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Your expectations are simply unrealistic. It would be like saying the QB of your favorite team should have just jumped over the defense. That foolishness ignores that it is impossible.

McCarthy and the Republicans did not get much for their threat to not fund the government, but that’s because they didn’t have much power.

Are you familiar with BATNA? It’s the Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement. The Republicans’ BATNA was that the Government runs out of funding and the President has to shut down parts of the government. He would choose things that hurt the most people, and he would blame Republicans. This has been proven to work again and again. The Republicans would lose control of the House in the next election.

Does that sound effective to you? So they had to have a negotiated agreement, just as Biden did. BATNA wasn’t great for him, either. The Republicans got a decent deal.

If you want more austere fiscal policy then you must elect those type of Republicans. Trump damn sure isn’t one of them. Like Bill Clinton, Trump benefited by the heavy lifting done by the previous (two) administrations.

That is your opinion. Another is allow the shut down and go on the offensive pushing back against Democrats. Be vocal and loud, telling Americans what Biden will do and calling him out. Republicans COULD resist and be successful, but they won't and it isn't due to some honorable or intelligent acronym (BATNA), it's simply a lack of courage and self preservation.

What some don't understand is that nothing changes if nothing changes. Usually meaningful change doesn't happen without a fight, the resistance must overcome and that doesn't happen by continuing to give up. This only prolongs the inevitable. Sometimes people have to stand up and fight or continue to be preyed upon.