White House draws ire of progressives amid voting rights defeat

[TexasTowelie]

When Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) came out in favor of a procedural debate over voting rights legislation on Tuesday, he offered a symbolic showing of Democratic Party cohesion.

But before GOP senators blocked the bill later in the evening, progressives had already started grumbling about the White House, where public and private resentment toward President Biden had been mounting all day.

“We’re past the point where we’ve lost faith that he’s going to do it on his own,” said Cliff Albright, co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund, about Biden’s approach to the Capitol Hill fight over the For the People Act.

Albright took Biden to task early into his term when he urged the newly elected president to prioritize election reforms ahead of other policy issues. He’s since been campaigning around the country with a cohort of organizers to emphasize the gravity of the situation on the ground.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/559708-white-house-draws-ire-of-progressives-amid-voting-rights-defeat

[AZSkiffyGeek]

1. Ooh, now it's Biden's fault

[wellst0nev0ter]

7. Shit rolls uphill

Yes, there's Murc's Law and all, but at some point, the Democratic leaders have to accept some responsibility for these outcomes.

[betsuni]

10. Why do "Democratic leaders have to accept some responsibility for these outcomes"?

What does "shit rolls uphill" mean?

[AZSkiffyGeek]

11. It means the usual suspects are out in force

[wellst0nev0ter]

16. Blaming the goops all the time is good and all

But that rings pretty hollow when the Dems are in control of government

[betsuni]

19. Slight majority in House and 50-50 in Senate is not "in control of government."

Myth that if there were just the right leadership saying just the right words, everything would be nice. Myth of the bully pulpit. Myth of the utopian savior.

[PortTack]

21. This

[JustAnotherGen]

24. +1

[wellst0nev0ter]

34. Control of the House, Senate and Presidency are just myths

It's all hopeless, isn't it?

[betsuni]

49. Numbers are real.

[Demsrule86]

53. We need to elect more Democrats. We were badly hurt by the message voters during the Obama

years and of course ( the gerrymander was a direct result of the loss of states during these years), 2016 was a disaster for us and this country...may those that didn't support Hillary Clinton feel shame for the rest of their miserable lives. What has happened is due to party loyalty issue...it is that simple.

[wellst0nev0ter]

55. Elect more Democrats... wasn't that the message in 2010?

Despite the 58, 59, 60 vote majority? (I forget which, people say it one number or the other).

Obama, in his new memoir, now regrets wasting time chasing the bipartisanship with the goops during that era and not getting rid of the filibuster. That gave space to the teabaggers to gum up the works and sabotage the Dems.

Democrats lose if they continue to be ineffective. This isn't complicated.

[betsuni]

56. As you know, there was a 60 vote filibuster-proof Senate majority for four months and ten days.

2010 called, says it's 2021 now.

[wellst0nev0ter]

57. Lieberman didn't make anything filibuster proof

And keep repeating the same mistakes. See if something new happens.

[betsuni]

60. Then Democrats weren't in control of the government.

Lieberman was an Independent by then. Not having the votes isn't the Democratic Party's or the president's fault. You can stop blaming Obama now.

[wellst0nev0ter]

62. 59 votes but not in control

No wonder the rest of the world laughs at the Senate

At least Obama was honest about his mistakes in his memoirs.

[betsuni]

63. "No wonder the rest of the world laughs at the Senate"

For example? Why would anyone blame Democrats?

60 votes is needed for a filibuster-proof majority.

[Demsrule86]

79. People forget that we had Mary Landreiu, Blanche Lincoln, Lieberman...etc and Kennedy was

sick. President Obama was abandoned in 10 by people (allies) who were disappointed with the ACA IMHO. This was the infamous message voting which cost us the House for a decade. Some even advocated not passing the ACA and holding out for Medicare for all which was so wrong. It changed the way Americans view health care and we will build on it in the coming years. It also has saved more than a million lives. The same will happen with legislation on various issues including climate now and in future years. It may not be what we exactly want but will move us further along...and give us something to build on, and help the American people see the benefit just as they did with the ACA.

[sheshe2]

25. Control.

One Senate vote gives us control and that is the VP. Seriously? Do you know how the government and votes actually work?

Congress is only a slim margin as well.

[NYC Liberal]

27. And one of our senators is from the reddest state in the country

Emoprogs from the Obama era are back.

[sheshe2]

30. Sad to say you are correct.

They are back.

[The Magistrate]

37. Caught Jury Duty On This, Sir

My vote was clearly doesn't break the rule, alert sent in bad faith with intent to disrupt.

