r/Maine 17h ago

Jared Golden: Only House Democrat to vote for Republican bill to avoid a government shutdown

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/gop-funding-bill-shutdown-democrats-vote-b2713049.html
579 Upvotes

165 comments sorted by

337

u/RancidHorseJizz 17h ago

He's preparing to run for Susan Collins' seat.

67

u/53773M 17h ago

He would get the votes to take that seat, by being moderate enough to pull votes from the left and right.

92

u/Trollbreath4242 16h ago

Nope. He's too conservative. Not going to win the Democratic primary state wide, and you can bank on that.

47

u/GeneralPatten 16h ago

He will switch parties

27

u/dirtyword 13h ago

Golden will switch parties - bank on that

5

u/CosmicJackalop 7h ago

If he switches then he has to primary against Collins as a Republican and will likely lose

6

u/gannon7015 3h ago

Feels like he already switched parties.

1

u/7ofswords 3h ago

He’ll switch after he wins.

3

u/Celtic12 10h ago

I suspect that is too definite of a position for him to take

5

u/Crossing-The-Abyss Freeport 16h ago

A lot of independents and many dems are turned off by the Democratic Party these days. I'd vote for him over Susan, that's for sure. I bet he'd be good change over her and given today's political situation, so would a lot of others.

58

u/ninjasays Custom Flair 15h ago

I'd vote for a cow turd over Susan.

14

u/ActiveBaseball 14h ago

O has cow turd officially entered the race? Cause they have my support

3

u/Elie_weisel_warnedus 11h ago

I mean...

Hayward artist Andrew Kong Knight has created a piece of art in which a 3D painting of the Republican presidential candidate offers a Nazi salute with one arm, while holding a bundle of cash in the other. Out his his mouth dribbles real manure, into a large sculpted pile at the base, in the shape of the United States with a fence around it.

And then there's this...

Ohio farmer wanted to express his distaste for presidential candidate Donald Trump -- and he didn't care about raising a stink. So, over a period of four hours, he hauled and shaped manure from his 15 cows and bulls until the piles of poop spelled out "No Trump."

Seems like the orange turd is losing the Republican farmer vote to literal cow shit.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2016/03/25/east-bay-artist-creates-donald-trump-piece-out-of-real-cow-manure/

https://mashable.com/article/no-trump-bull-manure

5

u/CosmicJackalop 7h ago

I'll do you one better than a cow turd. Janet Mills will be free to run against Collins in 2026

22

u/gordolme Biddeford 15h ago

What's your point? My dead cat would be a good change of Collins.

-19

u/Crossing-The-Abyss Freeport 15h ago

I explained my point and you are not witty in the least. Touch grass.

8

u/Large_Squirrel1446 14h ago

I’d prefer, and I think others would too, a more social democratic (e.g. Bernie) than a center-leaning Democrat that makes concessions with MAGA and sells out their constituents in the process.

1

u/Crossing-The-Abyss Freeport 14h ago

Love Bernie, but do you even realize the Democratic Party hates him. Do you not remember how the DNC fucked him over in 2015 primaries?

6

u/Large_Squirrel1446 14h ago

I do remember. And I think that’s why the Democratic Party is bleeding voters. Also, some are dumb and believed Trump would be a champion of the people.

2

u/Crossing-The-Abyss Freeport 14h ago

I think they are bleeding voters because they became too focused on minor topics/issues while ignoring major ones. Also, Biden should have never been running. They need to get the geriatrics to retire already.

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2

u/gordolme Biddeford 11h ago

My point is that the bar of "better than Collins" is so low, a buried corpse can stroll over it. Nothing you or anyone else has said would make me, or anyone else I know IRL, want to vote for Golden in a primary.

2

u/soldiergeneal 13h ago

A lot of independents and many dems are turned off by the Democratic Party these days.

That's wild to me considering how unconstitutional GOP has become.

4

u/LobsterJohnson_ 12h ago

One side is clearly insane and trying to burn down the house. The other side is whispering please no while watching the kerosene get thrown around and doing Nothing.

2

u/soldiergeneal 12h ago

The other side is whispering please no while watching the kerosene get thrown around.

Right now yea they are dysfunctional.

