Reply #7: Another take on the NYT piece. IMO Shumer comes off as double speaking.

[wisteria]

We are going to be watching them NOW. What can we do now? We can't stop them from doing what they will do now. It's obvious, this was a calculated political move designed for what they figured had the best possible outcome.
1.
We look like we stand for something, but can't stop the bigger guy.
2.
We appear to looked resigned to the inevitable and do not obstruct and interfere with the Republican momentum on this.Thus supposedly winning us support in the Red States. (I can't believe they think the only reason we lost the last mid-term and 2004 election was our party being viewed as obstructionists.)
3.
We will watch them now and when they threaten our beloved causes like Roe vs Wade and Civil Rights,(both of which we should have fought before the vote) we will act tough and send out fund raising letters telling people we are fighting for them and to keep that money coming in.

This all plays into the image the public has of all politicians being out for themselves and not for the people.