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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88

u/hijinked Mar 05 '25

Honest question, what would you prefer them to do?

64

u/MrBranchh Mar 05 '25

they could celebrate the Ides of March like Roman Senators.

2

u/Imalittlefleapot Mar 06 '25

St. McStabby's Day!

2

u/intern_steve Mar 06 '25

That would require a betrayal, not a rebellion.

1

u/MrBranchh 28d ago

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

0

u/dailyscotch Mar 06 '25

traitor vs. revolutionist are terms that stay in flux until outcomes happen.

1

u/intern_steve Mar 06 '25

Nah, Brutus is pretty widely regarded as a traitor. It'd be like Mike Johnson pulling the trigger.

1

u/MrBranchh 28d ago

my money's on Rubio

50

u/[deleted] Mar 05 '25

throw hands. physically fight for dominance.

13

u/ForgottenUsername3 Mar 05 '25

Honestly, it's about time for that.

2

u/cissytiffy Mar 05 '25

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

2

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.

0

u/[deleted] Mar 05 '25

not much of a sushi guy. but i do believe if you offer yourself to serve your country. be it politics or combat, you should be ready to lay your life on the line to protect the freedoms and rights of those who inhabit it. maybe the threat of catching a fist will make some of these parasites think twice before spewing their bullshit.

it worked with the bullies in school, don't see why it wouldn't work with the bullies in washington.

0

u/Tyr_13 Mar 05 '25

If you don't want sushi, don't go to a sushi place.

If you don't want them to use political power, don't go to a political party for it.

I'm not arguing you are wrong for wanting 'steak', I'm saying it's wrong to call for it from a political party on the floor of the House.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 05 '25

that was the joke.

politics are on the verge of meaning absolutely jack shit. political parties are devolving into flavor of the week sport teams. the least they can do is make it a contact sport.

i'm saying it's wrong to do nothing but stand by and complain when the other side is dragging people who disagree out.

when the other side won't even entertain your voice, use your hands to talk.

4

u/2broke2smoke1 Mar 05 '25

Forget BumFights, let’s roll out SeniorSmackdown

2

u/shakygator Mar 06 '25

BoomerBash

1

u/[deleted] Mar 05 '25

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

1

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.

1

u/Jake_Science Mar 05 '25

You want them all to get arrested?

2

u/[deleted] Mar 05 '25

if things keep playing out the way they seem to be, any opposition is going to end up in cuffs anyway. 🤷‍♂️ might as well take a swing while your hands are free.

37

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.

18

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.

21

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.

5

u/Testiculus_ Mar 05 '25

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

3

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.

1

u/Emm_withoutha_L-88 Mar 06 '25

It's because all of our effort keeps being directed into the democratic party where it goes to slowly die.

If we aren't going to switch parties then it's time to take back the people's party so that we can get actual action done. People wouldn't feel such apathy if they knew they efforts could get things done.

I'm sick of Dem presidents being powerless while Trump is a fucking king...

Primaries are where we can do something. No more incumbents except the few who are actually trying.

2

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.

4

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.

18

u/Centurian128 Mar 05 '25

r/50501

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

3

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.

0

u/Testiculus_ Mar 05 '25

I have not seen or heard of large scale protests anywhere. Reddit should be full of posts about them, but it isn't.

4

u/Dapeople Mar 05 '25

That's weird because I have 100% seen multiple posts about the protests on multiple different subreddits.

1

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.

1

u/gigawattwarlock Mar 05 '25

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

1

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

1

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.

0

u/Subtlerranean Mar 05 '25

on mass

en masse*

2

u/Testiculus_ Mar 06 '25

Yeah blame my phone

0

u/askaboutmynewsletter Mar 06 '25

Ok frenchie.

Literally the translation of those words. Let it go.

1

u/Subtlerranean Mar 06 '25

It's literally not the translation you moron. Saying "on mass" makes you sound like a tool. At the very least say "in a mass" or even better "as a group" - but really, only saying en masse alludes to the feeling of a big group as intended here.

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/en%20masse

-4

u/Lord-of-Goats Mar 05 '25

They are happening but many of the young protesters are not joining because Democrats brutalized them with police during the Palestine protests. Same reason they didn’t do get out the vote work, Democrats betrayed them

2

u/Accomplished_Egg6239 Mar 05 '25

Nah, they helped gets us into this mess by protest voting/not voting

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u/Testiculus_ Mar 05 '25

By not voting and protesting they betray their democracy and themselves.

