“ Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.” - Harry S. Truman
I stand with Schumer. His record shows he is not a reckless, fly-by-the-seat of his pants kind of guy. He has more experience than many newcomers do. He makes sure that every year he visits every county in this state. He has gotten numerous government grants for the Glens Falls area. I believe he faced a very, very serious decision, and had to choose the lesser of two evils to stop complete and utter destruction of our government. I also have no doubt he will be using his experience to come up with a plan to right this wrong. Give him a chance!
We've seen shutdowns before. They didn't seem productive towards anyone's goals. Lots of people without paychecks. There has got to be a better way. I hope.
What Schumer did not do was rally his side, or provide an opportunity to give voice on the big stage of a filibuster which would allow a Democratic message to be widely broadcast - even if the ultimate action would be to end the filibuster in time to pass the CR at the very last moment.
Instead he moved aside, ceding the media narrative to the Republicans and allowing them to declare an easy victory.
It was a tactical failure with no strategic benefit.
I'm with Mike on this. There is no energy behind Schumer's words, there is no fight. We even need to welcome a bit of irrationality, posturing and even screaming to motivate opposition. It's what MAGA Nation have done to us for over 10 years, and frankly, it's worked. We all know the rules have changed in the era of Krasnov.
At the very least Senate Dems could have said no to cloture, then used the rules to engage in a well-publicized, even if short-lived, filibuster to get the message out.
Unfortunately, unless they had tapped Chris Murphy to speak on the floor for the duration of the filibuster, even that message might have been watery.
Another huge blow to the education of the citizenry is the effective dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
My daughter works in school programs at The Adirondack Experience. She told me the museum gets a decent chunk of its funding from IMLS grants. I suspect a lot of smaller, more rural museums rely on them.
From what I have read, Mahoud Khalil was a pro-Palestinian, not a Hamas supporter. I believe there is a big difference between those two labels. As far as Chuck Schumer, in my opinion, we had a tool, the Filibuster, he failed to use it. The Government is being hallowed out by DOGE and the money that has been already appropriated for these agencies will now become a slush fund for the trump administration. I am also disappointed with Gillibrand, lock step with Schumer on this and a big crypto supporter. I hope they both get primaried. When it came time to stand up, he sat down because he worried about his book tour. It is no wonder why the Democrats have the lowest approval rating in years.
The Department of Defense is sending a message that any woman, person of color or gay person got the job by affirmative action, not their own merit and ability. That white men are superior by nature, is a myth perpetuated for most of history. If this is allowed to stand, the implications will go far beyond just the DOD,
Call Sen Joni Ernst and ask her how she feels about the erasure of her military service, which evidently she had only because she was a woman, not that she was qualified or competent. Is she glad of her vote for Hegseth, who could correct her record and that of all other women and people of color? And if women can’t serve honorably in the military, I doubt they could be US Senators.
This is only the beginning. If you a student of history , it is easy to see the similarities between what was happening in Germany in 1939 and the unlawful acts of the Trump Administration. Welcome to the Fourth Reich.
Wanting to understand what is the right thing to do! I wanted Schumer to fight and vote no to the CR but perhaps I have to trust the knowledge and experience of Schumer!
There is no doubt Schumer and Gillibrand were between a rock and a hard place. It was a no win situation, exactly what the Republicans wanted to create. Additionally, both Senators had voted to confirm a number of Trump's Cabinet choices. They continue to think they can negotiate with a dictator and his minions. Had they voted no, more federal agencies would be decimated and a shut down would have resulted. Hasn't he already started that process? With the passage of the CR, Trump and his minions can now embed the draconian budget cuts to everything except defense spending. He and his minions have turned their backs on Europe and Ukraine, he talks of annexing Greenland and Canada, he supports dictators and war criminals , notably, Orban, Netanyahu and Putin, on March 15th a US Navy ship fired missiles at targets in Yeman and the Red Sea, and he has arrested and detained a legal immigrant from Palastine and hundreds of "alleged" gang members. He is a war mongering fool. Schumer and Gillibrand seem to think the old rules of negotiation and bipartisanship. Those days are long over. We've witnessed that right here in NY21.
The Constitution says that "Congress shall make no law..."
