Chuck Schumer is not up to this task, which he has proven over and over and over. He is bought and paid for by AIPAC $$. He needs to be put out to pasture immediately. We need leadership NOW.
Why haven't the Democrats done more with the memory of the six American soldiers killed needlessly in this fiasco? Bring the families to congress. Make Mike Johnson and the others look into their faces. Put a human face on what has happened, and what is to come. I seem to recall the GOP brought family members of the ones who died at Benghazi to their convention. We need to risk being accused of "using these families for political purposes." It's an easy to bat that away with telling whoever says this that these are real people and the President and his War Hawks need to see that (like they'll ever care).
Considering the stakes here, I agree they should do this. I just don’t think it’s in most Dems nature to use people this way unless those people make it clear they’re willing participants.
If I’m being honest, it’s a good thing they don’t.
As a sign that I'm in total agreement with you, it didn't even cross my mind that they would do this without the cooperation and support of the families. It's not even in MY nature to suggest they would do otherwise!
I hold out very little hope that Dems (as a whole) will take this route.
Too many war mongers, too many owned by AIPAC, too many too scared to acknowledge and confront what is really happening, too many too scared of offending a few voters.
Definitely not enough that believe this is the righteous position and loudly, passionately state why the way Brian did here.
Say the names of the Democrats, who refused to vote against the war powers act: cuellar, goldin, landsman and Vargas— from California! I remember when Pelosi was promoting cuellar. These men must pay a price.
"Here is every Democrat in Congress who voted not to rein in Trump:
Senator John Fetterman (Pennsylvania)
Representative Henry Cuellar (Texas)
Representative Greg Landsman (Ohio)
Representative Jared Golden (Maine)
Representative Juan Vargas (California)
Just two Republicans, Representatives Thomas Massie (the resolution’s co-sponsor) and Warren Davidson, chose to support the resolution, splitting from Trump and the party. "
Fetterman has a few more years until his next election.
Cuellar won his primary (he could be considered compromised because he and his wife were indicted in 2024 on charges of taking $600,000 in foreign bribes, before being pardoned by Trump in December, 2025).
Greg Landsman has a primary challenger - Damon Lynch IV, primary is in May.
Jared Golden is not running for re-election in 2026. He is in "Trump country". I thought his constituents would oppose another forever war? Matt Dunlap is running in the primary. Not sure who else is.
Representative Juan Vargas (California). The filing deadline for the primary is today. There doesn't seem to anyone running against him.
Only two of these five can be held accountable for their votes in the upcoming elections. I guess that's a start?
Are there any democratic leaders reading this? This is such sound advice! I’m so tired of a lack of morality. Dems are always looking to see which way the wind is blowing instead of having a moral backbone to guide them.
No, what the world is captive to is elected Republicans who could boot the ‘venal, faithless old man’ and all his corrupt, sycophantic enablers from office ANY TIME and choose not to at EVERY MOMENT. They own all of this bloodshed, catastrophe, and economic ruin. We must pressure them every day to stop it. No excuses.
Thank you Brian, Excellent essay, I wish we could have a Snap Election called.
As everyone is aware one of our big problems is conveying news people. Yesterday our local CT News station in their reporting said, "all of the CT Reps voted FOR the War Powers Act". before saying this they showed a photo of trump and his crew on a dias signing the bill. After they said this they said, "trump is considering sending ground forces," The way it was presented did not explain that voting for the ACT was a vote for Congress to Retain and add its ability to declare war, not giving it to the president. I called them and pointed this out. I also called Sen Murphy's office as we know he does know how to present information clearly. This less than a minute and a half bit of news fit into a space created within weather every 10 minutes which gets repeated on a loop and it's not a OODA LOOP
You’re right, of course - as you have been for the last so many years. But the one thing you’re still unwilling to admit, apparently, is that Jeffries is going to keep ignoring your advice, as he and Pelosi have also done for so many years. Better to focus on what activists and voters must do: lead a primary purge that deposes Jeffries and his entire leadership team. They will never be persuaded. But they can be replaced.
Totally agree - very single Congressional Democrat must put Trump and GOP on notice every single day. Need better whips in both houses that demand unity. Our lives literally depend on it. Period.
Chuck Schumer is not up to this task, which he has proven over and over and over. He is bought and paid for by AIPAC $$. He needs to be put out to pasture immediately. We need leadership NOW.
Turn your wrath onto the elected Republicans, please, at least as much.
