I am not a member of an organized political party. I am a Democrat.
Will Rogers
If you think I am going to bash the Democratic leadership for the events of the last 48 hours, you are correct. But it is not because Chuck Schumer could not prevent eight members of his caucus joining with 52 GOP/MAGA senators to pass a negotiated bill that ends the current shutdown with a promise of an up or down vote on Affordable Care Act subsidies in mid-December. I am going to bash Chuck Schumer for not being creative enough so that every member of the Democratic caucus voted for the “compromise.”
With the backdrop of every Democratic senator standing behind him, here is what a more imaginative minority leader would have said.
Today, I proudly stand with all 47 Democratic members of the Senate to announce we will unanimously support the continuing resolution negotiated by moderate members from both sides of the aisle. And I know the opposition, including the president, is claiming victory. Let me tell you why they are wrong.
First, for those of you who think the shutdown was all for naught, we disagree. Over the last 40 days we gave Americans a taste of what full implementation of Project 2025 would look like. Money will continue to go to garish projects such as Trump’s Versailles-like ballroom, Kash Patel’s date nights and Kristi Noem’s new shiny jets. All this, while working families are squeezed for every dollar they earn because of Trump’s tariffs and rising health insurance premiums.
Second, the December vote will force every Republican member of Congress, senator and representative, to go on the record whether they believe Americans should not have to make a choice between housing and feeding their families and health care. We dare you to vote “nay” on an extension of the ACA subsidies. Because, if you do, you should not be surprised when your state or district is flooded with ads and social media which remind your constituents you had no problem adding $4 trillion to the national debt for massive tax breaks for the wealthiest among us but could not find $140 billion to help Americans with the cost of their health care. We dare you.
Third, to Mike Johnson, if you dare consider another extended vacation for House members to avoid the mid-December vote, you become the poster boy why it’s time for a Democratic majority and a new speaker of the House. And by the way, when you reconvene to approve the continuing resolution there are no more excuses for your not swearing in Adelita Grivalja. You’ve delayed the inevitable long enough, if you know what I mean.
And finally, if the Republicans find any way to renege on their promise for an up and down vote on the ACA subsidies that will provide one more piece of evidence that this Republican controlled Congress cannot be trusted. And don’t think we are not going to remind voters of that each and every day before next year’s mid-terms.
That is why we are confident the Republican majority is in a no-win situation. In good conscious, we could not let the American people suffer any longer because of the president’s indifference and the Republican Congress’ intransigence. They may have thought they had the upper hand. That myth imploded on November 4th. Every day, more and more American voters realize that all the claims by Trump and congressional candidates that Project 2025 was not their agenda were nothing but lies. The GOP’s response to the shutdown further sealed that deal. So, Mike Johnson, your three and half month vacation is over. Let’s get back to work and finish what we could have done months ago.
That’s what real leadership looks like. And if Democrats want a repeat of last Tuesday, they better find some and fast.
For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP
If the Republicans win the 12/2 special election the seating of Adelita Grivalja will make no difference re Epstein.
If they come back this week, she will make the 218th signature for the discharge petition. So even if the vote takes place after the 12/2 election, every House member will have to be on the record. And since this is 70/30 in terms of public opinion, there may be more than four GOP votes, especially for members in swing districts.
Doc – Your speech writing is, as always, inspired and right on point. Unfortunately, those that were damaged by the shutdown (well, in fact, everyone) would see whichever 15-second excerpt that their favorite network shows, claim victory for their side, and heap blame on the other. As Jed Bartlett said on West Wing (the one that’s still standing), “What’s next?” Jed said it with hope. I imagine it with dread.