General Discussion

bigtree

(93,455 posts)

93. the members of their respective bodies chose them

Tue Jan 13, 2026, 06:31 PM

Tuesday

..voted for them repeatedly.

People act as if they have a say in that, or even go so far as to pretend that unseating them and having the caucuses vote in other leaders would change the circumstances where it's the elected Dems who control the agenda, not the fiat of one man at the top.

Schumer and Jeffries were voted into the leadership to represent the people who voted them in, doing much more than just performing for the press.

Someone got peeved that the two refused to step out in fromt of the people they're supposed to be representing on this; the people who would be expected to put their votes where their mouths are.

Someone thought it was a cute idea to push them before they met with their caucus this week and before they held a 'whip' meeting to discuss the messaging they're going to present in the form of legislative action right now.

None of that is served by the two leaders getting out in front of their caucus with their personal opinions, but I do understand how people without that responsibility come to believe posturing for them is more important.

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Schumer and Jeffries Refuse to Back Growing Democratic Calls to Defund ICE [View all] Mysterian Tuesday OP

I don't know if they want to reveal everything in their toolbox right now, so to speak Just_Vote_Dem Tuesday #1

Keeping one's powder dry. Kid Berwyn Tuesday #7

Seriously your comment is a bit reassuring vapor2 Tuesday #17

This is kinda the same argument many of us here on DU, including me, were making in regards to Merrick Garland, MarineCombatEngineer Tuesday #18

I hear you, but Just_Vote_Dem Tuesday #20

... orangecrush Tuesday #76

maybe we could try... ret5hd Tuesday #101

If a rogue militia gunning down American citizens with impunity is not the right time, what is? Scrivener7 Tuesday #102

1000% TIMES THIS. No more M.Garland-style hope. No more wishing Maru Kitteh Tuesday #27

Garland handed over a fast moving investigation to Smith who brought an indictment with more than enough time to convict bigtree Tuesday #48

Thank you! betsuni Tuesday #57

Hey there, posse pal! MorbidButterflyTat Tuesday #71

Giddy-up, partner! betsuni Tuesday #77

Yippy kai yay! sheshe2 Wednesday #128

Ever see Die Hard? MorbidButterflyTat Wednesday #129

LOL.... sheshe2 Wednesday #130

You're preaching to the choir MorbidButterflyTat Tuesday #70

When it was discovered he had stolen all that classified material questionseverything Tuesday #81

This! A hundred times this!! CrispyQ Tuesday #87

He for sure wouldn't be walking around freely questionseverything Tuesday #88

anyone looking at how high profile prosecutions are challenged and appealed bigtree Tuesday #89

If he was sitting in jail, waiting for trial like any other traitor would be questionseverything Tuesday #90

that possibility just existed in the internet fantasy prosecution bigtree Tuesday #91

We disagree and I don't feel the need to belittle you and that's your entire argument questionseverything Tuesday #92

lol bigtree Tuesday #94

Yeah right. choie Tuesday #33

Respectfully, I understand the optimism angrychair Tuesday #41

I appreciate the response Just_Vote_Dem Tuesday #42

No worries at all angrychair Tuesday #44

Thank you! Just_Vote_Dem Tuesday #46

Seconding angrychair in my hopes that you improve hamsterjill Tuesday #68

Thank you so much! Just_Vote_Dem Tuesday #84

This message was self-deleted by its author orangecrush Tuesday #74

They need to meet this moment leftstreet Tuesday #2

Sadly, I think we need to face the fact that they won't. And our Democratic popularity will stay in the tank. Scrivener7 Tuesday #105

Gosh I hope they don't listen. Everyone knows defund is a TERRIBLE slogan. Maybe something like "we want nicer ICE?" WhiskeyGrinder Tuesday #3

Seen on social media: I like my ICE crushed. CrispyQ Tuesday #8

Saw the same meme the other day peggysue2 Tuesday #65

Defund is a third rail term Johonny Tuesday #4

How about " Keep the Border Sealed-- Re-form Ice" Ars Longa Tuesday #23

Build the case that ICE is wasting money, on jets for instance. dem4decades Tuesday #34

I didn't want to defund them angrychair Tuesday #47

Unlike Defund the Police, this is a movement/term I can 100% back. n/t Ms. Toad Tuesday #35

"There is nothing impossible to him who will try." Kid Berwyn Tuesday #5

They could write strict regulations into the bill Fiendish Thingy Tuesday #6

what bill? bigtree Tuesday #59

My comments were in the context of positions the leadership could take Fiendish Thingy Tuesday #82

the members of their respective bodies chose them bigtree Tuesday #93

"It is the job of thinking people not to be on the side of the executioners." ― Albert Camus Ping Tung Tuesday #9

Wanting to neuter ICE is a political loser... biocube Tuesday #10

The only test they have to pass is a loyalty test. gab13by13 Tuesday #12

Yes they definitely need MORE money WhiskeyGrinder Tuesday #14

Oh! So the ICE murderer just wasn't trained properly leftstreet Tuesday #19

Yes, I think if we had the same requirements for police officers biocube Tuesday #22

yeah we know cops never murder anybody WhiskeyGrinder Tuesday #24

Nonsense leftstreet Tuesday #30

I don't see a lot of evidence pointing towards your assertion Torchlight Tuesday #21

More training for Proud Boys Brownshirts is not going to make a bit of difference SamuelTheThird Tuesday #31

Yeah that's what happened choie Tuesday #37

I have a question that I hope those with more knowledge on this can help explain Quiet Em Tuesday #11

