The Government Is Definitely Going to Shut Down Tonight. Maybe.
No but really, the shutdown is probably going to happen.
![](https://d2eehagpk5cl65.cloudfront.net/img/q60/uploads/assets/mc/2018_12/donaldtrumpgovernmentshutdown.jpg)
If Congress and the White House can't agree to a spending package by midnight, parts of the federal government will shut down. The chances of a deal being reached seem slim.
First, let's back up for a moment. President Donald Trump is demanding that the spending plan include $5 billion to build a wall on the U.S.–Mexico border. Trump said last week he'd be "proud" to let a shutdown happen over the border wall. But on Wednesday, the administration seemed to be shifting course. "We have other ways that we can get to that $5 billion," White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on Fox News, suggesting Trump would sign a bill that didn't include the full amount he was requesting.
That night, the Senate approved a bill to keep the government funded through February. The legislation included $1.3 billion in border security, but no wall money.
You'll be shocked, shocked to hear that the administration then changed course again. Yesterday, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R–Wisc.) revealed that Trump had said he didn't support the Senate bill. Last night, the House voted 217–185 to keep the government fully funded, at least until February. Though the bill includes $5.7 billion in border wall funding, it has virtually no chance of being approved by the Senate. That's because Senate rules require such bills to receive the support of 60 senators. Even if each of the 51 GOP senators approved the bill (which isn't guaranteed), the legislation would need the support of nine Democrats.
That brings us to today. In a tweet this morning, Trump called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R–Ky.) to use the "Nuclear Option," which would allow the House bill to pass in the Senate with a simple majority of 51 votes. Via a spokesperson, McConnell said that wouldn't happen.
McConnell did express his support for the House bill. But that might not matter. As of this writing, the Senate was still voting on a motion to proceed. Such a motion needs only a simple majority, meaning Republicans should theoretically have the votes. But Sen. Jeff Flake (R–Ariz.) opposes the motion, and some GOP senators weren't even in attendance.
And again, even if the motion passes, it has no chance of being approved by 60 senators.
The president, for his part, has signaled that the shutdown is likely to happen. "The chances" of a shutdown "are probably very good," he told reporters this afternoon. "I hope we don't," he said, "but we are totally prepared for a very long shutdown."
Some Republican senators appear to agree, with Sens. Chuck Grassley (R–Iowa) and Richard Shelby (R–Ala.) essentially saying that unless things change, a shutdown is likely.
There are really just two scenarios in which a shutdown is averted. Either the Senate approves the House's spending bill (again: not going to happen) or the president reverses course once more. The second scenario isn't outside the realm of possibility, as Trump has been known to change his mind.
It's also worth noting that the "shutdown" would not, in fact, shut down the full government. Trump has already approved $931 billion of the roughly $1.2 trillion in proposed funding for the 2019 fiscal year, so those parts of the government will not be affected. Seven remaining bills that need to be approved by the end of the day would fund the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Departments of Justice, Commerce, Agriculture, and Homeland Security; the last of those is where Trump wants to direct border wall funding. "Essential" employees from those affected departments would still be on the job, though more than 400,000 of them would have to work without pay.
If a shutdown does happen, it's unclear how long it would last, considering that some lawmakers will be home for the Christmas holiday.
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MAGA like a pimp!
Trump is anti-war
The democrats and their media allies are all pro-war
Trump has no beliefs or principles beyond self-regard. Haven’t you noticed by now?
You can be forgiven for not noticing how much he’s ramped up civilian casualties in military operations, because it’s not reported on much, and certainly not where you get your alleged news.
You can be forgiven for not noticing how much he’s ramped up civilian casualties in military operations, because it’s not actually happening, and the proponents of this allegation mangle statistics and play fast and loose with the definition of “non-combatants”.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned the last 2 years it’s the media protects trump every chance they get.
You’re an idiot Tony.
Fuck you, staist slaver!!
Poor hihn soc puppet.
But who will tax and regulate us?
The stock market assumes so. It’s acting like the economy is about to shut down.
Meanwhile…
Zero Hedge has been predicting the end of the world since ti started I think. Is there ever a zero hedge article that doesn’t predict the end of the economy as we know it?
They’re a doomsday cult.
They really are. Does anyone actually believe the shit they publish?
Reason propagandists do.
Merry Christmas, hapless malcontents!
Merry Christmas, useful idiots of the Lefty elite.
The immigration deal Trump should’ve taken, but didn’t
When Trump can get border wall funding AND deport all dreamers?
No need to compromise. Lefties like schumer are just between a rock and hardplace.
I think in this article, they’re predicting a rally due to pensions buying $60B in stock, which will then be slapped right back down due to all the selling. Honestly, even though $60B is a lot of money, it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the dollar volume being liquidated lately. I do think we’ll get a little rally to about 2500/6500/23000 or so before heading back down. My guess is that “the market” wants to go back to Nov 2016 levels, completely wiping out the Trump bull market. Just guessing, of course.
eventually they’ll be right…..
