I don't think he has the balls. He is actually officially terrified of Nancy Pelosi.

Won't remember this one.

it's not that he cares at all about the suffering of others but he does care about poll numbers and how the public perceives the Repuke party.

....but the man isn't stupid.

He knows this was killing the GOP.

I think he is going to try to claim the higher ground here. I don't think it is going to work but in his mind he thinks it will allow him to back off his stupid wall promise saying "I tried but the dems wouldn't go along" and that will be it.

Then again...

much harder than Ann Coulter is capable of. He doesn't want any more public humiliation.

And he absolutely does not care who he hurts, or how much people hate him. Because haters are losers and enemies, by definition in his mind, and thereby dismissable.

I think we will have a second shutdown so long as Senate GOPers continue their current posture of going along with whatever Trump wants. Only when they defy him will he change his position to maintain his illusion of being in control and winning. He won't capitulate or negotiate with House Dems on his own.

Republican Senators are not happy campers.