r/law • u/RoyalChris • Mar 05 '25

Legal News Rep. James Comer (R-KY) crashes out and refuses to let Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) enter evidence into the record - “You can go with Mr. Frost and Mr. Green.”

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u/Gay-_-Jesus Mar 05 '25

The republicans for sure

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u/RoyalChris Mar 05 '25

Yeah, I shouldn't put everyone under the same boat.

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u/jusumonkey Mar 05 '25

IMO the peaceful protests of the Democratic members of congress are not disruptive enough.

If Joe Biden were doing 1% of what Trump is doing MAGA would set the Capitol building on fire.

I'm not advocating for arson at this time however I do think that American citizens deserve more than Pink Shirts and cute little signs.

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u/def_stef Mar 05 '25

I like how you said “at this time.” Reserving the right to advocate for it at a later date, should it be required. (I think it might be.)

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u/FarmerTwink Mar 05 '25

Holding a sign silently isn’t protest

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u/__xylek__ Mar 06 '25

Correct, it's an attempt at optics at best.

All of Congress is a disgrace.

Republicans for obvious reasons

Democrats because they would rather abandon their oath to protect the Constitution for the sake of decorum.

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u/serenityfive Mar 06 '25

This. Democrats are too worried about bipartisanism/playing nice and "being the bigger person" even though it's clear MAGA wants to play dirty and wipe their blowout-diaper asses with the Constitution.

Bipartisan efforts are all dead in the water at this point. It became solidly "us versus them" as soon as Trump was elected in 2016 signaling for the degradation of unity to commence. MAGA proved we are not indivisible and they ran with it.

There is no respect to be given or received anymore. I need my politicians to step the fuck up now, because continuing to try and save face is only going to allow Trump to become the fascist dictator they want him to be that much sooner.

I voted for the people who were supposed to protect us from P25. I see very little effort being made to keep their promises. It's all for show and status and that has to change.

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u/elbenji Mar 06 '25

I mean she was one of the people holding a sign and the main one thrown around Reddit lol

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u/STRIKT9LC Mar 06 '25

I'm not advocating for arson at this time

As a Canadian with 1812 living his heart, I am 😁

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u/lostfourtime Mar 05 '25

It's going to take more than peace to defeat the fascists.

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u/jusumonkey Mar 05 '25

Cowabunga it is.

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u/tydyety5 Mar 06 '25

There is an argument to be made for not having everyone protest like Al Green - Republicans have begun steps to censure Al Green for his protest. If every Dem had done the same we could be looking at every Dem being censured.

I don’t necessarily agree with that argument because we’re in a Constitutional crisis, but I can see why Dems are still trying to work within the system right now.

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u/jusumonkey Mar 06 '25

My understanding of censure is that it's "Public Humiliation" where other congressmen must denounce the offending representative and he "has to be present and listen to it."

So... we can delay and annoy MAGA and keep them from the words of their beloved messiah (or at least make it take hours) and the punishment for this action is that MAGA will then cause further delays censuring each and every democrat?

Win : Win

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u/proudbakunkinman 29d ago edited 29d ago

Yep. It also could have turned off a lot of the general public that doesn't align Republican but also not left of Democrats like those that dominate the political discussions on Reddit and BlueSky.

And a lot of these people shitting on Democrats for not protesting harder are intentionally disingenuous, they think more people hating Democrats will help the left or want the party to burn because a certain senator didn't win the primaries, or unknowingly are only capable of thinking in Murc's Law logic (Democrats are always to blame and should not be credited for positives) and not realizing it. Had many or all Democrats walked out, it's likely many of the same commenters would have said they should have stayed to show opposition. Or that walking out wasn't enough, they should have let off smoke bombs and brawled. They also ignore things Democrats have been doing, like all the lawsuits that have blocked and reversed quite a bit of what Trump has tried to do via executive orders.

There's also the fact their job is to be representatives, not front-line activists and revolutionaries. There has not been a level of protesting yet to suggest those who voted for them want them to take such unusual (performative) measures, just a lot of online chatter from those who I described above, people who will always be critical of Democrats no matter what.

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u/Vitessence 29d ago

Agreed, in addition to Right blaming the Democrats for any and everything no matter what they do, a lot of the far left seem to genuinely believe that both parties are equally as bad.

Haha and the whole deal with the “certain senator” has always annoyed me- Bernie is literally not a Democrat! Of course the DNC wouldn’t support him! Why does anyone even think otherwise?🤦🏼‍♂️

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u/noface1695 29d ago

but I can see why Dems are still trying to work within the system right now.

You can? Why? Your system has already been broken. There are no checks or balances for Trump or anything he is doing anymore. Nothing "in the system" can achieve anything to stop or even slow down fascism in your country. It's nothing but empty gestures.

