A few comments... First, Schumer looks ridiculous in those new glasses. Second, who's to replace him? I dunno, but the 2026 elections are now less than a year away, and there's little to indicate the Dems are prepared, no torchbearer, no message. And next to no time.
Third, that national security angle... Oh, god, please no, I don't wanna hear any of that "most lethal military force in the world" crap, I wanna see someone say we're gonna start cutting the Penta-gone budget and putting savings to infrastructure/health care/education/climate change/paying off national debt.
And I want to see a change in the definition of "national security," away from chasing whom the Israelis tell us are terrorists, and away from liberation and resistance fighters whom we see as a threat to our interests, in some perverse sense, and toward developing a health care system that will protect our population from illness and disease and from medical bankruptcy; an economy that works for all rather than the exploitive few; a climate that will sustain us; and a political system that "provides for the general welfare" rather than the interests of the corporations and special interests.
Tall order. A necessary order. Not much time to pull it off.
In terms of fighting for and defending the interests of the US working class, the Democratic Party has been largely irrelevant since the inauguration of Jimmy Carter.
I'd be willing to bet a substantial sum (to me, anyway, not likely to him) that Schumer has grown filthy rich at a much faster pace during Republican administrations than Democrat, although the rate of growth would be astoundingly high for most of us here reading and commenting. Schumer and Pelosi (same generation, mind you) are the exact reason that Clintonism and the fake hopey changey Obamism became the de-facto "philosophy" of the Democratic Party. To wit: They've both become incredibly rich favoring big tech, the Rx and "health insurance" industry, Wall Street in general and of course, warmongering. I won't go into the other [REDACTED] areas of Schumer's loyalties that also probably play a huge role in this, but people can figure that out for themselves and it starts with an "I"....
I haven't seen anyone say why he did it. He is known as the senator from Wall Street so presumably the 1% wanted the shutdown to end?
SPANBERGER WARNING - she is a supporter of Israel. Nobody who supports Israel should be within 100 miles of Congress, the next step for governors. Even a governor can push through pro-Israel things like the anti-BDS laws that have swept more than half of the states. Here in IL we are trying hard for a repeal of our version that prevents state pension funds from being invested in any company that supports BDS.
It is precisely by presenting themselves as for all kinds of things that will appeal to voters while never mentioning Israel that we are in the tail wagging the dog situation shown in the past two years but present decades before.
Never forget what should be obvious to all, liberty and justice for all is the antithesis of ethnic supremacy. We see the ugly in Israel and with ICE we are seeing a sample of ugly here in the US. MAGA is bigotry. Israel OUT of all US politics should be our goal. We owe it to the millions of Palestinians who have had their land taken from them since 1948, since 1967 the US being all out to help the ethnic cleansing.
The Chuckster should spend a week in an Israeli political prison disguised as an Arab getting beaten and raped by the ethno Supremacists he's unconditionally supported since his days in Hebrew school.
His faith, his religion is blinding him to the horrors committed by Bibi Netanyahu, I'm afraid.
Love, hate and religion makes many lose their minds.
One thing is certain: we are in contravention of the Leahy laws, and we should stop. Not in our name! We've never been honest brokers in the Middle East conflicts, and we've spent enormous treasure there since 1948 , and for what?!
If Democrats are ready for a leader that will fight relentlessly on kitchen table issues, they need look no further than Bernie Sanders. Yes. He's not a Democrat, but in this moment that bucks establishment norms, what could be more appropriate than a fiesty outsider?
If people are clamoring for a bold risk taker as a replacement for Schumer then Murphy is not showing much qualification for the job if he wants to get it yet won't say so publicly. I've read Schumer wants Schatz of Hawaii to replace him when he decides to step down, with no indication of when that might be in Schumer's mind. Apparently there is no doubt Schatz will replace Durbin as whip when Durbin retires.
Oh, Ken... euthanized? really? euthanasia implies loss of LIFE. I think we all want him removed from power, but we may find someone else to take the reins instead.
Similarly, Dianne Feinstein should have been removed long before she died in office at 90. Joe was 81 during that awful debate, and his grip was starting to slip. Republicans have similar problems, with Kay Granger (R) 81, from Texas, who was living in a retirement community for months while still "serving".
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, by dying in office after she had all these health problems may well have tilted the balance of SCOTUS. She was 87 when she died in 2020.
Not to mention the Felon himself at 79, who does not seem to be lucid enough for the job and who regularly dishes out word salads.
Old age is creeping on Chuck, 74, and I fear the same indecision on Biden's part that tragically doomed Kamala Harris' candidacy.. If we are not going to have a law that says after 75, you should not seek elected office, then we need some other mechanism to remove officials who are too old to do the job.
