It seems I pissed off a lot of DUers yesterday...

[Omaha Steve]

Last edited Sun Jul 13, 2025, 11:17 AM - Edit history (1)

I posted the cartoon for discussion, not humor. It seems to have failed, even though it got (correction) 27 Rs.

I am sorry and apologize to those I offended.

OS

Here is that post: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220479589

Here is the left leaning site it came from: https://inthesetimes.com/article/49-06-comics-chuck-schumer-art-trump-2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_These_Times_(magazine)

In These Times is an American politically progressive monthly magazine of news and opinion published in Chicago, Illinois.[1] It was established as a broadsheet-format fortnightly newspaper in 1976 by James Weinstein, a lifelong socialist. It investigates alleged corporate and government wrongdoing, covers international affairs, and has a cultural section. It regularly reports on labor, economic and racial justice movements, environmental issues, feminism, grassroots democracy, minority communities, and the media.

About In These Times: https://inthesetimes.com/about

In 1976, author and historian James Weinstein, along with a handful of journalists, moved to Chicago to launch an independent publication to inform and critically analyze the emerging new movements on the American Left. They called the publication In These Times.

The first issue of In These Times was on released November 15th, 1976.

They modeled their new publication on Appeal to Reason, a socialist newspaper from the turn of the century that once reached more than half a million subscribers. From the beginning, In These Times relied on the financial support of its readers, and the list of founding sponsors included Julian Bond, Noam Chomsky, Barbara Ehrenreich, Daniel Ellsberg and Michael Harrington.

In These Times carved out a unique space on the Left, bridging coverage of social movements with progressive electoral politics while publishing groundbreaking investigations that challenge the growing influence of corporations over government and our daily lives.

That legacy continues on to this day. Our journalism amplifies the ideas, strategies and tactics emerging from grassroots organizing and labor efforts across the country, providing the public attention and intellectual fuel that progressives need to leverage, build and wield power.

[Walleye]

1. I just don't believe that the Democrats are the villains in this story

[Towlie]

26. I don't believe that's what was implied. I think the point is that what we're doing IS NOT WORKING.

And that's my own opinion as well. Our congress members and we who elected them are not doing enough to beat this trend toward fascism, and unless we come up with something more effective we're destined to lose. I admittedly don't know what that something is, but if we don't find an effective strategy then the future looks very grim.

[misanthrope]

52. Worse than simply not working

It is damaging the brand. It makes Democrats look weak, confused and impotent.

Democrats need to look resolute, focused and energized.

[LiberalArkie]

76. I think the cartoon is very accurate. But..

We are part of an organization that still thinks that inside Republicans and Democrats are the same. They just see things differently on how to operate the country. Maybe it used to be at a point in time as the senators and Reps both attend parties and gatherings together and think of themselves as friends. I find it hard to believe that those situations still occur. I think that there was friendship between Bonner and Obama. But that stopped when Bonner left.


The Republicans no longer to even be seen with a Democrat. They know what would happen.

We have a lot of leaders who have not moved from the "Gentlemen" from the other side of the aisle to the hatred the other side of the aisle has for us. The way it used to be is gone really. Maybe one day in the future it will return if this collection of individual states ever becomes a unified nation again.

[IbogaProject]

42. Running so hard for the center got us here

Once campaign finance rules got relaxed in the 80s our party has moved to the center, and even to the right as the GOP has lurched ever further towards evil. Our party has become beholden to focus groups and really doesn't pay attention to what life is like outside of prosperous regions. The public wan't universal health care and other liberal policies and we at best offer small watered down proposals.

[karynnj]

77. I don't think there has been linear movement of the party since the 1980s

There are ebbs and flows, but overall there has been a leftward trend in the party on social issues. Consider the change on LGBT rights, abortion, marijuana, etc, and civil rights. Even look at party nominees. Could anyone in the late 1970s have predicted a nominee like Obama or Harris? ( I think a woman nominee would have been predicted, which is why I did not list Clinton. )

On economic issues, there was a big shift to the "new" Democratic party in the early 1990s moving from a party where unions were very powerful. However consider that there was a large shift to populism starting at least in 2016. Biden ran a more populist campaign in 2020 then his centrist Senate positions and governed in a more populist way than any President since LBJ.

[IbogaProject]

79. I loved Biden's sudden left shift in office

But he didn't run on it, he ran on "not changing anything". Yes we have moved to more progressive non economic issues but actual reversing of the wealthy tax breaks wasn't pursued.