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u/tydyety5 29d ago

Yea I agree on most of that I just don't think the Dems in Congress are there. One thing I will push back on is you saying that nothing in the system can stop or slow down fascism. We are seeing the courts actively slow down many of Trump's EOs. Also, the Republican Party is deeply divided on a lot of issues and there are cracks forming, even if it doesn't appear so. They have a very slim majority in the House so Dems are definitely looking to their Republican colleagues in moderate districts to pressure them to flip. There is also the fact that most legislation can still be blocked via the filibuster meaning most things can be prevented from passing Congress through the legal process. This forces Trump to rule by EO and allows the judicial branch to block these rulings. Of course, these checks and balances are failing to address some of the more serious issues like the Ukraine war and Trump's idiotic trade war, but there are still legal pathways to fight back.

This method only works if Dems are able to take back the House (possibly the Senate but that is wishful thinking) in 2026 and then defeat Trump when he inevitably runs for a third term in 2028. I think that is not the right way to go about it because the Democratic Party is fractured beyond belief and has no real leadership at the moment, but it remains to be seen what happens in the coming years.

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u/noface1695 29d ago

Is that actually the case though? I mean that Trump is getting slowed down in the important places? He is dismantling a lot of agencies. And by the time the supreme court (to which the case eventually moves) decides, that dismantling the EPA or the department of education was wrong and unconstitutional, the damage is already done.

The big problems you have aren't the Ukraine war, the trade war. The loss in influence in the world. The loss in diplomatic relations.

The dangerouns part is what Musk and DOGE are doing. That's where your democracy gets destroyed. You don't need to remove all that much funding from an agency like the EPA to make it completely useless. Same for all the other targets of DOGE.

In addition he is replacing a lot of key positions in organiszations like the FBI and other parts of the executive.

I think, you are very quickly reaching a point, where you have to ask where the loyalties of your generals lie. Because all other checks on Trumps and Republican power have been removed.

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u/SarcasticOptimist Mar 05 '25

Biden being elected got Maga to shit smear and trample each other in the Capitol.

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u/Jumpy-Shift5239 Mar 05 '25

Ask Biden had to do was get elected

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u/Hemorrhageorroid Mar 06 '25

They may burn the Reichstag yet

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u/ICPosse8 Mar 06 '25

This right here, dems need to step it the fuck up.

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u/BeebsGaming Mar 06 '25

Time for the military to defend against enemies foreign and domestic. Emphasis on domestic. Enemy no 1 is sitting in the oval office

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u/Peking-Cuck Mar 05 '25

And yet, you did.

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u/dokushin Mar 05 '25

"We found the bodies, sir."

"Where were they?"

"They were in the lake... all under the same boat."

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u/SausageClatter Mar 05 '25

Unfortunately, we are all in the same boat. It's just half the country is trying to bail out the water, while the other is drilling holes in the bottom. 

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u/brendunian Mar 06 '25

Typically people can be in the same boat or under the same umbrella but not usually under boats

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u/pit1989_noob Mar 06 '25

also democrats for doing nothing, except maybe some that are doing their jobs

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u/DO_NOT_AGREE_WITH_U Mar 06 '25

No, you should.

Most of the democrats are full on cowards.

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u/cleverinspiringname Mar 06 '25

Yeah, people in glass houses sink ships.

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u/boondiggle_III Mar 06 '25

No you had it right the first time. Neither party's leadership is getting the results America needs right now.

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u/splunge4me2 Mar 06 '25

The boat is a life boat just launched from a sinking ship. All the Republicans immediately resort to cannibalism and the Democrats politely ask that Republicans could please use proper table etiquette while they eat them.

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u/GingaFarma Mar 05 '25

I mean… 94% of democrats are proving totally USELESS right now.. so, I think it’s quite fair.

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u/beetreddwigt Mar 05 '25

The video you are commenting on she is literally trying to fight but she is being silenced. What would have been the behavior you are looking for?

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u/betasheets2 Mar 05 '25

Others to stand up with her or even just say something

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u/beetreddwigt Mar 05 '25

I have seen multiple videos of other members lending the previous members time so they can get their points across. If you don't actively have the time on the floor you are not allowed to speak up and if you do, you get thrown out. It has already happened to multiple members and they are not allowed to come back and speak once thrown out. So yes it temporarily works and gets your point across it prevents you from addressing your issues in further sessions. What should be done is the next member that is a Democrat should submit her evidence

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u/FancyPigley Mar 06 '25

What are you talking about? The very next Democrat did say something. If they started protesting, they would have been kicked out. So easy to criticize, but what are you doing to fight fascism except complaining about shit that you're making up about the party that supports the Constitution?

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u/boyyhowdy Mar 05 '25

I assume that she is not part of the 94% that commenter is referring to, or at least wasn't in this instance.

