I’m just saying that it’s like playing chess. You have to have a plan. What’s the plan if the GOP doesn’t move on the ACA subsidies? Just keep the government in permanent shutdown? I don’t like what’s happening either. But it may also be the case that this was the best course of action.

That’s what many people are arguing. I have no idea what the best solution is/was. But it sure seemed like the GOP was never going to agree. I’m not sure what the next step was. The CR lasts until January. The Dems can bring it up again, after a vote in December on the ACA.

The GOP was never going to agree to instituting the ACA premium help. What was the plan exactly if they never agreed to it? Keep the government shutdown going forever?

Democrats are not like Republicans. These people are obviously adults. Kaine and Durbin know what’s what. Schumer doesn’t have some magic power over them. Kaine was probably worried about the federal workers in Virginia.

Schumer couldn't prevent the Dem Senators from striking a bargain on their own. That's not really his fault.

At the very least, Mike Johnson will no longer have the excuse that the House isn't in session if he wants to keep the government open. I don't know how he avoids having her sign the Epstein petition.

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This is actually worse than I assumed:
*DOGE officials looked at SSA data, did not understand it and claimed there was fraud
*SSA career staff explained the data showed no fraud
*DOGE: we don’t trust civil servants, will hand power to a 21 year old intern

Nothing could convince them they are wrong

It’s not but it sure does help.

Not my quote but: “Libertarians are like house cats, they’re convinced of their fierce independence while dependent on a system they don’t appreciate or understand.”

It sort of makes sense, given our very different histories, that Europeans can’t grasp the level of racism at work in Trump and his administration. But what explains the MAGA crowd and their complete denial about it and their own racism?