have not been discussing the budget and we have been discussing about ways to pass it onto other bipartisan commissions to handle the budget. the only bipartisan commission is a congress of the united states and there is no substitute for us doing our job. we hold the purse strings and that is a responsibility that cannot be dodged or doged. it starts in the house of representatives and we have to take responsibility and we are not. another cr and kicking it of another few months down the road without another serious attempt to engage in real budget process i think is a travesty and it is a path that is becoming shorter and shorter as time goes on. host:ent biden urged his fellow democrats to keep vigilant in the days ahead. for the first half-hour we invite democrats only to call in and tell us what you think is the future of the democratic party. here is how you can let us know

your thoughts by phone. eastern and central time zones, (202) 748-8000, mountain and pacific (202) 748-8001. democrats only. if you want to text as your thoughts about the future of the party (202) 748-8003 is how you do that. you can also post on facebook and x. it was about a month ago that 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 percent of democrats and democratic leaning independents say they are optimistic about the parties future, 49% are pessimistic. the share of democrats who say they are pessimistic about the parties future is about 20% higher than it was after the midterm election. mixed results on the question for both parties. it is about 10 points higher than after hillary clinton's

presidential defeat. pessimism is more pronounced from adults under age 50 and among older people 39%. liberal democrats, 52% of those at the time of the poll are more pessimistic than conservative and moderate democrats. that was about a month ago. following the election, it was the vice president yesterday beginning at a community college in maryland talking about not only the future but amongst young people. the new york times tracks the speech saying kamala harris says she does not intend to fade into the background after trump's victory and used her first postelection speech to urge young people to stay in the fight before an audience of students and activists and recent graduates. harris called on the crowd to retain their passion and resolve.

here is a portion from the vice president yesterday. [video clip] >> i ask you to remember this struggle is not new. it goes back nearly 250 years to lexington and concorde. generation after generation it driven by those who love our country, cherish its ideals, and refuse to sit passive while our ideals are under assault. now this fight to keep the light of america's promise and to ensure it burns bright. this fight continues with you. you are its heirs.

we are its heirs. i will end with this. get some rest over the holidays. spend time with the people you love. i believe family comes in many forms. there is family by love. i urge you after you've had some rest -- there is family by blood and family by love. i urge you after you've had some rest to come back ready to chart our path to the future, chin up, shoulders back, forever inpatient for change. host: the vice president from yesterday. democrats only in this first half-hour. what is the future of the democratic party? (202) 748-8000 for eastern and central time zones. (202) 748-8001 for mountain and

pacific time zones. text us at (202) 748-8003 and you can post on our social media sites as well. on our facebook page, from stephen, sing his opinion as far as the future of the party, sayingt very bright. historically parties wchvery two terms. democrats prepare to clean up the mess in 2020 s -- in 2028. john ce ying all of our best people have left thear. we need to get rid of our parties platforms of the regressive "progressive" agenda and start over. this is from diane on our facebook page saying young and eligible people are coming into their political selvewi fresh ideas. that'll be the face of the democratic party. out with the old and in with the new. 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. caller: i think democrats are going to be doing great because donald trump is committing the crime of the century still. democrats [indiscernible] republicans break the law but i think democrats will help america always. host: you think after the last election democrats have to to do things differently? caller: we got screwed -- we got manhandled. trump breaks the law. that is all he does. we have to do better. host: that is john in st. louis. this is carolyn in ohio from the democratic party.

hello. caller: i think we need to have younger people. i am a senior citizen. this is strange for me to say but i think we have to have younger people in the democratic party. i know kamala harris was out talking to younger people and that is a start. i heard on one of the stations where -- i cannot remember his name -- i want to say his last name is hogg -- host: david hogg, vice chair of the democratic committee. caller: he is going after a position and i am not sure he has it. i am all for younger people. i am tired and i am a senior citizen and i always want to be active and