First of all, I don't have to know! I am not a politician. But Dems can vote NO on Trump's cabinet picks, for one. How is this even a question? I feel like I am going crazy.
Parliamentarian living it up on vacation or something? Crazy that ppl who warned about a fascist entering the WH seem to have no plan for said fascist. All that time left bashing might have been a bad idea.
Yes, they can vote no no matter what. Give the Republicans all the resistance possible, make them show themselves for the spineless cowards they are in the face of the orange ahole
Additionally there are many stalling tactics, ways to slow things to give people time to understand and respond. Also procedures that trigger a supermajority vote (60 to pass). Dems are not doing that.
It’s wild. It feels like Dems in Congress are in an alternate reality. I’m wondering when they wake up. Is it gonna be 6 months before their next campaign when they again expect us to give them a billion dollars?
This is exactly why I am of the belief that our issues cannot be solved by the establishment Left or Right. We have to make our voices heard with more than just our votes. And if money/power/control is more important to OUR representatives than OUR collective voice...well...✊️
We the People
At the very least, they could not fucking SMILE for photos as they are handing over the keys to our democracy. For bonus points they could have emotional affect that matches this state of emergency and get out there and talk non stop about these atrocities. Not using mild "nice" language.
In normal times I feel like the government should be about making compromises with both sides. Everyone of them serves both Dems and repubs. But this isn't normal times. They need to roadblock everything for the next 4 yrs just like the Rs have done. And I mean EVERYTHING.
Exactly! ...And not all of them are doing it. I was shocked to check the roll call votes and see that one of my supposedly liberal democratic Senators was providing 'Yes' votes on some of these appointees. Absolutely appalling.
What about elected Republicans keeping quiet to please Trump because they're afraid of him & his threats? Doing so, they become dangerous accomplices to a traitor to the nation. If they were competent, they would denounce him in significant numbers to protect themselves. The world is not stupid.
We should all be educating ourselves about what options are available to Dems. So often I have seen people bitching about things they thought Biden should have done when he wasn't even empowered to do those things.
I will also add that people in Congress are not volunteers. They are being paid. They have health insurance. They have retirement. They have ONE JOB—to serve their constituents. And if they cannot figure out how to push back politically they don't deserve to be in office.
Their one job now is to follow their big donor money orders. Their donors have much wealth to gain with this crooked administration and won’t have the ppl they bot to screw that up. And it’s our fault. We let our leadership kick Biden to the curb. We let them kick our primary nomination process
Into the gutter. Then gave them a billion dollars in 2 months for screwing us over. The young guns that were loyal to Biden were freezes out of committee leadership and we didn’t fight for them. We didn’t fight when primary rules were changed making it near impossible to unseat party favs.
Today, the American Federation of Government Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees represented by Democracy Forward and Bredhoff and Kaiser PLLC, filed suit challenging efforts to politicize the civil service through illegal executive orders
I never stop advocating for non-partisan redistricting. Thanks to sophisticated computer programs, it would be ridiculously easy to apportion districts fairly (using reliable Census data, etc).
However, it’s important to know that we’ve accepted never having nice things.
We all need to contact them & let them know what we want them to do. Otherwise they'll think we want them to work together w GOP.
Political parties do nothing until pushed. GOP is pushed by donors, Right Wing media & a massive & privately well funded Right Wing think tank & infrastructure network.
i keep screaming this same thing. we ask an 18 yr old e-0 making around $30 grand a year to run into gunfire or jump onto a grenade for our country. they literally are treated like royalty and most become millionaires (not from salary alone), but they can't say "no!"?!?
That one guy from Alabama who is very dumb, can’t remember his name, but he, a village idiot, held up 450 or so military promotions for like a year! Please be fucking for real when you say oh what should they do?
It makes me sad that so many of us have given up political imagination and have lost the ability to believe we deserve better from leaders. It’s just sad.
