Support Democratic political courage to defend against Trumpzi authoritarianism! Vote Democrat~ Vote Blue!

Ezra Klein in The New York Times: I often heard people complain that Democrats lacked a message. What Democrats really lacked was power. They didn’t have the House or the Senate, but they did have one sliver of leverage: To fund the government, Senate Republicans needed Democratic votes. And not just one or two. They needed at least seven Democrats to reach that magic 60-vote threshold. House Democrats wanted a shutdown. 

But, nevertheless, Chuck Schumer, the leader of the Senate Democrats, didn’t. He voted for the funding bill and encouraged a crucial number of his colleagues to do the same. 

Obviously, the bill passed.😖

To many Democrats, this seemed insane. Some began openly calling for Schumer to resign or face a primary challenge. This was Democrats’ first real opportunity to fight back against Trump, and they had folded. What were they good for❓

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/09/opinion/democrats-congress-trump.html

Echo opinion letter published in The New York Times: 

Kudos to Mr. Klein for his thoughtful and prescient article, coupling a succinct summary of today’s political realities with a credible path forward for enlightened House and Senate Democrats.

The congressional leadership ought to step up to the plate by using the potential U.S. government shutdown as an opportunity to register a set of demands that must be met in exchange for Democratic support for continued funding of the government.

The demands should focus on stanching erosion of the rule of law, such as by enacting legislation that would prohibit future deployment of National Guard troops in U.S. cities.

Whether or not such efforts prove successful, they would at least establish a sound platform on which Democrats in Congress could run in next year’s elections. In my view, as it now stands, they have few recent accomplishments or politically attractive proposals on which to run.

From Russell E. Pommer in Naples, Florida

To the Editor: I agree with Ezra Klein that we must “stop acting like this is normal,” as the online headline of his column puts it. Any government shutdown should aim at restoring trust in government. Distrust is currently bipartisan.

New legislation worthy of a showdown might be labeled Honor in Government. It should include these components:

1. Those governing should not profit from their legislative or executive actions. Public financial records or blind trusts should be required.

2. A legislator should not be for sale. If a legislator receives funding above a certain threshold from a company or industry, she must recuse herself from votes supporting that company or industry.

3. Independent watchdogs and agency heads must be independent. Firing them should require a two-thirds legislative vote.

4. The government must honor previous commitments. This includes funding, treaties, immigration promises such as parole and Temporary Protected Status, and promises made to allies. Afghans or others who fought alongside our military should be protected.

5. Exercise of the right to free speech, including peaceful protest, may not be used to revoke federal funding or visas.

From Rachel Wheeler in Concord, Massachusetts

In other words, vote Democrat, Vote Blue ❕