Props to Rep. McGovern for not sugarcoating the shitshow we're facing. More Democrats need to be straight up like that — it's both true and makes them seem more real/credible when they don't sound like politicians reading from approved talking points.
What I don't get is why there isn't a complete federal worker strike, from soup to nuts...SHOW the American people what a gutted Federal Government actually looks like...Give 'em a little PREVIEW
I mean there is NO WAY that this idea isn't being floated around right now. Federal Employees LITERALLY have the power to hold he country hostage...In a GOOD way
It would take YEARS to replace them...The job requires several years of training and a very particular temperament...But also remember that while the ATCs work under the FAA, Mump is only going after the FAA administrators...He has not and would not go after the ATCs...
NO one is going to fly during that long recruiting and training period...
THIS is the kind of disruption that Mump DOESN'T want...
We weren't talking specifically about the FAA, just Federal employees in general, right? Point taken about ATCs, but don't forget that reagan got away with that.
My sentiments are more broad than the details, so I may be speaking out of turn per the specifics...but labor strikes overall are our best option out of this mess...It would spook the .01% who AREN'T Bezos or Zuckerman...the rich people who got rich off that labor and a stable stock market already pushed past health P/E ratios...There is a lot more wealth out there that is getting nervous over unhinged Elon's campaign...Those tax breaks aren't going to mean SHIT in a collapsed economy with millions of people with nothing left to lose roaming the streets and neighborhoods
We shouldn’t help them one bit. Until they get Elon Musk out of our business, agree to release funds that have already been approved, and quit harassing us, dems shouldn’t do anything to help Johnson. They have the majority. They’ve said they don’t need us
I wouldn’t even settle for that. I’d say “give us a reason to believe that POTUS will abide by our appropriation, considering that he just did [gestures at everything of the past weeks]. If you cannot convince us he will stick wit( it, no deal, period.” Of course the catch is there’s literally nothing that could convince anyone that Trump adobes by a deal. So it’s gotta be no vote,
You truly believe Trump wants to remove the tax on social security? Maybe after he privatizes it, or, more likely, simply destroys it. Democrats should do nothing but it doesn't matter either way. Trump is a dictator who will do what he pleases. The budget means nothing. And he has no problem with the US defaulting. "Go ahead, try to collect," he'll threaten creditors. And Musk, in his separate but equal role to destroy the government is fine with all of it.
“We were negotiating in good faith” said Holy Moses Johnson. Snort laugh. I can do without his kind of corrupted faith. There isn’t any kind of negotiating that will work. The GOP clown car can just Thelma and Louise it.
This, but also—how on earth can Dems vote for anything with these people? They already made clear that budget deals don’t matter. Even pretending they do is just a farce. Ok, get your concessions, cut a grand bargain, then what? Trump spends what he wants and Congress does nothing more than complain (if that.).
Here's the scary thing; as Congress through the unreconstructed party has abrogated the power of the purse, it may not even matter if Apartheid Clyde's script kiddies have access to all our financial information.
I wouldn't trust a Republican deal either.
And of course there is the rightwing media human centipede's framing. Any bad stuff like this is going to be laid at the foot of an amorphous "Congress" and not the bomb-throwing unreconstructed party members. When you couple that with Murc's Law, it's going to be catastrophic.
I can see ways for them to cross-reference voting registrations with employees and punish the ones who they assume are Democrats by zeroing out their payroll information. I mean really anything's on the table.
That’s the direction it’s going in. If they have a shutdown that isn’t quickly resolved expect there to be a declaration of emergency with illegal funding put in place.
At this point I don’t think House Republicans can pass gas much less a budget. Nor should Democratic lawmakers offer them any simethicone. The only thing I want Dems to do is say “We will not accept any cuts to Medicaid/SSA/Medicare/VA Benefits” or some variation of “Republicans want to rob the poor to pay the rich”.
Murthy’s point says it all—no point in any agreement because Republicans just made it clear that Trump can ignore the law, spend what we wants without regard to appropriations, and Republicans won’t mane him face consequences. So there is literally no concession that would justify Dems voting for a bill.
If it means catastrophe well so be it, we’re already there because we have a dictator now. We had our chance to prevent that last year, but it’s now the GOP’s mess. Only a fool would bail them out under any circumstance.
Great summary, Stephen, as always. The trick for the Dems will be to hang the MAGA/TeaParty scum out to dry, while not letting themselves be blamed for the governmental failures. And that will require finesse and constant public reminders that the GOP brought this on themselves.
It might also be nice for the Dems to loudly remind the public that the party in power is supposed to legislate to the benefit of the entire country, and not just for the most extreme mouth-breathing members of their own party.
Fake Moses is such a liar - repubs haven't negotiated in good faith in 30 years. He dares to call himself a Christian, but I have yet to see any Christlike behavior from him.
Stand strong, Dems, your only leverage is to let the repubs hang themselves.
Props to Rep. McGovern for not sugarcoating the shitshow we're facing. More Democrats need to be straight up like that — it's both true and makes them seem more real/credible when they don't sound like politicians reading from approved talking points.
If they can't pass bills with their simple majority that's a them thing
What I don't get is why there isn't a complete federal worker strike, from soup to nuts...SHOW the American people what a gutted Federal Government actually looks like...Give 'em a little PREVIEW
I mean there is NO WAY that this idea isn't being floated around right now. Federal Employees LITERALLY have the power to hold he country hostage...In a GOOD way
tfg wants to replace them all, anyway. That would be akin to obeying in advance.
