[Tadpole9181]

> They know this, it’s why the fall guys that voted to end the shutdown are not up for reelection during the midterms.

And, to be clear, is why Chuck Schumer is getting called to step down. It's beyond clear this was a coordinated effort orchestrated by leadership. Not only are they ineffective, but they seem to think their voting base is brain dead that such a strategy would work?

But hey, I just saw some of my fellow countrymen asking why child rape is wrong in a debate over Trump's presence in the latest Epstein files leak. So maybe I just have too much faith in people.

[mothballed]

I promise I won't criticize your response, but what would you do if you were Schumer and Republicans refused to budge no matter what? Realistically, doing nothing or voting neys means nuking the filibuster, but getting the same outcome, which might be even worse, and in the interim SNAP and others not getting paid.

[Tadpole9181]

I wish I could quote Schumer when he walked down by the river (as he does, since he's a very cool and relatable layperson) as he cursed in front of a camera to say they will not back down. Can't seem to find the video though.

Anyway, I'd make them either own the shutdown or take responsibility for forcing the bill through. I'm not giving them an out, they will answer for the suffering they create by not negotiating. Negotiating, which I remind everyone, for a single clause to make sure healthcare costs don't go up $100/month or more for half of Americans.

This line of rhetoric is fascinating to me. It's as if someone locked my family in a room, lit it on fire, and is now telling me we can't leave unless we give them permission to shoot one of us in the head. And, to be clear, they very obviously have no intent of opening the door and have already shot one of us in the head.

The democrats have quite literally zero power in the federal government. They have lost every single branch in all meaningful ways. This was the only leverage that exists. And they gave it up for quite literally nothing.

I cannot fathom the line of thought that they just had sweeping election victories across the board, voters are at an all-time low WRT the Trump administration, the mask is starting to slip on MAGA - realizing that Trump and Republicans are the source of pain and that they do rely on the net, Democratic fervor is rising, and with the holidays coming it is about to cause serious pain to America that can finally snap them awake to the reality of...

Actually, you know what? Nah, they didn't fold immediately. Clearly trying to do anything doesn't work, so let's do absolutely nothing and give them everything they want! They'll surely listen to us now!

The short term pain was intended to be a cure. To show how destructive Republicans are. How much they're willing to make people suffer to avoid even a shred of assistance toward normal people's lives. That they'd rather fund Blackhawk helicopters in Chicago than food or healthcare.

But now we're back to the long term pain. Republicans have been justified - it was the Democrats fault for stopping government for no reason. And we're still losing the ACA subsidies in the short term - raising rates at least double digit percents. And Republicans are still gunning to kill SNAP and ACA in general. And progressives have just witnessed their leadership cave, killing voter momentum.

[LexiMax]

I actually think that there were two possible outcomes. One of them involved killing the filibuster. The other was widespread unrest from all corners of the United States - the kind that that comes from all political alignments, the kind that police and untrained thugs roleplaying as peace officers are wholly unequipped to handle.

I can see how that would be unappealing to a career politician who values stability at all costs. After all, a military junta would mean that he would be out of a job with no other marketable skills. Poor guy would probably have to sell one of his properties to get by.

[mindslight]

Well fucking said. In order to be leaders, you actually have to start trying to lead. Not just putting on a temporary show where you tried "really hard" to stop those big mean Republicans from hurting healthcare, before going back to business as usual.

As far as the filibuster, let the Republicans kill it and make it very clear they're responsible for this anti-Constitutional corporatist agenda being rammed up our asses. When the other party is doing things for which the only check is for them to eventually hang, you don't sign off on it with your own names!

FWIW I'm not a progressive. I'm a libertarian. Pan-party, people are fed up with this fucking government. In fact that's why they voted (again!) for this New York con artist promising to somehow magically fix everything. It was plainly a stupid choice, but the frustrated desperation driving it is understandably real.