Senator Jeanne Shaheen just threw the minority leader under the bus.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen revealed that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer knew the entire time about the plan for a few Democrats to capitulate to Republicans on the government shutdown.

Shaheen, one of the seven Democrats (and one independent) who dropped their demand for a guaranteed extension of Obamacare subsidies, spoke to Fox News’s Brian Kilmeade on Monday morning.

Aside from serving as further proof that the Democrats are failing to act as an opposition party in any meaningful way, Shaheen’s comments also reveal one of two possible scenarios. Either Schumer was scheming to end the shutdown behind the scenes, only pretending to be against it while pinning the blame on the eight people who aren’t up for reelection anytime soon, or he has no control over his party. Either way, it proves the need for Democrats to jettison the minority leader.

    • sleepundertheleaves@infosec.pub
      13·
      9 hours ago

      The same as the Republican Party’s. Make money off campaign donations and lobbyists.

      Individual Democrats may care about winning and holding power, sure - some hold a genuine desire to serve the public good, others just want wealth and power for themselves.

      But the Party itself only cares about perpetuating the Party. And that doesn’t necessarily mean winning. In many cases, such as with abortion, it means losing political battles in such a way that it motivates more donations from their supporters.

      Or, to put it another way, the NFL doesn’t care what team wins the Super Bowl. It cares about selling ads.

      • TheFogan@programming.devEnglish
        1·
        5 hours ago

        Sadly I could so see that happening… and some crazy stupid arguement that bypasses the term limits because democrat trump is considered a new candidate.

        Though I’d also say the odds of him living to the end of this term with all his health issues, is under 25% at this point.

        • Rivalarrival@lemmy.todayEnglish
          1·
          40 minutes ago

          Sadly I could so see that happening… and some crazy stupid arguement that bypasses the term limits because democrat trump is considered a new candidate

          Nah, nothing crazy. Turns out we’ve all been looking at the 22nd amendment all wrong. Here’s the relevant clause:

          No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice,

          "No person shall be elected more than twice. The 22nd amendment only applies to persons. It was never intended to apply to GodKing Trump.

    • MNByChoice@midwest.social
      4·
      10 hours ago

      The Democratic Party is a big tent party. There isn’t often a plan, because the party membership has many different opinions on every subject.