# 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:** 6
**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:** [October 28, 2025, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/101 "2025-10-28T03:34:32Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > They don’t need their base, they can simply declare themselves the winners regardless of the actual votes and dare the Democrats to do anything about it. Then why is there a shutdown if they can just do what they want and votes don’t matter? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/102 "2025-10-28T03:57:38Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Then why is there a shutdown if they can just do what they want and votes don’t matter? Authoritarian lizard brain. Authoritarians love going through the rituals of legitimacy. They’ll hold sham elections, hold show trials, make obvious lies to justify their actions because going though the motions satisfies them. It doesn’t matter to them if it’s fake or that other people see through it; what matters is the _ritual._ Which I why I expect them to fix the election rather than call it off. Calling it off means they don’t get their ritual faked election. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/103 "2025-10-28T05:00:45Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Then why is there a shutdown if they can just do what they want and votes don’t matter? Well, they cant really. An election is coming up in 2026, which the Dems were expected to win the House back. That is why Texas played games with gerrymandering. But the Repubs cant afford to lose the House. ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/104 "2025-10-28T10:08:54Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > When I say banked PTO, I mean accumulated earned leave. You know, your Annual Leave balance goes up? I still don’t understand. All Leave for Federal Employees is cancelled in a shutdown. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/105 "2025-10-28T10:51:07Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > I’m talking only about big picture long-term bills. If your first sentence is true re a clean long term bill I’m unaware. It’s true about absolutely all bills whatsoever. Republicans have all of the power. What they want to happen is what’s happening. > [@CoolHandCox](#): > > Do yall really think D’s have no power to open the Gov’t? Like genuinely? This is where this thread loses me and gets silly. Yes, the Democrats genuinely have the minority in all branches of government. I’m at a loss as to how anyone can think that the minority can accomplish anything that the majority doesn’t want. > [@Atamasama](#): > > Then why is there a shutdown if they can just do what they want and votes don’t matter? Because they want a shutdown. Republicans have been saying for nearly my entire lifetime that they want to drown the government in a bathtub. And now they’re doing it. ---
**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:** [October 28, 2025, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/106 "2025-10-28T10:58:04Z")
Democrats aren’t being blamed, according to polling. And they shouldn’t be. Not only do Republican control everything, and could end the shutdown by themselves any day they choose, but this White House is refusing to follow congressionally-appropriated budget laws. If the White House won’t even follow a budget law, why on Earth would Democrats agree to a continuation of budget laws that have been ignored? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/107 "2025-10-28T11:44:43Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > When I say banked PTO, I mean accumulated earned leave. Thanks for clearing that up. I still don’t understand what you describe of your situation, but that is not necessary. This thread is not about your personal leave/financial situation. I’m sure you are stressed. There was a front page article in this morning’s paper, saying 730k workers are working but not paid, 670k are furloughed, and 830k are still getting paid. Also said some billionaire “gave” the government 4130 mill to help pay military. ---
**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:** [October 28, 2025, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/108 "2025-10-28T12:17:29Z")
I’m one of those who is working without being paid right now. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/109 "2025-10-28T12:41:26Z")
To restate the obvious, Trump has been waging war aganst the bureaucracy and demonizing federal employees since the election. To put it mildly, being a federal employee has been stressful and confusing since January. But I’m sure that is intended to enhance efficiency! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/110 "2025-10-28T12:41:30Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Democrats aren’t being blamed, according to polling. Yeah, I don’t know the exact polling numbers but it seems to me that this is one area in which the Democrats have an _advantage_ in messaging: since the Republicans took the blame for all the previous shutdowns, people are predisposed to blame them for the current one. The Democrats could even make positive demands (rather than demands for _stopping_ change) and I’m not even sure it would work out as bad as it normally does for them in other areas. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/111 "2025-10-28T12:58:26Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > The Democrats could even make positive demands (rather than demands for _stopping_ change) and I’m not even sure it would work out as bad as it normally does for them in other areas. But, the question is, at what point is a tipping point reached? What specific factor will make enough news for either party to blink? While I previously thought it impossible, I’m now seeing it easily last into the new year… ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2025, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/112 "2025-10-28T13:22:17Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It’s true about absolutely all bills whatsoever. Republicans have all of the power. What they want to happen is what’s happening. Right. Republicans have the power to invoke the nuclear option to forever change the Senate rules from requiring 60 votes that requires the minority to help (compromise), to only 50 votes that requires no minority help to get this simple bill passed (no compromise). This is what we’re saying when we say this. I would imagine, the new bill they put forward once only 50 votes is required would no longer be clean - the simple majority would have all the power and the minority would lose all it’s leverage. I would much prefer a shutdown that eventually gets resolved to that scenario. > [@Chronos](#): > > Yes, the Democrats genuinely have the minority in all branches of government. I’m at a loss as to how anyone can think that the minority can accomplish anything that the majority doesn’t want. The majority does want to reopen the Gov’t and is putting forth bills to try and do it. It’s just simple math. There is a clean bill that is being voted on by the entire Senate that would reopen the Gov’t right now. It needs a handful of Democrats to get it passed, but they are voting nay. This exact situation has happened hundreds of times in the past, and the minority always votes yay to prevent a shutdown. It happened earlier this year - 62 votes (9 Democrats). That’s why I think the minority could get the Gov’t reopened, which is what the majority wants when they put forward a clean appropriations bill that would reopen the Gov’t/prevent a shutdown. None of this means I don’t think healthcare subsidies are important. It’s just numbers we’re talking about. This situation is about the shutdown/passing an appropriations bill. The Gov’t will not reopen if we pass an ACA subsidies bill. But to be clear, I think the shutdown is _both_ parties fault. Republicans don’t care about healthcare or it’s costs. They could do something right now to address and help fix that. Two things can be done at once, it happens all the time. ---
