Maybe some here have some real influence on the Senate floor, but I doubt it. The Democratic Caucus in the Senate will decide, not us.

Then the whole idea of shutting down the government in order to put public pressure on the Republicans was a farce.

Senators are less subject to public opinion than House members, because they serve 6-year terms and because only one third of the Senate stands for election every two years. The founders idea was that such longer terms would free the Senate from being influenced by fluctuations in public opinion. It also provided solid continuity in Congress, especially for votes where a 2/3 majority is required.

So, public pressure has less affect in the Senate than in the House.

You can replace him with someone who gives fiery speeches, but it won’t change anything, Senate Republicans will still do nothing – or worse, continue to pass bad laws.

And Trump will continue to be a fascist thug and autocratic despot, backed by a partisan Supreme Court.

It was “time to end the shut down” the minute it started. Nobody is *for* the shutdown. The question is how you end it, on whose terms, and what if anything has been gained in exchange for the pain and suffering caused.

I doubt anyone thinks that Spanberger’s statement is wrong.

Speaking for myself only, it is not *that* the shutdown ended. It’s *how* it ended, to wit: non-strategically, behind closed doors, in exchange for basically nothing, and without a strategic, effective messaging plan to spin it as a win.

I think all of those things could have been lined up. Trump and his lackeys were clearly feeling the pain—that is the time to go for the jugular and negotiate something meaningful. Doesn’t have to be 100% of your opening position. But it has to be significant. This isn’t.

It is not about a circular firing squad. It is about fear that we just set ourselves back in the race for 2026 by looking again like we don’t stand for anything and don’t know how to fight. People need to be able to vent their anger and also to discuss how to stop the perception that Democrats are people who cave.

So there was always going to be a firing squad. Its just a matter of whether you are going to fire back (if you disagree with her).

But please no goddamn conspiracy theories as to why he fails, probably in even more spectacular fashion.

Sanders wont even call himself a Democrat except when he has a reelection bid coming up

AOC comes to mind.

ability to work, after all, I think being able to work does keep the battery and motor going in one's body, he'll probably gracefully retire before too long. He's been and is a champ for a very long time.

Only if it is with Klobuchar or Booker. Mark Warner is too conciliatory and Elizabeth Warren needs to be able to fight on everything financial - as nasty as she wants to be.

My first choice would be Klobuchar.