Republicans and their bull don't shake me as much as the dragging of our party and leaders in Dem forums

[bigtree]

...I'm fully prepared to fight republicans on every level, at every opportunity.

But, what shakes me to my core are the organized efforts that get Democrats tearing at each other instead of the republican opposition; especially after the last time Dems convinced each other to pull down the person voters chose to run against Trump, a hair away from the election.

I get it, probably more than the people who engage in it do. It's not like I have some special place in this world where I'm immune to the madness that we're all experiencing at the hands of republicans.

I don't have that kind of life - I have the opposite existence where its like the government has been stalking me with every republican attack on the progressive progress we've achieved in the last century.

You see these types of reactions in dysfunctional families where spouses or parents lash out at vulnerable family members to compensate for their inability to strike back at the actual ones hurting them. Classic transference.

And, look, we've already been victim to this political dissonance encouraged against the Democratic party by hurt people pulling down their own elected leaders just because they could do that definitive thing and feel satisfied they'd at least managed something in response to how hurt they feel.

It's not an excuse, and it clearly misses the mark - so what's the end game?

I'll remind folks of what organized propagandists are doing every day and every hour on the media directed toward us to foment divisions by using 'wedge' issues designed to ignite, inflame, and ultimately distract Democrats from their opposition to republicans.

I mean, even if you don't consider yourself influenced by all of that trolling, does it really sound like something you should be engaging in?

If that sounds a little desperate, then so be it. It's some really insidious shit to watch the wave of mostly disaffected republicans with podcasts and anchor positions eager to claim Democrats 'caved' on something.

I'd guess they're eager to try and make their own former party affiliations look less sordid and as patently anti-American as the present republican party they're now posturing to oppose. Ostensibly doing this dragging on our behalf as they work to form a better and more effective Democratic party than their own decrepit republican one?

No. Fuck no.

When I hear this anti-Dem shit going down, all I can see in front of me is an implosion, basically a retreat. And that's oh so special to this lifelong Democrat who has fought through GENERATIONS of self-immolating pundits entreating Democrats to eat their own.

If that's something that's now considered normal, and I suspect it has become normalized for Democrats to attack the family first and foremost, then there's no limit to the potential gaslighting available to shake the party to the core.

Someone convince me we're not going arm in arm to loser town again. Better yet, count me out of all that. I've already see this fucking movie before.

[LonePirate]

1. Have you thought about running for office? You said you are willing to fight and we need some fighters in DC.

[BannonsLiver]

5. Bahahahahahaha

Mic drop.

[Ponietz]

2. Tell us about Merrick Garland again

You lost your credibility with me.

[John Coktosten]

77. Merrick Garland Democrats!

Get these 8 belly flippers out of office!

[GreenWave]

91. Garland had a R by his name, last I checked.

[RockRaven]

4. What gets me is people looking at results like these and saying "well, they did their best,

and they're on my team so let's not criticize."

Are they professionals or not?

Because they sure as hell aren't volunteers working pro bono at a task nobody else is willing to undertake. They asked for these positions. They fought and scrapped and clawed at competitors to get these positions. And they get extreme compensation, privileges, and perks alongside the power of those positions.

They can perform skillfully, sharply, adroitly... Or they can get criticized. Clumsiness, bumbling, and failure will not go uncommented upon in a misguided application of partisan loyalty.

[babylonsister]

8. Got a link? And she was the best speaker ever. nt

[W_HAMILTON]

9. They are big boys and girls, but our dumbass electorate is not.

And the constant in-fighting for the past decade has only served to hurt us at the ballot box -- the only place where """fighting""" actually matters.

Post-election vanity campaign rallies in blue areas of red states? Viral TikToks? I'm sorry, but that's not fighting. That's just performative bluster that people turn to in order to feel better about losing the fight at the ballot box, which is THE ONLY FIGHT THAT ACTUALLY FUCKING MATTERS.

IF HILLARY OR KAMALA HAD BEEN ELECTED, WE WOULD NOT BE TALKING ABOUT ANY OF THIS BULLSHIT.

[Happy Hoosier]

44. I don't think you understand modern electoral politics

You can poo-poo viral videos all you like. But social media killed us in the last election. And it could save us in the next. It ain’t 2008 anymore.

[W_HAMILTON]

52. I don't think the voters understand the ballot box.

You can heart as many social media posts as you want and fill your page with all the great content you got from all the protests you attended -- be sure to like and subscribe! -- but if you don't vote to keep Republicans out of power OR you shit on good Democrats (thus making it harder for them to be elected to keep Republicans out of power), that """modern electoral politics""" was just self-promoting bullshit that helped get us to this deplorable point in our nation's history.

