Democrats Have Decided a Government Shutdown is Good Politics.
We have yet another government shutdown. Before we get into the issues at hand, we need to remind ourselves that his would not be happening if Congress were to do its job.
Each year, Congress is supposed to approve 12 appropriations bills before the fiscal year begins on October 1. These bills fund everything from defense to education. However, in recent decades, lawmakers have increasingly relied on temporary measures known as Continuing Resolutions (CRs) and so-called stopgap funding bills.
The last time Congress completed the full budget process before the start of the fiscal year was for Fiscal Year 1997. Yep! More than a quarter of a century ago. Since then, the federal government has limped from one CR to another, with shutdowns becoming a recurring symptom of congressional failure. The very idea of a stopgap spending bill is to simply advance current spending to allow time for negotiations without shutting down most of the federal government. These shutdowns are not inevitable—they are the result of legislative dysfunction.
So, here we are again. Another government shutdown. How long will it last? What will the impacts be? When will it end? We do not know – but we can speculate on why it is happening again.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has done a 180-degree reversal from his position on the March Republican spending bill. Schumer was correct back in March when he warned that a shutdown would be harmful to the American people. That it would provide President Trump with exceptional powers to do things Democrats oppose – such as permanently terminating tens of thousands of federal employees. Schumer said a shutdown would be “catastrophic”.
But now, under pressure from the left wing of his party, Schumer and his colleagues are doing precisely what he cautioned against. And why the change? It is obvious. He hopes to avoid a primary challenge from the left.
Democrats are blocking the Republican stopgap spending bill – officially the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act — that would keep the government open to November 21 — all in pursuit of a laundry list of left-wing priorities that would add trillions of dollars in permanent spending.
Such Democrat proposals would normally be subject to an ongoing negotiating process. They have no place in a short-term emergency funding measure. But Democrats are holding the federal government hostage in an effort win Republican approval of their spending proposals. Ain’t gonna happen.
The shutdown could mean hundreds of thousands of federal workers being furloughed or even permanently laid off. Passport processing will slow to a crawl, national parks may close, and small businesses that rely on federal loans or permits will be left in limbo. Contractors will go unpaid. The Congressional Budget Office has previously estimated that shutdowns can shave points off GDP growth, hurting the economy at large.
The Schumer strategy has handed the Trump administration a unique ability to undertake reductions-in-force aligned with administration priorities for a smaller less intrusive federal government. Trump has already said that some good can come out of a shutdown — but not for Democrats.
This is a golden opportunity for Trump to reshape the federal bureaucracy, and the Democrats are handing it to him on a silver platter. Their refusal to compromise is not principled resistance—it is political malpractice. Trump has a pat hand and he is not about to give Democrats anything more than a Cheshire Cat smile as he watches them squirm in response to their own foolish strategy. Trump has no reason to kowtow to Democrat demands. He has made it clear that he will not entertain “unserious and ridiculous” proposals from the radical left – and that is about all they are offering.
Not all services will cease. Social Security checks will still go out. Essential services—such as air traffic control, law enforcement, the military, and emergency response—will continue. Much to the chagrin of Democrat mayors and governors, ICE will continue to be funded – but billions of dollars in federal aid to cities and states may be put on hold – or cancelled permanently. It may provide another opportunity to effectively put an end to the Department of Education.
By all accounts, the Democrats have painted themselves into a corner. As the government starts grinding to a halt in the days ahead – and if the shutdown goes into weeks and months – the pressure will grow on Senate Democrats to vote in favor of the GOP bill. It will not be Trump or the Republicans who bear the brunt of public outrage—it will be Senate Democrats and their recalcitrance who will feel the mounting pressure.
Opposition to the GOP bill is already undermined by Democrat Senators who have rejected Schumer’s strategy and have voted for the bill. We saw three Democrat senators — John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto, and independent Angus King — vote for the GOP bill on the first round. As the bill comes up for a vote every day, it is likely to receive a trickle of Democrat votes – until at least eight Democrat senators vote for the GOP bill — and it passes. End of shutdown.
The radical left—figures like Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Sheldon Whitehouse and other hardcore left-wingers—have convinced Schumer to drive the Democratic train off a cliff. They see this moment as a chance to “stand and fight,” to look tough, but they are fighting the wrong battle – a losing battle. The American people want stability, not ideological warfare. They want their government to function, not to be held hostage by partisan obstinance.
