Federal Government Shutdown

The Question Of Chuck Schumer Remaining As Senate Minority Leader

Ronald 2 Comments

Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York has come under fire for the reality that eight members of his caucus abandoned the unified party stand on the Federal Government Shutdown, leading to an end of the 43 day crisis, but leaving the issue of health care for millions of American unsettled as 2026 comes upon us.

Millions of Americans are learning their health care costs will dramatically increase, sometimes double or triple the amount monthly, making many have to consider abandoning any insurance coverage, a very dangerous action for anyone to consider.

So the thought is whether Schumer should give his leadership of the Senate Democrats, but the question is who would replace him, and be able to accomplish advancement of Democratic Party initiatives, leading up to the midterm Congressional Elections of 2026, and beyond.

Clearly, any Democratic Senator facing election in 2026 cannot become the Minority Leader.

But also, none of the seven Democrats who voted to end the Federal Government Shutdown can become an alternative to Chuck Schumer.

Additionally, any Democrat retiring in 2026 is ineligible for the position of Minority Leader moving forward.

Also, any Democrat considering the possibility of a White House run in 2028 would not be a likely alternative.

So looking at the present roster of Senate Democrats in the leadership group means there are slim alternatives for now to replace Schumer.

So it seems to this blogger and author, that the only possible alternatives would be the following:

Adam Schiff of California
Brian Schatz of Hawaii
Chris Van Hollen of Maryland
Elissa Slotkin of Michigan
Martin Heinrich of New Mexico
Kirsten Gillibrand of New York

Only Schatz and Gillibrand have any leadership position at the moment in the Senate—-Chief Deputy Whip and Deputy Secretary of the Democratic Caucus in the case of Schatz, and Chair of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in the case of Gillibrand.

Government Opens, But Health Care Crisis Remains!

Ronald 5 Comments

The Federal Government Shutdown is over, but the crisis over health care for millions of Americans remains, and time is running short to insure that the American people have access to health care, no matter what their station in life.

For 15 years, Republicans have been challenging and condemning the Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare, even though polls show massive numbers supporting the ACA, although not as high when Barack Obama’s name is mentioned, which demonstrates pure racism.

We are in a dangerous time, with Donald Trump having no concern about the harm that is being visited by the “Big and Beautiful Bill”, that gives unjustified massive tax cuts to billionaires and corporations, at the expense of Americans who will be unable to protect their health, due to the outrageous increases in insurance premiums now being offered for 2026.

We have to hope for some kind of miracle so that this travesty is reversed!

Two States–New Hampshire And Nevada—All Four Women Senators—Break With Democratic Party On Government Shutdown!

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An odd circumstance has occurred regarding the decision of eight Democratic Senators to support the end of the federal government shutdown without gaining assurance of health care coverage for millions of Americans.

That odd circumstance is that both New Hampshire and Nevada have two women Senators who are part of the group that has caused so much turmoil in the Democratic Party by their decision to support ending the government shutdown.

New Hampshire has Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, and Nevada has Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen representing their states in the US Senate.

Nothing like this has ever happened before in American history, and one wonders how the citizens of the New England state of New Hampshire and the Desert Southwest state of Nevada will react.

Eight Senate Democrats Under Fire For Joining Republicans In Agreeing To Reopen The Federal Government!

Ronald 17 Comments

Seven Senate Democrats and Independent Angus King of Maine have come under fire for joining Republicans to pass the Budget bill to reopen the Federal Government, and end the Government Shutdown of 42 days.

Two of these eight Senators—Minority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois and New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen—are retiring at the end of 2026.

Durbin will be 82 at the end of his term, having served 30 years in the Senate, including times as Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman, and an additional 14 years in the House of Representatives.

Shaheen will be 80 shortly after leaving office after 18 years in the Senate, and an earlier six years as Governor of New Hampshire.

Three of these eight Senators—John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada—face election in 2028.

