The whiplash on this is pretty stark. No SNAP and no paychecks for Air-traffic controllers going into the holiday busy season, only to immediately backtrack one week in. And all for a vote that's doomed to fail anyway.

All of the sudden Dems seemed to know where the pressure points are, how to take a modicum of political power and leverage it for everything it's worth... except it seems like it was by mistake? That they never really thought through what they were doing, what they were asking for, and the consequences a shutdown this long would entail. As soon as the actual reality loomed, as soon as they realized what they blundered into, they drop it immediately.

Perhaps that's not the most accurate characterization. But fuck me if it doesn't seem like that's what happened.

[–] Posadas@hexbear.net 71 points 1 month ago (1 children)

They accidently stumbled into opposition politics and immediately surrendered.

[–] decaptcha@hexbear.net 34 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

We've seen how their brand of self-sabotage looks when they're "winning" and decide they won't deliver for people. E.g. Lieberman, Sinema, Manchin... We know what it looks like when they're out of power, lots of easy fundraising and grandstanding and empty promises... here's how it looks when they hold no levers of power but are still winning. These conditions require the same manufactured "failure" of leadership, but this particular manifestation feels even more egregious. They're not just spiking the football one yard from the end zone, they're chest bumping each other after handing the ball to the defense.

[–] PKMKII@hexbear.net 56 points 1 month ago

We make fun of the “this election is the most important one of our lifetime, the democrats just need to win and then deal with the party’s issues later” argument as a dodge. But it seems that it infects their psyche at every level. They’re so allergic to long-term strategy that the moment they’re presented with a scenario that requires it, they fold like they encountered some magical talisman they think will corrupt them.

[–] AF_R@hexbear.net 7 points 1 month ago (5 children)

The Dems thought the people would rally behind them for the elections and, more importantly, start pouring in donations.

What they didn’t account for was the completely predictable result of people rallying behind Republicans to cut benefits and welfare.

The average, and even the plurality, of Americans fucking hate Democrats. You can explain why the shutdown happened, what the Dems were holding out for (even nominally), and why they weren’t budging, and the average worker goes “wow fucking evil Dems”.

This is not even leftist daydreaming, this is real life, and anyone that interacts with the salt of the earth working class can corroborate it.

A hundred cultural revolutions could not purge the disease and sin of America.

[–] Runcible@hexbear.net 31 points 1 month ago

this doesn't feel especially grounded

[–] MayoPete@hexbear.net 29 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The Democrats are supposed to realize the working class Republicans aren't possible to convince of anything. They should have let this go until Thanksgiving, brand Trump as the President who canceled Thanksgiving and win back all of those cul-de-sac base voters who actually fly to see family for the holidays.

Poor people ain't flying. They're taking the train if lucky to have Amtrak near then and the money to afford tickets. Or they're driving.

[–] SevenSkalls@hexbear.net 19 points 1 month ago (1 children)

100%. The fact that they won this blue wave of elections during the shutdown proved that people were blaming the Republicans, not the Democrats. Makes sense, it's the Republicans that are in power right now and the American public are simple creatures.

This would have destroyed the Republicans, but it seems a few who are retiring or aren't being reelected next year are giving up, but I don't know why. Backroom deals? Bribes? Either way, this will be disastrous to the rest of the Democratic party and these ones need or be ostracized, and in a better system, would be recalled right after this goes through.

[–] ClimateStalin@hexbear.net 6 points 1 month ago

up, but I don't know why

Their flights out of DCA got delayed

[–] SevenSkalls@hexbear.net 29 points 1 month ago

I don't think this super accurate, because people did turn out for them during the election.

[–] ClimateStalin@hexbear.net 8 points 1 month ago

Dems won this election in a landslide, these election results proved that what the Dems were doing was working and they should continue it

[–] tane@lemy.lol 8 points 1 month ago

Nonsense completely divorced from reality lol

[–] SorosFootSoldier@hexbear.net 69 points 1 month ago (1 children)

[–] Posadas@hexbear.net 57 points 1 month ago

[–] radio_free_asgarthr@hexbear.net 63 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Look at my "opposition" party, Dawg, we're going to the camps!

[–] Lussy@hexbear.net 29 points 1 month ago

he-admit-it

[–] musicpostingonly@hexbear.net 54 points 1 month ago (1 children)

not impotent.

One and the same. Look how the Venn diagram of their interests is closer to a single circle than anything with some overlap.

The United States is a single party system. It always fucking has been.

[–] 30_to_50_Feral_PAWGs@hexbear.net 25 points 1 month ago (1 children)

And in typical American extravagance, there are two of them.

[–] musicpostingonly@hexbear.net 4 points 1 month ago

Right. How else were R's able to flawlessly and factually pull off the "Republicans freed the slvaes!!1!" bullshit they like do? A changing of moral positions by two supposedly different political parties.

They're interchangeable in all except proper name.

[–] anotherspinelessdem@lemmy.ml 50 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Wow, maybe the Democrats will really fight for us this time!

🌟 Fell For It Again Award 🌟

[–] purpleworm@hexbear.net 29 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I really thought they'd be able to at least do nothing for a bit longer until some new spike in pressure made them cave, but it's like they're doing it for no reason, which I assume means they got a boss call.

[–] stink@lemmygrad.ml 4 points 1 month ago

They got a call from their rich donors, the flight cancellations were affecting them and they told them to knock it off

[–] anotherspinelessdem@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 month ago

Especially since doing nothing is what they do best

[–] Sickos@hexbear.net 4 points 1 month ago

neon-fell-for-it-evangelion

[–] RiotDoll@hexbear.net 36 points 1 month ago

i hate this country, but i especially hate what has happened to it in my lifetime.

[–] lib1@hexbear.net 34 points 1 month ago

Cynical ass paid to lose assholes

[–] Llituro@hexbear.net 34 points 1 month ago

football-lucy they do it to themselves.

[–] Cruxifux@feddit.nl 32 points 1 month ago

Man fuck these guys.

[–] Dort_Owl@hexbear.net 29 points 1 month ago (1 children)

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHOHOHOHOHOHEHEHEHEHUHUHUH!

[–] VILenin@hexbear.net 14 points 1 month ago (1 children)

:gant-haha:

[–] Dort_Owl@hexbear.net 8 points 1 month ago

I think it's a bit too lorge for an emote

[–] mayakovsky@hexbear.net 27 points 1 month ago

He's the perfect Democrat

[–] deforestgump@hexbear.net 25 points 1 month ago

[–] WIIHAPPYFEW@hexbear.net 20 points 1 month ago

You watch the streets, I’ll watch the skies…

— ~~the democrats’ budget plan~~ Chuck Schumer, as he looks out the window of an Embraer at some mom sitting on her doorstep who has to set up her family’s insurance plan from scratch now

[–] Horse@lemmygrad.ml 20 points 1 month ago

lol. lmao.

[–] Esoteir@hexbear.net 16 points 1 month ago

agony-deep

[–] DragonBallZinn@hexbear.net 16 points 1 month ago

A huge anti fascist talking point is just how easy the average chud’s life is.

How do you have any complaints about politics when the only alternative to your ideas are a highly unpopular band of sniveling weaklings. Do you consider infant babies to be your sworn enemies too?

[–] marx_mentat@hexbear.net 13 points 1 month ago

"our role is to squat on the levers of power so no one else can use them."