Schumer made the smart move.

[lapucelle]

Had the government shut down, it would have remained shut for as long as Republicans chose to keep it closed.

Within a few weeks, the federal courts would have run out of reserve funds to operate. Civil litigation would have been postponed because only "mission critical" cases would continue to be heard, and they are generally limited to criminal cases.

The court postponements would have included cases in which the DOJ is a party and the Trump administration is being sued. Last time around (2019), the Trump Justice Department furloughed three-fourths of Immigration Court judges, postponing thousands of cases.

While the Social Security Administration may have continued to cut checks, in all likelihood new applications would not have been processed during the shutdown. There's already a backlog due to staffing reductions, and Trump and Musk would have been handed a gift: the opportunity to blame Democrats for their gutting of the Social Security system.

Once current funding had been exhausted by agencies, the provisions of the Anti-Deficiency Act would be triggered. It's the Office of Management and Budget that generally determines who is furloughed and who is not based on the contingency plans filed by federal agencies.

You used to be able to view agency contingency plans on the whitehouse.gov website. That information has been disappeared.

A shutdown would have played right into Trump's hands. The waters would have been muddied as to exactly who was responsible for any stoppages in services. National Parks would have been closed. Social Security applications would have been put aside. Any federal cases involving the Trump administration would have been held in abeyance.

All of that is just the start, and the "Blame the Democrats:" narrative would have been repeated over and over again on social media, on Fox, and eventually in the MSM.

Does anyone think that Johnson would have been eager to negotiate or introduce a new CR while the chaos played out, and Senate Democrats were shouldering the blame?

And while some Senate Democrats will be absorbing all the incoming heat, as things stand, every Democratic representative has clean hands as to the onerous budget cuts in the CR, and the government did not shut down.

That could very well be the key to winning back the House.

===========================

www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/heres-how-shutdown-could-affect-courts
www.crfb.org/papers/government-shutdowns-qa-everything-you-should-know#whatisashutdown
www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1377216/dl
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Agency-Lapse-FAQs-9.27.2023.pdf
www.whitehouse.gov/omb/information-for-agencies/agency-contingency-plans

[Walleye]

1. I assumed that Schumer weighed all the options and did what he thought was right. I don't think he did it on a whim.

And I really think what you said is true

[lapucelle]

8. Not a single House Democrat owns any part of the CR. Their hands are clean.

Some Democratic senators will be taking the heat for the cuts in the CR, but the "Democrats shut down the Social Security Administration and the National Parks" narrative has been averted.

And government workers suing to get their jobs back will continue to have their cases heard, as will Mahmoud Khalil, who otherwise would have been held in detention indefinitely.

[Walleye]

59. Definitely a hostage situation. Trump loves this so he can gloat afterwards. Apparently it's all he lives for.

[DENVERPOPS]

75. And causing demonstrations

so he can throw out the Posse Comatatus Act, enact the Insurrection Act, and establish Martial Law across our country........

[Walleye]

95. Oh yeah, I'm sure he's thinking about that. Moving on us like a bitch.

[DENVERPOPS]

162. There was a video on TV

of about two hundred Russians "Protesting" Putin going into Ukraine when it first started........

Hundreds of heavily armed soldiers in full gear, surrounded them, took them to large military trucks, crammed them in and went away with them. You can almost bet that they went to the Gulag or Siberia.....

Trump dreams of that kind of control, which he would have by declaring martial law and using the U.S. military soldiers.

Or recall the china students demonstrating in Tiamen? (sp) square, and the picture of one student standing in front of the Tank?
You can't see into that square from the outside. After that picture, the Chinese Gov't brought in several vehicles with machine gun turrets, blocked the exit, and killed every student in the square. It took the chinese Gov't months to clean it all up, wash it down, and do repairs before they re-opened it to the public.......

[Walleye]

166. He's probably already planning his Fourth of July parade with tanks rolling down Pennsylvania AvenueI'm

[Mountainguy]

194. Not even possible

Martial law across the country, or even in just a few major cities, just isn't something the US military can pull off.

Considering the amount of freely circulating weaponry in the US civilian population, the number of combat vets with direct experience in insurgent tactics who are now part of that civilian population, the uselessness of most of the US military in such an operation, and the low amount of combat experience among the rank and file......it would be a disaster.

We wouldn't have guys sitting half a world away from home either, as it drudged on more and more would begin to desert, headed back home either just to run or out of concern for their families. Officers would refuse orders. Governors and loyal national guard adjunct generals would refuse to send guard units, who would instead be used to defend the state.

US interstate and rail systems that would be needed to keep supplies flowing have too many vulnerabilities to stay open vs a local enemy. The economy would stop, driving even more civilians against the government as food and fuel become harder to find.

[pattyloutwo]

195. Very interesting, thanks for insight

[Mtnmama]

102. I agree

I just don't understand why more democratic senators don't see it that way?! I didn't think he lacked courage, and he certainly has the experience to make a wise decision. Maybe I'm missing something?

[angrychair]

145. No, you're not missing anything

They were wrong. They screwed the House Democrats who all had just as much to lose as they did. This wasn't just compitulation, it was collaboration.
So Adam Schiff was wrong? Cory Booker was wrong? Elizabeth Warren was wrong? Every single Democrat in the House was wrong?
Every single pro-democracy organization in the country was wrong?

Either everyone else is wrong and only these 10 people are right or the collaborators had a different agenda.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

209. Welcome to DU

[XanaDUer2]

2. I think so

Nt

[Polybius]

3. The problem with this is that the next budget (September) will be much worse

The Republicans now know that Democrats will help them.

[33taw]

7. Maybe, that is hard to tell at this point. A lot is going to happen between now and then.

I hate that this decision was made, but I do understand it.

[FBaggins]

29. They don't need help the next time

Reconciliation bills can’t be filibustered.

As long as they can get past the House’s narrrow majority - they get what they want

[uponit7771]

88. +1, The OP leaves out the biggest take is this vote was our only leverage politically

[FBaggins]

101. I don't agree - our leverage was peeling off house republicans

Once it got out of the house… this vote just didn’t give us leverage. The filibuster would make the shutdown our fault - without any counterbalancing benefit. Worse… Trump could spin economic bad news as the result of the shutdown rather than his own nonsense.

All with little hope of getting a real change - leading to eventually the exact same loss - just weeks later

[uponit7771]

108. Quinnipac poll put shutdown squarely on MAGA/Trump ...those were the facts we had

... to deal with and that along with a flood One message would've made the pain all MAGA ... period

The bigger issue is Dem leadership didn't flood shit before the vote .. no framing ... Nothing .. brick man.

Were cooked

[FBaggins]

114. There's no way that would stick

And senate democrats obviously knew it

Week after week there would be cloture votes showing that only the filibuster (“that ten seconds ago democrats insisted was a relic of slavery and anti-democratic and should be abolished”) kept the government shut - all while DOGE decided which government jobs were essential and courts could do thing one about it

[uponit7771]

141. That's speculation that doesn't match up historically, few times has Americans switch blame over time cause one ...

... party amplified the earth was flat.

Middle and dems know who fault it is and they're punishing MAGA as we type.

[FBaggins]

150. Historically?

When has a shutdown ever been driven by a filibuster?

It has happened when one party controls one chamber and the WH and the other chamber won't pass the bill... but never with majorities in both houses and a filibuster blocking

[lapucelle]

174. The poll question itself was speculative, and the Trump/Republican message that Democrats were to blame

would have been amplified ad nauseam on social media and Fox and stoked by the MSM.

In the meantime, Trump's OMB would be determining what to keep open and what to shut down, and Musk would have a freer hand and the added benefit of the waters good and muddied as to who was to blame for the stoppage of services and the dismantling of our systems.