Eventually, cooler heads will prevail, and the Republican stopgap bill will pass. But damage will be done — and conversely, gains will be made on the Trump agenda. Blame is likely to eventually fall squarely on those who allowed Trump Derangement Syndrome to trump common sense and political savvy.
The Democrats have put the nation into an unnecessary shutdown. Millions of people will suffer. Some federal employees will never return to their jobs. Important – if not deemed to be “essential” – services will create hardships for lack of immediate funding. Programs favored by Democrats may cease to exist. And what will Democrats have gained? Nothing.
So, there ‘tis.
Larry says: “We have yet another government shutdown. Before we get into the issues at hand, we need to remind ourselves that his would not be happening if Congress were to do its job.” He neglects that Congress, both Houses, are Republican majorities. Trump himself repeats over and over how he crushed us in the election; every state, every swing, every demographic, he blew the doors off and the author agrees when talking budgets in the Republican controlled Congress: “these shutdowns are not inevitable — they are the result of legislative dysfunction.” Dysfunction In the Republican Congress and the Republican desk where the buck stops (before blame is assigned elsewhere, usually to human scum and vermin.) He who owns it, bones it.
The author also neglects to note, as part of his wordy yet boring history lesson, that the last shutdown occurred during Trump 1.0. Let’s face it; shutdowns, bankruptcies, loan refinancing, largest deficit in US history, and shady investors are Trump’s stock in trade. Guy has troubles now getting a legitimate bank to even give him a loan. Known for cooking his own books, non-stop IRS audit, this is the last guy you want working your ledger. We need some adults in that room. Now he’s the crypto king, a business that seems to fit right up his grift skills angle.
The author goes on for 4 typewritten pages, if double spaced, 12 pt., which seems a long tome. And consider the source who’s calling it long. He tends to dance a lot as he calls out Democrats 25 times with only 5 Republican call outs as he explains why it’s the Democrats fault that the Republicans cannot get the budget done and have shut down the federal government.
Seriously though, the author misses the point: all budgets and all spending bills are the responsibility of BOTH parties in CONGRESS. And therefore both parties MUST work together to gain consensus. Remember the myriads of bipartisan actions and bills under President Biden? Now we have shutdowns, EO’s, memo’s, lots of screaming the blame game. Rarely a new law advanced. Just the BBB. And one indictment, a really weak one, that I am betting might not see a courtroom. In Biden’s first year, we had the bipartisan American Rescue Plan BILL and the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act BILL. And no Federal shutdowns. Also the Forced Labor Prevention Act, Juneteenth Independence Day BILL, extended covid bankruptcy relief billS, raised the debt limit (to stop federal shutdowns), and all the EO’s and memo’s.
Biden made law, Trump makes waves.
Bottom line: it’s a Republican game; you own the board. Democrats are not politicking, they are plainly saying that your healthcare budget cuts suck pondwater, from the bottom, after stirring up the mud. You want to end ObamaCare credit extensions throwing millions off health insurance without any alternatives. And we don’t. We like the fact that under Biden, America had more and a larger percentage of our citizens covered by health insurance. You apparently do not. And then bring back the Medicaid and healthcare agency cuts to MAHA. I mean if MAHA is transparent and you actually mean what you say, then put OUR money where YOUR mouth is, or should be.
Lastly, fix pocket rescissions and the reconciliation processes so that you cannot, by simple majority, claw back any of the spending you promised in the budget process. That’s just fucking common sense that you can’t erase by simple majority, whether rescission or reconciliation, to erase and pull back what the supermajority JUST VOTED FOR. Recission or reconciliation is a bullshit move by either party. Be gone with it or fix it.
Now, compromise and move on. Like adult policy makers.
Trump didn’t cause the shutdown. But Dunger was born stupid and has lost ground every day
“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.” USA Today
“Opinions of congressional Republicans were harsher in a Marist Poll, conducted Sept. 22 through 26 among 1,477 U.S. adults. Nearly four in 10 Americans said Republicans would be to blame for the shutdown, at 38%, while another 31% said they blamed both parties. As in the New York Times survey, Democrats were the third most likely to be blamed, at 27%. Four percent of respondents said they would not blame either political party.” USA Today
Apparently America agrees: most feel Republicans own it. In truth, both parties are to blame, that too could change over time. But I doubt it. The Democrats story is crisp, clear, and clean, and Trump/Vance is as clear as mud. I mean the government shuts down for a day and Trump says we gotta fire people. WHY? Is the yugetst deficit holder, a deficit unmatched for awful in all of American history, a guy who went bankrupt over a half dozen times ———— this guy is worried about running a tab? Nope, those folks are just cannon fodder for Trump’s deranged argument against what he calls “human scum” or “vermin.” The Democrats want to keep people’s health insurance, and to be able to claw back any budget items they pass a week later. This shit should not stick to the wall and the Dems are showing you, loud and clear, what you are about to lose.