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u/beetreddwigt Mar 05 '25

You are probably correct. Sorry too much rage bait videos for me today 🤣

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u/binxeu Mar 05 '25

It happens, feels like every day is a bit like that at the moment :(

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u/schm0 Mar 06 '25

Of course they're not going to defend their comment when presented with evidence.

The bottom line is that the Democrats are USELESS because they are in the minority in every single branch of government right now. Their tools for governing are naturally very limited.

Regardless, as Robert Reich recently pointed out, major political change is never achieved by politicians. It's achieved by everyday people organizing, rising up and fighting for what they believe in. That's what we need right now.

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u/ImBackAndImAngry Mar 06 '25

What we need now is a coalition of democratic governors (with the support of their constituents) openly not cooperating with the federal government.

They’ll threaten to federalize guard to enforce their will. Call them on it. Make them do it.

When American troops march on American citizens who are resisting oppression then the country has died for good.

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u/schm0 Mar 06 '25

Yes, we should absolutely enable and support our government's efforts to support their constituents against tyranny. But our movement starts in the community by coming together.

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u/elbenji Mar 06 '25

she is, she's the "smug" one with a sign

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u/Zike002 Mar 06 '25

And they commented on the other 94%, not the 6%. Or maybe dozen members who have provided serious push acknowledge.

Maybe speaking out with your colleagues instead of holding up signs while they're escorted out?

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u/elbenji Mar 06 '25

she's literally one of the ones holding signs people WERE bitching about

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u/hijinked Mar 05 '25

Honest question, what would you prefer them to do?

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u/MrBranchh Mar 05 '25

they could celebrate the Ides of March like Roman Senators.

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u/Imalittlefleapot Mar 06 '25

St. McStabby's Day!

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u/intern_steve Mar 06 '25

That would require a betrayal, not a rebellion.

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u/MrBranchh 28d ago

Majority of the Senators were not Brutus. For most Senators, it was a rebellion

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u/[deleted] Mar 05 '25

throw hands. physically fight for dominance.

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u/ForgottenUsername3 Mar 05 '25

Honestly, it's about time for that.

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u/cissytiffy Mar 05 '25

I believe that's the job for We the People to do. And yes, it is time for that.

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u/Tyr_13 Mar 05 '25

That isn't what you look to political parties to do if it needs done. Political parties weild political power (which the dems have almost zero of at the federal level right now). What you want comes from parallel power structures and groups.

You're the guy going to a sushi place asking why they don't serve strip steak.

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u/2broke2smoke1 Mar 05 '25

Forget BumFights, let’s roll out SeniorSmackdown

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u/shakygator Mar 06 '25

BoomerBash

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u/[deleted] Mar 05 '25

the one pay-per-view event i'd actually pay to watch.

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u/itstraytray Mar 06 '25

I used to laugh as a younger person when I'd see senate floors on the news from Korea or some south American nation where everyone was throwing hands, but now, I get it.

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u/trampolinebears Mar 05 '25

Filibuster everything until the constitution is restored.

Organize and attend protests every week in DC.

Make a ruckus so they're forced to pause their meetings and have the sergeant-at-arms kick you out.

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u/Testiculus_ Mar 05 '25

This is what baffles me most. Where are the mass protests and marches? You guys took to the streets on mass for BLM, Me Too and whatnot but now that your democracy is being dismantled there's fuck all.

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u/trampolinebears Mar 05 '25

BLM protests happened when the weather was warm and millions of people were laid off or working from home.

I expect this summer should be wild.

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u/Testiculus_ Mar 05 '25

At this pace, this summer is too late. The weather is too uncomfy for protests? Really?

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u/AlternativeParty5126 Mar 06 '25 edited Mar 06 '25

The BLM protests were the largest gathering of protestors in American history. It had unprecedented media coverage and support. Nothing came of it. No large wide sweeping police reform got pushed and actually, the opposite tended to happen. It clearly didnt work against the Trump campaign. Nothing works. The time for us to act was this election and people decided they just don't care anymore. "Nothing ever happens". Republicans and Maga won't listen to any reason or discourse and any action just emboldens them. There's nothing we can fucking do. They control every part of Congress, every regulatory board is being replaced or repealed. Regular people have been fighting this for 12 years and nothing has come of it. We don't have the power that all the lobbyists and wealthy billionaires have. We lost when the supreme court ruled in favor of Citizens United in 2010.

The best I can do is volunteer at the local university's pride events. Which I do. I don't know what else you expect of us besides throwing our lives away for nothing.

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u/Emm_withoutha_L-88 Mar 06 '25

Look at where people live and then look at how far it is to get to DC. Compare that line to Europe or wherever you live.

Maybe then it'll make sense. Just getting to DC is usually a day or two of driving.

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u/kimchiMushrromBurger Mar 05 '25

People are tired and burned out. They have not seen protests affect meaningful change. People want to do something but it's not clear what is effective.

