The plan you lay out here would make a huge difference no doubt. But we know that Manchin and Sinema have refused, and presumably will continue to refuse, eliminating the filibuster. That has been the barrier since President Biden took office. Given that Manchin voted against a bill to codify abortion it’s unclear how the leak of this decision would move him. Is there any other path? To me the only possible remedy is for everyone to vote this fall.
They need to get two more seats in the Senate, either by addition or subtraction. Moscow Never Sleeps is writing a piece, hopefully for next week, on what we might do.
Democrats have to stop listening to the DC based consultant class that is all about "But if we do this, the Republicans will do worse when they next hold power". Newsflash boys and girls, no matter what Democrats do, Republicans will do worse when next they hold power. If you have any doubts, look at the history of the last 40 years. I blame Biden and Schumer for our current lack of fight. Biden needs to get out front on all of the issues Greg listed, and add the abortion (and coming birth control, same-sex marriage) fights to the mix. Schumer needs to make the Senate vote on each issue. Every time preceded by a vote to kill the filibuster. And when the Republicans and Manchinema block filibuster reform, tell the American people exactly who the problem is.
At the same time, Democratic Administrations in blue states need to make it clear that they do not accept the legitimacy of SCOTUS decisions like the Alito plan. Democrats in all states need to make every Republican, in every race, answer for the fascism and hate of the national party.
I blame Schumer singularly. Please point to one time that he has outmanuevered McConnell? Elizabeth Warren or Amy Klobuchar need to grab the reins; Schumer has missed his opportunity repeatedly. Zero faith in him to oversee this fight.
Reagan’s voodoo economics started the GOP on this road, but the villain was Newt Gingrich, who mandated complete segregation of Republicans from Democrats. No social gatherings, no out-of-office visits. Republican wives and families were forbidden to be in the same room with Democrat families unless watched by appointed Republican monitors. Talk about an evil enemy of democracy! You may be right that inviting PR and DC into the union could mend much injustice and add something like balance to our government. But money still drives this nation, and almost all the media is owned by wealthy Republicans. Hence, the milque toast reporting. As they say, freedom of the press goes to the guys who own the press. Regardless, you are absolutely right about the exercise of power: like some phenomenon of physics, it does not exist unless used. Biden IS the best legislator president we’ve had, but he’s not a great public speaker. Democrats need some impassioned voices raised against the evil empire of greed. Thank you for taking off your gloves. Sursum corda.
Yes, Newt was absolutely the genesis of the obstruction. I think Mitch learned much from him. Thank goodness Trump didn't pick him as VP -- he almost did -- because Newt would have been all in on J6.
Yes to all you write. I have been watching Biden's speeches, though, at events in the White House and others. He may not be fire & brimstone, but his connection to the people in the room is palpable and potent. We do need more rallying cries, but everytime I watch our president, I feel inspired and energized to conquer evil in America.
I agree with you 110%, but it ain’t gonna happen. I have been impressed with Joe Biden as the right president for this time in our country (much more so than when I voted for him) but I don’t see him willing to play tough with Congress to accomplish the “progressive agenda”. (And I don’t understand, & never will understand, why the right for everyone to vote, the right for affordable healthcare for everyone, the right for everyone - regardless of sexual orientation, color of skin, gender, etc. - to be treated fairly & equitably under the law, & other rights like this are considered to be extreme.) I hope that this November’s election holds the House majority, & increases the Democrats in the Senate. (Florida voters, let’s get Val Demings beating Marco Rubio!) When I graduated from my progressive high school here in Florida in 1962, it was segregated. Those weren’t “the good old days”. It’s time to move forward, not regress. We need a big turnout this year to send a message. I hope it happens. I don’t want to see the end of our great country in my lifetime. Please vote.
I don't think the problem is with the Democrats playing fair. I blame 99.9% of the problem on a mainstream media that should be screaming the truth about this stuff, but they're too preoccupied with the third of the country that has joined a cult. People are addicted to their entertainment, and stories about idiots are certainly entertaining(!).