[Walleye]

7. Thank you, well said, and I agree with every word.

[W_HAMILTON]

10. You're right. And there's a reason why Republicans and Russians put so much effort into dividing the left.

[quakerboy]

18. Because they know an easy win?

Our elected Democratic senators are only too happy to divide from us. Outsiders adding to our divisions is more or less equivalent to throwing a 5 gallon tin of gasoline onto the great chicago fire about halfway through.

[W_HAMILTON]

50. Yeah, no. It's a lot easier to divide Democrats when the person dividing is only a Democrat when it benefits them.

[Jack Valentino]

51. Whom do you mean? Could it be Tim Kaine (Hillary's running mate), who

was among the seven Senate Democrats who voted to "cave" ?

[W_HAMILTON]

53. And if we had voted for Hillary and him, there would be no Trump.

But, no, the same idiots are doing the same thing they've been doing for the past decade -- and given the fact they seem to get angrier and angrier by the day, IT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT FUCKING WORKING!

But you know what would have worked?

Voting for Democrats to be in charge of the government because none of this shit would even be debated right now.

You could clone Bernie Sanders to replace every elected Democrat and not a goddamn thing would change because REPUBLICANS WOULD STILL CONTROL EVERYTHING.

[Jack Valentino]

55. I DID VOTE for Hillary and him---!!!!

but seems like he turned out a little 'weak', didn't he....

[quakerboy]

56. So you want to blame about a third of the party.

Instead of a different third of the party.

I'd argue that the ones who are quick to cross to the other side of the isle when they think the money/influence is better are the ones who are only democrats when it benefits them.

[Scrivener7]

61. I agree except that I am thinking the cavers represent a lot less than a third of the party.

[W_HAMILTON]

66. I blame those not voting for Democrats.

That is ultimately where the buck stops and the direct cause of all these issues.

If Democrats were in control right now, none of these issues would even be up for debate.

[quakerboy]

74. so if I look through your post history

I will find you pointing at centrists and independents as the reason for electoral losses?

[W_HAMILTON]

79. You will find me mostly criticizing those that contribute to the in-fighting.

If we are talking about voters rather than politicians, I have said time and time again FUCK ANYONE AND EVERYONE THAT DIDN'T SUPPORT AND VOTE FOR HILLARY CLINTON!

[quakerboy]

80. And who do you suppose that was?

I personally would rather not F any of them.

But those who chose not to vote for Kamila Harris can go to hell. Unfortunately, they decided to take the rest of us with them.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

11. You again.

[demmiblue]

12. Good lawd 😴

[CentralMass]

14. I heard Carville brow beating Democrats who are upset about this while listening to MSNBC on a walk this afternoon.

He essential was saying they better shut up and get over it by Wednesday evening
It always unpleasant listening to him.

[Sympthsical]

15. I see eight wedges responsible for the current discord in the party

And none of them are posting here as far as I know.

Maybe go give them one of these chat ups?

For, you know, a change.

[quakerboy]

19. Who knows these days

I saw a post earlier that was almost verbatim what i was hearing in an interview with Fetterman on the radio at the same time.

[edhopper]

16. Gov Newsom

Robert Reich, Harkeem Jeffries and half the Dem Senators disagree with you.

[quakerboy]

17. I dont go down without a fight

No matter which letter the people who attack me have in front of their names.

Tell our elected senators to stop attacking us, and I will stand with them. All the way.

We arent going to loser town. We just got took. By the senators we elected. Right to losertown. Without even getting asked if we wanted to go.

[creeksneakers2]

25. Only 8 of them.

[Bluetus]

27. That's the 8 that were chosen because they aren't running in 2026

The actual number is undoubtedly higher. But even 1 Manchin is one too many. We have to root out these people and reform the DNC that helps these people get elected.

[creeksneakers2]

28. No proof of that.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

85. Either it was orchestrated or they went rogue.

I have a hard time believing that all voting for it just randomly aren't up for re election this cycle.

If they went rogue, that's almost worse and Chuck should be taken out of leadership for not having control over the party.

[creeksneakers2]

93. Probably ended up that way

Because those who would soon face the vote would not have dared. Schumer can't force anyone.

[kacekwl]

29. Don't kid yourself.

There are many more who only voted no because they could and know they would get slammed in the next election.

