Schumer Balks, Pence Flinches

[bigtree]

Ana Cabrera @AnaCabrera 4m
JUST IN: Vice President Pence no longer expected to preside over Amy Coney Barrett vote, aide says

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[exboyfil]

1. Smart move Pence

I was expecting that picture in the history books. Best you are not in it for your "legacy".

[Newest Reality]

3. His legacy...

His legacy may just be a section in the book: Infamous Political Toadies and Pathological Liars.

[MLAA]

10. His legacy will be filed in that big 'healthcare plan' book trump gave Stahl

among with all the nonsense and blank pages.

[forgotmylogin]

24. That little thin volume that was under the huge (likely blank) tome...

...that's "The History of Mike Pence's Contributions to the Administration".

[vlyons]

21. In theb chapter "Hypocrites Masquerading as Christians"

nt

[MLAA]

44. Exactly

[a kennedy]

28. all he is and has been is a yes man......nothing else.....

YES, YES, YES,

[grumpyduck]

2. Covid my ass.

He doesn't want to be part of the farce.

Although... it's probably too late for to salvage anything of his career.

[Wounded Bear]

4. Pence wanted the photo op...

"I presided over the Senate for the historic appointment confirmation vote of Justice Barrett"

[RainCaster]

20. He definitely wants to ba part of the farce

He's had a permanent woody ever since RBG passed on. He's been so focused on killing Roe V Wade that he can think of nothing else. It is the fullfillment of his life's dream- to make us all bow down to his phony form of Christianity. You know- the kind that only loves a child until it's born.

[SWBTATTReg]

5. Moron. Pence, no one wants your sick a&& around. Stay away. You and your hubby trump are a ...

walking epidemic nightmare.

[Ms. Toad]

43. Please stop using being gay as an insult. n/t

[SWBTATTReg]

45. You obviously are overthinking this as an gay insult, it has nothing to do w/ being gay at all.

[Ms. Toad]

48. Not overthinking it. You referred to Trump as Pence's hubby.

Trying to twist it around to pretend it isn't using gay an insult is what is overthinking it.

It is offensive, as I and many others LGBT members of DU will tell you.

[SWBTATTReg]

49. I happen to be LGBT, so screw you.

[Ms. Toad]

50. Then you should know that accusing someone of being gay to insult them is offensive. n/t

[SWBTATTReg]

51. And you are way out of line and way overreacting, you're full of it. I've been in a relationship ..

for over 34 years, so the last thing I need from you is a lecture on being gay, etc. Go way.

[Ms. Toad]

53. Not overreacting - just tired of having my life used to insult people.

And it doesn't really matter to me whether the insult is being hurled by a gay individual or not. It impacts me to have my life used as an insult.

[SWBTATTReg]

55. Oh gee whiz, you are indeed overreacting and this was lobbed against pence and trump, two of

the worst people on earth...

[Ms. Toad]

58. When you use something to insult someone, you are inherently calling it out as negative.

It's not an insult it is not perceived to be bad.

To put it bluntly, when you grab my life and use it to club Trump and Pence, I get bruised in the process.

I don't. I'm tired of my life being used as a club to beat people we don't like - and DU is supposed to be a place where homophobic, ablist, racist, etc. insults are not welcome.

You want to use homophobic insults, since you apparently don't mind being used as a club, take it someplace where homophobic insults are wlecome. Not here.

[SWBTATTReg]

59. I never used the word 'gay' or anything like that in my insult to Pence and trump...you came up

Last edited Tue Oct 27, 2020, 12:36 PM - Edit history (1)

with this term all on your own. You pulled the word out of the air. Get a life. Good grief.

[Ms. Toad]

62. Pence -male referring to another male - Trump as "hubby" qualifies as "or anything like that." n/t

[soldierant]

67. Well, you know, it might

not be a way of callin gpence gay as much as callinghim a woman - a "pussy." Maybe as a straight white woman (of 75), I am overreacting, but I don't like it either - and I think you can dislike it on more than one ground. Misogyny is real, and we have the bruises to prove it (those who don't have physical bruises have emotinal and economic ones.)

[Ms. Toad]

68. You are correct -

misogyny and homophobia are inextricably linked, at least as it pertains to male - it is pretty much a toss-up whether it is "worse" to call a man gay or to call him a woman.