[lapucelle]

175. Actually 32% of the respondents were ready to blame congressional Democrats.

31% were ready to blame Congressional Republicans, and 22% were ready to blame Trump. And that was before any narrative was stoked by the media.

https://archive.ph/1FaP0

[Sneederbunk]

4. By right move do you mean announcing your opposition to the bill

then voting for it?

[lapucelle]

12. The right move was to not shut down the government, but thank you for your input.

[SergeStorms]

64. While Trump and Musk shut it down anyway?

It won't be an official shut down, but they're still gutting it like a fish as Senate Democrats stand by ""with clean hands."

[lapucelle]

67. Those clean hands will help us win special elections and take back the House in 2026.

Sorry, but I think like a Democrat who works hard every year to win elections big and small because that's what I am.

[uponit7771]

92. Most Americans blamed Trump/MAGA for shutdown... This makes no sense in regards to political consequences

[lapucelle]

109. In the abstract, in one poll taken before any shutdown had occurred, the majority would have blamed Trump or Republicans

while 32% would have blamed Democrats.

Americans are primed to blame Trump and the GOP for a shutdown. But.

The Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday asked Americans whom they would blame most for a shutdown. And a majority cited either Trump (22 percent) or Republicans in Congress (31 percent).

Another 32 percent said they would blame congressional Democrats. But that’s nearly 20 points less than the combined total for the Republicans involved. Political independents are also about 20 points more likely to blame Trump and the Republicans than to blame Democrats.

snip=======================

The fact that people are more likely to blame Republicans right now could be as simple as the fact that they know Republicans control Congress and the presidency. And the blame is always subject to change.

The other big caveat is that it’s not just the blame that Democrats fear; it’s also what a shutdown could portend on a more practical level. They worry that it could actually serve to enable Trump’s and Musk’s cuts. They worry that it could further strain already besieged government employees.

https://archive.ph/1FaP0#selection-531.0-531.68

[uponit7771]

143. Enron and Putin's Puppet is going to slash government anyway might as well impose severe political cost on them ...

... now MAGA can spread the blame and they are 100% going to do just that.

[krawhitham]

246. How many times did potus trump shut down the government as 45? Who is currently in charge?

[lapucelle]

252. I think you can find that information on Google. N/T

[SergeStorms]

94. If the country lasts that long.

And if free and fair elections are allowed. Don't underestimate the evil of the people currently in charge.

[Hornedfrog2000]

126. Win elections lol

As if we will ever win another election. People are in denial. We are entering a new dark ages. We missed our opportunity. This might have been our last. Its over. People will just watch in horror, nothing will happen. I would suggest people start thinking about their families and their safety. It has gotten to that point.

[Scrivener7]

81. And the little leverage they had gutted by the "Yes" votes.

[hatrack]

84. But if they didin't vote "yes, then the GQP would say Bad Things 'Bout Dems. But now . . .

Oh, wait.

[Scrivener7]

107. I know. And by agreeing with hundreds of Democrats against 10, I'm told, we're just people

who complain about Democrats and say they never do enough.

[Bengus81]

241. It would NOT have been shut down for weeks or months.

Check out Republican town halls,think those people are happy with what THEIR Reps are doing in Congress?

But remember, NOW we have Trump and Musk corralled because Government is OPEN!! My ass Chuck!

[valleyrogue]

5. I appreciate your post. It is sane.

Schumer and the Democrats aren't the problem. The problem rests solely on the Republicans.

The Republicans should have the heat put on them 24/7. Nailing them in the town halls is a good start.

[lamp_shade]

6. Trump wallows in chaos. A shut-down for him would be his greatest fantasy.

[dutch777]

9. So when does a meaningful stand happen? They continue virtually unabated....speed is the only variable.

Court orders that are "wins" but are not followed or have any meaningful enforcement because the enforcement part is with the Executive Branch will be little more than footnotes to a bad history. We have little leverage. When we do have it, we have to use it.

[Bluetus]

76. I really tire of all this Republican-lite crap

Being "the adult in the room" is what has brought us to this desperate point.

This party is doomed by the people who keep saying "if we just compromise more with the Republicans, it will all work out fine."

No. This is wrong. This is fatal, and Schumer pissed away what may have been our last opportunity to rally the public and the media before Trump completely consolidates power. And faced with that option, Schumer chose to go against his caucus 9-38 and against 100% of the House Dems. And after that mess, we still have people here rationalizing that. Unbelievable.

I am not afraid of a "government shutdown". We already have a shutdown happening one agency at a time. What's the difference? The difference is that the Musk way gives Trump the chance to normalize all of that, whereas an abrupt deadline forces the public and media. Another difference is that, just as P2025 says, the Musk way gives them a chance to fire non-partisans and to implant partisans throughout every agency, an act that will live for a generation. A quick and firm shutdown preserves all of these non-partisan jobs. That is now lost thanks to Schumer and all the other cowardly middle-grounders jumping to his defense.

I am not afraid of a "constitutional crisis". We have been in a continuous Constitutional crisis since 2000.

These arguments are specious, childish, even ostrich-like. We are truly fucked as long as this is what the "opposition" sounds like.

[dutch777]

177. Thank you! I am where you are-- tragically and sadly. I am looking into the Indivisible Project....gotta DO something!

It will take decades to undo all that is transpiring when one considers the embedded partisans and worse, the judgeships. I hope AOC primaries Schumer.

[Bluetus]

183. And note that 7 of those 9 bastards ended up voting AGAINST the CR

Last edited Sun Mar 16, 2025, 12:56 PM - Edit history (1)

Including Schumer.

They think they are being cute, leaving themselves the chance to prance around saying, "Oh, I was against the CR all all along. You can't blame me for that."

[hatrack]

90. When the price of Dry Powder moves beyond a certain $/ton figure, then - look out!!!

Just not quite sure what that price is. They've been keeping it secret for decades now.

[dutch777]

178. Yeah, not quite sure what that price is indeed. Guess we are trying to corner the market...before we die on our knees.

I am looking into the Indivisible Project. Have to DO SOMETHING!

[hlthe2b]

10. So then why do you think all the other Dems who voted "no" were not convinced? Or do you believe them

to have been totally uninformed about the court repercussions? All of them?

I'm not saying this is a wrong take on the issue, just that it seems at odds for those (at least a few) who are smart and well-informed, yet convinced otherwise on the issue.

[lapucelle]

16. I'm sure that all the Democratic senators who voted against the CR will be releasing statements, but

it appears that Senator Chris Murphy assumed that the federal courts would continue to function.

“Now listen, Trump and Musk are going to keep acting illegally, no matter what this funding bill says. Whether we stop them – that’s going to be up to the courts

https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/murphy-statement-on-decision-to-vote-against-republican-funding-bill

[Magoo48]

33. Have the courts grown a new appendage willing to enforce their rulings?

Nothing coming from the courts will help us fight off impending fascism. As long as we, who are the government after all, sit on our millions of asses and watch it happen these bullies will consummate the deal.

[lapucelle]

39. Your comment is best addressed to Senator Murphy who assumed that the Courts would remain open.

[Magoo48]

45. The courts are open and going through the motions, but without enforcement, what good are they?

[lapucelle]

48. ...

[Magoo48]

57. My apologies, all better now.

[lapucelle]

63. Well that's reassuring. At this point the "the courts are useless" narrative is truly defeatist.

[Magoo48]

79. Two people, two different views of what's defeatist.

I think millions upon millions of people sitting at home, watching or not paying attention, while fascism is taking control of our relatively free nation is about as defeatist as it gets. I also think it is a disservice to these same folks to lead them to believe the courts and politicians will defeat fascism without massive grassroot’s direct-actions.

