Jonathan Riley: Democrats should obstruct like Republicans
Over at Activated Citizen Radio, blogger Jonathan Riley cites some progressive activism aimed at Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer:
Thousands of protesters surround Chuck Schumer’s house day and night with signs that say “Chuck’s a chicken,” “Get a spine, Chuck,” and “Obstruct like a Republican.” These protesters demand the minority leader use the filibuster to block the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.
… [But i]f Republicans would be willing to eliminate the filibuster now they would be just as willing to eliminate the filibuster later. This tool is not worth fighting to preserve if it will be thrown out the moment it is used.
The important thing is that Democrats take back the Senate, and to do that they must prove to their base — those protesters outside of Chuck Schumer’s house — that they are willing to go to the mat to fight for them. Preserving the filibuster for Supreme Court appointments is already a lost cause. Prove to those who are willing to turn out to protest that if they turn out to vote in the midterms it will make a difference if more Democrats are elected.
Get a spine, Chuck. Obstruct like a Republican.
Elizabeth Warren is with Jonathan on that “spine” part – but calls, quite rightly, for introspection:
Democrats need to take some responsibility for Donald Trump’s electoral win, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said Saturday, urging party faithfuls to cast aside more moderate calls for strategic campaign reforms and “grow a backbone.”
Speaking at the Progressive Congress Strategy Summit in Baltimore, the progressive firebrand painted Trump’s election as a failure by Democrats to address floundering economic opportunity and a growing wealth gap in the U.S.
“There are some in the Democratic Party who urge caution,” she said, according to prepared remarks. “They say this is just a tactical problem. We need better data. We need better social media. We need better outreach. We need better talking points. “
“Better talking points? Are you kidding me?” she continued. “People are so desperate for economic change in this country that Donald Trump was just inaugurated as President, and people think we just have a messaging problem?”
Warren also blasted Republican leaders for bowing to Trump’s nationalist brand of politics, painting it as a move to pursue the party’s agenda at all costs.
“Donald Trump has stirred ugly racism, sexism, and hatred in this country, and the Republican politicians smiled and climbed right into bed with him,” she said. “That stink will be on them for decades to come. The national party that embraced bigotry.”
But she also aimed her criticism at members of her own party, arguing that some had turned to making excuses to absolve Democrats of responsibility for former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s unexpected loss.
The fact remains: voters like politicians that show spine, and Democratic voters want to see some tangible resistance and obstruction of Trump’s and the GOP’s extremism.
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Copyright 2017 Liberaland
By: dave-dr-gonzo
David Hirsch, a.k.a. Dave "Doctor" Gonzo*, is a renegade record producer, video producer, writer, reformed corporate shill, and still-registered lobbyist for non-one-percenter performing artists and musicians. He lives in a heavily fortified compound in one of Manhattan's less trendy neighborhoods.
* Hirsch is the third person to use the pseudonym, a not-so-veiled tribute to journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, with the permission of his predecessors Gene Gaudette of American Politics Journal (currently webmaster and chief bottlewasher at Liberaland) and Stephen Meese at Smashmouth Politics.
11 responses to Jonathan Riley: Democrats should obstruct like Republicans
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KABoink_after_wingnut_hacker February 5th, 2017 at 19:38
We always play too nice with these treasonous fuckers.
They’ve proven time and time again that they have no interest in governing for the people.
It’s time we dig in our heels and resist these corporate loving fascists.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e62364c3f82cc84dce68e614f44dfc98d63513dc0b87db7d8dafb5b4bc9d5f41.png
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Hirightnow February 5th, 2017 at 21:30
Are you saying that I put an abnormal brain into a six foot three, finy-handed PRESIDENT?
Is that what you’re telling me?!?!?
Buford2k11 February 5th, 2017 at 20:04
I just sigh, and accept the fact that we don’t have enough fighters in congress to effect any real resistance…Harry Reid will be sorely missed…and I don’t think Schumer has what it takes…then there are senators like Mike Bennet who are blue dogs, and who disgust me…this is no time to be a squish…and we should have no patience for blue dogs…Party purity is not a good thing, but party unity is what is needed…
burqa February 5th, 2017 at 21:23
I liked Reid at first but he got caught bluffing a few times (Romney not paying any tax at all – Reid just made that up, Trump-style) and never seemed to me to be a very strong leader.
I’m with you on Schumer.
I’m not sure just who the blue dogs are, but I think a far better leader in the Senate would be Mark Warner of Va. He’s charismatic, smart, quick and all about policies and looking forward. I’ve never seen Warner slinging mud.
In campaigns here Warner always has stressed us having better ideas and policies and kept the focus there instead of getting sidetracked by the nastiness side show. He is always very positive and about getting things done.
Warner is also a guy who can work across the aisle.
Yeah, we may as well trot out the fillibuster and whatever other procedural moves the GOP made to obstruct in the last 8 years.
At the same time we need us a shakeup at the DNC.
There should be hundreds of thousands of people who got health insurance from Obamacare in front of the Capitol in D.C. We should have been loudly recruiting them during the election season and making that a story.
Ever seen one of those bumper stickers that says: “If you can read this, thank a teacher”? We should be pushing the Democratic Party agenda as well as the things we have done so far for the people, reminding them what we’ve done and what we intend to do.
We need to be tooting our own horn, and not being drowned out by Trumptalk, 24/7.
We need the conversation to be about US and what is so good about US, the programs we got passed and and will be working on.
Right now we are doing a horrible job of communicating with the American people.
More defeat lies ahead if we continue to let the Republicans win the news cycle every day for the next 4 years and the American people don’t get to talking about us being a superior alternative to vote FOR.
burqa February 5th, 2017 at 21:03
This is the position we put ourselves in because we failed to get our people to the polls on Election Day.
I just put up a post saying I don’t care for protests at peoples’ private residences.
I’ve liked Nancy Pelosi a long time, and liked Reid at first as head of our senatorial crew, but I don’t think either were really up for playing power politics.
Senator Schumer isn’t the man for the job. He just antagonizes people and we need someone who attracts voters rather than pissing them off.
Mensa Member February 5th, 2017 at 21:49
>> I just put up a post saying I don’t care for protests at peoples’ private residences.
Me too… except I’ll make an exception for Trump properties.
We need to shut those suckers down.
Mike February 5th, 2017 at 21:06
It can’t hurt … so far every nominee ranges from bad to absolute worst ever.
I can’t imagine the legislation they’ll ram through trashing years of regs, protocols, and safety measures … forget about checks and balances. Dems will probably be left with no choice but to obstruct, it won’t be because they’re courageous.
Mensa Member February 5th, 2017 at 21:47
It’s feeds into the narrative that “both sides are do-nothing.”
starskeptic February 6th, 2017 at 09:46
The narrative lies…
Mensa Member February 6th, 2017 at 09:59
But, if Democrat obstruct like Republicans, then the narrative would be correct.
Look — Trump has some positions we liberals like. I don’t like it but it’s true.
Ending the TPP, for example. Liberals need to crow that this is OUR victory, not the GOPs. The GOP is the biggest supporter of the TPP.
We liberals should say, “Yeah! Trump is supporting OUR position! We won! ” This would give the conservative movement serious dissonance.
Or infrastructure spending. That is OUR liberal position. The conservatives have blocked it for years. Every single Republican has opposed infrastructure spending.
If we liberals loudly own that policy, it divides the GOP. Thank Trump for doing the liberal thing.
starskeptic February 6th, 2017 at 10:24
The GOP narrative isn’t dependent on anything the Democrats do. What you’re suggesting is that we do nothing and then take credit.