I do believe, however that before "chucking" Chuck, at 74, the Democratic Party has to start by hunting actively for a replacement. The runways are soon to get shorter as the midterms are now less than a year away. Do we have some folks starting to make noise about wanting the job? It's hard to say, especially for us who are so far away from power, that this one or that one should hang their spurs. Look at Bernie: He's pretty old and has a very busy schedule, yet at 84 is still sharp as a tack.
Those who are closest are the aides: they shuffle papers around politicians and are quite aware of their frailties. Maybe they should speak up... Hmmm. probably not happening...
Ken- I agree (figuratively) with your solution, but I don't agree with your thesis that "Palooka Chuckie" is incompetent and can't control the caucus. From 3.5k miles away it seems that Palooka Chuck wanted this TKO, but tried to figure out how to appear on his feet with his gloves still up ready to answer the next bell as the Dems went down to defeat.
First, the retiring Dick Durbin voted yes on this and has avoided the media. The other yes votes were Tim Kaine who won't be on the ballot until 2030 and Angus King who isn't technically a Democrat.
Second, the article in Axios Monday afternoon where anonymous sources claimed Palooka Chuckie wanted to fight on. Ironically the sole cohort who actually believe this article isn't a plant from Palooka Chuckie's staff are MAGAists.
Third, Jean Shaheen (or was it Maggie Hassan) told one of the networks that she was in contact with leadership in the hours leading up to this vote. Is there a shred of evidence that Shaheen has suffered or even been threatened with no funding from the DSCC or a committee reassignment? Told no one would take meetings with her if she joins a K Street lobbying firm?
I can imagine that lots of Palooka Chuckie's donors were very unhappy with the shutdown. The airlines have obvious reasons, but what about Walmart, Kroger, Smart & Final? While it might suck that people are food insecure, I can imagine these firms want the $ from SNAP. Also, Republicans threat to end the filibuster might have spooked Palooka Chuckie, if Democrats come into the majority, how will they keep the rotating villain ruse going?
Just my thoughts
Do you have any evidence that Senator Schumer DIDN'T want this 'shutdown' to end this way besides Palooka Chuckie's silly protests that he was ready to answer the bell?
A few comments... First, Schumer looks ridiculous in those new glasses. Second, who's to replace him? I dunno, but the 2026 elections are now less than a year away, and there's little to indicate the Dems are prepared, no torchbearer, no message. And next to no time.
Third, that national security angle... Oh, god, please no, I don't wanna hear any of that "most lethal military force in the world" crap, I wanna see someone say we're gonna start cutting the Penta-gone budget and putting savings to infrastructure/health care/education/climate change/paying off national debt.
And I want to see a change in the definition of "national security," away from chasing whom the Israelis tell us are terrorists, and away from liberation and resistance fighters whom we see as a threat to our interests, in some perverse sense, and toward developing a health care system that will protect our population from illness and disease and from medical bankruptcy; an economy that works for all rather than the exploitive few; a climate that will sustain us; and a political system that "provides for the general welfare" rather than the interests of the corporations and special interests.
Tall order. A necessary order. Not much time to pull it off.
Well, at least the Trump Regime is honest about **something**. They renamed it back to the Department of War.
Can we settle for tarred and feathered?
he's terrible. has been for a long time. but he has too many allies in the senate centrist (and the pro Israel) club. they are all pathetic.
Wall Street (aka the FIRE Sector) and Israel are all that Schumer the Phony has ever cared about.
In terms of fighting for and defending the interests of the US working class, the Democratic Party has been largely irrelevant since the inauguration of Jimmy Carter.
I'd be willing to bet a substantial sum (to me, anyway, not likely to him) that Schumer has grown filthy rich at a much faster pace during Republican administrations than Democrat, although the rate of growth would be astoundingly high for most of us here reading and commenting. Schumer and Pelosi (same generation, mind you) are the exact reason that Clintonism and the fake hopey changey Obamism became the de-facto "philosophy" of the Democratic Party. To wit: They've both become incredibly rich favoring big tech, the Rx and "health insurance" industry, Wall Street in general and of course, warmongering. I won't go into the other [REDACTED] areas of Schumer's loyalties that also probably play a huge role in this, but people can figure that out for themselves and it starts with an "I"....
Ever the cynic, I say it doesn’t matter who replaces Schumer. None of these people gives a rat’s behind about anyone but themselves.
Call your senators o'clock
Not the best language in the title. Especially after the Charlie Kirk murder. If it needs the star to explain it, switch it!
After this train wreck capitulation, a bit of edginess is in order.
I haven't seen anyone say why he did it. He is known as the senator from Wall Street so presumably the 1% wanted the shutdown to end?
SPANBERGER WARNING - she is a supporter of Israel. Nobody who supports Israel should be within 100 miles of Congress, the next step for governors. Even a governor can push through pro-Israel things like the anti-BDS laws that have swept more than half of the states. Here in IL we are trying hard for a repeal of our version that prevents state pension funds from being invested in any company that supports BDS.