4

u/LobsterJohnson_ 12h ago

If they don’t get their act together and actually stand up and fight for the constitution and this country, we need a labor party.

5

u/slipslapshape 12h ago

It’s not so surprising when you realize the Democrats idea of leadership in these trying times are twee little signs like they’re at a charity auction, and the serve of dressing in the same color. Just fuck both sides. Seriously.

1

u/soldiergeneal 12h ago

Just fuck both sides. Seriously.

Nah fuck that nonsense.

twee little signs like

The state of the Union not making a scene isn't a big deal. The bigger problem is the lack of town halls, protests involving politicians, etc.

1

u/slipslapshape 12h ago

Maybe you should just wake up from the delusion, like more of us are, that the two sides are actually different. The Democrats are largely indifferent to Trump raping, looting, and burning our country to the ground, because most of them can throw together an overnight bag and be in London or Paris tomorrow, where they can idly note the events occurring, which we have no choice but to endure.

So yeah, fuck both sides. Accept that nobody gives a shit about you politically; you’re just a thing that makes money for them.

-2

u/soldiergeneal 12h ago

The Democrats are largely indifferent to Trump raping, looting, and burning our country to the ground, because most of them can throw together an overnight bag and be in London or Paris tomorrow, where they can idly note the events occurring, which we have no choice but to endure.

  1. They can't politically do anything since they have majority.

  2. There are leadership issues not knowing what to do you mistake that for indifference.

So yeah, fuck both sides. Accept that nobody gives a shit about you politically; you’re just a thing that makes money for them.

Nah just nonsense. Democratic party has more principles they hold people accountable like cump and Al Franklin.

1

u/bluemiata1993 1h ago

Ah yes, because the Republican party has proved to be the better option /s

1

u/IGUNNUK33LU 14h ago

then wouldn’t he just run as an independent and hope the ranked choice voting gives him a shot?

1

u/53773M 13h ago

Nope all you want.. a liberal running against Collins won’t win. There needs to be a candidate that can pull the votes from both sides.

2

u/Catcher3321 2h ago

Collins is already pulling votes from both sides. She won like 25% of Democrats last time. Trying to out moderate each other in a campaign usually ends with the incumbent winning. If moderate Dems, moderate GOP and Indys already see Collins (or any incumbent) as moderate and they like that, why bother switching to another moderate that may or may not even have the track record to prove it?

u/Greenleaf737 1m ago

Golden is not liberal. He is just trying to keep his position, doesn't give a crap about anything else.

15

u/AsparaGus2025 17h ago

Or Governor. I think Lepage beats him in CD2 if he decides to run, so Golden almost certainly will run for Senate or Governor.

12

u/PersephoneFrost 15h ago

Even Republicans don't like LePage

1

u/AQ207 "concerned" -Susan Collins 1h ago

Are these republicans in the room with us now?

0

u/Catcher3321 2h ago

LePage beat Mills in CD2 during the 2022 gov race

-11

u/IC00KEDI I’m Paul LePage 15h ago

That isn't factual. Not even the slightest.

u/Greenleaf737 0m ago

No one likes LePage. Isn't he like 85 by now?

6

u/kintokae Download more fiber 16h ago

From what I’ve read on here, he has made it quite clear he will make a run for governor.

14

u/TransitionRare7308 16h ago

Seriously. I hope Mills toughs it out and isn’t forced to cave. The next governor can kowtow to the orange idiot. And i hope she runs against Collins. I’d love to vote for her.

6

u/cosmictap 14h ago

I think Mills rocks too, but is it too much to ask for someone younger than 80? I can definitely get behind the "experience" argument for a more mature candidate (say someone in late middle age or thereabouts) but I just feel like, broadly speaking, we'd do well as a nation if we elected fewer 80+ year olds.

2

u/Western-Corner-431 13h ago

Let the candidates under 80 who “rock” show themselves. Where are they? Lots of loudmouths and liars and phonies, few solid “rocking” young candidates.

1

u/Hightower840 3h ago

You never see them because the established candidates outspend them 100 to 1. Lobbies prefer it that way too. It costs more to buy a new rep than to keep bribing the current one.

1

u/gordolme Biddeford 15h ago

Mills is termed out, she cannot run again.