[lapucelle]

120. Then by all means go out and convince the people not paying attention

to engage in "massive grassroot's [sic] direct-actions".

I'm already working on electing Democrats in 2025 county races. I'm also already working on re-electing my front line Democratic rep. (We flipped the seat blue last election.)

NY Democrats are already working on flipping Stefanik's seat blue in the special election and stopping Republican Mark Lawler's anticipated bid to replace Kathy Hokul as governor.

I know what I'm, doing, and you know what you're doing. Everyone needs to work hard.

[Magoo48]

172. Yes indeed

[ratchiweenie]

136. Gee, one out of thousands. Color me impressed....not!!!

[FBaggins]

31. Not all of those who voted no were not convinced

Likely half of the caucus knew that it had to pass… but there’s no reason for any more to take the hit.

[Hope22]

11. Clean hands in a civil war. I think R's will do what they want.

Last edited Sat Mar 15, 2025, 01:16 PM - Edit history (1)

Accounts will be emptied and then the squawking can begin. This whole thing is happening in such slow motion it is unbelievable! We see each wreck happen but think that help is on the way. It looks like zero help is coming. Zero, zip, no one! Two con men are proceeding to steal us blind in turn killing millions with their carelessness! I hope I am wrong. But as the saying goes you can wish in one hand and $#it in the other and see which one fills up first. Two years …we will be a shell of a country with no hint of fixing the flaws in the election countingI do see Ohio preparing to cull the voters one more time though!

[CrispyQ]

32. I thought,

"Wow, this person is even more depressing than I am," but then I read your screen name & had a hearty laugh!

[Hope22]

35. I get a lot of $#it for my screen name!!!

Usually I get admonished for my unhopeful nature. 🤣🤣😂 I would pay EarlG big time to let me change it! Thank you for the much needed laugh!

[totodeinhere]

38. By the time the 2026 elections come around the outrage and the pain

will be so great that the American voters will vote so overwhelmingly to throw them out that they will not be able to steal it. Then we would have the votes to impeach and remove him. At least, that is what I hope for.

[Hope22]

44. I admire your hopeful nature.

It is pretty clear that Elon had something to do with the election heist. If that fix or he is still in the mix it won’t matter how many voters we have. In fact if TSF is still alive he has stated before, that there will be no need for another election. Our time for action is now not in two years. With the death of USAID Kids are dying cross the globe, diseases that we have been working to control are on the rise. Women are being pushed to the curb and DEI’s demise along with funding cuts and dismantled higher education are crippling the forward movement of this country. The continued threat to women’s healthcare looms before us.

[lapucelle]

55. You think Elon Musk stole the 2024 election? N/T

[Hope22]

58. I go by what TSF says

He said he didn’t need the voters votes. That Elon knows his way around things. Even his kid knows the secret. Keep listening. The old man will say it in plain English soon enough. If you don’t agree that’s OK! I’m not the craziest person out here!😁

[bluestarone]

71. I like what you're saying here.

2026, i feel will be the deciding year one way or another. IF we win big we WILL stop all this bullshit, or if they do NOT listen to us or the courts then THAT will also help US decide what needs to be done. ONE way or ANOTHER that's the year for decisions.

[Wednesdays]

74. "Then we would have the votes to impeach and remove him."

Impeach? Possible.
Remove him? Impossible.

In order to secure a conviction after 2026, Democrats would either have to A) flipping 20 Republican Senate seats in 2026 (including incumbents in deep-red states), or B) secure a combination of election wins and flipping sitting Republican Senators to get to 20 more votes in the Senate to convict.

It ain't happening.

[totodeinhere]

128. Yes we would need Republican votes.

But most Republican senators secretly hate him.

[uponit7771]

96. Like the Spanish Nationalist did circa 1937?

[EdmondDantes_]

13. I agree with this being his thought process

And I'm very glad I wasn't in a position to have to choose. Both options sucked. It's easy for those of us who don't have to make the decision to say it's an easy call.

[louis-t]

14. I have to reluctantly agree. His worshipers need to feel the pain of his policies.

I keep saying at least 50% of his voters need to turn on him. Otherwise, maga will never go away.

[mcar]

15. I don't disagree with the decision

but the way he went about it did a lot of damage, I fear.

[lapucelle]

19. I agree, but "Schumer Caved" is a better headline than "Senate Democrats Shut Down Government".

Senator Schumer's initial statement was ill-advised at best. He should have kept his powder dry.

[CrispyQ]

49. We've been keeping our powder dry for over four decades. -nt

[lapucelle]

52. How so? That claim requires the assumption that Democrats have accomplished nothing since 1985.

[CrispyQ]

65. Oh good grief, it doesn't mean that. It just means we've been going along to get along.

Sure we've gotten things done but something we're doing isn't right or we wouldn't be in this mess. We need a true opposition party right now, a unified voice speaking out against this fascist takeover of our government. You don't work with fascists. You just don't.

[lapucelle]

70. So you didn't actually mean the thing that you said?

Good to know.

[CrispyQ]

72. Whatthefuckever. You're exhausting.

[Cha]

133. You know your business.. I find that Interesting.. Not "Exhausting.

Mahalo for your OP ,lapucelle.

[Buckeyeblue]

17. My guess is that Trump would have been fine with a shutdown

I don't think Republicans as a whole wanted a shut down. If they wanted a shutdown there would not have been a continuing resolution. Trump probably said what he would accept and congress went with that.

Congress could have passed a veto proof CR with no cuts but the Republicans are so afraid of being primaried that they go along with what shit Trump tells them to do.

[MichMan]

18. This infighting wouldn't have occurred if those who wanted to abolish the filibuster the last few years had prevailed

They said it was anti democracy

[underpants]

20. I brought chairs.

[tavernier]

50. Calling dibs on that blue one.

It looks like a recliner, and we might be here for a while.

[waterwatcher123]

160. Right on - love your graphic.

[William769]

21. Well he did go right. That part is right.

[lapucelle]

23. Thanks for the heads up.

[William769]

25. He went futher right with his vote over the majority of Senate Democrats.

I hope because of this fiasco, they are considering leadership change. Him saying they were an sync Thursday evening, well that was just not true (second strike against him).

[underpants]

22. I agree. The House is in recess until March 24th

so any negotiations would have to be done in two weeks. I’m sure Johnson Scalia etc wouldn’t be returning calls.

[cachukis]

24. A government shutdown would open all eyes to

the consequences. The repubs would have to accept responsibility to reopen. If they cut some programs then, how would it be different from what they are doing slowly.
The courts have a say, but I'm reading bills are not being paid.
There will continue to be mayhem, but the dems lost a chance to raise a flag of defiance to stiffen our resolve to keep democracy going.
People are going to die because of republican lack of concern for their constituents.
They must be challenged now, not later.

[CrispyQ]

34. This: They must be challenged now, not later. -nt

[Andy823]

26. I agree

the whole thing was a no win no matter what. Schumer is not the bad guy that some here are trying to make him!

[CrispyQ]

27. Hmmmm. Trump has congratulated Schumer on doing the right thing.

The way I read it house repubs refused to work with dems on a full year funding bill. They walked away & crafted their own bill. IMO, Schumer's vote is the same as saying "We're okay with you bringing bills to the floor that democrats had no input in."

Below is part of the bill I think they're voting on. The snippet is from a doc is dated 3/8/25. Trump will have the authority to impound funds & redirect them, so any lawsuits dealing with those types of issues will probably be dropped. Anyone who thinks the repubs are going to take this part out next "negotiation" is kidding themselves.

https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/250308_johnsons_yearlong_crpdf.pdf

snip...