Neither belongs on DU.

[greenjar_01]

6. Petty but wonderful on Schumer's part

Sure to send Trump into an absolute rage.

[riversedge]

7. gee, big of pence.

[Walleye]

8. I just heard Pence say he wouldn't miss it for the world

Republicans, their word is worth nothing

[bigtree]

11. he's superspreading, instead

Link to tweet

As vice president, I'm president of the Senate. And I'm going to be in the chair, because I wouldn't miss that vote for the world"
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/morning-briefing/pence-aides-test-positive-covid-19-senate-vote-supreme-court-n1244744

[KS Toronado]

63. He concluded it wasn't nice to give it to Republican Senators for free

But let's go superspreading instead with repug voters, and they claim only libtards believe in free stuff.

[Sierra89]

9. "non-essential presence"

I love it. Let's see if he acrually stays away or not. He may get bitched into attending by the orange one.

IF he does, Democratic Senators should get up, and leave quickly.

[Submariner]

12. Since it's a Quid pro quo deal let Trump swear in his own rwnj judge

[2naSalit]

13. K&R

[yaesu]

14. The republican super spreader cult. nt

[bucolic_frolic]

15. This is a good stress test for the Senate & to see if there are any GOP ready to flip sides in 2021

I mean, they DO see the writing on the wall, don't they?

[edhopper]

16. It's Pence who balked

Schumer pitched a strike.

[calimary]

17. Gee, Schumer, you go fierce for once?

His efforts have NOT impressed me. And he doesn’t think deviously, which is what we need.

We need devious thinkers who understand how the enemy thinks - the better to outwit them and circumvent what they’re doing and attempting to do. Creative destruction and other sneaky-ass devious moves and strategies that the bad guys aren’t expecting and don’t think we’re up to.

And I don’t see ANYBODY on our side who seems able to do that - at least not yet.

We need a grand master multi-level chess player. And all we’ve got are tiddlywinks players and a few guys with hoola hoops.

I have NEVER forgotten OR forgiven Schumer for giving McConnell 15 free judges if he would only allow a week’s reprieve so they could go campaign for re-election. For Pete’s Sake!!!!! You don’t get your troops inspired for battle (or in this case turning out to vote) if you’re just gonna give away advantages to the enemy.

Would you send somebody who thinks like that into a real battlefield? To run a real shooting war? Oh please just don’t shoot at us. Here! We’ll just GIVE you the territory you want! Will that be okay?

[malaise]

18. The transition is well and truly in process

[Silent3]

19. If you believe there's some hardball play Schumer could have made...

...to completely block Barrett, pray tell, what would that have been?

[bigtree]

22. I'm sure I haven't figured it out

...he's been hobbled by a clear republican majority in the Senate since Obama.

Not to mention the rules changes McConnell enacted with a simple majority.

Majority leaders look like legislative wizards when they have the votes.

[calimary]

33. If I knew the answer, I'd already be advising Schumer.

I've never gotten an official advisor job in any campaign. So I can't say how that'd even work.

If I knew strategy better, or had had a chance to try some of it out in the field, I'd have a better read on this. I'm going strictly on psychology.

I WISH I could get into some strategy session and start kicking ideas around with actual campaign insiders. That kind of venue is where the practical moves get figured up. I'd love to know their thinking.

[Silent3]

34. The problem with your comment is that it doesn't sound like you're allowing for the fact...

...that Schumer simply might not have had better options here, and that no amount of cleverness or ruthlessness was going to save the day.

[calimary]

36. Got that. That's why I don't think he's much good considering

what we need.

Still seems to be operating on a “let’s be nice and don’t break any rules” basis.

I think we’ve gone WAY beyond that. Especially since we’re up against an opposition that doesn’t give a damn about rules, and doesn’t care about “playing nice.” THAT’S what I’m tired of - on our side.

The playing field will NEVER be level as long as one side plays by the rules and the other side refuses to.

So, seems to me, we have to change our approach since the other side WILL NOT.

Nobody hopes I’m wrong more than I do. But watching how things have spiraled out of control over a factor of years, I just don’t see any other way to win anymore.

I hope I’m wrong.

[obamanut2012]

38. He literally can't do anything

What can YOU do if a cop pulls you over? Why don;t you just tell him to fuck off and drive away and continue your day.

