They can’t block nominations or stop the confirmations of his appointments. They are in the minority and the filibuster rule does not apply to this. They would need at least a few republicans to vote with them in order to block anyone. They couldn’t even get enough to block RFK and he is absurdly unqualified for his position.
Hours after Mr. Trump was sworn in, Democrats agreed to the speedy 99-0 confirmation of Marco Rubio, their Senate colleague, to be secretary of state. But they have since shown that they are willing to use procedural tactics to slow other nominees even if they are destined for confirmation, including forcing time-consuming floor votes on action that is usually done by mutual agreement.
The Democrats should not be letting Republicans get anything done. Republicans always manage to rule from the minority by just being obstinate little shits. The Democrats should at least try that.
As I said, they cannot stop the Republicans from getting anything done. They cannot use the filibuster on confirmations. They have 48 votes. Three Republicans have to cross over to block anyone. So far, Mitch McConnell is the only one to vote with them against RFK and that’s because RFK is anti-vax and Mitch had fucking Polio. They can use the filibuster when the Republicans try to pass regular bills, unless the Republicans decide to drop the filibuster rule altogether, which they may end up doing. We’ll have to wait and see.
In the House, the Democrats have already said that they are ready to let the government shut down on March 14th rather than support Trump’s budget plans. This is following the Republican playbook and I hope they do it. The only thing that is going to make a difference is if we get millions of people in the street fighting Trump’s agenda and maybe a government shut down will do that.
There’s only so much the Dems can do though when the voters handed the reins of the House, Senate and White House to Trump and the GOP.
Democrat from New Jersey, Andy Kim, voted to confirm Kristi Noem. Do not really care that his vote would not have changed the outcome, that is completely unacceptable.
Even in a minority position, elected officeholders have a bully pulpit, and any US Congresscritter or Senator is among the most politically powerful people in America. Any one of them could call up a local TV station, ask for an interview, and they’d gladly put them on the air, and could actually say something people need to hear. They could come to a rally, post a video to YouTube. Any one of them could walk into one of the Musk-captured bureaucracies and refuse to leave until they’re arrested. Anything like that would get people’s attention, and might matter in some small but genuine degree.
That would be leadership. That would be resistance. That would be something. What Dems are doing is damned close to nothing.
They can’t block nominations or stop the confirmations of his appointments. They are in the minority and the filibuster rule does not apply to this. They would need at least a few republicans to vote with them in order to block anyone. They couldn’t even get enough to block RFK and he is absurdly unqualified for his position.
They have also been slowing down procedures.
They have also been grandstanding and making noise about stuff. For example, Rep. Garcia brought a “dick pick” - a pick of Musk -to the committee headed by Greene to highlight her bringing a poster of Hunter Biden’s dick to the House last year.
As I said, they cannot stop the Republicans from getting anything done. They cannot use the filibuster on confirmations. They have 48 votes. Three Republicans have to cross over to block anyone. So far, Mitch McConnell is the only one to vote with them against RFK and that’s because RFK is anti-vax and Mitch had fucking Polio. They can use the filibuster when the Republicans try to pass regular bills, unless the Republicans decide to drop the filibuster rule altogether, which they may end up doing. We’ll have to wait and see.
In the House, the Democrats have already said that they are ready to let the government shut down on March 14th rather than support Trump’s budget plans. This is following the Republican playbook and I hope they do it. The only thing that is going to make a difference is if we get millions of people in the street fighting Trump’s agenda and maybe a government shut down will do that.
There’s only so much the Dems can do though when the voters handed the reins of the House, Senate and White House to Trump and the GOP.
Democrat from New Jersey, Andy Kim, voted to confirm Kristi Noem. Do not really care that his vote would not have changed the outcome, that is completely unacceptable.
Even in a minority position, elected officeholders have a bully pulpit, and any US Congresscritter or Senator is among the most politically powerful people in America. Any one of them could call up a local TV station, ask for an interview, and they’d gladly put them on the air, and could actually say something people need to hear. They could come to a rally, post a video to YouTube. Any one of them could walk into one of the Musk-captured bureaucracies and refuse to leave until they’re arrested. Anything like that would get people’s attention, and might matter in some small but genuine degree.
That would be leadership. That would be resistance. That would be something. What Dems are doing is damned close to nothing.