Potpourri

Of course, ICE is funded for the year and beyond, with enough money to create and equip a substantial masked militia (why masks?!) and buy up huge storage facilities to be used as detention centers around the country. But other DHS functions are on the chopping block for the time being.

Dems may hold out for changes in the way ICE operates but will be berated and bad-mouthed for doing so, with claims from Republicans along the lines of  “they’re only hurting the American people…” I’m always wondering what “American people” they’re talking about. Both parties throw around the phrase like it’s all of us when it’s never all of us.

Anyway, though I haven’t checked, I assume a partial government shutdown has gone into effect, and the sides will blame each other, but eventually the Republicans will emerge with everything they wanted, and the Democrats will have tried to take the high road but to no avail.

Meanwhile, the NATO alliance is evolving without us, various European leaders are publicly downplaying the significance of diminished U.S. participation, but I wonder what they’re saying privately. Is it really about Europe taking on a larger share of the expenses, or is it more about a desire to return to an old model of spheres of influence that many warn will increase the likelihood of much blood being spilled?

How does isolationism work, really? Is there any such thing as neutrality, ultimately? Or burying one’s head in the sand in the name of “sound fiscal policy?”