But while Smith voted against a plan to keep the government funded in March as the base was clamoring for Democrats to stand up to Trump, Shaheen and Peters voted with Republicans and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer to keep the government’s lights on – a decision that infuriated some Democrats.
“One of the things I learned as governor is that you don’t have the luxury of saying, ‘I’m not going to work with this person and I’m not going to solve this problem.’ When you’re in charge, it’s your responsibility to help figure out how to get it done,” Shaheen said.
Pressed on the fact that most of her caucus didn’t agree this was one of those moments, Shaheen was frank.
“I disagree with them,” she said. “I think they weren’t thinking about what the seriousness of the alternative was, to have a government shutdown. And then there was no guarantee that we could ever open the government up.”
In the next several months, Democrats will have to coalesce around a unified message ahead of the midterms and find a way to harness the energy of the more progressive base while also battling in states where the party has lost ground to Trump.
“If the Democrats can’t compete in the Midwest and the Great Plains, then the path back to majority is going to be a long time coming,” said Sen. Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat who is expected to run for reelection in 2026.
Democrats will be defending seats in 2026 in states like Michigan, New Hampshire and Georgia, with few potential pickup opportunities outside of Maine and North Carolina.
They’re leaving a more divided place where the middle of both parties has been eroded and each year, big bipartisan legislation seems a more elusive goal.
Calling bull-fucking-shit on this, “both parties,” line. We just saw Schumer roll over and play dead for the worst budget deal in Senate history. 4 years ago, the Democrats let all of the most progressive portions of the BBB get hollowed out by 2 centrist Democrats. The Democratic, “middle,” hasn’t eroded, they’re calling all the shots.
Anyone ever notice how it’s NEVER a good election cycle for Democrats? Like shouldn’t there be at least ONE every six years?
Considering their constant desire to “court centrists/moderates” instead of being an opposition party or any unified messaging it is hard to have a “good election cycle”.
most of the dnc are probably aligned more with the gop, as dinos instead of rest of the DEMs.
It’s never a good election cycle for Democrats, so it’s never a good time to ever suggest “Please stop voting yes on bills that enable abuse from Republicans.”
It’s never a good election cycle for Democrats, so it’s never a good time to ever suggest “Please stop using funds that can be used for healthcare and education on keeping kids in cages.”
It’s never a good election cycle for Democrats, so it’s never a good time to ever suggest “Please stop shipping weapons illegally, it looks really bad if you’re trying to go for a second term.”
It’s never a good election cycle for Democrats, so it’s never a good time to ever suggest “Please arrest Trump, make it so he’s punished for once.”
It’s never a good election cycle because they want to claim anyone who wants them to win and help the people who vote for them because the other side never will, are useful idiots, Russian bots, Tankies, whatever the corporate owned media told them to attack instead of the rich who fund both parties so “nothing will fundamentally change”.
Depends on how you define “good” I guess.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/6-election-night-takeaways-democrats-win-big-gop/story?id=104696780
Thank goodness, these fucking scumbags are ballot box poison who pretend voters in fly over country want more arms deals and subsidy money for businesses and don’t want public healthcare and an expansion of the government workforce when they know damn well it’s the opposite but don’t want to piss off their donors by admitting it
And then there was no guarantee that we could ever open the government up.”
Yeah, I think that’s what a lot of Americans are hoping for right now. The system is so thoroughly fucked that it is better to burn it to the ground.
Pressed on the fact that most of her caucus didn’t agree this was one of those moments, Shaheen was frank.
“I disagree with them,” she said. “I think they weren’t thinking about what the seriousness of the alternative was, to have a government shutdown. And then there was no guarantee that we could ever open the government up.”
Then you don’t represent them and shouldn’t employed as their representative.
“The people who voted for me think I’m wrong? Clearly they’re the morons! I gotta vote yes on Trump’s demands!”
Might as well swap party affiliation at this point, if they wanna rubber stamp anything Trump wants.
A caucus is a group of representatives, i.e. the other Democratic senators. I think you’re thinking of constituents.
You’re right, thanks for the correction. I think most of her constituents disagree with her anyway, but it’s just a hunch on my part.
Yep. I’ve heard this episode:
“Bipartisanship” as High-Minded Rhetorical Cover for Pushing Rightwing Policies
The ratchet effect. Biden never undid what Trump mainly caused domestically, the tax cuts, the cages, the police militarization, but claimed he was unable to do anything useful, like push for healthcare reform, minimum wage increases, or anything meaningful.
Next Democrat in office will have ICE detain citizens and claim he can’t stop it, because its rude to undo something the last guy did.
