Today’s quotable
Wednesday, Feb 5, 2025 - Posted by Rich Miller
* From The Hill…
Frustrations mounted during a tense call last week between Democratic governors and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.). Six Democratic governors, including Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, pressed Schumer to put up more of a fight against Trump’s agenda.
Healey specifically urged Schumer to slow down Senate votes and do more to stir up public opposition, according to The New York Times, which first reported the call.
That produced an exasperated response from Senate Democrats, who spoke on the floor late into the night Wednesday to highlight the impact the funding freeze ordered by Trump’s budget office would have on communities around the country.
“I would say to my friend [Pritzker], as you would like to have a majority of governors, we would like to have the majority of senators. There’s a limit to how much we can we do,” Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) said.
Discuss.
- Larry Bowa Jr. - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 8:32 am:
Dick Durbin confirming his uselessness is appreciated. I hope people will notice.
- Felonious Gru - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 8:34 am:
Dear Dick Durbin -
I love you man.
And.
Lead, or get out of the way.
Sincerely,
Illinois Democrats
- 312Lawyer - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 8:41 am:
If JB wants to stir up public opinion, then declare he is running for Durbin’s senate seat.
Or he can post little retorts from Weiner Circle and throw peanuts from the cheap seats.
- Who else - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 8:42 am:
I would ask my friend Dick Durbin what job he’d like to have a majority of senators do? Would he like them to hold office in a co-equal branch of government or would he like them to be meaningless pawns of an autocracy?
The choices everyone makes now determine the shape of the government tomorrow. Having a majority in a meaningless token of a legislative branch of government cannot be the goal, and it’s certainly not the goal of the governors and elected officials you’ve seen actually pushing back.
Why is the Senator accepting that his role in American democracy is not what the constitution says it is? Why is he conceding to the whims of an autocrat with no ideological goal beyond total control of the federal government?
- Humpday Harry - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 8:46 am:
The message to Democrats is to “get caught trying”.
- Charles Edward Cheese - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 8:47 am:
What a pathetic and feeble response from Senator Durbin in the face of an existential threat to checks and balances and constitutional norms. “There’s a limit to how much we can do” and yet when the GOP is in the minority or has slim margins they always find a way to throw sand in the gears and stir up rebellion.
Too old, too tired, and too comfortable to fight; time to retire Senator Durbin.
- ScaredDem - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 8:55 am:
You can’t tell your base that Trump is a threat to democracy for years then suddenly refuse to use every method to stop him. Your base will just stop turning out if you do that. If you want to protect vulnerable Senators sure, but this is more than that. Anecdotally, me and others have been feeling that Dems like Durbin are more concerned about fundraising & improving their image off of Trump then stopping him. I have seen plenty of people not involved in the gov sphere praising JB & AOC’s actions, while for Durbin they only ask when he’a going to retire.
considering how the national Senate Dems have been performing election wise I’m not sure Durbin should be lecturing people on the best way to retake the Senate. He clearly doesn’t know.
- lake county democrat - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 8:59 am:
Danger Will Robinson! The senate is “speaking on the floor late into the night to highlight the impact the funding freeze ordered by Trump’s budget office would have on communities around the country”!!! How will MAGA ever recover the Laurence O’Donnell and late night CNN audience?!
In other words, JB is right.
- @misterjayem - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:01 am:
“then declare he is running for Durbin’s senate seat. Or he can post little retorts from Weiner Circle and throw peanuts from the cheap seats”
Many of us would prefer that he remain the most effective Democratic governor in the union.
– MrJM
- The Dude Abides - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:03 am:
Hey Dick - if you want a majority of senators, then DO SOMETHING.
PS not having a majority didn’t stop the Rs from wreaking havoc in the Senate during the last Congress.
- TJ - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:04 am:
Yes, there’s a limit to how much you can do. We all understand that, Durbin. But here’s the thing, that limit isn’t next to nothing.
- Flyin'Elvis'-Utah Chapter - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:12 am:
Durbin, Schumer, call it a day.