I'm having a down day about this, so I won't belabor my feelings. I agree with you, Greg, 100%, and how I WISH even a small percentage of what you write would come true, but I have to face facts and precedent. Dems are going to TALK about this a lot. I mean, A LOT. But will any of it matter in the end? I don't, at this point, think so. I still have hope that all the doom and gloom being predicted for November won't come true especially after this fascist decision by the Court, but beyond that, I'm not even sure that Dems would do the things that need to be done even if they had healthy majorities in the House and Senate. They have shown over and over that they just aren't up to it. They're cowed by Republicans.
The old establishment only moves when the progressives make them, and the progressives can only move when the People make it clear that they want the same things. NOBODY seems to move on things or change their baked-in opinions for any reason. Biden has already been out this morning saying that Roe should be upheld because, "it's fair" to uphold it. There's a real rabble-rousing argument! I'm predicting that, if he hasn't already, Schumer will take the same stance. Pelosi will end up being the most vocal about this, but she also has a slim majority in the House, so I don't know that it will be anything beyond rhetoric we've all heard thousands of times.
I actually read the whole opinion last night, and in addition to goobledegook arguments and LOTS and LOTS of weasel words, Alito made sure to try and tamp down any dissension for the opinion by pointing out, more than once, that the rulings of the Court were not dependent on "popular opinion," or any other outside influence because the Court is, you know, "nonpartisan." It would be laughable if it wasn't so serious and infuriating. It's hard to reconcile "nonpartisanship" and the Court when for almost fifty years, no Court has been able, or really even tried, to overturn Roe. It took SIX religious zealots to slouch their way onto the Court before anything like this was even possible. Republicans played their Number One long game and won. There's no other way to look at this. It's sickening that these traitors, fascists, and insurrectionists won again. And so, I'm having a down day. My plan is to ponder this for a while and then come back and fight these FUCKING ASSHOLES once again.
The first thing I did upon reading the article is hit the ❤️ button. Greg on the attack. Greg p.o.’ed. I like it.
Without anger, without outrage, without passion, you have lethargy and complacency. Nothing happens. It takes a Donald Trump administration and the Supreme Court canceling abortion for people to wake up and start getting pissed off.
Greg’s outrage is directed at the racists, sexists, anti-LGB+ and money-worshiping segment of our population; the people who want to take us back to a Christian society dominated by whites, men, heterosexuals, and rich people. These people lie, cheat, and steal to force their vision of society on all of us. They deserve no mercy in the political arena.
We are in the middle of a dog fight, a cat fight. Vicious. The more vicious we are in the fight, the better for democracy and the better for our country. This is where I agree, fundamentally and deeply, with Greg.
How we get there is a subject of debate. I’m going to withhold comment on the specific suggestions, because debating the means is not as important as agreeing on the end result. What specific battles we win matters less to me than the outcome of the war. There are always a zillion different paths that can lead to the destination.
Beware of these moral cretins. The so-called self-identified “pillars of society” never walk the talk. What they say and what they do are never aligned. If they accuse someone else of stealing an election, it’s because THEY are trying to steal the election. “Immigration“ to them is just a way they can be racist and keep more non-whites out of the country. “Voter fraud” is just their excuse for suppressing the non-Republican vote. “No abortion” is just a seedy way to get more whites into society, because you never hear of a “Christian” group supporting teenage moms unless it’s for white teens.
Lie cheat and steal. Obstruct. We know how they work. Now let’s hit them where it hurts. Their Stone Age society of the past is on the way out, and now it’s time to make it permanent.
Absolutely. Not only time to take the gloves off, but put the knuckledusters on. If this doesn’t wake the Dems up, they are as dead as what was the Republican Party and America is lost.
The plan you lay out here would make a huge difference no doubt. But we know that Manchin and Sinema have refused, and presumably will continue to refuse, eliminating the filibuster. That has been the barrier since President Biden took office. Given that Manchin voted against a bill to codify abortion it’s unclear how the leak of this decision would move him. Is there any other path? To me the only possible remedy is for everyone to vote this fall.
They need to get two more seats in the Senate, either by addition or subtraction. Moscow Never Sleeps is writing a piece, hopefully for next week, on what we might do.
