In other times, it would not be especially newsworthy that a President would meet with leaders of the opposition party to discuss, maybe even agree on, spending issues.
But in the era of Trump/Schumer/Pelosi? It’s a major event.
Excerpted from Anita Kumar, Sarah Ferris and Burgess Everett’s article at politico.com:
By all appearances, they are mortal enemies. President Donald Trump has been at war with Democratic leaders in Congress for months, as the two sides trade subpoenas, lawsuits and accusations of bad faith.
But on Tuesday, Trump, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer did something few people expected: They got along — or at least pretended to.
After a 90-minute Oval Office meeting to discuss a potential infrastructure bill, both sides gushed about what may have been their first point of agreement this year, on a plan to spend $2 trillion to repair crumbling roads and bridges. Never mind that they left unresolved how to foot the gigantic bill.
“Constructive,” said Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader. “Excellent,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders declared.
So Mr. Trump, Mr. Schumer and Ms. Pelosi found an area of agreement….on refreshing road and bridge infrastructure – about as bipartisan an issue as there could be.
In other times, I’d say “how could they not agree on something like this”. But in today’s hyperventilated partisan climate, agreement on anything at all is unusual enough to blog about.
That said, don’t expect the amity level to last. In fact, with William Barr about to testify before the Senate, it probably is over already.
Proof, if there is enough money in it the D’s will go along. They make me sick.