Instead of staying at the negotiating table to pass bipartisan full-year funding bills, Republican
leadership walked away, and House Republicans have now released a partisan, full-year
continuing resolution (CR) they plan to vote on early next week.

As suspected, this full-year CR would hand vast discretion over spending decisions to President Trump and his administration to zero out programs and redirect funding as they see fit.

➢ Whereas Congress typically provides scores of specific funding directives for key program and priorities in full-year funding bills and the accompanying explanatory statements, under this full-year CR, hundreds of those congressional directives fall away.

➢ This creates slush funds for the Trump administration to reshape spending priorities, eliminate longstanding programs, pick winners and losers, and more.

➢ Failing to provide specific funding directives from Congress means the Trump administration has fewer legal constraints on what it can do.

➢ House Republicans could have addressed this glaring problem—but chose not to. Their yearlong CR includes plenty of unnecessary anomalies but doesn’t address this fundamental issue because they prefer slush funds for this administration to cut the programs it wants in order to fund Trump’s priorities instead.

Myriad member priorities are at risk of significant reductions in funding or elimination under the full-year CR. CDS projects are also not funded in the CR.

➢ Under this CR, the Trump administration could—for example—decide not to spend funding previously allocated for combatting fentanyl, the SUPPORT Act and other substance abuse and mental health programs, or specific NIH priorities like Alzheimer’s disease and vaccine research—and instead steer funding to other priorities of its choosing. It could also pick and choose which Military Construction, Army Corps, or transit improvement and expansion projects to fund without direction from Congress—leaving Democratic states and priorities in the lurch.

➢ This is particularly risky for Democratic cities and states that may have to beg for their priorities to be funded from an administration that has already cut off vast swaths of funding and threatened retaliation if jurisdictions do not abide the administration’s threats.

This is not a “clean” CR. Far from it, the CR includes a bevy of anomalies to provide additional funding or flexibility for some priorities while shortchanging most others.

[SergeStorms]

99. That should tell everyone what they need to know.

But it won't. People seem to need a sledgehammer to the head to get the point these days.

[Martin Eden]

123. Democrats should NOT have voted to give Trump the power to spend or withold funds as he sees fit.

That power is Constitutionally vested in Congress, not the president.

Democrats have been fighting back in the courts, to a large extent because this POtuS is illegally taking actions which only Congress is authorized to do.

Now, with the help of Senate Democrats, Congress has handed that power to Trump -- undermining our legal recourse in the courts.

That bill was entirely unacceptable. Every Democrat needed to vote against it.

Take a stand. Show some spine.

[CrispyQ]

124. This will not be easily reversed.

I'm overcome with rage & grief at what's happening.

[Progressive dog]

28. I think Schumer made the right move, too.

I wish someone could convince me otherwise but Schumer seems to have a stronger argument. Trump will have more options to legally spend money where he wants if government is shut down.
Right now we are facing almost four years of the Trump regime and shutting down the government will not protect government workers, it will not protect social security, or medicare, or medicaid. What it does give is an opportunity for Trump to get rid of government workers legally, to spend money on what he declares necessary, and to have a real reason to cite when he blames the failing economy on Democrats.

[CrispyQ]

40. The legality of his spending money he doesn't have the right to spend, doesn't change if the govt shuts down.

The CR, however, does change the legality of that, & that is what is so objectionable about this bill. If you think they are going to take that part out when the "negotiate" again, you're wrong. Please, read my post directly above yours.

Either way you look at it, it's a bad situation for dems to be in. We should have been a helluva a lot more aggressive in going after this orange sack of shit when we had the chance. Get out the vote to save democracy. How many times do the dems think they can ring that bell?

[planj07]

41. Sigh

I’m starting to lean this way. There are question marks for me: like why if Schumer has such a convincing argument did 95+% of Congressional Dems vote to shut it down? Why did he flip flop? Why is Trump congratulating him.

That is all concerning even if I come closer to accepting the reasoning behind keeping the government open.

[yorkster]

106. Trump is congratulating him to help widen

the Dem. rift.

[uponit7771]

105. Political consequences for MAGA would be devastating, 53% of Americans already blamed them...

... according to Quinipac poll.

Now MAGA can include dens in the blame by saying it was bipartisan

The bigger miss here is the messaging dem leadership was supposed to flood this context zone with...they didn't and now were screwed more

[LAS14]

30. Thank you!!!!! nt

[HereForTheParty]

36. Had a book tour starting Monday

Guess he had to wrap things up. I hope folks show up and let him know how they feel.

[crud]

37. Dems should have threatened a shut down from the start

No Dem votes unless DOGE is shut down. This messaging should have started a month ago. I think Schumer had no choice, because Dems had no unified message. Dems would have been blamed for a shutdown because of lack of a coherent message and Rwing media. Alas, there was no leadership or unified message from the Dems, who gave themselves a false choice between shutdown or no shutdown. They tossed out the only leverage they had to change the narrative, and maybe get some concessions.

[CrispyQ]

42. No Dem votes unless DOGE is shut down. This!! So much this!!

Where is our unified voice of outrage at what's going on????

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

227. 100+

[-misanthroptimist]

43. Get back to me in three months...

...after Traitortot does some especially heinous things and you find out what Congress giving away it's power to fix those things means.

I suspect you'll admit your error; not publicly, unless you feel it's necessary.

But wrong you and Schumer are about this.

[lapucelle]

46. What power did Senate Democrats have to "fix those things"?

The only power Senate Democrats had was to shut down the government, and that move would have put Trump's OMB in charge indefinitely.

As for anyone's "suspicions" about me, how entitled does one have to be to harbor suspicions against strangers?

[Amaryllis]

82. THis: "The only power Senate Democrats had was to shut down the government, and that move would have put Trump's OMB in

charge indefinitely. "
It was when I found this out that i changed my view. It still doesnt explain why Schumer started out a no vote and what changed his thinking..

[lapucelle]

85. Thank you for that. N/T

[Amaryllis]

91. You're welcome, but which part?

[lapucelle]

113. The part about Trump's OMB running the show during the shutdown. N/T

[Amaryllis]

171. It wasnt OMB running teh show during the shutdown that made me change my mind; it was that OMB could run the show

indefinitely. I see no reason for them to give it up once they have it. I wonder how many people know that they could run it indefinitely....

[lapfog_1]

132. The ONLY way this ends is in the streets or the election booth

for either situation, we need LEADERS... sure, it might be futile... but to bend the knee and "keep your powder dry" is simply insane. You all act like the government shutdown is the WORST thing that could happen. I am suggesting that we are at a point where it should be the ONLY way forward. Even it it means a monkey wrench into SS checks going out.

[-misanthroptimist]

121. First off, I have no suspicions about you

You are entitled to think and say whatever you want. I just think you're wrong on this.

The option Senate Democrats had was to filibuster, forcing a government shut down. Now, yes, Traitortot would do the same evil things.

So the results of those choices were:

1. Shut down, Traitortot does what he wants, but with the possibility to fix some things later; or
2. Traitortot does what he wants, but with Congress unable to fix anything later.

I fail to see any advantage whatsoever to choice 1.

[SSJVegeta]

47. As a federal employee, I'm telling you he betrayed us miserably

[lapucelle]

122. Welcome to DU!

[SSJVegeta]

144. ...

[orangecrush]

51. Sayanara

[lame54]

53. Imagine for a moment...

How draconian the next bill will be in 6 short months

[tman]

54. "A shutdown would have played right into Trump's hands."

With that mindset, trump will win every budget battle going forward.

