How to counter the Shumer Shutdown talking point

[lapucelle]

The purely procedural vote to invoke cloture is being framed by Republicans and their strategists as a “vote to shut down the government”. Actually it was a vote to end the filibuster and bring the CR to continue short-term government funding to a vote on the Senate floor. It needed 60 votes to pass.

The fact that the measure failed by a vote of 49-50 is being used by Republicans (who are counting on the ignorance of some voters and the superficiality of much of the news coverage) as an example of Democratic obstructionism. They are banking on the fact that many will not realize that this was not a close vote, that 5 Democrats voted for the measure, and that 5 Republicans (including McConnell whose vote was purely procedurally strategic) voted with the majority of Democrats.

Despite these facts, Republican and RW talking heads will frame this as a close vote with Schumer instructing his caucus to obstruct, thereby forcing a government shutdown.

If Republicans want to frame this procedural vote as a “vote to shut down the government”, counter the talking points with these facts:

Five Republicans voted “yes”.
Five Democrats voted “no”.
The vote failed 49-50
McConnell and Schumer voted the exact same way.

If I encounter someone who understands the nuances of last night's procedural vote, I am simply going to point out the following: The vote was not even close because Trump/McConnell failed to win over 5 members of their own party and 3 additional Democrats and/or Independents. This is a Republican failure.

[unblock]

1. Or point out that they could use reconciliation with zero democratic votes

They refuse to do this because they don’t want to vote for a budget resolution featuring a trillion dollar deficit that they created with their stupid tax heist.

That’s entirely on republicans.

They don’t need democrats to keep the government running. They need democrats to do it in a way that lets them avoid responsibility for their fiscal mismanagement .

[CrispyQ]

4. Your last paragraph nails it.

Perfectly stated!

[onethatcares]

6. why isn't the Democratic leadership

on the teevees repeating this over and over? Seems the pukes are on all the time.

[unblock]

8. Dunno. I guess it could backfire.

If we make too much of a stink about it I guess republicans could go ahead and use the reconciliation trick after all, and then excuse their vote for a big deficit budget by saying democrats forced them into it.

[m3n0z]

15. Repubs are who they are

I am not surprised by their actions. The issue of immigration is an important issue affecting too many people for it to be ignored. However, Blaming Schumer for the shut down suggests that his single vote some how equals the 10 needed for passage. Our immigration policy has been broken for many years and will likely remain unresolved until hardlines are overcome by compassion and human beings become more important then a political tool. The CR contained many provisions that affect the entire US population regardless of immigration status. No DACA, well now it's No to Everyone. No it's not going to lead to wide spread suffering , pain or scarcity unless you count the political , BS , business as usual. But the Tragedy here is that now the people know it's politics first and common good, Last. The stated issues will find a resolution in their own time. But even though this shut down will amount to mo more than media headlines and political posturing, it is unnecessary to even gamble with everyone elses health and stability just to secure public brownie point for their vote.

[lapucelle]

17. The DNC launched a digital ad earlier today.

Last edited Sat Jan 20, 2018, 07:59 PM - Edit history (1)

http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/369939-dnc-targets-gop-senators-over-shutdown-in-digital-ad

[onethatcares]

18. thank you

thanks for posting that.

[Control-Z]

2. Thank you for this.

I was just sitting here thinking about how I'd counter such talk.

[Fred Sanders]

3. How about "Your Man-Baby Dear Leader wants his fucking useless wall. That is why."

[ProudLib72]

12. How about "You're a fucking moron and not worth explaining this to"?

They just want to pick a fight. No matter who is at fault, who owns all three branches of government, they want to whine about life not being fair.

[Kirk Lover]

5. It is also Deal Breaker Donnie who is at fault.

[Horizens]

7. Thus the shutdown

On Tuesday, Jan. 9, the degenerate mental case (DMC) said that he would sign any bi-partisan bill the senate put before him. We know this because the meeting was televised and it’s on video tap. Two days later (Jan. 11) Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Lindsey Graham (R- SC) met DMC at the white house with a bi-partisan bill that would garner more than the needed 60 votes. DMG, exhibiting his natural lack of class and dignity, rejected the proposal citing shithole countries.

Yesterday DMC asked Chuch Schumer to come to the white house to discuss the matter. At that meeting Schumer offered a major concession - the Dems would include some money towards the wall that Mexico is supposed to pay for.

A few hours later when Schumer was rallying the Dems to make this concession in order to avoid a shutdown, the white house let it be known that it wasn’t enough.

The Republican concept of compromise is you give us everything we want, you get nothing. Thus the shutdown.

[smirkymonkey]

9. Your last line says it all when it comes to republican compromise.

"The Republican concept of compromise is you give us everything we want, you get nothing." They still don't get it. They will never get it. That is why congress is not working.

[roamer65]

10. The Dump Shutdown.

It’s pretty obvious who’s at fault.

[m3n0z]

11. 50 - 49

So If all 5 Repubs vote yes instead of no, it would have failed?

[lapucelle]

14. Yes. It needed 60 votes. N/T

[louis c]

13. By the way, the Repukes can end the filibuster permanently by a simple majority

They have the power to eliminate the need for a filibuster, but they can't get anywhere near 50 votes for that.

[TeamPooka]

16. Trump lied, the deal died.

Donald Trump broke his word on the bi-partisan deal.
That is why there is a shutdown.