Senator Chuck Schumer is currently learning a painful political lesson: sometimes, not getting what you want is worse than a government shutdown itself. After a grueling 41-day standoff—the longest in history, a record that definitely won’t earn anyone a trophy—the whole ordeal ended with an anticlimax.
The resulting bipartisan deal, designed to get federal workers back on the job and flights back in the air, has been widely perceived as a massive Democratic cave-in.
Instead of high-fives, Schumer is now facing an internal revolt that makes the typical political knife-fight look like a gentle game of patty-cake. Apparently, ending the crisis with little to show for it makes you an easy target for progressive frustration.
The criticism is flowing faster than a busted fire hydrant, with some commentators suggesting the Senate Minority Leader’s negotiation skills are sorely lacking. Take, for instance, New York state Sen. James Skoufis, who delivered a brutal assessment: “My four-year-old daughter negotiates better deals on the playground than what we saw this week.”
Ouch.
We’re assuming the playground deal included at least one coveted swing or a promise of juice boxes.
Meanwhile, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) is politely suggesting that Schumer’s “sell-by date” has passed, inviting the leader to “gracefully step aside” and enjoy his retirement with dignity.
It seems Schumer is trapped in a classic political bind: he’s “damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” yet the Democratic base is convinced he chose the “damned if you don’t” option by allowing his No. 2, Sen. Dick Durbin, to help broker the “surrender” deal.
Regardless, the progressive wing, still smarting from perceived losses and aching to unleash some “scorched-earth tactics,” views the whole episode as a massive squandering of leverage.
This deep-seated anger, coupled with calls for generational change (Schumer is 74; potential primary rival AOC is 36), means the political heat is only going to rise.
While the Senator’s colleagues are currently circling the wagons—a spokesman defended him by noting his critics aren’t actually senators—the sound of political knives being sharpened is definitely audible over the relieved sighs of returning federal employees.
READ: Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman Defends Vote To End Shutdown, Cites ‘Mass Chaos’ And SNAP
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
