'Democrats Are Running Out of Time': Robert Reich
'Democrats are Running Out of Time,' Robert Reich, May 11, 2021.
The political window of opportunity for Joe Biden and Democrats to deliver on their promises to the American people and pass the legislation the country needs, could close at any time. We must understand how rare it is that the Senate and the House and the presidency are all under the control of the Democratic Party. Thats happened in only 4 of the past 28 years. The Democrats current Senate majority would end with the shift of a single seat from Democrats to the Republicans. That could happen even during this session of Congress. In 27 of the 38 Congresses since World War II, the party in control of the Senate has changed during the session.
Not to be morbid, but we also need to consider that this Senate has 6 Democratic senators, over the age of 70, who are from states where a Republican governor would be free to replace them with a Republican should a vacancy occur. Five other Democratic senators are from states in which a Democratic vacancy would go unfilled for months until a special election was held to fill the seat which itself would hand the G.O.P. control of the Senate at least until that special election. It would be foolish to count on the Democrats increasing their numbers in the Senate or the House in the midterm elections of 2022.
The presidents party rarely, if ever, picks up more seats during midterm elections. The last time a Democratic president has not lost Democratic seats in Congress in his first midterm election was 1934.
Meanwhile, state Republicans who, not incidentally, control a majority of state governments are proposing an avalanche of bills to make it harder for likely Democratic constituencies to vote, including people of color, young people, and low-income people. Some states, like Georgia, have already put these voter suppression measures into place. And with these state Republicans in control of the upcoming once-in-a-decade redistricting process, we could see even more gerrymandering in these states meaning an even greater likelihood that Republicans gain ground in the House.
If Joe Biden and the Democrats are going to accomplish what a majority of Americans want them to such as raising the minimum wage, expanding health care, strengthening unions, raising taxes on big corporations and the wealthy, providing free public higher education, and strengthening voting rights with the For the People Act theyve got to get it done, now.
That means Democrats have to get rid of the Senate filibuster and stop worrying about bipartisanship. The window of opportunity is already tiny. And its closing fast.
https://robertreich.org/post/650913790862508032
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msongs
(67,331 posts)Passenger
(217 posts)... according to what they think the pollster wants to hear.
Response to appalachiablue (Original post)
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SergeStorms
(19,108 posts)Manchin and Sinema. The other Democrats are ready to get things done.
ZZenith
(4,115 posts)For fucks sake the countrys been set on fire and driven off a cliff and you expect that all to be fixed in five months?!!
Bullshit, bullshit bullshit.
Theyve passed a nearly 2 trillion dollar stimulus package, repaired our fractured relations with our long-term allies and made vaccinations available to tens of millions of Americans, all while trying to avoid being murdered by the former guys brainwashed orcs.
Stalling?!! Jesus F*cking Christ.
Skittles
(153,095 posts)it's like yelling CLEANUP ON AISLE THREE when the entire store has been trashed
ZZenith
(4,115 posts)And inevitably there will be the ingrates standing around bitching that the tornados already ten miles down the road, so how come everything aint put back yet?
not even bothering to clear the roads so help can arrive
Lovie777
(12,185 posts)but alas, democrats have to completely reverse that in approx. 5 months.
kacekwl
(7,008 posts)Not a huge amount of time especially in congressional time. Ask Mitch how he does it when a tax cut for his buddies is at stake. Or a Supreme Court seat installation is needed.