Your “fire” is gone. The gloves are off and you ain’t dealing with W.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:12 am:
I don’t know. For example, if RFK Jr. fails, Trump will nominate some bland Pam Bondi type who will just do all the same things. Sen. Murphy is doing a good job opposing Trump I think.
- low level - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:20 am:
==Yes, there’s a limit to how much you can do. We all understand that, Durbin. But here’s the thing, that limit isn’t next to nothing.
==
Specifically, what else do you want them to do?
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:22 am:
Honest question, can someone please give examples of what specific things Democratic Senators can do to stop or slow down an administration that is ignoring federal laws?
Stomp their feet? Hold their breath? Hunger strike?
- H-W - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:23 am:
Wow. Turncoats.
I agree with each of you more can be done. I agree with each of you that Senator Durbin’s message is one of “Roberts’ Rules” v. resistance.
But venom on “our” side of the aisle directed toward “ourselves” is clearly not the answer - indeed, it feeds the problem.
I just wrote Senator Durbin today (and Senator Duckworth) with a suggestion of how they can play the Tea Party Patriots and actual conservatives against the President’s policy on school funding. Offering constructive criticism may bring change slowly, but contempt will delay change.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:24 am:
The sooner these ‘old dudes of the Senate’ understand the rules and norms have changed and they are not returning to what they think they should be, the sooner they will have any hope of being useful.
- low level - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:26 am:
OK, One Man, again - what specifically would you like them to do?
- I-55 Fanatic - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:27 am:
How many times did McConnell use the “but we’re in the minority” excuse? Trump is a threat to democracy. “There’s a limit to how much we can do” just isn’t acceptable. Get creative and come up with something. You people are supposed to be leaders.
- hisgirlfriday - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:28 am:
Mitch McConnell ground Obama’s agenda to almost a complete halt in 2009 when Dems had 60 seats.
Throwing up your hands and whining about being in the minority does not fly, Sen. Durbin.
Even yesterday Durbin voted to confirm Trump’s VA secretary pick.
If Durbin and Schumer don’t have it in them to be a leader in a vigorous opposition party then they need to retire and pass the torch to somebody who does.
- TJ - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:31 am:
== Specifically, what else do you want them to do? ==
Copy the GOP playbook from 2009-10 and 2021-22. Filibuster as much as possible.
- ChicagoBars - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:32 am:
I’d be bummed (and surprised) if Durbin and Schumer didn’t learn how to politicize Senate process after years of watching Mitch McConnell do it. Every policy battle should be a media and procedure grinder in the Senate. Yeah they’ll lose but GOP will have to dedicate more energy to winning each Senate procedural fight and have less bandwidth for other fights.
Speaking late into the night from chambers on C-SPAN isn’t exactly a barn burner of an opposition plan.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:33 am:
Ok
No more unanimous consent
Go to an agency or two with cell phone video asking to see what the DODG folks are up to.
Be ready to old school stand up, can I ask you a 20 part question Senate filibuster the next time the Senate tries to do anything
Put a hold on every military promotion above a specific level
Use social media to call out this stuff in simple terms
Next time a senator makes a dumba— statement on the floor rise to ask them what they meant by that.
Go stand in front of things Lutheran Social Services run and point out how they want to defund nursing homes.
They can start there
If nothing else bring the senate to a crawl.
- Google Is Your Friend - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:34 am:
==- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:22 am:==
For one, Durbin could stop giving unanimous consent to Trump nominees. According to Fox News, Trump has had 2x as many nominees confirmed at this point than in his first term or Biden’s term.
- Downstate - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:43 am:
Republican perspective: When your party’s main message for the last eight years is “Trump is evil”, and you end up losing to the guy, you’ve got to reestablish your party’s brand.
Schumer is not effective in his opposition, in both messaging and means. And he’s emerged as the party’s chief spokesperson. That’s not a long term strategy with upside.
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:45 am:
- Specifically, what else do you want them to do? -
There are all kinds of rules the minority party can use to gum up the works in Congress. I know this because the republicans do it all the time.
The democrats just sit on their hands and cry. Durbin needs to announce his retirement and go sit on those hands on a beach somewhere. Totally pathetic.
- Cool Papa Bell - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:47 am:
=There’s a limit to how much we can we do,=
Well, what’s the limit? Have you reached it already?