It would take YEARS to replace them...The job requires several years of training and a very particular temperament...But also remember that while the ATCs work under the FAA, Mump is only going after the FAA administrators...He has not and would not go after the ATCs...
NO one is going to fly during that long recruiting and training period...
THIS is the kind of disruption that Mump DOESN'T want...
We weren't talking specifically about the FAA, just Federal employees in general, right? Point taken about ATCs, but don't forget that reagan got away with that.
right on...I was talking about the FAA in THIS exchange but a full on federal strike would be much better...or just a general strike like here:
https://generalstrikeus.com/
My sentiments are more broad than the details, so I may be speaking out of turn per the specifics...but labor strikes overall are our best option out of this mess...It would spook the .01% who AREN'T Bezos or Zuckerman...the rich people who got rich off that labor and a stable stock market already pushed past health P/E ratios...There is a lot more wealth out there that is getting nervous over unhinged Elon's campaign...Those tax breaks aren't going to mean SHIT in a collapsed economy with millions of people with nothing left to lose roaming the streets and neighborhoods
Democrats are so good at doing nothing when it comes to 'opposition'...Doing nothing as a STRATEGY asks NOTHING of them...Its a PERFECT fit...
We shouldn’t help them one bit. Until they get Elon Musk out of our business, agree to release funds that have already been approved, and quit harassing us, dems shouldn’t do anything to help Johnson. They have the majority. They’ve said they don’t need us
Exactly! And they never include Dems in negotiations, which is stupid, but repubs are stupid.
I wouldn’t even settle for that. I’d say “give us a reason to believe that POTUS will abide by our appropriation, considering that he just did [gestures at everything of the past weeks]. If you cannot convince us he will stick wit( it, no deal, period.” Of course the catch is there’s literally nothing that could convince anyone that Trump adobes by a deal. So it’s gotta be no vote,
You truly believe Trump wants to remove the tax on social security? Maybe after he privatizes it, or, more likely, simply destroys it. Democrats should do nothing but it doesn't matter either way. Trump is a dictator who will do what he pleases. The budget means nothing. And he has no problem with the US defaulting. "Go ahead, try to collect," he'll threaten creditors. And Musk, in his separate but equal role to destroy the government is fine with all of it.
“We were negotiating in good faith” said Holy Moses Johnson. Snort laugh. I can do without his kind of corrupted faith. There isn’t any kind of negotiating that will work. The GOP clown car can just Thelma and Louise it.
Dems should take no quarter with the vermin now in charge. Screw them.
This, but also—how on earth can Dems vote for anything with these people? They already made clear that budget deals don’t matter. Even pretending they do is just a farce. Ok, get your concessions, cut a grand bargain, then what? Trump spends what he wants and Congress does nothing more than complain (if that.).
They’re idiots if they vote for anything.
It feels very weird to be in favor of a government shutdown, but I agree that the Dems are under no obligation to save a GOP budget deal.
Here's the scary thing; as Congress through the unreconstructed party has abrogated the power of the purse, it may not even matter if Apartheid Clyde's script kiddies have access to all our financial information.
I wouldn't trust a Republican deal either.
And of course there is the rightwing media human centipede's framing. Any bad stuff like this is going to be laid at the foot of an amorphous "Congress" and not the bomb-throwing unreconstructed party members. When you couple that with Murc's Law, it's going to be catastrophic.
What would "shutdown" even mean if "doge" controls the payment system?
I can see ways for them to cross-reference voting registrations with employees and punish the ones who they assume are Democrats by zeroing out their payroll information. I mean really anything's on the table.
That’s the direction it’s going in. If they have a shutdown that isn’t quickly resolved expect there to be a declaration of emergency with illegal funding put in place.
At this point I don’t think House Republicans can pass gas much less a budget. Nor should Democratic lawmakers offer them any simethicone. The only thing I want Dems to do is say “We will not accept any cuts to Medicaid/SSA/Medicare/VA Benefits” or some variation of “Republicans want to rob the poor to pay the rich”.
Yes!! Say it every time, plainly, over and over and over so it’s our mantra
Murthy’s point says it all—no point in any agreement because Republicans just made it clear that Trump can ignore the law, spend what we wants without regard to appropriations, and Republicans won’t mane him face consequences. So there is literally no concession that would justify Dems voting for a bill.
If it means catastrophe well so be it, we’re already there because we have a dictator now. We had our chance to prevent that last year, but it’s now the GOP’s mess. Only a fool would bail them out under any circumstance.
Great summary, Stephen, as always. The trick for the Dems will be to hang the MAGA/TeaParty scum out to dry, while not letting themselves be blamed for the governmental failures. And that will require finesse and constant public reminders that the GOP brought this on themselves.
It might also be nice for the Dems to loudly remind the public that the party in power is supposed to legislate to the benefit of the entire country, and not just for the most extreme mouth-breathing members of their own party.
Fake Moses is such a liar - repubs haven't negotiated in good faith in 30 years. He dares to call himself a Christian, but I have yet to see any Christlike behavior from him.
Stand strong, Dems, your only leverage is to let the repubs hang themselves.