A standoff over a wall

Well, that was ugly. We got to see the most powerful people in our country explode into a shouting match. Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer met with President Trump in what was supposed to be a simple photo op to discuss averting a federal government shutdown. The federal government has only until next week to pass a $1.7 billion spending bill, mainly homeland security funding, to keep the government operating. Of course, President Trump wants money, some $5 billion to build a wall along the Mexican border. Then again, he told us that Mexico would pay for this wall. Trump says he is willing to shut down the government if necessary in order to get his wall money. On the Friday before Christmas. Merry Christmas indeed. Our leaders should discuss border security. But let’s hope next time they do it in private. We don’t need to be exposed to such childishness and futility. They should get behind closed doors and work, amicably, to figure out the important issues associated with border security. And if Trump’s plan doesn’t have the votes, then we forget about that wall. Or Trump can ask our neighbors in Mexico if they have written that check yet.