It stood out to me that the first time I really saw some action or organizing by Democrats was when the USAID offices were “closed”. Folks showed up for a press pop and rallied outside for a bit.
That’s the move Democrats? You finally walk out of your offices for USAID. An arm of the government that 1% of the voting public has any idea or connection too? Musk walks into Treasury and perhaps pilfers private information of millions and millions of people and you show up at USAID? Good luck running on that.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:50 am:
Durbin is technically correct, but I don’t think he’s reached “the limit” yet, or really even come close. His colleague, Brian Schatz, is putting a hold on all state department nominees. Duckworth has talked about doing something similar. Durbin could at least start there.
Things like this are why Pritzker has stolen the state party right out from under Durbin.
- low level - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:52 am:
^^ OK, OneMan, very good. I appreciate that. It at least has specific actions listed. That is much better than the usual, vague “do something” we hear.
With some of these people, its almost as if they blame Durbin amd Schumer for what is happening. Personally, I’m not confused. The reason this is occurring is spelled GOP. They hold the gavel in both chambers.
- Mike Gascoigne - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:52 am:
I would at least not vote for any of his appointees. None of them will be good for the country. Then get in front of the media and outline all their numerous flaws. RFK, for example, is very not a good person who has displayed the trait of preying on vulnerable populations repeatedly throughout his life. Do not normalize that.
- Chris - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:53 am:
Dem Guvs: “Do *something*, please.”
Senate Dems: “We’ve tried nothing and we’re all of ideas!!”
This is the same leadership that didn’t know how to get anything done (other than ACA) in the 111th with 60 votes, so it’s very unsurprising.
- Remember the Alamo II - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:55 am:
You want the Dems to utilize bloviating and delay tactics? The same tactics that we decried as disingenuous and unethical when the Republicans did it?
How about spending time talking to voters, recruiting candidates, and getting candidates with your ideals elected to office. Durbin and Schumer can obstruct all they want, but until they change the hearts of the electorate, any obstruction will be counterproductive in the long run.
- Larry Bowa Jr. - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 10:01 am:
“what specifically would you like them to do?”
I agree this is where it gets hard for Durbin, considering this seems to be a moment calling for political activity that does not involve paperwork being pushed around inside the Senate building or gladhanding other politicians and their staffs.
Leaders lead and people who are not leaders make excuses for their inactivity. Dem Senators just voted unanimously to confirm Rubio who promptly nominated an active white supremacist as Undersecretary of State. Maybe figure out how to vote ‘no’ on something, there’s a start. Once Dick figures out where the ‘no’ button is we can instruct him further.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 10:02 am:
I think 95% of this would be happening if the Dems had the House.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 10:14 am:
==If JB wants to stir up public opinion, then declare he is running for Durbin’s senate seat.==
So your message is that if you want IL’s Senate deelgation to contribute to stirring up public opposition to Trump, Durbin’s gotta go?
I, unfortunately, agree, but I wouldn’t focus my scorn on JB for that.
- SpiDem - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 10:16 am:
Just saying the Tommy Tuberville, perhaps the dumbest member of the US Senate, managed to block roughly 600 flag level military promotions for a year while serving in the minority.
Mitch McConnell wreaked havoc on Obama’s first term priorities while holding 41 seats.
Schumer and Durbin were there for all of it. They learned nothing, and they need to go.
- JS Mill - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 10:25 am:
=Just saying the Tommy Tuberville, perhaps the dumbest member of the US Senate, managed to block roughly 600 flag level military promotions for a year while serving in the minority.
Mitch McConnell wreaked havoc on Obama’s first term priorities while holding 41 seats.
Schumer and Durbin were there for all of it. They learned nothing, and they need to go.=
All true.
The left culture of victimhood has [permeated the highest levels of authority apparently. These guys are so weak it is simply pathetic. Follow the gop playbook (except for the lying) and get after it. If not, you are done as a national power and a balance to the far right that has taken over.
