The Way Forward

Tom Rinaldo

(23,082 posts)

75. I agree with much of what you wrote. BUT...

Fri Mar 14, 2025, 10:16 AM

Mar 14

Herein lies the problem with the picture you sketch:

"Chuck Schumer is our leader in the Senate, and that's where this current action is taking place, and it's not like they haven't had time to figure out how they're going to message this. So I think the buck stops with him on this one (emphasis mine)."

Schumer is is not the right leader for this moment. He fails to meet the zeitgeist of this time. Whether or not he should literally step down can be debated. Perhaps it would be sufficient for Senate Democrats to de facto promote a different voice to articulate our message while Schumer functions as a parliamentary tactician. But he is failing to adequately rally the base at a time when the full active participation of all Americans of good faith in defense of our democracy is required. Even worse, he is alienating many of them. Proper messaging constitutes 80% of our effective arsenal now against the Trump/Musk coup, Courts alone will be unable to hold the line without massive public resistance to the Trump/Musk agenda.

It is in that context that the showdown on the Continuing Resolution must be weighed. The overall perception will be that Senate Democrats caved if it passes.

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I'll throw my 2 cents of criticism in here [View all] EarlG Mar 13 OP

until schumer and the top democratic leadership is removed i will not donate a nickle to them moonshinegnomie Mar 13 #1

This message was self-deleted by its author Skittles Mar 13 #2

Same here. However I am sending Chuck a letter. Raven123 Mar 13 #25

And the Dems DENVERPOPS Mar 13 #48

Done donating Capperdan Mar 14 #85

This message was self-deleted by its author InAbLuEsTaTe Mar 13 #58

In MANY ways, Bernie with his progressive populist principles is the most Democratic Democrat in Congress!! InAbLuEsTaTe Mar 13 #62

AOC as well. choie Mar 14 #104

I completely agree, AOC is an absolute gem... but let's not forget she was influenced by Our Fearless Leader himself!! InAbLuEsTaTe Mar 14 #109

Amen moonshine... berksdem Mar 14 #91

Unfortunately same place Terry_M Mar 14 #101

Guess what? tRump's already doing whatever the hell he wants, piss poor excuse but hey, its doesn't surprise me if they ImNotGod Mar 13 #3

Yep...but we're supposed to belive that WITH Gov open Trump can't do anything?? ROFLMMFAO!! Bengus81 Mar 14 #74

Excellent point! n/t returnee Mar 14 #100

There have been quite a few Dems with a strong message of resistance to trump... Think. Again. Mar 13 #4

Good to know! sheshe2 Mar 13 #8

Why would you mention Warren when I explicitly spoke of the "young"? Think. Again. Mar 13 #9

I was being facetious... sheshe2 Mar 13 #15

Oh, I see, you assumed I was saying something I did not say. Think. Again. Mar 14 #73

Yeah, if there's one thing the Democratic leadership adores doing intheflow Mar 14 #81

Messaging has been our problem for too long. Deuxcents Mar 13 #5

The magnitude of Schumer's failure is that it's a double fail... regnaD kciN Mar 13 #45

Agree. mzmolly Mar 13 #6

The Dems were not allowed any input to the CR SnoopDog Mar 13 #7

The gop were fine with a shut down. PortTack Mar 14 #108

I agree. They're failing badly on unified messaging. highplainsdem Mar 13 #10

With regard to your last point, I think that's important EarlG Mar 13 #12

I hope it's not too late for some serious soul searching. democrank Mar 13 #11

Well said, democrank: Mingle. Listen. Respond. Gather. Organize. Fight. wordstroken Mar 13 #22

what Dems are talking aboiut imported cheese? All I hear is Dems talking in regular speak about LymphocyteLover Mar 13 #33

This message was self-deleted by its author InAbLuEsTaTe Mar 13 #37

I think corporatism and oligarchy are low-hanging fruit here LearnedHand Mar 14 #103

Schumer just explained that while a CR is terrible, a shutdown would cause a federal court shutdown and ancianita Mar 13 #13

That doesn't sound unreasonable EarlG Mar 13 #18

It's absolutely the only option. Tonight a big thanks goes out to Schumer for appearing immediately after the CR vote. ancianita Mar 13 #20

Do Not Want the Courts to Shut Down Tbear Mar 13 #19

EXACTLY. They are the bulwark. We are the party of sanity and we ARE winning. ancianita Mar 13 #21

Yup. That one one point convinced me. SunSeeker Mar 13 #64

Plus the bill continues Social Security and Medicare spending, critical to about 75 million Americans. BComplex Mar 14 #82

What a bunch of BS thumper2547 Mar 13 #27

The Democratic Party operates on different levels. Attack the congressional Dems all you want when they're ancianita Mar 13 #44

Here you are. Lulu KC Mar 14 #87

Thank you for this. mzmolly Mar 13 #29

I cannot disagree more angrychair Mar 13 #31

they are not voting for the CR. They are voting to allow it to go to vote and be passed by the GOP LymphocyteLover Mar 13 #36

Fine. You're right. Whatever the House sent, the Senate still passed. ancianita Mar 13 #39

I get that angrychair Mar 13 #46

BIG mistake!! We need to take the fight to these fascists!! InAbLuEsTaTe Mar 13 #50