….but it will be too late to say “I told you so” then.
If Trump leaves a market correction alone, the market will likely move quickly back into growth mode.
Lefty propaganda wont have barely started bashing Trump for the normal market correction before the marketmoves back into growth territory.
If Trump leaves a market correction alone, the market will likely move quickly back into growth mode.
But he’s a tariff man.
Cheaper stock prices.
Buy buy buy.
Ha ha, no. Well, maybe soon, but not now.
Suit yourself.
One strategy is to buy in interval blocks of stocks.
Hopefully I get to Dallas before it happens and all the planes fall out of the sky.
I just hope I can get home from work tonight before the streets devolve into roaving motocycle bands fighting over the last remaining cans of tunafish to keep from starving.
Must be Boomer post-apocalyptic motorcycle gangs fighting over that canned tuna.
Millennials don’t even know how to use can-openers.
Millenials will fight over the cans and then even the winners will still starve because they can’t open the cans. Generation retard is not going to fair well in the coming distopia.
It’s hard to fight over the cans when you are in a fetal position crying your eyes out.
Assuming spelling ability isn’t a post-apocalyptic must-have.
Opening a can? What cans do you have that don’t have a pull tab this day and age? And if you have a can without a pull tab and no can opener, what special old-timey wisdom do you possess that opens them that youngsters wouldn’t be able to figure out?
Not to be retarded. The advice I’d give as a seasoned old timer is “don’t be stupid, don’t be a Tony”.
Tony.. most vegetable cans still don’t have pull tabs. Go to a grocery store instead of fast food fatty.
Vegetables in a can? Mine all come fresh. Though I suppose knowing the ins and outs of canned goods will be a useful skill soon enough.
You pay extra for “organic” dont you?
I sell organic fruits and vegetables too. The similarities to regular fruits and vegetables would send you into a crying fit.
A crying fit like Trump replacing RBG with a conservative soon. Real soon.
I’ll ignore your wishing death on an old woman and point out that you’re arguing with a figment of your imagination. Maybe a spell in a padded room would do you some good.
Poor Tony hates that RBG will be dead soon and that stupid bitch refused to retire back in 2010 when Obama could have replaced her.
Im pointing out the reality of RBG’s situation rather than wishing death on someone.
I would point out that YOU wish all sorts of non-Lefties dead every day.
Trump accused of criminal conspiracy … by his own DOJ … WITH evidence!
Poor trolls like hihn.
The bill isn’t Trump’s problem until it reaches his desk. If Congress can’t pass a bill to get to his desk, it’s their problem.
Instead of writing an intelligent well informed article about the legal aspects, such as the use of the nuclear option, or maybe a Libertarian economic point of view that we spend $4 billion every year on sugar subsidies but can’t squeeze out the same amount for a permanent infrastructure such as a wall…
we get yet another snark filled article.
This is a blog.
There was a time not so long ago if you wanted to read a well thought out and reasoned legal analysis on a topic in the national news Volokh and Reason would be a good bet. Now there’s little analysis (except for Eugene) with a lot of political hit pieces and a bad case of TDS that clouds their reasoning.
So you disagree. And apparently have no clue what libertarians are.
Why is the right so compelled to suppress opposing views, for centuries actually?
Juice defends Reason by saying its a blog as if thats some excuse for propaganda.
Fun fact, the shutdown will cost more money than what was offered to Trump for his wall that he’s not going to get anymore.
Watching that guy show off his negotiating skills is like watching a comatose retard play chess.
Didn’t know you played chess.
You’re obviously not comatose Tony. This victimhood thing is going too far.
Shutdowns only cost money because idiot liberals use it as a chance to pay bonuses with back pay.
If idiot Lefties are against a shutdown…I’m for it.
The opposite is 99% better bet if Lefties are for something
So, JesseAz admits that Trump KNOWINGLY increased government spending … to get nothing.
There are no such bonuses, and only a Trumptard “think” that idiot liberals did such a thing.
So much for idiot conservatives, brainwashed as always.
Chill, dude.
MAGA!
Bye-bye Donald, Unless you actually can pardon yourself. (smirk)
Don Jr. KNOWINGLY conspired with an agent of the Russian government, to help his father’s campaign (Trump Tower)… because Retard Jr. ADMITTED iit!!!
Trump totally misled the American people on the purpose of the meeting and, when he got caught, claimed he had no advance knowledge of it.
If he did, that makes him a co-conspirator in treasonous activity.
“Conspiring” means PLANNING together. Junior released the emails PLANNING the meeting, KNOWING it was on behalf of the Russian government, to help elect his father,
Wait for it ….
LOCK THEM UP!