[creeksneakers2]

31. I don't kid myself

I go with the simples explanation unless evidence shows otherwise.

[quakerboy]

38. All of them

They let their fellows do this. Those 8 did not walk over to help trump in a vacuum. And they are not being iced out of positions or power for doing so. This was a group effort. Anyone who was thinking of desertion should have known that their future would be much reduced. Those retiring should have been told that all the unofficial influence and perks they expected to benefit from would melt like a snowflake on an Arizona sidewalk in summer if they abandoned their team and the American people.

I hold every single sitting senator responsible. No more excuses.

[creeksneakers2]

94. That kind of thinking helps Trump.

[quakerboy]

95. Voting for trump helps trump

Voting to pass trumps budget helps trump.

I have my line

[creeksneakers2]

96. Turning against Democrats helps him too.

[quakerboy]

97. *democrats

I do not accept that people who support Trump are democrats.

[creeksneakers2]

98. Most of them didn't. Those who did didn't most of the time.

[quakerboy]

99. They did when it matters and the rest are doing nothing about it.

a few rotten apples do indeed spoil the whole barrel if they are not removed quite quickly.

[c-rational]

20. Thank you bigtree. Good post.

[angrychair]

21. Democratic Senators

Made the shutdown about the ACA subsidies. Nothing else.
They put the American people through hell.

People lost their jobs.
People were going hungry.

Yet the majority showed their support for what Democrats were doing.
The election showed that.

Yet they caved and nothing about the ACA subsidies has changed from what it was 40 days ago.
It's not Senate Democrats fault that Republicans are doing this. Not at all. It is 100% on the Republicans.

It is their fault to have made the longest shutdown in US history about the ACA subsidies and then fail to actually change anything about the situation.

[Skittles]

23. correct

I think what gets forgotten is REPUBLICANS DO NOT CARE IF PEOPLE HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, THEY LITERALLY DO NOT FUCKING CARE.

[OneGrassRoot]

59. I also think the timing of it is what hits so hard....

It was right after a huge electoral victory. We were flying high. Then BOOM.

It was jarring. I understand there are specific reasons behind the timing (probably Thanksgiving air travel, for one), but the contrast of the win vs what feels like concession hits hard.

[angrychair]

65. See it's not that

It's a lot more straight forward and practical.
The ACA subsidies are a linchpin of our healthcare system, especially so given cuts to Medicaid and Medicare and a slowing economy.

Cutting these subsidies also has a more practical reality of people, millions of people, losing their healthcare because they can no longer afford it. Including people here on DU. Including people in my family.

The people talking about this so nonchalantly, as if it's no big deal hundreds of thousands of people could die, is crazy to me. It's a very big deal that 8 Democratic senators (including Schumer) and one Independent decided for the rest of the country that flying for vacations was more important.

[OneGrassRoot]

67. Oh, I DEFINITELY hear you....

and I’m so sorry your family is impacted as well. Death and suffering are here. (Well, they’ve been here but it’s going to get much worse, needlessly so.) I didn’t mean to minimize impact at all. We are among those impacted. By all of it.

[crimycarny]

78. Making it all about how devastating losing ACA- subsidies would be-only to cave--was very poor messaging

I think the messaging on this should have compared the cost of extending the ACA subsidies for a year to Trump's $20 billion bailout to Argentina.

I did see one tweet from Elizabeth Warren, after the Democrats voted to end the shutdown without extending ACA subsidies, where she made this comparison, stating that extending the ACA subsidies for a year would cost taxpayers less than the $20 billion to Argentina. When I read that, I thought, "Why wasn't this the message from the very beginning?".

Instead, the Democrats focused on the devastating consequences of losing the ACA subsidies. All of that is true, of course, but it still leaves voters unsure of how much it would cost to extend it to them. THAT is what those voters who lean right (not crazy MAGA) tend to care about, "what is this going to cost me?", not "what is this going to do to people". I think comparing what the GOP has already spent of the taxpayer money, and on what, to the cost of extending the ACA subsidies combined with what that would to those who rely on the subsidies (comparison of rising premiums) would have had a bigger impact. IMO.

[popsdenver]

22. I am so sorry,

should we be lumping praise and cheering the 8 Dems that voted with the Republicans yesterday???????????

I was alive way back when some of us were being criticized for calling out the massive group of so called "Reagan Democrats".
Despite Reagan, HWBush, and the Republican CABAL that were actively doing massive damage to the American Way and the middle class.

