What kind of POS would strand astronauts in space for 8 months? Oh I know, the Party over people. This is what the left voted for. More of this. More punishment, more retribution regardless of who they hurt, including millions of Russians and Ukrainians.
Snap Out of It, Democrats On Tuesday they looked as if they aren’t going to win for a long time. That’s dangerous for America. https://www.wsj.com/opinion/snap-ou...4?st=cjzHVy&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
Don’t concern yourself, @Os Trigonum. The “long time” that worries you will last until November of 2026, when your Republican Party will get absolutely hammered, losing both houses of Congress, in my opinion. Your president is busy creating tens of millions of pissed off Americans, many of whom voted for the madman in the White House and are busy these days wondering why they allowed themselves to be deluded by trump. Mr. trump, meanwhile, being busy pumping out lies wholesale, while wrecking the Federal Government, our economy, our relations with our friends and allies - all the while threatening to leave NATO. The topper is he’s sucking up to Vladimir Putin, Dictator of Russia and responsible for that country’s invasion of democratic Ukraine. Apparently, all that makes you happy.
Democrats Are Busy Fighting Over What to Fight Over Progressives want confrontation while moderates fear that will turn off the centrist voters who can put them back in power https://www.wsj.com/politics/electi...0?st=cLgiHF&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
It's just a low point for the left. The right was down there 4 years ago. 100% chance that they will rise again. Currently they are angry, sad and acting out but this too shall pass.
I asked the crystal ball to look into Schumer's fear of Bond Vilain Musk taking over during a shutdown. Potential Actions of Elon Musk's DOGE During a Government Shutdown As the United States faces a potential government shutdown in March 2025, significant concerns have emerged regarding what actions Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) might take during such a period. Senate Democrats have weighed their options carefully, with many reluctantly supporting a spending bill they oppose to prevent what they fear could be worse consequences during a shutdown. This report examines the potential actions DOGE could undertake during a government shutdown based on recent reporting and expert analysis. Leveraging Shutdown Designations for Workforce Reduction During a government shutdown, federal employees are categorized as either "essential" or "non-essential," with the latter group being furloughed and prohibited from working until the shutdown resolves. This classification system creates a ready-made framework that DOGE could potentially exploit to advance its workforce reduction goals. Multiple sources close to Elon Musk have indicated that he actually prefers a government shutdown, as it would potentially facilitate the elimination of hundreds of thousands of federal positions. "A shutdown has been his preference," one Republican familiar with the situation told WIRED, referring to Musk. "I think he's constrained by the president. It would be quite challenging for him to navigate around that."[7] This sentiment was echoed by another source who suggested Musk's aim is for the continuing resolution to fail, even if it results in a temporary government closure[7]. The potential for using a shutdown to identify targets for permanent workforce reduction has created significant anxiety among federal employees. "There are fears that anyone labeled as nonessential will be DOGE'd," shared an anonymous State Department employee[7]. This concern is well-founded given Musk's previous public statements about government employees. He has explicitly discussed removing non-essential workers, stating, "If the job is not essential or they're not performing, they shouldn't be on the payroll"[7]. Triggering Reduction in Force Procedures A particularly concerning scenario involves the duration of any potential shutdown. If a government shutdown were to last more than 30 days, furloughed federal employees would become subject to what's known as a reduction in force (RIF) action[3][7]. These procedures would enable terminations based on criteria such as seniority and veteran status, potentially providing legal mechanism for mass workforce reduction. Nick Bednar, a professor at the University of Minnesota School of Law, explained that "a shutdown aligns with the objectives of DOGE. In the president's executive order, he directed DOGE to concentrate on nonessential employees, which refers to those designated as nonessential during government shutdowns."[7] This alignment between shutdown designations and DOGE's objectives creates a concerning pathway for widespread job eliminations. Democratic lawmakers have vocalized these worries. Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona warned that "We could see more veterans lose their jobs. We could see government departments that never open up again."[1] This concern about permanent agency closures reflects the fear that a shutdown could enable DOGE to implement structural changes that outlast the funding lapse itself. Expanded Executive Authority Over Federal Spending A government shutdown would significantly broaden the administration's authority over federal spending decisions. A former Trump administration official noted that the White House could be "very comfortable" during a shutdown, which would grant "broad latitude to Trump's Office of Management and Budget, and his budget director, Russ Vought, to make unilateral decisions about spending."[1][2] This expanded authority could potentially enable DOGE and the administration to reshape federal priorities without congressional approval. The same former official suggested they could use a shutdown to "prove their point, if you only have essential employees and things work fine. You could have a painless shutdown and prove a metaphorical point that we need less government."