Angry doesn’t even make it to the same universe as the emotion I’m feeling right now. And I suspect many millions of us feel the same way. The betrayal by our “leaders” feels like a mortal blow. They are vastly underestimating the power of the people.
You’re right, Candice...it feels like a mortal blow. But blows like this don’t end movements...they define them. They underestimated people who can count votes...track money...and remember names.
I was so fucking pissed yesterday...I shouldn’t have been around anyone...and I didn’t bother pretending otherwise.
But I did the one thing I know I can do well enough to matter:
I sat down and wrote.
That’s the rule when you get knocked flat…or feel like you have:
You get up, and you do the next right thing.
Then you do it again.
And again.
And again.
That rhythm has carried me through some brutal stretches.
Thanks for that. Watching Lawrence O'Donnell tonight, who has a very different perspective on the "cave", I'm actually cautiously optimistic. It sounds like this compromise might just be another "3D Chess" move. It gets us a year of enhanced SNAP benefits, ensures that the workers furloughed during the shutdown are rehired, and all government employees get their owed back-pay. None of those things were the republicans and Trump willing to give, and the funding only gets us through the holidays, so there will be a chance to do battle again for ACA in another couple of months. What do you think?
I appreciate you laying that out, Candice...and I’m glad you’re feeling a little more optimistic after hearing O’Donnell’s take. But here’s where I land on it:
If this were a 3-D chess move...we’d see signs of a coordinated strategy...clear messaging discipline...and a willingness to draw blood when it counts. I’m not seeing that. What I am seeing is a short-term stabilization maneuver that gives us breathing room...and yes...the enhanced SNAP benefits and guaranteed back-pay are real wins for real people. No question.
But... we can't romanticize the moment.
The funding window is tight. The battlefield resets in just weeks. And Trump’s entire governing style is engineered around chaos...exhaustion...and using every procedural crack to push deeper into authoritarian territory.
So my take?
This wasn’t a masterstroke... it was a temporary sandbag to keep the water from rushing in.
Useful. Necessary. But...definitely not a grand strategic victory.
We take it for what it is...stay alert for the next round...and prepare for the fight over ACA and everything else heading straight toward us.
And if I’m wrong...if this really was intentional long-game maneuvering...I’ll be the first one in line to say so.
But for now? Eyes open. Chin up. And ready for the next hit.
P.S. I wrote a long post on social media last night about the darker signals from Lawrence's take last night. He was not "Lawrence" last night...he wasn't. I may share that post from last night, here...later.
Yes, you're right, and because I've never mastered the art of planning ahead 5 moves (sometimes not even 1!), I probably give credit to others for something that might not be there. Or maybe it's just hope - hope that someone knows what the fuck they're doing. And yes, taking those modest wins, which are, of course, monumental to those affected by them, for exactly what they are - a bandage for the deliberately imposed hunger on 42 million of our most vulnerable people, and some relief for those furloughed and owed back pay. But, not the win. Not the victory, not even a path to the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm focused, as are many of my friends, and ready to stand up to the next gut punch. There's a long struggle ahead of us. From various accounts, the building of this ugly plan to shitcan democracy started decades ago, and few of us noticed the changes, as ownership of everything consolidated, and consolidated, and consolidated again. Money, power, and privilege consolidating into that 1% or so, and the rest of us discarded like so much trash. It's ironic that at 75, I'm back in the streets, fighting for the same rights we fought for and thought we'd ensured 50 years ago. It's a potent reminder that our way of government isn't the spectator sport we've grown accustomed to seeing it as. But, I know that I'm made for this fight, and I won't go quietly until it's won.
I'm really curious about your take on Lawrence. Did you post on Substack? He usually skates pretty close to the edge on his commentary, and you're right. That show was different. So yeah, I'd love to read what you wrote. And thanks for everything you're doing for our country.
Angry? How about livid, apoplectic, furious, pissed off. These guys can go straight to hell. Proves once again that Schumer is not a leader. I want the reincarnation of LBJ, they wouldn't even have considered defecting to the republicans.
Believe me, Stephanie...I hear every ounce of that anger...and you’re not wrong to feel it.
This moment would have had LBJ flipping desks...slamming doors...and reminding people what actual leadership looks like.
If he were running the Senate...nobody would’ve even fantasized about defecting. They’d be too busy fearing the phone call they’d get afterward.
But here’s the thing...what you’re feeling isn’t just rage...it’s clarity.
It’s the recognition that this is what a power vacuum looks like...and what happens when urgency...isn’t matched with spine.
