It is completely reasonable at this point to ask whether congressional Democrats have even a shadow of a clue about anything.
They aren't an opposition party. They are a feckless nothingburger of a party, cowering in the corner as Trump breaks multiple laws.
@eschaton Pre-Clinton. I'd say since at least Mondale, but I think it goes back further.
@eschaton Yup. And it's more evidence that we need legislature term limits.
@eschaton I respect your position but I disagree. You're suggesting essentially that we're damned if we do and damned if we don't. Even if you're right, I'd rather be damned while acting, rather than sitting on our butts and letting century old thinking rule the world. We don't need the "institutional knowledge", that's what the corpus of law is for. What we need is a government made up of principled people. For the people, by the people, of the people. Not of the megarich, for the corporations, and of the lawyers.
Term limits are the only way to force new blood into the government.
@eschaton I think 2 terms is enough. Match the Presidency.
I imagine the establishment Democrats don't want to make waves or rock the boat. If Trump goes full Putin, he'll want a ball-less "opposition" party to make it look like there's still a choice in elections and they're auditioning.
They're probably hoping the Dems with spines don't cheese off Trump too much or get a popular strike going or something similar Trump can use to outlaw them.
@jerrydgj @dangillmor > What do you suggest they do? Jump up and down and scream into the void.
I suggest the federal Democrats point out all the ways dumbass is hurting most citizens and that there are better alternative policies that would help them.
> The votes aren't there to do anything at all.
Vote against every Republican initiative and operative. Do not enable criminals and dunces.
> They are bystanders.
Under the US Constitution legislators are the first branch of government with awesome powers - if they are willing to wield them.
> I'm sure they'll use the filibuster at some point.
🤔
> The voters made their choice, let them see what they voted for.
Even if that means innocent people have to suffer and die?
@jerrydgj @rlmcneary2 @dangillmor
Well what did the Republicans do in that position, what did they do that allowed them to seize control of all three branches of Government, and the clergy, and the media?
Oh yeah. They went into every single fight they could find like they not only WERE going to win, but that they DESERVED to win, and raised holy hell when they didn't. And it resonated, because people like a fighter, even if they lost.
@jerrydgj @rlmcneary2 @dangillmor
Throwing your hands up and going "well what can you do" is a recipe for continuing defeat. Nobody likes a sad loser.
@dangillmor
The Don't Rock the Boat Party, boldly commits to not rock the boat.
The #UKLabour is just as sickening craven, and they are in govt right now.
@dangillmor They've been a faceless nothing since the 1980s. This isn't a new change or any alternative direction for them. Consider the last well-used Dem slogan: "Hope". It's passive, requesting no action, no need to do more than just sit quietly. Compare that to the Republican line of the last decade: "Make America Great Again". It immediately suggests personal responsibility and necessity for action. It implies that the government alone can't do that - it's the role of the people. There's no solution given, but rather a challenge put forward.
Think about it in less recent terms. "We don't like forest fires" vs. "Only you can prevent forest fires." Would Smokey the Bear be as well remembered if there was no clear assignment of responsibility? Or if it wasn't a challenge to every American to stop these fires? Would we be so personally incensed about the arsonists who started wildfires in CA if the language had been impersonal, or not assigned direct responsibility and authority to each person?
When the Democrats can come up with a single nationwide ideal to act towards, which places responsibility for the success of the goal individually on the shoulders of each person, they'll have a chance.
But I don't see that happening. MAGA has won, ideologically.
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