General Discussion

W_HAMILTON

(10,245 posts)

144. Because there isn't much that can be done.

Thu Feb 5, 2026, 02:02 PM

Thursday

As much as you and others may wish otherwise, it's the truth. And it would be the truth regardless of who is in leadership.

The only potential alternative would be for Democrats to permanently shut down the government, but:

(1) That wouldn't reinstate the increased ACA subsidies nor stop anything ICE is doing since they have been deemed essential and will continue to operate during a shutdown.

(2) It would force DEMOCRATS to hurt even MORE Americans than are currently being hurt by higher healthcare premiums and ICE terrorizing our cities.

(3) As more and more Americans feel the pain of the government being shut down, they will pressure their Senators to end the shutdown. Republicans won't feel the pressure because most of them are extremist anyway and/or will just blame Democrats and our fascist friendly media will be all too happy to amplify their propaganda.

(4) Let's say you think none of the above would actually happen. We now live in a magical fairy world and enough Republicans join Democrats in extending the subsidies and abolishing ICE. Guess what? Trump will then just veto it..

So, yeah, this is all why I focus less on ultimately futile matters and more on emphasizing the importance of elections and realizing that you can't lose them and still expect to dictate everything as if you are in power.

Those who don't learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. We are inexplicably STILL in that stage right now.

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Highlight:

Chuck Schumer: Democrats want commonsense reform for ICE: [View all] demmiblue Feb 4 OP

Drive more twenty somethings away from the party chuckles JT45242 Feb 4 #1

Why is he still in Leadership? Why is it so hard to replace bad leadership? Ars Longa Feb 4 #105

Yes common sense reforms for the slave patrol gestapo racist militia LuvLoogie Feb 4 #2

Yeah, make them less Nazish? Swede Feb 4 #3

Maybe we could dress them in pink tutus, yellow dahlia Feb 4 #76

"abide by the same rules as local police." Johnny2X2X Feb 4 #4

Are you sure about that? MichMan Feb 4 #49

No, Chuck. We want ICE & ALL OF DHS ABOLISHED! SheltieLover Feb 4 #5

Exactly cally Feb 4 #28

And DHS, Dubya's post-911 nightmare creation. SheltieLover Feb 4 #56

They are bdamomma Feb 4 #37

Hear! Hear! yellow dahlia Feb 4 #77

AGREE ! republianmushroom Feb 4 #48

Post removed Post removed Feb 4 #6

This Democrat want's ICE fucking abolished. Maybe Chuck should push for something that Autumn Feb 4 #7

It's a good start SocialDemocrat61 Feb 4 #8

WTF Scrivener7 Feb 4 #11

This 😎 SocialDemocrat61 Feb 4 #18

Ivory Tower thinking is what got us into this mess. littlemissmartypants Feb 4 #40

My objection to the quote came from the fact that it is usually used to say, "Accept less." In most Scrivener7 Feb 4 #54

Trying to play nice is Chuck's default mode. And you are correct - yellow dahlia Feb 4 #82

"Playing nice" mr715 Feb 4 #92

No charisma. And indeed compromised. yellow dahlia Feb 4 #99

oh how true. choie Feb 4 #131

Exactly SocialDemocrat61 Feb 4 #61

Yeah, we saw how well defund the police worked for our side. Abolish ICE is another stinker slogan. beaglelover Feb 4 #101

I completely disagree. mr715 Feb 4 #117

Yeah but also don't let the good be the enemy of the better. Iggo Feb 4 #126

Very true SocialDemocrat61 Feb 4 #127

How many WTF's can we use in a day? yellow dahlia Feb 4 #80

So, if they contain themselves to teargas and beatings LearnedHand Feb 4 #73

Nice strawman argument SocialDemocrat61 Feb 4 #78

Cool, so heads cracked open better than death. Win win! durablend Feb 4 #88

Another great straw man SocialDemocrat61 Feb 4 #89

Exactly. yellow dahlia Feb 4 #83

You know what else helps Republicans? Bettie Feb 4 #119

Every journey begins SocialDemocrat61 Feb 4 #120

All too often it feels like that single step Bettie Feb 4 #122

Then maybe we should work SocialDemocrat61 Feb 4 #123

This is the perfect response. mr715 Feb 4 #132

Hey Chuckles BluenFLA Feb 4 #9

That's the wrong approach, gab13by13 Feb 4 #13

I'm good with border patrol for the most part. Fuck ICE and fuck reforming that bullshit Gestapo. Autumn Feb 4 #15

