House Democratic lawmakers reportedly used a closed-door meeting earlier this week to vent their frustrations with progressive advocacy groups that have been driving constituent calls and pressuring the party to act like a genuine opposition force in the face of the Trump administration’s authoritarian assault on federal agencies and key programs.

  • evenglow@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    240
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    1 day ago

    “Forcing recorded votes is possible. Frequent quorum calls are possible. A wide variety of dilatory motions are possible. In short, harassing the majority is possible. If they think it’s a bad idea, say so. If they say it’s not possible, they’re lying.”

    I like how politicians voting is considered a time out. It’s their job, jfc.

    • Eugene V. Debs' Ghost@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      2 hours ago

      Remember all the times people said “Push for bills so when Republicans vote no it’s on the record for election season?”.

      As if Republicans can see anything but the Republican next to the first person’s name in a ballot.

    • Billiam@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      114
      ·
      1 day ago

      “But if our votes are recorded, our voters corporate donors will know we voted against them!”

      • themeatbridge@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        63
        ·
        edit-2
        1 day ago

        Right? This is about providing political cover to centrists who take money from the same oligarchs as conservatives. They just want to pretend they are on our side.

    • finitebanjo@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      arrow-down
      11
      ·
      22 hours ago

      They actually can’t force votes though, so we’d be getting the same votes and we already knew whenever Republicans stepped out from the ranks such as the Hegseth confirmation where 3 of them abstained but he got appointed anyways. Recorded Votes doesn’t stop the Trump admin. The Dems are effectively powerless without 13 Ind + Gop to impeach and remove him or his cabinet members or corrupt federal judges.