Democrats have to stop listening to the DC based consultant class that is all about "But if we do this, the Republicans will do worse when they next hold power". Newsflash boys and girls, no matter what Democrats do, Republicans will do worse when next they hold power. If you have any doubts, look at the history of the last 40 years. I blame Biden and Schumer for our current lack of fight. Biden needs to get out front on all of the issues Greg listed, and add the abortion (and coming birth control, same-sex marriage) fights to the mix. Schumer needs to make the Senate vote on each issue. Every time preceded by a vote to kill the filibuster. And when the Republicans and Manchinema block filibuster reform, tell the American people exactly who the problem is.
At the same time, Democratic Administrations in blue states need to make it clear that they do not accept the legitimacy of SCOTUS decisions like the Alito plan. Democrats in all states need to make every Republican, in every race, answer for the fascism and hate of the national party.
No more f'king around with these people.
I blame Schumer singularly. Please point to one time that he has outmanuevered McConnell? Elizabeth Warren or Amy Klobuchar need to grab the reins; Schumer has missed his opportunity repeatedly. Zero faith in him to oversee this fight.
Well said. Like one of the guests on Mary Trumps show said, "Sometimes you just have to fucking punch the bully in the mouth."
It will make the hand hurt. Use the other hand, then feet
Thats why I studied a martial art! Only fight when you have to but be the one to end the fight!
Get the District *in* ... Thanks for saying that out loud right now
‘ Time to stop singing & start swinging’: Malcolm X. This is a powerful and important piece, Greg. Thank you.
Also Malcolm X: By any means necessary.
That’s what GOP did, for real.
Why can't the ones with the power see things as clearly as you? It hurts my heart.
Reagan’s voodoo economics started the GOP on this road, but the villain was Newt Gingrich, who mandated complete segregation of Republicans from Democrats. No social gatherings, no out-of-office visits. Republican wives and families were forbidden to be in the same room with Democrat families unless watched by appointed Republican monitors. Talk about an evil enemy of democracy! You may be right that inviting PR and DC into the union could mend much injustice and add something like balance to our government. But money still drives this nation, and almost all the media is owned by wealthy Republicans. Hence, the milque toast reporting. As they say, freedom of the press goes to the guys who own the press. Regardless, you are absolutely right about the exercise of power: like some phenomenon of physics, it does not exist unless used. Biden IS the best legislator president we’ve had, but he’s not a great public speaker. Democrats need some impassioned voices raised against the evil empire of greed. Thank you for taking off your gloves. Sursum corda.
Yes, Newt was absolutely the genesis of the obstruction. I think Mitch learned much from him. Thank goodness Trump didn't pick him as VP -- he almost did -- because Newt would have been all in on J6.
Yes to all you write. I have been watching Biden's speeches, though, at events in the White House and others. He may not be fire & brimstone, but his connection to the people in the room is palpable and potent. We do need more rallying cries, but everytime I watch our president, I feel inspired and energized to conquer evil in America.
I agree. Yes, his connection is palpable. I don’t think he sways many Republicans, sadly
I agree with you 110%, but it ain’t gonna happen. I have been impressed with Joe Biden as the right president for this time in our country (much more so than when I voted for him) but I don’t see him willing to play tough with Congress to accomplish the “progressive agenda”. (And I don’t understand, & never will understand, why the right for everyone to vote, the right for affordable healthcare for everyone, the right for everyone - regardless of sexual orientation, color of skin, gender, etc. - to be treated fairly & equitably under the law, & other rights like this are considered to be extreme.) I hope that this November’s election holds the House majority, & increases the Democrats in the Senate. (Florida voters, let’s get Val Demings beating Marco Rubio!) When I graduated from my progressive high school here in Florida in 1962, it was segregated. Those weren’t “the good old days”. It’s time to move forward, not regress. We need a big turnout this year to send a message. I hope it happens. I don’t want to see the end of our great country in my lifetime. Please vote.
I'm not holding my breath, either, but I'm going to keep suggesting things.
I hope you do. Somehow we need to fix it so America truly is for everyone.
Thank you for your reporting, which keeps us all aware & informed.
Witch trials to resume in 2022.
Tom Cotton Mather
OH!
I don't think the problem is with the Democrats playing fair. I blame 99.9% of the problem on a mainstream media that should be screaming the truth about this stuff, but they're too preoccupied with the third of the country that has joined a cult. People are addicted to their entertainment, and stories about idiots are certainly entertaining(!).
