"The resistance gets rolled".

Liberal groups groused that their allies in Congress had yet again squandered their leverage, bowing to Republican promises to debate immigration but not necessarily to pass legislation. But Democrats seemed unconcerned about angering the party's left flank.

"My boss is the 700,000 [constituents] who I represent. That's who I report to," Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.) said. "I don't report to anybody out here."

Indeed, Democrats on both ends of the party's ideological spectrum said that prodding from the left had little bearing on their vote.

They brag about ignoring their active base:

Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) recalled being pressed two weeks ago to reject a deal to reopen the government. Nonetheless, "I voted yes," he said.

"I pay attention to everybody," said Brown, who's also spurned calls from the grass roots to champion a Medicaid-for-all effort this Congress. "If the suggestion is if I'm spooked by them or they affect my voting record, the answer is of course not."

I mean, fine, ignore these people. But then spare us the outrage when they don't show up at the polls or vote third party.