[Wednesdays]

56. Stop making so much sense. nt

[CaptainTruth]

60. Thank you for that info! I've been wondering about the courts.

Also, if the govt shut down I'm sure Musk & DOGE would have had a field day invading govt buildings & wreaking havoc, with no govt employees there to stop them.

[CrispyQ]

68. Has it stopped them so far? -nt

[Dem4life1970]

61. You said this better than I did...

...in my post. https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220141889

[oldsoldierfadingfast]

210. Sometimes, the definition...

of 'won the battle' is 'stayed alive' to fight the next one.
So far, I think we are still alive and I hope ready to fight!

[Ping Tung]

62. Does "business as usual" politics require even a tiny modicum of integrity?

To me, it smells a lot like the "We had to burn down the village to save it" cop out.

Making a deal with the head criminal and lunatic and his mob is not wise or credible.

[lapucelle]

73. Shutting down the government would have been burning down the village to save it.

Thank you for that analogy.

[Self Esteem]

83. Yup. Instead, Democrats handed the arsonist the means and walked away...

...and the arsonist has no intention of saving the village. Democrats sold every American out with little ease and proved to the Republicans that they'll quickly fold whenever a shutdown is possible. We heard it from Fetterman yesterday: he'll never ever ever ever vote to shut down the government. So, in September when Republicans advance an even harsher bill, maybe one that bans trans people entirely, Democrats have to support it because gosh, you can't shut down the government.

Meanwhile, the CR Dems advanced now legally gives Trump's White House the power to appropriate funding and cuts. The Democrats signed off on $18 billion in domestic cuts to programs like Medicaid.

That's the "right thing" Schumer did.

Glad you trust Trump, tho.

[Quanto Magnus]

66. I don't think the money is going where you think it is

The co-presidents have made it clear they don't believe they are bound by law. They will give the money to the military and their pals.... Screw anyone else, including the courts, since they are not going along with the Fascists.

[nakocal]

69. You are wrong

The people who did not support Hitler but still voted to let him take power because they thought it was the best of a bad situation are responsible for the concentration camps and war that followed. You either take a stand or you are responsible for the deaths that follow.

[lapucelle]

77. What are you talking about? That's the second time today that someone invoked a Hitler comparison

concerning the Senate Democrats who voted for the CR.

I read profiles.

[Joinfortmill]

78. All this old girl can glean from this entire mess is

It's complicated and there were no good choices.

[Nanjeanne]

80. I know I feel comforted that 9 Dems and 1 Ind chose to defy 213 House Dems and 38 Senate Dems

Especially when 2 of those “Democrats” also voted FOR THE ACTUAL PIECE OF SHIT BILL - not just to “keep the government open”.

[Scrivener7]

89. And, somehow, stating that makes you someone who "is just complaining about Democrats!!1!"

I have always voted for Schumer and for Gillibrand.

I will now vote for anyone who primaries them.

[Nanjeanne]

93. Does it? I sure am not complaining about the 38 and 213.

[Scrivener7]

98. Yep. Exactly. But that's what I'm told by people who always insist that our Democratic leaders can do no wrong

and those who suggest they might try different methods are just bad Democrats.

And yet - 38 and 212...

It's a mystery for sure.

[Nanjeanne]

100. Screw 'em.

And doesn’t it make you wonder why no one here is talking about Sheehan voting FOR the actual bill?

::

[Scrivener7]

103. .

[lapfog_1]

115. They all could have done more to convince the rest

shouted logic at them, played the messages left on their voice mail, read the emails.

We want to FIGHT this shit right now. Sure we were going to lose ( government shutdown is a lose too ). But at least we did SOMETHING.

Middle of the road is nothing but a wide stripe painted YELLOW.

[moniss]

86. In all my years of seeing him in action I have never

seen a move where I said "Boy he really stood up for people on that one." His record of holding the "Susan Collins Leadership Award" is intact.

[thought crime]

224. On numerous occasions he has stood up for people on the (Wall) Street. /nt

[BlueKota]

87. Since when has Trump ever failed to blame Democrats

for everything anyway? When people get pissed about cuts to vital programs he will say well Chuck agreed to it, and guess what for once tsf won't be lying. Chuck did agree to it.

Also when has tsf ever stopped doing what ever he wants to do even though he swore up and down he wouldn't do it? He and his best buddy are going to totally destroy and shut everything down anyway. Ask the majority of people who cut deals with Donny how that worked out for them and how reliable he is about honoring contracts? He's also going to be having his "justice department," investigate the judges who rule against him," and if anyone believes those investigations will be above board and devoid of planted evidence they probably would be gullible enough to buy time shares at Maga Lardo?

I don't know why some people don't seem to get appeasement and showing weakness to dictators and bullies never stops them from doing worse, but keep on trying, who knows? Someday it might actually work, but I won't be holding my breath. The odds are against it.

At this point all I am hoping for is that whenever fate decides my number is up it won't hurt and I won't know what's happening. I just feel sorry for younger generations who will be left with a big fucking mess to deal with because not enough people were willing to stand against tsf even the ones who swore they would, if there is anything left for them at all that is.

If I sound angry and scared that's because I am. I experienced bullies first hand, and was taught a lot about dictators. I know without a shadow of a doubt they will do whatever they damn well want to, to whomever they want to, until enough people gather their courage and stand up to them and say we have had enough of your fucking shit, and we are done dancing to your tune and playing your sick little games. If you just roll over and play dead they wallow in their opponents cowardice and up their terroristic ways

I swear it's like watching Charlie Brown think that one day Lucy will actually let him kick the football.

[JCMach1]

97. Dead now,.dead later is still dead...

Schumer has no FIGHT and that's a huge problem in the current environment.

[angrychair]

104. Sure, if you're willing

To ignore the hundreds of thousands of people that are leaving the party and the goodwill of a millions of others.
What is done is done. We now live in a dictatorship now and Democrats will have to live with their part in that.

[Maeve]

110. While I understand the desire to fight it out, I suspect you are right

Bluesky is full of anger, but at the wrong people. The die is cast---breathe and save your ammo.

[BlueKota]

116. I think people who are killed off by the bad guys

because they waited too long for the perfect time to make a stand are no longer capable of fighting back, unless one believes in ghosts that come back from the dead to seek revenge.

[lapfog_1]

112. All of the negative outcomes

that you listed are going to happen anyway ( including the gelded courts ).

NOW the repukes can say "see, the Dems folded like a cheap suit"

With the positive outcome for them are those "Democrats in disarray" headlines... "Democrats divided!!!"

And the last kicker "Trump praises Schumer for decision" ( actual truth there ). How do you KNOW for certain that you are wrong... Trump praises your last action.

As for that "every Democrat has clean hands"... absolutely NOBODY cares. They caved. Period. Stop. Endgame.

nobody gives a tinkers damn on the final majority rule vote. And you have codified Trump's autocracy moves for the next 9 months.

What will be different in 9 months? Absolutely nothing except that people like me will still vote Democrat but vote FOR EVERY primary challenger to current Democrats in office. Every last one of them. And vote with my money too.

Yes, this was a lose-lose. But at least we had a chance to fight. Trump wants to destroy most of the government... the parts WE like... a shutdown had a chance to destroy parts the repukes sort of like ( SS check going out on time, parks are open even if the johns are not clean and the gift shop is closed and there isn't a ranger handy in case you fall off a trail, etc ).

This could have been us!

[lapucelle]

125. Thank you for acknowledging that "the Democrats folded like a cheap suit" is a Republican talking point. N/T

[lapfog_1]

130. sooo what do YOU call it?

Schumer ( on Wednesday ): They don't have the votes for cloture
Schumer ( on Thursday ): I will vote for cloture ( knowing the final vote, at best, would be 52 - 48 )

HOW THE FUCK DOES THAT LOOK TO ANY RATIONAL PERSON?

