I am writing this monday morning, between tasks at work as I try to pace myself through a day full of frustration. Last night, a bunch of Democrats capitulated to the latest Republican bullshit as eight of them (none of whom are up for relection next year, “coincidentally”) voted to pass the current Continuing Resolution (which is like a budget except it just kicks the can down the road for a couple months). Forty or so days of a government shutdown causing untold hardship for so many people and they gave up without getting anything other than a promise that there will be a vote on healthcare stuff. All of which ignores just how many people are going to lose healthcare as a result of this CR and makes the suffering of federal employees and low-income households getting food assistance a complete and total waste. There was no reason to shut down the government. The Dems got nothing but an empty promise for a future conversation that will likely have as much benefit as anything the Dems have “done” up to this point. It’s just so galling to see, especially on the tail of such a big blue wave not even a full week before they threw in the towel! The people said they want fighters, officials who stand for something, and the current crop of senators replied by instantly giving up. It was all such a waste. A pointless waste.