"This is telling, as Gabe Garbowit, a former Senate staffer for Tina Smith in Minnesota, has pointed out — any single Senate Democrat could call for a vote to replace Schumer." Indeed telling and raises the question: Why don't Warren and Murphy call for this vote?
Having difficulty even seeing what the entire point of the shutdown was. If they were willing to abandon ACA subsidies, why put Federal workers through seven weeks without a paycheck?
Stephen’s right, Senate Dems act like they’re extras in someone else’s movie while Trump rewrites the script in gold ink.
I’ve been in this debate since the first Trump term, and my latest piece argues we wasted years pretending Trumpism wasn’t the logical endpoint of conservatism. We debated while he built, and now we’re all scrambling at the eleventh hour.
As Rachel Maddow pointed out being the leader is hard. I love AOC but she’s polarizing in the party. Pelosi had something special to get so much support. You really do need to n be an iron fist in a velvet glove and get not only Dems but GOP on the same side.
Well you know what, Schumer would have a challenger. Or people who hate Schumer online can recruit one. Maybe AOC since she is an Internet fave? (I want to see what happens to her statewide!) They all really have challengers. But those who want him gone there's tried and true ways to get rid of Democrats that people don't like. You have numerous tools at your disposal. And the same goes for Hakeem Jeffries (who is up for reelection too).
Those challengers need to declare *now* so that they get a name recognition advantage. Else there's just a bunch of people that will keep training their fire on Schumer, et al. and let the Internet faves avoid a tough position like Schumer and Jeffries have...and importantly, protect their brand.
I will say this, Chuck Schumer wasn't the one who threatened to starve millions of people. Chuck Schumer isn't the one who threatens the livelihoods of millions in order to achieve destruction of health coverage. But millions of Americans do vote for legislative terrorists who do exactly this...this isn't even the first time we've been in a shutdown position like this. I'm certain some number of them believe a government shutdown means "now the government can't take my hard-earned money and give it to Black people."
It’s like Dem leadership thinks if they keep saying, “Big Blue Wave of ‘26” over and over it’ll just show up like some almighty, left-leaning Beetlejuice and save the day
Excellent (but depressing) analysis, Stephen, thank you. In the aftermath of the Dems’ surreal wins and then immediate, outrageous capitulation, it seems I had been thinking the Dems were the closest thing to a rescuing Cavalry we could expect. They had created a mini-surge of successful resistance on election day, and they stood firm against the Regime while the government shut down. Then, days later, they turned tail and ran, once again choosing political tone-deafness over the will of the people.
Maybe Democrats are afraid Trump will screw with the elections and figure if they piss off enough of their own supporters that they lose the midterms legitimately that would make it so Trump had no need to screw with the elections. Ergo, democracy saved!
Seriously the party is run through with cowards and idiots who have no idea how normal people see them. I’m sure if an idiot like Kaine wanted to hang out with normals his staff would set up a diner visit that would be as real as a Potemkin village. They really think voters will pay attention to a show vote in the Senate over healthcare and turn out en masse come November.
Every damn one of them is garbage. Even Tommy Tuberville knew how to use denial of unanimous consent to slow a vote to a crawl (delaying by MONTHS a vote on a Biden nominee) yet every Democrat—not just Schumer, every one—allowed the usual fast track vote to reopen the government so they weren’t TOO upset about this. And as for the excuse “Republicans are hurting people by cutting SNAP so they had to cave”—great, now Republicans know what hostage to take next time. And the more you insulate voters from the consequences of a GOP government, the more they’ll think you cry wolf every election.
The dumbest thing here was that there was an obvious endgame that would have worked for Dems and even some Republicans—hold out until they end the filibuster. Then your fingerprints aren’t on this budget. Clearly the fact that the filibuster is something Democrats want to keep tells you that Sinema and Manchin were just taking fire for a whole caucus of shit. Fuck them all, no exceptions.
However, Dems may be counting on short memories. Think about it—just a week ago during this whole impasse, most people forgot about Schumer caving just this past spring. Problem is, they’ve shown Republicans that next time Democrats talk big, they’ll fold.
It's because they serve themselves and their corporate masters. Government shutdowns are bad for business, full stop. Anyone who thinks the senate serves the people is getting high on too many "look what I did for our state" mailers. They are all very powerful and love their offices, staff, feeling important and being addressed like royalty at public events. Then they go back to their excellent healthcare, fat stock portfolios and have thoughts about thinking. Power corrupts and the senate is lousy with it. No one want to lose what they've got, and that's how those in power keep everyone in line.
Their main focus every week is fundraising, and they don't turn to The People for that.
They turn to their masters who hold the purse strings and sit quitely while they wait for their reward. Since the wealthy just donate to both parties, they call all the shots.
The government is not for or by the people, and probably never was. We just have cameras everywhere now so we can see it.
You are right, they all suck. I can't think of a single one that has the cajones to step up to the plate. What the hell do we the people do now? Primary the entire caucus? I'm down with that, my two Dem senators are worthless.
Ideally there’d have been some Dem version of the Tea Party, knocking out weakling collaborators in primaries and replacing them with fighters, and cowing the rest of the caucus after seeing that example. Problem is it hasn’t happened. And who knows if it’s not too late.
"This is telling, as Gabe Garbowit, a former Senate staffer for Tina Smith in Minnesota, has pointed out — any single Senate Democrat could call for a vote to replace Schumer." Indeed telling and raises the question: Why don't Warren and Murphy call for this vote?
I wish Sen. Van Hollen would make a bid for this leadership role.
Astute analysis, as ever.
Having difficulty even seeing what the entire point of the shutdown was. If they were willing to abandon ACA subsidies, why put Federal workers through seven weeks without a paycheck?
