Keith, I like your reasoning and hope you are right, but the jury is still out as long as the US Senate is divided 52-48, in favor of the GOP. All of this will depend on the Democrats getting a solid mid-term election victory, which depends on getting social legislation, infrastructure and -- most importantly -- a federal voting rights l…
Keith, I like your reasoning and hope you are right, but the jury is still out as long as the US Senate is divided 52-48, in favor of the GOP. All of this will depend on the Democrats getting a solid mid-term election victory, which depends on getting social legislation, infrastructure and -- most importantly -- a federal voting rights law passed, and I think little or none of this will happen without reform or elimination of the filibuster. Biden, unless he gets help from a few GOP senators (Are there any left who have not already gone over to the dark side?), is up the proverbial creek without a paddle.
Unfortunately, the GOP knows it now has the upper hand and that the only real danger to their 40-year autocratic project is the DOJ and, to a lesser -- but still annoying degree -- the House select committee, and even if those "situations" escape their control, they are pretty sure the SCOTUS has their back.
Short of strong-arming (but how?) the two recalcitrant DEM senators into a little party discipline and then getting a historically large turnout of all their usual constituencies, especially the under 30s, the Democrats will lose power in 2022, and that will be game, set and match. The time needed to do the hard work and build things is rapidly running out, whether we like it or not.
Of course, I hope your optimism is right and that my pessimism is wrong. I would love to be wrong on this.
Biden has said it very straightforwardly, he’s got to work with each and every D Senator to find the right way forward for his legislation. He knows the ropes and how to push, persuade, demure and arm twist; all of which is happening right now. 2022 could be a strong win for the Democrats, and the United States, if the pieces fall into place.
Of course this is what we all hope. I agree Biden is pretty good at pushing, persuading, etc., but arm-twisting requires leverage, and I'm not sure he has much. I guess we'll know soon enough.
It couldn't any simpler. The idea of 10 Rs standing up and voting for the voting rights bill would be like putting a target on their backs. Keep in mind, these people are craven invertebrates. Aint gonna happen, no way, no how. Only thing left is canning the filibuster...that's it. Biden needs to be very clear with the intransigent Senator duo. If the filibuster remains in place the curtain will come down on on the Democratic party (likely for a very long time) ....and our democracy. As the person said above....it will be GAME OVER. The dems might as well then "hand in their badges", because future legislative actions will become nothing but a solidification of a corrupt, oligarchical and fascist autocracy.
Keith, I like your reasoning and hope you are right, but the jury is still out as long as the US Senate is divided 52-48, in favor of the GOP. All of this will depend on the Democrats getting a solid mid-term election victory, which depends on getting social legislation, infrastructure and -- most importantly -- a federal voting rights law passed, and I think little or none of this will happen without reform or elimination of the filibuster. Biden, unless he gets help from a few GOP senators (Are there any left who have not already gone over to the dark side?), is up the proverbial creek without a paddle.
Unfortunately, the GOP knows it now has the upper hand and that the only real danger to their 40-year autocratic project is the DOJ and, to a lesser -- but still annoying degree -- the House select committee, and even if those "situations" escape their control, they are pretty sure the SCOTUS has their back.
Short of strong-arming (but how?) the two recalcitrant DEM senators into a little party discipline and then getting a historically large turnout of all their usual constituencies, especially the under 30s, the Democrats will lose power in 2022, and that will be game, set and match. The time needed to do the hard work and build things is rapidly running out, whether we like it or not.
Of course, I hope your optimism is right and that my pessimism is wrong. I would love to be wrong on this.
Biden has said it very straightforwardly, he’s got to work with each and every D Senator to find the right way forward for his legislation. He knows the ropes and how to push, persuade, demure and arm twist; all of which is happening right now. 2022 could be a strong win for the Democrats, and the United States, if the pieces fall into place.
Of course this is what we all hope. I agree Biden is pretty good at pushing, persuading, etc., but arm-twisting requires leverage, and I'm not sure he has much. I guess we'll know soon enough.
It couldn't any simpler. The idea of 10 Rs standing up and voting for the voting rights bill would be like putting a target on their backs. Keep in mind, these people are craven invertebrates. Aint gonna happen, no way, no how. Only thing left is canning the filibuster...that's it. Biden needs to be very clear with the intransigent Senator duo. If the filibuster remains in place the curtain will come down on on the Democratic party (likely for a very long time) ....and our democracy. As the person said above....it will be GAME OVER. The dems might as well then "hand in their badges", because future legislative actions will become nothing but a solidification of a corrupt, oligarchical and fascist autocracy.
And yet…that in itself is a danger to democracy in the long run…