To other bipartisan commissions to handle the budget.
Well, the ultimate bipartisan commission is the Congress of the United States, and there's no substitute for our doing our job.
We hold the purse strings.
That's a responsibility that can't be dodged, and it can't be doged.
The buck starts in the House of Representatives, and we have to take responsibility for that, and we're not.
So simply another CR kicking the can in a...
We invite Democrats only to call in and tell us what you think is the future of the Democratic Party.
Here's how you can let us know your thoughts by phone.
For the Eastern and Central time zones, 202 -748 -8000.
For the Mountain and Pacific time zones, 202 -748 -8001.
Democrats only, if you want to text us your thoughts about the future of your party, 202 -748 -8003 is how you do that.
You can also post on Facebook and on X.
It was about a month ago.
That the Pew Research did a poll of Democrats following the election, getting their thoughts on the future of the party and what it felt like at the time for them, saying that while 51 % of Democrats and Democratic -leaning independents say they are somewhat optimistic about the party's future,
49 % are pessimistic.
The share of Democrats who say they are pessimistic about their party's future is about 20 percentage points higher than it was after the 2022 midterm elections.
That's at 28%.
At the time, it yielded mixed results on this question for both parties.
It's about 10 points higher than after Hillary Clinton's presidential defeat to Mr. Trump in 2016.
Among Democrats, pessimism is more pronounced among adults under age 50.
That's at 55 % than among older people, 39%.
And liberal Democrats, 52 % of those at the time of this poll, are somewhat more pessimistic than conservative and moderate Democrats.
Weighing in at 46%.
That was about a month ago, following the election, the state of Democrats after the election, and what they thought about the future of the party.
It was the vice president yesterday speaking at a community college in Maryland, talking about not only the future, but amongst young people.
The New York Times tracks that speech, saying Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday suggested she did not intend to fade into the background after President -elect Donald Trump's November victory.
And used her first major post -election speech to urge young people to stay in the fight before an audience of students, activists, and recent graduates.
Ms. Harris called on the crowd to maintain their passion and resolve.
You can see that full speech on C -SPAN, but here's a portion from the vice president yesterday.
I ask you to remember that this struggle is not new.
It goes back nearly 250 years to Lexington and Concord.
Generation after generation, it has been driven by those who love history, cherish its ideals, and refuse to sit passive while our ideals are under assault.
And now this fight to keep the light of America's promise and to ensure it burns bright Well, this fight now, it continues with you.
You are its heirs.
We are its heirs.
So I'll end with this.
Get some rest over the holidays.
Spend time with the people you love.
You know, I believe family comes in many forms.
There's family by blood and there's family by love.
I urge you, then, after you have had some rest, In fact, I challenge you to come back ready.
Ready to chart our path to the future.
Chin up.
Shoulders back.
Forever impatient for change.
Again, the vice president from yesterday for Democrats only in this first half hour.
Again, what's the future of the Democratic Party in your opinion?
202 -748 -8000 for the Eastern and Central time zones.
202 -748 - We're good to go.
Um, then, uh, this is from John Cole saying, all our best people have left the party.
Tulsi, Manchin, etc.
We need to get rid of our party's platform of the regressive, quote, progressive agenda and start over.
We might not have a party at the rate we're in decline.
Uh, this is also from Diane on our Facebook page saying, young knowledgeable people are coming into their political selves with fresh ideas and new energy.
That will be the face of the Democratic Party.
Out with the old and in with the new.
It's the natural order of things.
Again, you can always post to our social sites and you can give us a call on the phone lines.
Let's hear from John in St. Louis, Missouri on the future of the Democratic Party for Democrats Only.
John, hello.
Hello.
I think that Democrats are going to be doing great because Donald Trump is committing the crime of the century still and Democrats are good.
Democrats have the right.
They work on the right.
Do you think after the last election, Democrats have to do things differently?