Associated Press
Senate Democrats were grim Friday as they left Washington after a brutal 10-week stretch that consistently showed the limits of their power in the minority — and culminated with a deeply personal rupture over how to best counter President Donald Trump.
“Everyone made hard decisions, right? Really hard decisions,” said Sen. John Hickenlooper of Colorado, of the position in which Democrats found themselves over the last week as they had to decide between voting for a Republican spending bill they hated and shutting down the government. “It’s like two horrible things, and you can’t imagine either one.”
Internal dissension burst into the open Thursday evening after Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer announced he would vote to move forward on the Trump-backed spending measure, ensuring its eventual passage even though Democrats said it would give Trump broad discretion on decisions that are traditionally left to Congress.
The intraparty backlash was unusually swift as activists and House Democrats who had uniformly opposed the bill heaped criticism on Schumer. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Schumer’s New York colleague, joined other top party members in a statement saying, “We will not be complicit.”
The heat on Schumer came after several other Democratic setbacks in the dizzying weeks since Trump’s inauguration, and as Republicans have only become more unified under the president’s second term.
Republicans confirmed Trump’s entire Cabinet swiftly and with little internal disagreement, denying Democrats the needed votes to block nominees they saw as extreme, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Democrats were also unable to stop a series of moves by Trump’s administration that would normally be left to Congress under the law, including mass firings across the government. Adding to their challenges, the outlook for future Senate elections grew even gloomier after Democrats in three swing states — the latest being Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire — announced their retirement.
The days leading up to Friday’s vote on government spending were particularly bleak after several hourslong meetings that became contentious. Senate Democrats repeatedly left the meetings stone-faced and refusing to talk with reporters. The angst was particularly acute among rank-and-file who have spent years messaging about the perils of shutdowns.
“It’s a momentous decision,” said Shaheen, one of nine Democrats who voted with Schumer to keep the government open.
The tension was unusually high after Senate Democrats had remained solidly unified through Trump’s first term and through most of Democrat Joe Biden’s presidency, when Democrats passed several major policy bills and held the Senate against perceived odds in the 2022 midterm elections.
Schumer’s move to support the spending legislation put him in the rare position of bucking his party’s base. He said that of two bad options, a partial government shutdown was worse because it would give Trump even more control to shut down agencies and there would be “no off-ramp” to get out of it. “I think people realize it’s a tough choice,” he said.
Reaction to Schumer’s decision was mixed. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who voted not to move forward on the spending measure, wouldn’t answer when asked by reporters if she still has confidence in the Democratic leader. But Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, who voted to move forward, said Schumer “is showing leadership” by taking a stand.
Schumer and Democrats in his caucus say they believe they will eventually gain more political ground as members of their party become more motivated, and as they continue to criticize Trump on what they predict will be the economic ramifications of his policies.
On Friday, as he walked into the Senate to vote, Schumer said Democrats will “resume pounding away at Donald Trump” and arguing that he’s hurting the middle class economically. “It’s brought down his numbers some, and we’re going to keep at it, keep at it, keep at it.”
Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont said that spending vote was a “tough political call,” but the party would continue to be unified on the economic message.
“All of our base wants us to fight, and I’m with them,” said Welch, who voted not to move forward on the spending measure. But he questioned whether the party ever had any leverage, as Trump was preparing to blame them if there was a shutdown.
Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Democrats need to “keep their eyes on the ball.”
“The stark reality is, we’re the minority in the House, we’re the minority in the Senate, and we don’t control the White House, so we need to use every tool as nimbly and ingeniously as we can,” Blumenthal said. “But most importantly, the growing anger.”
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Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
11 comments
Ron Ogden
March 15, 2025 at 9:19 am
“. . .culminated with a deeply personal rupture over how to best counter President Donald Trump.”
That is not their job! Their job is to legislate what is best for America, and their method is to consult the voters in a DEMOCRATIC manner, by observing the most recent election, which is the channel through the voters express themselves in a representative democracy.
It can be argued that Schumer did it yesterday and that is why he earned the praise of President Trump.
But this article shows that the maintenance of representative democracy is not the goal of the party’s left wing and it is especially not the goal of the media in general and, double especially not the goal of the Associated Press.