From TheHill:

President Trump on Friday congratulated Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) for opting to vote to advance the House-Republican drafted six-month government funding bill, despite pushback from liberal colleagues.

“Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thing — Took ‘guts’ and courage! The big Tax Cuts, L.A. fire fix, Debt Ceiling Bill, and so much more, is coming. We should all work together on that very dangerous situation. A non pass would be a Country destroyer, approval will lead us to new heights,” Trump wrote on Trump Social.

Trump is a traitor and a threat to our democracy. To be praised by him is... unforgivable.

[lapucelle]

137. Sorry, but I don't take Trump's "praise" of Democrats at face value.

He's trolling Schumer with fake praise the same way he has trolled AOC with fake praise in the past. Are all cases of Trump gratuitously praising Democrats "unforgivable" or only some?

As for

HOW THE FUCK DOES THIS LOOK TO ANY RATIONAL PERSON?

It probably looks like Schumer re-evaluated and changed course.

[lapfog_1]

138. re-evaluated

so, you are calling him stupid and ill-informed about the way our government works?

How long has he been in the Senate?

or more likely, he folded like a cheap suit.

[lapucelle]

139. Sorry, arguments predicated on the fallacy of eqivocation do not work on me

any better than ALL CAP SCREEDS.

[lapfog_1]

140. You are entrenched in your position

as I am in mine.

You think Schumer did the right thing ( along with Fetterman and the rest that voted for cloture with the repukes ).

I think we need war time leadership not afraid to close down government and use the one weapon we have in the Senate to retain any power at all. The republicans crafted the CR themselves, they passed it in the House, and now the Senate... all without a scintilla of input from democrats. Nothing. And somehow this is OK with you.

so there we are. Not only must we watch Trump and Musk dismantle government, we must agree to do it as well because closing the government would be sooo much worse.

[lapucelle]

147. Closing the government would result in the government being dismantled at a quicker pace,

with Trump's OMB wielding new and expanded powers, and Democrats shouldering at least part of the blame for the stoppage of essential services.

Anyone who thinks that closing the government is a "weapon" that will be yielded against Trump and Trump alone probably has not thought this through. Anyone who has thought it through is welcome to make the argument about why shutting down the government would have been a smart tactical move. Ideally that argument would articulate specific achievable goals and include an exit strategy.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oh, and you don't get to tell me what I do or do not know and what I am or am not "OK with". How entitled would someone have to be to make such claims about a stranger on a discussion board?

[lees1975]

117. Nope.

No Democrats were part of the negotiations, no Democrat would get the blame. If the government shuts down, Trump will get the blame because he's set himself up for being in charge of government. And the polls were quite clear on that.

Spineless leadership from Democrats means this is what we have to put up with for at least two more years.

And the ten Democrats who voted with him are self-interested, self-protectors instead of protectors and defenders of the Constitution.

[lapucelle]

127. What polls were quite clear on that? N/T

[Think. Again.]

146. Quinnipiac for one.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/03/13/americans-are-primed-blame-trump-gop-shutdown/

[lapucelle]

148. That was the only one poll, and the picture was not quite as rosy as some made it out to be.

Americans are primed to blame Trump and the GOP for a shutdown. But.

The Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday asked Americans whom they would blame most for a shutdown. And a majority cited either Trump (22 percent) or Republicans in Congress (31 percent).

Another 32 percent said they would blame congressional Democrats. But that’s nearly 20 points less than the combined total for the Republicans involved. Political independents are also about 20 points more likely to blame Trump and the Republicans than to blame Democrats.

snip=======================

The fact that people are more likely to blame Republicans right now could be as simple as the fact that they know Republicans control Congress and the presidency. And the blame is always subject to change.

The other big caveat is that it’s not just the blame that Democrats fear; it’s also what a shutdown could portend on a more practical level. They worry that it could actually serve to enable Trump’s and Musk’s cuts. They worry that it could further strain already besieged government employees.

https://archive.ph/1FaP0#selection-531.0-531.68

------------------------------------------------------------------------

So even as a purely speculative exercise, a higher percentage of respondents would have been ready to blame Congressional Democrats than would have blamed Trump, and a higher percentage of respondents would have been ready to blame Congressional Democrats than would have blamed Congressional Republicans.

[Think. Again.]

149. Yeah, I don't believe there were any other polls taken...

But as a purely speculative excercise, 100% of respondents from 1,345 polls might have been ready to blame Carmen Miranda rather than Democrats for the shut down (because wearing fruit hats is weird), but blame is always subject to change.

(Pro-tip: if ya don't want answers, don't ask questions)

[lapucelle]

152. Pro-tip: Read carefully. Don't answer questions when none were asked. It will save the embarrassment

of jokes falling flat.

But thanks for your input.

[Think. Again.]

155. My apologies, I was confused by the question mark at the end of...

"What polls were quite clear on that?"

[lapucelle]

156. Apology accepted. Interesting hypothetical: Someone takes the liberty of answering for someone else,

replaces a sweeping claim with the only single instance that they can find, and, when informed that the details of even that single instance does not support the claim made, settles on trying to make a joke which, of course, falls flat.

Thank you for your input (and your apology).

[Cirsium]

118. Okey dokey

So, the beatings will continue until morale improves. Got it.

[DiamondShark]

119. I disagree.

[King_Black_Mamba_248]

129. Dangerously Stupid Take on the CR By Lapicelle

The CR is a get out of jail card by the MAGATs to use in court proceedings. The CR essentially closes down the US Congress as a legislative branch by giving the powers of the purse & treaty review & declaration of war to the Demon Trump. We’re currently in a rolling federal government lockout. They will start the process of dismantling the lower federal courts immediately via impeachment, DJ criminal charges, or blackmail. The reason they all approved the removal of the Washington DC $1.1 Billion Dollars of Budget Cuts is they will need all of the “paid” security protections they can get in case the shit hits the fan this summer!! I believe that the Democratic/Republican Parties are gone forever, and now you’re either for democracy or for fascism!! Fascism is the political version of the Ebola virus, because if you don’t stop it before it destroys your political systems, Fascism will completely destroy the country it has infected!!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

161. Welcome to DU re your first post though you've been here a few months. . . . .nt

[Oopsie Daisy]

167. Interesting, no?

[lapucelle]

180. Check the post recs.

It's more interesting than you think.

[lapucelle]

193. ...

Thanks for stopping by.

Don't forget your donut.

[LuckyCharms]

199. i have a feeling that you will be tuned up shortly. n/t

[GP6971]

202. Hmmm...you sound nice.

[GP6971]

204. Well OK then. That settles that!!! Have we met before??

[Oopsie Daisy]

197. Yes... it's VERY interesting.

[Scrivener7]

205. Well, thank you, lapucelle! I think you're interesting too.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

208. You are wrong

If there was a government shutdown, Musk and DODGE would have a free hand in employee terminations and shutting down offices. Right now, we are have some success in the courts but that is due to the fact that the courts and the government is open

Link to tweet

The turnaround came as Democrats voiced concerns over handing Trump too much power through a shutdown and as Elon Musk stoked fears that the government would simply permit a shutdown indefinitely to accomplish the goal of dramatically reducing the size of the government.

“For sure, the Republican bill is a terrible option. It is not a clean CR [continuing resolution],” Schumer said. “It is deeply partisan. It doesn’t address far too many of this country’s needs. But I believe allowing Donald Trump to take even much more power via a government shutdown is a far worse option.”

"They're concerned that if they do block that plan, there could be a prolonged government shutdown with disastrous consequences, giving Donald Trump even more power to shutter federal agencies,” CNN’s Manu Raju said.