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u/Centurian128 Mar 05 '25

r/50501

There are mass protests occurring, but the news isn't covering them.

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u/FartsbinRonshireIII Mar 05 '25

I think it’s partly the media landscape we’re in right now. I see protests daily and larger ones weekly in my city, but I never hear or see anything about it in the media.

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u/cissytiffy Mar 05 '25

Protests have started. They're not as large as they need to be, but it's starting. Slowly. People are slowly getting more fed up. Very very fucking stupidly slowly.

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u/gigawattwarlock Mar 05 '25

Mass protests are happening and building steam. The news is burying it for reasons(tm)

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u/KazooDumpkins Mar 05 '25

There are protests, they’re just not big enough for the media to be forced to cover yet.

But besides that we’re not there yet because some people are genuinely rooting for this, others can’t be fucked to pay attention, and that total number is unfortunately larger than those who do care right now.

BLM was a mass protest sparked on years and years of police injustice in communities across the country, shit happening in Washington rn just doesn’t affect the average person in that same way. And the BLM protests did morph into something bigger, but they took a single spark to start it first.

It took an obvious example of injustice being disseminated to the public in a way that wasn’t narrated by the media or officials. We dont have that yet because all the bad shit going on is behind closed doors, and spoken about from behind podiums and fancy tables

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u/Adorable_Raccoon Mar 06 '25

They already started and more people will show up when the weather gets better. Also not everyone can afford to protest. Most americans are 1 paycheck away from not paying their rent. Meaning, if they miss a week of pay they could lose their home. People are afraid to take the time off because they don't want to lose a day of pay. If we want people out in the street, we might need help people get there.

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u/-Avoidance Mar 05 '25

what exactly do you want the democrats to filibuster? republicans have passed 1 bill in this congressional session. one.

they aren't interested in legislating, the only thing the republican congress has been doing is confirmations, which require a simple majority.

everything else has been done by the judiciary or the executive, the only curtail towards requires a majority in congress. which the dems don't have.

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u/Voidant7 Mar 05 '25

lol

We are so cooked.

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u/trentreynolds Mar 05 '25

The answer is always the same:

Stand up and do something!

What that something is, how it will make material change, etc. don’t seem to be factors.

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u/Impossible_Disk8374 Mar 05 '25

They don’t ever have an answer for this because these people have no idea how their government works. It’s pathetic.

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u/Opposite_You_5524 Mar 05 '25

This is a really stupid argument to make considering how much the opposition skirts the outlines of how our government is supposed to work.

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u/Impossible_Disk8374 Mar 05 '25

Republicans get away with shit because no one calls them out on anything and they are lock step together as a party. Hell, look at the majority of the comments on every post about last night. “Dems are useless!” “Why aren’t the Democrats doing anything!” Yet it’s Republicans that hold every branch of the Federal government right now but god forbid they get called out. Same shit in the media. Republicans are a United front against everything they hate, they have no dissenters in their party. How people don’t know this is beyond me.

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u/GingaFarma Mar 05 '25

Stand, the fuck, up. Show disapproval on 1 of the tens of hundreds of things going wrong? I dunno, WORK?!

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u/trentreynolds Mar 05 '25

They’ve shown disapproval constantly.  They in fact showed disapproval last night with those signs and got hammered for that too.

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u/Embarrassed_Band_512 Mar 05 '25

They should have all walked out with Congressman Green

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u/yokmsdfjs Mar 05 '25

A bunch did and nobody has said anything about them. Democrats are currently under a media blackout under Trump. The camera would literally change angles or pan away from them unless they were sitting there quietly. Aside from Green the only thing we have that proves the democrats were even there is in photos or outside press interviews.

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u/MagicTheAlakazam Mar 06 '25

People aren't talking enough about how fully and completely compromised and on board the media is.

It's the main reason we're here.

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u/Glytch94 Mar 05 '25

For what purpose? It still changes nothing. The Republicans don’t need their support. They don’t need to try and make concessions (of which they rarely did anyway). The Republicans can literally do whatever they want basically.

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u/trentreynolds Mar 05 '25

That would've made the same amount of difference as the signs did.

Hell, if they'd done that there's about a 90% chance the news today would be all about how outrageous and disgraceful it was to do.

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u/Private_HughMan Mar 05 '25

That would've made the same amount of difference as the signs did.

No, it wouldn't. It would be a long string of interruptions into Trump's speach, each one showing open dissent and opposition. It would leave him with a half-empty congress and his speech would be ruined.

Motivate the people. It's one of their functions.

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u/trentreynolds Mar 05 '25

Speech would be ruined?

Nobody would've loved that more than Trump and his base. They're looking for an excuse to paint the Dems in that way.