[1][2] Historical precedent from the 2019 shutdown during Trump's first term provides insight into how the administration might exercise this expanded authority. As budget director during that 35-day shutdown, Vought implemented "creative approaches" to mitigate public backlash, some of which were later found to be illegal[1][2]. For instance, the Interior Department diverted visitor fees to fund National Park operations, an action later ruled unlawful by the Government Accountability Office[1][2]. Selective Service Continuation The Office of Management and Budget demonstrated during the previous administration that it could selectively allow certain government functions to continue during a shutdown. In 2019, OMB permitted the IRS to recall staff to process tax returns and authorized the Agriculture Department to continue funding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits[1][2]. This ability to selectively maintain certain functions while halting others could provide DOGE with a powerful tool for reshaping government operations according to its priorities. Financial Pressure as a Workforce Reduction Strategy Beyond direct terminations, a government shutdown creates significant financial pressure on federal employees that could indirectly advance DOGE's workforce reduction goals. Even with the promise of eventual back pay, federal workers still face immediate expenses for essentials like housing and food during a shutdown[3]. Bednar suggested that "the Trump administration could use an extended furlough to squeeze employees from their positions," noting that "the greatest impact of a long-term shutdown is that it will encourage federal employees to leave public service sooner rather than later."[3] This strategy of attrition through financial pressure could accomplish workforce reductions without the legal complications of formal termination proceedings. Potential Misuse of Shutdown Classifications Legal experts have raised concerns about the administration potentially misusing shutdown planning classifications as a basis for permanent workforce reductions. The Lawfare Institute published an analysis arguing that the administration appears to be attempting to combine shutdown planning with reduction in force procedures, which "misuses RIFs, misunderstands shutdown plans, and introduces political manipulation into what is meant to be an orderly process for winding down unneeded positions."[8] This analysis suggests that while shutdown classifications are designed for temporary funding lapses, DOGE might repurpose these designations for permanent structural changes to the federal workforce. The administration has already issued Executive Order 14210 directing agencies to "promptly undertake preparations to initiate large-scale reductions in force."[8] Economic and Operational Impacts While DOGE's stated mission is cost reduction, the potential economic impact of its actions during a shutdown remains concerning. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the 35-day shutdown in 2018-2019 "delayed $18 billion in spending and some federal services, thus reducing the projected level of real GDP in the first quarter of 2019 by $8 billion."[7] Similar or greater economic impacts could result from a shutdown in 2025, particularly if it extends beyond 30 days. The public appears increasingly skeptical of DOGE's approach. A Quinnipiac University poll released in March 2025 found that 54 percent of respondents believe DOGE is negatively impacting the country, while 60 percent disapprove of how Musk and DOGE manage the federal workforce[5]. This suggests that actions taken during a shutdown could face significant public pushback. Conclusion The potential actions available to Elon Musk's DOGE during a government shutdown represent a significant concern for federal employees, lawmakers, and the broader public. From leveraging shutdown classifications for permanent workforce reductions to exercising expanded executive authority over spending decisions, DOGE could use a funding lapse to advance its agenda of government restructuring far beyond what might be possible during normal operations. This explains why Senate Democrats, despite strong opposition to the Republican spending bill, have indicated reluctance to allow a shutdown to occur. As Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated, "A shutdown would give Donald Trump the keys to the city, the state and the country."[1][2] The potential consequences of empowering DOGE during a shutdown appear to have convinced many Democrats that even an unfavorable funding bill represents the lesser of two evils in the current political landscape.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/b...cratic-division-over-the-stopgap-funding-bill "They never answered Chuck Schumer's core argument that if we shut down the government, Donald Trump will have expanded power to furlough all these nonessential workers, and he will never bring them back," David Brooks says. "By shutting the government you're expanding Trump's power to decimate the government."
As a sidenote, I'm getting annoyed that minority lib pundits are routinely Richard Jefferson types who will bring up "showing some backbone" when it looks like the Dems p***y out. I want to say it's to cater a certain group or expectation to make the minority voice look less threatening and less angry, but I don't think that image is what all Americans respect or pay attention to. It fits checkboxes though and he sure speaks eloquently.
no one want to be the next Sen. Bob Menendez., unless is spotlessly clean. that was the sole purpose of Trump's loyalist cabinets, unprecedented leverage, I felt Patel was the most important pick that will unveil Trump's majesty and hiencenes
Schumer is an extremely weak minority Senate leader who needs to step down. I don’t necessarily disagree with his position in a vacuum to vote to keep the government open but the road that led to this moment shows a glaring weakness on his part. Say what you want about Nancy Pelosi but there’s no way the Republicans would think they could bully her into a bill like this. They passed this bill in the house because they knew Schumer was weak and didn’t have a grip on his members. They especially knew that the Senate was incapable of blasting the media with a consistent message to counter what Trump and the complicit corporate media would do to blame the Democrats for the shutdown when Republicans are in full control of government. Schumer is weak and not up for this moment. I would probably pick just about any other Senate Dem at this point.
Current democrats want bigger more power federal government who spends more and has very little checks and balances. There are other countries like this, such as China. Democrats are NOT socialist. The resemble something closer to a parasite. Also modern democrats live in a fantasy land and are not very pragmatic. The good news is the average American prefers less government over more government. After reaching peak stupidity during the Biden administration, the American people have had enough. Democrats can continue the same fight or the can get rid of their awful politicians and start rebuilding instead of being the new get-in-the-way-of-everything party, which used to be the Republicans strategy...and failed
