# Why are Democrats being blamed for the shutdown? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 8, 2025, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788 "2025-10-08T17:11:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 22
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/421 "2025-11-11T20:35:37Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > But I think that is a different issue than how and when they ought to have gotten out of it. One day shutdown as a protest like when there is a Day Without Immigrants to protest US immigration policy. You make your point, don’t harm the people dependent on the federal government and don’t give the Republicans the extended shutdown they want. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/422 "2025-11-11T20:36:39Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I just wondering why folk who supposedly supported the Dems during the shutdown would shift their views. That’s obvious. You caused a shutdown for 40 days and got nothing for it. ---
**Author:** ![keeganst94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a6a055/32.png) [@keeganst94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keeganst94)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/423 "2025-11-11T20:39:21Z")
Yes. People are willing to suffer for a cause. If you sell them on suffering for a cause, and then abandon the cause, don’t be surprised if they blame you for their suffering. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/424 "2025-11-11T21:02:24Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > You seem to be missing the point- the MAGAs WANTED the government to be shut down. **Good.** Let them own that. As the economy continues to turn into a shambles, shout as loudly as you can “THIS IS WHAT TRUMP WANTS”. Don’t interrupt your enemy while he’s making a mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/425 "2025-11-11T21:09:21Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Sorry I was unclear. What I was suggesting is that when people predict what they think the Repubs would do, they oughtn’t base their opinions on what sane responsible people would do. The Dems are clearly not dealing with sane responsible people. This is incorrect if you are referring to the politicians. They are playing to their voters, perfectly sane & responsible. Now if you are referring to the voter then yes I agree with you. > [@Dinsdale](#): > > I am hopeful for some effective messaging over the upcoming months, and hoping it bears fruit next November. This is the Democratic Party so hope in one hand and poop in the other. > [@DrDeth](#): > > the Dems made their point- loudly- that the GOP is killing ACA Add this to “things we’ve known for 15 years”. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2025, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/426 "2025-11-11T23:58:10Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > He’s the party leader. If he doesn’t support the vote, then it’s his job to whip the rest of the caucus into line. If he refuses to do his job, then he may as well be voting yes. In the U.S., party leaders cannot force legislators to do what they want. Contrast with the UK, where the whips have real power because the party can stop an MP from running again, at least with the same party (deselection). More on why we don’t want a system where the whips have great power: > **[Cracking the whip: the UK's party control system - The Constitution Society](https://consoc.org.uk/cracking-the-whip-blog/)** > > Tabitha Troughton writers about her newly published report on the UK whipping system for the Constitution Society. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2025, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/427 "2025-11-12T01:01:51Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Republicans have been trying to kill ACA since before it was passed. Nothing quiet about it - they’re proud of it. Not lately, afaik- the last bill to real it was in 2017. > [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Add this to “things we’ve known for 15 years”. Not since 2017. The Dems wanted some sort of negotiation. The GOP refused. So once the public was good and angry about the shut down, and mostly blaming the GOP, AND it was clear this whole thing was just a quite sneaky attempt to kill the ACA- something the GOP has not tried to do openly since 2017, the Dems gave it. They didnt get what they really wanted, but they got the next best thing- lots of double-pissed off voters- pissed off about the shut down, and then next year- an election year- pissed off because they cant afford healthcare anymore- and they will know it is the gOps fault. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2025, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/428 "2025-11-12T01:16:28Z")
> [@PhillyGuy](#): > > In the U.S., party leaders cannot force legislators to do what they want. Except Republicans. They can. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2025, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/429 "2025-11-12T01:21:00Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Except Republicans. They can. Look at the last couple of House Speaker elections- no- they cant, not always. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2025, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/430 "2025-11-12T01:40:15Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Look at the last couple of House Speaker elections- no- they cant, not always. Yup. And I think that Mike Johnson is nervous that he won’t be able to get the spending bill passed in the House without some Democratic votes. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2025, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/431 "2025-11-12T01:51:31Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Yup. And I think that Mike Johnson is nervous that he won’t be able to get the spending bill passed in the House without some Democratic votes. I mean, the GOP margin in the house is so razor thin, that a flu outbreak could even things out. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2025, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/432 "2025-11-12T02:48:57Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I mean, the GOP margin in the house is so razor thin, that a flu outbreak could even things out. And then the couple of Democratic House members, from districts that consistently vote for Trump, will even it out the other way. So I think the GOP is highly likely to win the House vote. P.S. Some Democrats may be thinking – if they are going to vote with the GOP on such an important bill, who needs them? The answer gets to the sad truth that the shutdown was a partly performative effort to show toughness on a issue (ACA premiums) where the Democrats just do not have the votes. Someone like Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is not going to cast a high-profile anti-Trump vote to show we have the gumption to fight. But when there is a Democratic majority that could actually get universal health care passed and signed (2029?), she will be a yes. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2025, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/433 "2025-11-12T02:55:28Z")
> [@keeganst94](#): > > They shut down the government with clearly defined demands. Whoops! Little slip up there. You’re supposed to say the Republicans shut down the government, then fail to explain how that could be. > [@DrDeth](#): > > they were expected to sit down and actually, you know- negotiate Negotiate what? What to concede. And why should they concede, again? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2025, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/434 "2025-11-12T04:17:29Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > Negotiate what? What to concede. And why should they concede, again? To get the bill passed and avert the shut down? ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2025, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/435 "2025-11-12T07:27:06Z")
> **[Senator Schumer Votes to Let the Big Wooden Horse into Troy](https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/senator-schumer-votes-to-let-the-big-wooden-horse-into-troy)** > > “In the wake of votes by a handful of key Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, to pass a GOP-led continuing resolution funding f... ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2025, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/436 "2025-11-12T10:07:13Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > To get the bill passed and avert the shut down? But only the Republicans right? The Democrats did not have to concede to reopen government (until they did) right? ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2025, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/437 "2025-11-12T13:08:27Z")
Trump is still withholding full SNAP benefits, so maybe the Democrats can harp on that for a bit – “Even though we voted to reopen, this administration is starving his own supporters. The cruelty is the point.” ETA: Here’s a NYT article that isn’t as down on the whole thing as many people are. [Gift link](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/us/politics/democrats-shutdown.html?unlocked_article_code=1.0k8.8Nur.kSLt_0ebBzeO&smid=url-share). ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2025, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/438 "2025-11-12T13:47:01Z")
Why would they want that? You told me Republicans wanted the shutdown, right? So why would they want to avert it? ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2025, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/439 "2025-11-12T16:57:06Z")
Jon Stewart absolutely _ **torched** _ Schumer and the Democrats for caving on the shutdown this past Monday on The Daily Show: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/eFI6MwlLJ08/maxresdefault.jpg "Jon Stewart "Can't F\*\*king Believe" Democrats Caved on the Shutdown | The Daily Show") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFI6MwlLJ08) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2025, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/440 "2025-11-12T21:03:25Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > But only the Republicans right? The Democrats did not have to concede to reopen government (until they did) right? I have no idea what you are getting at. > [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > You told me Republicans wanted the shutdown, right? So why would they want to avert it? Yes, but not to be blamed for it. > [@solost](#): > > Jon Stewart absolutely _ **torched** _ Schumer and the Democrats for caving on the shutdown this past Monday on The Daily Show: So, what should the Dems had done- kept the shut down going for a year? After a while, it became clear the GOP wasnt going to either compromise or negotiate. The majority of the public was still blaming the GOP for the shutdown, and the publicity over the fact the MAGAs were killing “Obamacare’ had started to taper off. What exactly would be the point? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788.md?page=23)