And you’re right...Schumer is not LBJ. Not even close.
But that doesn’t mean we’re powerless.
Moments like this are when citizens...loud...organized...furious in the right direction... become the pressure that leadership failed to apply. And that...matters more than people realize.
I am very suspicious of what made them change their minds. I’m not buying their explanations. They knew how well the Dems were doing, how underwater Trump is. They knew the Republicans were getting nervous. I would like to know where their PAC money comes from. Seems coincidental that flights are now beginning to be cancelled. Are they getting money from the Airline PACs?
You’re not wrong to be suspicious, Linn...the timing is too convenient...and the explanations are too clean. These folks didn’t suddenly wake up...rub their eyes...and think, “Oh wow, maybe sabotaging our own party during a shutdown is a bad idea.”
They knew the polling. They knew Trump was underwater. They knew Republican leadership was wobbling. None of that changed overnight.
What did change...were the pressure points.
When members flip this abruptly...it’s almost never about “principle.” It’s about:
*funding streams
*donor pressure
**corporate interests
*PACs suddenly dialing the phone
*or someone with money reminding them what’s at stake
And yes...the sudden wave of flight disruptions raises eyebrows. The airline lobby is one of the most transactional...aggressive...bottom-line-focused groups in D.C. If they saw a prolonged shutdown threatening their bottom line...they would absolutely start leaning on the “soft targets” first.
Does that mean airline PAC money bought the switch?
Not definitively.
But...does it make sense to look in that direction?
Oh, hell yes. Absolutely. Those donor networks tend to move first...when chaos threatens profits.
So your instincts are right...don’t take their excuses at face value. Personally...I think their excuses are utter and complete bullshit. But...that's just my take.
Follow the money.
Because the public story is almost NEVER the real story...and I suspect that is true, here...as well.
The most wise thing we can all do is cancel our flights until employees and air traffic controllers come back to work. Go after the $$$$. They'll feel it and will get Trump to end it.
YES, Leslie...exactly! CANCEL.THE. FLIGHTS. Hit them in the one place they actually notice: the bottom line.
Don’t think of this as inconvenience...think of it as leverage. If enough people park their travel...airlines and the PACs that bankroll cowardly lawmakers...will feel it fast.
Make it loud and organized:
Cancel or postpone booked flights...until employees and air-traffic workers are back on the job.
Call the airline and demand a full refund...record the call...share the story.
Post about it on social...tag the airline...their CEO...and the PACs you can find. Make the brand damage...visible.
Call your reps...and tell them you’re boycotting airlines until this is fixed...make it a constituency issue.
Redirect your travel dollars to competitors...or hold the money until they do the right thing.
They’ll respond when profit...and PR start bleeding. That’s...how you make power pay attention.
As I've said before, Jack, you can not negotiate with this regime. There's absolutely no gain here for the American People. You've outlined this very well, Thank you, and will reStack ASAP 🙏
Let me be hopelessly naive for a moment: Is there any chance at all that this was part of a greater plan within the party? Such as: these senators know they're going to be primaried or they're going to retire so the game plan was for them to vote to end the shutdown so that the rest of the Dems can...? Get the Epstein files released? Defeat an upcoming surprise from Project 2025? Anything??? .
Fetterman was on their side all along. 2 are retiring. I really can’t account for the rest. I think there might have been some strategy in getting the House back in session. And I honestly think that the specter of more people without food and income began to scare them. I wish there was a better way. 👹
I expect the majority of people here will think I’m nuts, but here goes. I was livid yesterday. Today, I look at the power dynamics as coldly as I can to see what can be gained. I realized that the Dems never had any leverage at all. No way no day in hell ever would Repubs extend ACA credits. Cruelty is their tool for subjugation and they don’t care how many people die or starve to get what they want. So, in reality, the Dems lost nothing by agreeing to re-open because they never had anything to lose in the first place. The possible gain? 1) at least some people get back to work 2) Alida Grijalva gets sworn in and there’s still the possibility of a discharge petition re Epstein 3) The Repubs now totally own the whole mess. Everything from now on is their problem. That has potential if the Dems take advantage of it and channel the public’s outrage to where it belongs. “Repubs don’t care how much they hurt you. That’s terrorism. You can’t negotiate with terrorists. You can only defeat them.” Name the game.
