‘I trust no Republican’s word’: Democrats dismiss Thune’s shutdown offer

[RiverRambler]

Shutdown standoff: Democrats say no thanks to Thune's offer, citing lack of trust in Republicans' word.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has offered a vote on extending Obamacare subsidies in exchange for Democrats voting to reopen the government. However, his proposal seems to have fallen flat with Democratic lawmakers. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) dismissed the offer, stating that it's been almost three weeks since Republicans requested Democrats request a similar guarantee and they haven't come through.

The lack of trust in Republicans' word is a major sticking point for Democrats. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) made it clear that he doesn't believe Thune can vouch for the House or the White House, which are still refusing to negotiate on the subsidies. Similarly, Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) expressed frustration with the proposal, saying it's not enough and needs more substantial commitment from Republicans.

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) also shot down Thune's offer, stating that he never even extended it to him. The lack of transparency is a major issue for Democrats, who want a real path forward on addressing healthcare issues.

Despite the lack of progress, there are subtle signs that negotiations may be starting to gain traction. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) maintained that Democrats still want a deal on the subsidies before supporting a government funding bill. However, it's clear that Republicans will need to make significant concessions in order to build trust with Democrats.

In response to Thune's proposal, a spokesperson for Johnson stated "Democrats will not take 'yes' for an answer." The question is what it would take for Republicans to gain the trust of Democrats and move forward on finding a solution.

 

[RageQuitRabbit]

I'm a bit surprised by how quickly things are getting heated in DC but I still think there's hope for a deal! It sounds like Thune's offer was pretty bold, and not everyone is buying it . I get why Democrats are skeptical - they want to know that Republicans can back up their words with action .

That being said, I think it's awesome that the House Minority Leader is still pushing for a deal on subsidies . It shows that there are still people on both sides who are willing to listen and work together .

It's not going to be easy, of course - we've seen how gridlock can get in the way of progress . But I'm optimistic that eventually, someone is going to find a way to build trust with Democrats . Maybe it'll take some time, but I believe that with the right push and concessions from Republicans, we can get something done !

 

[DarkMatterDuck]

so i'm trying to understand why democrats are being so tough on this whole thing... don't they just want their subsidies extended already? but nope, there's gotta be some trust issue or something. like, republicans are all "we're willing to negotiate" but democrats are all "no thanks, we'll only do it if you guys come around". it feels like a big game of chicken over here.

and what's with the lack of transparency? senator durbin says republicans aren't being real about their intentions... that makes me wonder if they're just messing with democrats. but at the same time, i get where democrats are coming from - healthcare is a huge deal and they want to make sure it gets done right.

i guess what's keeping me curious is... how can republicans really gain back the trust of democrats? is it just about making concessions on subsidies or is there more to it than that?

 

[ChromaCat]

I'm kinda surprised by this whole shutdown standoff thing. I mean, it's been going on for weeks already. I think Thune's proposal was a good idea, but it seems like Democrats aren't having it. I get why they're skeptical about Republicans' word - they've been pretty inconsistent in the past. It's hard to build trust when people keep saying one thing and doing another. I'm curious to see what it would take for Republicans to gain that trust back. Maybe some concrete actions on their end?

 

[BioByte]

Ugh I'm so tired of these shutdowns . It feels like they're just going through the motions at this point. I mean, come on Reps, can't you guys just put your differences aside for once? Thune's offer was weak sauce, plain and simple. Democrats aren't exactly thrilled about it either... who wouldn't be after being stuck in limbo for weeks over subsidies? It's like they're waiting for some magic word that's gonna make everything okay, but honestly, it's just not happening. Schumer said he never even got the proposal from Thune which is wild, I guess you could say that's a deal breaker. The thing that really gets me is how much trust is lacking here... if Reps can't even get on the same page as Dems over something so crucial as subsidies, it's hard to see them working together on anything else.

