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indusurb

(266 posts)
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 11:34 AM Friday

Consider this, perhaps Trump and the Republicans want a government shut down

Republicans have wanted to cut government to the bare bones for a long time. They believe government spending should be reduced to just a few items, military spending and law enforcement being the main ones. A government shutdown would do just that. It also has the advantage of shutting down Congressional investigations into Epstein and Trump, not to mention elimination of the entire legislative branch altogether, at least for awhile.

Yes, yes, people would complain, no Medicaid, no national parks, etc., but does Trump really care? He isn't running for reelection again, and frankly the chances of the midterms being anything meaningful, other than as a dog and pony show, are disappearing quickly. With a government shutdown Trump gets to fire even more people and rule by EO. If he does need to spend money, he can always declare a national emergency to get the appropriations, and SCOTUS will back him up.

A government shutdown would consolidate even more power into his hands, and bonus, he gets to plausibly(at least to his followers) blames Democrats for the ensuing chaos.

Don't get me wrong, I think that the Republican budget and CR are both abhorrent, and if this were normal times I'd say shut it down. But these aren't normal times, and in some ways this reminds me of the 1933 Enabling Act in Germany, when the Reichstag voted themselves out of existence, concentrating all the power into Hitler's hands. Congressional Dems are caught between a rock and a hard place, with no good choices. I don't know what the solution is, but there are currently only two options, both bad. Perhaps there is a third option, I don't know, but as it currently stands both roads look fraught with danger.

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Frasier Balzov

(4,580 posts)
1. Republicans' wager is that Democrats will get blamed.
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 11:39 AM
Friday

Democrats must be very vocal reminding voters about who is in power at the moment and who is abusing that power.

indusurb

(266 posts)
2. And at least fifty percent of the country will blame Democrats
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 11:43 AM
Friday

Probably more than that, given the nature of the MSM these days.

iemanja

(56,775 posts)
3. Not 50%
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 11:50 AM
Friday

And so what if they do? It’s not an excuse to roll over for fascism. Democrats have won elections after prior shutdowns anyway.

ImNotGod

(1,144 posts)
5. I Don't care, it's now or never to fight fascism with every tool we have. It will be painful but if we give into any
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 12:29 PM
Friday

of these fascists games, rollover and play dead our party will be dead, forever.

Johonny

(24,767 posts)
7. Republican voters think Trump controls everything
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 12:32 PM
Friday

They will not understand how or why Trump shutdown the government. He will blame democrats . . . But Democrats know the dude can't shut up. He will be the face of a government shutdown because the news covers him 24/7. He can't fucking stop making news. He wants the world to revolve around him.

Happy Hoosier

(9,100 posts)
8. If the answer is that we meekly do nothing, I am opposed.
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 12:35 PM
Friday

We have to push back somewhere, somehow.

We sure as shit are not going to win any hearts and minds meekly accepting the rule of our fascist masters.

FUCK. THAT.

I'm DONE with that.

FHRRK

(1,209 posts)
11. Exactly
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 01:03 PM
Friday

Schumer compromised in March

What the fuck did we get out of that? Repukes just mass approved judges without Dem input

Fuck them, time to fight back hard and live with consequences, the bullshit compromise excuses must stop.

Irish_Dem

(75,315 posts)
10. When there are no good options, chose to do the right thing.
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 12:53 PM
Friday

The correct answer is to fight the PutinGOP tooth and nail.

We go down swinging.

wiggs

(8,447 posts)
12. Agree on their strategy to create chaos, fire more people, blame other people. Don't agree that dems
Fri Sep 26, 2025, 01:52 PM
Friday

should once again clean up their mess. Dems (maybe not Chuck) can make a big picture case about why we are in this position and demand safeguards for good government in the priority areas. Deal should be clear, so that when TSF rescinds the deal or re-allocates or finds a loophole to doom ACA or SNAP...there will hopefully be enough moderate goprs to push back.

I know that's asking a lot from goprs when there's no evidence that will happen.

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