Musk appeared to lend credence to some of Schumer’s concerns with his social media posting about how to manage a shutdown. “If the government shuts down, what if we just never brought most furloughed workers back?” asked White House correspondent Natalie Winters on X. Her rhetorical question went viral, with Musk himself responding with a contemplative emoji that appeared to signal his openness to the concept.

[Terry_M]

131. Short Term vs. Long Term

Your points are valid - but they are basically all focused on avoiding the short term pain. For the week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks before republicans would cave. Yes Trump wouldn't cave on this but there would be republicans in the house getting more and more pressure every day to get things moving again.

How do your valid points about avoiding short term pain compare against the long term pain of approving the CR in it's current form - the permanent cuts, the weakening of congressional authority around the stupid tariff games, the weakening of the hands democrats will have in 6 months on the broader budget spending and the increase in the common perception of party weakness that's playing out here, and in the media?

It feels very much like a long term vision/strategy was sacrificed to avoid short term pain in a way that could lead to more cumulative bad, just, less right now.

[lapucelle]

179. What makes you think Republicans would cave?

"Republicans will cave" is not an exit strategy. The only time they cave is when Trump tells them to.

So yes, it is long term versus short term.

The short term option was "We get to raise our fists and yell "Resist!'"

The long term option is that Trump doesn't get to decide what closes and what stays open, the federal courts continue to function at optimal levels, any cut in services and the dismantling of any agency are due solely to Trump and Musk, and every Congressional Republican (all of whom are up for reelection in 2026) has to defend the Medicaid cuts that they voted for in the CR.

[Terry_M]

187. There is a lot we don't know about either pain right

The short term pain we avoided now and the long term pain we caused now - we don't know how either will play out.

Suffice it to say that when you have a lot of unknown with both options - if I would prefer that we are more strategic and prioritize long term thinking vs. short term thinking - Schumer has defined himself when dealing with tough decisions with a lot of unpredictable unknowns as someone who prioritizes the short term over the long term unlike the vast majority of every other elected democrats.

[lapucelle]

192. Schumer did prioritize the long term. N/T

[TransitJohn]

134. Nice to see

that this place hasn't changed a bit after losing election after election. What a fucking joke.

[J_William_Ryan]

135. "A shutdown would have played right into Trump's hands."

Correct.

[ScubaDave]

142. Where is the show of force? Where is the wiilingness to fight?

If ever there was a time to Schumer to stand up and fight it was yesterday. He is an old fool trying to win a competition at band camp. This fight is more of a contact sport and wake up folks Trump/MAGA are talking about annexing our allies. So where is the resistance show of force? I'm not seeing it. The American people don't typically support weakness. When does the steam roller stop. Why should the American public feel confident "we will win". Time to move on to AOC or someone like her now. This is not a fight that will be settled by funding the destruction of our great republic.

[Meowmee]

151. He did what he thought was the best worse option

Many disagreed obviously. I don't think it's something to necessarily be happy about, more like we dodged one bullet only to take another one, or another few. We will find out what happens in time. A lot of the awful things are going to happen anyway imo.

[lapucelle]

153. He did indeed, and he will take the heat. N/T

[Blue Full Moon]

154. Explains for me. He needs to go.

For sure. I know quite a few of his donors, professionally. It’s been a brutal week on Wall Street. If today they suffered another massive sell-off, the probability of a crash next week was exceedingly high. Still a real possibility. Yet, he chose them over us. Unreal.
[e-mail]

[lapucelle]

163. You should inform the donors whom you know professionally that the stock market is closed on Saturdays.

I'm surprised that they don't know that.

What exactly is your claim about Chuck Schumer?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

157. I agree

[nilram]

158. I'd prefer he hadn't, but those are good points.

If it had gone the other way, the Rs would have had more ammunition for blaming Democrats. Now further disruption is more clearly on the Republicans. Still, it's exponentially more effort to restart things that get shut down.

[mikewv]

159. Good bye Chuck. Thank you for your service.

Schumer should resign. Not because of his vote on the CR but for lack of messaging and leadership. Jeffries had better step up as well. Frankly, we need new leadership on all levels. How does half of the country not know that most tarrifs are bad for them and the tax cuts mostly do not help them either? Yes, blame social media, the mainstream press, etc.. like we all have for the past 9 years but "they" are winning and "we" are losing. What we are doing is not working obviously, how about we try something new?

[Raine]

164. Totally agree ... nt

[Flux]

165. Puzzled

What I don't understand is why Schumer and the more party centrists will reach across the aisle for the Republicans, but they hardly ever reach across the table with the progressive members of the party.

[Nixie]

168. There is no way we want the courts shut down or any of our

government to become completely unrecognizable and subject to their interpretation of how, when or why it would be “reopened.” . There was no good choice, but a shutdown would have played into their hands: even more insane chaos.

Great post, lapucelle.

[lapucelle]

176. I've yet to hear an exit strategy from anyone who wanted to shut the government down.

I don't think a shutdown would have pushed the Republicans to renegotiate.

What as the plan for reopening the government?

[brer cat]

169. Thank you, lapucelle. Your points are excellent.

[Hellbound Hellhound]

170. Schumer publicly started a civil war in the Democratic Party. If that's "Smart" I'd rather be lobotomized. n/t

[Tribetime]

173. It's already hell...how much more can the poor be burned

Schurmer is out of touch with people already being devastated.

[lark]

181. So when they put in a national abortion ban in the next extortion CR Dems will just auto vote for it?

That would end us forever, as far as I'm concerned.

[the_liberal_grandpa]

182. The problem remains the same

I have given this some thought and tend to agree with the sentiments detailed above.

The problem is the same. Schumer is a terrible messenger and did not articulate any of these things. Rather he just said that
shutting down the goverment was a bad idea because it would give the felon more leeway to shutdown government.

He could have come out and scared the crap out of Americans on what would happen. But he did not.

Because he did not articulate the things articulated in this article people assumed he flipped because he was afraid of being blamed. Of course he was afraid of being blamed which is not a reason to bow to a wannabe dictator (Chamberlain)

Nevertheless, the dems have to defend their vote by trying to convince us of the things they stopped while the CR they voted for continues to cause real hardships that everyone will be able to see.

Schumer and the other dems who voted to override the fillibuster own whatever comes next.

[MayReasonRule]

184. Wholly Disagree -- Schumer's Top Donors Were Bleeding MARKET VALUE... All About The Benjamins...

OH and there's this...

[MayReasonRule]

185. Schumer says he agrees with Trump's decision to pull $400 million from Columbia.

A university in his own state

Additionally he's unconcerned about the unlawful arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, one of his own constituents.

The New York Times interview...



I see abject moral depravity.

[Scrivener7]

206. If you read the interview, he didn't actually say that.

[MayReasonRule]

232. Thank You - Yes He Did Indeed Say That - And Worse...

[Scrivener7]

234. Nope. He didn't. I'm no fan of his right now, but he didn't say that.

[MayReasonRule]

235. Well Dang... I Don't Want To Put Words In Schumer's Mouth

Do happen to have the exact quote?

[Scrivener7]

237. Read the interview.

[lapucelle]

230. Senator Schumer didn't say that he agrees with Trump.

The gigantic picture you posted obscures your claim that Senator Schumer is "morally depraved".

In exactly what way is the Democratic senator from NY morally depraved?

[MayReasonRule]

231. Happy Monday Y'all!

190.
Emile (33,176 posts)

Trump praised Schumer too.

Reply to MayReasonRule (Reply #189)

Sun Mar 16, 2025, 12:57 PM
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5194773-trump-schumer-government-funding/

IMO, anyone defending the 10 are using right-wing talking points.

