As I understand it, the Continuing Resolution that the Republicans are putting before the Senate would keep the government “open” for six months, giving Congress a further opportunity to adopt a budget and certain other essential bills. In the House of Representatives, not one Democrat voted for this CR. What will happen in the Senate, where a vote is scheduled for tomorrow (the day before a shut off would start), is unclear. There needs to be 60 votes to end a filibuster, and it had been assumed that the 60 vote threshold would not be met.

But, surprisingly (to me, at least), Democratic leader Chuck Shumer has said that he will vote for a terrible CR, rather than let the government shut down. But the CR is not really a CR, as we have known it. A normal CR says that there will be a time extension where the existing spending levels would continue. But in this CR, there are changes to spending levels of all sorts, including spending by the DC government for such priorities as police (yes, the GOP wants to defund DC police), the fire department (and that includes EMT services), and the public schools, even though all this spending comes from DC tax income (that would be my money).

The majority of Democrats, I am sure, will vote against this CR. But Shumer, unless someone convinces him between now and tomorrow afternoon, will support the CR as an alternative to a shut down.

Obviously, neither position is a good one. It is a lose-lose. But I would rather lose in opposition to the Trump White House, rather that in collaboration with it.

The unnecessary reduction in permissible DC spending leads to a question. Why is this occurring, as it doesn’t even affect the budget? The answer seems clear. While DC residents are hopeful that one day, DC becomes a State, the Republicans of the world are hopeful that one day soon (really soon), DC will not only not become a State, but will lose its 50 year old Home Rule rights, and rather than being led by an elected mayor, would be controlled by a commission appointed by the President.

Again, because 60 votes would be needed in the Senate, this is unlikely to happen. But even without this, Trump will take the position that He can run the DC government by Executive Order or fiat, and will try to do so. His success, I am sure he feels, will be influenced by his ability to convince everyone that DC is competent to run itself. And one way to do this, is to make unilateral cuts to federal funding of DC or to pass laws which restrict DC’s funding or authority on a piecemeal basis. This CR is Step 1 in this process.

While ensuring that DC residents cannot receive the benefits that other Americans have (like controlling their local environment), Trump today is expressing determination for American dominance in other ways. He is doubling down on Canada becoming a State (won’t happen, of course) by threatening tariffs and more if it refuses, he is putting together military plans to take over the Panama Canal, and he is saying that he will annex Greenland, and capture half of the rare mineral wealth of Ukraine. As to the future of current American territories, like Puerto Rico, the Virgin Island and the various lands in the South Pacific, he is silent. Just like he is silent as to whether citizens of Canada and citizens of Greenland would automatically become citizens of the United States, rather than have to go through individual vetting.

Yes, this brave new world is certainly exciting. And we cope with it as best we can, day to day. And, today, one of the ways we cope with it is to hear the Magillah Esther read on the holiday of Purim, and boo all references to the evil Haman (who perhaps has his counterpart in today’s America).

At Adas Israel tonight, the Purim Spiel (traditionally a comic and/or musical skit) was done very professionally. A large crowd (it looked like it filled the sanctuary, which has just under 2000 seats, if I recall correctly) was on hand. And the reader of Chapter Six had his assistants.