this post was submitted on 06 Mar 2025
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[–] mp3@lemmy.ca 43 points 1 month ago (5 children)

I was dissappinted to see most of the Dems sitting in silence, with tiny protestation signs as if they were at an auction.

C'mon, make some noise, get in trouble, but do something!

[–] Keeponstalin@lemmy.world 17 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Things our Representatives can do to fight back, delay and obstruct Trump's fascist agenda:

For Senate Democrats:

https://indivisible.org/resource/explainer-how-senate-democrats-can-delay-defy-trumps-agenda-procedural-hardball

Weaponizing Quorum Calls: No Majority, No Business

Most of the time, Senators are not on the Senate floor. But technically, the Senate is not allowed to conduct official business unless a majority of senators (51 if all seats are filled) are present. That’s called a quorum, and it’s the foundation of Senate procedure. If a quorum isn’t present, the Senate grinds to a halt. The friendly thing to do is to NOT ask if there is a quorum - that’s how MOST business moves forward in the Senate. But Senate Democrats can use their power in the minority to call for a quorum and cause massive disruptions by constantly demanding quorum calls and even walking out to deny Republicans the ability to govern.

Blocking Unanimous Consent: Every Action Must Take the Maximum Time

Unanimous consent is the grease that keeps the Senate moving. Normally, the Senate runs on handshake deals—routine matters like scheduling votes, moving bills forward, or skipping over procedural steps all happen only if no senator objects. That’s called unanimous consent (UC)—and if even one Democrat objects, it forces the Senate to go through long, time-consuming processes to get anything done.

For House Democrats

https://indivisible.org/resource/explainer-how-house-democrats-can-delay-and-defy-trump-musk-coup

1. Procedural Hardball to Slow Down the Coup

Force roll call votes on everything—Republicans must go on record for every bad decision.
Use motions to recommit to force Republicans to take difficult votes.
File privileged resolutions to demand immediate consideration of issues Republicans want to avoid.
Leverage parliamentary inquiries and points of order to disrupt floor proceedings and expose GOP dysfunction.

2. Show Up and Fight in Committees

Put Republicans on the record about their harmful policies.
Force votes when GOP members are absent to either force something through or force every Republican member to be in their seats the entire time.
Make motions to subpoena officials and demand transparency.
Expose MAGA extremism in real-time.

3. Investigate and Expose MAGA Sabotage

Demand hearings on Trump’s and Vought’s plans to override federal spending. If Republicans refuse to hold real oversight hearings, Democrats must take matters into their own hands. That means holding shadow hearings—bringing in experts, impacted communities, and whistleblowers to expose how MAGA elites are trying to loot the government and rig the system for billionaires. These hearings should be public, media-driven, and designed to put pressure on Republicans to defend their corruption in the light of day.
Publicize findings to show voters exactly how MAGA elites are trying to loot the government, and while Republicans are covering for the Trump-Musk coup, Democrats are fighting to stop it.

4. Take the Fight to the Public

Host Town Halls: Update voters on how Democrats are fighting back.
Adopt GOP Districts: Hold town halls in Republican-held areas to expose GOP sabotage and talk directly to their constituents.
Engage Online: Mobilize voters with digital content that names names and pulls no punches.

[–] Punchshark@lemmy.ca 6 points 1 month ago

Their biggest problem is they are not willing to meet them at their level. You gotta go low like them . Its the only thing they understand. Go fight them in the mud!

[–] BadmanDan@lemmy.world 0 points 1 month ago

Get in trouble for what?

[–] finitebanjo@lemmy.world -5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

Imagine if they all walked out and the GOP majority just started passing votes with nobody to vote against it. Right now, if every Dem is present and voting, the GOP can only miss 1 vote.

I think listening to your opponents speeches can sometimes be helpful in resisting their actions. After all, he's been telling us what his plans are since before the election and most people didn't believe him.

[–] orcrist@lemm.ee 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Why did you change the topic, my friend? We're talking about walking out of Mr. Orange's speech, my friend.

Everyone agrees that the Democrats should be there for every vote. That's not a point of contention.

[–] finitebanjo@lemmy.world -2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Mr. Orange's speech was in the congressional building during an active session. Al got removed during the speech for getting into a yelling match. That singular action put the DNC at 1 less vote in the house.

[–] BadmanDan@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

True, but Green can still vote. But this whole yelling thing isn’t gonna change anything.

[–] Zaktor@sopuli.xyz 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

They aren't running votes at the SotU and they can watch his speech in their office perfectly fine, they don't need to participate in the performance to know what he's up to.

[–] finitebanjo@lemmy.world -3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Alright but as I mentioned in my first sentence: they need to be there during a vote.

[–] Zaktor@sopuli.xyz 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Sure, but that's not relevant at all to this post topic which is about a specific current event and not in any way suggesting storming out of votes.

[–] finitebanjo@lemmy.world -4 points 1 month ago (2 children)

This specific current event happened in the chamber of congress while congress was in session. They could hold a vote at any moment.

[–] Zaktor@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

On live TV, with Trump standing up there, you think the Speaker of the House is just going to call a snap vote in a chamber they already control and resolve it before the missing members could get back to the chamber? And that such an act would just be accepted as a clever procedural move to avoid the handful of objections in their majority caucus rather than a significant step toward the end of democracy?

[–] finitebanjo@lemmy.world -2 points 1 month ago

If enough people left the room I expect it, yes. It's certainly what I would do in their position (thank god I'm not them).

[–] Grindl@lemm.ee 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Not during a joint session. The house and senate were not themselves in session.

[–] finitebanjo@lemmy.world 0 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

On the day of the joint session, 03/04, there were no less than 80 actions taken in congress and no less than 3 votes which passed in the House of Representatives LINK HERE. If you have evidence of a specific law preventing votes during a joint session, and specifying how long a joint session lasts at minimum, please present it.