Senate Minority Leader Chuck "We Will Win" Schumer (D-NY) drew the ire of progressives as he announced late yesterday that he won't block the MAGA funding bill for the remainder of fiscal 2025. New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called it a "betrayal" and a "slap in the face" The sense of betrayal was strong among House Democrats who stood in the breach and voted against the reactionary bill pushed by the Malignant Fascist and his MAGA cult in the House of Representatives, just to watch Schumer not force changes in the bill through threats of a filibuster. Some reactions captured by the Axios article:
"I know I speak for so many in our caucus when I say Schumer is misreading this moment. The Senate Dems must show strength and grit by voting no," said Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.).
Said Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.): "I don't know where Schumer is coming from. ... It doesn't look good for the leader."
More coverage and reactions here. The back down by Schumer on the reactionary bill means he owns it whether he wants to or not. Arguments that a government shutdown (which South African fascist and sociopath Elon "Kaboom" Musk already has underway) would play into the MF's hands and would hurt Dems, when the MAGA party controls the Congress and White House, ring hollow. Dem voters have been looking for some spine and resistance to the MF and his co-President running amok from their leaders, thinking this would be the time to draw a line. Once again, they failed to meet the moment.
BONUS:
Let’s face it, Schumer has been terrible even before this. It is time for new leadership. He isn’t the person for this moment in history, and the longer he clings to power the worse off we all are.
— Ron Filipkowski (@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social) March 14, 2025 at 7:57 AM
(photo: Schumer shouting "we will win" at a rally last month. Who's "we"?)
🤔 Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was on Chris Hayes' show on MSNBC last night. Schumer is being hit from all sides to stand tough and allow a shutdown and I would usually agree that we should shutdown and make Republicans eat the problem. But, Schumer made two arguments I had not considered and I am now thinking a shutdown should be avoided.
ReplyDeleteFirst, during a shutdown, Republicans will have full control of what parts of the Federal government to shutdown...those guys do not make good choices. (I know, I know...the Republicans are already shutting down whatever they want.) And, second, they could shut down the Federal courts system which is our most successful resistance to date. (Yes, they could shut down the courts anyway, but why give them fodder to argue that we didn't care enough to stop them?) As bad as the CR is, I think we must let our best parts of government keep working! 💪