[Cha]

78. Some never learn.

[wellst0nev0ter]

35. You're right, Democrats do not actually have control

So why even bother?

[NYC Liberal]

38. Bother doing what?

Democrats are working their asses off to get as much passed as is possible.

[wellst0nev0ter]

39. Three spending bills

And maybe some bipartisan corporate giveaways. That's what being passed if the status quo holds.

[NYC Liberal]

42. You're acting like Democrats have this huge majority and are just not doing anything.

The Senate is literally split 50-50, with a filibuster rule that effectively requires 60 votes to pass anything. On our side, we have two Senators who are adamantly opposed to getting rid of the filibuster, so that isn't going to happen.

[betsuni]

47. "bipartisan corporate giveaways" "if the status quo holds"

Both-sides-both-sides-both-sides-both-sides-both-sides-both-sides.

[sheshe2]

41. Oh please, don't get angry with me, wellstone.

You are the one that said:

wellst0nev0ter (6,365 posts)

16. Blaming the goops all the time is good and all

But that rings pretty hollow when the Dems are in control of government

That we are in CONTROL of the Government...

ONE FUGGIN' VOTE. That is all we have in the Senate. Without that nothing goes through.

No one ever says we have to just quit. You are saying that. Democrats are busting ass every damn day to make things right. I am not sure what you want here.

[wellst0nev0ter]

46. People act like too much like we're not in control

When we very much are. We need to start acting like it.

[sheshe2]

50. Votes.

You don't have them you get nada. 1+1=2. 1-1=0


wellst0nev0ter

46. People act like too much like we're not in control

When we very much are. We need to start acting like it.

Please explain in depth with citations. Going to bed. Will read your response in the AM.

[George II]

44. I wish you didn't use that "goops" term repeatedly, it's reminiscent of a racist term of the 1970s.

[wellst0nev0ter]

45. I miss the old DU

Where nobody scolded you for talking shit about the "goops" or the "goopers," and the terms were all over the front page because that's who we were actually fighting against.

[Demsrule86]

51. It is a 50 50 Senate.

[wellst0nev0ter]

52. With the Dems in control

[betsuni]

54. Stop trying to make "control" happen.

50-50. Numbers are real.

[wellst0nev0ter]

58. I'd rather not see Dems painted as emasculated

Because they clearly aren't.

[NurseJackie]

64. Ridiculous! The Democrats are not "in control of the government".

But that rings pretty hollow when the Dems are in control of government

Ridiculous! The Democrats are not "in control of the government". I live in the real world and I understand how things work. It serves no good purpose to blame or denigrate the Democratic party (or our party's leadership) for things that are outside of their control.

[betsuni]

72. If you repeat something wrong enough times it becomes true, evidently.

[NurseJackie]

77. That's what some believe, apparently.

I think it's just dumb.

[kcr]

65. It means it's time to help get Republicans re-elected

[betsuni]

66. Yes.

Busy bees.

[Mad_Machine76]

18. Why?

I see that we're back to the "Obama Green Lantern Theory of politics", which is to say that neither Biden nor anybody else can will Republicans into line on just about anything and we can't do anything with the filibuster the way it is and having only nominal control of the Senate.

[wellst0nev0ter]

36. I guess that's a good explanation as any

Last edited Wed Jun 23, 2021, 12:13 AM - Edit history (1)

as to why Dems got wiped out in midterm elections during Obama's term in office. We didn't clap hard enough

[jalan48]

40. We excel at cheerleading these days.

[sheshe2]

59. Is that a Tinkerbell reference?

I believe it is.

[b“If you believe, wherever you are, clap your hands, and she'll hear you. Clap! Clap! Don't let Tink die!

What a horrible thing to say about Democrats and Obama. We are Democrats and not a cartoon character. We don't clap our hands for mythical fairies and believe all our wishes will come true. We vote for men and women to legislate.

[George II]

43. Democratic leaders have to accept responsibility for the votes of republicans? Sorry - NO!

[Walleye]

2. Blaming Biden is just plain laziness. Why don't they get creative?

[JohnSJ]

3. Where were these progressives in 2016 when a good number of them refused to vote for the

Democratic nominee by either not voting, or voting third party

[Andy823]

5. Over on the

JPR board trying to encourage people to vote for trump instead of Hillary!

[agingdem]

6. they remind me of family members who

have no time to help their siblings take care of their elderly parents..but when the parents pass they tear their shirts and cry the loudest and demand to know why their sisters or brothers did such a shitty job taking care of poor mom and dad......as per voting rights...something will happen...Dems will not allow this to stand...