[karynnj]

81. I don't think raising the tax brackets could have gotten the votes

The sad thing is it is MUCH easier to lower taxes than raise them. Just as it is much harder to create a new program than to cripple or defund it.

Biden only had the House for 2 years, with only 50 Senators. He needed every Senator and Harris to break the tie. In the second half, he had 51 Senators, but a MAGA House.

[IbogaProject]

83. We should have tried and had them vote no

It is ok to push a risky vote we aren't subject to snap parlementary elections where amy lost vote can cause an election.

[marble falls]

2. That cartoon took a speck of truth and MAGAsized it. It's been posted here before, and while I think it's ...

... over the top, I certainly wouldn't alert or vote against it on a jury.

The good side of it is: you certainly know that people pay attention to your posts!

[emulatorloo]

3. You're aware that self-described 'progressives' can mindlessly shit on Democrats too, right?

The cartoon you posted was ignorant and simplistic anti-Democrat propaganda as far as I’m concerned.

As I said yesterday I know your heart is in the right place but ‘c’mon man!’


Thanks for today’s post.

[MineralMan]

4. Well, Schumer seems to have become unpopular in the minds of some on the left.

He joins some others in not being left enough, powerful enough, compliant enough, etc., to suit them.

He has been unable to get the Senate not dominated by Republicans. Of course, the fact that a majority of Republicans now controls the Senate might have something to do with that.

He has been found guilty of trying to coax just enough Republicans to agree with him to reduce the threat of the Trump administration to take over everything. He has not succeeded in doing that, unfortunately, and Trump is still President.

Clearly, though, he is an old man and part of a long line of Democrats who have been powerful leaders. But, he isn't young enough any more.

Instead of understanding that to regain control of Congress, American voters have to elect majorities of Democrats in both the House and Senate, they are finding it simpler to blame Schumer. Before that, they blamed Nancy Pelosi. There are others they have blamed as well.

It's a pity, but Schumer's trying as best he can in a situation where there is no real chance to win. For that, his is to be condemned apparently.

[allegorical oracle]

28. Took the cartoon panel to illustrate Schumer's fecklessness...his sometimes ham-handed

search for our answers to low polling numbers. We shouldn't blame anyone...and we all post discussion items that bang into each other's forehead periodically. I don't feel Schumer is especially on top of this issue, but then I never thought he was especially proactive. Pelosi had the better history on that.

We're frustrated. But feel time will lead us to find the road we must take to alter the route we decide to take. Remember we only lost by 1.5 percent in 2024. It was NOT a mandate.

[MineralMan]

33. Nevertheless, we lost.

I'm not sure we get too many more chances, so we're going to need all the help we can get. I'm not writing anyone off, frankly. If they can help, I'm on their side. You will never catch me trashing any Democrat who has won elections in the past. Never.

[lapucelle]

56. Meh for the age thing. There are 15 senators older than Schumer, including 2 Independents and 10 Democrats.

235 Article III Biden judicial nominees were confirmed under Chuck Schumer's stewardship, and as Minority Leader he has succeeded in stonewalling Trump's judicial nominees up to this point. Schumer also made the hard call to vote for cloture to keep the government open.

I think people are confused as to the parliamentary and caucus-wide role that the leader plays. His Democratic colleagues will have the opportunity to replace him as leader in the 120th Congress.

Chuck Schumer is my senator, and he works hard to address the needs of all of his constituents in NYS's 60+ counties.



Charles Schumer is a Populist-Leaning Liberal
https://bit.ly/4lMYjTL

[MineralMan]

58. Yes. He is all of that.

Smear campaign.

[Nixie]

75. Thanks for this. Schumer certainly isn't responsible for the

idiotic decisions to hand over power willingly to Republicans to “send messages.”

[Mountainguy]

5. I doubt those recs

Would appreciate a similar cartoon lampooning AOC or Mamdani.

[Celerity]

22. post some cartoons of the type you described and let's find out

[ret5hd]

6. the hardest truth is self-criticism.

i rec’d it.

[emulatorloo]

7. Cheap dishonest shots @ Democrats like that cartoon are easy though.

[ret5hd]

8. if there wasn't a truth being spoken...

you wouldn’t even have looked at it twice.

