history, except of course, in the fevered imaginations of those with Trump Derangement Syndrome. The implication, therefore, is that before the epithet "racist" is used, the accuser better have clear and irrefutable evidence that its use is more appropriate than accusing a person of "crass" behavior or "unthinking" language or "inappropriate" expression.

Yet, the TDS crowd that is outraged by the use of the epithet "sh**hole" to describe a country, seems completely unconcerned about hurling the epithet "racist" to describe Donald Trump. They argue that Trump is using his tweets or private comments to delegitimize and demonize countries and peoples. At the same time, TDSers are perfectly sanguine about using their language to delegitimize and demonize an elected president who they don't happen to like. It would sorta be like some group suggesting that Barack Obama wasn't born in the United States. Oh, wait ...

Blinded by TDS, Trump's opponents can't process the notion that their accusations are perceived by millions upon millions of American citizens as equally and maybe more offensive than using the word "sh**hole" to describe a broken country. So, they sit atop a fantasy pinnacle of moral superiority and shut the government down.

UPDATE:
-------------
In a recent post, I noted that the Dems strategy of shutting down the government has worked to the disadvantage of the GOP in past presidencies, but Donald Trump's presidency changes the rules, and they might have overplayed their hand. As a crescendo of criticism focused on the Dems and their cynical action to precipitate a shutdown, it looks like Chuck Schumer has had second thoughts. James Taranto comments:

Add this to the list of ways in which Donald Trump is conducting an unconventional presidency. For the first time in memory, Republicans just won a public debate over shutting down the government. Recent history says that the GOP can now expect a series of other wins this year on spending and debt.

On Friday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) led most of his Democratic colleagues in denying the federal government the funding it needs to conduct normal operations. To end the shutdown, Democrats demanded that illegal immigrants brought here as children be allowed to stay past the March 5 expiration of an Obama policy temporarily extended by President Trump.

On Monday, Democrats agreed to end the shutdown without a change in immigration law. Nor did they get a promise that the Senate will approve their desired change, nor did they get any commitment from House Republicans to do anything at all.

Heh ... winning bigly.