Thank you for that voice of reason. The courts issue is super important. LymphocyteLover Mar 13 #34

buck stops voteragain Mar 13 #14

Good summation crimycarny Mar 13 #16

100+ InAbLuEsTaTe Mar 13 #40

The party lacks strong leadership today. Sorry to say it Bristlecone Mar 13 #17

Double bind Nasruddin Mar 13 #23

Which option causes the least destruction and lasting harm? Martin Eden Mar 13 #24

K&R Docreed2003 Mar 13 #26

100% agree with every word of this obamanut2012 Mar 13 #28

"Heads, they win. Tails, we lose." regnaD kciN Mar 13 #30

At some point you have to take a principled stand... that time is NOW!! InAbLuEsTaTe Mar 13 #55

I listened to Schumer explain his reasoning on MSNBC on tunein radio out on a walk CentralMass Mar 13 #32

All true, but Schumer also knows what kind of mess happens when the government shuts down FakeNoose Mar 13 #41

Yes, he does. ancianita Mar 13 #47

" In politics, looking like you're fighting goes a very, very long way." Pinback Mar 13 #35

I agree EarlG - the outcome is bad either way FakeNoose Mar 13 #38

I think that's an excellent assessment. hamsterjill Mar 13 #42

Thank you! You're singing my tune. yellow dahlia Mar 13 #43

With all due respect, just what strong counter-message do you suggest? defacto7 Mar 13 #49

No, our best weapon against Trump, where we are actually winning, is the federal courts. SunSeeker Mar 13 #69

Change the Storyline Marvin Jones Mar 13 #51

FIGHT, god damn it! Wild blueberry Mar 13 #52

DING DING DING... we hava winna!! InAbLuEsTaTe Mar 13 #54

This is Democracy......... Lovie777 Mar 13 #53

EarlG, please see this Brian Beutler piece that Greg Sargent just posted about on Bluesky: highplainsdem Mar 13 #56

Nancy Pelosi would have used this situation iemanja Mar 13 #57

This message was self-deleted by its author Gimpyknee Mar 13 #59

Seriously? Gimpyknee Mar 13 #60

HaHaHaHa!!!! You're joking right??? GP6971 Mar 13 #71

Pretty much how I feel about it. We're finally starting to hear stronger push back. But there's still no spark. marble falls Mar 13 #61

Rock and a hard place. So, the public needs to Ilsa Mar 13 #63

SHUT DOWN DOGE crud Mar 13 #65

Advise I was given... oldsoldierfadingfast Mar 13 #66

They need their own "drain the swamp" SSJVegeta Mar 13 #67

My sense remains is that the Democrats thought that there was no way Kamala would not win - NewHendoLib Mar 13 #68

I'm always thrilled when some else sees multigraincracker Mar 13 #70

Thank you for your insight. applegrove Mar 13 #72

I agree with much of what you wrote. BUT... Tom Rinaldo Mar 14 #75

Maybe the answer is, as Barack Obama put it, that "we are the ones we've been waiting for" EarlG Mar 14 #77

Bingo. If not us, who? marble falls Mar 18 #116

As I understand it JustAnotherGen Mar 14 #76

You make a good point EarlG. Hope22 Mar 14 #78

Well stated EarlG. Do what you believe or do what you believe will cause the least harm. twodogsbarking Mar 14 #79

analysis mamacita75 Mar 14 #80

All but one Democrat in the house voted against this bill HereForTheParty Mar 14 #83

Don't shut down the government. Two bad choices. Jakes Progress Mar 14 #84

We are not, let me repeat, not, in a time of business as usual. Prairie_Seagull Mar 14 #86

this is the message: NJCher Mar 14 #88

If this CR means Musk gets a position, then no, we cannot approve that. Festivito Mar 14 #89

Whoops! Your 2 cents ae only worth $.0135. mjvpi Mar 14 #90

You are wrong about... johnnyknj Mar 14 #92

My Problem Is That I Don't Know What Is In The Bill DallasNE Mar 14 #93

You've Nailed It! Daleuhlmann Mar 14 #94

kick question everything Mar 14 #95

Dems need a message malaise Mar 14 #96

While I hate the CR, I think that shutting down the government is not a good idea LetMyPeopleVote Mar 14 #97

I agree senseandsensibility Mar 14 #98

A Stand Godot51 Mar 14 #99

Right to the heart of the matter as usual, EarlG LearnedHand Mar 14 #102

Well said Earl. JohnSJ Mar 14 #105

Indeed. It's Time For A New Buck. I Say It's Time For Mark Kelly To Be The New Buck In Charge MayReasonRule Mar 14 #106

the more we keep harping that Dems don't have a message, the more that becomes the cw bigtree Mar 14 #107

I agree. The buck stops with Schumer. TomSlick Mar 14 #110

No, would happen anyway. Sparkly Mar 14 #112

Well stated!! Sparkly Mar 14 #111

I applaud you for articulating with precision the situation as it actually is, and I must say it gives me hope. msfiddlestix Mar 16 #113

I think everyone is overlooking something NWArkansasDem Mar 17 #114

I agree. Not wanting to either look guilty of interfering with granma's SSI check or let the GOP ... marble falls Mar 17 #115

Welcome to DU LetMyPeopleVote Mar 18 #117