Might as well not do anything?

by all means go ahead. I suppose it can't hurt, and my proposal doesn't exclude such a strategy.

BUT we should assume this administration will do what it always does: ignore the law, ignore Congress, ignore the courts.

My proposal is a way to force at least some needed changes.

You think this is a bad idea? Why>

to force Trump not to disobey the law?

Which is why I made my proposal.

Any change in behavior you want to see at ICE must be done BEFORE and as a condition of funding. It's the ultimate power of the purse, and probably the only language Trump & Co. will understand. First the list, then whatever funds, with whatever requirements the leadership wants to pass.

Again, you think this is a bad idea?

He will not spend money that Congress hasn't appropriated? He will spend the money that Congress has appropriated? How did he fund DOGE, how did he fund the ballroom?
The bad idea was electing Trump and his Congress. For now, we have to settle for what we can get.

You started by responding to my suggestion with "So, might as well do nothing?" as if that's what I was saying.

My response was to say, essentially, the leadership can impose any conditions it wants to impose, but here's something that we can try to actually get needed results. Something to do in addition to the agenda already proposed.

Now you seem to be saying, since Trump will do whatever he wants anyway, maybe we shouldn't do anything at all? Just settle for what we can get, which you seem to suggest will be: nothing?

So what would be your plan, aside from building a time machine to undo the 2024 election? Or maybe just wait until the next election and hope Trump and the GOP will suddenly respect results they don't like?

ICE is a clear and present danger to our democracy, such as it is. Your plan for the leadership to deal with this would be: what?

nothing was a statement from me comparing your plan to doing nothing. Simply put, in my opinion doing nothing would accomplish as much and probably more than not passing additional funding for ICE.
The Democratic leadership controls no branches of government. I believe their plan is about the best outcome we can expect.

Make him personally responsible for any damages awarded.
Make sure those damages are commensurate with the $10Bn he's seeking from the BBC about supposedly lying about him. (He set the precedent).
Give him and any enabler pause.

A brilliant idea!

DURec

Last edited Thu Feb 5, 2026, 01:30 PM - Edit history (1)

It's too late. Back to your regularly scheduled 4 hour lunches.