It is getting to the point where America has to begin considering whether the rights of organizations that are committed to opposing representative democracy, organizations such as Hamas and the Associated Press, need to be examine closely examined and perhaps adjusted. If all they can think about is how to harm President Trump, they are disserving America.
TJC
March 15, 2025 at 10:43 am
What a load of bullshit.
Paul Passarelli
March 15, 2025 at 2:40 pm
ROFLMAO.
TJC, your skills of analysis & commentary are pathetic.
Paul Passarelli
March 15, 2025 at 2:39 pm
Well said!
Michael K
March 16, 2025 at 10:39 am
Sounds like a predisposition toward fascism.
It’s laughable that you think the goal of elected officials is to do what is best for America. The current administration has no interest in doing anything other than what is best for Musk/Trump and their co-oligarchs.
EARL PITTS "Poly-Sci Proffesor" AMERICAN
March 15, 2025 at 9:40 am
Good Morn’Ting Sage Patriots & Dook 4 Brains Leftists,
It has come to my, EARL PITTS “Poly-Sci Proffesor” AMERICAN’s, attention that many Americans are un-educated on the exact difference between Sage Patriots & Dook 4 Brains Leftists.
EARL PREACHES ON:
1.) SAGE PATRIOT (noun): A registared Republican.
2.) Dook 4 Brains Leftist (noun): Everyone else. This includes Democrats, Independants, NPA’s, along with any other political party that is not The Republican Party.
IN CLOSING:
Check yourself, neighbor, are you “A Beloved Sage Patriot” or “A Much Hated & Dispised & Stinky” “Dook 4 Brains Leftist?
Thank you Sage Patriots & Dook 4 Brains Leftists,
EARL PITTS “Poly-Sci Proffesor” AMERICAN
*those who are not registared to vote are also lumped in with “The Dook 4 Brains Leftists*
*FREE BUMPER STICKER*
*I ♡ EARL PITTS AMERICAN*
Mr. Speaker
March 15, 2025 at 10:22 am
Thanks Earl for clearing up this issue which has vexed our Great Nation since its founding back in 1776.
Its quite simple to understand when you explain it Earl.
May I have your permission to use your explanation in my PodCast to our Nation Earl?
Thanks, Newt
Paul Passarelli
March 15, 2025 at 2:48 pm
Earl,
I ain’t no “Dook 4 Brains”. While I’m not a Registered Republican, I have been vocally & financially supporting the GOP.
If you for technical reason are unwilling to grant me Sage Patriot” status, I would understand, but I refuse to allow you to group me with the Leftist trash out of laziness.
You need to create a third category that recognizes my good sense, even if it chides my unwillingness to blindly sign on the dotted line.
signed /s/
/ain’t no dook 4 brains/
PeterH
March 15, 2025 at 12:31 pm
Donald Trump’s childish display of whining at the DOJ yesterday will never change the fact that he is a convicted felon, a twice impeached racist clown whose presidency will never be cherished by 50% of the country or most of the free world.
Paul Passarelli
March 15, 2025 at 2:53 pm
So sad, PeterH.
Two bogus, politically motivated, impeachments, and a pure bullshit, post statute of limitations felony conviction only reveal the pure bile the Left has for the President.
I hope that bile eventually eats your insides out. When that ulcerated gut causes you to double over in pain, I will be standing proudly next to the President and I will laugh heartily at your agony.
Paul Passarelli
March 15, 2025 at 2:38 pm
The article states:
“… so we need to use every tool as nimbly and ingeniously as we can,” Blumenthal said. “But most importantly, the growing anger.””
The only anger that matters is the anger directed towards the Democrats that have lied, cheated, and stolen *TRILLIONS* from he American people.
Remember Blumenthal stole valor by claiming to have served in Vietnam. It was not a misspeak, it was a deliberate lie he tried to pass. Dick is filthy rich and completely out of touch with his constituency, and the American people.
Remember, Congress does control the purse. If they had been doing their jobs for most of the the past century we would not be where we are. They screwed the American People because it was easy to do. Democrats lied at every opportunity to secure political power.
They’ve finally been caught, and now they are terrified. As they should be.
Comments are closed.