Just like so many of us are convinced that there's not enough money to provide housing and food for everyone. We are the richest society to ever exist in the history of the planet. We have the resources to take care of everyone. But people can't imagine it.
beyond calling Reps/Sens, it’s not too early to make a game plan for midterm organizing. when i canvassed for Bernie in IA, NV, and CO, i was so discouraged that i, an out of state volunteer coming to help at the last minute, was the first person to canvas certain poor neighborhoods.
it seems like the focus is always on the base of educated, middle-class voters who have leisure time and trying to attract the sliver of swing voters who identify as prog but swing centrist… meanwhile there’s whole neighborhoods ignored until the weekend before primaries, after early voting is over!
those are the people who don’t have time to vote, have to work it out with their boss or babysitter, have to plan bus routes etc etc etc. they’re the ones who need special attention and time—and there’s millions of them! start now.
Meanwhile, Repubs have weaponized voting, the judiciary, the confirmation process (eg “lame ducks can’t put someone on the SCOTUS”), and now EOs. Stop playing by polite “rules”.
I don't know when I will arrive at 'sad'; been angry since 11/6. Filled with rage & having a hard time releasing it! Ditched a lot of mainstream media as I realized how useless they were but there's really no escaping news of the FelonInChief's shenanigans. Thinking of ditching the Dems for IND.
The minority has the power to delay, not block, so it’s actually easier to hold up large numbers of people than 2 or 3 key people. The dems couldn’t burn enough floor time to get 450 military officers through 1 at a time, but they can’t keep Trump from getting votes on his top people.
He isn't from Alabama. He lives in Florida but still got elected to be the senator for Alabama because there was an R beside his name and he isn't Roy Moore (Tuberville)
There is so much learned helplessness on the part of both Dem politicians—particularly those entitled geriatric ward residents who came of age when Reagan was ascendant—& Dem rank & file.
"What can they do? It won't succeed TODAY!"
No, but it might tomorrow. Lay the groundwork! Provoke conflict!
Chuck Schumer entered Congress as a Rep when Reagan was elected 44 years ago. We need term limits. It should be 18 years for all federal officeholders (including judges) except President (8).
His name is Tommy Tuberville. Imagine if Democrats actually worked together, strategically. Tuberville was a grandstanding idiot. They has to show leadership and the D’s have to quit being measured and make some trouble. AOC is up for the job.
That would be canned Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville. The great people of my home state chose him over moderate dem Doug Jones, who did a world of good while in office.
Doug barely beat a known pedophile in his first run.
Just in case anyone was curious about the shit show that is AL 😵💫
Cruz read Green Eggs and Ham on the floor ffs. Yes, use the imagination! Dems need not fret about looking ridiculous if they are fighting for the right things.
I was at an event recently where someone mentioned Senators not voting what was right for constituents, but voting out of fear for their families, fear of retaliation if they voted what was right. Not upholding the constitution and their oath of office. This literally breaks down our democracy.
They have a duty to figure out how to communicate with their constituents. Call them and demand they hire people who can engage with constituents in places where emotions and mis/dis/information spread. Talking at a newscast on Sunday morning is useless when Next Door oozes with lies and ire.
And I believe they have those benefits for life after serving a relatively short time in Congress. I’ve always wondered why that never comes up when they threaten to deny coverage for the rest of us.
The fact I can't get @aoc.bsky.social nor @repjasmine.bsky.social to out right tell us they are backing a general strike tomorrow is honestly louder than they are in congressional hearings...
They want to erease black history month
WE MUST MAKE SURE THEY CAN'T FORGET IT
Yes, and the dems should be doing a hell of a lot MORE pushing back, delaying, denying and disrupting! Get some balls Dems! Please! Don't let these Morons get in! Talk to some sane Repubs if there are any!
Yep. Delay every hearing and vote you can. Throw every possible roadblock in his way. Find 3 Republicans in the House that might stop some of this nonsense. Do your damn job.
Their one job is to have a functioning government. If that doesn't work, they really can't serve their constituents. I'm not making excuses for the politicians. But they have to make sure government works even if it means making some compromised choices.
Trump is trying to remove the governments ability to function so he and his rich buddies can strip everything for parts. The time to be cautious about norms to keep things running is long past.
Many politicians play games to retain power, supported by complacent constituents who fail to hold them accountable. They've lost sight of their governmental role and become comfortable with inaction when decisive action is needed.
One of the biggest problems is when politicians stop saying, “What the government is doing is illegal and is taking the country down a road to fascism and autocracy.” Say it every damn day. Instead, lazy opposition just shuts up and normalizes the situation. They need to stay outraged and loud.