[mcar]

24. We've got midterms to win

I'm OK with Dems being upset at the 8, but the "Dems suck" narrative only hurts us.

[iemanja]

41. What we say on this site hurts no one

What those eight Democrats did does. They set us up for a world of criticism, and Trump is laughing and insulting us with slurs.

[mcar]

64. On this site? Have you looked at social media and MSM?

MSM is gloating that they can use their "dems in disarray" meme. Bluesky is barely readable right now.

Trump always insults us with slurs, by the way.

[Queso Delicioso]

82. It isn't a "narrative"

It's a conclusion to which people are coming independently, based on the evidence of their own eyes and ears. If you want to change that conclusion, you (well, they) need to get busy drumming up some more favorable evidence.

[mcar]

84. 7 elected Democrats voted to end the shutdown

Tarring all elected Democrats with the same brush hurts us and our electoral chances. It's also grossly unfair.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

87. This is going to hurt the midterms

100% We just showed that we will cabe and give Republicans what they want while getting morning. What about that do you think encourages people otherwise not committed to get out and vote?

[gab13by13]

26. I can make the case

that it was 9 (I'm including Schumer) Democrats who are dividing the caucus.

Schumer did the same thing back in March when it made more sense to vote no to the CR.

[yaesu]

30. Well, as long as the party makes stupid ass choices that make zero sense you better get used to it. nt

[FHRRK]

32. Agree and to add

1. Garland was the best AG ever
2. Sinema was misunderstood
3. Manchin was a true statesman
4. Lieberman was a combination of 2 and 3 and should have been the Dem nominee for Pres. in 2008
5. All Progressive Dems are Communists or Socialists and should move to the back of the bus and shut up. (Hey, we don’t make them walk or stand so they should be grateful.)
6. Can you imagine the stress put on Schumer? He should get a $50 donation from every Real Dem so he has a huge war chest against any potential challenger.
7. If, god forbid, Schumer is pushed out, we should make Ted Cruz or Josh Hawley the Minority Leader. I would say Markwayne Mullin, but he needs a bit more experience.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

34. Well played.

[FHRRK]

35. How is your head?

Hangover or did you hydrate

I only took one hide last night

[MarineCombatEngineer]

36. Massive hangover this morning, ok now.

This is another reason I quit drinking decades ago and this morning reminded my why.
Thanks for asking, good thing I didn't have to drive today, I pretty much spent the day in my sleeper relaxing and reading DU.

I thought for sure that I would wake up this morning and see 2 or 3 hides, but it looks like I came out of last night unscathed.

[FHRRK]

46. I got up once to get a beer

Quickly sat down because I was already throwing F Bombs and alcohol would only make it worse.

My theory on the hides, easily 60 to 70 percent of posters were pissed off too, so hard to get any jury without other like minded, pissed off Dems.

[elleng]

33. Lawrence just discussed problems for LEADERSHIP of Dem party, and we all should read/

and listen (REAL talent!)

[Ninga]

37. I think you and I are the only two DU'ers watching

Lawrence. He has deep experience working for the Budget Committee, makes him credible to me.

[elleng]

42. UTTERLY credible.

Others MUST watch him.

[Scrivener7]

39. Well. Our priority right now must be to make sure you're not shaken.

[iemanja]

40. You have a soft spot for the most ineffective Democrats

Do you dislike the ones who actually serve the people?

[ancianita]

43. Lawrence O'Donnell has proven you right tonight, and all the anti-Schumers wrong.

Let them all watch Rhiannon12866's post of The Last Word tomorrow so they know just how wrong.

[PunkinPi]

57. Here's the link to Rhiannon12866's OP with video...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/132160257

[ancianita]

69. Yes, I saw it, thanks.

Here's my post on not just Lawrence's A Block, but the full hour. .
https://www.democraticunderground.com/132160256

[PunkinPi]

86. Sure, you're welcome.

Just checked your link out and it looks like they took the video down.

[ancianita]

88. Yep, it happens when folks upload a full hour. But it's worth the info for the 12 hrs that 177 people got to view it.

I'll replace it, thanks. Probably with the full episode audio version.
It usually takes MSNBC at least a day to post on YouTube since the profit from their own channel. Just business.

[Scrivener7]

63. Senator Chris Murphy and 36 other Democratic Senators disagree. And they're in a better position to know.

https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/senate-democrats-rage-colleagues-shutdown-rcna243060

“There’s no way to defend this,” Murphy said. “And you are right to be angry about it. I’m angry about it.”

