The fascist far-right doesn't want any opposition, not even a symbolic one. Democrats who won't even push past someone in a hallway will not try to beat them; many will join them. Some might leave or make other plans but anticipate treachery and increased collaboration.

Anyone waiting on the Democrats to be an opposition shouldn't expect much. Don't be surprised if or when the Democrats (starting with the high-level establishment) start joining the Republicans outright and pushing this society toward a more openly one-party state.

No one has to do the Democrats' job for them and tell them about the tools at their disposal. Do you think the Republicans are the only ones who know how the system works? 'If they wanted to, they would' applies to US party politics too. They've been like this and only gotten worse for years.

The right cannot be "fixed." It must be defeated. The same is true of Dems like Schumer. They cannot be cajoled into serving a better set of interests. They are constitutionally incapable, and what's more, they don't want to. We aren't part of their priority set.

If institutions and procedures cannot help human beings, they should be ignored or abolished. No institution or procedure should be defended for its own sake.

And yes, I do mean all of them. No one gets credit for doing the right thing here. The entire party is hiding behind 8 fall guys and then saying pretty words to make us feel better. Oust Schumer, keep the whole caucus locked in a room until people grow a backbone, out the cowards. Do something.

At every point, people find a reason to blame voters.

The heat never gets lit under these politicians.

And, don't let the politician leave office . . . then, we're supposed to just let them be comfortable in private life.