With Democratic Leaders Like Schumer, Who Needs Republicans?

Senator Schumer reflects the weakness & complicity of Democratic leaders by agreeing to vote for the Republican spending bill. It's time for new blood that is willing to stand up and fight.

The septuagenarian somnambulist, Senator Chuck Schumer, once again demonstrated that the current crop of Democratic leaders are not built for this fight or made for this moment.

In a stunning reversal, Schumer said he will break with his party and vote to advance the Republican spending bill to avoid a government shutdown. Schumer needs seven more Democratic votes to help push the GOP bill that will allow Trump and his co-President, Elon Musk, to redirect funding and continue slashing long-standing projects. Meanwhile, Schumer rationalizes his decision by suggesting a government shutdown would be a “gift” to Donald Trump by taking attention away from the tanking economy and the gutting of our institutions, such as the Department of Education, IRS, and USAID.

However, who has all the power? It’s the Republicans. They have the Presidency, the Senate, the House, the Supreme Court, and the media, so why be complicit in their authoritarian agenda? Because it will look bad? Because some misinformed, bad faith actors will blame Democrats? Why not hold out, be strong and stay united with a Democratic caucus and force Republicans to find their 60 voters or be compelled to come back to the negotiation table? Why not use whatever leverage you have to get a better deal?

Well, that would require a bold, fighting spirit and spine, which the atrophied leadership of Democrats lack. They are the “white moderates” MLK warned about in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail whom he said are “more devoted to order than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice.” Schumer is a textbook definition of this fossilized creature of the establishment swamp. After Trump announced an illegal freeze on releasing federal funds, Schumer responded with this glorious, inspiring rallying cry: “People are aroused. I haven’t seen people so aroused in a very, very long time.” If anyone was indeed aroused, they surely went limp after hearing that statement.

There is a vacancy for leadership in the Democracy Party. It's a brand new ball game. The old rules, customs, and backroom deals don’t apply when you’re facing an aspiring authoritarian who just invoked the Alien Enemies Act, wants to undo birthright citizenship, and quotes Hitler to rationalize unleashing the military against “the enemy from within.” No one “deserves” a leadership position due to age, seniority, and their large donor class. This was the justification to make 74-year-old Rep. Gerry Connolly, who is currently fighting cancer, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee instead of Rep. AOC. 71-year-old Rep. Debbie Dingell was chosen over Rep. Jasmine Crockett to be the Chairwoman of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. Have you heard anything from Reps Connolly and Dingell? Have they inspired anyone to do anything of consequence in the past 2 months? Please let me know. I’d love to see the CVS receipts.

Meanwhile, Rep. Crockett keeps going viral by reflecting the righteous rage of the people and calling out Trump and Republicans for their cruel, racist, authoritarian policies. Rep. AOC appeared on CNN today and said she’ll mobilize her base to pressure Senator Schumer from acquiescing and accepting the House GOP funding bill. She criticized Senate Democrats’ decision to “completely roll over and give up on protecting the Constitution.” House Democrats are privately encouraging her to primary Schumer. Even if she were to lose, it’s about time someone did to ensure these feckless Democrats realize their seats aren’t birthright. If they aren’t willing to fight for people who are losing jobs, freedoms, and health care, then they should retire or take a trip to the sun in one of Musk’s SpaceX rockets.

We’ve already seen Democrats betray the people by siding with Republicans to vote for the Laken-Riley Act and deport undocumented immigrants who are simply accused of shoplifting. We’ve seen 10 Democrats join Republicans to censure Rep. Al Green who protested Trump during his address to Congress. We’ve seen Democrats being milquetoast and mealy-mouthed in their refusal to push back against Trump detaining and threatening to deport Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil.

Civility and cowardice in the face of rising GOP authoritarianism is complicity. With Democrats like these, who needs Republicans? It's time for a new generation of fighters to step up and claim the mantle of Democratic leadership. Fighters will be embraced, welcomed, and rewarded by the majority.