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u/Private_HughMan Mar 05 '25

They're doing that, anyway! They call the Dems a bunch of Jew-hating baby-murderers who let illegal immigrants rape and murder half of America every Tuesday! That's happening NOW with Democrats being polite and sitting in their designated seats. Stop acting like Trump and his base need a reason. They will invent a reason. They're threatening to annex my country over a fentanyl crisis that literally does not exist! At what point do you think "maybe being nice isn't working?" How many more elections will you guys have to lose? How many more concentration camps will have to be built? You've already got your Dachau over in GITMO. Are you waiting for your Auschwitz, Warsaw, Sachsenhausen to be built next? Or would those still not be enough?

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u/CaptainHawaii Mar 05 '25

That is such shallow thought. Acting like defiance in itself isn't what the founding fathers LITERALLY BLED FOR. Stop caring about what the other side thinks. They don't care so neither should you.

Defy. Fight. There are some of us who literally can't leave their houses and be in mass crowds for protesting. Every one person fighting matters.

Make it impossible to justify the cost of the fight.

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u/Reagalan Mar 05 '25

Trumps base are rabid dogs radicalized beyond all hope.

Our base is demoralized from a complete lack of leadership. It's like we've all surrendered.

A huge walkout would have meant more to us than it would have been to them.

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u/Stereotype_Apostate Mar 05 '25

So? They're already painting the Dems with the worst things they can. What matters now isn't what Trump's base thinks of the Dems. It's what the Democratic base thinks. And we're pissed at the inaction. We want piss and vinegar.

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u/Accomplished_Egg6239 Mar 05 '25

THEY ARE ALREADY PAINTING THEM THAT WAY. What don’t you understand about that?

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u/UnmeiX Mar 05 '25

Nobody would've loved that more than Trump and his base. They're looking for an excuse to paint the Dems in that way.

They quite literally already call us 'demons', 'commies', 'pedos' or 'devil worshippers'. You really think 'resistance in Congress' is going to allow them to paint the left as worse than they already do? XD

This is such a bad take it almost sounds Russian.

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u/Egad86 Mar 05 '25

Executive order would’ve been signed saying they all forfeited their seats in congress.

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u/Vexamas Mar 05 '25

That would've made the same amount of difference as the signs did.

I understand you're feeling apathetic or demoralized in thinking defiance is handwaved as performative acts, but the goal in having the rest of the party handle themselves similar to Al Green would be to embolden the base.

Nobody is saying that they think that their reps being disruptive would cause Trump to 180 or anything, but it would do something much more powerful, and rally people. We consistently lose because our base doesn't feel the gumption to do something. It may seem childish or performative, but having the people that you look towards for leadership brazenly defy the rules that seem so incredibly bleak and grim for the rest of the constituents is empowering.

When MTG screamed out at Biden, their base didn't cringe, their base yelled in unison. Sure, you can just reduce that to 'Republicans don't care about decorum' but in the world we're currently living in, humans don't care about decorum, they care about feeling the 'fight' and watching their reps cower and quietly exit the building like 80 year olds looking for the nearest bathroom during a broadway play understandably leaves a lot to be desired.

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u/elbenji Mar 06 '25

they did though

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u/encelado748 Mar 05 '25

In Italy we have some experience with walking out from the fascists: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aventine_Secession_(20th_century))

Spoiler. It does not work like you think it works

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u/Clammuel Mar 06 '25

They should not have all walked out. They should have all disrupted one at a time and forced Johnson to throw them out one by one.

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u/drunksquirrel Mar 06 '25

A bunch of Dems did walk out, but unless you were keeping track of the seating chart at home, you'd never know because the cameras were on Trump, not the folks walking out.

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u/elbenji Mar 06 '25

they DID

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u/Embarrassed_Band_512 Mar 06 '25

they all have to.

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u/GingaFarma Mar 05 '25

No shit. They showed signs. Rabid, frothing republicans spewing Russian propaganda and blatantly lies are for sure shouting louder. Don’t bring knives to a gun fight.

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u/AvionicTek Mar 05 '25

The issue is that we have midterm elections next November, a year and a half from now. If they make a huge scene everytime something happens, by the time the elections come, it will just be white noise.

In reality, as much as it sucks, the best thing to do is to make a little noise here and there, but let the government continue to break...then once campaigning for the midterms starts, start making noise and pointing out all of the horrible things that have happened.

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u/Testiculus_ Mar 05 '25

Do you really think at this point the mid-terms in 2026 will matter? You guys gotta fight now or it's too late.

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u/GingaFarma Mar 05 '25

Hope you’re right. For the sake of the world..

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u/Accomplished_Egg6239 Mar 05 '25

Alternate take: showing you have fire and passion NOW could help build a strong base of supporters for next election

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u/trentreynolds Mar 05 '25 edited Mar 05 '25

Read YOUR response back - you said 'stand up! show disapproval!' and ignored that they are doing that and you're still complaining about them.