I really like how Indivisible exposes the mechanisms behind how Congress works to help us as citizens push reps, Dems and others, to get beyond the "they can't do anything" narrative. There is a lot that goes on in Congress and understanding some of that and their motivation is really empowering IME
All of this, and they should shove their faces in front of cameras 24/7 to constantly remind Americans who is responsible for all of this depraved chaos. This is the easiest part.
It also shouldn’t be that hard for them?!?!? We have a lot of history on how lawmakers have successfully fought classicism, fascism, and racism in this country. The modes of production and the communication apparatus is different, but if you listen to old speeches, what they said STILL hits.
I’ve been asking them to raise hell. This crisis goes beyond the usual “I want you to vote yea/nay” on something or other - we need to see leadership from them. Why aren’t they out in front of the Capitol holding fiery press conferences? With a few notable exceptions they’re being way too passive
Congress is controlled by Republicans, and they are controlled by fear.
Do resist in every way you can, and also get ready for the mid terms, our best weapon to right things.
This will work out...and we will be in a completely different, and hopefully better, place.
💜
The Republikkkans are trying to make the gov't we know obsolete, take complete control, and have no more elections. Aren't you paying attention? They have said that already!! Dictatorship!
These nominations can’t be blocked like that. Particularly cabinet members. It’s a straight up vote, no filibuster. Best they can do is boycott and make the nominees look insane.
so many of us are right there with you. This is NOT HARD - oppose, leverage, defend via delay ... if I, a nobody, can see the only efffective way forward, so can they. I have to assume at this point it is feigned ignorance and a lack of will.
Remember how Mitch McConnell blocked damn near every single thing in the Senate that Obama and Biden wanted, even when he was in the minority party? Chuck Schumer needs to either do exactly that or step out of the way.
Voting NO on everything, using legislative delays, etc makes a difference.
Seriously, don't tell us it can't be done. We've all watched the Republicans do it for years. If there's ever a time to throw sand in the gears, it's now.
There is a literal play book that Mitch McConnell used to block and delay and they could do the exact same. Have Warren and Wyden block all unanimous consent, require a vote on everything. Vote no on every nominee because they’re all unqualified lackies. This should be day 1️⃣ priorities.
When Dems in Congress wanted Biden out (I did not!), they were able to form a circle and stayed on message for THREE WEEKS EVERYDAY, forcing Biden out. So when motivated (from rich donors it seems), they know how to get on tv, do press conferences, and leak stories to reporters.
I think it is worth noting that they could have never gotten to that level of attention without the MSM being complicit in wanting that story told. And propagating positive stories is much more difficult. But they do now how to work the system when they have the desire.
I'll entertain the possibility that some of them might have voted to unseat Rubio and Noem more than to confirm their likely very temporary new positions. Risky move, but possible. As for every other nominee, it's time to use every single parliamentary rule they can to obstruct AND vote no.
Mitch McConnell basically laid out the groundwork for how to obstruct the process and did it during Obama's entire presidency, meanwhile the Dems are shrugging their shoulders and dejectedly pointing out "that's against the rules" as though the GOP ever cared. You can't go high against these people.
They can indeed hold the line for the Senate’s co-equal responsibility for staffing the Executive branch of our common government. Reject unqualified and dangerous nominees.
Anyone who supposes a duty to obey precedes the right to consent to be governed is a dangerous fool.
I do feel like some funneled energy would be helpful. Like, point us in the right direction. "What can I do today that will hurt Mark Zuckerberg tomorrow," e.g.
They can ask annoying questions, slowing down the process. They can delay and obstruct. They can refuse to vote. They don't have to be spineless idiots, We need more like Elizabeth Warren and AOC.
What can/should Dems do is a valid question with a long list of answers, with "literally fucking anything, even just speak out against it" in blazing letters at the top. What they WILL do is a much more short, bleak list.
3) HAMMER on the point that the GOP hates DEI because their people are mediocre, incompetent, substance abusers that can’t compete on a level playing ground.
4) Point out that the GOP attacks the LGBTQ+ community to distract from their party as a hotbed of men who have a thing for minors.
5) Have a coherent value system based in the principles of our Founders that all people are created equal & deserve equal rights instead of ceding “moral values” to the GOP every single time. DEFEND the base instead of throwing them under the bus!