OR … Junior is undeniably guilty. Will his father allow his son to spend the rest of his life in prison. Is Trump THAT evil?
Hihn trolling….
If a shutdown does happen, it’s unclear how long it would last, considering that some lawmakers will be home for the Christmas holiday.
So, any lawmaker home for the, um, holiday wants the shutdown to *last*.
Hmm, on how many major issues has the President held the same position for … five days?
Just to clarify, that does not include any where he has bounced around 3-4 positions, and settled back to his original one.
On this one, he will shut down parts of the federal government to defend the security of our great nation.
To defend the security of our homeland, he will shut down …. Homeland Security.
As the Clown Car accelerates.
I hear several magpies chanting in robotic unison, “TDS”
Fuck off Hihn.
Something something watching sausage being made. But trump is the only politician ever to change his position.
I hear several magpies chanting in robotic unison, “TDS”
Because you’re stupid.
Another thug joins the Authoritarian Right Clown Car!!
Yup. Stupid. So very, very stupid.
Precious snowflake was triggered.
And some say only the left suppresses “offensive speech.”
They both do. But only the right is so nasty. And infantile.
The authoritarian right. it’s the only way they can feel like manly men.
Trump flipped FOUR times on the border wall in the past week. Had a deal earlier, but walked away from it (Coulter and Limbaugh). So who are the stupid manipulated ones?
Severe denial is a psychiatric affliction. (smirk)
(Throw another hissy fit?)
What could “trigger” so many hissy fits by goobers snowflakes?
REALITY Same as always. (sneer)
So, the geniuses prove me correct! Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa Haaaaaaaaaaaa
Hihn is back in force!
Golly, it is Friday, the federal government shuts down every Friday!
80% of the federal government is automatically funded, that is how much power is seeded to the administrative beast by congress.
The “shut down” is bullshit. Bull shit excreted for decades by corrupt congressional actions. So you can’t go to some bull shit location that was non-constitutionally acquired funded by tax payers. SFW.
Shut the mother fucker down.
Props to McConnell. The Democrats destroyed institutionalized norms that helped make sure the minority was consulted on major laws. Someday the Republicans will again be the minority in the Senate, and glad they didn’t pull a Ried.
Yea, wouldn’t be too sure of that.
Next time Ds are the majority in the Senate and have a D president, they’re definitely going to pull the nuclear option to pass some piece of 25,000 page legislation to cement the majority of Americans’ status as serfs…
I agree it’s a precarious precipice, but I think we’re headed for a simple majority requirement to pass bills in the Senate, no matter what the Rs do this time
Good for them. How well did that turn out for them? If they wanna break the first law of holes, I’ll give ’em the shovels.
1) there wont be a Democratic president for another 6 years plus.
2) there won’t be a Democrat majority in Congress for decades.
Says the guy who claimed the Republicans would hold the House . . .
Stop making predictions and start getting ready to obey Democratic preferences, lc.
Says the guys who said that Democrats would gain the House AND Senate.
Democrats could not even win enough seats to get 236 House seats, which is what the current 115th Congress Republicans hold.
Democrats lost 4 Senate seats. FOUR!
Poor Lefties had a sad.
Shut it down.
So Trump IS a secret libertarian….
“more than 400,000 of them would have to work without pay.”
Good. They are servants. They should at best receive a stipend, like interns.
How could they afford a $600k 1200sf house in Arlington?
I Want This Cap!
I can’t wait for the govt. to run out of money permanently. I will enjoy watching the members of the free sh!t army go nuts when the EBT no longer works!
Or …. when the rich are no longer subsidizing half YOUR personal income tax.
Will YOU go nuts?
MAGA!
Are you among the millions Trump bamboozled?
Are you also ignorant that he promised to pay off the entire federal debt in 8 years — but has ALREADY added MORE 8-year debt than Obama!!!
THE REPUBLICAN NEW DEAL — ALREADY WORSE THAN OBAMA! (8-year debt)
$ 9.6 T Obama (after 8 years)
$10.7 T Trump (in only TWO years, wants MORE)
Obama’s 8-year debt (billions) 19,539.6 – 9,986.1 = 9,553.5
Trump’s 8-year debt
$30,042 August Forecast for 2024 (804 estimate for 2018)
++++181 (985 actual – 804)
—19,549 (Trump inherited)
==10,534 (Trump already)
Trump, first President to EVER increase deficit by 47% … in one year … with a booming economy (OMFG) (same link)
Obama inherited 2nd worst recession since the 1930s.
Trump inherited longest recovery EVER for an incoming President — FROM OBAMA!!!
If Congress and the White House can’t agree to a spending package by midnight, parts of the federal government will shut down. The chances of a deal being reached seem slim.
If a shutdown does happen, it’s unclear how long it would last, considering that some lawmakers will be home for the Christmas holiday. annotated bibliography writing service
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