He literally has done everything he is able to do.

JFC.

[calimary]

40. Messaging has to be better too.

And more strongly and relentlessly delivered.

Here’s one idea:
“Republicans DON’T want to help you.”

Heard anybody say that? Or make that case?

I’ve never heard that one-liner yet. Never seen an ad with that. Never seen a bumper sticker (and it’s short enough for one).

That then opens the door to all the “how’s”.

Here’s HOW:
They don’t want to help you against the virus (science deniers).
They don’t want to help you when you got laid off through no fault of your own (COVID).
They don’t want to help you with the bills you can’t pay anymore (GOP Senate won’t move on the HEROES Act that would do this).
They don’t want to protect the planet for all our children and grandchildren - including their own!!! (Science/reality-denying again.)
They don’t want to protect jobs (of the “little guy” business owner). All the mom ‘n’ pop restaurants and shops - going under or gone now. But the big box stores and big businesses are just fine.
And on...
and on...
and on...

[calimary]

41. And you just watch: if we get the Senate and White House back

and start appropriating funds to start helping people in great need, the GOP is gonna go straight to “oh but the DEFICIT!”

They DON’T want to help you. They want to defund government, especially when you’re talking spending on programs that actually help people. That actually fund school lunches and after-school care. That fund help for housing, help for working moms and single heads of household, the elderly poor. Etc. etc. etc.

[calimary]

46. AND they're gonna go balls-out on defending the tax cuts to the very rich

who they took good care of, as the majority party.

They're gonna whine about deficits and also about how we need MORE tax cuts, NOT less - and that'l fix everything! (for a lucky few, that is, the already-have's, and screw all those annoying "little people".

We're back to a fundamental. They don't like taxes because they're cheap and selfish AND essential anarchists. They don't like government. They don't want government. They're the "nobody tells ME what to do" crowd. Whether they're like three-year-olds stomping their little feet or they're like cranky old dudes who see everybody in need as somehow a bunch of lazy moochers and wanna keep it all. Or they're cranky old dudes who acknowledge there's a need out there but they STILL wanna keep it all (I had a dad like that).

We have to start changing the messaging on taxes to something that doesn't imply taking something from you. "Tax," taxes," "taxing" - that's a concept and those are words that have a negative connotation. They're to be avoided if our priority is changing attitudes - and, most important, perceptions.

Maybe a word like "investment". "Investment" is a GREAT word because it implies ownership, management, a position of power or influence, real or perceived. It has a POSITIVE connotation. Look at you, you're a big-shot. You're in the investor class. "Building" (not the noun). "Development." "Participation." "Having a stake in..." or "a share of." "YOUR share" would be even better.

And tie it to patriotism and pride in standing by/standing behind your country. Make it hip, cool, and heart-tugging. LOTS of visual reinforcement since a majority of Americans process information visually, according to the research. All the symbology of which the other side claims exclusive ownership? TAKE IT from them and make it OURS. That flag with the stars 'n' stripes isn't their private property. That soaring eagle, the kids reciting the Pledge, the soldier, the family, scenic America, that's OURS TOO! And we need to take it back.

And tie it to plain ol' common sense and a sense of fair play. Make the argument about the 98-pound weakling and the 280-pound weightlifter both walking along together. They see a car just flipped over. When they rush over to help, who of the two is best suited to lift that car to the point where it can be flipped back over? The weakling or the muscleman? Who would YOU expect to be better able to lift that load? Okay. Loving your country and wanting it to thrive takes all of us pushing together. But some of us push with little muscles that don't have much strength. But others of us have big huge muscles to burn. Okay then. THEY'RE the ones best-equipped to handle the heavy load. And for the haves and have-mores, that means YOU. USE your muscle. USE your muscle to help lift YOUR country, which needs you badly, and YOU are uniquely positioned to make more of a difference.

It's perception management. Managing the perception of something. Making adjustments so you can steer that perception toward the way YOU want them to see things. And think about things. And act on that change-of-view.

Get a big fat ad campaign - with famous faces and voices and NOT-so-famous faces and voices. Get Bloomberg on it with all his big bucks. And okay, Mark Zuckerberg - if he knows what's good for him. For TV, radio, cable, internet, whatever. Start the repetition machine and crank it up on high - so psychologically you wear them down. And you break their resistance. Or maybe you break their friend's resistance and their friend starts working on them. Repetition. And then MORE repetition. EVERYWHERE.

