“Despite the shutdown, we will continue to execute daily operations around the world — ships and submarines will remain at sea, our aircraft will continue to fly and our warfighters will continue to pursue terrorists through the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.”
Jim Mattis, US Defence Secretary
“Democrat messaging is a mess. They are delusional to think DACA, which is unrelated to keeping the government open and doesn’t expire until at least March 5 … is more important to the American people than paychecks for our troops and health insurance for children. Democrats do not oppose anything in the [continuing resolution] and after six years of governing by [continuing resolution] can’t make a credible case they oppose. They simply want to signal to their base that they are resisting the president. That’s not negotiating.”
Kevin Sheridan, Republican party strategist
“I think that Republicans are pushing up against a very uncomfortable fact and that is that they do control, although nominally, all the branches of the federal government and, consequently, I think it’s easier to hold them responsible. Republicans complaining that they only control 51 seats in the 100-member Senate isn’t an effective strategy. If you have to retreat to procedural language and drag people into the legislative process and intricacies, it’s a difficult argument to make.”
Ross Baker, Political scientist at Rutgers University
“I think Democrats made a series of really grave mistakes, chief among them is having a three-week debate about the DACA program, which will likely get a solution but certainly didn’t call for a government shutdown to achieve it. And what that did is frame the entire debate ... their purpose for shutting the government down is to try to provide citizenship for people who are currently here illegally. And that juxtaposed with soldiers and sick, poor kids is not a good set of optics. It’s a lazy arrogance when it comes to political fortunes.”
Josh Holmes, Adviser to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
“Traditionally the party in power, especially when there’s total unified government, is held responsible for policy outcomes. That’s what history says, but history also said that someone like Donald Trump couldn’t be elected president of the United States. I reference history with many more reservations than I used to.”
William Galston, Senior fellow at the Brookings Institution; former aide to President Bill Clinton
“Republicans from President Trump on down are clear and unified on why Washington Democrats forced this shutdown, while the Democrats can’t get on the same page. The American people know it was Washington Democrats who voted against funding the government and children’s health insurance. This is all on their heads.”
Michael Steel, Press secretary for former House Speaker John Boehner