The commiecrats want to give health care to illegal wet backs. As for polls, kumbreath Harris and Killery rotten Cunton were favored to win the elections. After the SCOTUS ruled that baby murder was a state issue, polls showed the Republican Party getting hosed. Sorry Dunger. Didn’t happen. So you can shove your polls up your ass. But first you must remove your head from your ass.
The illegals are committing a crime by coming here illegally in the first place. They still get welfare checks, free medical and food stamps. They seem to be making a liar out of whoever said that “Crime doesn’t pay.” it seems to be paying big time for illegals.
Good points Old Sarge, but some right-wing urban myths too which I am shocked you have not yet “sussed” out. First, thanks for your service, muchly appreciated sacrifice.
Yes, illegals committed a crime. Most have just jumped the border. A misdemeanor worth $50-$250 in penalty plus a possible six months in the poky. That’s the crime and IMO, not worthy of a warrantless arrest by masked men without ID to then be deported to a third-world maximum security prison where most go in but never come out, standing at least. The punishment is a show for your benefit and as a powerful deterrent for future comers. It DOES NOT fit the crime, it is cruel and unusual, and I think beneath our vision of what America and Americans are. IMO. Plus, at $1M a plane, it’s fucking expensive with Trump running a higher deficit already over Biden’s last year, and probably three years of Biden post pandemic. Your kids will pay that welfare check.
Plus, for those who only crossed the border, who work here, pay taxes, and do not commit crimes, is spending $1T to deport them all. Plus, it’s a lie that he will deport 14M in four years. That’s 300,000 people per month, he’s lucky to be at 3,000 today. He lied before he even started. When he got to office, he pivoted from deporting 14M to focusing on criminals, who are easier to find but only a small number of the 14M. Like 650,000 according to ICE. Trump tells you what he says he’s focused on and then a few days ago drops masked, unmarked, warrantless agents from Blackhawks onto a Chicago apartment building where they tossed it, tossed everyone, and disappeared many people guilty of a misdemeanor. Most of the agents arrived with Budget panel trucks; we couldn’t afford to drive our own vehicles I guess. *https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/10/03/chicago-area-immigration-raids-dhs/86497161007/* They left the apartment complex a shambles, like 3,000 untrained assholes tossed everything into the hallways looking for illegal in dirty clothes hampers I guess. This is bullshit, this is cruel and unusual punishment, this is the Federal Government invading the States on the orders of one man. This is spectacle like the Romans used to enjoy, for show, and you would never foot the bill for this crap yourself I would gather. Might be up to $50K per hour just for the Blackhawk invasion. How much for the 3,000 agents there, dragging out women, children, separated many, and disappeared 37 without any information as to where. And overtime too for 2am skullduggery,. They disappeared two kids too. They were targeting supposed gang members, but we will never know.
Frankly, for those jumping the border, misdemeanor, who do not commit crimes, making e-verify the law of the land ENDS undocumented work overnight and will cost, worse case, $1B a year for ten years, but maybe as low as $100M per year. We don’t have to do this to get the vast preponderance illegals unable to work, unable to survive here, and certainly ready to leave. And if we keep sending 3,000 guys, some blackhawks, at 2 am, to get 37 possible deportations, we’re gonna need to raise your taxes to cover that lame bet. Or run a deficit of which Trump is already beating the last three years of Biden to spend us deeper into the shitter. There is a bi-partisan bill for e-verify awaiting Congressional votes. It’s a working system in a number of states, ready to go national. Only underground workers in a shadow economy would be able to work undocumented. It is deployed, it works, there will be loopholes and fixes, but it’s proven. And we don’t need to torture or scare anyone unnecessarily after that and can really focus on the criminal border jumping element. FYI, estimates out of 14 million, 650K are criminal above the initial border jumping misdemeanor, but a good portion of that can be misdemeanors like traffic tickets.
It just does not make good dollars and sense what we are doing beyond the human tragedy of Trump’s plan operationalized.