Stephen’s right, Senate Dems act like they’re extras in someone else’s movie while Trump rewrites the script in gold ink.
I’ve been in this debate since the first Trump term, and my latest piece argues we wasted years pretending Trumpism wasn’t the logical endpoint of conservatism. We debated while he built, and now we’re all scrambling at the eleventh hour.
https://www.stewonthis.com/p/debating-conservatism-while-the-house
As Rachel Maddow pointed out being the leader is hard. I love AOC but she’s polarizing in the party. Pelosi had something special to get so much support. You really do need to n be an iron fist in a velvet glove and get not only Dems but GOP on the same side.
I disagree - it’s time for a change - this is a new environment and we need leaders who can read and work the new room.
What else besides “political gain” should Schumer be playing for when dems have zero actual power?
Well you know what, Schumer would have a challenger. Or people who hate Schumer online can recruit one. Maybe AOC since she is an Internet fave? (I want to see what happens to her statewide!) They all really have challengers. But those who want him gone there's tried and true ways to get rid of Democrats that people don't like. You have numerous tools at your disposal. And the same goes for Hakeem Jeffries (who is up for reelection too).
Those challengers need to declare *now* so that they get a name recognition advantage. Else there's just a bunch of people that will keep training their fire on Schumer, et al. and let the Internet faves avoid a tough position like Schumer and Jeffries have...and importantly, protect their brand.
I will say this, Chuck Schumer wasn't the one who threatened to starve millions of people. Chuck Schumer isn't the one who threatens the livelihoods of millions in order to achieve destruction of health coverage. But millions of Americans do vote for legislative terrorists who do exactly this...this isn't even the first time we've been in a shutdown position like this. I'm certain some number of them believe a government shutdown means "now the government can't take my hard-earned money and give it to Black people."
It’s like Dem leadership thinks if they keep saying, “Big Blue Wave of ‘26” over and over it’ll just show up like some almighty, left-leaning Beetlejuice and save the day
Excellent (but depressing) analysis, Stephen, thank you. In the aftermath of the Dems’ surreal wins and then immediate, outrageous capitulation, it seems I had been thinking the Dems were the closest thing to a rescuing Cavalry we could expect. They had created a mini-surge of successful resistance on election day, and they stood firm against the Regime while the government shut down. Then, days later, they turned tail and ran, once again choosing political tone-deafness over the will of the people.
A plague upon both their houses.
Senate Dems aren't leaders - none of them are. They are all waiting for a strong, effective leader to emerge, instead of BEING that leader.
The Democratic base is livid at this cave, we want fighters, not appeasers. We want Winston Churchill, not Neville Chamberlain!
Even Chamberlain eventually fought Hitler. These tools are Quislings.
Maybe Democrats are afraid Trump will screw with the elections and figure if they piss off enough of their own supporters that they lose the midterms legitimately that would make it so Trump had no need to screw with the elections. Ergo, democracy saved!
Seriously the party is run through with cowards and idiots who have no idea how normal people see them. I’m sure if an idiot like Kaine wanted to hang out with normals his staff would set up a diner visit that would be as real as a Potemkin village. They really think voters will pay attention to a show vote in the Senate over healthcare and turn out en masse come November.
Every damn one of them is garbage. Even Tommy Tuberville knew how to use denial of unanimous consent to slow a vote to a crawl (delaying by MONTHS a vote on a Biden nominee) yet every Democrat—not just Schumer, every one—allowed the usual fast track vote to reopen the government so they weren’t TOO upset about this. And as for the excuse “Republicans are hurting people by cutting SNAP so they had to cave”—great, now Republicans know what hostage to take next time. And the more you insulate voters from the consequences of a GOP government, the more they’ll think you cry wolf every election.
The dumbest thing here was that there was an obvious endgame that would have worked for Dems and even some Republicans—hold out until they end the filibuster. Then your fingerprints aren’t on this budget. Clearly the fact that the filibuster is something Democrats want to keep tells you that Sinema and Manchin were just taking fire for a whole caucus of shit. Fuck them all, no exceptions.
However, Dems may be counting on short memories. Think about it—just a week ago during this whole impasse, most people forgot about Schumer caving just this past spring. Problem is, they’ve shown Republicans that next time Democrats talk big, they’ll fold.
It's because they serve themselves and their corporate masters. Government shutdowns are bad for business, full stop. Anyone who thinks the senate serves the people is getting high on too many "look what I did for our state" mailers. They are all very powerful and love their offices, staff, feeling important and being addressed like royalty at public events. Then they go back to their excellent healthcare, fat stock portfolios and have thoughts about thinking. Power corrupts and the senate is lousy with it. No one want to lose what they've got, and that's how those in power keep everyone in line.
Their main focus every week is fundraising, and they don't turn to The People for that.
They turn to their masters who hold the purse strings and sit quitely while they wait for their reward. Since the wealthy just donate to both parties, they call all the shots.
The government is not for or by the people, and probably never was. We just have cameras everywhere now so we can see it.
They also just have a loser mentality. When you think like a loser you’re always on defense.
You are right, they all suck. I can't think of a single one that has the cajones to step up to the plate. What the hell do we the people do now? Primary the entire caucus? I'm down with that, my two Dem senators are worthless.
Ideally there’d have been some Dem version of the Tea Party, knocking out weakling collaborators in primaries and replacing them with fighters, and cowing the rest of the caucus after seeing that example. Problem is it hasn’t happened. And who knows if it’s not too late.
Interestingly, I just came across this:
https://substack.com/inbox/post/178547458?selection=ba073acf-13cf-44d5-889f-56557902f953&r=4uj3pz&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true