The stunning and fierce revolt against Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) for backing down from Republicans in a shutdown battle is being magnified by the resounding silence from Democrats refusing to come to his defense.

In failing to demonstrate what they stand for, Democrats fumbled the chance to show why they deserve a return to power, centrists and progressives say.

Democrats have long found the flip phone Chuck Schumer still insists on using as an endearing quirk that illustrates how committed he is to his way of talking to all sorts of allies, all the time.