i really wish we would stop blaming our elected Dems. we won't win in 2026 if we keep doing this. see the Dem infighting summer 2024.
given how much was at stake in the Big Bullpocky Bill, the Dems had to choose the most key things to highlight as they fought to stop it. they chose healthcare. the best messaging is KISS: keep it simple, stoopid.
but also, if someone like Jay Kuo misses this point despite the close, astute attention he pays to such things, and he without the never-ending pressure of doing a full-time plus law-making job while fending off a criminal White House, can we give our elected Dems a break for possibly also having missed this point? it's also possible they had a strategic reason for not hollering about that particular evil detail in the BBB, itself a tsunami of evil details. see previous paragraph.
finally, there was a lot of coverage of this point (if I know about the ICE budget, it was a lot of coverage), making it quite likely that some Dem(s) spoke about it and were simply not heard, not covered, not quoted.
similarly, i don't blame you, Jay, for not getting the part about the exact terms of the ICE budget items. i know that this huge bill was huge and complicated for precisely the purpose of hiding things like this.
I remember the dems shouting about the funding for ice when this was rammed through too—though most of the focus was on the healthcare cuts at the time, rightly so.
The Bill, passed by incompetent Members of Congress, that Admittedly Never Read it, is making sure that the working class never take one step above their current “status”.
Working-class Americans will not be lifted above their current status but instead will be relegated to the ranks of what Stephen Miller and his ilk fondly refer to as the Underclass . . .
I still hold out hope for Rep. Jeffries & I'd like him to be the next Speaker of the House. Schumer can go. And you're right about them having staffers who should be acquainting themselves & their bosses with the language of the bills & proposed bills.
I agree about Jeffries, but he seems to be far too timid. A true leader would be pushing all of the Dems to be messaging CONSTANTLY. Not just "boo hoo, we're in the minority and can't do anything". We need both the congress critters and the Dems not in congress to be messaging non-stop. There is so much swampiness, cowardly inaction, and pure evil from the GQP, it is a target-rich environment.
They need to talk to ANYONE who will listen, and even those who won't (this is one of the MANY thinks I love about Pete B. He goes on GQP propaganda channels and schools them on some truth. . .
Something you'll never see Trump, or any MAGA post.
"...I made an error in a piece I wrote the other day. It’s... important to set the record straight."
THANK YOU for being an honest arbitor of the truth and for taking responsibility for your error. Breathtakingly refreshing.
I was planning to comment in a similar vein. It takes a lot of maturity and integrity to recognize AND acknowledge one’s mistakes. Kudos to Kuo!
Thanks for pointing this out. It is indeed surprising that it wasn’t highlighted to, as you note, help set realistic expectations.
i really wish we would stop blaming our elected Dems. we won't win in 2026 if we keep doing this. see the Dem infighting summer 2024.
given how much was at stake in the Big Bullpocky Bill, the Dems had to choose the most key things to highlight as they fought to stop it. they chose healthcare. the best messaging is KISS: keep it simple, stoopid.
but also, if someone like Jay Kuo misses this point despite the close, astute attention he pays to such things, and he without the never-ending pressure of doing a full-time plus law-making job while fending off a criminal White House, can we give our elected Dems a break for possibly also having missed this point? it's also possible they had a strategic reason for not hollering about that particular evil detail in the BBB, itself a tsunami of evil details. see previous paragraph.
finally, there was a lot of coverage of this point (if I know about the ICE budget, it was a lot of coverage), making it quite likely that some Dem(s) spoke about it and were simply not heard, not covered, not quoted.
similarly, i don't blame you, Jay, for not getting the part about the exact terms of the ICE budget items. i know that this huge bill was huge and complicated for precisely the purpose of hiding things like this.
Don't blame Dems, but don't be afraid to primary them out of a job, either. Seems like 3/4 of them are asleep during this crisis.
Primaries begin in March.
this year is not the year for such primary fights.
why don't you get this????
We can choose BETTER Dems in primaries, if we feel our current representatives aren't doing their jobs to the best of their abilities.
Absolutely. All the Dems who have their feet on the desk refusing to fight trump need to go
I couldn't possibly disagree more strongly.
I remember the dems shouting about the funding for ice when this was rammed through too—though most of the focus was on the healthcare cuts at the time, rightly so.
Exactly my thoughts too
The Bill, passed by incompetent Members of Congress, that Admittedly Never Read it, is making sure that the working class never take one step above their current “status”.
Working-class Americans will not be lifted above their current status but instead will be relegated to the ranks of what Stephen Miller and his ilk fondly refer to as the Underclass . . .
Thank you for the clarification and explanation. It does disclose an oversight failure by the Dems. I will point this out to my rep.
Being human… thank you for the work you do.
Thank you for this correction, as disturbing as it is. We need information as accurate as we can get. I appreciate your perserverance and integrity.
Thank you for the explanation.
This makes it even more clear that the Dem “leadership” MUST BE REPLACED”.
We need competence and actual leadership and Schumer and Jeffries are failing epically.
THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THISE TWO NOT HAVING AT LEAST ONE STAFFER BOTHER TO READ EVERY WORD OF THE DESPICABLE BILL.
I still hold out hope for Rep. Jeffries & I'd like him to be the next Speaker of the House. Schumer can go. And you're right about them having staffers who should be acquainting themselves & their bosses with the language of the bills & proposed bills.
I agree about Jeffries, but he seems to be far too timid. A true leader would be pushing all of the Dems to be messaging CONSTANTLY. Not just "boo hoo, we're in the minority and can't do anything". We need both the congress critters and the Dems not in congress to be messaging non-stop. There is so much swampiness, cowardly inaction, and pure evil from the GQP, it is a target-rich environment.
They need to talk to ANYONE who will listen, and even those who won't (this is one of the MANY thinks I love about Pete B. He goes on GQP propaganda channels and schools them on some truth. . .
Nope. Jeffries is compromised.
This does make me feel better about the wins here, small as they were.
Thanks, Jay, for letting us know about this Repub funding trick and how it will work. Valuable knowledge. It's appreciated.
Your admission highlights the biggest difference between us and them. Our side admits mistakes, their side covers them up.
Thank you .I have been harsh on Dems about this.
It is not on you. I was not using your info to get there. Good on you for correcting. Dems still have a long way to go.
Thanks for owning up to an error and making sure we all understand. I wish the major media were as responsible and responsive as you are, Jay.
Thank you.
Thanks for calling it out. Now we know. I appreciate your transparency.
Thank you for your thorough and conscientious coverage and for setting the record straight when needed!