[emulatorloo]

17. Yeah, 'truth' just like we find on 'Truth Social.'

[FoxNewsSucks]

43. What specifically was dishonest?

You keep saying that, but apparently can't point anything out that is a lie or dishonest.

Uncomfortable truths need to be corrected, not swept under the rug.

[emulatorloo]

49. What specifically was honest about it?

Uses the same half-truth smear tactics against Democrats that Fox News does.

[FoxNewsSucks]

50. You repeatedly make that assertion

therefore it is your responsibility to show proof.

Please, at least one concrete example. It's that too much to ask?

[emulatorloo]

51. Schumer isn't a MTA bus driver who murders pedestrians. And it is a dishonest analogy (Don't be so obtuse)

If you can analyze Fox News smears and innuendo against Democrats, I’m sure you fully capable of analyzing the smears and innuendo in this ‘cartoon’. Because they’re using the same playbook.

See also S&S’s point in the original thread.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20479969

“I am not a Schumer fan, but HE is not the problem here. The media and maga are. And this cartoon leaves them unscathed.”

[Brainfodder]

9. Took look quick Steve, no issue here, accuracy can be painful and admitting our leaders need to do above pushing paper?

Most protected DICK on the planet now has dementia, can we get a break?

Decades of overstayed welcome.

[emulatorloo]

18. What's 'accurate' about it? Doesn't understand basic civics, doesn't understand GOP controls congress

Or perhaps it is just Fox-style willfull misinterpretation - anything to shit on Democrats

[Hotler]

10. I want to meet the Balleys. nt

[Ocelot II]

11. I thought it was funny.

[Celerity]

21. as did I

[leftstreet]

23. +1

[Bettie]

63. I did too

but, apparently, we must revere Sen. Schumer, and tell all and sundry that he is perfect.

[Kid Berwyn]

12. No apologies needed.

DU is supposed to be a place for discussion, not an echo chamber. Sad to see the reaction to a cartoonist (who has a long history of support for Democracy and the Democratic Party) dumped on you.

If Schumer can’t take criticism from people who support him, what’s he gonna do when MAGA libels him — and all Democrats? So far, his communication strategy in opposition to Trump has not succeeded.

So. More of the same? That would be political malpractice.

[enough]

14. 👍

[NewHendoLib]

13. I just read it and rec'd it. As some say, the truth hurts

[demmiblue]

30. Same. n/t

[Tetrachloride]

15. I will approach this with an open mind-- I haven't seen the previous post yet.

ok here's my opinion of the post as pertaining to Schumer:

I agree.

As pertaining to theoretical criticism of other Dems, go ahead. I look forward to discussion by some, and action by others.

[MenloParque]

16. No apologies needed on a discussion board!!

We are not them! This ain't some weird echo chamber where we need tip toe around fragile sensibilities. That's for the Cultists!

[TnDem]

19. So?

It's a cartoon...

I have no idea why people get so offended at humor?....And it wasn't even that offensive NOR funny.

[Celerity]

20. I liked the cartoon and it was hardly 'a lot of DUers' who got argy bargy about, just a handful. Ignore them.

[leftstreet]

24. Thanks for reposting. I missed it the first time

DURec

[betsuni]

25. Didn't find it funny, the accusations need to be true to be funny. Need the bashing points explained to me I guess.

Blaming Democratic leadership instead of Republicans is turning out to be a big anti-Democratic bashing point.

[emulatorloo]

29. Blaming Democrats for what Republicans do is apparently more and more attractive here.

Because as we know Republicans have no agency, therefore nothing is ever Republicans fault. /s

I’ve seen this shit on Reddit and X for a long while from the ‘influencers’. I’m sure Trump’s propagandists appreciate the help.

Unfortunate that this crap is showing up at DU. And being promoted and applauded.

[Susan Calvin]

35. I didn't see any blame for what Republicans do.

I saw a discussion of the way some Democrats are responding. I am fully aware that the only real power Democrats have right now is to make noise. And I'm one who feels that some of them are not making enough of it.

[betsuni]

45. Someone unfamiliar with U.S. politics would think Democratic leadership/party were the bad ones

after seeing such posts.

Forum for supporters of the Democratic Party becoming forum for supporters of destroying the party. Destroying the party for reasons that can't/won't be explained in any detail because the reasons aren't true.

[lapucelle]

59. Discussion is all well and good,

but we'd have a better chance in the Senate if folks spent as much time working to elect Democratic senators in their home states as they spend critiquing the Democrats we New Yorkers work hard to elect every cycle.

