THIS!!!
Political Cover, Moral Cover
The American Federation of Government Employees, probably the largest union representing federal workers, “asks senators to vote “no” on the House-produced continuing resolution, and says that a shutdown is actually preferable to passing the bill.” They say a shutdown is already in process and will only get worse if the CR passes:
So the group representing those who would be affected most by the shutdown says it’s time to stand up for the rule of law and oppose the Republican House’s ultrapartisan continuing resolution power grab.
State clearly, loudly and repeatedly what you need to help the GOP:
“Follow the law”
Don’t move inch.
The public will know who shut down the government and why.
Don’t let other issues take over the news cycle. Keep hammering this one issue.
Why should any member of Congress vote in favor of a continuing resolution to fund government services that are no longer continuing?
Why should any member of Congress vote to give Trump and Musk a trillion dollars and then let them decide how to spend it — or not spend it?
Why should Congress give Trump and Musk a blank check to continue their pillage?
The real choice congressional Democrats face today is not between a continuing resolution that allows the government to function normally or a government shutdown. Under Trump and Musk, the government is not functioning normally. It is not continuing. It is already shutting down.Today’s real choice is between a continuing resolution that gives Trump and Musk free rein to decide what government services they want to continue and what services they want to shut down — or demanding that Trump and Musk stop usurping the power of Congress, as a condition for keeping the government funded.
The spineless Republicans will not say this publicly. So Democrats must — and Democrats must insist on budget language that holds Trump and Musk accountable.The House’s Republican-drafted budget resolution isn’t contingent on Trump observing existing laws. It does not instruct the president to stop Musk from riding roughshod over the federal government.
There’s certainly a tempting line of thought here:
Republicans are not governing in good faith. They are trying to gut the federal government and burn everything down. We can resist, because what they’re doing is bad, or we can accept that “it’s going to get worse before it gets better” and help them to hurry things along. Shut it down, let America see what they voted for, and rebuild after everything falls apart.
I’m having a hard time coming up with reasons to take the high road.
They are not just gutting the government. They are ending American democracy and replacing it with a fascist dictatorship. It will get much much worse. Nobody can say exactly how bad,. There may not be a next election. Yes the USSR fell. It took decades.
They should not help pass the cloture vote. But considering who they are, they will, for the opportunity to vote on some meaningless amendments that won’t pass and nobody will care about, and then the people that do pay attention will be angered yet again by the uselessness of Senate Democrats.
They’re doing both, yes. Sadly I think Americans won’t care about the fascist dictatorship part as long as the trains run on time, but they will care about what’s going on when the government stops providing services regardless of whose flag it happens under.
I think showing Americans what their lives will be like without government services that they rely on [frequently while despising them], that’s the best chance at waking people up and forcing [Republicans in] congress to maybe do their jobs.
Your congresswoman is Rep. Jared Golden? He’s the only Dem who voted for the CR. If your congresswoman is a GOPer, primarying them usually involves someone even stupider and Trumpier because the present congresscritter isn’t considered Trumpy enough by the MAGAts.
Already done. Even though I have two solid and trustworthy Dem Senators – Durbin and Duckworth – I felt the need to send them the message that I want them to vote against the CR as-is because a government shutdown is the lesser of two evils.
I think that’s why everyone should let their Senators know. Until now, government shutdown was irresponsible, an evil to be avoided. With Trump and Musk performing their own unauthorized and selective government shutdown, every Dem Senator needs to know that they will NOT be blamed by their constituents if/when a “no” vote on the CR as-is causes a shutdown.
There isn’t any high road in this case. Any road out of here is going down through the mud.
Pick the one which has some chance of getting to sound ground eventually. There isn’t one that’s going to keep us there, because we’re not there now.
The people paying attention know that Republicans are doing evil despite whatever Democrats do. Only the inattentive, and there are many, will blame Democrats.
Thank you for calling.
Durbin isn’t trustworthy, though I understand senators like him. Duckworth told a constituent earlier this week that she had not decided on how she was going to vote. This is Senate-brain at work. And these calls matter, especially yesterday but also today. It’s not over until it’s over.
Current status:
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) told Senate Republicans on Wednesday that Democrats, as of then, would not provide the votes to overcome the filibuster on the Trump-backed continuing resolution the House shoved through earlier this week. Instead, the Democratic leader and his caucus are pushing for a vote on a different, 30-day continuing resolution that top Democratic appropriators unveiled Monday night — a plan that would give them time to finalize full appropriations bills.
The Dem push for the 30-day CR vote is likely an attempt to save face with constituents — potentially freeing up enough of them to ultimately vote for the Republican CR after the show vote. Senate Democrats are well aware that their short-term stopgap won’t survive a floor vote, but it theoretically would provide them with the cover to say they pushed back on the MAGA bill.
So the Senate Dems are looking for political cover with their own base, because they don’t want to… attack unpopular slash and burn cuts? I mean sure, filibustering the CR messes with their brand, but maybe their brand should involve more toughness.
People trash the Democrats a lot. Give credit where credit is due: the House Democrats stood up to the wannabee dictators. I read that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is pressuring Senate Dems not to roll over. But each of our 2 legislative houses follow their own tune.
Care to expand upon that?
Through many years (perhaps too many), I’ve consistently perceived Durbin’s positions to be extremely consistent with and supportive of my views. I’m curious to see a reason to consider him untrustworthy.
Let’s see. I’m in Pennsylvania. My senators are
Maccomick (I may have spelled that wrong. I don’t really care)- He ran on ‘I can magically fix inflation!’ and ‘I am not totally opposed to all abortion even in cases of rape or incest. You just think that about me because one of Casey’s attack ads quotes a statement I made where I said exactly that.’ He didn’t even bother to refute the other attack ads- that he lived out of state, and that he had investes in a Chinese company supplying arms to the Chinese military, I do not know what he really believes. I would be floored if he opposed Trump in any way, There is no point in calling his office. He is another rich guy trying to gain more wealth and power by fleecing the voters and obeying Trump.
Fetterman- I have to do research here, I haven’t heard much about him since he was elected. Depending on what I turn up, he may be worth a call.
What the fucking hell? At some point did I die and go to hell and nobody bothered to tell me?? I voted for Fetterman. At the time he said he supported nearly all the things I support. What the fuckety fucking fuck happened?
At this point, I expect Mayor Parker and city council to announce that they have ended all LGBTQ+ protections in the city and that in keeping with the non violence and tolerance of William Penn, all citizens can convert to Christianity or be executed.
Fetterman disgusts me. He is a traitor to all his past stated ideals, and to the Constitution. What a giant fraud.
I seriously want to know what happened. It is like we are in some sci fi tv show and the real Fetterman was killed and replaced by an alien
Before we get too carried away, that is one op/ed article.
And why does the GOP need Dem votes anyway?
If it is a clean bill, then the Dems need to support it.