[Andy823]

8. Exactly

My brother in laws were like that. My wife took care of her mom, and her brothers were always to busy to help.

[JohnSJ]

15. What a perfect example

[Lovie777]

17. Truth! . .. .

I can see major protest brewing in support of voting rights for all, including the young participating and voting. The republicans continue to abuse the citizens of the USA and the "sane" ones will let them know by voting bigly.

[greatauntoftriplets]

29. Best thing I've read all day.

You absolutely nailed that.

[Doremus]

20. So tired of this BS.

Let's try remember that progressives (the so-called "Bernie Bros" ) voted for Dem candidates in greater numbers than the so-called "PUMAs" voted for Obama in 2008.

Let's not go there because 1) it's tired as fuck to read it again, and 2) it's not true.

[ms liberty]

22. Thank you. n/t

[JohnSJ]

23. No it isn't BS

In every critical swing state Hillary lost by less than 1%, and Jill Stein received 1% of the vote

Those that voted for Jill Stein did make a difference

[sheshe2]

28. and they call themselves Progressive to boot.

[George II]

70. Where are they now when it comes to confirming Biden's appointees? See post #68 below.

[RegularJam]

4. Just reading that article...

Tells me how happy progressives are with Biden, overall.

The Hill really had to work to make this into a story(narrative).

[mcar]

9. WTF?

[TexasTowelie]

12. My thoughts exactly. nt

[betsuni]

13. Psaki: "Those words are a fight against the wrong opponent." As always! A fictional opponent.

A fictional Democratic Party.

[maxsolomon]

14. I keep screaming at my "Progressive" friends on FB:

THERE ARE 50 GQP SENATORS AND THEY ALL SUCK.

[JustAnotherGen]

26. It's going to be a long process

And all I got from that vote today?

50 Republicans cannot be redeemed. They don't want to debate?

I'm drawing my own conclusions.

They don't want black, brown, city dwelling, and poor people to vote.

That's their brand. They didn't debate - we get to put words in their mealy mouths.

[Thrill]

31. What are you suppose to do if these fools won't get rid

Of the fillibuster

[JohnSJ]

33. Win the Senate by at least two seat majority

[Thrill]

67. I mean what are people expecting Biden to do?

[JohnSJ]

69. absolutely

[sheshe2]

61. Vote as if your life depends on it.

Why? Because it does.

[George II]

68. "Progressives" might want to look at their own. Check out this site, where FiveThirtyEight....

....analyzes how each Representative and Senator votes with Biden so far this session (updated after yesterday's votes):

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/biden-congress-votes/

Sort by the column "Biden Score - How often the member votes in line with Biden's Position"

35 of the 50 members of the Democratic caucus have voted with Biden 100% of the time.
14 have voted with Biden 96.8% or more.
One Senator has voted with Biden only 93.5% of the time.

Both Manchin and Sinema are in that group of 35.

[JohnSJ]

71. Interesting. Thanks

[NurseJackie]

73. SPOILER ALERT: It's Bernie.

One Senator has voted with Biden only 93.5% of the time.

It's Bernie. According to those facts and figures, Bernie Sanders is the one member of the Democratic Caucus that supports Biden's agenda the LEAST OFTEN!

WTF is up with that, huh?!

BFS!

[George II]

74. What's interesting is that among those 15 who have less than 100% support of Biden's agenda are...

Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Bernard Sanders.

Here's the complete list of those 15:

Rank/Percentage/Senator

36 96.90% Tammy Baldwin
36 96.90% Richard Blumenthal
36 96.90% Cory A. Booker
36 96.90% Catherine Cortez Masto
36 96.90% Tammy Duckworth
36 96.90% Edward J. Markey
36 96.90% Jeff Merkley
36 96.90% Jacky Rosen
36 96.90% Jon Tester
36 96.90% Ron Wyden
36 96.90% Elizabeth Warren
47 96.80% Kirsten E. Gillibrand
47 96.80% Patty Murray
47 96.80% Chris Van Hollen
50 93.50% Bernard Sanders

[betsuni]

75. ...

Something about claiming to be anti-establishment when one is the establishment?

[brooklynite]

76. How about we split the difference and blame AG Garland again?

[iemanja]

80. They know where the resistance is coming from

and it's not the White House. Instead of complaining that daddy didn't give them what they want, why don't they get to work pressuring Senators who are the hold outs?