Fetterman is 56, earlier was Lieutenant Governor of his state, and is in his first term in the Senate, with a reputation of being an outlier, unpredictable and controversial in his utterances and actions.

Hassan is 67, in second term in the Senate, and former governor of her state.

Cortez Masto is 61, in her second term in the Senate, and former Attorney General of her state.

The remaining three Senators—Jacky Rosen of Nevada, Tim Kaine of Virginia, and Angus King of Maine—do not face voters again until 2030.

Rosen is 68, in her second term in the Senate, and served one term in the House of Representatives.

Kaine is 67, in his third term in the US Senate, after having served earlier as Governor and Lieutenant Governor of his state, and also, Mayor of Richmond. Most notably, he also was the Vice Presidential nominee for Hillary Clinton in the Presidential Election of 2016.

King is 81, in his third term in the Senate, and former governor of Maine. He is a political Independent, who caucuses with the Democrats.

This group of Senators is generally termed as “moderate”, and they are gaining a lot of criticism, for what is seen as “caving in” to the Republicans, with no certainty that any action will be taken regarding health care coverage for millions of Americans.

It is clear that a new generation of leadership is needed, as by the time the term ends for six of these eight Senators, they will be in their 70s and 80s, with the only exceptions being Fetterman and Cortez Masto.

Eight Democratic Senators Caving In To End Government Shutdown, But Will Health Care Be Sacrificed By That Action?

Ronald 6 Comments

The Democratic Party is at a crossroads, now that 8 Democratic Senators caved in, and agreed to open up the government, due to the deleterious effects of the 42 day Government Shutdown over the issue of the Affordable Care Act subsidies.

With government workers not being paid, and SNAP (Food Stamp) benefits not being available, and the aviation system in chaos, and so much else, these eight Senators, including two who are retiring in 2026, and the other six not coming up for election again until 2028 and 2030, chose to gamble on a promised vote on continuing the Affordable Care Act, but without a certainty that it will be restored for 2026.

This author and blogger realizes how difficult this situation is, and disagrees vehemently with this group of Senators, but it is a reality that the Democrats, being the party of the minority, has little control over what the federal government does.

So sadly, we may see the demise of health care for 24 million Americans, insuring more deaths and human suffering, with the issue one that should insure a Democratic takeover in the midterm elections of 2026, particularly after the amazing triumph of Democrats in the recent elections in several states and cities.

It is clear, that these 8 Senators will be condemned in history, and that will be their legacy long term. And Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has lost the ability to control his caucus, a tragic circumstance.

But beyond that reality, if Donald Trump is able to rig the elections through his promotion of gerrymandering seats in the House of Representatives, or utilizes ICE and the National Guard and other law enforcement agencies to police election sites, nothing may save the American Republic, just as we celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the United States next July!

The nation is in a major crisis with no optimism left that it will work out in a positive manner!

Republican Majority In House Of Representatives “Missing In Action” After Seven Weeks Of No Sessions!

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The Republican Party in the House of Representatives has not been in session now for SEVEN weeks, and Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to swear in Congresswoman Elect Adelita Grijalva of Arizona, all to prevent the passage of a resolution to make the “Epstein Files” public!

It is shocking that Mike Johnson has given a tax paid “free vacation” to his party membership, while Democrats are still showing up during the now 37 days government shutdown over the Trump administration denying health care coverage to tens of millions of Americans, and refusing to pay government employees their pay, while expecting them to work.

If there was any better argument for every Republican to lose his seat in the House of Representatives, it is now!

Never has the House of Representatives in modern times had such a long period of no sessions or work, and there needs to be public outcry at the scandalous behavior of Speaker Johnson and the House majority!

Government Paralyzed As Health Care Costs Skyrocket!

Ronald 6 Comments

The US government is under lockdown, while Donald Trump has been gallivanting all over Asia, ignoring the reality of massive health care cost increases, due to the passage by the MAGA Republican Party majority in Congress of the so called “Big and Beautiful Bill”, which gave massive tax cuts to corporations and billionaires.