[Skittles]

66. OR

they may think current Dem leadership is ineffective in fighting "the bad ones"

[Nixie]

80. +1, the usual disinformation mongers are in full force.

I saw that one of them is in Canada and one is in Europe. But it’s a nonstop attack on Democrats.

[H2O Man]

27. Recommended.

Thanks for the link! I think it is funny.

[demmiblue]

31. Meh, ignore the finger-waggers.

[Phoenix61]

32. I think it's great! I'm so over Schumer's strongly worded letters.

He, and apparently a lot of others. seem incapable of reading the room. The world is changing at break neck speed and humans are not designed for an environment that does that. They are scared! They want a leader who makes them feel safe. Look at the movies people are flocking to. Superman, Marvel cartoon hero’s, etc all about a world where there’s a good guy who will rescue them. It’s not rocket science, it’s Psych 101.

[sheshe2]

54. I'm so over strongly worded rallies and finger wagging.

[Phoenix61]

55. I think people showing up is critical.

Whether it’s rallies, phone calls, letters, e-mail etc.

[Oopsie Daisy]

65. Ha!

[betsuni]

69. I keep waiting for the finger-wagging strongly worded yelling rallies to work.

Why isn't the True Finger Wagging Fighting Spirit (Oh, the passion) and Strongly Worded Standing Up To Things movement working? Isn't that doing the same thing over and over expecting different results?

[sheshe2]

70. In a word, yes.

...but, look at the crowds!

[lapucelle]

74. Finger waggers are a nuisance, especially when they're running around

encouraging folks to run against Democrats.

[Think. Again.]

34. If you're worried...

...about strongly-worded letters posts from schumer DUers, don't be, they're meaningless and won't make a bit of difference in the fight for Democracy.

[Shipwack]

36. Proud to be the 50th rec on that post.

I understand, though, why some got upset, and why it probably can be considered to have broken site rules for not criticizing Democratic leaders.

But the point it raised is legitimate. Sometimes the truth is ugly and it hurts.

Thanks for the original post, and this one with links.

[hlthe2b]

38. I hate when that happens.. Don't worry Omaha Steve, most of us realize that critiques go both ways in

liberal media, and given that Schumer is our Minority Leader in the Senate, it is not unreasonable to have satire or even biting political cartoons directed at him.

As you well know, DUers who are here long enough will undoubtedly have a post misunderstood. I join most here in giving great latitude to your good intentions. Not to worry.

[MorbidButterflyTat]

39. "'Left leaning 'In These Times'"?

I've received many free issues of that in the USPS mail. They publish content taken from the internet, from various sources, including right wing MAGAt crap.

What was there to discuss? That it's funny to divide Democrats and shit on elected Dems in office during a MAGAt takeover? That some people don't understand American politics, yet feel entitled to spew ignorance and make impossible demands of minority Democrats like cranky two year olds?

That a government shutdown, which is always threatened by MAGAt Republicans and breathlessly reported in the "news," that would leave millions of Americans without income, is a reasonable or better alternative than supposedly capitulating to the controlling fascist party?

For amnesiacs, that happened during the stupid fuck's last four years of hell in order to extort funds from Congress for his stupid "wall" he assured everyone Mexico was gonna pay for. I remember Jose Andres and World Central Kitchen set up in DC feeding federal workers because they weren't getting paid because of it.

But darn Chuck Schumer for not doing what I want!!!!!!!!!

Ha, ha, yeah it's so funny.

I'm not pissed off, I'm utterly disappointed.

[sheshe2]

67. Well dayum, gurl.

As you said:

I'm not pissed off, I'm utterly disappointed.

I am right there with you.

[betsuni]

73. Very disappointing. I don't see much changing. This is the American people, not cartoon oligarchs and billionaires.

Simply customize the anti-Democratic propaganda for a particular audience and more and more Americans of all kinds begin to believe it and blame and hate Democrats. Done!

[AverageOldGuy]

40. Did not offend me

Schumer is one of our “leaders” who need to GTF out of the way . . . Along with every other one over 70.

Without going into too many details I am in a VA congressional district “represented” for the past decade by a do-nothing rep who votes the GOP line. We have a very good chance of unseating him in 2016 however our own people are turning out to be our biggest obstacle.