Trump is not Congress. He can make whatever laws he wants because he is the king. And, as the king he is above the law, since if he can make laws, he can unmake laws, too.
Of course, as revolutions of the eighteenth and twentieth centuries proclaimed, the condition of the people is dependent on the people making the laws. That is fundamental to the concept of a government of the people, by the people and for the people. That is why the Constitution begins with the words "we the people."
The American people have abandoned themselves to Trump, and have thus abandoned the laws that protected their rights and liberties to him. Or, in any event, they are indifferent to Trump making and unmaking the laws that they themselves once made.
Rights and liberties abandoned, or lost due to indifference, even though preserved on paper or etched in brass, are seldom, if ever, regained.
As much as I hate what Schumer did, I do understand his reason for doing it. It looks like the State's AG's are the entity that is suing tRump and his DOGE! It's a mess and it's not getting any better in the near future. ICE needs to be disbanded!
I agree that Schumer was in an impossible damned if you do, damned if you don’t position. I strongly recommend you and you readers listen to Heather Cox Richardson’s lecture from yesterday afternoon, for many reasons, but near the end she discusses his decision and its outcomes, and says clearly that, whatever we do, we CANNOT turn on each other. I think AOC, when asked if she still supports Schumer, said yes, though she disagrees with his decision. That is democracy!!!!
I watched it through her FB page. It was posted 17 hours ago, and you can just click to see it. She also has a YouTube channel and it’s on there, too. Good luck! You will appreciate it, I’m sure!
Regarding Schumer’s decision to support the CR: I understand the desire to fight like hell against the Trump Regime. I feel that way too. But I think Schumer made the right choice, as difficult as it was. While the CR is a bad option, a shutdown is worse.
First, the rationale behind closing the federal government by withholding budget approval is the tactic’s use as leverage. One party withholds its cooperation to gain some concessions from the other. The problem with the Trump Regime and his core Congressional supporters is they will gladly welcome a government shutdown. It would give them the space to easily furlough "non-essential" employees, close the government agencies of their choosing. It would supercharge progress towards their goal of making the federal government as small as possible.
Second, a shutdown, as services are curtailed and employees furloughed, would hurt both the public and the remaining federal employees. That’s one reason Democrats have opposed shutdowns in the past.
We need to fight like hell against the Trump Regime and its effort to dismantle the federal government and impose a slash-and-burn culture war on our country. But we need to do it in a strategic way that does not harm people in the process. Yes, we can do both. We can only do both if we stay united.
Unlike you, Ken, for most of my adult life I have followed closely the conflict in the Middle East. (Not that it matters but I was raised in a loving mixed faith family with parents who were Jewish and Catholic.) The painful conflict has never seen a moment of peace. But now we in America have reached a place where ANY criticism of Israel is considered anti-semitic. There are no journalists in Gaza or the West Bank. WHY? An American with ties to either of those places is one of the precious few who can shed some light on the situation and now he is unlawfully imprisoned in our country. A documentary film, NO OTHER LAND, which was made by a young Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers, shot almost entirely on mobile phones in a West Bank community and won the the Academy Award for excellence this year is only being shown in independent cinemas across the country since no distributor will touch it. And the cinema that is screening the picture Miami is being threatened with eviction by the mayor. Seek and ye shall find the truth. Read Jimmy Carter's book on the subject for an opener.
I watched "No Other Land" and its Academy Award is well deserved. It gives valuable insights into the Palestinian's rage over their land being taken a generation ago. Another book I recommend is "The Lemon Tree" which helped me to understand the conflict much better as well. There is also a wonderful movie short called "The Gift" that I believe also won an Oscar. And of course there is a Netflix show called "Monk" about a Palestinian immigrant who grew up in Texas. Also worth watching.
Too soon???? Nah, I'm laughing out loud.
“ Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.” - Harry S. Truman
And here we are
Great quote from Truman.
I stand with Schumer. His record shows he is not a reckless, fly-by-the-seat of his pants kind of guy. He has more experience than many newcomers do. He makes sure that every year he visits every county in this state. He has gotten numerous government grants for the Glens Falls area. I believe he faced a very, very serious decision, and had to choose the lesser of two evils to stop complete and utter destruction of our government. I also have no doubt he will be using his experience to come up with a plan to right this wrong. Give him a chance!
