11/10/2025
This is not how to get the electorate excited!
Less than seven days after Democrats unleashed a wave of whoop ass to their republican counterparts in elections that stretched across both coasts, seven Democratic Senators and an Independent who caucused with them basically did what Trump knew they would do…they gave in. Their rationale is not entirely a bad reason; they want to help federal workers get paid during the holiday season and to ensure SNAP benefits are reactivated for our most vulnerable citizens.
And while their hearts were in the right place, it appears they are getting played by the administration and its sycophants across the aisle. And what did they get? A promise to maybe in December to have a vote on healthcare subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, aka ObamaCare. Sounds reasonable, until we all look at the people that we are dealing with, who break their word because their master tells them to. This is not your father’s Senate, where they worked collegially together to get things done; the other side serves at the pleasure of the current occupant of the White House.
I assume their political calculus is that if they do get a vote and it loses because the republicans vote no, the American people will be angered and shocked by this and want to vote them out. Here’s the thing, we won’t be shocked at all! Here is the miscalculation that was made. Several people want to see a Democratic party with a backbone and the ability to articulate what is at stake. Also, an all too familiar pattern of giving in has been established.
Here is the worst part, Schumer thinks that he is slick, yeah he voted no, but two of the people who voted yes are in Democratic leadership, (Durbin & Cortez-Masto). So one of two things is true, either the Democratic leader can’t keep his caucus aligned because he is feckless or he is running an inept hidden hand strategy to save face and is the force behind helping open the government.
Several progressives are calling for the heads of the eight Senators, and to be honest, I can’t blame them. By the end of December, we will see in real time how this plays out. So here are the Senators that we need to replace and their next election:
Dick Durbin & Jeanne Shaheen are retiring with elections for their seats held in 2026. In 2028, Schumer, Fetterman, Cortez-Masto, and Hassan will be up for re-election. In 2030, Rosen, King, and Kaine’s seats will be up. Although Kaine isn’t eligible for re-election.