# John Fetterman really needs to resign **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 4, 2025, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-fetterman-really-needs-to-resign/1017875 "2025-05-04T22:13:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-fetterman-really-needs-to-resign/1017875/103 "2025-05-12T21:26:58Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Frankly I think you’ll have something to rely on before long, just qualify your conclusions better until then. That seems like a curious thing to say. Based on all these completely baseless, unfounded stories built on rumor and innuendo…you think there probably _will_ turn out to be something to this? What are you basing that on? And I haven’t drawn any “conclusions”, other than that further investigation is warranted. I’ve just been pushing back against your perhaps hyperbolic claim that all the reporting done thus far is utterly valueless and doesn’t deserve to be taken at all seriously. Also, you’re moving the goalposts here. First you were claiming that all these sources were anonymous, and when I pointed out that at least one isn’t, that doesn’t count either, because I can’t personally vouch for that source’s motivation. ---
**Author:** ![XOldiesJock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ec9cab/32.png) [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-fetterman-really-needs-to-resign/1017875/104 "2025-05-12T21:55:32Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > _Which will be real important to defeat whatever slavering MAGAturd the other side puts up in that hotly contested election._ It will be Doug Mastriano, who lost the governor’s race to Josh Shapiro in '22. I’d bet money on it. Slavering MAGAturd is a very apt description of him. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-fetterman-really-needs-to-resign/1017875/105 "2025-05-13T01:48:54Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > …slavering MAGAturd… A MAGAturd is doing some enslaving? /had to ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-fetterman-really-needs-to-resign/1017875/106 "2025-05-13T11:40:19Z")
They certainly hope to. “Slavering” is one of those neat words that suggests about three distinct ideas at once. All of them bad. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-fetterman-really-needs-to-resign/1017875/107 "2025-05-13T11:54:27Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > “Slavering” is one of those neat words that suggests about three distinct ideas at once. All of them bad. Please don’t kink shame. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-fetterman-really-needs-to-resign/1017875/108 "2025-05-24T20:21:56Z")
To some extent we are prisoners of our first impressions. I learned about Fetterman’s difficulties via the New York Times. For other posters, the Futurism article was their introduction: I have to agree it was somewhat gossipy and superficial. The initial NYT article did not include the AP allegations. Nor does yesterday’s roundup. Fetterman now reportedly feels he’s been forced to return to work. NYT gifted: [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/24/us/politics/fetterman-senate-absence-mental-health-interview.html?unlocked\_article\_code=1.Jk8.lusA.ZIaar6yJSsvG&smid=url-share](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/24/us/politics/fetterman-senate-absence-mental-health-interview.html?unlocked_article_code=1.Jk8.lusA.ZIaar6yJSsvG&smid=url-share) I like the guy, but I think he needs to move on. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2025, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-fetterman-really-needs-to-resign/1017875/109 "2025-05-24T23:28:25Z")
> And for that, he largely blames his decision to speak out two years ago about his mental health struggles, which he said gave rise to all that has followed, including a recent series of unflattering reports detailing erratic behavior, a poor attendance record and general disinterest in doing his job. If he was open about his mental health struggles and then **did his job** , I’d call him an inspiration. I’m not sure why he even ran if he hates the duties of being in office. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2025, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-fetterman-really-needs-to-resign/1017875/110 "2025-05-30T23:40:17Z")
I’m glad he won and a Republican didn’t, but the man has always struck me as a slovenly, undisciplined ape. [Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish) is taking a kind of “divide and conquer” approach to the allegations against Fetterman: this one is anonymous, and that one is suspect, and so on. Yet, even though each individual source may _perhaps_ be invalidated in this way, I would say that their _aggregate_ cannot. _Especially_ since they all jibe with the known and indeed self-reported _fact_ that Fetterman was hospitalized for depression in 2023. That’s a damn big deal! In general, depressed people don’t want to be hospitalized for their affliction, and most are not (I’ve had two close family members deal with the extremes of depression, and neither was hospitalized for it). In particular, politicians do not want to be hospitalized for depression, as it gives quite a bit of fodder to their opponents (especially if the opponents are fascists with no decorum). And, appearances aside, is someone who is so depressed that they have to be hospitalized for it even qualified to be in government? That’s a matter of opinion, but mine is: absolutely not. No one who is so depressed as to be hospitalized gets cured (as may be the case for many other diseases) and walks out smiling. Such a person is dealing with a lifelong, often debilitating problem. It doesn’t take much right-brain cogitation on the data points to conclude that Fetterman is a walking wreck. He looks like shit, he says dumb shit, he shirks his duties, and he acts unhinged. A lot. So why is this even a controversy? Absolutely, he should quit his office and focus on self-care going forward. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2025, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-fetterman-really-needs-to-resign/1017875/111 "2025-05-31T00:20:42Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I’m not sure why he even ran if he hates the duties of being in office. I’ve said he should quit, but not for every reason stated in the thread.. Consider [Roll Call 2014: Why Senate Attendance Attacks Are Usually Bogus](https://rollcall.com/2014/10/08/why-senate-attendance-attacks-are-usually-bogus-video-2/) > [@](#): > > The worst-kept secret on Capitol Hill? Senators miss committee hearings and meetings. All the time. > > Unless the senator wields the gavel, he or she may only show up for five minutes, or when it is their turn to ask questions. The results include guffaw-inducing scenes where even senior lawmakers [enter the wrong hearing room](https://www.rollcall.com/multimedia/-231928-1.html) , misidentify a witness and question the wrong person on the other side of the dais. > > But out on the campaign trail, a less-than-stellar attendance record has become the political ammo in a number of Senate races, with criticism of incumbent lawmakers flying in Alaska, Kentucky, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Colorado and Iowa. As for voting on legislation, so long as the result is essentially predetermined, this might not always be worthwhile. It’s unfortunate that the old practice of pairing is no longer allowed in the U.S. Congress. Now, it may be that Fetterman isn’t putting in a long workweek. But if he was, sitting through long committee meetings might not be the best use of his time. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2025, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-fetterman-really-needs-to-resign/1017875/112 "2025-05-31T02:14:51Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > …long committee meetings… ikr? They’re just so _boring_ and everything amirite? ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-fetterman-really-needs-to-resign/1017875/113 "2025-06-05T13:48:13Z")
> **[Fetterman loses another chief of staff in latest departure from his office](https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/john-fetterman-pa-staffer-resigns-20250603.html)** > > Krysta Sinclair Juris is the second chief of staff to leave John Fetterman's office in a little over a year. He’s now on his third chief of staff within a year. A couple of other aides have also left in the past month. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-fetterman-really-needs-to-resign/1017875/114 "2025-06-05T14:16:13Z")
Is this mook gonna cross the aisle? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-fetterman-really-needs-to-resign/1017875/115 "2025-06-05T14:19:17Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Is this mook gonna cross the aisle Krysta Sinclair Juris? I’ve never heard of her, but it’s possible. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-fetterman-really-needs-to-resign/1017875/116 "2025-06-05T14:27:01Z")
With things like backing the GOP’s immigration policies, I wonder if JF just might go to the dark side. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-fetterman-really-needs-to-resign/1017875/117 "2025-06-05T14:36:34Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > With things like backing the GOP’s immigration policies, I wonder if JF just might go to the dark side John Fetterman wholeheartedly and full throatedly endorsed Kamala, which is more than you can say for the majority of the leftists criticizing him now. It’s laughable to pretend that _he_ is the one abandoning the Democrats when you have nonsense like the “Uncommitted” faction. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-fetterman-really-needs-to-resign/1017875/118 "2025-06-05T14:43:26Z")
With him skipping out in votes, driving folks out of his office, and aforementioned embrace of GOP immigration policies, I still hope, though, my speculation is wrong that he’ll cross. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-fetterman-really-needs-to-resign/1017875/119 "2025-06-05T14:46:15Z")
Once the guy’s brain started malfunctioning, he could turn into anything from a vegetable to a vegetarian to a raging MAGA to a spree killer. Whatever he was before gives scant hint to what he might become. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-fetterman-really-needs-to-resign/1017875/120 "2025-06-05T14:47:47Z")
I doubt he’ll cross, but I think it’s likely he’ll resign or not run again, because it seems like he’s not really interested in being a senator. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-fetterman-really-needs-to-resign/1017875/121 "2025-06-05T17:54:27Z")
I think there is a huge range of possibilities in terms of satisfaction with the role, mental health, and (let’s not forget) disillusionment with the role of government in Trump 2.0 before we get into cynical team-swapping in search of furthering political goals. If I were in Fetterman’s shoes, the first three (speaking only to my own mental and physical health challenges) it would be more than enough for me to avoid my responsibilities to myself and those who elected me - the reported outbursts, frustration, and anger would be similar if I forced myself to continue under such. AGAIN, speaking only for myself in that same position. So am I sympathetic if that’s the scenario playing out? Absolutely, but if my WAG is correct, then yes, he needs to resign. He isn’t doing himself or the people he’s supposed to represent any good by remaining in the role. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2025, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-fetterman-really-needs-to-resign/1017875/122 "2025-06-05T18:00:00Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > Is this mook gonna cross the aisle? That’s my bet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-fetterman-really-needs-to-resign/1017875.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-fetterman-really-needs-to-resign/1017875.md?page=7)