June, I tend to agree with you..it was a tough decision to make
I understand folks wanting to fight for their democracy, but I Schumer's path may ultimately prove the right one.
We've seen shutdowns before. They didn't seem productive towards anyone's goals. Lots of people without paychecks. There has got to be a better way. I hope.
It might, or maybe not. We cannot know.
What Schumer did not do was rally his side, or provide an opportunity to give voice on the big stage of a filibuster which would allow a Democratic message to be widely broadcast - even if the ultimate action would be to end the filibuster in time to pass the CR at the very last moment.
Instead he moved aside, ceding the media narrative to the Republicans and allowing them to declare an easy victory.
It was a tactical failure with no strategic benefit.
I'm with Mike on this. There is no energy behind Schumer's words, there is no fight. We even need to welcome a bit of irrationality, posturing and even screaming to motivate opposition. It's what MAGA Nation have done to us for over 10 years, and frankly, it's worked. We all know the rules have changed in the era of Krasnov.
At the very least Senate Dems could have said no to cloture, then used the rules to engage in a well-publicized, even if short-lived, filibuster to get the message out.
Unfortunately, unless they had tapped Chris Murphy to speak on the floor for the duration of the filibuster, even that message might have been watery.
Another huge blow to the education of the citizenry is the effective dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
My daughter works in school programs at The Adirondack Experience. She told me the museum gets a decent chunk of its funding from IMLS grants. I suspect a lot of smaller, more rural museums rely on them.
From what I have read, Mahoud Khalil was a pro-Palestinian, not a Hamas supporter. I believe there is a big difference between those two labels. As far as Chuck Schumer, in my opinion, we had a tool, the Filibuster, he failed to use it. The Government is being hallowed out by DOGE and the money that has been already appropriated for these agencies will now become a slush fund for the trump administration. I am also disappointed with Gillibrand, lock step with Schumer on this and a big crypto supporter. I hope they both get primaried. When it came time to stand up, he sat down because he worried about his book tour. It is no wonder why the Democrats have the lowest approval rating in years.
Thank you for the context. And you are right that is a big difference.
The Department of Defense is sending a message that any woman, person of color or gay person got the job by affirmative action, not their own merit and ability. That white men are superior by nature, is a myth perpetuated for most of history. If this is allowed to stand, the implications will go far beyond just the DOD,
Nothing is quite like governing by blatant (illegal) discrimination.
Call Sen Joni Ernst and ask her how she feels about the erasure of her military service, which evidently she had only because she was a woman, not that she was qualified or competent. Is she glad of her vote for Hegseth, who could correct her record and that of all other women and people of color? And if women can’t serve honorably in the military, I doubt they could be US Senators.
That seems to be exactly what they are doing.
This is only the beginning. If you a student of history , it is easy to see the similarities between what was happening in Germany in 1939 and the unlawful acts of the Trump Administration. Welcome to the Fourth Reich.
ARIC Adirondack Regional Immigration Collaborative will be at the “Belonging Starts Here” event.
Wanting to understand what is the right thing to do! I wanted Schumer to fight and vote no to the CR but perhaps I have to trust the knowledge and experience of Schumer!
Prominent “White Men” need to speak out for their “Other” brothers and sisters. Your voices are needed.
There is no doubt Schumer and Gillibrand were between a rock and a hard place. It was a no win situation, exactly what the Republicans wanted to create. Additionally, both Senators had voted to confirm a number of Trump's Cabinet choices. They continue to think they can negotiate with a dictator and his minions. Had they voted no, more federal agencies would be decimated and a shut down would have resulted. Hasn't he already started that process? With the passage of the CR, Trump and his minions can now embed the draconian budget cuts to everything except defense spending. He and his minions have turned their backs on Europe and Ukraine, he talks of annexing Greenland and Canada, he supports dictators and war criminals , notably, Orban, Netanyahu and Putin, on March 15th a US Navy ship fired missiles at targets in Yeman and the Red Sea, and he has arrested and detained a legal immigrant from Palastine and hundreds of "alleged" gang members. He is a war mongering fool. Schumer and Gillibrand seem to think the old rules of negotiation and bipartisanship. Those days are long over. We've witnessed that right here in NY21.