“This is not the way that I wanted this to go, nor the way that most Americans wanted this to go,” Murphy told reporters on Sunday night.

[Happy Hoosier]

45. They don't wanna get dragged?

Then do better.

We’ve turned out to rallies. We’ve written and called. We showed up at the ballot box and gave the Repugs a damned good thrashing. And less than a week later, eight of them decided that was the perfect moment to just pack out tents and go home empty handed. Do toy think it was a win for is? I sure don’t. And neither do the MAGAts.

[FHRRK]

47. Even worse

On a Sunday night, while the 1st district was just on the 48 hour clock on the SNAP funds being released.

[summer_in_TX]

48. I agree, Bigtree.

I'm going to quote my sister here. Four of the five siblings have been discussing it on our Signal channel.

"Did y’all see the 60 minutes thang yesterday about the farmers (stress, tariffs, high rates of suicide)? They have been hurting for months and Trump does NOT care. And they are largely considered to be R voters. He absolutely does not care.

So why would we think that he was going to care about the prospect of full airplanes colliding? Why would we think he was gonna care about people not getting their paychecks or benefits?

Why would we think he’s ever gonna care about the increase in Air Traffic Controllers early retiring??
He’s not. And you cannot negotiate with someone who does not even give a shizzle about his own people.

Meanwhile, Dems did NOT “cave”. They made sure that “fired” federal workers (the ones that Trump fired during the shutdown) would be reinstated. And that all those furloughed workers would get back pay. That makes a huge difference not only to their families, but to the economy of their communities too."

Our niece is an air traffic controller in the northern part of Colorado. She and her husband have a two-year-old and a four-year-old. Air traffic controllers have been under tremendous stress, understaffed so working overtime. She took a day off week before last to see if she could get a bank loan to tide them over and figure out which bills they could delay paying on. She's working too many hours to be able to work a second job. It's cold there but can they afford to heat there house, feed the whole family, pay for medicine they need? What about seniors and disabled people?

I wanted to send them a gift card but have been buying groceries for a disabled friend and had to be careful. Couldn't give a little extra to the local food pantry either.

Yes, community was stepping up for one another – but it wasn't sustainable and people fall through the cracks. The laid off workers will get their jobs back anh back pay. But will those of us who pitched in? We are doing the right thing – but it's a cost we shouldn't have to bear and many of us can't bear for long.

[Metaphorical]

49. Ask yourself this

In the grand scheme of things, did Schumer's actions make any real difference one way or another?

* The longer the shutdown, the more pain that it causes people, and the harder it becomes to recover from.
* There was a very real possibility that the Dems could be tarred with having extended the shutdown (legitimate or not) on the back of a procedural point that would never have passed in a Republican controlled Congress regardless.
* By pushing this to the enrollment period, it has become a primary concern for a lot of people (especially older people) for whom Obamacare and Medicare/Medicaid are lifelines.
* The shutdown was impacting public safety, especially in the air.
* So long as the shutdown is active, Trump can act with impunity. Once over, then everything that he does is going to tar and feather the Republicans.
* Mike Johnson is now taking a stand against Obamacare, which the GOP has been VERY reluctant to actually touch, even though they threaten to touch it all the time. This puts them in the position that they will have to replace it with something else, and they quite probably don't even know how to do it.

Could Schumer have gained meaningful concessions from either Thune or Trump? Not a chance. Trump has no intention of obeying any laws that are passed in that regard.

Was it an ideal solution? No. It was nominally a victory for the Republicans because the Democrats "lost face", but the reality is that its a very pyrrhic victory for them.

[awesomerwb1]

54. Hilarious

everything is GREAT people. How dare you criticize the Dems when everything is great.

The reps laugh at how easily the Dems cave every bloody time. But hey, they're doing great!! ffs

[betsuni]

58. K&R

[ColoringFool]

60. You Lost Me At "I Get It, Probably More Than...." How's That...

Hubris for breakfast, eh?

So you've been around a while. I'm 76; so have I. Die-hard. Quit Girl Scouts in 1960 because my peers were for Nixon (we took a "vote" ). So don't lecture me or anyone else for that matter about Party loyalty.

WE STOOD WITH THE PARTY. IT'S KAINE, FETTERMAN, ET AL. WHO DEFECTED.

And we will call them out for the foolish weaklings they just were.