It's both things. The media is putrid -- I talked about that on the Five 8 on Friday -- but the Dems could help matters by playing for keeps.
I all for going on offense, as long as we don't stoop to playing dirty. If we have to cheat to win, then we lose twice.
I don't want to cheat. We don't need to cheat. We need to stop the cheating.
Exactly!
I'm having a down day about this, so I won't belabor my feelings. I agree with you, Greg, 100%, and how I WISH even a small percentage of what you write would come true, but I have to face facts and precedent. Dems are going to TALK about this a lot. I mean, A LOT. But will any of it matter in the end? I don't, at this point, think so. I still have hope that all the doom and gloom being predicted for November won't come true especially after this fascist decision by the Court, but beyond that, I'm not even sure that Dems would do the things that need to be done even if they had healthy majorities in the House and Senate. They have shown over and over that they just aren't up to it. They're cowed by Republicans.
The old establishment only moves when the progressives make them, and the progressives can only move when the People make it clear that they want the same things. NOBODY seems to move on things or change their baked-in opinions for any reason. Biden has already been out this morning saying that Roe should be upheld because, "it's fair" to uphold it. There's a real rabble-rousing argument! I'm predicting that, if he hasn't already, Schumer will take the same stance. Pelosi will end up being the most vocal about this, but she also has a slim majority in the House, so I don't know that it will be anything beyond rhetoric we've all heard thousands of times.
I actually read the whole opinion last night, and in addition to goobledegook arguments and LOTS and LOTS of weasel words, Alito made sure to try and tamp down any dissension for the opinion by pointing out, more than once, that the rulings of the Court were not dependent on "popular opinion," or any other outside influence because the Court is, you know, "nonpartisan." It would be laughable if it wasn't so serious and infuriating. It's hard to reconcile "nonpartisanship" and the Court when for almost fifty years, no Court has been able, or really even tried, to overturn Roe. It took SIX religious zealots to slouch their way onto the Court before anything like this was even possible. Republicans played their Number One long game and won. There's no other way to look at this. It's sickening that these traitors, fascists, and insurrectionists won again. And so, I'm having a down day. My plan is to ponder this for a while and then come back and fight these FUCKING ASSHOLES once again.
The first thing I did upon reading the article is hit the ❤️ button. Greg on the attack. Greg p.o.’ed. I like it.
Without anger, without outrage, without passion, you have lethargy and complacency. Nothing happens. It takes a Donald Trump administration and the Supreme Court canceling abortion for people to wake up and start getting pissed off.
Greg’s outrage is directed at the racists, sexists, anti-LGB+ and money-worshiping segment of our population; the people who want to take us back to a Christian society dominated by whites, men, heterosexuals, and rich people. These people lie, cheat, and steal to force their vision of society on all of us. They deserve no mercy in the political arena.
We are in the middle of a dog fight, a cat fight. Vicious. The more vicious we are in the fight, the better for democracy and the better for our country. This is where I agree, fundamentally and deeply, with Greg.
How we get there is a subject of debate. I’m going to withhold comment on the specific suggestions, because debating the means is not as important as agreeing on the end result. What specific battles we win matters less to me than the outcome of the war. There are always a zillion different paths that can lead to the destination.
Beware of these moral cretins. The so-called self-identified “pillars of society” never walk the talk. What they say and what they do are never aligned. If they accuse someone else of stealing an election, it’s because THEY are trying to steal the election. “Immigration“ to them is just a way they can be racist and keep more non-whites out of the country. “Voter fraud” is just their excuse for suppressing the non-Republican vote. “No abortion” is just a seedy way to get more whites into society, because you never hear of a “Christian” group supporting teenage moms unless it’s for white teens.
Lie cheat and steal. Obstruct. We know how they work. Now let’s hit them where it hurts. Their Stone Age society of the past is on the way out, and now it’s time to make it permanent.
My night last night was an excess of chocolate and tequila, and I'm glad
It’s definitely that kind of week for me too. Amaretto is my current relaxant of choice. Tequila is good too.
Absolutely. Not only time to take the gloves off, but put the knuckledusters on. If this doesn’t wake the Dems up, they are as dead as what was the Republican Party and America is lost.
“It’s time to go scorched earth.”