101 Comments
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Christie's avatar

Simon…I’ve been “tweeting” them ALL on Bsky since the news broke…calling them out for this betrayal! Republicans are NOT known for keeping their promises…I am viewing this as a “Neville Chamberlain” moment for these Democrats!

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David Salzillo's avatar

I don't see the victory here. This is just plain foolishness.

And I read the article in full, by the way.

Perception is all. And the perception is clear: caving is not a winning strategy. I am sorry.

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Nana Booboo's avatar

The victory is the end of Russ Vought and Project 2025.

Read the last sentence of the Independent article quotation:

"It would also block future layoffs planned by the administration, another coup for the president’s rivals."

That ties in with what has been reported elsewhere: the real ask was to shut down Project 2025. That will be accomplished by boxing in Vought.

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David Salzillo's avatar

Make no mistake about it: you have not boxed in Vought. That guarantee is not worth the paper it is printed on. Especially when it comes to Vought. Especially.

This is the same Administration that is more than happy to defy court orders (look no further than Bove). Ultimately, it is in their discretion to figure whether they want to stop Project 2025.

They (the Rs) can try to force it down everyone's throats quickly, or they can try to do it slowly and boil the frog. And as we have seen, it is better when they do the former. The latter is much more dangerous, and is how Hungary fell.

Our greatest enemy is time. And we have given Rs time to do their work in the shadows. And we have given them the opportunity to renege on deals when there's less direct pressure on them.

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Michael G Baer's avatar

David is right. Th GOP can't be trusted to follow through or honor their word. Its negotiatingvl with terrorists. They were willing to starve poor people and shut down Thanksgiving air travel, after all. And it worked!

What do you think they will be willing to do next time?

The baclkash against the Blue brand in the Senate may be fierce!

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LeslieN's avatar

Simply wrong

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Nana Booboo's avatar

You saying this is wrong? What's your evidence? Is it your own feelings that online influencers who hate regular Democrats have manipulated?

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/shutdown-congress-republicans-democrats-deal-b2861825.html

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LeslieN's avatar

Stop your ranting

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David Salzillo's avatar

I think her feelings on this are substantially similar to my comment to you about Vought. Of course, Leslie can tell me if I am wrong.

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MrsCQ's avatar
2hEdited

Respectfully, what is your evidence? An article? We are all entitled to our opinions. I am of the opinion, that this was a cave and perception matters. The Democrats look weak again, in my opinion, and bailed the Republicans out. I do not consider myself a nut or bloodthirsty.

Let's see how this plays out and what, if anything, we can do to pressure Democrats to undo this. I am a solid Democrat but I am not going to cheerlead for something I don't believe in and I don't believe in this. Again, I hope I am wrong and that this was a master move like so many Nancy Pelosi achieved. By the way, if this was such a great win, why did Schumer vote no? Not that I believe for even a minute he wasn't behind this maybe genius move.

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Christie's avatar

Look at HISTORY…they’ve not honored anything…and I am a “regular” Democrat and have been since I was old enough to vote, which is over 50+ years!

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Anne Bear's avatar

This is so upsetting and complicated, and I understand why this deal on the surface might look good.. But no one is safe under autocracy, because autocracy comes for everyone. No agreement with this administration will be honored, because this administration have no honor. All we have is our morality and our backbone. All we have is our honor and our fight. And if we do not fight, they will take more and more and more because they know no one will stop them. They want to destroy everything. I do not consider the Independent an authority here; it is the scholars of fascism that we must heed. And they have been begging everyone to stand strong in opposition.

Please be kind. These are unkind times, and we are all doing our best. We must stick together, while they try so hard to divide us.

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MrsCQ's avatar

Well said and thank you.

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Christie's avatar

Pretty naive if you think that this agreement will be honored by a party of spineless sycophants and regime that is hell bent on destroying our country and our democracy as we’ve known it!

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Christie's avatar

This is a Charlie Brown & Lucy moment…she’s got the football, conned Charlie once again into trying to kick the football, and most of us know what comes next…

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MrsCQ's avatar

No need for name calling or attempts at shaming. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I made calls and sent emails as soon as the news broke. Right now, I agree with Christie. Maybe, I will be proven wrong. I sure as heck hope so. But perception matters and I will stop here.

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SaltandVinegar's avatar

Because of these 8 dipshits it now looks like the Dems shut down the government for 40 days and made people suffer just to have a chance at a vote, something the GOP would have given them day 1 of the shutdown. And this only applies to layoffs during the shutdown and those RIFS are allowed to start again come January, assuming Trump sticks to this deal. It’s a terrible decision. No one is blood thirsty here and we cannot be giving a tyrant legitimacy by giving him a budget.

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wendy moluf's avatar

Are you kidding?

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🌪️AtlAv8r's avatar

Well said. What are they thinking? Calling it now without any signed deal on even subsidies is unacceptable.

It’s rewarding Trump for using starvation as a bargaining tool.

Republicans can’t continue to hold the government hostage like this, with no meaningful negotiation. Caving now kicks the can down the road again, and almost ensures that it will be WORSE next time. Negotiating with a psychopath is a lose-lose situation.

