Democrats of all persuasions, even some centrists who have long been firmly anti-shutdown, feel that voting for a “clean” spending bill would be tacitly blessing Musk’s controversial work. Denying Republicans the votes they’ll need to keep the agencies open, they believe, would be the lesser evil.

“Nobody wants a shutdown, but they don’t feel like aiding and abetting what’s happening, with Musk and Trump taking a wrecking ball to health care in particular,” said one senior House Democratic aide, who like others I spoke to was granted anonymity to speak candidly about internal party conversations. “Why would we be complicit in that?”

A senior Democratic lawmaker was blunter: “At some point you’ve got to have a goddamn backbone. I am not giving them a blank check until September.”

  • tiredofsametab@fedia.io
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    6 hours ago

    Then blame all the things that are actually a result of current admin policy on the shutdown and this the democrats.

  • orcrist@lemm.ee
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    12 hours ago

    The authors got one thing wrong. They said it’s the Democrats looking for a fight but that’s not what’s happening. Trump is looking for a fight constantly and the only question is where he’s going to find one. It is irresponsible journalism to conceal that fact.

  • TootSweet@lemmy.world
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    14 hours ago

    At some point you’ve got to have a goddamn backbone.

    The Democrats have had so many opportunities to do so and haven’t managed even the faintest hint of one in my memory. God I hope they’re serious about it this time, but I’d be amazed if it actually happened now.

    • veroxii@aussie.zone
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      7 hours ago

      They had 4 years to put Trump away. To put safeguards in place. They’re fucking hopeless.

  • MyBrainHurts@lemmy.ca
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    14 hours ago

    Republicans have majorities in both houses, if they can’t pass a spending bill, that’s on them.

  • BombOmOm@lemmy.world
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    14 hours ago

    Would Trump even consider the Democrats championing the government no longer spending money to be a bad thing?