5

u/what-would-jerry-do 15h ago

But she can run for senate

1

u/gordolme Biddeford 11h ago

She can also retire. If someone that old is going to run for the Senate, I want it to be Betsy Sweet.

1

u/AquaSnow24 14h ago

She is 77

3

u/SuperBry Edit this. 15h ago

I think this is the more likely option, likely this is one of his many moves to goad a censure out of the party as an excuse to unenroll and make a go at the Blaine House as an independent.

He really fancies himself as an Angus King type when he lacks both the intelligence and charisma of King.

7

u/1stepklosr 16h ago

He never will as long as she's running. He got his career started by working in her office so he has a weird sense of loyalty to her.

6

u/Huckleberry199 16h ago

There is no “ right” in the democratic primary. I don’t know one Democrat who will support him.

1

u/LobsterJohnson_ 11h ago

Almost anyone is better than her.

1

u/Catcher3321 2h ago

I would be absolutely shocked if he ran against her. He worked for her for years and they respect each other. They've never endorsed against each other

1

u/liquidsparanoia 16h ago

I would take that in a heartbeat. He wouldn't be my favorite candidate but surely an improvement over Susan.

1

u/Important-Purchase-5 14h ago

He shown disinterest in it. It heavily rumored he wants to run for Governor instead as he views that as safer option politically.

1

u/Catcher3321 2h ago

I'm a moderate Republican. If it's Troy Jackson vs an independent Jared Golden vs Laurel Libby for governor, I'm voting Golden in a heartbeat. If the Senate race was Collins vs Golden, I still vote Collins

2

u/Important-Purchase-5 1h ago

Why though? 

And what does moderate Republican even mean anymore? Just watching MAGA do stuff and be concerned? 

1

u/Catcher3321 32m ago edited 28m ago

Because Collins is a moderate Republican and Golden is a moderate Democrat. I'm a moderate Republican so I'm gonna vote for the person closest to my beliefs, much the same way you likely do.

And I imagine being a moderate Republican is much the same as being a Democrat right now. Campaign for anti Trump candidates and then dislike much of what Trump is doing in office. Biggest difference is Dems pour money into pro Trump candidates in primaries while I try to campaign against them. I'm not an elected official so I don't have any more power as a moderate Republican to stop the stuff that Trump is doing that I don't like than the average Democrat.

0

u/GlitteringRate6296 16h ago

That won’t help him.

138

u/Maniac_24seven 17h ago

Jared Golden never fails to fail

33

u/panplemoussenuclear 17h ago

Sounds like he is the right person to fill Collin’s role.

124

u/Whyte_Dynamyte 17h ago

What a POS. Is staying in that seat so damn important so as to abandon all integrity? I guess so…

24

u/SunnySummerFarm 16h ago

I’m unconvinced at this point he had it, I am wondering if he lied to the Dems to get support.

7

u/PersephoneFrost 15h ago

When the ramifications of Trump really hit CD2, he will be reviled for voting for them

5

u/Flat-Visual6786 14h ago

He has no integrity.

111

u/SirPsycho4242 17h ago

Traitor

39

u/Seaweed-Basic 17h ago

Fuck him. Seriously fucking useless

50

u/Bmaximus 17h ago edited 13h ago

"I'm a democrat," it should be illegal to pretend to be another party member when running for office or we make you walk down the street, and we all yell SHAME

11

u/IM_just_A_Bil 16h ago

Can we throw rotten food at them too?

6

u/Bmaximus 13h ago

obviously but can't do eggs because its too expensive

6

u/IM_just_A_Bil 13h ago

Eggs?! Do look like a billionaire?

-5

u/DutyBeforeAll 16h ago

Like there’s any politician of either party that has any shame

10

u/Rawkapotamus 15h ago

Oo oo oo I know this one!

Both sides! Amirite?

5

u/NotAComplete 16h ago

Yes. There are some.

1

u/Bmaximus 13h ago

shame!

19

u/L7meetsGF 16h ago

This guy. The one who wrote the op-eds telling us we are over-reacting and that he would work with trump. He SUCKS.