[Thrill]

62. So we should sit back while they sell us out over and over again

Shutting up and being censored is why they keep doing it. Their weakness is why Republicans have full power

[ancianita]

70. Strategic voting to get a 271 vote count from Republicans is not selling out.

Last edited Tue Nov 11, 2025, 02:57 PM - Edit history (1)

Your all or nothing judgment and approach to governing sounds like how the other party works.

We're a thoughtful governing party, which is why

-- SNAP benefits to 42 million Americans were increased in the Sen. bill that now goes to the House, which had to throw its failed bill out,
-- 4,000 federal workers got their jobs back with back pay, and
-- stopgap funding for much of the government until January 30, 2026,
-- full-year appropriations for certain programs & agencies such as the USDA and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, through the end of fiscal year 2026.
-- Dems forced Republicans to now have to return to work and Johnson will have to swear in the new Arizona Representative.
-- Dems got 271 Repubs to stop the cancellations of holiday flights

Lawrence has the invaluable experience, insight, and wisdom to understand the nuances and intricacies of the Democratic Senators making this strategic decision.

WE Democrats did all that in the face of Republican laziness and societal indifference.

[uponit7771]

68. Disagree, we're not dragging dem leadership enough on communication

[Bettie]

71. So, are we supposed to pretend that

everything is perfect...go around singing "Everything is Awesome!"?

Seems like a good strategy...watch it all fall down and deny reality.

[BannonsLiver]

72. " Republicans and their bull don't shake me as much as the dragging of our party and leaders in Dem forums"

Of course not. No surprise there. 🙄

[LR3]

75. Indeed. Never saying a negative word about ineffectual, self-inflicted losses...

...and failure to stand up to fascists is certainly one position to take.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

73. Agree

It's disgusting.

I've found consistent, powerful support for Democrats on Twitter/X.

I don't need the anxiety and nonstop negativism posted on here every day, or the bullying snark.

[betsuni]

92. Moronic things like "don't listen to Lawrence O'Donnell, he's rich"; Tim Kaine's a "corporate shill," don't listen.

The constant hateful negativity goo is disgusting and childish.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

100. Yes, and some rando on Tik Tok

or Bluesky who echoes the doom is entirely credible!

[John Coktosten]

76. Yes, yes

We must not criticize "party leaders"! You are so right. We must obey and not question those 8 absolutely wonderful senators who had an epiphany and agree with you. After all it was Thomas Jefferson who said, "Dissent is the highest form of treason", right?

Never ever question Lord Schumer and his godlike leadership. Did Tim Kaine post this as a pseudonym?



This is my opinion and I don't give a damn who disagrees but this post REALLY PISSED ME OFF. WHAT ABSOLUTE BS. No matter how those of us try to spin this cowardly capitulation by those 8 milquetoast, pussies, the fact is IF THEY DON'T HAVE OUR BACKS and aren't willing to fight the GOP every step of the way, WE CAN'T HAVE THEIR BACKS.

Reply away, try to bait me if you want. I'll be ignoring any replies to this for my own sanity. Those 8 morons and posts like this have angered me beyond reason. Therefore I'm going to calm down until reason returns.

Happy Veterans Day.

[Rob H.]

81. When they fuck up, intentionally or not, they *absolutely* deserve to get dragged

because without consequences they'll never change. I get that Blue MAGA is a thing, but it's a losing strategy.

[pecosbob]

83. Well you sure joined the wrong party...that's what Dems do.

They tell their us what's good for us and ignore what we are asking for and this always results in a circular firing squad. Dems could have re-opened the government three weeks ago. They took the very same offer that was on the table in October after letting their constituents go without paychecks for a month...for what, exactly? Why shut the government down at all if you're going to re-open in weeks after gaining nothing, in fact after harming your own constituents...for politics.

[gulliver]

89. We'll either cool off or pay at the polls next year

Love your post. Well said.

Because of social media and the legacy media business model of getting all our hormones in an uproar, we're unfortunately going to be very vulnerable to steering ourselves into a ditch.

We can hope. Maybe people will count to ten, really think this thing through, tune out everybody who's sweating, whose face is a little too red, and who's standing on the table. Those folks, for the information of all, belong squarely on the list of non-leaders.

We have to trust. We have to back each other. We have to stay cool. Or Trump and the Republicans are just going to laugh at us.

Right now, we have the proper definition of the word "irony" being demonstrated. The folks who are angry about not getting the health care subsidies extended are so angry that they're going to weaken our position in December for getting the subsidies extended.

[Emile]

90. March in lockstep is a REPUBLICAN TRAIT!