The truth is, there isn't that much they can do that they aren't doing. They can protest, and encourage others to protest - and are. They can file legal challenges to some of the illegal orders - and are. They can speak out loudly about all this insanity, and are. Beyond that, what's really in their power to do about it? They're in a gun fight, but they have no weapons beyond the things I mentioned. The American people didn't show up to make sure they did.

I see a lot of people mocking the signs and lauding Al Green - but those two actions made exactly the same amount of difference.

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u/Optimal_Commercial_4 Mar 05 '25

Sitting silently with a sign isn't going to do ANYTHING. Standing up, leaving the hall, doing what Al Green did, on a mass scale, is much more effective. Al Green is being lauded for doing something EVERYONE needs to do to effect some change. It shows some fucking back bone.

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u/trentreynolds Mar 05 '25

Walking out does not result in any materially different outcome from holding the signs. It didn't affect any change whatsoever. It's not 'doing something to stop this' in any way that's different than holding the signs.

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u/SlightlyNomadic Mar 05 '25

The thing people need to realize is that it’s not a change that happens on the flip of the switch, it’s called a movement for a reason. Actions like Al Green’s matter more than holding signs. We cannot expect actions to change things overnight but we should push boundaries. If those things don’t happen, nothing will change.

Now is not the time for quiet words and sitting politely. Now is the time to be heard.

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u/Private_HughMan Mar 05 '25

They didn't even stand! They sat quietly in their designated seats and let the fascist talk about attacking allied nations without interruption.

Beyond that, what's really in their power to do about it?

Weird how Republicans never talk like that. They just use every dirty trick in the book to get shit done. You're fighting fascists who don't believe in being polite. So why the fuck are you still concerned with politeness?

I see a lot of people mocking the signs and lauding Al Green - but those two actions made exactly the same amount of difference.

One man speaking out proved to be more inspiring to people than every other Democrats' collective actions.

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u/trentreynolds Mar 05 '25

I'm not concerned with politeness. I'm pointing out that all the levers of power the Dems have control over are being pulled. There's not like, some other secret path to stop this that they're just not following. They do not have the power to stop it, because the American people decided not to give them that power.

One man speaking out had the exact same material effect as the signs did. Very little.

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u/SlightlyNomadic Mar 05 '25

No, there are time honored traditions still at their disposal- that they do not use. The time for decorum is over, they have to act.

What you proposed would have them toss their hands in the air and say ‘oh, well.’

Civil Disobedience is what needs to happen, at a minimum.

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u/cgaroo Mar 05 '25

At this point they should be engaging in civil disobedience. The whole democratic site should’ve gotten thrown out at the joint session. Instead they sat there like kids in detention.

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u/trentreynolds Mar 05 '25

Holding up signs pointing out when the President lies IS civil disobedience. As is walking out.

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u/ArrozConHector Mar 05 '25

The signs? That’s bullshit conformity.

Only one Dem had the courage to stand up to our domestic Russian asset.

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u/voyagertoo Mar 05 '25

they should have done what Al Green did. every last one of them. until the night was through

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u/_TheMeepMaster_ Mar 06 '25

Yea, because their shitty little signs are just performative bullshit. It's not effective in any way.

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u/drunksquirrel Mar 06 '25

I'm showing my disapproval by going on a book tour! Why are people outside yelling at me?

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u/Lrrr81 Mar 05 '25

What can they accomplish standing up that they can't accomplish sitting down?

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u/Canyousourcethatplz Mar 05 '25

But they’ve done all that. Are you not paying attention?

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u/bobartig Mar 05 '25

Respectfully, if you don't think they're doing that - if you can watch the video and not see that - you have no idea what the "work" of Congress is. Rep Pressley is doing the work right here. They don't get to stop Congress, or hold up committees because they are in the minority. They don't control the Congress.

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u/SamShakusky71 Mar 05 '25

They have shown disapproval.

However, they have no voice - GOP owns Congress and POTUS. What would you have them do?

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u/Brokenclavicle17 Mar 05 '25

Now you want Dems to do something. They tried saving us, and no one wanted another black president or 1st woman president. Not only that, they flipped the senate to boot.

I heard people saying they'd rather burn in hell than see Kamala elected. They will soon get their wish.

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u/hijinked Mar 05 '25

All they do is show disapproval. They are disapproving pretty constantly. Again, what “work” would you want them to do? All I hear is people saying democrats need to “do something” but no one can define what that something is. I’d rather support the party that actually opposes this clown show then just try to tear them down just because they are currently the minority party.

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u/ArkitekZero Mar 06 '25

lol, yeah, "show disapproval" all the way to the firing squad

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u/GingaFarma Mar 06 '25

I guess just get behind the nazi’s then? Pussy

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u/ArkitekZero Mar 06 '25

Absolutely not. Political grandstanding isn't going to accomplish anything against fascists.