It is precisely by presenting themselves as for all kinds of things that will appeal to voters while never mentioning Israel that we are in the tail wagging the dog situation shown in the past two years but present decades before.
Never forget what should be obvious to all, liberty and justice for all is the antithesis of ethnic supremacy. We see the ugly in Israel and with ICE we are seeing a sample of ugly here in the US. MAGA is bigotry. Israel OUT of all US politics should be our goal. We owe it to the millions of Palestinians who have had their land taken from them since 1948, since 1967 the US being all out to help the ethnic cleansing.
The Chuckster should spend a week in an Israeli political prison disguised as an Arab getting beaten and raped by the ethno Supremacists he's unconditionally supported since his days in Hebrew school.
His faith, his religion is blinding him to the horrors committed by Bibi Netanyahu, I'm afraid.
Love, hate and religion makes many lose their minds.
One thing is certain: we are in contravention of the Leahy laws, and we should stop. Not in our name! We've never been honest brokers in the Middle East conflicts, and we've spent enormous treasure there since 1948 , and for what?!
If Democrats are ready for a leader that will fight relentlessly on kitchen table issues, they need look no further than Bernie Sanders. Yes. He's not a Democrat, but in this moment that bucks establishment norms, what could be more appropriate than a fiesty outsider?
If people are clamoring for a bold risk taker as a replacement for Schumer then Murphy is not showing much qualification for the job if he wants to get it yet won't say so publicly. I've read Schumer wants Schatz of Hawaii to replace him when he decides to step down, with no indication of when that might be in Schumer's mind. Apparently there is no doubt Schatz will replace Durbin as whip when Durbin retires.
I generally agree but I mean at least he’s competent
(To William M. Arkin: "loathe" is a verb; the adjective you want is "loath".)
Oh, Ken... euthanized? really? euthanasia implies loss of LIFE. I think we all want him removed from power, but we may find someone else to take the reins instead.
Similarly, Dianne Feinstein should have been removed long before she died in office at 90. Joe was 81 during that awful debate, and his grip was starting to slip. Republicans have similar problems, with Kay Granger (R) 81, from Texas, who was living in a retirement community for months while still "serving".
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, by dying in office after she had all these health problems may well have tilted the balance of SCOTUS. She was 87 when she died in 2020.
Not to mention the Felon himself at 79, who does not seem to be lucid enough for the job and who regularly dishes out word salads.
Old age is creeping on Chuck, 74, and I fear the same indecision on Biden's part that tragically doomed Kamala Harris' candidacy.. If we are not going to have a law that says after 75, you should not seek elected office, then we need some other mechanism to remove officials who are too old to do the job.
I do believe, however that before "chucking" Chuck, at 74, the Democratic Party has to start by hunting actively for a replacement. The runways are soon to get shorter as the midterms are now less than a year away. Do we have some folks starting to make noise about wanting the job? It's hard to say, especially for us who are so far away from power, that this one or that one should hang their spurs. Look at Bernie: He's pretty old and has a very busy schedule, yet at 84 is still sharp as a tack.
Those who are closest are the aides: they shuffle papers around politicians and are quite aware of their frailties. Maybe they should speak up... Hmmm. probably not happening...
Ken- I agree (figuratively) with your solution, but I don't agree with your thesis that "Palooka Chuckie" is incompetent and can't control the caucus. From 3.5k miles away it seems that Palooka Chuck wanted this TKO, but tried to figure out how to appear on his feet with his gloves still up ready to answer the next bell as the Dems went down to defeat.
First, the retiring Dick Durbin voted yes on this and has avoided the media. The other yes votes were Tim Kaine who won't be on the ballot until 2030 and Angus King who isn't technically a Democrat.
Second, the article in Axios Monday afternoon where anonymous sources claimed Palooka Chuckie wanted to fight on. Ironically the sole cohort who actually believe this article isn't a plant from Palooka Chuckie's staff are MAGAists.
Third, Jean Shaheen (or was it Maggie Hassan) told one of the networks that she was in contact with leadership in the hours leading up to this vote. Is there a shred of evidence that Shaheen has suffered or even been threatened with no funding from the DSCC or a committee reassignment? Told no one would take meetings with her if she joins a K Street lobbying firm?
I can imagine that lots of Palooka Chuckie's donors were very unhappy with the shutdown. The airlines have obvious reasons, but what about Walmart, Kroger, Smart & Final? While it might suck that people are food insecure, I can imagine these firms want the $ from SNAP. Also, Republicans threat to end the filibuster might have spooked Palooka Chuckie, if Democrats come into the majority, how will they keep the rotating villain ruse going?
Just my thoughts
Do you have any evidence that Senator Schumer DIDN'T want this 'shutdown' to end this way besides Palooka Chuckie's silly protests that he was ready to answer the bell?