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What's up with Democratic Leadership's Passivity? Can Electoral Politics Alone Defeat Fascism? [1]

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Date: 2025-03-18

There are a number of motives and causes behind the apparent passivity of Democratic leadership’s erratic strategy. I’m not a fly on the wall in Chuck Schumer’s office, but I’ll list some of the possibilities and give my humble two cents on what going on behind the scenes. But first a brief background. Schumer appeared to double down in a CBS interview this morning on his “yes” switched vote to support the Trump budget deal.

A Short and Not so Sweet State of Affairs



Trump has gone way past being “out of control” and far past being “over the edge.” His next steps involve negating rulings made by some of our more courageous judges and finding an excuse, or manufacturing one, to declare Marshal Law. Right now, government is completely renegade and out of control.

Trump must be stopped, but there’s no longer any strictly electoral or Congressional way to do so without Republican votes. Democracy is on life support. But waiting until 2026 seems equivalent to surrender.

Even worse, Trump is currently busy attempting to stimulate conditions under which he can justify (in his perverse mind) declaring Marshal Law. We don’t know for sure his true power relationship to Putin and the latter’s influence and control over him, but some connection seems more than obvious.

So what’s up with Democratic Leadership?

We all feared this day would come, and it has.

The following are the most obvious factors responsible for the disjointed Democratic Party strategies against Trump/Musk Fascism or lack of one. Remember, these are possible explanations for the Party leadership’s behavior and it’s consequences. These are among the darker ones:

Leadership is too divided to function either effectively or aggressively. As a result, they have no agreed upon joint strategy. None. Everybody in Congress is on their own or being held back. Some in current leadership fear the Party’s left might gain the upper hand. The disagreements therefore are more akin to a power struggle between the two, rather than making a strategic compromise and make some concessions. At the worst possible time. Some in leadership are so fearful they are ready to give up and surrender, with the collapse of functioning Party leadership possibly imminent. Those interesting in collaboration are blocking any changes in the leadership group. The present leadership majority is incapable or unwilling to engage/interact with a more popular or left leaning leadership or form of mass struggle. The leadership group was not prepared for what to do if Trump won a second term and had no plan B or C. Leadership is waiting for and hoping Trump will tank himself out of the presidency. Each day that goes by without organized resistance by both the anti- Trump masses and a Party with more inclusive leadership increases the hold Trump has over our country and makes it more likely Trump will achieve all his goals.

The more encouraging possibilities at this moment are very limited and include:

At this very moment, negotiations are under way, a compromise in leadership is being debated, and an agreed upon strategy may be soon forthcoming. The anti-Schumer opposition gains control of the party and puts forward a fighting strategy. The mass struggle takes over the fight against Trump successfully, with or without Democratic assistance. Secret negotiations are under way with some Republicans to remove or impeach Trump. Not likely and more like a pipe dream, but one can hope.

Can Electoral Politics Defeat Fascism?

We need new Party leadership and broad coalitions to bring millions to the streets.

What do I and many others think of the current situation?

Ultimately, controlling the military is often the key to total victory for fascist movements. Trump as President already has some control. Additionally, the military is supposed to be in lock step behind a president. We can surmise Trump has a strategy to use the military politically, probably given to him by his Republican advisors. Declaring Marshal Law is much more of a political use given current circumstances, and may be behind Schumer’s timidity.

It’s impossible to know how close Trump is to his goal of complete control of the militarily or exactly how he will proceed. He may give them a war first. It’s easier for him if he makes his first major command to them a war to fight. My guess is that impulsive Trump won’t wait, and will be quick to pull the trigger and test the military.

America’s Nightmare

Neville Chamberlain and Chuck Schumer.

My worst interpretation of Schumer’s recent flip flop on budget cloture is that behind it was, in fact, a de-facto surrender to Trump rule for the next two years and beyond. That his Party faction would rather sit and wait until 2026 and try to win back the House or Senate. A defeatist strategy that in practice amounts to complete capitulation as two years of more Trump will give the Republicans time to destroy any chances of having another honest election. And both Parties known it.

Schumer’s and the Party’s leadership’s passivity will also tend to demoralize popular resistance. The only foreseeable leverage Democrats have now is through linkage to popular struggle, its growth and leaning leftward.

Passivity Demoralizes Resistance

They may feel — I can’t read their minds — that popular resistance will lead to Civil War, a blood bath and more violence. I and many others feel exactly the opposite — passivity emboldens fascists and demoralizes resistance — and popular resistance can defeat them.

I’ll Say it Again

Given the current situation . . .

. . only a combined coordinated strategy that includes a broad number of elected officials in the Democratic Party and popular resistance can bring about the best chance of checkmating Trump. []

Thanks for reading.

Psychusa, aka Michael Castellano

Recommended:

'I should be the leader': Schumer digs in as his own party rebels

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