There are 9 localities in our district, each with a local Democratic committee. 5 of the 9 want nothing to do with the No Kings and similar demonstrations. They refuse to encourage their members to write LTE. All they want to do is hold a fundraiser at the local country club and sit in a tent outside each polling place on Election Day — no door knocking, no distribute flyers, no bumper stickers, no hats or t-shirts. They piss and moan about Trump and our rep but are happy with what they have done for years - lose without a fight.

[Joinfortmill]

41. It's not difficult to piss off folks. I've done it too.

Our rules don't encourage constructive criticism, so there's that. Take care.

[FoxNewsSucks]

44. Sure don't. Worse yet,

a certain pack of posters actively runs around screaming their defense of the corporate-friendly establishment types.

[FoxNewsSucks]

46. You don't need to apologize, those posters should be ashamed and apologize to YOU.

That cartoon is far more of a warning than it is humorous. If we keep going down the same stale failed path, the fascists will very soon have more than enough control that they will be unstoppable. If they don't already.

Obviously, the unpleasant truth really hurts for some.

[MacKasey]

47. It's the definition of insanity

Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Omaha Steve,

I was not offended, you asked for a conversation, and said it was not for humor.

We need to be on the attack, control the message, don't back down!!

[lostincalifornia]

48. You mean like the same people who refused to vote for Hillary in 2016 and VP Harris in 2024 by either not voting

or voting third party.

Or perhaps the continuous bashing of what some consider as "establishment Democrats" is a good conversational topic, even though at this particular time dividing Democrats among themselves is NOT the best strategy.

[lapucelle]

60. Republicans held that New York senate seat from 1957 through 1998 until Chuck Schumer was elected.

Schumer topples D'Amato in New York Senate race

https://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1998/11/03/election/senate/new.york/

1998 United States Senate election in New York

The 1998 United States Senate election in New York was held November 3, 1998, along with elections to the United States Senate in other states, as well as elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Republican Senator Al D'Amato lost his bid for a fourth term to Democrat Chuck Schumer in what was considered by many to be the "high[est] profile and nastiest" contest of the year.

This was the first time since 1950 that Democrats won the Class 3 United States Senate seat from New York, and the last time an incumbent U.S. Senator from New York lost a general election.

Schumer's swearing in marked the first time since 1947 that Democrats held both of New York's U.S. Senate seats.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_United_States_Senate_election_in_New_York#cite_note-cnn-1

[lostincalifornia]

62. Yes, and he is a good Senator.

[sheshe2]

72. If one feels the need to 'qualify" a post as "not humor', they have already lost.

I was not offended, you asked for a conversation, and said it was not for humor.

[misanthrope]

53. I thought it was truthful but sadly not very humorous

It would be better were it simply funnier.

[Skittles]

61. maybe it wasn't meant to be funny

nothing funny about ineffective leadership

[Xavier Breath]

68. Damn right there isn't.

[usonian]

57. You always mean well. Here's MY story.,

I was feeling crappy, because idiot Rite Aid closed and I was out of (redacted)
Called the Doc to transfer it and no soap.
So, I survive on folk medicine this weekend.

I mostly avoided DU, because most posts are gloomy

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220477973
You are what you read. Why media and attention whores dominate the conversation.

With a Stephen Miller (cuck, cuck, cuckkety cukkety cuck) photo!!!



Felt better later in the day.

REMEMBER THIS



And hope for DIVINE (or Kanamit) intervention.

[DFW]

64. I missed it the first time around

I’ve been on the road a bit, posting at odd hours due to jet lag.

I found the cartoon devoid of humor, but understood the point of the effort to be eliciting shouts of “right on” rather than laughs.

It emphasizes one sub-point of view shared by some Democrats, by no means all. Meanness, anger, cynicism, yes, but also reflecting a frustration shared by a majority that does not share the other three to an equal degree. If I were on a jury—and to make it clear, I am not, and never will be—I would certainly have voted to let it stand. One doesn’t have to share a point of view in order to respect its validity.

[Tribetime]

71. I have no problem with your post

[Omaha Steve]

78. Kick

[Ursus Rex]

82. Tom Hagen was a loyal and dedicated Corleone Family member

but he wasn't a Wartime Consigliere

Don’t Be “Tom Hagened”; Be a “Wartime Consigliere”
https://www.dennisgarciablog.com/2019/01/be-a-wartime-consigliere/

[AStern]

84. I didn't see any lies

The criticism toward Chuck Schumer is warranted.