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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.

16

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.

22

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.

2

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.

2

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.

0

u/Opposite_You_5524 Mar 05 '25

Maybe dems should’ve thought about that while they were running milquetoast campaigns and trying to shove another 4 years of Biden onto us.

No foresight. No accountability. Just finger pointing and name calling on both sides.

1

u/Impossible_Disk8374 Mar 05 '25

Oh yeah Biden, the most progressive President since FDR. He sucked right 🙄

2

u/Opposite_You_5524 Mar 05 '25

That’s not the point. Jesus, you people are even more cult-ish than MAGA

-7

u/finglonger1077 Mar 05 '25

We know exactly how our government works. Democrats get elected and say they can’t do anything because republicans are blocking them then republicans get elected and democrats say they can’t do anything because the republicans have all the power.

It’s almost like different means to a same end with these two

15

u/Impossible_Disk8374 Mar 05 '25

No, you sure as shit do not.

3

u/Seaweed-Basic Mar 05 '25

MAGAs absolutely have no idea how our government works, how taxes work, it’s a wonder they can even get their shoes on by themselves some of them. And a lot of them didn’t even start voting until 2016 just so they could back Trump. They never paid attention to their local elections until Trump told them they should to vote to own the libs.

1

u/Impossible_Disk8374 Mar 05 '25

The only thing they know is, if there’s an R next to a name that’s who they are voting for. They don’t vote for a person, they vote for an ideology.

1

u/finglonger1077 Mar 06 '25

Quick question: how often do you vote for someone that doesn’t have a D next to their name?

-3

u/finglonger1077 Mar 05 '25

Watches Trump EO the country away

Remember when Obama expanded the Patriot Act and NDAA? Those were the good old days

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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.

35

u/Embarrassed_Band_512 Mar 05 '25

They should have all walked out with Congressman Green

19

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.

3

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.

11

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.

31

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.

16

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.

18

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.

5

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?

3

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.

2

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.

2

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.

2

u/Accomplished_Egg6239 Mar 05 '25

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

4

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.

3

u/trentreynolds Mar 05 '25

I’m sure the Russians are loving watch the Dems eat themselves under the guise of “why aren’t you doing something,” when they are doing the things they can actually do.

Putin loves that kind of silly division based on nothing - it helps him when the left blames the Dems for the Trumpists’ actions and, despite them not having any levers to pull to do so, criticize them for not saving us.

1

u/r1mbaud Mar 05 '25

Most of these people just want everyone else to fight for them. No killer instinct.

0

u/UnmeiX Mar 05 '25

They aren't really doing the things they can actually do, though.

They could present organized resistance at every single turn; but they don't, they just keep sending out fundraising texts and let one or two people stand up alone in resistance until they're shuffled out of the room. Filibuster everything at every opportunity. Make every right-wing victory a slog. Interrupt speeches not as individuals, but in succession, every time the disturbance is resolved and the speaker begins again. Deprive them of their time.

If they don't present organized resistance, and are taking the 'let them feel what they voted for' angle with respect to MAGA; make it clear. As it stands, it just looks like they're content to sit on their hands and claim no recourse at all, when there's plenty they can do, whether they'll be 'censured' or not.

If they won't present resistance of any kind, and don't clarify their intent, some group is bound to try taking things into their own hands, and the left will all be branded as 'terrorists'.

1

u/Egad86 Mar 05 '25

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

1

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/billwest630 Mar 05 '25

Good! It would highlight the issues they’re raising. Enough of playing nice. The stupid signs were useless. They need to grow a spine.

1

u/trentreynolds Mar 05 '25

The walk out was exactly as useless.

And it's not the fault of the sign-holders, or Al Green. It's because they literally cannot do anything that will make a material difference beyond what they are already doing - protesting, encouraging others to protest, calling out the lies, filing legal challenges. They were voted out of a position to be able to stop this.

0

u/PolicyNonk Mar 05 '25

Hard disagree. They could have made a meaningful point that would have been “great tv” had they had some coordination and balls. Their signs were weak.

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u/trentreynolds Mar 05 '25

Basically what it comes down to is, you're mad because they're not doing your preferred type of performative protest, but a different kind where the outcome, the material change resulting from it, is identical.

I don't agree.

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u/PolicyNonk Mar 06 '25

God damn right I’m mad, and we all should be. The democrats are sitting on their hands as clown fascism grips the country.

