What I would do if I was in Chuck Schumer's shoes.

[hay rick]

Last edited Wed Apr 30, 2025, 05:45 PM - Edit history (1)

I have no idea. I don't have a fraction of the Senator's institutional knowledge or contacts. My telling him what he should be doing, given his unique position and skill set, would be presumptuous. Bernie and AOC can hold barnburner rallies across the country. They are our good-trouble rabble rousers. Chuck could try the same thing, but he would probably put the crowds to sleep. No one person can do everything. We should look to each of our leaders to do what they do best. For Chuck, maybe it's staying in Washington and throwing sand in the gears. Maybe it's talking to Wall Street and offering a reality sandwich.

I am for constructive criticism. My concern is that much of the criticism is frivolous and useless and will ultimately be used against us. The media loves to tell the story of "Democrats divided" and our words can be used as fuel for that fire. The Democrats divided frame harms us in multiple ways:
1. It is discouraging and provides an excuse to do nothing. My efforts will be negated by other Democrats going in a different direction.
2. The framing of discussion shifts blame for Trump misdeeds and dysfunction from Trump and his supporters to Democrats who are not doing enough because they are divided.
3. If Democrats suffer from open discussion and debate, Republicans are encouraged to believe "follow the leader" is a ticket to success.

My two cents.

[FSogol]

1. He should fix everything! That's what I would do.

[SocialDemocrat61]

2. Retire?

[MurrayDelph]

5. He doesn't need to retire from the Senate, per se

But a position of leadership requires someone willing to ... you know ... lead.

[gab13by13]

3. Who divided Democrats?

The House held the line and voted against the CR and then Schumer kneecapped them and voted for it.

Everyone knows Schumer's strategy, he said it on live TV to Chris Hayes. Schumer proclaimed that he wants Krasnov to burn it all down and then Democrats can win the next election. Bernie Sanders and AOC are doing the opposite of Schumer, they are trying to put the fires out.

[Ars Longa]

4. He should resign from leadership saying " We need a new

generation of leaders (Muphy, Booker) willing to lead the fight
against the Trump dictatorship crisis"
"I will remain on as NY senator until 2026, then I will retire".

That scenario would be best..

[Johonny]

6. He should use the party attack dogs

And keep leading the senate.

[appmanga]

7. I'm starting to really feel David Hogg has the right idea

This isn't the time for the milquetoast and the timid, and "go along to get along". I continue to hear Democrats say "where we can agree with the president, we'll work with him". WTF???

And Schumer isn't throwing sand in the gears; he's writing "strong letters". And "100 Days of Hell"? How about the more accurate and believable "100 Days of Chaos and Failure"? I get that the leaders are supposed to come across as more level headed and dispassionate, but, in my opinion, that doesn't meet the moment when you've called out the president as a budding authoritarian.

Just my two cents.

[JI7]

9. Is Schumer one of the Democrats Hogg is targeting ?

[appmanga]

10. Not as far as I know...

...but Schumer has the profile.

[Hekate]

8. Spot on, hay rick. This essentially is what Jasmine Crockett said: Everyone has a different skillset to bring...

[AStern]

11. If I were Chuck Schumer, I'd...

consider retirement.

Enough of the Democrats 40+ years of trying out-right-wing the right and move left back toward FDR with younger candidates.

[JI7]

13. Schumer never tried to out right the right wing

but Biden was more liberal than Bill Clinton and Obama in his governing so we are likely to see a return of Clinton and Obama types. They may be young and attractive and charismatic like Clinton and Obama were but they are not going to govern as liberal as Biden.

[AStern]

14. "but they are not going to govern as liberal as Biden"

Then they may not attract voters.

Try as you may, Conservatism doesn't work, nor does shifting to the right.

[JI7]

18. There is no conservatism among Dem Pres nominees

But Biden was more left than Clinton and Obama send he got less support than them.

[AStern]

19. Moving to the right is the wrong way to go

And I'll die on this hill.

[Nanjeanne]

12. I'd hand over the Senate Minority Leadership to Chris Murphy or Van Hollen and consider not running for Senate again.

[hay rick]

17. I'm a big Chris Murphy fan. I trust him.

[BootinUp]

15. Criticism comes with the job. He can handle it. Nt

[Ping Tung]

16. Shumer's shoes might be hard to fill.