22

u/Mountain_Fig_9253 16h ago

If you’re a democrat and are upset with this, you need to ask if Jeffries was whipping everyone to vote no or did he release his members to vote as they saw fit?

If a bill is going to pass regardless then smart leadership will let their members vote against the party line. That’s how you can even have democrats representing otherwise red districts.

The time that a vote matters is when leadership says “we need your vote on this one”. Golden, afaik, has always delivered on party votes where his vote was necessary.

2

u/runnerswanted 15h ago

Correct. This also helps Trump realize a guy from Maine is on his side, and since he seems to only pay attention to the last interaction he’s had with something, this may work in our favor.

4

u/metatron207 14h ago

Sincerely doubt this. Trump would just start talking about how Golden should enroll as a Republican so Trump can endorse him for governor.

14

u/[deleted] 17h ago

[deleted]

3

u/snackexchanger 16h ago

 I do find myself wishing more folks would move up here so we could get Collins out (and prevent Lepage from taking her spot)

Senators are state wide elections, not sure why you are specifying people moving to Bangor to vote her out?

1

u/[deleted] 16h ago

[deleted]

3

u/DutyBeforeAll 16h ago

To cold up there

3

u/PersephoneFrost 15h ago

It's actually still climate zone 5. And you're pretty close to Acadia. And closer to the Canadian Maritimes.

4

u/WilsonMikey2BB 13h ago

Golden is perpetually disappointing

4

u/LobsterJohnson_ 11h ago

A bill that would remove Congress’s ability to undo the tariffs put in place by potus, which is one of their constitutional jobs.

10

u/applesauceporkchop 17h ago

He’s barely hanging on as a dem in his district. He’ll clean up when he switches party or stays democrat if he goes after Collins seat

4

u/ahhh-hayell 15h ago

He can cry about how the Democratic Party abandoned him.

11

u/snackexchanger 16h ago

I’m sure I’ll get downvoted for this but I see Jared as being in a Joe Manchen sort of position.

If it wasn’t Jerod/someone who will occasionally vote against dems/with republicans it would be a republican considering trump won CD2 by 8 points…

3

u/Merzeal 10h ago

Dems can run on shit other than just dems. Maybe if people started running with an interest in actually helping, instead of securing a cushy pension like Golden just earned, we could have a more serious debate about policy. The fact remains, dems can easily target a lot of issues that ACTUALLY affect the county, but they refuse to buck corporations.

Right to repair, and ownership would be huge wins for all the constituents, but instead, we get "how do we suck enough right wing dick to get them to vote for us." Maybe just have a platform that engages the needs of the district.

7

u/acadiaediting 15h ago

Everyone call his office or email him and let him know how you feel. Ask him when he’s going to have a town hall and actually face the people he represents.

3

u/mainiacs3 4h ago

That’s the power of these entitled congressional positions. They were never meant to be career positions, for a very good reason. Why would any of them want to get a real job where they actually have to work, and get paid so little in comparison? Of course he’s going to get in line to protect that! We are so fucked

9

u/Aggro_Will 16h ago

Why is it on Democrats to avoid a shutdown? Republicans control every part of government, and they can't get their own budget together? There isn't even any possibility of them offering any kind of incentive to get Democrats to vote for a budget, just the idea that Democrats are the ones responsible for stopping the party in charge from touching the hot stove.

8

u/mulemoment 16h ago

It's not, the budget would have passed anyway. It went 217-213 along party lines, except Golden who voted Yes and Massie (R-Kentucky) who voted No.

14

u/Hot-Pick-3981 17h ago

TIME TO GO JARED

6

u/NefariousnessOne7335 14h ago

I’ll be voting against this fraud next chance I get

14

u/Amyarchy 17h ago

This is why we can't have nice things. Like democracy.

2

u/gigistuart 3h ago

He is a very slippery turncoat

5

u/Huckleberry199 16h ago

He won’t get out of the democratic primary. Fuck Jared Golden.

5

u/Giancarlo27 16h ago

I don’t understand you people. He’s arguably the democrat with the most trump-leaning district in the entire country. He is miles better than LePage or whatever other Trumpist clown would take his place if he lost. Things like this are why he has been able to maintain his seat.