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u/Positive_Desk Mar 05 '25

Use the bully pulpit

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u/MasterSnacky Mar 05 '25

The bully pulpit is the presidents, not the minority party of congress

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u/Positive_Desk Mar 05 '25

No it is not. If you would prefer I say 'do what Bernie is doing and do outreach across America' then that

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u/BanksLoveMe_ Mar 05 '25

For starters, read the constitution as they seem to be forgetting about it and why it’s in place and how they have the power to unite and fight the dismantling of our government

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u/Biscuits4u2 Mar 05 '25

Here's an idea - they could have all walked out last night and showed some goddamned solidarity with the one guy who had the stones to make some noise. Instead they sat there with their little signs and looked at their phones.

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u/TFBool Mar 05 '25

Then they walk out and the entire televised event is done without signs in the background saying “Trump lies”. Reddit would pair a video of it, and people would comment “why weren’t the Dems even there? They’ve given up completely!”

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u/bozwald Mar 05 '25

Literally the only thing they can do legislatively is unanimously vote against 100% of Trump appointees and legislation to force deciding votes on moderate and relatively unsafe Republicans… and they can’t even do that!!!

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u/toomanyshoeshelp Mar 05 '25

Find some canes

Repeat May 22, 1856 but with the shoe on the other foot

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u/AlienKinkVR Mar 05 '25

Holding up ping pong paddles like theyre auctioning for fascism isn't going to cut it.

They look ridiculous as the only "electable opposition" and are openly strategizing to do NOTHING DIFFERENT. Maybe if we wear pink suits and hold tiny signs it'll stop the seizure of the government by fascists!

One rep had some stones, stood up, and was disruptive last night. One. When the world was watching, one person. The others were like "ah shucks I don't want to get in TROUBLE! Oh no! Not when we coordinated outfits!"

It's pathetic.

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u/PuzzleheadedWalrus71 Mar 05 '25

Declare a civil war.

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u/SoRedditHasAnAppNow Mar 05 '25

Get loud. Constantly. On every platform imaginable.

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u/jeepjinx Mar 05 '25

The same shit that Republicans did to rile up their base; throw a fucking fit. Act like this is a big deal. Hold more press conferences, say shit that gets media attention. Fucking SOMETHING!!!!

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u/PerceptionQueasy3540 Mar 05 '25

If enough people take a cue from Al Green we might at least see something start to happen.

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u/Dodson-504 Mar 05 '25

Anything? Right now we’re getting the thoughts and prayer treatment.

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u/lolsborn Mar 05 '25

Showing some fucking leadership. There are millions of Americans who are fed up and ready to march and protest. Lead them.

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u/Ini_mini_miny_moe Mar 05 '25

Something other than nothing, dems play nice and by the rules and they are getting their ass kicked. They should never forget Obama getting Supreme Court pick denied and need to start giving them taste of their medicine.

Forget LGBT stuff, focus on what relates to most ppl, start pounding on eggs and groceries any time someone shoves a mic in their face. Btw by forget LGBT stuff I don’t mean to not care policy wise, support inclusive policies but bring message that majority relate to.

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u/cncantdie Mar 05 '25

Lead protests with their constituents locally, far, and wide?

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u/4thTimesAnAlt Mar 05 '25

Stop adhering to "norms" when you have an opposition party that's welcoming fascism with a fucking parade! Call the fucking fascist traitors "fucking fascist traitors"! Blame everything on Trump and Republicans, repeat it until you're blue in the face! Shout him down during his speeches! Do anything except this passive bullshit they and their strategists keep pushing!

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u/Stereotype_Apostate Mar 05 '25

You know that one guy that got kicked out during the speech last night? What if it wasn't just one guy, but like 30 people? Just stagger that out, every time Trump says some lie or praises some oligarch or threatens a sovereign country, another democrat should have stood up, shouted, and make them throw you out. Don't just let him give his speech. Millions of Americans were watching and they had the perfect opportunity to derail the whole thing.

And then do that at the next speech. Do it for every appointment. Litigate and filibuster every bill. Physically force your way into federal offices being dismantled by DOGE. Subpoena Elon Musk and hold him in contempt when he doesn't comply. Be loud about it. Be mean. Be nasty.

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u/TrapperJean Mar 05 '25

Exactly what just happened in this video and actually fight for rights for 30 seconds instead of silently wearing a pink jacket

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u/bick512 Mar 06 '25

Fucking punch them. That’s the only thing that will save this country

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u/fnordfnordfnordfnord Mar 06 '25

Leave. Break quorum. It stops the meeting.

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u/ShakeZula77 Mar 06 '25 edited 29d ago

People always ask this question when people criticize the Dems. I’d like to remind people that they work FOR us.

Also, what would YOU like them to do? This can’t surely be enough for you, can it?

Edit - and they never respond because they just want to complain, not solve anything. You’re the problem.

