Dem Resistance To Reality

Even Though ‘Mr. Trump’s Choices Are Likely To Prevail,’ In ‘An Unprecedented Break With Senate Tradition’ Dems Will Attempt To ‘Turn The Confirmation Process Into A Slog’

“Senate Democrats do not have the votes to block any of the cabinet nominees… Mr. Trump’s choices are likely to prevail.” (“Congress Returns. Republicans Are In Charge. 6 Things To Watch,” The New York Times, 1/3/2017)

“Democratic senators plan to aggressively target eight of Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees in the coming weeks… an unprecedented break with Senate tradition.” (“Here Are The Eight Trump Cabinet Picks Democrats Plan To Target,” The Washington Post, 1/01/2017)

• “Senate Democrats are vowing to stall action on eight of Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees tasked with carrying out his economic, law enforcement and regulatory agenda, a senior Democratic aide told CNN Monday.” (“Democrats Target 8 Cabinet Nominees, Threaten To Drag Out Process,” CNN, 1/2/2017)

• “Senate Democrats are preparing to put Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks through a grinding confirmation process, weighing delay tactics... they’re in no mood to fast-track Trump’s selections.” (“Democrats To Give Trump Cabinet Picks The Garland Treatment,” Politico, 12/5/2016)

‘Righteous’ Democrats Only ‘Have Themselves To Blame…’

“Democrats have themselves to blame for their weakened position in challenging a nominee. In 2013, the Senate voted largely along party lines to remove the 60-vote threshold on cabinet-level and non-Supreme Court judicial nominees. Mr. Trump’s nominees will now need the support of only 51 senators to be confirmed...” (“Hearings Will Unmask ‘Swamp Creatures’ In Trump’s Cabinet, Democrats Say,” The New York Times, 12/03/2016)

• SEN. CLAIRE McCASKILL (D-MO): “At the end of the day, we were the ones who changed it to 51... I think it’s important to remember how righteous we were.” (“Hearings Will Unmask ‘Swamp Creatures’ In Trump’s Cabinet, Democrats Say,” The New York Times, 12/03/2016)

• "Schumer: I wish we hadn't triggered 'nuclear option' … 'Wish it hadn't happened,' Schumer said." (“Schumer: I Wish We Hadn't Triggered 'Nuclear Option,'” CNN Politics, 1/3/2017)

Meanwhile ‘Intense,’ ‘Tormented,’ ‘Angry,’ ‘Bitter’ Liberal Groups Claim To Be ‘Preparing For War’

“As of Jan. 20, Chuck Schumer will be the most important Democrat in the land. But spend a few minutes with the incoming Senate minority leader and it’s clear where the real power lies. ... Schumer… is wholeheartedly embracing the party’s Sanders-Elizabeth Warren populism.” (Dana Milbank, “How Schumer And The Democrats Are Preparing To Fight,” Washington Post, 12/11/2016)

“Individual elected officials, led by Senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Sherrod Brown, have already signaled their intention to put loud and sustained pressure on the president-elect through a series of speeches, statements, TV appearances, op-eds, and on social media. But they are doing so without the benefit of any party-wide communication about a coordinated message behind their Trump barbs — the kind of guidance and direction so recently provided by Obama or Hillary Clinton and her campaign surrogate operation.” (“Democrats Fear Another Trump Trouncing,” Politico, 12/12/16)

“Liberal groups are preparing for war under Donald Trump. Top Democratic operatives are huddling this week in a series of meetings to strategize…” (“Liberal Groups Steel Themselves To Battle Trump,” Politico, 11/15/2016)

“…the bitter 2016 battle for the White House is turning into a forever war with Hillary Clinton’s tormented team vowing a four-year insurgency against Donald Trump. … grief of Clinton’s loss has transmogrified into anger…” (“Clinton Allies Plot Anti-Trump Movement,” Politico, 12/3/2016)

• “…people in her orbit … are plotting an anti-Trump resistance and venting with a fury… Clinton’s vast network of supporters, staffers and operatives is now looking for a way to fight back…” (“Clinton Allies Plot Anti-Trump Movement,” Politico, 12/3/2016)

Liberals Holding ‘Highly Secretive’ Meetings Filled With Rhetoric ‘Tinged With Violent Metaphors’

“The mobilization against Mr. Trump began even before his victory was official. At just after midnight on Election Day, panicked immigration rights activists gathered for a conference call to strategize. A few days later, more than 80 representatives of 57 progressive groups convened in the offices of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights in Washington. The mood was intense, angry and unforgiving, according to people who attended the confidential organizing session, which included representatives from labor, environmental groups, immigration activists, gay rights and civil rights organizations. Jim Messina, who managed Mr. Obama’s re-election campaign, offered brief remarks at the meeting, cautioning against any attempts to compromise and work with Mr. Trump. ‘Push back at every level,’ Mr. Messina urged. No one in the room objected, one attendee said.” (“Obama May Jump Into Fray As Democrats Counter Trump,” The New York Times, 11/19/2016)

“Nan Aron, the president of the Alliance for Justice, started calling law firms in Washington the day after the election, beginning the process of opposition research on Mr. Trump’s likely Supreme Court nominees. Dozens of lawyers eagerly signed up for what is sure to be a heated battle over the direction of the court for a generation.” (“Obama May Jump Into Fray As Democrats Counter Trump,” The New York Times, 11/19/2016)

“The president of a secretive, left-wing dark money group told a Monday night, closed-door gathering of democratic operatives and ultra-rich liberals in D.C. the first step to dealing with a Trump presidency was ‘resistance.’ Gara LaMarche, the president of Democracy Alliance, gave opening remarks tinged with violent metaphors … putting on boxing gloves and fighting back against President-elect Trump. The meetings are highly secretive and closed to the press.” (“‘Time To Fight’ — Ultra-Rich Liberals Meet To Quietly Plot The Trump ‘Resistance,’” Daily Caller, 11/14/2016)

• “‘It is time to fight. It is time to get back up, put on some boxing gloves and hit back,’ LaMarche told the assembled group last night.” (“‘Time To Fight’ — Ultra-Rich Liberals Meet To Quietly Plot The Trump ‘Resistance,’” Daily Caller, 11/14/2016)

FLASHBACK

Top Dems: Refusing To Accept Election Results ‘A Direct Threat To Our Democracy’

HILLARY CLINTON (D-NY): “[H]e … refused to say that he would respect the results of this election. Now that is a direct threat to our democracy. I'm not going to try to call it anything else because that's what it is. All this talk about the election being rigged, trying to stir up people who are supporting him at his rallies, that is a direct threat to our democracy.” (Hillary Clinton, Campaign Remarks, 10/24/2016)

SEN. TIM KAINE (D-VA): “You got to accept the results of this election, win or lose...” (“Kaine To Trump: You Have To Accept Election Results, Win Or Lose,” Washington Examiner, 10/20/2016)

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA) AND FORMER SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): “The basic functioning of our democracy relies on the simple principle that win or lose an election, both sides accept the result... This is about each of us doing our part to ensure the continued functioning of our democracy.  At some point, the good of the country must outweigh the instinct for political self-preservation.” (Rep. Pelosi, Press Release, 10/17/2016)

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): “We have a moral obligation, even beyond the economy and politics, to avoid gridlock and get the country to work again... We have to get things done.” (“Schumer Sees Path to Senate Tax Deal With Clinton in White House,” Bloomberg Politics, 11/07/2016)