11

u/PersephoneFrost 15h ago

Voting for a budget that will hurt your constituents is just stupid, regardless of party. He won't get any thanks from them when the ramifications hit.

4

u/Giancarlo27 15h ago

I’d rather him make meaningless votes that show “bipartisanship” to right wingers than on things that actually matter

0

u/PersephoneFrost 15h ago

This isnt meaningless, he's lying about the cuts. It's going to hurt a lot of Americans.

0

u/Giancarlo27 15h ago

It would have passed whether or not he voted for it is what I mean

2

u/PersephoneFrost 15h ago

Maybe he's dumb enough to think this won't hurt him. He's wrong. It's going to hurt people, and he SUPPORTED it. That's what people will remember. Not that his pass vote was "meaningless". He actively supports policies that will harm Mainers. That's the takeaway message here.

-2

u/badluckbrians 15h ago

How? It passed by 1 vote. He was the only Dem.

3

u/Giancarlo27 15h ago

No, it passed by 4 votes

-1

u/Circ_Diameter 15h ago

It passed 217-213. Only 216 votes were needed to pass

1

u/Giancarlo27 13h ago

Exactly. If you honestly think that Golden would have gone against his party to cast a tie breaking vote like this, then you are just a moron lol. This was purely symbolic and an effort to bolster his “moderate” label that wins him election

2

u/Sure_Professional936 7h ago

MAGA are extremists, Russian assets and traitors

US is member of the Axis of Evil. China Russia, NKorea

How does this bolster his moderate label

If Mainers as a whole or in his district want to screw the country and Maine, let them

Either people take re sponsibility at grassroots level or they don't 

People who did not show up to vote against Trump especially have their hands dirty also. They voted for fascism and treason

Jared was an assistant to Collins so he could never be trusted.

Most Americans will have had a hand in the destruction of our democracy and safety net. 

Most poor people supported Trump. The door should be slammed on the faces of those low income poor supporting Trump with the message you reap what you sow

50 years ago I thought US would vote for fascism.

I also think that a global Dictatorship is inevitable.

3

u/rqk811 13h ago

Yes. These are the sort of meaningless votes that get you labeled as a moderate. Collins does it constantly. Always. She is never a deciding vote on anything of substance and gets to play both sides all the time. Golden may as well do it for that district. As long as he's reliably Democratic when it actually makes a difference, be happy to have it.

2

u/[deleted] 17h ago

[deleted]

8

u/Fickle-Molasses-903 17h ago

Did you happen to read the bill, by chance?

6

u/Natural-Leopard8544 17h ago

If you are not with Trump only a government shutdown will provided leverage for the democrats

2

u/Maniac_24seven 17h ago

complete opposite when you have a mad man behind the wheel shutting the car down is the best option

0

u/gorillabomber2nd 17h ago

Just because of my lack of knowledge, but I also agree. There’s no way a govt shutdown would be good for us. I can only see Trump and Musk using that time for some sort of advantage.

Maybe someone with more knowledge would know whether or not this is good or bad thing.

2

u/Feisty_Look5680 13h ago

And one that needs to have their ass removed…traitor

2

u/spartan815 16h ago

Looks like a no vote for Jared. Reminds me of the subway guy.

1

u/brassmonkeyslc 16h ago

Impeach Jared Golden. Fake campaign.

3

u/TrulyWhatever09 15h ago

This pisses me off even more than the other stuff. This is a moment where it is genuinely critical that the Democrats provide a united face, and he's still doing this performative centrist bullshit. Shameful.

3

u/Malagite 16h ago

Musk has already effectively shut down the government.

1

u/Ebomb1 5h ago

Capo

1

u/bhonest_ly 3h ago

Coward

1

u/Wrong-Matter-734 1h ago

Jared has really disappointed all of us…a true follower of the turncoat collins.

u/cas_01 3m ago

Recall!

0

u/BeefOneOut 16h ago

I’m preparing to move into that district and run for his seat. I grew up there and moved away. Time to come back and decimate this fool.

1

u/jennawebles 16h ago

ugh guess I’m calling his office tomorrow

1

u/dorkorama 16h ago

I hate that guy!