I wholeheartedly agree with Emile.

Happy Monday y'all, don't let the bastards get ya' down!

[Ol Janx Spirit]

188. The problem here wasn't with the shutdown vs. no shutdown showdown...

...but the lack of any coherent strategy in the months that Democrats had leading up to the very-well-known deadline. With no groundwork being established to put Democrats in a position with the American people to justify and clarify their budget fight--knowing this was coming--they were really in no position to allow the shutdown to happen so early into the new term. The shutdown would absolutely be an excuse for the Kakistocracy to do a lot of terrible things and shift blame for everything to the Democrats. It was classic: a failure to plan is a plan to fail. That is what is really aggravating. However, the Republicans have bought the gun, loaded it, and sighted their scope squarely on their foot--but they haven't pulled the trigger just yet. It would seem that America has to feel that pain before it is truly ready to see who is to blame for what will be some very bad outcomes due to things that many of them support. Not an ideal situation--just a reality. My problem with Schumer is not for this vote, but for seemingly having no strategy in the runup to it that would make a coherent argument to the American people about why they might have to make this very difficult vote that would get anyone not already infected with MAGA on their side. Now that this is done they better be planning for what is next--but I will not get my hopes up.

[MayReasonRule]

189. GOP Senators Love Schumer's Choice For His Party And His Nation...

[Emile]

190. Trump praised Schumer too.

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5194773-trump-schumer-government-funding/

IMO, anyone defending the 10 are using right-wing talking points.

[MayReasonRule]

191. Thank You For Saying So Emile. I Wholeheartedly Agree.

There are many capable leaders within our party able to fulfill the role that was so abjectly compromised.

I am eager to see that process begin.

[sheshe2]

212. Brandon, you are back!

That was quick.

[William769]

214. Wanna bet?

[William769]

216. So do I.

Just remember the house always wins.

[GP6971]

219. Good for you!!!

[sheshe2]

217. Are you threatening me?

[sheshe2]

221. KayossZero is no longer with us.

[GP6971]

225. OK then...a voice from the past!!!!

[GP6971]

218. Back so soon!!!

[GP6971]

222. That's something out of your control.

[Hotler]

196. Has he stood before a mic and declared the orange convict and musky domestic enemies

per the oath of office and called for their immediate arrest? No one has.

[iemanja]

200. Discussions on this and other issues have shown me

how Hitler was able to rise to power.

You accept the propaganda that there were only two choices. Pelosi had the better solution--one she knows from experience. If the GOP wanted Democratic votes, they needed to negotiate with Democrats on the bill. If Schumer would have stood firm, the Trump administration would have had no choice but to negotiate.

Do you know what is in that bill you celebrate? Besides the increased funding for deportations and reduction in funding for social services, it curtails congressional efforts to stop Trump's tariffs. It enables the greater consolidation of authoritarian power. The argument that Democrats would have been blamed is the most craven of all. To pretend this is about mere PR ignores, and collaborates with, totalitarian actions. These are not ordinary times.

I stand with the Democrats who see this bill and circumstance for what it is, and they are the majority of the party. I do not accept that collaboration is an acceptable choice.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

226. Could not disagree more... fighting for We The People is what wins elections!!

[claudette]

228. But

the fact is that even magats would have suffered in the consequences of a shutdown and know that Gopers were to blame for not negotiating with the Dems to resolve it. All the Dem Reps in the House can’t be wrong. In my view

[betsuni]

229. K&R

[NowsTheTime]

233. Elon and Trump wanted the shut down. Democrats didn't give it to them.

[Emile]

236. If Trump wanted the shutdown he would have told

his republican majority to vote it down.

[NowsTheTime]

238. Makes sense...but he would have exploited the situation had the Dem's shut it down..would have been ugly

[Emile]

239. So what, he does that regardless. Trump got exactly what he wanted and

praised Schumer for doing what he thought was right.

Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thing — Took ‘guts’ and courage! The big Tax Cuts, L.A. fire fix, Debt Ceiling Bill, and so much more, is coming. We should all work together on that very dangerous situation. A non pass would be a Country destroyer, approval will lead us to new heights,” Trump wrote on Trump Social.

IMO all Schumer did was provide cover for Democratic centrists.

[NowsTheTime]

240. NO, Schumer picked the lesser of two bad choices.

[Emile]

242. I guess we all have an opinion. The good thing

is we are both Democrats.

[NowsTheTime]

245. Thanks! Yes we are. Having said what I did, I would like to see a stronger leader in the Senate.

Last edited Mon Mar 17, 2025, 12:20 PM - Edit history (1)

[lapucelle]

248. The federal courts (including immigration courts) remain open,

The national parks remain open, and the Social Security Administration continues to process new applications.

So no, Trump did not get exactly want he wanted.

[Emile]

249. If Trump wanted the government shutdown, he

would have ordered it. He got exactly what he wanted.

[lapucelle]

250. He wanted the shutdown, but he wanted the Democrats to take the blame.

“Trump gets whatever he wants anyway” is defeatist.

[Emile]

251. I don't buy that either. He would have blamed us

regardless. He didn't want a shutdown.

[lapucelle]

253. You are free to believe what you want to believe.

[Emile]

254. I know we're both Democrats with different views.

I also respect the fact we're on the same team.

[lapucelle]

256. ...

[Scrivener7]

243. And he wouldn't have worked so hard to get it passed.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/12/politics/trump-house-freedom-caucus-government-shutdown/index.html

Has he ever worked hard on ANYTHING else?

[Emile]

244. +1

[lapucelle]

247. Then only Republicans would have been blamed for the shutdown. N/T

[intrepidity]

255. So if there had been a shutdown and things got really bad

How long do you think the "blame the Dems!" schtick would continue working? Everyone knows who is in control!

[lapucelle]

258. I think the media would have run with the "blame the Democrats" narrative.

It's great for clicks and ratings, and that is pretty much all they care about.

Today Jake Tapper has been tweeting "concern" over a bogus Heritage Foundation whispering campaign that President Biden was so enfeebled that he could not even sign documents.

The evidence? The "autopen" signatures on Biden documents in the Federal Register.

The problem? All presidential documents in the Federal Register have autopen signatures, going back decades. The authentic documents with the authentic signatures are held in the National Archives.

Facts like that do not stop folks like Jake Tapper from amplifying "concerning" rumors..

[LetMyPeopleVote]

257. A shutdown would have given musk/DOGE free reign to fire people and close offices

If there was a government shutdown, Musk and DODGE would have a free hand in employee terminations and shutting down offices. Right now, we are have some success in the courts but that is due to the fact that the courts and the government is open

Link to tweet

The turnaround came as Democrats voiced concerns over handing Trump too much power through a shutdown and as Elon Musk stoked fears that the government would simply permit a shutdown indefinitely to accomplish the goal of dramatically reducing the size of the government.

“For sure, the Republican bill is a terrible option. It is not a clean CR [continuing resolution],” Schumer said. “It is deeply partisan. It doesn’t address far too many of this country’s needs. But I believe allowing Donald Trump to take even much more power via a government shutdown is a far worse option.”

"They're concerned that if they do block that plan, there could be a prolonged government shutdown with disastrous consequences, giving Donald Trump even more power to shutter federal agencies,” CNN’s Manu Raju said.

Musk appeared to lend credence to some of Schumer’s concerns with his social media posting about how to manage a shutdown. “If the government shuts down, what if we just never brought most furloughed workers back?” asked White House correspondent Natalie Winters on X. Her rhetorical question went viral, with Musk himself responding with a contemplative emoji that appeared to signal his openness to the concept.

[Emile]

259. So Schumer stopped Trump and Musk, uh okay. .