**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:** [October 28, 2025, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/113 "2025-10-28T13:36:30Z")
Republicans aren’t even following the budget bills they pass. Why would the Democrats vote for a budget law that is being ignored? This is not remotely what has happened in past shutdown disagreements. ---
**Author:** ![CoolHandCox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coolhandcox/32/16233_2.png) [@CoolHandCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoolHandCox)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/114 "2025-10-30T03:02:15Z")
This has been knocking around in my head. If I had to message this, I would do it like this. I would be honest, be serious, own the shutdown, and keep the focus on healthcare. It’s a righteous cause. My message: Your healthcare is important. On Jan 1 healthcare premiums will double for millions of Americans because a law is about to expire. Congress needs to extend that law right now to keep your healthcare costs low next year. To do that and to keep this issue in focus, I am not going to vote to fund this Govt until we fund your healthcare. It will cost $350m to fund your healthcare for the next 10 years. Trump just demolished the East Wing of the WH to build the Trump ballroom. That also costs approx $350m. It should have been spent to fund your healthcare. Trump hurts people so he can help himself. He has no intention of helping or he would have. I intend to fund your healthcare before I fund this Govt. The Govt will be temporarily shutdown while Congress works on a bill to fund your healthcare. So if you’re a federal employee that has not yet been fired by DOGE, please write your representative to pass this bill. That will help to speed this process up. There are both Democrats and Republicans that want to fund your healthcare. It will take hard work and serious people, but this can be done and your health is worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/115 "2025-10-30T11:30:45Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > This has been knocking around in my head. If I had to message this, I would do it like this. I would be honest, be serious, own the shutdown, and keep the focus on healthcare. It’s a righteous cause. You’ve got my vote. Tho I’m not sure how well such an honest, serious approach would work across our exceptional nation. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/116 "2025-10-30T13:46:27Z")
Some Republicans have started to break with the party line to not negotiate during the shutdown. > **[Rank-and-file senators engage in ‘shadow negotiation’ in search for shutdown...](https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/29/politics/shutdown-talks-thune-democrats)** > > A group of rank-and-file senators increasingly frustrated by the weeks-long stalemate on Capitol Hill believe they have found a possible path to end the government shutdown. > **[Government shutdown latest: Senators scramble as SNAP benefits set to expire...](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/10/29/government-shutdown-day-29-live-updates/86860007007/)** > > The government shutdown is only becoming harder for Americans to bear. But Republicans and Democrats still have yet to strike a funding deal. > “That is just the wrong way to do this,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, said Tuesday. “The way to approach this is just to reopen government.” > Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, said Wednesday there’s been a “significant uptick in bipartisan conversations” related to ending the shutdown among rank-and-file lawmakers. ---
**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:** [October 30, 2025, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/117 "2025-10-30T15:28:18Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > > “That is just the wrong way to do this,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, said Tuesday. “The way to approach this is just to reopen government.” Quit whining. You Republicans know exactly what you need to do to make that happen. ---
**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:** [October 30, 2025, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/118 "2025-10-30T16:34:25Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Some Republicans have started to break with the party line Sorry, what? > Thune appeared to suggest on Wednesday that **he would** have a conversation with those involved in the negotiations. Asked if he would **personally** engage with **centrist Democrats** involved in the talks, Thune told CNN: “I think that will happen pretty soon.” > > … > > Democratic **leaders** , Thune said, **are not involved** in the negotiating. Asked whether he thought there would be enough moderate Democrats in the mix to reach a deal that would reopen the government, he expressed optimism. It’s moderate Democrats who are breaking ranks and meeting with Republican leadership. If reports are to be believed (granted, it’s from three Republicans: Murkowski, Rounds, and Thune), _Schumer_ is the one being flanked. The “the wrong way to do this” comment was in reference to Lujan’s motion for unanimous consent to fund SNAP, not the negotiations with Democrats on the CR. ---
**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:** [October 30, 2025, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/119 "2025-10-30T16:46:12Z")
It seems to me that when the Republican Senators were conducting a tyranny of the minority by blocking legislation through the filibuster, they were labeled obstructionists by Democrats and how dare they block the will of the majority because majority should rule. Also, very little call for the nuclear option IIRC although some did say it was time to get rid of the filibuster. How is this any different? And at a certain point, the Dems need to ask themselves that is it worth the cost (SNAP benefits lost, government workers not getting a paycheck, etc.) to continue to fight for an extension of ACA subsidies? ---
**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:** [October 30, 2025, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788/120 "2025-10-30T18:45:58Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > when the Republican Senators were conducting a tyranny of the minority by blocking legislation through the filibuster Which shutdown was that? The 90s shutdown was a presidential veto. The 2013 one wasn’t a Senate filibuster, but a Republican-held House not passing a bill. The 2018 shutdown was Democrats filibustering over DACA. The 2019 shutdown was again Democrats filibustering to block funding for the border wall. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-democrats-being-blamed-for-the-shutdown/1023788.md?page=7)