Dems can have the cleaner hands by truthfully saying they held the line until it became clear that their efforts were pointless. As Bernie said (paraphrased) - even if by some extreme miracle the Senate and House extended the ACA credits, donny would never sign it. He was 100% correct. Continuing to hold out for “leverage” when the other side cares nothing about the pain it is inflicting is throwing metaphorical good money after bad. Sometimes folding your hand to create a better opportunity isn’t always the worst strategy.
The Dems did an excellent job of raising awareness re how cruel and petty the GOP is. Realistically, however, that was the most ground they were ever going to gain. I think at some point they figured out they were in a Kobayashi Maru situation and had to do something different. Even if it sucked.
Excellent line of thought on the matter: "Repubs don't care about how they hurt you." We can't compare that to anything in our right mind -- but it plays out to be true all the time. They are not a party that has any interest in governing for the people. They care only about tearing it down, piece by piece.
Everyone of them gets between $300,000 and 1,100,000– with most around 400,000 from AIPAC. These numbers are from a slideshow so no source— take it or leave it in terms of veracity. Additionally all are wealthy so they may be voting for self interest. Conjecture.
You had an article some time ago that hypothesized that threats of violence could have been made against Kamala Harris and others and their loved ones to muffle their voices. Could this be a factor here? If I were a Republican strategist, I'd be looking at the easiest one to peel off (was Sinema, now Fetterman) and then targeting additional senators vulnerable to pressure. Could be political or ideological pressure, could be threats against loved ones.
Let's fact it -- the reality of group thought is the majority rules, everywhere except in Congress. It is the major reason we can't enact what is necessary for the American people's quality of life.
Ok, I’ve had my angry moment after hearing the news. Not happy but will work through this.
On the bright side, when the shutdown ends and Johnson calls the House members back in, he will have to swear in Adelita Grijalva finally. Let’s bring on the Epstein files release!
Angry doesn’t even make it to the same universe as the emotion I’m feeling right now. And I suspect many millions of us feel the same way. The betrayal by our “leaders” feels like a mortal blow. They are vastly underestimating the power of the people.
You’re right, Candice...it feels like a mortal blow. But blows like this don’t end movements...they define them. They underestimated people who can count votes...track money...and remember names.
I was so fucking pissed yesterday...I shouldn’t have been around anyone...and I didn’t bother pretending otherwise.
But I did the one thing I know I can do well enough to matter:
I sat down and wrote.
That’s the rule when you get knocked flat…or feel like you have:
You get up, and you do the next right thing.
Then you do it again.
And again.
And again.
That rhythm has carried me through some brutal stretches.
So I keep going.
We document.
We expose.
We refuse to forget.
Anger becomes fuel.
Clarity becomes a blade.
They misread the moment.
We...didn’t.
-Jack
Thanks for that. Watching Lawrence O'Donnell tonight, who has a very different perspective on the "cave", I'm actually cautiously optimistic. It sounds like this compromise might just be another "3D Chess" move. It gets us a year of enhanced SNAP benefits, ensures that the workers furloughed during the shutdown are rehired, and all government employees get their owed back-pay. None of those things were the republicans and Trump willing to give, and the funding only gets us through the holidays, so there will be a chance to do battle again for ACA in another couple of months. What do you think?
I appreciate you laying that out, Candice...and I’m glad you’re feeling a little more optimistic after hearing O’Donnell’s take. But here’s where I land on it:
If this were a 3-D chess move...we’d see signs of a coordinated strategy...clear messaging discipline...and a willingness to draw blood when it counts. I’m not seeing that. What I am seeing is a short-term stabilization maneuver that gives us breathing room...and yes...the enhanced SNAP benefits and guaranteed back-pay are real wins for real people. No question.
But... we can't romanticize the moment.
The funding window is tight. The battlefield resets in just weeks. And Trump’s entire governing style is engineered around chaos...exhaustion...and using every procedural crack to push deeper into authoritarian territory.
So my take?
This wasn’t a masterstroke... it was a temporary sandbag to keep the water from rushing in.
Useful. Necessary. But...definitely not a grand strategic victory.
We take it for what it is...stay alert for the next round...and prepare for the fight over ACA and everything else heading straight toward us.
And if I’m wrong...if this really was intentional long-game maneuvering...I’ll be the first one in line to say so.
But for now? Eyes open. Chin up. And ready for the next hit.
P.S. I wrote a long post on social media last night about the darker signals from Lawrence's take last night. He was not "Lawrence" last night...he wasn't. I may share that post from last night, here...later.
