WTC--What the Chuck
Like bro--wyd
As I write this the Senate is still discussing whether to move forward the Sherbet and Ernie pushed spending bill.
Shocking some—but not those of us who pay attention— minority leader Senator Chuck Schumer announced he would be voting in favor of the bill.
Yeah the one that cuts funding for social security
The one that cuts funding for medicare.
Yup, the one that cuts funding for SNAP. Because how dare those poor people try to…checks notes..eat food.
The Tangerine Toddler was amped:
But if that dude is the one applauding you, you did something wrong.
WYD
Which begs the question— what are you doing?
Schumer alleges that the possible shutdown is more dangerous than the bill. Umm.. real world says different. So do the constituents and your colleagues.
Speaker Emerita, Nancy Pelosi had this to say:
Listen to the women, FOR THE PEOPLE.
I am old enough to remember a woman who also wanted to avoid this nonsense and do something for the people.
Speaking of smart women, AOC was very quick to call out the stupidity of Chuck in this moment.
"I cannot urge enough how bad of an idea it is to empower and enable Donald Trump and Elon Musk in this moment. It is dangerous and it is reckless"
-AOC
AOC has been floated as a potential replacement for Schumer, given his lack of a spine in moments of needed leadership.
I don’t hate it.
But the Real Problem
Yesterday I ran into a friend and former colleague, a noted legal scholar with a Supreme Court victory in his belt. In talking about the challenges our country faces, he said he is still naive enough to hold out hope the system can work.
He is smart though, and acknowledged that right now the system is broken.
Schumer, however, is one of those old school old white men who believes in the purported ideals of this country over the actual practice we see play out.
On paper, none of these things should happen. In the Schoolhouse Rock version of America the process works to preserve democracy.
But that ain’t now.
People like Schumer are traditionalists. Those traditionalists are the reason we are in the mess we are to be honest.
When many people raised alarm before 2016, it was dismissed. “No way he is ever elected.”
Then it became, “well the law says…and the courts will..”
Each time people were ignored it got worse because the systems ALLOW it to get worse.
Then—
Time and time again within the democratic party, progressive values are set aside in service of the older “leaders” who have faith in the institution. An institution that has benefitted them so much they became elected officials.
Here is a thought though—- maybe people who have been caused harm by the institution should be trusted in our analysis of why to NOT trust that institution.
Chuck Schumer and his ilk have never had to have their rights decided by a supreme court case. A lot of us have.
My personal stance is until you fit that criteria, maybe shut up and sit back.
But he isn’t the only one. Disappointments like John Fetterman, who clearly has something he doesn’t want out there, are also on the side of the false gods of societal norms.
Hopefully it Fails
I hope this bill fails. I hope something happens where an agreement is reached to address some of this. I hope the democratic party in both the House and Senate look around and make drastic changes in who holds leadership positions.
I hope people are still able to see the doctor, receive the social security they paid into their whole lives, and be able to eat.
Because right now all we can say is What the actual Chuck is going on?