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Democrats in Congress see potential shutdown as leverage to counter Trump (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 1 week ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world

24 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Summary

With a government shutdown looming, Democrats are debating whether to use it as leverage against Trump’s sweeping federal cuts.

Some argue withholding support for a funding bill could challenge Trump’s radical restructuring, including mass firings and agency shutdowns.

The GOP-controlled Congress must secure Democratic votes to pass a funding bill, but hard-right demands complicate negotiations.

Concerns grow that Trump may exploit a shutdown to sideline federal agencies, raising fears that this could be the most disruptive shutdown yet.

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[-] MegaUltraChicken@lemmy.world 28 points 1 week ago

How about you Nazi fucks kiss my ass and find your own votes? The only thing a Democrat should say on the floor of Congress for the next two years is fucking "No".

Either the GOP can figure out a way to go around us, or they can find a different way to blow Hitler's ghost. And then we'll find another way to fuck with that plan.

[-] Fredthefishlord 10 points 1 week ago

? The only thing a Democrat should say on the floor of Congress for the next two years is fucking

Or reading long ass books as a filibuster!!!

[-] glitch1985@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

Might I suggest the Harry Potter series to begin with.

[-] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I want comedy riffs. Have them all put together a tight five... Hours.

[-] adespoton@lemmy.ca 26 points 1 week ago

I think Trump will leverage the shutdown more than Democrats ever could. Trump will just keep the bits of government operating that he wants using a mix of IOUs he never plans to repay and money taken from the Treasury while the regular employees are away.

If Democrats are under the illusion that Trump will suddenly start playing by their rules just because they didn’t approve a budget….

[-] SnotFlickerman 12 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Absolutely. This is why the Treasury was one of the first places DOGE went to. It was the keys to the kingdom. If they're siphoning money out (they already raked back a payment to New York State), they'll have money to pay their people while making anyone else suffer the shutdown.

Further, with Musk's personal valuation of wealth, he could literally just take out a massive loan with his wealth as collateral and pay their teams as well.

[-] adespoton@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 week ago

…and list it as a political donation, which then would come off whatever taxes he still has to pay. So essentially, Musk’s taxes would be diverted directly to DOGE.

[-] zbyte64@awful.systems 26 points 1 week ago

The executive branch is spending money in ways Congress hasn't approved, so it would make sense for Congress to make that an issue.

[-] inclementimmigrant@lemmy.world 19 points 1 week ago

To quote the brave democratic leader Jefferies when asked about the Democrats willingness to withhold votes: “I’m trying to figure out what leverage we actually have,” before going of on a rousing opposition speech about finding bipartisan solutions.

These assholes aren't going to do a damn thing here other than roll over and beg for another.

[-] tiefling 9 points 1 week ago

Why is this even a debate

[-] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 6 points 1 week ago

Because of... You guessed it... Fucking Schumer and his merry band of saboteurs/fucking idiots.

[-] sik0fewl@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 week ago

Isn't Trump the one trying to shutdown the government?

[-] IcedSeraphine@lemm.ee 2 points 1 week ago

I would love to see this work, but come on, when has it?

[-] Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

This is a lose/lose for Democrats. If they cooperate, it's awful messaging to their base. If they create a shutdown, now all the pain being felt is THEIR FAULT. Not to mention, it just plays into the "We didn't need these Federal workers" talking point.

They should have acted earlier. No planning, just reacting. Terrible, no skills politics.

[-] MegaUltraChicken@lemmy.world 12 points 1 week ago

The GOP has control over all branches of government. I don't see why the Democrats have to clean up ANY of their shit. They aren't creating a shutdown. That's GOP framing.

[-] Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 week ago

We are discussing the post, which is about Democrat support or not of a government shutdown. You don't have to participate in that discussion, but THAT'S THE DISCUSSION.

[-] MegaUltraChicken@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Yes, your conclusion that this is a "lose/lose" for the Democrats is incorrect. I explained why in my comment. If you dont want to defend that position that's fine. You're under no obligation to respond to me or support what you say, but I'm clearly participating in the same discussion.

[-] DomeGuy@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago

The Democrats are a minority in both chambers of Congress. The Republicans should be able to pass a simple spending plan on a party line vote, and if they can't then their dysfunction is not and should never be treated as the Democrats' fault

[-] Melatonin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 week ago

But you can't fool yourself into thinking that Trump, Musk, et. al., won't push that messaging from the bully pulpit, and the press won't AT LEAST half-cooperate.

It doesn't matter at all what SHOULD BE, or what IS NOT. The message is all that matters.

[-] NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io 1 points 1 week ago

This rhetoric will, however, only work on their base. No centrist or leftist will swallow that.

[-] ryathal@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 week ago

There's a win if the Democrats really want one. Shutting down the government stops Doge, and cuts more than musk could ever dream of. They can frame it as Republicans trying to spend money and Democrats being about responsibility. Make it about a failure of Trump's leadership.

It's a tough line to walk, because a prolonged shutdown would possibly backfire, but it's probably worth the risk. Shutdowns do tend to hurt the party in power more than the opposition.

This is a way to slam the brakes on Trump and be an opposition party if they have the spine for it.

[-] Fredthefishlord 3 points 1 week ago

Genuinely, why do you think shutting down the government would stop doge??? You know they can just walk in and turn on computers themselves... And they'll just pay anyone who needs to put in a password claiming they're essential...

[-] ryathal@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 week ago

It puts them in the tough spot of declaring Doge essential. That gives a huge opening for the Democrats to attack, when 80% of the government is shut down, that there is meaningful fraud in what Trump kept open. It's also going to be hard to get someone to come in to unlock things when they aren't getting paid. Even essential employees don't get paid in a shutdown, they get back pay after like everyone else when Congress approves it.

[-] Fredthefishlord 1 points 4 days ago

They don't care man. They don't.

this post was submitted on 15 Feb 2025

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