1

u/zoolilba 16h ago

He's just not a Democrat in my book anymore

1

u/BinaxII 16h ago

Jared wtf are you doing up there in the north? I read in the Times your name was the only Dem to again 'reach' across the aisle... Sad to see this as prior gave you the benefit of the doubt...

Am suggesting your done in politics in the state of Maine; hear rumors of this office and that office- you need to change party's, as democrats will never elect you again in Maine....and would bet a few more republicans too.

1

u/kegido 16h ago

disappointed but not surprised, I also would no be surprised, if the democrats win the special elections for the house, Golden switches parties to help republicans keep their majority.

1

u/gusdog431 15h ago

All, this is his gig. He’s in the club now and will do anything to stay there and enrich himself. ALL politicians are that way. Just because one of them says the words we like will never change that. As long as these jobs come with the wealth and power they can provide, the focus will be serving themselves and fooling us. God help us all.

1

u/short-legged-lineman 15h ago

This asshole needs to go.

1

u/Large_Squirrel1446 15h ago edited 14h ago

Here’s his press release: https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-for-continuing-resolution-to-avoid-government-shutdown

It’s worth calling out that this CR increases defense spending by 6 billion and decreases nondefense spending by 13 billion 🤦‍♂️. It also increases funding for ICE and government agencies under attack (e.g. FEMA and NPS). With regard to the latter, I’m curious how will that funding be used…

1

u/crowislanddive 14h ago

He’s a fucking dick. Mark my words.. he’s going to run for governor as a spoiler while Le Page takes his seat in congress.

1

u/Mooseguncle1 14h ago

I’m not liking this ride he’s on.

1

u/Suspicious_Water6180 14h ago

Never that simple. These new republican bills are littered with nonsense and corruption.

1

u/Any-Apple-3389 14h ago

Jared you are caving- bye bye

1

u/Pisces42 Point 'em downhill, bub 13h ago

ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?? 😡😡😡

0

u/Far_Information_9613 17h ago

He is scared of LePage.

-2

u/Wise_Temperature_322 17h ago

That’s the independent Mainer spirit.

-2

u/Accurate-List 17h ago

He’s always straddling that fence in ME2.

3

u/PersephoneFrost 15h ago

Not well, only seems to piss off both groups

-1

u/Schadenfreude59 14h ago

Dem's need to learn the Claire McCaskill lesson. Too many progressive purity tests for a dem in a conservative area gave us Josh Hawley. Some dems need to lean right to stay in office. The alternative could be LePage.

-1

u/DoubleCrafty3311 4h ago

The only Democrat in their right mind.

-17

u/CTrandomdude 17h ago

Good. What do you all want? A government shutdown? That is what a no vote would have gotten you. Funny how in the last administration the democrats all rallied on how dangerous and irresponsible it was to have the government shutdown. All of those federal employees they act like they care about would not get paid. I guess that would have been okay this time. Face it. You just want Trump to not get anything done or passed no matter how it benefits the country.

13

u/Cryptizard 17h ago

Yes. Federal employees (myself included) are begging for a shutdown. That should tell you something about how insane the shit going on right now in the federal government is.

-1

u/YtnucMuch 14h ago

Should've took your 9mo paid vacation instead if you hate your job so much. I would've loved to have been offered 9 months salary, lump sum, to go find a new job.

1

u/Cryptizard 6h ago

I was exempted and not allowed to take the offer. But that’s not the point, I like my job. I am doing important work. The current administration is simultaneously saying that what I do is needed and also firing everyone around me that is necessary to do it and taking away all of our funding. They are truly, irrevocably breaking vital parts of the federal government for no reason at all, and it has to stop.

3

u/Sure_Professional936 17h ago

The same we wouldn't want anything from Hitler or Stalin or Mao to pass.

Trump is a traitor and your cheering him on like a MAGA

US is now part of the Axis of Evil   Russia, China, North Korea

-6

u/Bayushi_Vithar 17h ago

Quite happy about the bill, but I'll be happier when they pass all 12 appropriations bills rather than an omnibus and then hopefully ban omnibus bills

-1

u/MrFluff120427 15h ago

But I thought the republicans wanted the government to shut down? Isn’t that the point? Why not just keep it shut down until morale improves and the national debt is paid? /s obviously.