With massive cuts to Medicaid, SNAP (Food Stamps) for 42 million people, and the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare), it means tens of millions of lower middle class and poor Americans will face hunger, and lack of health care protections, a totally outrageous and cruel reality.

No one in America should face hunger and starvation, or inability to have medical coverage, in a nation which professes the “right to life” of fetuses, but once born, no concern on the part of the Republican Party and Donald Trump.

Growing Dangers For Donald Trump After Nine Months In Office!

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President Donald Trump claims he has had major successes in his first nine months of his second term.

The truth belies that.

The last two months saw another trillion dollars added to the National Debt, to an all time high of $38 trillion, the fastest increase in history.

The attempts of Trump to gain backing of Vladimir Putin to end the war against Ukraine has failed, and another planned summit is now off.

The Israeli hostages were freed, but very little progress on the so called “20 point plan” has occurred, despite intervention of Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who are spending time in the Middle East.

The government shutdown, now in its 23rd day, second longest ever, is beginning to have a deleterious effect, as government workers are not being paid, and SNAP (Food Stamp) benefits are about to end for milions of needy Americans, and Trump is showing no signs of concern about the effect on the American people of his refusal to negotiate with the Democrats.

Speaker Mike Johnson is making a horrendous reputation for himself, refusing to swear in a newly elected Congresswoman, in order to hold off dealing with the revelation of the Epstein files.

The lunatic Tariff policies of Trump has totally alienated Canada, which now says the relationship of long standing has been irreparably harmed, and will never be the same.

These are just a few of the horrendous developments going on as Donald Trump destroys the White House, and demands $230 million from taxpayers as compensation for the prosections and convictions he faced for the January 6, 2021 US Capitol Insurrection, which sadly failed to prevent his coming back to the White House in the Presidential Election Of 2024.

House Speaker Mike Johnson Abuser Of Power, And Lackey Of Donald Trump!

Ronald 22 Comments

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson will mark two years in that position, second in line for the Presidency under the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, on Saturday, October 25.

It has been a tumultuous two years, serving under Joe Biden, and now, Donald Trump.

Johnson has been extremely controversial in his utterances and actions, demonstrating an abuse of power, and being a total lackey to Donald Trump.

Johnson claims to be a devout “good” Christian, but he is anything but that, including

having the House of Representatives not in session for almost a month while the federal government is shut down.

refusing to seat an Arizona Democratic Congresswoman, Adelita Grijalva, elected nearly a month ago, so as to avoid her voting on forcing the “Epstein Files” to be made available by a majority vote of the House.

claiming that the NO KINGS marchers and demonstrators taking place today are “terorists and radicals”, who “Hate America and are Antifa”, denying their validity as a means of protest of the authoritarian moves of Donald Trump.

and demonstrating no concern about the impending health insurance disaster, including in his own home state of Louisiana, due to the massive tax cuts given the wealthy at the expense of ordinary people.

His controversial and divisive leadership has made him look worse than former Speakers Kevin McCarthy and Paul Ryan, and made former Speaker Nancy Pelosi shine as easily the best recent Speaker of the House since fellow Democrat Thomas “Tip” O’Neill in the 1970s and 1980s.

“Red” Rural States To Suffer Most From Increases In Health Care Premiums!

Ronald 2 Comments

The Democratic Party in Congress has refused to sign off on the continuing resolution, leading to a federal government shutdown, due to the reality of the horrendous effect that the cutting of federal subsidies for the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and Medicaid will have on millions of Americans, mostly poor or lower middle class, and most heavily in rural states that are “Red” states.

The Southern States and rural Midwest and Western States, that are strongly Republican in voting patterns, will be harmed the most.

While racial minorities will be greatly affected, so will white rural Americans who voted for Donald Trump in 2024.

This includes states such as Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina, West Virginia, Kentucky, Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota, Idaho, and Wyoming.

The Republican Party, by its refusal to move to restore health care subsidies, is undermining its own electoral future!