General Discussion

So they get public credit for being strong and Democrats get public blame for standing for nothing. That is the problem.

This maneuver doesn’t help in 2026. It cements a reputation of Democrats as wimps who won’t “fight for people like me” as the polling question goes. That is the problem.

If some Senate Dems wanted to negotiate something short of the full demand and spin it as a win, they completely could have, but they should have done so transparently.

You have to build your case with effective messaging so you can build momentum for your evolving position. You don’t do it behind closed doors in the dark of night and then have federal employees wonder why you put them through this. Six weeks without pay and for what???? People on SNAP concerned they will not have enough to eat and for what???? It just looks like Dems were playing games with people’s lives and just caved in because they got tired or bored.

That is the problem: poor strategy, poor messaging, poor reception of the unexplained change. Stealing defeat from the jaws of Tuesday’s victory.

This is the danger, in my opinion.