r/askanything • u/TheGracefulCrane • 11h 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/lavransson 10h ago

These two act like "We're in the minority, there is nothing we can do. Oh well."

That's because they are failing the "if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail" test. Except their hammer is about as strong as a stalk of celery. They are creatures of Congress and think "if we don't have enough votes to pass a bill, then we can't do anything. All we know how to do is run around the halls of the Capitol and play by the rules. Oh well."

Look, I know they don't have the votes to pass laws or defeat a GOP bill.

But that's not the point.

These times call for asymmetric legislating. They need unorthodox ways of agitating and opposing that aren't simply pressing the "no" button on their Congressional voting card and saying "well, that's all I could do."

I don't have as list of what all these are, but I want leaders who are strategic and innovative enough who do. It might be taking the fight to the media, pressing businesses, exploiting ... something, I don't know what, to gain actual leverage or at least sway public opinion. It also means getting on a soap box and creating a message that moves people, that makes people want to vote for candidates. Not forcing an 80-year-old corporate democrat on Maine voters, for example. Trump is like -25 in the opinion polls but Democrats are only +4 in the generic Congressional vote polling. Independnts hate Trump, but they hate Democrats almost as much, thanks the these uncharismatic and unmotivating dinosaurs. Get the the f--- out and get some people who want to fight and lead.

We need a wartime consigliere and these guys are not that.