6) Pay me $$ because apparently I’m better at this.
They can obstruct as much as possible. Flood the messaging. Post websites that track, or link to trackers that follow the damage this admin does. Post resources for community building. It’s not hard.
I think people need to stop thinking of themselves so much as “Dem voters” as constituents. Especially with the Senate. These guys actually don’t like the President stepping all over their authority and egos—trust me, I met with one of mine this week. Get involved with advocacy orgs and ADVOCATE.
I’m in Indian, btw. So my REPUBLICAN Senator was giving US advice on how to appeal to fellow members on things like ending the freeze on international aid. I’m sure they don’t love aircraft colliding over US airports.
They could also pull in line their members that are voting with Republicans 84% of the time. Republicans have been teaching Democrats exactly how to resist the majority for decades.
I called every Dem senator who voted yes on Noem or else was absent. Ralph Warnock did not vote! I postcarded and donated to his campaign. I also live in NC. There are no state lines when it comes to this!
like every single dem voted no on trump's cabinet officials in 2017, and this time the nominees are even crazier and half the senators say "yeah sure whatever"
Someone on here mentioned how Tuberville stalled like 400 military promotions all by himself, in the minority. Someone else said "what would Mitch McConnell do?"
The Repubs use every tool available to the minority to great effect. Dems should take notice and apply the same methods.
There's no doubt that senior Dem leadership is incapable of doing so, because they care about comity and institutions more than anything. But there *are* Dems, like AOC, who know how this works. We need a way to sideline the former and empower the latter.
Even Dem Governors have been asking Dems in Congress to do just that! It’s not just constituents who are angry at the passivity oozing out of Congressional Dems. It’s crazy making for sure.
The biggest thing they can do is deny unanimous consent on all Senate business so every procedural move has to come to a vote. This would severely slow the Senate down. It only takes a single Democrat to do this.
You’re not crazy. The democrats have rolled over and taken the MAGAt messiah’s 30 pieces of silver. Now they say and do nothing. Spineless #collaborators and #sympathisers
Comments
We the People
However, it’s important to know that we’ve accepted never having nice things.
I don't care if it's the next cycle or the cycle after... I have a long memory.
Political parties do nothing until pushed. GOP is pushed by donors, Right Wing media & a massive & privately well funded Right Wing think tank & infrastructure network.
So lets get lost in fantasy?
Even his name is cartoonish.
https://apnews.com/article/tommy-tuberville-white-nationalists-military-3a38da5a664b911260ea994415016600
"What can they do? It won't succeed TODAY!"
No, but it might tomorrow. Lay the groundwork! Provoke conflict!
Boom.
Doug barely beat a known pedophile in his first run.
Just in case anyone was curious about the shit show that is AL 😵💫
https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-last-archive/the-returns-a-conversation-with-jill-lepore
They want to erease black history month
WE MUST MAKE SURE THEY CAN'T FORGET IT
Throw sand in the gears, object, delay, sue, investigate, refuse to go along, use every tool in the box…figure it out, folks.
Do resist in every way you can, and also get ready for the mid terms, our best weapon to right things.
This will work out...and we will be in a completely different, and hopefully better, place.
💜
https://bsky.app/profile/sarahdohl.bsky.social/post/3lgt6tmafg22b
Unless that's what Putin is paying you for.
Voting NO on everything, using legislative delays, etc makes a difference.
Let them be the party of “No”.
Anyone who supposes a duty to obey precedes the right to consent to be governed is a dangerous fool.
blocked
Survey says-
1) Say NO to EVERYTHING the GOP does, just as the GOP has done to the Democrats since Obama won.
2) Propose leg. that will genuinely help Americans, talk about it everywhere, get support for it, then blame the GOP when they won’t pass it.
4) Point out that the GOP attacks the LGBTQ+ community to distract from their party as a hotbed of men who have a thing for minors.
6) Pay me $$ because apparently I’m better at this.
The Repubs use every tool available to the minority to great effect. Dems should take notice and apply the same methods.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/29/us/politics/chuck-schumer-trump-agenda-cabinet.html?unlocked_article_code=1.tE4.4Fue.c9bULsuL7v_9&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Apparently that's too much to ask for when it's about genocide