Are Democratic Senators Delusional, Stupid, or Crazy Like a Fox?

[ihaveaquestion]

I personally think they just panicked before everyone's Thanksgiving travel plans got cancelled. They sure know how to make it hard to remain a Democrat!

[yaesu]

1. If they cheerlead for the fascists on goptv I don't think they are on board for democracy. nt

[Gore1FL]

2. I've been seeing this since the 1984 election loss.

If they are "crazy like a fox," it's quite the long-game.

[SARose]

3. How does Jeanne Shaheen have the authority to strike a deal?

Was Chuck Schumer in the loop or was this a failure of leadership?

I know I’m not supposed to bash Dems and I’m trying really really hard to not curse.

I am beyond disappointed. Pfftt

[Midwestern Democrat]

22. Democratic Senators are not powerless marionettes with Chuck Schumer holding the strings - they have the freedom

to vote however the hell they want to.

[SARose]

24. It's not about how they vote

It’s about how and why these particular Senators made the deal.

Was Chuck Schumer involved?

What did each receive from the Republicans in return?

[CentralMass]

26. Schumer caved.

[Wiz Imp]

27. What authority? None is needed. Any Senator is free to agree with any other Senator at any point in time

The Senate minority leader is not a dictator and can not demand people not talk to the other side or demand they vote a certain way.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. Crazy like a fox

They won at the ballot box, they banked their wins instead of tarnishing their brand along with Republicans, who btw are very much back on their heels. Taking the blame for Thanksgiving would be very counterproductive and Republicans were certain to shift their strategy to blaming Democrats since everything else failed including nuking the filibuster. The public now expects Republicans to ACT. They can nuke ACA to satisfy Trump, or they can save ACA in some form and risk MAGA flack. Republicans do not have good choices.

Enough with the Dem slamming on this DU site. We folded and banked our wins. We are not obstructionists and the public knows it.

[BannonsLiver]

6. No, you're right. We're something else, and the public knows it.

[rampartd]

15. something else

and it ain't good.

no republican senator has authority to make a deal.

with any other developer i'd say "get it in writing." with trump, better get it in blood.

[rampartd]

19. +1 for "respect tos"

a sin i do occasionally commit and usually regret.

[Mr.Bee]

12. They Maybe Want America To See

What Republicant rule looks like when the Social Safety Net is gutted?

[rampartd]

23. do you think we can put any kind of rudimentary safety net together after it is gutted?

there will be no money (that is what the crypto reserve is all about - transforming money, gold, everything into easily pilfered bitcoins. )

and this supreme court (or a younger one even more loyal to dear leader) will be around for a few generations to prevent any kind of "socialism"

[WhiskeyGrinder]

13. what does banking our wins mean

[ihaveaquestion]

18. I just watched Heather Cox Richardson on this and she agrees with you.

If it works out like you and Heather say it will, then kudos to Schumer. Why isn't he making that case? No reason not to call out the other side on this that I can see. His messaging sucks as always.

Time will tell I suppose...

[Katinfl]

33. Listened to the whole thing and still don't quite get it.

I am fairly educated on this point so what am I missing? just how is the gop backed up against the wall?

[Blasphemer]

34. I don't see it either. Even if true, Americans dont understand chess. nt

[lees1975]

5. or are they bribed?

[Reader Rabbit]

20. I had a similar suspicion.

Has anyone checked their bank accounts lately?

[Bettie]

7. They can screw people over with

impunity because once you are elected to the Senate, you generally stay until you are ready to go.

[BeyondGeography]

8. Listening to her

It sounds like she doesn’t expect a damn thing to happen on health care and there is zero passion or disgust about that. She primarily cared about “turning the government back on.” That’s when she perks up.

She’s not delusional, stupid or crazy like a fox. She’s detached. Glad she’s retiring.

[Raven123]

9. I agree. Note that BOTH Nevada senators voted for.

Reportedly, Las Vegas isn’t doing all that well. The business model has changed as old hotels were demolished. I saw a video that claimed business model is moving away from middle class (if that is the appropriate term) and toward higher income oem Americans. Canadians aren’t coming as much as before Trump. No planes, no travel.


Also Interesting is that I received contribution requests from BOTH of these same Senators in that last 2-3 weeks, neither of whom are up for re-election in 2026, as far as I know. Mind you I have received requests from a number of people and PACs which I attributed to the impending elections and perceived uptick in voter interest, but these are two that stood out.

[pecosbob]

32. They are both dead to me.

[awesomerwb1]

10. Yes

[Stacey Grove]

11. They are well fed

and have good medical care.

Pretty sure they don't sweat $20.

[markie]

17. on the other hand....

there are millions of people that are not well fed and suffering in other ways.... I don't have the solution, but I do know we have to fight in many ways (not merely the shutdown) to turn things around.... there have to be other ways to make change, and it requires we the people to stand together and not fight amongst ourselves.... we can discuss, we can brainstorm, we can take action, but we can't become irreparably divided so that we lose numbers

[jaymac]

21. KING

I said this win an other post........so very very ashamed of Angus King....Jeanne Shaheen is out the door soon so she doesn't give a flying one about this........the Democratic Party needs to evolve from the corporate overlords. King most assuredly caved to a big donor........Fi on all 8

[NewHendoLib]

14. They are politicians in a protected bubble

(they think)

[malthaussen]

25. None of the above. Insert "craven" here.

Although "stupid" is not completely out of the question.

IMO, this is a classic example of folding under pressure, and a pathetic attempt to save face by maintaining an option to cry "we were betrayed" down the road. Frankly, I'd prefer if they just surrendered without the insult to my intelligence.

-- Mal

[JCMach1]

28. Thune told them NO Deal and the Senators who voted

Yea had no further spine for airline chaos, Vegas disruption and Federal workers getting no salary.

It was going to run through XMas. The moderates and Schumer were never intending to really fight. It was always symbolic for them .

(Note not my position at all)

[dalton99a]

29. .

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/us/politics/jeanne-shaheen-stefany-shutdown-deal.html

[EdmondDantes_]

30. Or stuck between a rock and a hard place

Both options sucked. Neither option was guaranteed to get the extra ACA subsidies back.

[Cirsium]

31. Awful

That response by Shaheen, pure word salad, and that look on her face, on Fox no less!