Lexington Herald Leader Logo

1 word for Mitch McConnell: ‘Override.’ Senate leader’s kowtow to Trump is making us less safe. | Lexington Herald Leader

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • All News
    • Business
    • Communities
    • Counties
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Lexington
    • Most Wanted
    • Nation/World
    • News Photos
    • News Videos
    • Politics
    • Searchable Databases
    • State
    • Watchdog
    • Columns
    • Tom Eblen
    • All Sports
    • UK Sports
    • College Sports
    • Next Cats Recruiting
    • High School
    • Horses
    • Kentucky Speedway
    • Lexington Legends
    • Reds
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • NASCAR
    • NFL
    • Sports Photos
    • Sports Videos
    • Columns
    • John Clay's Columns
    • Mark Story
    • Next Cats Recruiting
    • All UK Sports
    • Next Cats Recruiting
    • Baseball
    • Basketball - Men
    • Basketball - Women
    • Recruiting
    • Ex-Cats
    • Football
    • UK Photos
    • UK Videos
    • More UK Sports
    • Columns
    • John Clay's Blog
    • Mark Story
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • All Entertainment
    • Books
    • Celebrities
    • Comics
    • Puzzles & Games
    • Events Calendar
    • Horoscopes
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Restaurants
    • Stage & Dance
    • TV
    • Visual Arts
    • Entertainment Photos
    • Entertainment Videos
    • News Blogs
    • Kentucky Weather
    • Photo Archive
    • Sports Blogs
    • John Clay's Blog
    • High School
    • UK Football
    • UK Men's Basketball
    • UK Women's Basketball
    • Lexington Legends
    • Entertainment Blogs
    • Rich Copley's Blog
    • Walter Tunis on Music
    • All Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Joel Pett
    • Letters to the Editor
    • National Columnists
    • Op-Ed
    • Submit a Letter
    • All Living
    • Celebrations
    • Family
    • Fashion
    • Food & Drink
    • Fru-Gal: Deb Morris
    • Health & Medicine
    • Home & Garden
    • Paul Prather
    • Religion
    • Travel
    • Readers' Choice
    • Kentucky Obituaries
    • Obituaries in the News
    • Submit an Obituary
    • Customer Service
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • E-edition
    • Page Reprints
    • Photo Reprints
    • RSS Feeds
    • Special Sections
    • Site Information
    • Advertise With Us
    • Archives
    • Mobile
    • Mobile Apps & eReaders
    • Newsletters
    • Social
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Google+
    • Today's Circulars
    • Classifieds
    • Jobs
    • Cars
    • Homes
    • Homeseller
    • Legal Notices
  • Place an Ad
  • Mobile & Apps

Editorials

1 word for Mitch McConnell: ‘Override.’ Senate leader’s kowtow to Trump is making us less safe.

By Herald-Leader editorial board

    ORDER REPRINT →

January 03, 2019 06:47 PM

Most Americans know that President Donald Trump’s wall is less about border security than putting on a show for his political base.

Trump was ready last month to approve a government funding plan that had no wall money. Then right-wing media personalities pounced, goading him into shutting down a third of the government.

As a result, 800,000 public workers, including most in the Department of Homeland Security and 24,000 in law enforcement, are not being paid. Many deportations are on hold because immigration courts, which have a backlog of almost 1 million cases, are shut down. Employers can’t verify that new hires are in the country legally because the E-Verify service is unavailable.

On Thursday, the House, newly under Democratic control, was expected to move to end the shutdown by approving basically the same spending plan that the Senate unanimously approved before Christmas. The difference: Homeland Security funding would end Feb. 8, giving Congress and Trump time to negotiate border security priorities. Otherwise, the House plan funds the government through this fiscal year at the levels approved just a few weeks ago by the Senate.

Digital Access For Only $0.99

For the most comprehensive local coverage, subscribe today.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

#ReadLocal

What’s not to like about that if you’re Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans? It’s their spending plan, and the government re-opens.

Yet, McConnell insists the Senate won’t vote on the House plan or any plan that Trump won’t sign.

To which we have one word: Override.

Congress has the power and, we suspect, the numbers to override a Trump veto. The threat of an override would probably bring Trump to the table.

McConnell, up for re-election next year, and other Senate Republicans understandably dread incurring Trump’s wrath, especially since it might inspire a Republican challenger.

But McConnell has to know the Trump presidency would eventually force a choice upon him. Now would be a good time to choose to lead.

McConnell and Congress should re-focus the government on effective strategies for protecting Americans. It’s insulting to talk about spending billions on a medieval-style wall when no one, not even Trump, can nail down exactly what he wants. Former White House chief of staff John Kelly recently said Trump had long ago abandoned the notion of a solid concrete structure, while Sen. Lindsey Graham says the wall is “a metaphor for border security.”

Trump replied, via Twitter, that “an all concrete Wall was NEVER ABANDONED” though it will be “see through” at some points.

Trump’s wall, whatever it is, will not make us safer, while the shutdown makes us less safe. Despite the influx of asylum-seeking families, the number of undocumented immigrants is down, from a peak of 12.2 million in 2007 to 10.7 million in 2016.

With the threat of an override amplifying his persuasive powers, McConnell should help Trump see a face-saving win in obtaining funds to handle the influx of families, clear the immigration court backlog and resume paying the experts who protect us from real terrorist plots.

  Comments  

Videos

President Trump’s attacks on the media are unprecedented

Mayoral candidate Ronnie Bastin: Opioids, school safety are priorities

View More Video

Trending Stories

Led by cult bourbons, distillers dream of a ‘Napa-fication’ of Kentucky bourbon

January 04, 2019 09:19 AM

AppHarvest sets sights on Morehead for huge greenhouse after delays in Pikeville

January 04, 2019 10:17 AM

‘Stuff getting real.’ UK, Alabama to play in ‘shark-infested waters’

January 04, 2019 01:14 PM

‘Top Chef’ Kentucky: Two chefs melt down on Restaurant Wars finale

January 04, 2019 08:00 AM

Former Louisville football coach on verge of selling $1.45 million estate

January 04, 2019 11:41 AM

Read Next

Editorials

Yes, Jim Gray was a ‘vision guy.’ And a lot more.

By Herald-Leader editorial board

    ORDER REPRINT →

January 04, 2019 08:18 PM

Competence and consensus-building characterized Jim Gray’s eight years as Lexington mayor. Those who would govern could learn a lot from his example.

KEEP READING

Digital Access For Only $0.99

#ReadLocal

For the most comprehensive local coverage, subscribe today.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

MORE EDITORIALS

Editorials

Here’s an idea: Give Trump a ‘pretend’ wall then Congress should fund real needs at the border

December 27, 2018 05:37 PM
Time for Bevin to learn how to govern better

Editorials

Time for Bevin to learn how to govern better

December 21, 2018 05:12 PM
Coming for your weapons, finally

Editorials

Coming for your weapons, finally

December 21, 2018 05:14 PM
Appalachian water crisis demands new revenue streams, stronger oversight

Editorials

Appalachian water crisis demands new revenue streams, stronger oversight

December 14, 2018 07:49 PM
Court ruling on pensions a win for democracy

Editorials

Court ruling on pensions a win for democracy

December 13, 2018 08:32 PM
Kudos to McConnell for legalizing industrial hemp

Editorials

Kudos to McConnell for legalizing industrial hemp

December 12, 2018 08:18 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Lexington Herald Leader App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Archives
Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Place a Classified Ad
  • Local Deals
  • Digital Solutions
  • Media Kit
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story