- Notatechie - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 10:29 am:
“Durbin, Schumer, call it a day.” It’s time to retire and hand over the reins to those more articulate and motivational speakers. Listening to you speak hurts the soul as its without conviction. Even if someone just stood up and read the bill of rights, MLKs letters from a Birmingham cell that would give more hope and fire to the Democratic base. That is what is needed at this moment.
- Um, no - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 10:47 am:
Durbin approaching the opposition party role with the energy of an 80 year old.
- Rabid - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 10:50 am:
Durbin putting words in JB mouth about how you would like a governor majority. What is he talking about Apples to oranges
- Pundent - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 10:58 am:
The playbook has changed. Durbin and Schumer haven’t. And this isn’t a new revelation. Neither of them should be looked to for leadership at this point. As they’ve acknowledged they’re overmatched.
- K3 - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:02 am:
Typical weak, limp Democratic response. I’ve not always cared for JB but I appreciate him leading on this
- Norseman - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:07 am:
What to do is easy to say. What will be effective and meaningful is another.
Take cabinet appointments - Oppose them all you say. Well, that leads to the thought process about how that will affect a Dem president coming in. Will their current universal opposition to all become justification for MAGA to reciprocate - and if they have the votes Dem President is stymied. MSM will repeat their message of Dem precedent, while ignoring the horror of the Trump presidency. So this is a calculation. You can play out this scenario in so many ways - so it’s not a simple do it answer.
- New Day - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:09 am:
Shame on Dick Durbin. So so disappointed in him. He has proven to be completely useless as Judiciary chair, doing absolutely nothing to even hold hearings on the most corrupt Supreme Court justice in US History. JB is fighting and he’s asking Democratic Senators to use Mitch McConnell’s playbook to obstruct the process. Yea, Dick, there’s a limit to what you can do. So take it to the limit and push as far and as hard as you can. Brian Schatz is showing the way.
You know the saying: either lead, follow or get out of the way. It’s time for Dick to get out of the way.
- lake county democrat - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:10 am:
@47th Ward - in addition to some of the things others have mentioned, the Dems can introduce clean bills on popular subjects - e.g., no access to taxpayer data without security vetting and notice to congress, overturn Comstock Act and no bans on abortion pill shipments/travel, etc. - file discharge petitions and dare the GOP members to go on the record with their votes.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:16 am:
Folks say stall the business. Are there any significant votes going on to stall? The MAGA House is trying to develop and agreed (by them) package. This will be the prime target. Others will present.
- New Day - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:18 am:
“Or he can post little retorts from Weiner Circle and throw peanuts from the cheap seats.”
Umm, he’s governor. He’s using his power to the greatest extent possible to stand up and say no to Trump. That’s not the cheap seat. That’s the freakin’ arena. Good grief.
- I-55 Fanatic - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:18 am:
Re: Norseman
That way of thinking - Dems can’t do stuff to Trump because it gives the GOP permission to do the same to the next Dem President - is so wrongheaded. The GOP already has and absolutely will still block and delay the next Dem President no matter what. It doesn’t matter what precedents Dems do or don’t set. I can’t believe we are still needing to re-learn this lesson over and over and over again.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:20 am:
There is something to say about the Dem old guard. It’s hard for them to present a vigorous defense. Not out of lack of intent, it’s Uncle Joe is moving kinda slow at the Capitol. The Chuck Schumer jokes on late night shows speaks for themselves. Chuck (and Durbin) needs to send out younger more eloquent surrogates.
- Juvenal - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:22 am:
I get Durbin’s point that they cannot stop everything.
But that is not the mission, Senator.
Your mission is to slow it down.
Pam Bondi receiving campaign cash from Trump while deciding a case against him needs to be part of the public dialogue.
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:24 am:
- Will their current universal opposition to all become justification for MAGA to reciprocate -
Do you live under a rock? They’ve been doing this already, for years.
- Pundent - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:35 am:
=Chuck (and Durbin) needs to send out younger more eloquent surrogates.=
The President is by no means young and is certainly not eloquent. Schumer and Durbin’s problems go beyond age and prose. They are out of touch with today’s electorate. If it was as easy as being 20 years younger and more eloquent we’d have a President Harris.