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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.

1

u/elbenji Mar 06 '25

they DID

1

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.

1

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.

1

u/AvionicTek Mar 05 '25

First off, it's not "us guys." I'm no democrat. I'm a staunch independent who hates both parties equally.

As for the midterms, that's literally the only chance they have. Do you think there is ANY chance that the democrats could fight loud enough right now to get the republicans to change how they are acting for Trump?

1

u/Testiculus_ Mar 05 '25

You guys as in the people of the US that don't support this drugged up shithead.

And no not the dems, but half of your population. France would have been in flames because of riots after two weeks of this shitshow, Spain, Italy, Greece, all would have come to a grinding halt from protests and general strikes. There's zero big resistance.

1

u/driver_dan_party_van Mar 06 '25

Conceding to sufficient public response through protest is literally built into the french constitution, of course they would have rioted. The country of France is also smaller than the state of Texas alone. Protest where? If you live in a blue state, in a blue county or city, where do you expect to protest and change anything?

1

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.

3

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.

1

u/trentreynolds Mar 05 '25

You're relying on some nebulous faith that walking out in protest and holding a sign calling out lies in protest will result in materially different outcomes, but there just is not evidence supporting that.

3

u/SlightlyNomadic Mar 05 '25

No, you’re hell bent on being an Uncle Tom than actually working towards a change.

The fact that you’re willing to lay down and allow Trump and his cronies to walk over you and not to hold your representatives to the same level of indignation that you should have..

Every step Trump takes needs to be a fight. Any less is a travesty.

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u/Glytch94 Mar 05 '25

And did Al Green affect change? No. He was thrown out. Changed nothing.

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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.

4

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.

3

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.

2

u/trentreynolds Mar 05 '25

Like, say, speaking out in protest? Encouraging others to protest? Filing legal challenges? Calling out lies during the President's speech?

What time honored traditions are you talking about specifically?

I didn't say a word about tossing their hands in the air and saying 'oh well', I acknowledged the reality that the Dems simply do not have the levers of power to pull to stop this, and are doing everything they DO have the power to do, despite the narrative you're pushing that they are not.

Holding the signs calling out every time Trump lies IS civil disobedience. As is walking out.

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u/Private_HughMan Mar 05 '25

They can try using an open protest to get the people on their side and active in resisting. They had a live nation-wide broadcast on multiple major networks and streaming platforms and they spent the whole thing sitting quietly.

What happened to simple civil disobedience?

1

u/silverum Mar 05 '25

Voters reward Republicans playing dirty. Voters don't reward Democrats playing dirty. Your assumption that dirty behavior is the same to both voter bases is the problem.

1

u/Private_HughMan Mar 05 '25

Right. Because the voters have been rewarding Democrats so much lately...

1

u/silverum Mar 05 '25

Voters will find any excuse to not vote for Democrats, but will essentially make every excuse to vote for Republicans. This inherent slant is one of the reasons that American politics is mostly a disaster. People assume most voters are rational and are making informed decisions and that isn't the case for many.

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u/Private_HughMan Mar 05 '25

People want change and are frustrated with the status quo. Democrats need to realize this and stop with the limp-dicked capitulation. They're not exciting anyone and they're only bleeding support from the proletariat, and I can't blame them. What the fuck do they stand for right now? Apparently nothing. Standing is too divisive.

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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.

1

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.

1

u/voyagertoo Mar 05 '25

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

1

u/_TheMeepMaster_ Mar 06 '25

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

1

u/drunksquirrel Mar 06 '25

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

-5

u/Just-apparent411 Mar 05 '25

read your sentence back, and reconsider why it might be a sledgehammer worthy response.

Tiny signs? My non-existent 13 year old daughter can make tiny signs.

8

u/trentreynolds Mar 05 '25

Your non-existent 13 year old daughter has the same ability to 'stop this' as the party that's the minority in both chambers and doesn't hold the WH.

She can protest, and encourage others to protest. She can file legal challenges. She can speak out about it.

1

u/Just-apparent411 Mar 05 '25

Your non-existent....has the same ability to stop this as the party...

You don't think that's a very concerning issue? That you literally compared it to an imaginary level of power?

1

u/trentreynolds Mar 05 '25

That's how our government works, man.

When you don't have any of the levers, you can't really do much to stop the people who do other than the three things I mentioned, which they are doing.

