From downstairs:

re: #255 Scottish Dragon

“People are talking about the shutdown in terms of poll numbers, Trump’s base, Democrats’ potential compromises. All of that is irrelevant. No one has leverage. Trump doesn’t care about his voters. The shutdown is not a means to an end. It is the end.”

Sarah’s missing one thing. To beat a narcissist, you have to take it to them where it hurts them the most. And Pelosi did. Trump doesn’t care about hundreds of thousands of workers, but he sure as hell cared about losing his SOTU, so much so he pulled a petty move that is backfiring to everyone not named Chris Cilizza.

You have an impetuous man-baby and a house speaker who has known said man-baby for years and years, and it’s not hard to see who has all the leverage.

The only thing Trump can do now are things that are going to blow up in his face. He’s refusing to leave because he’s already in the proverbial bunker. He’s losing the respect of everyone around him but a fraction of true believers, and that won’t win him a damn thing.

But make no mistake… when he caves, or is forced to cave, it will be the end. And it’s apparent he’s going to be forced down somehow.

He’s NOT winning, he’s lost, and he is dead set on losing in the worst way possible.