#4 The problem with trying to blame Democrats for the shutdown is that the Trump and the GOP have let everyone know that THEY control Washington (POTUS, Congress, SCOTUS). It always seems to be "HaHaHa You lost" (from the Trump on down).

So, no matter how you slice or dice it, this is on the GOP... and the American people know it.

Plus, you add in the upcoming health care sticker shock, inflation ($20-30.00/pound beef) and the overall corruption, on what Earth do people rally behind THAT?

So, how are people supposed to unite behind that AND THIS:

- Why has the Trump given $40,000,000,000.00 of American taxpayer money, to a country known for defaulting on previous international loans?

- When are the Epstein files going to be released?

- Why did Kristi Noem spend $172,000,000.00 of American taxpayer money for not one, but 2 Gulfstream private jets (the US Government already has a fleet of air transportation exclusively for executive- and Cabinet-level personnel)?

- Why is there a Qatari Air Force Base - Qatari, a country that's financed international terrorism - being built in Idaho in the USA?

- Why has the Trump added $2,000,000,000,000.00 (and climbing) to the nation's debt just since he took office in January, 2025?

#4 I also highly recommend that you look into the phrase "recission veto," and then tell us why Democrats should just bend over and take it**.....

Well, you know.

Trump & the Republicans cannot be counted on to keep their word.

They have zero integrity.

** "The user's query refers to a 2012 statement by Richard Mourdock, a former Indiana Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate. During his campaign, Mourdock stated that his idea of compromise was for Democrats to join the Republican point of view.

#4 There is no "clean CR" in the mix anymore. A "temporary bill" is already being written in the Senate (looking at you, Sen Ron from Wis).

But, it will go nowhere.

Why? you may ask:

Because Speaker Mike (R-Of course) REFUSES to bring the House back into session.

Because of the Epstein files.

As such, the House will have to be back in session to vote on the soon-to-be changed bill.

But the House WILL NOT be back in session, anytime in the foreseeable future.

#4 If a majority party does NOT have a super-majority, then it is incumbent upon the majority party to work with the minority party to get enough votes to obtain cloture.

Most people call this compromise, coming-together, working together.

If the majority cannot do that, then they've failed as leaders of the country and are nothing more than sycophants.

Why are you defending a bunch of failures who cannot do the basic job of governance?

"Grocery prices are way down, and Walmart just announced that the cost of their standard Thanksgiving meal " this is the greatest, their greatest," Trump said in a speech to the American Business Forum on Wednesday, adding: "It is 25% lower than one year ago. That's a big deal."

The Trump is right - but the 2025 Thanksgiving bundle is also smaller than the 2024 package.

This year's package, at less than $40, contains 23 items; last year, there were 29.

The missing items this year include:

onions

celery

sweet potatoes

chicken broth

poultry seasoning

muffin mix

marshmallows

whipped topping and ...

.. pecan pie

But its "cheaper," right?

He (Kudlow) appeared perplexed Tuesday by polls showing burgeoning dissatisfaction with Trump.

"They're just not good numbers in general," Kudlow told Conway. "Even though, you know, as I said, the economy is starting to boom and the inflation rate is not that bad. It's 3%. It's not getting any worse. So what do you make of that?"

Conway, who helped elect Trump in 2016 as his campaign manager, defended the president. She argued that the public has an "automatically negative" reaction to the word "inflation" " and that they hear the term more often than they do "Trump."

"And inflation is that one sticky issue that's been so stubborn since COVID," Conway told Kudlow. "People don't like what they're paying for things. But I would remind everybody, a year ago tomorrow, Donald Trump won in part because he said, They broke it; I'll fix it.'"

She continued, "It takes a long time to fix something that broken."

Biden took office in 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the economy and resulted in the deaths of about 400,000 Americans. He went on to sign the CHIPS and Science Act, passing $280 billion in funding to boost domestic manufacturing of semiconductors.

Trump took office in January and has since launched mass deportations that frequently involve masked immigration agents snatching civilians off the street. He also announced steep international tariffs in April " which sent global markets into upheaval.

#53 How will the Dems work with this major election win going forward?

By continuing to use the Trump's "new" word: Affordability. The economy is NOT going to get any better, it is getting worse. And just wait until this holiday season air travel is screwed up. And the Trump says that NOW there is no inflation!

(What's particularly fun about this is that 13 just 13 months ago then-President Biden was talking up his economic recovery efforts and the MAGA just laughed at Biden, Harris and all Democrats. NOW that exact same shoe in now on the Trump's foot and HE's the one claiming that everything economically for Americans is smelling like rose, instead of the stink they smell every time they go to the grocery store!)

The Trump is the gift that keeps on giving (to Democrats). He cannot keep his mouth shut. For example, pledging on doubling down on the ICE violence. People see on their local news (read: LOCAL NEWS, not MSN) and see kindergarten teachers hauled away by ICE. Four year old kids zip-tied. Americans can see that almost every day. Plus, his fixation on his $300,000,000.00 ballroom, which will still be under construction for the near future.

So while it is entirely possible that Democrats might shoot themselves in the foot between now and next November (and any number of external factors interjecting themselves into our politics), the Democrat's 2026 messaging will be easy:

Are you better off now than you were 2 years ago?

...while the Trump's mouth and actions takes care of the rest.

"That's what we're going to negotiate once the government opens up," Thune said after Schumer made his proposal on the floor.

Look into the phrase "recission veto," and then tell us, Leader John, why Democrats should just bend over and take it**.....

Well, you know.

Trump & the Republicans cannot be counted on to keep their word.

They have zero integrity.

** "The user's query refers to a 2012 statement by Richard Mourdock, a former Indiana Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate. During his campaign, Mourdock stated that his idea of compromise was for Democrats to join the Republican point of view.

-> "He is no longer a sitting or current candidate."

#21 Watcha gonna do if the Senate passes Sen. Ron's bill?

It has to then be approved by the House before being sent to the White House for signature.

But, it will go nowhere.

Why? you may ask:

Because Speaker Mike (R-Of course) REFUSES to bring the House back into session.

Because of the Epstein files.

As such, the House will have to be back in session to vote on the soon-to-be changed bill.

But the House WILL NOT be back in session, anytime in the foreseeable future.

#64 and your astute observation about state-level changes... from Rick Wilson: And if I were Trump ( God forbid), I'd be nervous. Because when people start using state races as a low-cost way to punch your movement in the face, they tend to keep punching.

2026 is coming.

#28 Let me throw this idea out there for your consideration:

How about we start taxing the uber-wealthy who have, for the past 40 years, been able to dodge their financial responsibilities that provide them with a country that protects them and their money and their property?

Not to mention the fact that this country has given them, the uber-wealthy, a nation of publicly educated wage-earners who can afford to buy their products/services?

How about that?

Afterall, ingratitude is a Cardinal Sin.

#19 Self-defense is recognized as a legitimate use of force around the world.

No 2nd amendment necessary.

The 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution has done nothing (0) for the United States of America.

Absolutely nothing.