Joe Biden loves to tout his bona fides as a bipartisan compromiser during his days as a senator.Â
So why on earth, with a chance as president for real compromise on the border crisis and aid to Ukraine and Israel, is he flat-out refusing it?
Senate Republicans last week voted down an emergency spending bill because it lacked desperately needed border measures, leaving crucial monies for Ukraine (and Israel and Taiwan) in limbo ahead of the December recess.Â
This is the perfect opportunity for Biden to take the lead on hammering out a deal; heâs even said publicly heâs willing to âmake significant compromises on the border.â
That canât be simply funneling more money to nebulous border security pushes via CPB and ICE.Â
Not after the United States set a new record last week with more than 12,000 migrants crossing the southern border in a single day.
At this point, handing Biden a blank border-funds check means more encouraging of illegal immigration through his insane âwave them inâ policy.Â
But actually doing something substantive in exchange for OKing Ukraine aid would be in line with Bidenâs Dem-approved stance on Russiaâs brutal war and a first step in fighting back on the disaster at the border.
Yes, his administration caused that disaster.Â
But whatâs done is done, and what the Senate GOP wants in the bill (which mirrors a House border bill the White House has vowed to veto) is both substantive and reasonable.
Like reviving the Trump Era âRemain in Mexicoâ policy plus a new version of Title 42.
And declaring migrants ineligible for US asylum if they didnât seek first asylum in any country they passed through en route to America.
What about restricting asylum claims to official ports of entry while upping standards around qualifying?
Remember too: Back in 2021, per Franklin Foerâs book on Biden, when the new prez realized that what his open-border-enthusiast policy team wanted would mean murderers and drug dealers crossing into the United States, he lost it, spending months in a dismal and impotent rage.Â
So let the GOP help you, Joe. (Heck, itâd be great for your re-election prospects.)Â Â
Build out a deal with your fellow Democrats; work those compromise muscles with Republicans; get Uklraine and Israel needed help â and fix the disastrous problem that stretches from El Paso all the way to New York.Â