Lastly, urban myths: undocumented cannot get welfare checks from the Federal Government funds. They don’t get food stamps either. It’s a 1990’s Federal Law. Yes, anyone who turns up at ER gets treatment to avoid death, but that’s all. Emergency only. KIDS get school and SNAP (food stamps), not parents. And the illegals pay taxes; many even pay income tax without the chance of getting a refund based on total earnings. All pay sales tax, property tax, if they get a w-2, then social security/Medicare/welfare taxes (and they can’t ever get social security/medicare or welfare benefits being undocumented). In the scheme of things, they pay more than their kids get. The property tax they pay covers education, just like you. And the sales/ss/med care taxes cover the same things yours do.
If you wonder where the freeloaders are, our tax revenues are disproportionally paid for by BLUE states and disproportionally spend on BLUE states. IOW — Blue gives, Red takes, and who cares about immigrants, let’s fix that. If I thought like you, I would say let NJ keep some tax dollars instead of giving it all away to Southern poverty states. But this is America, and that is our deal to be United States, not Trump’s Chaos States of Confusion.
Have to admit, I thought the “welfare mom” myth was finally killed. Oh well, viva la 70’s! It’s a myth though Sarge. None of this goes on from the Federal Level. You may find some stuff in the States, from the States, using State’s rights, legally, but that’s few and far between and often very specific reasons and targets.
Schumer and his fellow Democrats have nothing to worry about. They will be reelected as always. We have over 12 months until the
midterms in November 2026. The voters that work for a living are gradually getting out-numbered by the freeloaders that vote for a living. As long as the welfare checks and food stamps keep coming Schumer and his fellow Democrats will have job security.
Did Democrats close down the House?
No, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson did.
Not true. Dunger is lying again. The asscrats chose to ignore the will of the people and try to give free medical care to the illegal wetbacks. So don’t anyone believe Dunger. He can’t prove anything that he posted
I do appreciate you guys attempting to debate. Some basics: you can say I am wrong, you can ask for proof, but when you provide facts and conclusions without any proof, not even an attempt, your request seems stupid. Either step up, toe the line, and support what you say, or go away as losers who can’t discuss anything intelligently. Just monkeys tossing feces at their perceived enemies. FYI: we are all in this together, figure it out,
Carl says: “Not true. Dunger is lying again.” First, Carl, my name here is Frank Danger, have the decency not to call me silly little childish names to make you feel superior. You say I am lying, again, and yet you do not prove it this time or ever before. I rarely lie, and when I do, it’s generally an error in research, not malevolent intent. You guys, on the other hand seem to have a chip on your shoulders and sticks up your ass, turning to the right. Attack the issues, not the person.
I dare you to prove a lie coming from me. We know who’s the ass-hat here and it’s YOU for lying, making crap up and calling people names as only a complete dickwad would do. You’re really not a total dickwad, are you?
Second, the claims: “The asscrats chose to ignore the will of the people and try to give free medical care to the illegal wetbacks. So don’t anyone believe Dunger. He can’t prove anything that he posted.” Since he is incompetent to look up the proof I provided, the 1996 Federal Law.: Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act (PRWORA) of 1996. This law established the categories of “qualified” and “non-qualified” immigrants and set up extensive eligibility rules for a wide array of federal public benefits. Key provisions of PRWORA: “Qualified” vs. “Non-qualified” immigrants
The law determines eligibility by categorizing immigrants into two groups: Qualified immigrants include lawful permanent residents (green card holders), refugees, asylees, and certain humanitarian statuses, such as victims of trafficking AND non-qualified immigrants who are largely ineligible for federal public benefits. This category includes undocumented immigrants and many who are lawfully present in the country on a temporary basis, such as those with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
Five-year waiting period: PRWORA established a mandatory five-year waiting period for many “qualified immigrants” before they can become eligible for federal means-tested public benefits. These programs include:
• Medicaid (with certain exceptions)
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Certain groups are exempt from the five-year wait, including refugees, asylees, and U.S. military veterans and active-duty personnel. Exempt benefits: the law provides some exceptions, allowing access to benefits for all individuals, regardless of immigration status. These include:
• Emergency Medicaid services
• Immunizations and treatment for communicable diseases
• Short-term, non-cash, in-kind emergency disaster relief
• Services from soup kitchens, crisis counseling, and short-term shelters
Recent updates and further restrictions put in place by Trump: In 2025, a series of policy changes have further restricted access to federal benefits, particularly in the area of healthcare, under recent legislation known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBB).
• Expanded definition of “federal public benefit”: Several federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), have expanded the list of programs that count as a “federal public benefit,” thereby restricting access for more lawfully present immigrants. For example, HHS now includes programs like Head Start and community health centers under these restrictions.