Did I mention repetition?

Just some thoughts...

[Silent3]

39. Even if Schumer were inclined to break and and all of the rules...

...the rules are just procedural. Even if he caused all procedures to break down and fly out the window, all you'd be left with then is raw votes, and on raw votes the Republicans win.

What else do you expect Schumer to do, start punching out Republicans, or stabbing or shooting them until Democrats are in the majority?

[druidity33]

47. Ill tell you what...

if he becomes Majority Leader and doesn't immediately eliminate the filibuster... i will have to agree with Calimary.

[TwilightZone]

23. What's your solution?

If you have some brilliant plan to block Barrett, let's hear it.

[calimary]

37. The time to block her is long gone, unfortunately.

And putting on a “big show of indignation” overnight on a Sunday night/Monday morning when there won’t be ANY coverage and nobody even knows what’s going on except here online where the “alert” went out WAY late and thousands of dollars short, means NOTHING.

The time to start that kind of marathon drumbeat was WEEKS ago.

[DownriverDem]

26. Schumer Balked?

Wake up folks. This has been over for weeks and it has nothing to do with Schumer. The Dems do not control the Senate. Their hands are tied. To attack the Dems at this point shows why we need Civics taught again in high school.

[bigtree]

30. wut?

...'balked' isn't an attack on Schumer. It means strongly resisted, in this context.

I tell my kin they'll almost always need to balk to get their way when someone tells them 'no.'

balk

hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking.
"any gardener will at first balk at enclosing the garden"

synonyms:
eschew · resist · refuse to · be unwilling to · draw the line at · be reluctant to ·

thwart or hinder (a plan or person).
"the utmost of his influence will be invoked to balk the law"
synonyms:
impede · obstruct · thwart · hinder · prevent · check · stop · curb · halt · bar · block ·
forestall · frustrate · stall · baffle · foil · defeat · beat · counteract · head off

prevent a person or animal from having (something).

[LymphocyteLover]

35. OK but with minimal context in the headline it was confusing

[BainsBane]

54. that's not its common usage

which is why people are reacting.

[bigtree]

60. it wasn't a demand, it wasn't even a request

Last edited Mon Oct 26, 2020, 10:22 PM - Edit history (1)

...Schumer lodged a complaint and Pence responded.

I personally believe 'balked' describes Schumer's action better than 'complained.'

What's wack about this is both of you know what I meant. You pick at me like I'm your student or some child that needs your scolding over his grammar. What I would like is to express myself as I please. You had your crack at me. Give it a rest.

[BainsBane]

64. I would have said

stands firm. But it's your post and your word choice.

[Evolve Dammit]

27. "non-essential." Sort of like leading the Covid response team?? It's hard. We quit. No virus. Hoax.

Maybe it will hit some of these non-maskers hard enough to take it seriously? Herman Cain took it seriously. Seriously.

[Blue Owl]

29. Pence seems like a guy whose musical taste is limited to barbershop quartets

Here's a little diddy for him...

[UTUSN]

31. Well, the Repukes don't need him as tie-breaker.

[PubliusEnigma]

32. Are there any Republican Senators who have been hanging out with Pence who can't be allowed in, too?

[Ms. Toad]

42. An official job duty is non-essential -

but campaigning is essential?

Makes perfect sense.

(He should not be doing either.)

[ProfessorGAC]

56. "Essential"

I don't believe there has been a less essential VP in my lifetime.
He doesn't mean much to the Rs, he has no clout in the Senate, and the PINO voters would worship him if his VP was a truck fender.
Ergo, as a VP, pence is a truck fender.

[Ms. Toad]

57. Aren't truck fenders at least designed to bear some of the brunt of the impact

of a collision?

[ProfessorGAC]

61. Just Wait!

When PINO gets trounced, he'll blame Pence.
Pence is good for 10mph!

[torius]

52. What about Senator Loeffler?

Selly Kelly was exposed too.

[czarjak]

65. Cheating fair and square...

Like Jesus likes?

[reggaehead]

66. How did Shumer balk?

What am I missing?

[quakerboy]

69. They still rammed her in over the objections of the american people

The details make very little difference unless they provide grounds to undo this travesty.