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Democrats Are Walking Into a Trap

With a government shutdown looming, Democrats are clanging like cymbals, accusing Republicans of not wanting to fund "healthcare." Of course, the truth of the matter is far different from their pronouncements. What's being "cut" are COVID-era emergency appropriations that Democrats set to expire in the Inflation Reduction Act.

Then there's the issue of funding for healthcare for illegal aliens, which is part of the $1.5 trillion "hostage" deal exposed by Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).

But while Democrats are no doubt responsible for marching America toward another shutdown, given they'd be the ones blocking a clean funding bill, they would also be marching themselves into a trap. If the clock strikes midnight and there's no continuing resolution, the Trump administration will be able to go nuclear on the bureaucracies, which remain the primary power center for the left.

In fact, a memo has already been set out by OMB telling various government agencies to prepare for mass firings…

….This is where things get really interesting. Because the funding would no longer exist for programs that aren't required by statute, those staff reductions would not be considered layoffs. Instead of being furloughed and brought back the moment the lights come back on, as in past shutdowns, those bureaucrats would have no right to return. Further, the administration would then be able to fill any vacancies it wants to keep with those in line with President Donald Trump's agenda.

That leaves Democrats with very little leverage in negotiations as the deadline looms. If they choose to plow forward with shutting the government down to virtue signal for illegal immigration, they will end up taking a hatchet to the embedded bureaucracy, their primary source of policy influence.

So are they bluffing? I'm starting to think so. No doubt Schumer and company are more than willing to screw over Americans, but are they willing to screw over themselves? Color me skeptical they'll give Trump that big of a win just to garner a few more backslaps from MSNBC. I think there's a good chance Democrats back down in the eleventh hour...

BDKJMU wrote: ↑Tue Sep 30, 2025 5:57 am

Democrats Are Walking Into a Trap

With a government shutdown looming, Democrats are clanging like cymbals, accusing Republicans of not wanting to fund "healthcare." Of course, the truth of the matter is far different from their pronouncements. What's being "cut" are COVID-era emergency appropriations that Democrats set to expire in the Inflation Reduction Act.

Then there's the issue of funding for healthcare for illegal aliens, which is part of the $1.5 trillion "hostage" deal exposed by Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).

But while Democrats are no doubt responsible for marching America toward another shutdown, given they'd be the ones blocking a clean funding bill, they would also be marching themselves into a trap. If the clock strikes midnight and there's no continuing resolution, the Trump administration will be able to go nuclear on the bureaucracies, which remain the primary power center for the left.

In fact, a memo has already been set out by OMB telling various government agencies to prepare for mass firings…

….This is where things get really interesting. Because the funding would no longer exist for programs that aren't required by statute, those staff reductions would not be considered layoffs. Instead of being furloughed and brought back the moment the lights come back on, as in past shutdowns, those bureaucrats would have no right to return. Further, the administration would then be able to fill any vacancies it wants to keep with those in line with President Donald Trump's agenda.

That leaves Democrats with very little leverage in negotiations as the deadline looms. If they choose to plow forward with shutting the government down to virtue signal for illegal immigration, they will end up taking a hatchet to the embedded bureaucracy, their primary source of policy influence.

So are they bluffing? I'm starting to think so. No doubt Schumer and company are more than willing to screw over Americans, but are they willing to screw over themselves? Color me skeptical they'll give Trump that big of a win just to garner a few more backslaps from MSNBC. I think there's a good chance Democrats back down in the eleventh hour...

https://redstate.com/bonchie/2025/09/30 ... p-n2194556
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/2 ... n-00579909

kalm wrote: ↑Tue Sep 30, 2025 6:18 am

BDKJMU wrote: ↑Tue Sep 30, 2025 5:57 am
https://redstate.com/bonchie/2025/09/30 ... p-n2194556
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/2 ... n-00579909

Regardless, will premiums go up under the Republican plan? If so, by how much? Are there any predicted losses of coverage? How many people will this effect?

The R’s control both houses and the presidency. The ball is in their court.

BDKJMU wrote: ↑Tue Sep 30, 2025 2:47 pm

kalm wrote: ↑Tue Sep 30, 2025 3:53 pm

BDKJMU wrote: ↑Tue Sep 30, 2025 2:47 pm

Does this assign blame to either side? Otherwise, no one wants a shutdown.

