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To My Fellow Democrats: A ‘Third Way’ To Reopen the Government
Real Clear Politics ^ | October 16, 2025 | Lanny J. Davis

Posted on 10/16/2025 4:19:22 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum

I understand that congressional Democrats think they have the upper hand, albeit by a narrow margin, showing that voters blame the GOP more than them for the current government shutdown. Their talking point – that the Republicans control the White House and majorities of both chambers – apparently has resonance, at least so far.

The margin is not great, however. And the public may start to catch up on the disingenuousness of our party’s constant use of the word “majority” to describe Congress. Every elected Democrat in Washington knows that it takes 60 votes to break their own filibuster in the Senate, and the Republicans only have 51.

Sooner or later, the average voter may figure this out, meaning that the poll numbers could swing against the Democrats. And as the shutdown starts to cause pain at home, that is when voters may conclude that the congressional leadership of my political party is at least partially responsible for the shutdown.

Partisan politics aside, the need to address the real pain felt by government workers and those depending on public services, including airplane travelers, should compel Democratic leaders to find a compromise solution – something between the usual binary “we win-you lose” two options they now are seeing.

Bill Clinton gives Democrats a model and a pathway. He often saw a “third way” that allows parties to come together on common principles where no one wins or loses, but both sides share some victory laps.

In the run-up to this shutdown, Republicans insisted on some “work requirement” to modify Medicaid as an entitlement program. Democrats are not willing to go there – especially as a condition to reopening the government. But Democrats could look at the Clinton approach to welfare reform and his use of some type of “work requirement” that...

(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...


TOPICS: Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS:
The Buried Lede: We Democrats will vote for a continuing resolution to reopen the government and will commit to adding a “work requirement” in the future to Medicaid if you Republicans commit to an up-or-down vote in both chambers within 60 days to restore all the pre-“BBB” Medicaid cuts and enact an extension of Obamacare insurance subsidies and support.

That would be a "no," Lanny.

1 posted on 10/16/2025 4:19:22 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

And, as usual, he is lying.

The “work requirements” weren’t enforced. Welfare reform died a few years later.


2 posted on 10/16/2025 4:21:50 PM PDT by Fledermaus ("It turns out all we really needed was a new President!")
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Didn’t Rush call Lanny “Spearchucker?”


3 posted on 10/16/2025 4:26:40 PM PDT by gundog (The ends justify the mean tweets. )
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To: gundog

I think he did.

And isn’t Lanny the genius who said, “Just because there’s semen doesn’t mean there was sex”? (Re the blue dress.)


4 posted on 10/16/2025 4:32:32 PM PDT by MayflowerMadam (It's hard not to celebrate the fall of bad people. - Bongino)
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To: Fledermaus

I also think he is lying about who is being blamed for the shutdown. I don’t think the majority blame the GOP. I think it is even only because the media blames the GOP at every opportunity.


5 posted on 10/16/2025 4:38:33 PM PDT by iamgalt
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

As long as Democrats want to put medical needs of ILLEGALs
above that of Americans, not only no but “HELL NO”.
let the mostly Democrat voting employees in the government suffer.
I don’t need them.


6 posted on 10/16/2025 4:51:25 PM PDT by rellic (No such thing as a moderate Moslem or Democrat )
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Third Way is socialism under a new codeword.


7 posted on 10/16/2025 5:25:23 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

The right way is no, we do not fund illegals helthcare, under no conditions.


8 posted on 10/16/2025 5:26:35 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

No to Mexicaid...period.


9 posted on 10/16/2025 5:34:38 PM PDT by thescourged1 (Rush, is it time to panic yet? )
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

The endgame for the Rats is the up or down vote on THEIR proposal - no amendments or discussion. I’ve heard that tossed out on numerous occasions and radio forums now. They want that vote for next years elections. GOP needs to say no.


10 posted on 10/16/2025 5:50:25 PM PDT by 11th_VA
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To: iamgalt

>> I also think he is lying about who is being blamed for the shutdown. I don’t think the majority blame the GOP.

I hold the (R)s responsible for the shutdown — as if I *needed* another reason to vote for them! They won’t cave to the extortion of the DemonRats, and that’s a GOOD thing.


11 posted on 10/16/2025 6:08:38 PM PDT by Nervous Tick (Hope, as a righteous product of properly aligned Faith, IS in fact a strategy.)
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To: MayflowerMadam

Well, we’ve come a long way, since then. Today we know that just because there was semen, it doesn’t mean that a man was involved.


12 posted on 10/16/2025 7:12:00 PM PDT by gundog (The ends justify the mean tweets. )
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To: Nervous Tick

Well sure l would say credit not blame if the GOP doesn’t cave.


13 posted on 10/16/2025 7:29:18 PM PDT by iamgalt
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

There’s one thing Mr Davis cannot wordsmith his way out of: he is 79 yrs old.


14 posted on 10/16/2025 7:42:10 PM PDT by lurk (u)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Poor Lanny. Still trying to push his old buddy “Wheelchair Bill” over the globalist/socialist third way finish line.


15 posted on 10/16/2025 8:18:02 PM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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16 posted on 10/16/2025 8:23:58 PM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: MayflowerMadam

Pakistani Lanny strikes again.


17 posted on 10/17/2025 12:36:09 AM PDT by sauropod
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