Schumer and Jeffries Refuse to Back Growing Democratic Calls to Defund ICE

[mr715]

120. As you know, the Senate leadership

works with the House leadership. There is a lot of chess being played. The ACA subsidies aren't going to happen without the explicit endorsement of Donald Trump. And who knows, he might even give it. I've been seeing his AI face all over the place talking about how bad Obamacare is.

There is a case to be made that yes, these people (Democratic leadership) planned that outcome and are at a whole different level of strategic insight. I hope they are. However, I do not see it. I more troublingly do not feel it.

Where we disagree is on the issue of consensus.

Consensus is rare and cliche. "I support the troops" "Children should have a good education"

Sometimes, however, consensus opinions arise that are a little emotionally evocative: "American women shouldn't be shot in the face by Federal agents for doing nothing"

If we have to have a conference meeting to formalize this, we've lost the thread.


Trump says something, and his party falls in line. He is the leader of his party.

We have nominally 2 but in reality 300 leaders, which I think speaks to some of what you bring up. We can honestly disagree on the very real philosophical differences on what it takes to be a leader.

But on the politics of it -- AOC going on the news and saying 'Your health insurance premiums went up to pay for murder' has a resonance that 'Let's have a Zoom and figure out where the wind is blowing' doesn't

I respect and appreciate your thoughts on this. I believe you and I have a different vision of what it takes to lead versus what it takes to "present" as leading. I think your assessment is incorrect and overly gracious to our party which has to reckon with its high disapproval nationwide.