GannonFan wrote: ↑Wed Oct 01, 2025 11:56 am

kalm wrote: ↑Tue Sep 30, 2025 3:53 pm

Does this assign blame to either side? Otherwise, no one wants a shutdown.

The Dems seem to be just fine shutting it down, just like the minority GOP was fine shutting it down the previous times. They could be negotiating right now on the what the Dems want (the COVID-related subsidies extension and the Medicaid cuts) with the government open but they choose to shut it down rather than pass the continuing resolution that would've kicked the can down the road for another 6 weeks or so while they negotiate. And they'd have the benefit of people starting to see their premiums increase which would put the Dems into even better negotiating position to get more of what they want if they did this later. This didn't need to be shut down right now, but again, Schumer knows when the primaries are and he needs to look resolute to avoid a real challenge next spring. He got the message loud and clear from the far left when he let things pass this past spring. He didn't dare risk the chance for an opponent to get momentum and into the race as they could've if we waited to pull the government shutdown card at the end of the calendar year. It had to be now for his own politics and his own pocketbook. When he gets reelected next year he'll be able to ride out this job and the perks that come with it into his 80's. So like Trump, and like Pelosi, and like so many other 80 year old plus politicians, it's more about what they can get from government and their seat in it that really drives their motivations.

In two national surveys released Sept. 30, Americans were more likely to blame Republicans than Democrats for a government shutdown, though results were mixed as to who would be considered most at fault. In a separate poll released the same day, Americans had a gloomy view of much of government, with more negative than positive takes on President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle.
…
In a five-day New York Times survey, most U.S. voters surveyed said both parties would be at fault for a shutdown, at 33%. Yet between the two parties, a little more than a quarter of respondents, 26%, said they would blame congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump, and 19% pointed their fingers at the Democrats. Another 21% said they had not heard enough about the shutdown to say who was responsible.
…
Independent voters held an even dimmer view of Republicans in the survey, with respondents twice as likely to assign blame to Trump and the GOP than to Democrats. Though respondents considered Democrats less at fault than Republicans, two-thirds said Democrats should not shut down the government if their demands are not met.

BDKJMU wrote: ↑Fri Oct 03, 2025 11:03 am Courtesy of the Schumer Shutdown!

kalm wrote: ↑Fri Oct 03, 2025 2:17 pm

BDKJMU wrote: ↑Fri Oct 03, 2025 11:03 am Courtesy of the Schumer Shutdown!

Illegal if any red states continue to receive it.

(Not that the law or constitution matter to these guys.)

Caribbean Hen wrote: ↑Fri Oct 03, 2025 12:58 pm “It is not normal to shut down the government when we don’t get what we want,” Ocasio-Cortez said.

“If the government shuts down, it will be average Americans who suffer most. A government shutdown means seniors who rely on Social Security could be thrown into chaos,” Schumer said.

“Families will be hurt. Farmers will be hurt,” Jeffries said.
“It’s the service members who will work without a paycheck. It’s the firefighters who will be furloughed,” Clark said.

BDKJMU wrote: ↑Fri Oct 03, 2025 5:44 pm

Caribbean Hen wrote: ↑Fri Oct 03, 2025 12:58 pm “It is not normal to shut down the government when we don’t get what we want,” Ocasio-Cortez said.

“If the government shuts down, it will be average Americans who suffer most. A government shutdown means seniors who rely on Social Security could be thrown into chaos,” Schumer said.

“Families will be hurt. Farmers will be hurt,” Jeffries said.
“It’s the service members who will work without a paycheck. It’s the firefighters who will be furloughed,” Clark said.

Most of the country can‘t tell and doesn‘t care that there‘s a 1/6th govt shutdown.

BDKJMU wrote: ↑Tue Oct 07, 2025 1:06 pm The real BS is while federal workers don‘t get paid while the shutdown is going on (essential will get back and every time in the past non essential has also) Congress will continue to get their paychecks. Complete BS and a pox on both sides (conk and donk).

BDKJMU wrote: ↑Tue Oct 07, 2025 1:06 pm The real BS is while federal workers don‘t get paid while the shutdown is going on (essential will get back and every time in the past non essential has also) Congress will continue to get their paychecks. Complete BS and a pox on both sides (conk and donk).

BDKJMU wrote: ↑Tue Oct 07, 2025 1:06 pm The real BS is while federal workers don‘t get paid while the shutdown is going on (essential will get back and every time in the past non essential has also) Congress will continue to get their paychecks. Complete BS and a pox on both sides (conk and donk).