Why haven't the Democrats done more with the memory of the six American soldiers killed needlessly in this fiasco? Bring the families to congress. Make Mike Johnson and the others look into their faces. Put a human face on what has happened, and what is to come. I seem to recall the GOP brought family members of the ones who died at Benghazi to their convention. We need to risk being accused of "using these families for political purposes." It's an easy to bat that away with telling whoever says this that these are real people and the President and his War Hawks need to see that (like they'll ever care).
Considering the stakes here, I agree they should do this. I just don’t think it’s in most Dems nature to use people this way unless those people make it clear they’re willing participants.
If I’m being honest, it’s a good thing they don’t.
As a sign that I'm in total agreement with you, it didn't even cross my mind that they would do this without the cooperation and support of the families. It's not even in MY nature to suggest they would do otherwise!
I absolutely agree with all of this!
I hold out very little hope that Dems (as a whole) will take this route.
Too many war mongers, too many owned by AIPAC, too many too scared to acknowledge and confront what is really happening, too many too scared of offending a few voters.
Definitely not enough that believe this is the righteous position and loudly, passionately state why the way Brian did here.
Say the names of the Democrats, who refused to vote against the war powers act: cuellar, goldin, landsman and Vargas— from California! I remember when Pelosi was promoting cuellar. These men must pay a price.
As per The New Republic:
"Here is every Democrat in Congress who voted not to rein in Trump:
Senator John Fetterman (Pennsylvania)
Representative Henry Cuellar (Texas)
Representative Greg Landsman (Ohio)
Representative Jared Golden (Maine)
Representative Juan Vargas (California)
Just two Republicans, Representatives Thomas Massie (the resolution’s co-sponsor) and Warren Davidson, chose to support the resolution, splitting from Trump and the party. "
Fetterman has a few more years until his next election.
Cuellar won his primary (he could be considered compromised because he and his wife were indicted in 2024 on charges of taking $600,000 in foreign bribes, before being pardoned by Trump in December, 2025).
Greg Landsman has a primary challenger - Damon Lynch IV, primary is in May.
Jared Golden is not running for re-election in 2026. He is in "Trump country". I thought his constituents would oppose another forever war? Matt Dunlap is running in the primary. Not sure who else is.
Representative Juan Vargas (California). The filing deadline for the primary is today. There doesn't seem to anyone running against him.
Only two of these five can be held accountable for their votes in the upcoming elections. I guess that's a start?
Are there any democratic leaders reading this? This is such sound advice! I’m so tired of a lack of morality. Dems are always looking to see which way the wind is blowing instead of having a moral backbone to guide them.
What do you expect from a morally bankrupt political party if not morally bankrupt political practice?
My feelings exactly, but we cannot count on Democrats to stand up and fight this menace.
No, what the world is captive to is elected Republicans who could boot the ‘venal, faithless old man’ and all his corrupt, sycophantic enablers from office ANY TIME and choose not to at EVERY MOMENT. They own all of this bloodshed, catastrophe, and economic ruin. We must pressure them every day to stop it. No excuses.
Thank you Brian, Excellent essay, I wish we could have a Snap Election called.
As everyone is aware one of our big problems is conveying news people. Yesterday our local CT News station in their reporting said, "all of the CT Reps voted FOR the War Powers Act". before saying this they showed a photo of trump and his crew on a dias signing the bill. After they said this they said, "trump is considering sending ground forces," The way it was presented did not explain that voting for the ACT was a vote for Congress to Retain and add its ability to declare war, not giving it to the president. I called them and pointed this out. I also called Sen Murphy's office as we know he does know how to present information clearly. This less than a minute and a half bit of news fit into a space created within weather every 10 minutes which gets repeated on a loop and it's not a OODA LOOP
You’re right, of course - as you have been for the last so many years. But the one thing you’re still unwilling to admit, apparently, is that Jeffries is going to keep ignoring your advice, as he and Pelosi have also done for so many years. Better to focus on what activists and voters must do: lead a primary purge that deposes Jeffries and his entire leadership team. They will never be persuaded. But they can be replaced.
My blood boils when I think of those same spineless senators getting ready to vote for a blank check for the war. AT LEAST take the $ from DHS.
(Not sure 4 Dem vote switches would have passed House Resolution.)
Totally agree - very single Congressional Democrat must put Trump and GOP on notice every single day. Need better whips in both houses that demand unity. Our lives literally depend on it. Period.