Victims refuse JBTaurus83 Tuesday #13

At the very minimum, DISARM ICE C_U_L8R Tuesday #15

I recommend they never say ANYTHING aocommunalpunch Tuesday #16

Because complicity has been an effective response so far! Duncan Grant Tuesday #25

They should have a background check. No arrest Emile Tuesday #26

No wonder so many Dems are registering as independent now. CousinIT Tuesday #28

Something about beatings continuing until morale improves. n/t flvegan Tuesday #29

Schumer and Jeffries are legitimate, elected leaders. gulliver Tuesday #32

Wut? We can't call for the reining-in of ICE because we weren't elected? And we're trying to lose us the midterms Scrivener7 Tuesday #103

Both need to face a primary. This is being complicit in the torture and murder of US citizens as well as immigrants. Demsrule86 Tuesday #36

Schumer is not up until 28 SocialDemocrat61 Tuesday #49

no Dem leader could undo the funding right now bigtree Tuesday #55

No matter how many times it's explained who votes for leadership, fact refuses to sink in. betsuni Tuesday #72

seriously. I have a hard time believing that they don't know the leaders represent the membership bigtree Tuesday #78

I know. Now I have the urge to use "refuse" in every sentence. betsuni Tuesday #83

THEY DON'T CONTROL THE BUDGET bigtree Tuesday #38

Again big thank you. betsuni Tuesday #64

you're welcome, going back to my plough, now bigtree Tuesday #66

Oh, look! Facts. Logic. Truth. (Thank you!) QueerDuck Wednesday #121

Long worried about Schumer. Now worried about Jeffries. Nm Grins Tuesday #39

Defunding ICE maliaSmith Tuesday #40

While i agree something needs to be done Samael13 Tuesday #43

correct, I see less than half a dozen legislators in the article bigtree Tuesday #63

How large is too large BidenRocks Tuesday #45

Many Desirable Things Would be Possible if We Had a Democratic Majority in the House and Senate. MineralMan Tuesday #50

I would assume that both the SocialDemocrat61 Tuesday #51

Our nation survived for 202 years without Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Thunderbeast Tuesday #52

ICE was only formed in late 2003 as a response to 9/11 and the Homeland Security Act. It's budget then was Nanjeanne Tuesday #53

Clickbait headline mcar Tuesday #54

"Little interest" - oh, that's so much better! I'm relieved. Thank God. (nt) Duncan Grant Tuesday #60

Better than refuse and the headline is misleading mcar Tuesday #62

Regardless, they are doing nothing more than make speeches. Duncan Grant Tuesday #67

"...impotent, cowardly acquiescence." MorbidButterflyTat Wednesday #133

You won't shame me. Duncan Grant Wednesday #134

It's designed to feed the anger of those who promote that Democrats "do-nothing" and "know-nothing" or... QueerDuck Wednesday #122

Yup mcar Wednesday #125

Post removed Post removed Wednesday #127

Truth...out. sheshe2 Wednesday #131

Oh yeah mcar Wednesday #132

I won't comment because I'd just get a post removed message CanonRay Tuesday #56

Close the border! Leave law abiding people alone! OrlandoDem2 Tuesday #58

Childish belief there are simple easy solutions for everything but mean old Democrats refuse to do them. betsuni Tuesday #61

Yeah orangecrush Tuesday #80

Childish belief the designated leaders do no wrong Mysterian Tuesday #100

Said nobody ever. betsuni Tuesday #104

Do you actually believe you "debunked" anything with this post: Mysterian Wednesday #111

You shall soon be implied to be a bad Democrat mr715 Wednesday #114

"Childish" mr715 Wednesday #113

I'd like to see new leadership. hamsterjill Tuesday #69

the members of the party elect their own leadership bigtree Tuesday #96

Well, it's time for a change in my opinion. hamsterjill Tuesday #98

Post removed Post removed Tuesday #73

Didn't we all just have this same argument last week? MorbidButterflyTat Tuesday #75

this time it's conveniently while Dems are meeting this week to make these decisions bigtree Tuesday #97

It refuses to go away. We will see it again next week and the week after that and the week after that. betsuni Tuesday #106

Makes me sick orangecrush Tuesday #79

When maga has run its course, there will be time enough at last to regroup. usonian Tuesday #85

This is war. They want to destroy us. I'm tired of nambie pambie pretending any of the is normal. flashman13 Tuesday #86

you don't even know their position on this, yay or nay bigtree Tuesday #95

Possibly you missed a reporter asking Jefferies straight up whether he supported de-funding ICE. flashman13 Tuesday #99

that's specious bigtree Tuesday #108

No it's not. It's more weak kneed non leadership. flashman13 Wednesday #110

Leaders lead. mr715 Wednesday #112

they are leading. bigtree Wednesday #116

The minority leader's function isn't really legislating mr715 Wednesday #118

'opposition messaging' is a canard in this case bigtree Wednesday #119

As you know, the Senate leadership mr715 Wednesday #120

'defund' is a word that you likely won't see anywhere in any messaging from the leadership bigtree Wednesday #123

Again, I appreciate this position mr715 Wednesday #124

""Statements and letters are not enough, and the appropriations process Scrivener7 Tuesday #107

They seem to be "re-fighting last year's election"---- Jack Valentino Tuesday #109

Why? kentuck Wednesday #115

that's nonsense bigtree Wednesday #117

I look forward to seeing their replacements take over. nt Gore1FL Wednesday #126

I'm not surprised. Perhaps we need some more quiet, deliberate consideration... mucholderthandirt Thursday #135