Sorry to all the liberal pundits and progressive Democrats who have been excoriating the eight senators who cut a deal with Republicans to end the government shutdown, but you are wrong.

What exactly was the end game you had in mind? Did you honestly think Republicans who barely care if the government operates at all would finally capitulate and restore the health care benefits that Democrats were fighting to preserve? Did you think the Decorator-in-Chief who is busy remodeling the White House in the image of a chintzy Versailles would suddenly care about the plight of poor people and grow a heart?

Yes, Democrats swept pretty much every election from governors’ races to school boards all across the country last week, but those victories did not come because Democrats were manning the health care ramparts. It came because a motivated majority of voters are repulsed by President Donald Trump and his abuses of power, and that disgust spilled over into local politics everywhere.

Polls showed more voters blamed the GOP for the government shutdown, but polls can shift quickly. Positive polls are no guarantee; ask Hillary Clinton.

In fact, the Senate Democratic caucus defectors did their colleagues a big favor. The shutdown was beginning to do serious harm to federal workers who were being fired or forced to work without a paycheck, and to recipients of essential benefits that enable them to buy food for their families. That pain was only going to spread to many other Americans, and some of the blame would have begun to fall on Democrats, too.

For political gain, the shutdown had gone on long enough. From a weak position as the minority in Congress, the Democrats successfully brought the health care issue to the forefront in a distracted society where it is hard to get anyone’s attention. They put Republicans on the defensive and, now, votes are lined up that will put GOP senators and representatives in the crosshairs on the health care issue — an issue that is not going to disappear.

Democrats made their point. The shutdown needed to end. Eight senators who are not up for re-election next year are taking the blame, but, arguably, they should be getting our thanks instead.

— From Tribune News Service