WHY would anyone trust the word of a party who’d WITHHOLD FOOD FROM AMERICANS?

I hope there’s a lot more to this supposed deal than what’s been reported.

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Diane Matza's avatar

I couldn't believe it when I read the New York Times article about Democrats caving. I will call Schumer and Gillibrand tomorrow and express serious displeasure

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Bryn Thenell's avatar

Already made calls tonight. We need to unite and stand strong.

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Nana Booboo's avatar

You bloodthirsty people have no idea what they did, don't you?

Simply put, the Democrats WON.

UK newspapers know this, why don't you?

"The tentative deal would put a vote on the calendar next month to extend those subsidies for one year, while also handing Democrats a clear win by reversing a series of layoffs the White House directed in October as a means of heaping pressure on the president’s political enemies. It would also block future layoffs planned by the administration, another coup for the president’s rivals."

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/shutdown-congress-republicans-democrats-deal-b2861825.html

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Pat Weber Sones's avatar

I guess you missed the following paragraph after your citation:

"Whether Republican leadership were on board with these concessions was unclear Sunday afternoon. Administration officials, who flatly refused to negotiate with Democrats while the government is shut down, appeared on board-- but there wasn’t a clear sign that the deal had the backing of Speaker Mike Johnson in the House..."

You may also have missed that unless Trump is on board, there is no deal.

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MrsCQ's avatar

Respectfully, would you please stop with the name calling? It really does nothing to advance your position.

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Nana Booboo's avatar

Maybe if people here weren't so happy to tell Federal employees to starve to death and get evicted, I wouldn't call them names for not seeing a win when it bites them on the nose.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/shutdown-congress-republicans-democrats-deal-b2861825.html

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Anne Bear's avatar

No one is happy with any of it. Please. We're all on the same time. The loss of health care will also be catastrophic for people.

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MrsCQ's avatar

Agree 💯.

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Anna Miller's avatar

Already called my senators and representative here in NM… will call again tomorrow morning!!! Thank you for your insight on this important matter for the American people!!!!

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Shane Bryant's avatar

They will definitely hear from me again!!!!!!!

Senator Tim Kaine

Senator Jeanne Shaheen

Senator Angus King

Senator Maggie Hassan

Senator Dick Durbin

Senator Catherine Cortez Masto

Senator Jacky Rosen

John Fetterman

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Anne Sutherland's avatar

Thanks for this concise list

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Cynthia Whitehead's avatar

Hi Great Simon and hopium friends!

I’m wondering why fair and free elections are not part of the 4-Point Program. Thank you,

Cynthia Whitehead

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Shane Bryant's avatar

They gave in right before we won. You gotta be kidding me. Are you telling me magats would t have eaten shit when Thanksgiving came around and their constituents wouldn’t have brought them to their knees? Fucking weak!

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SaltandVinegar's avatar

I’m not happy about this. 8 defected and this puts the whole party in a bind after the voters wholly endorsed being a party of fighters. Why do we keep letting the GOP do Lucy with the football on us?

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Naomi Bailis's avatar

I called my Senators also. Tonight. This is simply the stupidest decision I can think of right now, after we had gained so much energy and electoral wins. Senseless.

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Cynthia Erb's avatar

I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s piece on this. I had seen Jon Ossoff was to vote for this so I hope he didn’t. I actually don’t know what to think, since I kind of want to see it go back to the House, which would have to reopen (I think). But Threads blew up with Dems angered by the cave. I’m sure Simon’s right about this.

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SaltandVinegar's avatar

Ossoff didn’t vote for it.

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KB's avatar

Agreed, exactly on point Simon!!! Is definitely my plan ….especially with thes Ohio Senators and my rep Warren Davidson. That is how we Win!!!!! Not stop but intensify and rinse and repeat over and over and over!!!!

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Linda A Lees's avatar

Should we be calling senators who are not our own? Is that helpful or a waste of time?

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MrsCQ's avatar

For whatever it was worth, I did. For those whose mailbox was full, I sent an email.

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Anne Sutherland's avatar

E mail them and use their office zip code. It will count. Being from CA i have to do this

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MrsCQ's avatar

Oh I put my CA zip code.

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Anne Sutherland's avatar

Often you cannot leave a message if you are not a constituent

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David Salzillo's avatar

Hello everyone,

Well, in case anyone needs any cheering up, https://davidsalzillo.substack.com/p/shitposts-literally-ragebaits-and.

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Millie Polli Haskell's avatar

Millie Polli Haskell.... Simon, I was going to make another comment earlier today and ask You, if it would be a good idea to start calling Our Senators and Reps. more often??? I guess I was listening to what we needed to do!!?? I will make calls as many times as I can starting tomorrow.

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Eileen Nadolski's avatar

Thanks, Simon, for your inspiration & guidance! I will contact my Maryland Representatives and Senators.

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gerri caldarola's avatar

Well, we need focus on the House not caving too and the fact of the Epstein files... those Dem Senators need to be primaried by strong people-focused communicators who can beat them.

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Martha Joan's avatar

Durbin is retiring

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gerri caldarola's avatar

so why do it now? really???

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