-Jack
Yes, you're right, and because I've never mastered the art of planning ahead 5 moves (sometimes not even 1!), I probably give credit to others for something that might not be there. Or maybe it's just hope - hope that someone knows what the fuck they're doing. And yes, taking those modest wins, which are, of course, monumental to those affected by them, for exactly what they are - a bandage for the deliberately imposed hunger on 42 million of our most vulnerable people, and some relief for those furloughed and owed back pay. But, not the win. Not the victory, not even a path to the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm focused, as are many of my friends, and ready to stand up to the next gut punch. There's a long struggle ahead of us. From various accounts, the building of this ugly plan to shitcan democracy started decades ago, and few of us noticed the changes, as ownership of everything consolidated, and consolidated, and consolidated again. Money, power, and privilege consolidating into that 1% or so, and the rest of us discarded like so much trash. It's ironic that at 75, I'm back in the streets, fighting for the same rights we fought for and thought we'd ensured 50 years ago. It's a potent reminder that our way of government isn't the spectator sport we've grown accustomed to seeing it as. But, I know that I'm made for this fight, and I won't go quietly until it's won.
I'm really curious about your take on Lawrence. Did you post on Substack? He usually skates pretty close to the edge on his commentary, and you're right. That show was different. So yeah, I'd love to read what you wrote. And thanks for everything you're doing for our country.
c
Angry? How about livid, apoplectic, furious, pissed off. These guys can go straight to hell. Proves once again that Schumer is not a leader. I want the reincarnation of LBJ, they wouldn't even have considered defecting to the republicans.
Believe me, Stephanie...I hear every ounce of that anger...and you’re not wrong to feel it.
This moment would have had LBJ flipping desks...slamming doors...and reminding people what actual leadership looks like.
If he were running the Senate...nobody would’ve even fantasized about defecting. They’d be too busy fearing the phone call they’d get afterward.
But here’s the thing...what you’re feeling isn’t just rage...it’s clarity.
It’s the recognition that this is what a power vacuum looks like...and what happens when urgency...isn’t matched with spine.
And you’re right...Schumer is not LBJ. Not even close.
But that doesn’t mean we’re powerless.
Moments like this are when citizens...loud...organized...furious in the right direction... become the pressure that leadership failed to apply. And that...matters more than people realize.
So stay angry. Stay pissed. Stay loud.
Because the vacuum they’re creating?
That’s...where WE step in.
-Jack
I am very suspicious of what made them change their minds. I’m not buying their explanations. They knew how well the Dems were doing, how underwater Trump is. They knew the Republicans were getting nervous. I would like to know where their PAC money comes from. Seems coincidental that flights are now beginning to be cancelled. Are they getting money from the Airline PACs?
You’re not wrong to be suspicious, Linn...the timing is too convenient...and the explanations are too clean. These folks didn’t suddenly wake up...rub their eyes...and think, “Oh wow, maybe sabotaging our own party during a shutdown is a bad idea.”
They knew the polling. They knew Trump was underwater. They knew Republican leadership was wobbling. None of that changed overnight.
What did change...were the pressure points.
When members flip this abruptly...it’s almost never about “principle.” It’s about:
*funding streams
*donor pressure
**corporate interests
*PACs suddenly dialing the phone
*or someone with money reminding them what’s at stake
And yes...the sudden wave of flight disruptions raises eyebrows. The airline lobby is one of the most transactional...aggressive...bottom-line-focused groups in D.C. If they saw a prolonged shutdown threatening their bottom line...they would absolutely start leaning on the “soft targets” first.
Does that mean airline PAC money bought the switch?
Not definitively.
But...does it make sense to look in that direction?
Oh, hell yes. Absolutely. Those donor networks tend to move first...when chaos threatens profits.
So your instincts are right...don’t take their excuses at face value. Personally...I think their excuses are utter and complete bullshit. But...that's just my take.
Follow the money.
Because the public story is almost NEVER the real story...and I suspect that is true, here...as well.
-Jack
I agree 💯!
The most wise thing we can all do is cancel our flights until employees and air traffic controllers come back to work. Go after the $$$$. They'll feel it and will get Trump to end it.
YES, Leslie...exactly! CANCEL.THE. FLIGHTS. Hit them in the one place they actually notice: the bottom line.
Don’t think of this as inconvenience...think of it as leverage. If enough people park their travel...airlines and the PACs that bankroll cowardly lawmakers...will feel it fast.
Make it loud and organized:
Cancel or postpone booked flights...until employees and air-traffic workers are back on the job.
Call the airline and demand a full refund...record the call...share the story.
