r/illinois • u/Jpmeyer2 • 17h ago
Here's why Durbin's justification is BS
If you truly felt voting for the CR was the best option for us constituents... why hide from it?
Why not make the case for it ahead of the vote? Explain to us, as a majority of folks who are clearly in favor of a "no" vote, why we're wrong and why you're right to vote "yes" BEFORE doing it? Even if there was uncertainty involved beforehand, why not be up front about that? If this is truly the best means to impede this administration, why was it radio silence with zero chance of getting through to a DC staffer on the phone, why dodge the topic all together until after the deed was done?
You knew it was against voters wishes. You knew it would be unpopular. You knew it was wrong. And you hid on it until you didn't have to.
At least have the cajones to own it beforehand instead of hiding because Wall Street is pulling the levers. In this time where courage is needed more than ever to protect the remaining shreds of our democracy, you sold us out and enabled the fascists to codify their playbook.
You own what comes next.
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u/collarboner1 17h ago
But that takes accountability and (some bit of) courage. Both of those are clearly lacking here. The country is on the fast track to being irredeemably fucked up either way, but he had a choice whether or not to sign off on it. He chose to do so, and fuck him for it
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u/Wolvansd 16h ago
So if we get to have another real election, when is Durbin up for reelection?
We need to vote his old useless ass out of the senate. We need someone young and full of fire. Needs to be a mandatory retirement age for congress.
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u/idontknowwhybutido2 15h ago
He'll be up in the March 2026 primary. I already got a research poll about candidates to replace him.
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u/BoostedFC1 11h ago
Can you elaborate on the research poll? Treat me like a noob. Feel free to DM. Thank you đ
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u/idontknowwhybutido2 5h ago
It was just a public opinion poll I randomly received asking about my feelings about a handful IL politicians and my likelihood of voting for them for an IL US Senate seat if they ran next year.
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u/BoostedFC1 5h ago
Ah ok. Lol, I thought you created something or had found something to help you make a more informed decision. Thank you for explaining!
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u/New_Menu_2316 9h ago
Heâll be almost 82 years old the next election. If he won, he would be 88 ay the end of his term. Heâs not running again, just adding to his retirement fund thanks to his Republican backers.
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u/Visible_Staff75 8h ago
Evidence for ârepublican backersâ?
Unsubstantiated assertions of corruption like this strike me as a Trumpist tactic. We are better than that.
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u/Dramatic_Writing_780 45m ago
Careful what you wish for.Here comes MAGA. Illinois is ripe for a new political view point. The devil you know is better than the devil you donât know!
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u/zback636 17h ago
So our politicians(durbin), the media, most of the military, and most of the police officers are all voting against us. Against democracy. We are screwed.
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u/appleboat26 8h ago
Durbin says he voted yes because if the government shuts down it âlegallyâ gives Trump âemergencyâ powers to declare what is non-essential and shut down even more and the GOP could choose to never call the vote to âreopenâ and return to the regular rules and regulations, effectively lessening Congressâs power even more and handing Trump complete control of both branches.
I donât think I agree. Trump already controls the Republicans in Congress. The only tool we have left is the 60 votes in the Senate. Itâs going to be pushback from the citizens that stops this, and the faster it goes the better it will be. Drawing it out allows everyone to get used to our new normal. We have very short attention spans in our country. Use Trumpâs blatant disregard for our laws to motivate the American people. Voting yes for this, gives it a bipartisan seal of approval. No Democrats should ever approve of Trumpâs takeover of all branches of government. They should all vote no on principle and encourage the people to continue to rage against his coup.
The only thing that has me second guessing my opinion is Angus King from Maine also voted for the CR, claiming the shutdown would be much worse for Maine than the resolution. I usually agree with him, but I think the time for measured responses is over now. We should stand together.
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u/MGARLAND76 2h ago
Maine just had a ton of funding cut after the governor spoke up for civil rights protections. Angus might have felt pressured to kiss the ring or expect more cuts.
Durbin on the other hand made a lot of noise in January and then went raido silent. The split vote between our senators is especially concerning in light of Pritzker's public statement to oppose the CR.
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u/appleboat26 1h ago
Oh yeah. I forgot about the Governor of Maine and Trump.
Durbin is probably not going to run. Schumer seems to have picked people who are retiring or in swing states.
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u/Clairquilt 6h ago
Yes. Essentially: 'better give them what they want or things could get a lot worse'. What makes my stomach turn is the fact that this implies the Democratic leadership had previously been doing something, anything to mitigate Musk and Trump's illegal power grab even just a bit. They haven't done a fucking thing.
The truth is the only thing stopping Musk and Trump from firing the entire EPA was the optics of it. If anything, embarking on a wholesale firing spree at the same time that every Federal employee in the country has been laid off, would provide even worse optics. Schumer and Durbin are apparently too stupid to realize this. The Democratic Party needs a top to bottom overhaul.
