Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) speaks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. (Graeme Jennings / Washington Examiner)This mess is happening because the Democratic Party is hopelessly split. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is terrified of defying them because the last time he did so, in March, when he voted with Republicans to fund the government, outraged radicals called for his head. They were due to get paid on Friday, Oct. 3, but now their checks will not come until the shutdown is over. Will their boss allow the shutdown to drag on so that his aides’ second paycheck goes missing? It will take only four more Democrats to peel away from Schumer under Republicans’ constant pounding before the shutdown itself gets shut down.