Post about it on social...tag the airline...their CEO...and the PACs you can find. Make the brand damage...visible.
Call your reps...and tell them you’re boycotting airlines until this is fixed...make it a constituency issue.
Redirect your travel dollars to competitors...or hold the money until they do the right thing.
They’ll respond when profit...and PR start bleeding. That’s...how you make power pay attention.
-Jack
Thank you for extending that thought and concept. That is indeed how you make power pay attention.
It makes me question what these eight individuals were promised by capitulating to the other side, and ultimately, was it worth it?
Ir they were bought as others have suggested!!!
Perhaps they all have very special interests in their own states or it was the $$$$.
As I've said before, Jack, you can not negotiate with this regime. There's absolutely no gain here for the American People. You've outlined this very well, Thank you, and will reStack ASAP 🙏
Let me be hopelessly naive for a moment: Is there any chance at all that this was part of a greater plan within the party? Such as: these senators know they're going to be primaried or they're going to retire so the game plan was for them to vote to end the shutdown so that the rest of the Dems can...? Get the Epstein files released? Defeat an upcoming surprise from Project 2025? Anything??? .
Fetterman was on their side all along. 2 are retiring. I really can’t account for the rest. I think there might have been some strategy in getting the House back in session. And I honestly think that the specter of more people without food and income began to scare them. I wish there was a better way. 👹
I expect the majority of people here will think I’m nuts, but here goes. I was livid yesterday. Today, I look at the power dynamics as coldly as I can to see what can be gained. I realized that the Dems never had any leverage at all. No way no day in hell ever would Repubs extend ACA credits. Cruelty is their tool for subjugation and they don’t care how many people die or starve to get what they want. So, in reality, the Dems lost nothing by agreeing to re-open because they never had anything to lose in the first place. The possible gain? 1) at least some people get back to work 2) Alida Grijalva gets sworn in and there’s still the possibility of a discharge petition re Epstein 3) The Repubs now totally own the whole mess. Everything from now on is their problem. That has potential if the Dems take advantage of it and channel the public’s outrage to where it belongs. “Repubs don’t care how much they hurt you. That’s terrorism. You can’t negotiate with terrorists. You can only defeat them.” Name the game.
Dems can have the cleaner hands by truthfully saying they held the line until it became clear that their efforts were pointless. As Bernie said (paraphrased) - even if by some extreme miracle the Senate and House extended the ACA credits, donny would never sign it. He was 100% correct. Continuing to hold out for “leverage” when the other side cares nothing about the pain it is inflicting is throwing metaphorical good money after bad. Sometimes folding your hand to create a better opportunity isn’t always the worst strategy.
The Dems did an excellent job of raising awareness re how cruel and petty the GOP is. Realistically, however, that was the most ground they were ever going to gain. I think at some point they figured out they were in a Kobayashi Maru situation and had to do something different. Even if it sucked.
Excellent line of thought on the matter: "Repubs don't care about how they hurt you." We can't compare that to anything in our right mind -- but it plays out to be true all the time. They are not a party that has any interest in governing for the people. They care only about tearing it down, piece by piece.
Everyone of them gets between $300,000 and 1,100,000– with most around 400,000 from AIPAC. These numbers are from a slideshow so no source— take it or leave it in terms of veracity. Additionally all are wealthy so they may be voting for self interest. Conjecture.
I am old school and in situations like with the Epstein files we used to get a large roll of paper and divide it with 3 lines to make a timeline.
TimeLine 1 would be the trafficking of girls.
TimeLine2 would be financial transactions.
TimeLine3 would be contacts and what transpired.
It wouldn’t have to have every detail. Just a summary at each point.
The information already out there would show the pattern and it would be obvious what really happened.
You had an article some time ago that hypothesized that threats of violence could have been made against Kamala Harris and others and their loved ones to muffle their voices. Could this be a factor here? If I were a Republican strategist, I'd be looking at the easiest one to peel off (was Sinema, now Fetterman) and then targeting additional senators vulnerable to pressure. Could be political or ideological pressure, could be threats against loved ones.
Let's fact it -- the reality of group thought is the majority rules, everywhere except in Congress. It is the major reason we can't enact what is necessary for the American people's quality of life.
Get rid of the filibuster once and for all.
Ok, I’ve had my angry moment after hearing the news. Not happy but will work through this.
On the bright side, when the shutdown ends and Johnson calls the House members back in, he will have to swear in Adelita Grijalva finally. Let’s bring on the Epstein files release!