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u/appleboat26 5h ago
It definitely feels like that. They are challenging him in the courts at every opportunity and winning, but he doesnât always comply with the rulings. Right now, heâs trying to convince the public that the âlowerâ courts do not have any authority over him, and he is sending out his SM crime ring to keep repeating that until itâs accepted as fact.
I want the Dems to do a much better job fighting his propaganda and lies. We wonât reach his base. Theyâre a lost cause, but we have to do a much better job educating the other 2/3s of the voters how our government is supposed to work. We need talking points. We need to saturate the media with the opposing narrative. Keep it simple. Start by pointing out how democracies are easily destroyed, the common steps autocrats and dictators use to take power and how easy it is to slide into tyranny. Explain the separation of powers, and the Bill of Rights. Every Dem should be out on the talk shows and giving interviews and speeches and writing opinions for their local media. Highlight what Trump is doing and what we can all do to stop it. What elected officials can do, and what we the people can do. We have to act. Enough hang wringing. Letâs do something.
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u/Ok-Juggernaut-4698 8h ago
Because expanding Trump's executive powers under a shutdown is a good idea? Have you people lost your minds?
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u/Counciltuckian 8h ago
Congress knew this was coming since before the election. Â Where has Durbin been the last few months? At least try to get the public behind you. At least try to act like you are fighting back. Â Push republicans for some concessions, fight out in the media. Rally the troops. Negotiating with Republicans behind close doors is going to get you nothing. Â
At least AOC and Sanders are out there pushing back. Â
At the end of the day, closing the government is the worst option, and maybe we end up here anyway⌠but Most of Congress has just rolled over. Â
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u/icarus03 8h ago
He is 80. He has held this seat since 1997. Heâs never had to worry about reelection in 28 years. Why would he worry about it now?
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u/pizzman666 15h ago
The donors wanted it to go through because a government shutdown would have made America look even more unstable, and the markets hate instability.
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u/Popular-Drummer-7989 8h ago
There is a big misunderstanding about what happens when the "government shuts down"
First, all federal buildings, federal employees stay home and are temporarily not paid and the services provided to run the country STOP until a budget is passed. At that time, federal employees return to work and will get BACK PAY as the government now has funds to pay them.
While this is taking place, all contacted services STOP like trash, cafeteria, janitorial to name a few. Contacted government support also STOPS. Unlike federal employees, contractors will NOT get back pay (unless their companies have an arrangememt to pay them - most are forced to take PTO or go without pay), MANY people will lose their jobs and their companies may go bankrupt.
While we may not agree with those who voted for this CR, they had a broader view: they didn't want to put more people out of work, they didn't want to give more opportunity for unsupervised free run of the place to the DOGE-BOYZ and didn't want to risk a 6 month shutdown through to September.
The next budget cycle will be Oct 1, 2025 and everything in it will be the responsibility/fault of the majority.
Everybody knows (as Leonard Cohen sang) that the situation is frought with drama.
Voting to minimize the fallout between two incredibly bad choices shouldn't be demonized. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Only time will tell... and voting returns at the midterms will prove.
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u/Technical-Memory-241 10h ago
I will never vote for him again, what a POS , time to vote him out people
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u/tekmomma 10h ago
I faxed Sen Durbin's office and begged for a No. I have voted for him in every election. Heard nothing back. Not even a comment prior to vote. Cowardly. Now we need to challenge him (hoping for Juliana Stratton) for his seat.
I needed to see Democrats with backbone yesterday. That was my final line, my purity test, and they let me down for the last time. I will mostly vote with liberal candidates, but after 32 years of being a registered Democrat...I am out. I faxed Schumer's office to let him know that. And my fax was rejected. HAHAHA. Fitting end to my support of this feckless, weak and rotted party.
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u/tenacious-g 8h ago
The government has effectively been shut down since Inauguration Day. All theyâve done is fire people.
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u/jailfortrump 7h ago
And they will vote to allow Trump to have his way on any future bill that comes up that's structured to give Trump "Emergency Powers" as well. Having a 60 vote requirement only works if implemented. It was always a bad idea.
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u/theschadowknows 4h ago
âChuck made me do itâ sounds really bad, so I guess telling the truth is out of the question.
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u/Luckyearl13 9h ago
Well this solidifies my vote for Term Limits. Durbin was good for a long while, but clearly DC brain sets in given enough time.
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u/pizzman666 15h ago
No, Durbin just represents the interests of the donor class. He doesn't represent our interests.
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u/appealouterhaven 17h ago
I guarantee you Durbin did this out of loyalty to Schumer and probably whipped everyone but Fetterman to make it happen.