Revised Travel Ban Shows More Trump Weakness

So the long-awaited new travel ban 2.0 has finally been release as quietly as possible. I guess that is become Trump doesn't want his rabid anti-immigration supporters to realized what a massive climb down this is. And he also knows that cable news is ready to move on from Russia and his accusations about Obama after obsessing about that all weekend. I'm not sure that will entirely work.

Anyway, here are the salient details from the Huffington Post:

What changed in the new order:

• Iraq removed from list of countries on the travel ban
  
• Applies only to non-visa holders (anyone with a valid or multi-entry visa is exempt from the new order)
  
• Will not go into effect until March 16 to avoid chaos
  
• Exceptions for religious minorities removed
  

What remains from the previous order:

• Refugee resettlement program banned for 120 days
  
• Travel ban for citizens of some countries in effect for 90 days
  
• Cap on refugee resettlement for fiscal year 2017 plummets from 110,000 to 50,000

Green card holders are now exempt although I'm sure that CPB will continue to harass foreigners as they have been. Interestingly, Iraq has been removed from the banned countries. Considering that Iraq is one of the two countries where ISIS holds physical territory, that seems kind of dangerous if you believe that ISIS is sending thousands of terrorists into our country as opposed to the reality that the terrorist group is actually collapsing and soon there will be nothing left of its signature caliphate.

Of course, even this order will be challenged in the courts. But it is a remarkable climb down and essentially a defeat for Trump. Yes, thousands will still be negatively impacted. But this watered down version is a victory for our functioning justice system and the power of relentless resistance. And Democrats need to weave this Trump retreat into the narrative of his weakness. Every time Trump has to back down, he looks weaker and weaker. He will eventually have to back down from his accusation about Obama, (even Comey is apparently demanding that), and that will again make him look weaker. Even now, Trump knows that people think "his presidency is screwed up". And these continued displays of weakness will eventually begin to sap the support of his followers.