Krasnov, well Miller, gab13by13 Feb 4 #19

Border patrol existed long before Trumps ICE. Autumn Feb 4 #20

But he will negotiate it with a stern tone. yellow dahlia Feb 4 #84

Ice really needs to go, though. We don't have to state that we're doing it, but we can take a Scrivener7 Feb 4 #17

Yes exactly, gab13by13 Feb 4 #22

THIS! yellow dahlia Feb 4 #86

Fuck the MSM and ICE orangecrush Feb 4 #52

Vichy bdamomma Feb 4 #38

Schumer BeClowns himself everyday. 617Blue Feb 4 #10

You need to be more specific Chuck, gab13by13 Feb 4 #12

The only effective means to reform ICE is to replace its management Martin Eden Feb 4 #14

not going to happen gab13by13 Feb 4 #24

There really doesn't exist any leverage to defund ICE. LudwigPastorius Feb 4 #90

Missing the target. Kid Berwyn Feb 4 #16

Thomas Paine wrote a pamphlet called "Common Sense". Ping Tung Feb 4 #21

This. I think we need to reprint Common Sense and give it away as a free gift for the 250th. ! n/t Cheezoholic Feb 4 #33

THIS! yellow dahlia Feb 4 #87

THIS orangecrush Feb 4 #60

Thomas Paine is one of my favorite purveyor of words. yellow dahlia Feb 4 #103

"Sure, Senator, you can order milk and toast, but are you sure nothing else interests you?" JHB Feb 4 #23

To the "Abolish ICE" folks, here's the problem EarlG Feb 4 #25

+1 But Schumer shouldn't be the one making this case leftstreet Feb 4 #26

I don't disagree with that EarlG Feb 4 #27

Thank you EarlG bdamomma Feb 4 #43

"Repeal and replace ICE" - excellent. yellow dahlia Feb 4 #106

Bingo, gab13by13 Feb 4 #34

I hadn't read your comment yet, gab... yellow dahlia Feb 4 #107

I want them to abolish their Ivory Tower approach. littlemissmartypants Feb 4 #44

That could be a picture Jilly_in_VA Feb 4 #47

Exactly--and well said. Look how well "defund the police" went from a political standpoint. Ol Janx Spirit Feb 4 #50

Sorry, don't need this. orangecrush Feb 4 #57

Yes. yellow dahlia Feb 4 #108

I guess I'm not seeing the whole puncture orangecrush Feb 4 #63

I'm with you on that EarlG Feb 4 #110

Incremental change orangecrush Feb 4 #115

Thanks for the cogent thoughts for thought. yellow dahlia Feb 4 #104

"They'll behave if we treat them nice" ... Neville Chamberlain. usonian Feb 4 #29

Just like Barney Fife ....no masks, no bullets! surfered Feb 4 #30

Could he possibly sound any more milquetoast? How about "ICE as out of control and needs shutdown or massive overhaul." kysrsoze Feb 4 #31

Call it what it is - yes. yellow dahlia Feb 4 #109

Talk about wishy washy lol n/t Cheezoholic Feb 4 #32

At least the powder is still dry. flvegan Feb 4 #35

Like talcum powder orangecrush Feb 4 #55

Just as important, get rid of all the military crap they wear. patphil Feb 4 #36

Gather the bdamomma Feb 4 #45

Good start on a list. yellow dahlia Feb 4 #111

Memo to Schumer: AverageOldGuy Feb 4 #39

You need to write it more sternly. yellow dahlia Feb 4 #112

DHS & ICE were created solely to sweep W's massive f*** up known as 9/11 under the rug. Crowman2009 Feb 4 #41

Someone in DHS Jilly_in_VA Feb 4 #42

Exactly. mr715 Feb 4 #46

+1 orangecrush Feb 4 #65

I'm with you, J in VA. yellow dahlia Feb 4 #113

You can't "fix" the gestapo, Chuck orangecrush Feb 4 #51

You fix it by burning it down and salting the earth. mr715 Feb 4 #72

Would abolishing ICE mean an end to all deportations? MichMan Feb 4 #53

No. We have had deportations since our country began. ICE is 20 years old. Scrivener7 Feb 4 #58

