And yet, they prop him up

He's not fit for office, and they know it.

GOP leaders are convinced they don’t have the votes to appropriate [more money for a border wall] now, even though they control both chambers of Congress. They are trying to avoid a messy fight just ahead of mid-terms.

[...]

The top two Republicans in U.S. Congress arrived at the White House this week armed with props aimed at flattering and cajoling President Donald Trump out of shutting down the government at the end of this month.

House Speaker Paul Ryan showed the president glossy photos of a wall being built along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell brought an article from the Washington Examiner that described Trump as brilliantly handling the current budget process, portraying the GOP as unified and breaking through years of dysfunction.

Their message, according to two people briefed on the meeting: The budget process is going smoothly, the wall is already being built, and there’s no need to shut down the government.

[...]

The visual aids were a subtle but deft attempt to win over a president known to prefer visual imagery to wonky typed handouts, and eager to absorb flattery at a time when the White House is enveloped in chaos.

  The Star

Subtle???  Jesus wept.

After Ryan and McConnell presented Trump with the different images, however, the president changed his tune again. On Thursday, in a Fox News interview, Trump said a fight over the wall could wait.

“I don’t want to do anything that’s going to hurt us or potentially hurt us because I have a feeling that the Republicans are going to do very well,” in the midterm elections, Trump said, during the Fox News interview.

He said “most likely I will not” call for a shutdown, “but we’re going to do it immediately after the election.”

[...]

One of Trump’s central campaign promises was the construction of a wall along the Mexico border, and he has so far been stymied by Congress in obtaining the funding he says is necessary. The current construction is largely replacing existing walls and barriers that have existed for years.

Trump originally promised that Mexico would pay for the wall, but recently he has sought U.S. taxpayer money for the project. He wants $5 billion for 2019 — something few lawmakers believe is obtainable. Trump on Friday said the money could either come from Congress or he could try to redirect it from the Pentagon’s budget, adding further confusion to the planning.

The uncertainty has clouded the budget process on Capitol Hill as lawmakers work desperately to finalize spending bills to pay for government operations before current funding runs out Sept. 30 — unable to know whether their efforts will ultimately be thwarted by Trump’s veto.

[...]

Some congressional Republicans fear that for all the persuasion offered by GOP leaders in Congress, Trump will respond most strongly to the emotions of a base that wants to see him stand and fight for the wall — his signature campaign promise.

And he's on a rally tour that no doubt convinces him he's right.

Trump was given assurances at the White House meeting Wednesday that he would have GOP support for the wall fight once the midterm elections are behind them, said Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.

And I want to know how the hell they pulled that off. With Dems gaining such momentum, it's quite likely he'll have LESS support after the midterms. Are they keeping him THAT buffaloed?

And to show congressional leaders that Trump has not yet completely made up his mind, he appeared to demur again when asked about it by reporters on Air Force One Friday — while indicating that the advice he is getting from congressional leaders is competing with persuasion from conservative radio and TV personalities.

[...]

“There are a lot of politicians that I like and respect and are with me all the way that would rather not do it because they have races, they’re doing well, they’re up. The way they look at it, might be good, might be bad.”

[...]

“I would do it because I think it’s a great political issue,” he said. “I was reading and watching the other day, there are some people I have a lot of respect for. Rush Limbaugh says it’s the greatest thing you can do. Mark Levin, the greatest thing you can do. Your friend (Sean) Hannity, the greatest thing you can do.

Then, he's going to do it. If Sean Hannity tells him, it's a done deal.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.