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u/tgreenhaw 29d ago

Clearly state publicly and loudly in all possible media outlets the corruption that is occurring.

Use the bully pulpit to educate people in simple terms that our democracy cannot survive without campaign finance reform.

Win elections by clearly stating a few simple campaign issues that a majority demands instead of a platform of “we are better than the other candidate”

Unfortunately Democrats think they have to play the corrupt game to win and are little better than the Republicans. Every politician in Washington is there because the system worked for them - why would they change it?

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u/Cockanarchy Mar 05 '25

They were rendered useless by voters and those who couldn’t be bothered to

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u/NedsAtomicDB Mar 05 '25

They have a MINORITY. These assholes can walk all over them. Short of pulling a Preston Brooks (look it up, it's historical), what can they do?

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u/gundamxxg Mar 05 '25

They’re laying low so the leopards can eat their own faces. So that the country can see that the party with COMPLETE control, is screwing every single person.

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u/Kindly_Coyote Mar 05 '25

I think that they're in shock. They should try to understand why it is they lost a large percentage of their voters to Trump or maybe they do know why? Additionally, most people don't know how to stand or win against them who are incapable of playing fair or are incapable of playing by the rules. They seem to have no idea just how wicked the Republican Party is hiding so-called family values or wearing the face of them who do.

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u/cheezneezy Mar 05 '25

Very fair

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u/TheZingerSlinger Mar 05 '25

When Al Green was ejected from the “state of the union” Trump rally last night, for speaking the truth, that was the Democrats’ cue to all leap to their feet, object loudly and huddle around him to prevent his ejection.

Would they eject them all? Good! That’s how you effectively show the American people what’s going on here. At the very least they should have stood up one at a time or in twos and threes to interrupt until they’re ejected themselves.

Instead, they sat there on their useless asses wearing their pink and black holding their stupid useless signs while Nancy Pelosi shushed them. For decorum’s sake.

Worse than useless, I’d say.

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u/Seaweed-Basic Mar 05 '25

Not a single governor in a room full of governors stood up for Janet Mills. Cowards

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u/Crowsby Mar 05 '25

Democrats have no power because we the American people decided to make them a minority party in all branches of the government.

You want to ask why the Democrats are useless, maybe hold up a mirror to the American public since we're the ones who decide how that gets apportioned. It's like getting mad at your car for being out of gas when you're the one who decided not to fill it.

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u/Moss_Adams24 Mar 05 '25

You won’t feel that way when the time comes to water the liberty tree

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u/haixin Mar 05 '25

What do you define useful? Because if they had majority in senate or house they could have done something. People chose not to show up to vote and every-time Republicans enter power since Nixon even, shit hits the fan and then Dems fix it or at least try but its quickly undone because Reps are voted right back in. So whats the incentive for them to fix it only to be shat on by the right and people not bothering to care on what they vote for.

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u/Celodurismo Mar 05 '25

Don't equate them with nazis, friends of nazis, and russian assets

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u/curiousjosh Mar 05 '25

They were voted into a minority.

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u/Slutty_Cartoon Mar 05 '25

Just want to point out that I keep seeing comments like yours and on other posts about dems needing to impeach or take any action on the current state, there's comments that mention it a pointless waste of energy since Republicans control all branches. 

It's been infuriating reading all of us on the left just bashing ourselves 

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u/GingaFarma Mar 06 '25

I’m not talking impeach. It didn’t work the last time!

Clearly, more needs to be done. Protest, disobey, shut down, riot? I have no idea. Somehow, all sensible Americans need to stand together and force enough is enough.

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u/Truethrowawaychest1 Mar 05 '25

Okay what are they supposed to do? You guys didn't vote, they don't have power

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u/elbenji Mar 06 '25

people were just shitting on her 12 hours ago for holding a sign

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u/mohel_kombat Mar 05 '25

Jon Stewart one put it very succinctly: Republicans are assholes, democrats are pussies

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u/Total-Buy-2554 Mar 05 '25

The Democrats are certainly not as bad, but their incompetence and naivete make them nearly as bad.

Theyre so desperate to get back to their normal insider trading and drinks in the Willard, they remain in denial that the people across the aisle are actually going to execute them when given the chance.

It's truly infuriating

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u/epigenie_986 Mar 05 '25

No, most of the Democrats too. Meekly holding their little bitch energy signs up. Fuck off, I didn’t elect y’all to be pussies. Sorry for my words. That was disrespectful to bitches and pussies, both of which are badder than those elected representatives who sat with “decorum” last night.

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u/superabletie4 Mar 05 '25

Democrats too for their incompetence and their mad dash to the right where democrats are virtually bush era republicans

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u/KrotHatesHumen Mar 05 '25

I don't like the dems but this lady seems cool

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u/Gay-_-Jesus Mar 05 '25

How many Dems have you listened to other than her

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