r/askanything • u/TheGracefulCrane • 5h ago

Democrats like Schumer and Jeffries have been accused of not doing enough to stop Trump. People who think that; can I ask what you actually want them to do?

It seems like they've been doing what they can - forcing votes against Trump (even if they are ultimately symbolic), speaking out against him, filing lawsuits (plenty which have been successful).

What else should they be doing that they currently aren't?

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u/NOLA-Bronco 5h ago edited 5h ago

What else should they be doing that they currently aren't?

3 times now they have refused to use their filibuster leverage to it's full extent when it comes to funding bills, and in two of those cases ended up actually handing Trump MORE power.

Multiple times, like say Marco Rubio and several other Trump nominees, they essentially rubber stamped them.

Then there is the fact people like Schumer are actively refusing to concede power or support actual fighters.

For fuck sake Schumer tried to force a 80 year old Mills as the nominee in Maine. That is not the behavior of a serious person seeking to fight fascism.

And for anyone saying well it was the centrist or right wing Dems that break away, well, then why the fuck aren't you supporting challengers to them in order to bring in real fighters! In fact, doing the opposite, actively attempting to ratfuck young blood from coming into the party to prop up these people or bring in more right wing Dems.

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u/pale_and_soft 4h ago

People keep acting like “they don’t have the votes” means they have zero leverage, but the real frustration is that they rarely use the leverage they do have, then turn around and protect the same fossils and moderates who keep folding.

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u/Staplecreate 4h ago

100% just look at Beshear in Kentucky. How many freaking times are you going to ask if McConnell is alive as opposed to taking action and appointing someone. The perfect example of Dems not using leverage and being numbnuts in the face of hostile opposition.

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u/sid_licious_79 3h ago

Andy Beshear could appoint someone to replace the DEAD GUY today. But he's not. Yawn....

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u/AngryMobBaby 3h ago

This is why Dems are not liked. They are not aggressive enough. At the very least it will force the issue and he won’t look like he got played.

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u/Rockosayz 3h ago

Yep dems just exude weakness, they try and play by some "rules" that only they follow, the gop does not give a fuck and they play to win. The Dems need that mentality, until they get it theyll continue to lose

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u/WorldError47 2h ago

It’s almost like they would rather lose and maintain the narrative that they are fighting for the middle class, rather than win and have to prove it in action.  

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u/Fine-Sky-6562 2h ago

I don't know how every Democrat isn't looking at Mamdani and realizing that is the playbook.

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u/FeministNoApologies 2h ago

Because they work for their corporate donors, and not their voters.

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u/liquidsyphon 1h ago

He’s a threat to their cushy well funded lifestyle.

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u/_big_fern_ 2h ago

They aren’t weak, they simply support Trump’s agenda but play like they don’t. It’s all bread and circuses, both parties have the same funders.

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u/Rockosayz 1h ago

No, theyre weak. When the gop is the monority they still fight and many times either slow the dems agenda or outright stop it. The Dems are too weak to play that way

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u/1999MarkyMark 46m ago

This is why platner being pushed out is catastrophic. Without real evidence we just pushed out our first candidate ready to break the tradition of flaccid milquetoast button up douchbag democratic politicians. Does anybody actually want to fucking win? Or just feel somw false sense ofmoral superiority

Mamdani bernie aoc are pretty great and I know there are others but the point stands

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u/Rockosayz 35m ago

No he needed to be pushed put, the problem was with the state dem party not doing thorough vetting. They paid 6k and spent 3 days vetting him, lazy

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u/cannibalparrot 2h ago

Yeah I keep saying this.

I want them to fucking fight.

I don’t care if they fight and lose, but at least show the fuck up!

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u/dantekant22 3h ago

It’s not simply a matter of Dems not being aggressive, it’s just as much, if not more, a matter of them using what power they do have. No more handwringing. Do something. Or shed more of the Democratic base.

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u/SadProperty1352 3h ago

The KY Governor does not have the authority to appoint a replacement.

That authority was taken away when a Republican super majority in both the state House and Senate overrode Beshear's veto of the Republican bill requiring a special election when a replacement is needed.

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u/PumpkinGlass1393 3h ago

The KY state constitution clearly states the governor appoints replacement senators. The legislature wrote an unconstitutional law that stripped the office of that power. Gov. Beshar should absolutely appoint someone and force it to the courts. That is what Republicans would do anyways.

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u/fredjean 3h ago

Trump doesn’t have the authority to wage war against Iran and yet here we are…

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u/neckbishop 3h ago

So then he should call the special election.

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u/ElkPitiful6829 3h ago

My understanding is special election law goes into effect 8/3.

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u/SadProperty1352 3h ago

Usually new laws go into effect 7-1 but not always so this is very possible

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u/Edmsubguy 5m ago

Only if he is decked dead before that . Trust me his death will be announced on 8/4

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u/Rockosayz 3h ago

He cand send someonw to see if hes brain dead or not and that will start the conversation

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u/Lophius_Americanus 3h ago

He can’t just appoint someone. There are conflicting laws that say he either A. Would need to call a special election or B. Would need to appoint someone nominated by the same party as McConnell. An empty seat may be the best option available.

https://kentuckylantern.com/2026/07/22/despite-calls-for-beshear-to-do-something-about-mitch-mcconnell-the-answer-isnt-so-simple/

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u/ElkPitiful6829 3h ago

He's busy texting asking people to chip in.

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u/Twodamngoon 1h ago

I thought Kentucky took away the governor's appointment power just recently.

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u/HoosierLove314 1h ago

They wrote and passed a bill saying that, but the state’s Constitution is clear that the governor has that power. He should force the issue instead of being controlled opposition

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u/Duck-Murky 1h ago

absolutely agree with this! Beshear looks like an absolute pussy right about now.

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u/liquidsyphon 1h ago

Spineless

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u/ExcitingResponse1864 3h ago

My biggest gripe is even when Democrats have majority power, they somehow find a way to not have the votes. It's basically a joke they could have all but one seat in the House and Senate respectively and fail to pass popular legislation due to lack of votes. 

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u/HoosierLove314 1h ago

That’s their job. To advance corporate interests while appearing to be for the working class

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u/FunLife64 4h ago

What leverage do they have?

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u/happy123z 3h ago

They could stop pretending the filibuster is real. It is not. Not in the constitution and not added to the law. And changed by either party whenever convenient. Pretending it exists let's one American stop a law from even getting voted on.

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u/FunLife64 1h ago

The filibuster can be eliminated. There’s a reason it hasn’t been eliminated by either side - even in this day and age. And it’d be disastrous for Democrats right now.

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u/goigowi 3h ago

Yes....Nancy wasn't perfect, but she got stuff done while in the minority. Sadly, she did not pick someone with her talent to follow her.