The Constitution says that "Congress shall make no law..."
Trump is not Congress. He can make whatever laws he wants because he is the king. And, as the king he is above the law, since if he can make laws, he can unmake laws, too.
Of course, as revolutions of the eighteenth and twentieth centuries proclaimed, the condition of the people is dependent on the people making the laws. That is fundamental to the concept of a government of the people, by the people and for the people. That is why the Constitution begins with the words "we the people."
The American people have abandoned themselves to Trump, and have thus abandoned the laws that protected their rights and liberties to him. Or, in any event, they are indifferent to Trump making and unmaking the laws that they themselves once made.
Rights and liberties abandoned, or lost due to indifference, even though preserved on paper or etched in brass, are seldom, if ever, regained.
That is what revolutions are for.
STRIKE.
Constitution obviously says Congress makes the laws, but of course that is not what we are seeing right now.
As much as I hate what Schumer did, I do understand his reason for doing it. It looks like the State's AG's are the entity that is suing tRump and his DOGE! It's a mess and it's not getting any better in the near future. ICE needs to be disbanded!
I agree that Schumer was in an impossible damned if you do, damned if you don’t position. I strongly recommend you and you readers listen to Heather Cox Richardson’s lecture from yesterday afternoon, for many reasons, but near the end she discusses his decision and its outcomes, and says clearly that, whatever we do, we CANNOT turn on each other. I think AOC, when asked if she still supports Schumer, said yes, though she disagrees with his decision. That is democracy!!!!
Can you post a link? Where can I find HCR lecture? Thanks.
I watched it through her FB page. It was posted 17 hours ago, and you can just click to see it. She also has a YouTube channel and it’s on there, too. Good luck! You will appreciate it, I’m sure!
Heather Cox Richardson is very wise.
Regarding Schumer’s decision to support the CR: I understand the desire to fight like hell against the Trump Regime. I feel that way too. But I think Schumer made the right choice, as difficult as it was. While the CR is a bad option, a shutdown is worse.
First, the rationale behind closing the federal government by withholding budget approval is the tactic’s use as leverage. One party withholds its cooperation to gain some concessions from the other. The problem with the Trump Regime and his core Congressional supporters is they will gladly welcome a government shutdown. It would give them the space to easily furlough "non-essential" employees, close the government agencies of their choosing. It would supercharge progress towards their goal of making the federal government as small as possible.
Second, a shutdown, as services are curtailed and employees furloughed, would hurt both the public and the remaining federal employees. That’s one reason Democrats have opposed shutdowns in the past.
We need to fight like hell against the Trump Regime and its effort to dismantle the federal government and impose a slash-and-burn culture war on our country. But we need to do it in a strategic way that does not harm people in the process. Yes, we can do both. We can only do both if we stay united.
Unlike you, Ken, for most of my adult life I have followed closely the conflict in the Middle East. (Not that it matters but I was raised in a loving mixed faith family with parents who were Jewish and Catholic.) The painful conflict has never seen a moment of peace. But now we in America have reached a place where ANY criticism of Israel is considered anti-semitic. There are no journalists in Gaza or the West Bank. WHY? An American with ties to either of those places is one of the precious few who can shed some light on the situation and now he is unlawfully imprisoned in our country. A documentary film, NO OTHER LAND, which was made by a young Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers, shot almost entirely on mobile phones in a West Bank community and won the the Academy Award for excellence this year is only being shown in independent cinemas across the country since no distributor will touch it. And the cinema that is screening the picture Miami is being threatened with eviction by the mayor. Seek and ye shall find the truth. Read Jimmy Carter's book on the subject for an opener.
I watched "No Other Land" and its Academy Award is well deserved. It gives valuable insights into the Palestinian's rage over their land being taken a generation ago. Another book I recommend is "The Lemon Tree" which helped me to understand the conflict much better as well. There is also a wonderful movie short called "The Gift" that I believe also won an Oscar. And of course there is a Netflix show called "Monk" about a Palestinian immigrant who grew up in Texas. Also worth watching.