Wasn't sure how it was done before ICE MichMan Feb 4 #64

Historically a lot of agencies have been invested with these powers mr715 Feb 4 #71

I do, it was called the INS. Crowman2009 Feb 4 #96

Democrats need common sense leadership mr715 Feb 4 #59

I think we can SAY our position is reform, but I hope our leaders know we want that reform to Scrivener7 Feb 4 #62

Someone with a pot conviction 30 years ago that is now working for the federal government should be fired? MichMan Feb 4 #67

As always, your response says a lot. Scrivener7 Feb 4 #68

You said " the firing of anyone with a criminal record" MichMan Feb 4 #69

Have a lovely day, dear. Scrivener7 Feb 4 #79

Yeah, reforms can cut to the bone. mr715 Feb 4 #70

"need to be at the center of a conversation while saying absolutely nothing" yellow dahlia Feb 4 #121

Effective OC375 Feb 4 #66

No Chuck, we want you to pour salt on it. We WANT it destroyed. Volaris Feb 4 #74

Chuck Schumer is not the problem MorbidButterflyTat Feb 4 #75

I don't hate Schumer. Like the board on my deck that needs to be replaced because it no longer fits Autumn Feb 4 #85

This is exactly, exactly the way to approach this. mr715 Feb 4 #91

"By whom?" Bernie Sanders responded to that same question when it was asked to him. W_HAMILTON Feb 4 #93

Senator Murphy seems to want the gig. mr715 Feb 4 #94

Can you point me to where he has called on Schumer to step down and/or announced he was challenging him a leader? W_HAMILTON Feb 4 #135

Blame the voters, a great way to being an eternal minority. mr715 Thursday #143

It's called educating the voters and the reason for doing so is that they don't make the same mistake again. W_HAMILTON Thursday #145

You keep asking this. I'd concur that Murphy would be my choice, but there are a number who would do well. Scrivener7 Feb 4 #97

Because I, like Sanders and most Democratic Senators, realize that changing leadership... W_HAMILTON Feb 4 #134

But, from your posts, you don't seem to think Scrivener7 Thursday #136

Oh come now... mr715 Thursday #141

Because there isn't much that can be done. W_HAMILTON Thursday #144

So is there anything you think is worthwhile to do now? Or will you continue to try and convince us that Scrivener7 Thursday #147

What is being done now is something that can be done. W_HAMILTON Thursday #148

What are you referring to? The partial shutdown? Haven't you argued that a shutdown is futile? Scrivener7 Thursday #150

"Abolish Schumer" anger-fests seem very addicting. Need that fix! betsuni Feb 4 #95

Maybe Marjorie Taylor Greene could replace Chuck! MorbidButterflyTat Feb 4 #114

Who here is supporting Greene? mr715 Feb 4 #116

Can you link to any posts here that are supporting her? It seems like another of those Scrivener7 Feb 4 #130

Don't wait for a link, you will be waiting forever. No one here supports MTG Autumn Thursday #138

Is this your way of saying she should? Because I'm sure not one soul here is looking for that. Autumn Thursday #137

I shall take your silence as a confession mr715 Thursday #139

He is right on this. Just like those who thought defund the police was a winning issue, it isn't. lostincalifornia Feb 4 #81

The reality is that there will have to be some arm of the federal government that enforces immigration law. Jedi Guy Feb 4 #98

Here's the thing, though mr715 Feb 4 #118

Chuck Schumer is not the leader required in this time. yellow dahlia Feb 4 #100

Jeezus, Chuck, wake up. It's an attempted coup Joinfortmill Feb 4 #102

Wrong answer, Chuck. travelingthrulife Feb 4 #124

I try so hard to support all Democrats MustLoveBeagles Feb 4 #125

He did not ask me. LoisB Feb 4 #128

Enough "common sense." Abolish DHS. DJ Synikus Makisimus Feb 4 #129

IF we win both or even just one chamber EnergizedLib Feb 4 #133

Message auto-removed Name removed Thursday #140

You're really stupid aren't you? KS Toronado Thursday #142

How can we make sound policy when living in fear of GOP focus group results? Kid Berwyn Thursday #146

For Some God Knows What Reason, Too Many Democratic Leaders Like To..... ColoringFool Thursday #149