Schumer finally speaks up
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You are correct that the Republicans would have tried to blame the Democrats but I'm not convinced that would have gained as much traction as some think. I think a lot of people are starting see what they voted for with Trump.
I consider not standing in their way a huge negative. It's the crux of the matter. The problem isn't just Trump, it's the whole republican congress who are not lifting a #*$^ finger to rein him in. Absolutely nothing. And they presented the Democrats with a completely partisan CR that does nothing to address the havoc Trump is wreaking on on the nation. And Schumer rolled over and said, Oh Ok, do as you please.
I think by standing up to Trump and the brain dead republicans the Democrats would have turned some heads and helped their standing among too many who think they are weak and always cave. Schumer just gave them more proof what a pushover the party is.
I don't know what would have happened if we had forced the shutdown, and it scares me to think of it, but when I hear from several people whose opinions I value, that caving was a mistake (J Rubin, R Reich, N Pelosi, etc. etc. there's a lot of them.) I'm going to go with them. Did we see Adam Schiff's video here? It's worth a watch.
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Adam Schiff...
Link to video
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There's an interview with Schumer in today's NYT Magazine (I think that's where it is--I only read it online so I sometimes get lost about what section things are in). In it, I found his argument for voting to move the bill forward compelling. He explained that there were no good options and he chose the one that did the least harm. Because if there was a shutdown, that hands all the authority to the executive branch, and they could indefinitely hold those reins and close down departments with no recourse available to the Ds. At least with the shutdown averted, there is still an avenue of opposition through the courts.
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https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/16/magazine/chuck-schumer-interview.html?smtyp=cur
Can someone do a gift link?
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I carry no water for Schumer, but I can’t think of what he might do instead.
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It was interesting to read the comments on the interview. 99 percent hating on Schumer, despite what sounded like a very logical reason to vote as he did--it was to preserve the power of the courts to fight what Trump is doing.
I have to agree that he sounds out of touch about the direness of the moment. But it's hard to argue that we would be better off with the executive branch having the legal right to shut down agencies, when now they are doing it illegally and can at least be sued.
Some commenters made the argument that the pain we'd feel in a shutdown would bring about blowback from the public a lot faster.
To me it sounds like there were no good choices.
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It was interesting to read the comments on the interview. 99 percent hating on Schumer, despite what sounded like a very logical reason to vote as he did--it was to preserve the power of the courts to fight what Trump is doing.
I have to agree that he sounds out of touch about the direness of the moment. But it's hard to argue that we would be better off with the executive branch having the legal right to shut down agencies, when now they are doing it illegally and can at least be sued.
Some commenters made the argument that the pain we'd feel in a shutdown would bring about blowback from the public a lot faster.
To me it sounds like there were no good choices.
@pique said in Schumer finally speaks up:
To me it sounds like there were no good choices.
No. Of course there were no good choices, it was planned that way. All the more horrible to sink away from the moment.
The argument about the courts is the only good reason I've heard from Schumer, and yes, it's scary. But already Trump is ignoring the courts. He is deporting people despite the court order halting the deportations. And frankly, I'd rather have this whole nightmare over as soon as possible. Besides, the federal courts don't shut down right away. There was time to force the republicans to the table.
What are there? 260 Democratic members of Congress, give or take a few? And only 10 thought it was a good idea to play dead? And one of those sits at the top! This is a time for party unity and clearly those 10 are the odd ones out. They know better than the other 250!?
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Politics is the science of power. Schumer abdicated his responsibility to exercise power.
He caved one day after saying he wouldn't cave.
He went on to parrot Republican talking points about, "waste, fraud, and abuse," and to editorialize in the New York Times that Trump was some kind sovereign of the country.
I don't see how any of it was helpful at all.
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@Bernard "But already Trump is ignoring the courts. He is deporting people despite the court order halting the deportations. "
So he is in contempt of court. It's possible this will make a difference, that it is contempt, rather than that he had the legal right to do it and so is untouchable.
I've also pretty much lost all faith in the Ds. There is going to have to be some kind of organic uprising. No one is going to save us but ourselves.
