Senate Democrats appear ready to back down in government shutdown fight

That's the default setting for Democrats in every situation, until there's a whiff of class solidarity in the air. Then the Democrats suddenly become the most powerful force imaginable, able to tank campaigns and careers with a phone call.

I've had enough of this "you can't blame democrats for what Republicans are doing." They've set up and maintained a system where they're the only people who can push back on the fascists, and now that the time has come they're refusing to stand up, and keeping anyone else from standing up.
They're not just incompetent, they're complicit. The billionaires and Republicans are our Nazis, and the Democrat leadership are our Vichy France.
- Don't worry both sides are not the same though so you can take that to the bank, not the same bank that the democrats are cashing their corporate checks in though because that would be unseemly.
  I am only half kidding, maybe a quarter kidding.
  
  I can only afford to nickel kid these days.
  
  If you can watch what's been going on for the past two months, and still believe this both sides bullshit, then you're a fucking idiot.
  Are Democrats corporate stooges and feckless cowards? Yeah most of them.
  But this is next level. You're insane if you think it would be anything like this had Harris won.
- For real, all last year they were telling us that democracy itself is at risk, but now that it's actually collapsing they're proceeding with business as usual?

"There's nothing we can do!"
-Democrats as they rubber stamp a fascist agenda

Fucking Christ! You don't have leverage? Withholding your fucking votes is leverage! Let it shut down.
- Yeah it's Trump's fault if it shuts down too. They always blame the president so I don't see the issue. Also the government has been doing horrible things lately so it should be shutdown for as long as possible. Maybe 4 years

Two things you'll never lose money on...the depth of GOP inhumanity...and the DNC inability to even pretend to fight
- "The conversation today was divided. I can’t say we have a strategy,” said a Democratic senator who requested anonymity..."
  🤬🤡💩☠️
- vOtE BLuE No MaTtER WhO
  
  Well, yes, although that sounds like asking people to safely dispose of their lit cigarette butts when the forest fire is raging. Of course it's going to sound ridiculous now.
- bUt YoU hAvE tOo!!

Looks like they’re sticking to their guns.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/schumer-senate-democrats-votes-gop-funding-bill-shutdown-rcna196029
- Glad they're finally listening

Brave Sir Robin ran away. Bravely ran away away. When danger reared it's ugly head, He bravely turned his tail and fled.
Yes, brave Sir Robin turned about And gallantly he chickened out. Swiftly taking to his feet, He beat a very brave retreat. Bravest of the braaaave, Sir Robin!

"Democrats appear ready to back down"
In other news, today happens to be a day that ends with the letter "Y."
Tune in again for more things that happen every single day to no surprise!
- It's an evergreen headline.

Now is the time to shut it down. Republicans are hugely unpopular right now.

The longer I've watched democrats and republicans function, the more it looks like Republicans are the bus that Democrats are throwing America under.

The lawmaker said Democrats are worried they would get the blame for a shutdown if they voted to defeat the House bill. The House is out of session for the rest of the week, upping the pressure on Senate Democrats.
Voters haven't punished Republicans for their numerous shut downs. But that said, voters are always more likely to blame Democrats for anything at all.
In the article there are definitely some interesting points. Like how Elon would probably use the shut down to fire even more people. Or Trump would use it to take even more power from Congress.
I still think the Democrats need to stand firm and refuse to vote for it, make Republicans pass it via reconciliation. Shut it down if necessary. But there's definitely a lot of possibly terrible outcomes to a shut down to consider.
- They should vote no on every single bill the Republicans put forward.
- The Republicans literally control the entire government. Everything that is happening is their fault and if the Democrats feel like that won't be the case they suck at their fucking job.
  
  They don't control the entire government in this context. That's why they need Democrat votes.
  As for fault: the spending bill is in itself reasonable. Refusing to vote for it may be the optimal strategy (I don't know) but it doesn't look great.

Of course they are.
And, of course they will.
Feckless spineless wimps that they are.
🤡 🤦‍♀️ 🖕

The Democratic Party and spinelessness: Name a more iconic duo.
- The GOP and cruelty
  
  The left and sitting at home, disenfranchised for the last 4 decades.

"Senate Democrats appear ready to back down"
Full stop, no need to further qualify that...
- If they didn't have people to their left to stand against, it would be a tautology.
- “Senate Democrats ~~appear~~ ready to back down”
  Fixed it.

Spineless

I've said this before (fucking search my comment history if you dare), Both parties are two sides of a shit sandwich (yes, the republicans are the side where the actual turn is in). We need a 3rd party to compete, and actually organize to push both of these parties out. Won't be overnight, but we can -- and should, do it.

I wonder if elon could be blocked from terminating another few thousand jobs if the government is shut down.
That might be a good reason to block the bill. In addition to all of the bullshit that's in it that should be blocked anyways.

Democrats and being pushovers. Name a better duo.

An important thing you all need to understand about the Filibuster: it's not the final vote. It's basically a vote to stop talking and hold a vote. So all the Democrats can do with a Filibuster is delay (perhaps indefinitely).
But as a wise Canadian philosopher once noted: "If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice". What to Democrats gain by delaying this indefinitely? Without some action, the government gets shut down. All they gain is a closed government and a bunch of fingers pointed at them. Republicans know this, and will not give any concessions for Democratic votes.
The best move is to allow the vote, and then vote against the actual bill. They make their objection known, but still allow the government to stay open.
- Didn't hurt the Republicans every time they threatened a shutdown when the Democrats were in power. And if the Dems think they can get some concessions from the R's by forcing the country to get hit, then it might be worth it to stop some crazy shit in the long run.
  
  They will get no concessions, because Republicans do not care if the Federal government shuts down. They want to drown it in the bathtub. Republicans are effective weaponizing the government shutdown because they know they don't care, and Democrats do.
  However, government shutdown in general are very unpopular. When Republicans go there, their immediate popularity takes a hit. The problem is that American voters have short memories, and are likely to forget before the next election.
  
  I mean it did to an extent, but voters forgot by election time. Since we’re far off from one I agree with the overall sentiment though.
- But as a wise Canadian philosopher once noted: “If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice”.
  iseewhatyoudidthere.jpg
  Now it's stuck in my head.

Spineless fucks. Predictable, unfortunately.

Shutdowns really suck if you're employed by the federal government. Nothing makes you feel more powerless than either being told you're not allowed to do your job because your employer can't figure out its shit or you're told you have to work, but you aren't guaranteed your next scheduled paycheck until the shutdown ends, and in 2018-19, it was really unclear when it would end. And if you're furloughed and get back-pay for not working, you're viewed poorly by the public for getting paid not to work, even though it wasn't your fault. I could definitely see Democrats being blamed for all the bad things resulting from a shutdown, even though it's provisions in the GOP bill that are ultimately causing it to happen. Holding federal employees' paychecks and government services to the public hostage is absolutely the shittiest way to conduct political business.
- I'm a federal employee. Being furloughed for awhile scares me less than what DOGE is doing. Every coworker I've discussed it with (and it's frequently discussed at my office) feels the same way.
  
  I'm all for whatever maximizes the pain for DOGE. What would that be? A 40-day shutdown showdown that results in a better spending bill?
  
  DOGE is not a government agency and would presumably continue working regardless of shutdown. They could continue to operate under Musks funding.
- Also I read that being out of work for more than 30 days makes it easier to lay off federal workers.