• Narrowed health coverage eligibility: Changes have eliminated federally subsidized health coverage through Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace for many lawfully present immigrants. Eligibility is now generally limited to lawful permanent residents (LPRs), Cuban/Haitian entrants, and Compact of Free Association (COFA) migrants.
• Removal of special Marketplace rule: A special rule that allowed lawfully present immigrants with low incomes to access subsidized ACA Marketplace coverage during their five-year Medicaid waiting period is being removed, effective January 1, 2026.
This is from AI. You can use it too so you don’t look so, so ignorant.
Now, you boy’s turn. Carl says “The asscrats chose to ignore the will of the people and try to give free medical care to the illegal wetbacks” but he was being a dickway and did not PROVE IT. Seth says: “The commiecrats want to give health care to illegal wet backs.” PROVE IT.
OK, it’s two against one. I proved what I said, your turn, either of you: PROVE IT or STFU. Please.
You can’t do it, can you. Sigh. Well, at least you gave it a shot, fact-less, clueless, and feckless as you are. I blame the American education system and those who do not avail themselves of higher education resources.
Dunger the investigation by Elon Musk flushed out the truth during DOGE probes. Also people getting social security from the names of people dead for several years. It’s proven. You just don’t like it because the democrats got caught.
Houston, we have a discussion. There is intelligent life here! Carl claims “Dunger the investigation by Elon Musk flushed out the truth during DOGE probes. Also people getting social security from the names of people dead for several years. It’s proven.”
Well, close to a discussion. If only he had treated me as human, not a piece of shit. Oh well, it’s a start so I will respond.
He has no proof beyond “Musk found it and told us so, so there.” He provides no numbers, no statistics, no anecdotes even, and no sources.
Musk sees dead people. Maybe that’s why his butt-ugly-truck looks and like a coffin on wheels.
First, Musk discovered nothing new. He gaslighted you and now you are repeating the crazy. I say: lie to me once, shame on you. Believe you the second time, shame on me. From USA Today and during the Biden administration: “A 2023 audit by the SSA Office of the Inspector General found that 18.9 million Social Security number holders born in 1920 or earlier were not marked as deceased, due to technological changes. However, most of these individuals were not receiving benefits.”
But wait, there’s more: “Are there millions in the Social Security database aged 100-159? Yes, but the SSA knows many are presumed dead, and close to none of them receive payments. (it was just new news to Musk who spun what he found leaving out salient aspects knowing magarats consume this swill without a second looksee for accuracy. And because 2023 is so, so, long ago.)
The SSA uses death reports from a number of sources to denote when a person with a Social Security number has died and adds the information to a “death master file,” according to the 2023 report. Versions of the death master file are also given to federal benefits agencies and financial institutions to prevent and spot fraud.
The 2023 review found that 18.9 million people born in 1920 or earlier had not been reported dead nor kicked over to the death master file. That accounted for about 3.6% of all the unique Social Security numbers ever made.
“We believe it likely SSA did not receive or record most of the 18.9 million individuals’ death information primarily because the individuals died decades ago − before the use of electronic death reporting,” the report stated.
However, “almost none” of the 18.9 million Social Security number holders born in 1920 or earlier were receiving SSA payments, the 2023 report said, noting there were about 44,000 who were still receiving payments at the time of the audit.”” (I actually know a few, maybe you too, like Redford?)
According to USA Today and the Trump administration: “Social Security protocol halts payment at age 115. The agency’s lack of an automatic process to add people’s information to the death master file once they surpass a reasonable life expectancy age was also flagged in an inspector general report in 2015.”
Musk was partly right, totally stupid, and artfully spinning knowing his targeted marks would never double-check, or believe any media who did. As you ate his swill, hook, line, and sinker.
BUSTED
Prove me wrong.
Good discussion, great attempt. Lesson learned: if you want me to shirt, you have to do the work. Don’t expect to blow one by the batter in this cage. FYI: no matter what Musk did, and is doing with his little minions like Big Balls, if you look, I mean really look, I bet my bottom dollar you find we spent more than we saved, and we opened many a new or expanded door of commerce to Musk, Inc,. Just guessing, but these guys can’t help but grift and then expect to sneak it on by you, or better yet, get you to explode the myth they create.
This one was all Musk. And why? He will capitalize on the how ever much of the entire SSN database he undoubtedly has by now. So much for secrets, protect yourself on this one IF you can.