Sen. Durbin is the Minority Whip. If we can't count on him to support the Democrat principles how can he do his job and persuade members of their caucus to support the party's position.

Might as well retire now with Shaheen.

On your final point I agree 100%. I just keep my index fund purchases on autopilot and hold on even if underperforming.

I've held a decent percentage in International, EM, and Small Cap indexes and not sold over the last decade.

Most non-professional investors get anxious to do something though.

Much of what you do now is prefaced by "I want to oppose but opposing would make things worse".

You're wrong. You're in office to fight in moments like this. Fight for us or step aside and let someone else do it.

Politics is getting things done when the opportunity arises. If the Dems have an opportunity to progress on an issue they have been trying to move forward on for years/decades, why would they pass on it.

There likely will not be many opportunities. But take them if they arise. Oppose all the rest.

Musk thinks he is an inventor.
-he just buys companies and markets them. He's a marketer.

Musk thinks he is a philosopher.
-he just tweets out random thoughts with very little deep knowledge of the nuance behind it. He's just an overly online troll.

Is it not though? If you buy early, everyone else after you props up the price and you can get rich. If you buy and nobody buys after you then you will be losing out.

It is a ponzi scheme in that if you own you need to hype it up to others to make out. Those at the top of the pyramid do the best.