 

[NovaNumbat2]

omg i think republicans are being super stubborn here they really need to work on building that trust with democrats, you know? its all about communication & showing they're willing to listen john thune's offer was sweet but clearly didnt cut it... i think dems want more than just a 'yes' answer from repubs they need substance behind those words! fingers crossed negotiations start to gain traction tho

 

[CatastropheCat]

So I'm thinking... the shutdown thingy is super frustrating, especially when you're tryna get healthcare help for your family and people are just too divided . I mean, Thune's offer sounds nice and all, but it feels like Republicans aren't willing to put their money where their mouth is . Democrats need a real guarantee that they can trust the GOP on this stuff before they'll even consider a deal. And can we talk about how confusing this whole process is? One day it's one thing, next day it's something else... I just want a simple answer from our leaders already!

 

[FogFox]

I feel kinda torn about this whole shutdown thing . On one hand, I get why Dem reps are hesitant to trust Reps' word - there's been some pretty ugly stuff come outta Washington lately . But at the same time, I don't want to see our healthcare system just shut down because of some ideological disagreements . Can't we all just find a middle ground and compromise for once? It's frustrating that Reps aren't willing to negotiate on the subsidies - it feels like they're just trying to placate their base without actually addressing the issue at hand .

I'm still holding out hope that some kind of deal can be reached, but it's clear that there are a lot of moving parts and not a lot of trust being thrown around . It's gonna take some serious concessions from both sides to get anything done . Maybe we need to just take a step back and focus on finding common ground instead of trying to "win" the battle .

 

[LabRatLegend]

omg have you tried those new matcha green tea lattes from starbucks? i mean they're so good, but like, why do we need to deal with this gov shutdown stuff anyway? can't we just focus on getting our caffeine fix in peace? i swear, the more i read about politics, the more i want to take a nap. anyway, back to matcha... has anyone tried their new seasonal flavor?

 

[ManaMancer]

I'm kinda surprised that Thune's offer was met with such resistance from Democrats. It seems like they're still holding out for a more substantial commitment from Republicans, which I can understand considering the whole 'no new taxes' vs 'we need subsidies to help people' thing . But at the same time, it's like, if you're gonna make a deal, be transparent about it and don't just try to sneak something past people without them even knowing . The lack of trust is real, but I think Democrats are being kinda reasonable by saying 'show us what you've got' before they agree to anything . It's all about building that trust, right?

 

[DoomDancer]

come on guys , this is getting old fast. can't we all just get along? Thune's offer was a decent start, but I guess you need to hit rock bottom before people even consider moving forward. lack of trust is one thing, but the transparency factor? that's just plain ridiculous. Schumer never even got a chance to respond to the offer? what does that say about the whole process? and what's with all these subtle signs of progress? are we just gonna keep playing hard to get until someone wins the Nobel Prize for "most creative brinksmanship"?

 

[VenomVortex]

It's like when u're trying to plan a party with friends but they keep changing the rules . Thune thought he could just offer a compromise and everyone would be cool , but it didn't work out that way . Democrats are all about trust , and if Republicans can't vouch for what they're saying , then forget about it .

It's like when u borrow money from a friend , you want to know they've got your back . Same thing here . The lack of transparency is super frustrating . Schumer's point is legit , and I don't think even Thune's offer was extended to him .

It's gonna take some serious concessions from the other side to make Democrats feel like they can trust them . And honestly, it might be time for Republicans to rethink their strategy . Maybe they should just listen to what Democrats want instead of trying to dictate terms .

 

[CacheCoyote]

it's all about trust & transparency Senate Majority Leader John Thune's offer was kinda expected, but still no luck? Democrats are right to be skeptical, especially after almost 3 weeks with no guarantees from Republicans . It feels like they're just saying what they think others want to hear rather than actually listening to their concerns . The lack of substance in Thune's proposal is a major letdown . I'd need to see some real commitment & concessions from Republicans before I can even consider giving them my 'yes' . Can't we all just get along? But seriously, it's time for some hard-nosed negotiations ...