[jetpilot]

So, where's the big news? Loss of paychecks by federal employees and contractors has always resulted in political pressure for those who are blamed for government shutdowns. If that pressure came as a surprise to Trump, then he needs to either fire his staff or start taking their advice more seriously.

The "deal" to which Trump agreed was nothing but a feeble attempt at saving face. Pelosi and Schumer gave up nothing and the partial government shutdown weakened Trump and the Republicans who had supported him. It's hard to see the events as anything but a political disaster.

Eventually, Congress would have passed a spending bill by a veto proof margin. That is why politicians should fight tough battles from a position of strength. It is why armies have fought to control high ground for thousands of years.

Statesmanship among our elected federal representatives has gone missing, but it has been missing for a very long time. IMO, people in DC understand that interest on the national debt is going to destroy life as we know it in this nation and politicians have simply given up trying to do anything to avoid our fate.

Democrats and RINOs are acting particularly short-sighted but the time will come when no politician will be electable who promises to exercise any fiscal restraint. Trump has done absolutely nothing to address the debt bomb but I think our fate was probably sealed while Democrats controlled the House of Representatives for four decades. They spent their way into power and spent to maintain their power and Republicans followed suit.

When elected officials began buying votes and growing wealthy while drawing federal checks and passing the bill for their fiscal malfeasance to taxpayers who had not even been born yet, our lot was cast.

That time is here and now! Let's see what Trump does on the wall. Dems and half the Repubs don't want it. He is our only chance - that's a fact.