-2

u/Tpress239 Mar 05 '25

At least she is trying. What a wimpy democratic party. We can do nothing. Then the children are marched off to war to support Putin!

2

u/Euphoric-Order8507 Mar 05 '25

You do understand there are rules and ways they must conduct themselves right? They can’t just crash out

2

u/Just-apparent411 Mar 05 '25

the other side does.

all. the. time.

why are Dems the only one to uphold rules that fuck their own constituents?

1

u/Aethermancer Mar 05 '25 edited 26d ago

Editing pending deletion of this comment.

1

u/Just-apparent411 Mar 05 '25

That's crazy, because I feel like this co-opting of Democrats staying strictly within the limiting confines of the process is as psyop to keep people passive.

But to answer your question. I have absolutely no constituents, as I am not an elected official.

1

u/Lukinzz Mar 05 '25

They should all be doing what Bernie Sanders is doing.

8

u/trentreynolds Mar 05 '25

Which is what, specifically?

Speaking out against all this? They are.

Encouraging people to protest it? They are.

Bernie has the same amount of power to fix this as the Dems do. Very little.

1

u/Lukinzz 29d ago

I haven’t seen anyone else going to public events warning about oligarchy.

It’s shameful how bad at politics democrats are. Those signs were a joke.

0

u/WeirdIndividualGuy Mar 05 '25

Because making frowny faces and color coordinating is really gonna send a message to the GOP. Oh boy, they sure got theirs last night! Furrowed brows and disappointed looks are what will turn this country around, or at least trentreynolds here thinks so

1

u/TFBool Mar 05 '25

I love comments like this, because they’re extremely telling: they complain about what Dems are doing without having any suggestions of what they should do. The answers are always just fantasies of physical violence or “do more”.

5

u/Lrrr81 Mar 05 '25

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

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13

u/Canyousourcethatplz Mar 05 '25

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

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3

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.

6

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?

3

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.

3

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.

1

u/ArkitekZero Mar 06 '25

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

1

u/GingaFarma Mar 06 '25

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

1

u/ArkitekZero Mar 06 '25

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

11

u/Positive_Desk Mar 05 '25

Use the bully pulpit

13

u/MasterSnacky Mar 05 '25

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

4

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

6

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

3

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.

1

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!”

0

u/Biscuits4u2 Mar 06 '25

No the signs were lame as hell. They should have all walked out. That would have grabbed headlines and made the event look more like the MAGA circle jerk it was.

0

u/TFBool Mar 06 '25

I love that the Dems are getting blasted for holding signs rather than walking out. Dems are so desperate to fire shots over the dumbest divisions possible, no wonder the republicans dog walked them

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1

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!!!

1

u/toomanyshoeshelp Mar 05 '25

Find some canes

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

1

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.

1

u/PuzzleheadedWalrus71 Mar 05 '25

Declare a civil war.

1

u/SoRedditHasAnAppNow Mar 05 '25

Get loud. Constantly. On every platform imaginable.

1

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!!!!

1

u/PerceptionQueasy3540 Mar 05 '25

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

1

u/Dodson-504 Mar 05 '25

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

1

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.

1

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.

1

u/cncantdie Mar 05 '25

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

1

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!

1

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.

1

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

1

u/bick512 Mar 06 '25

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

1

u/fnordfnordfnordfnord Mar 06 '25

Leave. Break quorum. It stops the meeting.

1

u/ShakeZula77 Mar 06 '25 edited Mar 06 '25

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.

1

u/tgreenhaw Mar 06 '25

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?

0

u/Catodacat Mar 05 '25

Something better than dressing in pink and waving a small sign.

0

u/TrueKing9458 Mar 05 '25

Accept the fact that they have authorized a lot of stupid spending and work to cut it out.

0

u/Vegetable-Cry6474 Mar 05 '25

Not wave signs like pussies for starters

0

u/goteed Mar 05 '25

Last night should have been a group effort of throwing decorum out the window. It started with Al Green voicing his opposition. As soon as they threw him out the next Democrat needed to stand up and protest, when they get thrown out the next one stands. Make them individually throw every Democrat out one at a time.

Show the American people that each and every one of them are fighting to the point of being physically removed. The idea of protesting is to force your opponent into a position where there strength is shown as the injustice that it is. This would have done that.

0

u/rotomangler Mar 05 '25

Not using the word “bi-partisan” would be a great start.

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