- Norseman - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:38 am:
I-55 Fanatic - It’s easy for us to do the backseat driving, I just think we need to avoid eating our own without rational thought.
You correctly point out the paradox of the Trump era. That is MAGA violates norms, Dems do things to prove they’re abiding by norms. NOBODY GIVES THEM CREDIT FOR ABIDING BY NORMS. A prime example is the Merrick Garland effort to reestablish credibility in the Justice Department. MAGA lies about Garland’s motives. Propaganda media amplifies those lies and MSM covers those accusations while lamely pushing back. I don’t have the answer.
I guess, my old idea is to focus the cannon fire on the enemy and not our own. JB and the Dem gov’s need to be strategizing with Washington leaders on plans. I just don’t see whining to the media is helping the cause.
- Nope. - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:41 am:
“Things like this are why Pritzker has stolen the state party right out from under Durbin.”
When, pray tell, did Durbin “have” the state party?
- Homebody - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:44 am:
@Norseman: ==MSM covers those accusations while lamely pushing back.==
This is the biggest problem. Modern mass media outlets are just completely unwilling to call out obvious bad actors. Instead they play the “some people say the moon is made of cheese, some people say it isn’t” game in every article or report. When they should instead being saying “Person X said Y, but Y is a lie.”
Complete abdication of anything resembling journalistic ethics out of fear of losing access.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:45 am:
===When, pray tell, did Durbin “have” the state party? ===
Did you miss the Robin Kelly era?
- Dance Band on the Titanic - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:49 am:
- Remember the Alamo II - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 9:55 am:
You want the Dems to utilize bloviating and delay tactics? The same tactics that we decried as disingenuous and unethical when the Republicans did it?
Well, those tactics did work extremely well for them.
- Two Left Feet - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:53 am:
The Democrats are getting steamrolled. Executive actions followed by legislative proposals, followed by court victories, maybe pack the court, maybe some retirements with young appointments on the court, appoint a thousand immigration judges to clear the docket, remove the filibuster, require voter ID for any federal funding similar to drinking age and road funds, fire everyone and only hire political friendlies, build younger leaders for next cycle, etc. They are going to run the table with speed. And the Democrats have Dick Durbin with limits. The threat to democracy is the Democrats right now. There is no opposition. Yes, there are limits (see the speed of light). What’s the plan?
- Amalia - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 11:58 am:
let’s look at the votes for the Laken Riley bill. Duckworth and Durbin voted for it. many Democrats were angry about that. they would be wrong. Maybe some of the so called reluctance is a righting of the Dem ship so they can state they voted for something when up for re-election. Maybe. Or Schumer (who has never impressed me as a leader of my party) is holding back for some reason. Durbin is probably tired. But Biden made massive mistakes surrounding immigration and he waffled on transgender issues. How Dems get back closer to center is involved in what is happening in the Senate.
- New Day - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:26 pm:
“That way of thinking - Dems can’t do stuff to Trump because it gives the GOP permission to do the same to the next Dem President - is so wrongheaded.”
Try to keep up. This was literally Mitch McConnell’s playbook which, by definition, means it’s what the GOP has done to D presidents for years. Or did you forget Mitch saying, “our #1 mission is to make Barack Obama a one term president.”
- New Day - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:29 pm:
Sorry I55 Fanatic. I misread your post.
- Arsenal - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:30 pm:
==Did you miss the Robin Kelly era?==
And even beyond that, during the Rauner and even sorta the Quinn era, Durbin was looked to as sort of the de facto leader of Illinois Democrats.
That’s long gone, tho. It’s Pritzker’s party now.
- Dotnonymous x - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:39 pm:
Democracy needs strong supporters in government…I can’t identify one strong Democrat…excepting Pritzker.
- Mason County - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 12:44 pm:
No question that Trump has Democrats in a real tizzy.
How long that lasts, I don’t know.
- CapnCrunch - Wednesday, Feb 5, 25 @ 1:58 pm:
“….It doesn’t matter what precedents Dems do or don’t set….”
Really?
Remember Senator Harry Reid?
He changed the filibuster rules in 2013 to get some judges appointed. Mitch McConnell asked him not to do it. The result is the Supreme Court we have now.