Of course, the broken cog is the Senate and it’s filibuster rule. We need to fix that to get any meaningful reforms. This week “could” end in a fantastical way in 3 easy steps:
1) reintroduce the speaking filibuster; and, require an ever present 41 member objection to any Senate action.
2) pass a single sentence debt ceiling bill to raise the National debt limitation.
3) pass the full Biden Build Back Better agenda, including physical infrastructure, with pay-fors by corporations and the 1%, giving CMS the ability to negotiate drug prices, and invest in IRS enforcement and compliance. (Personal “ Ecstasy” would be a Carbon Tax on polluters!(((keep dreaming)))
You’re absolutely correct: We have one chance to get this right, raise President Biden’s approval ratings, and expand our majority in both the House and Senate.
I think what's so psychologically destructive about this moment is the feeling of utter helplessness. The feeling of being on a run away bus being driven off a cliff and you can't do a thing about it. How did we get so many awful people in such important positions of leadership? Where did all the good people go? Does Joe Manchin have grandchildren? Let's set up a meeting with some of the grandchildren of these old farts and put them in a room with them to plead for their future. If they don't care about the rest of us, maybe they'll care about their own? And maybe somebody can finance Kyrsten Sinema's campaign so she doesn't feel she has to pander to corporations, and then promise to give her lots of credit for some contrarian token that gets thrown into the bill so she can feel special. Jesus.
Thanks for this, Dan. I was a campaign volunteer during the 2017 gubernatorial primary in Virginia and put ALL my time and work into Tom Perrillo's campaign. Unfortunately, I moved to MD a few days before the primary (but was at least able to early vote before the move). It was all for naught though, as Gov. Northam prevailed. In my one conversation with Tom at a campaign stop, he brought this up, and used the line "there are more important things than getting re-elected." It changed my perspective on politics, for sure, and I've been thinking about this A LOT in the wake of the current culture among congressional Democrats.
Thank you for highlighting what effective and courageous legislators should do. This focus on re-election alone is such a problem for our democracy. I am absolutely disgusted by these Dems that don't want to include the Medicare drug price negotiating. It is insane and I have to believe this will come back to bite them.
Rep Sean Casten is a huge pro-environment guy in very swingy IL-06. He has said he would rather lose than compromise his position on climate. There ARE some (well, at least one) reps with cojones.
The "last chance rhetoric does not help, but any proposal that does not include a tax on net emissions will not do enough to actually start making a difference. If people are going to take a possibly unpopular decision, at least lets make it one that is effective.
Of course, the broken cog is the Senate and it’s filibuster rule. We need to fix that to get any meaningful reforms. This week “could” end in a fantastical way in 3 easy steps:
1) reintroduce the speaking filibuster; and, require an ever present 41 member objection to any Senate action.
2) pass a single sentence debt ceiling bill to raise the National debt limitation.
3) pass the full Biden Build Back Better agenda, including physical infrastructure, with pay-fors by corporations and the 1%, giving CMS the ability to negotiate drug prices, and invest in IRS enforcement and compliance. (Personal “ Ecstasy” would be a Carbon Tax on polluters!(((keep dreaming)))
You’re absolutely correct: We have one chance to get this right, raise President Biden’s approval ratings, and expand our majority in both the House and Senate.
I think what's so psychologically destructive about this moment is the feeling of utter helplessness. The feeling of being on a run away bus being driven off a cliff and you can't do a thing about it. How did we get so many awful people in such important positions of leadership? Where did all the good people go? Does Joe Manchin have grandchildren? Let's set up a meeting with some of the grandchildren of these old farts and put them in a room with them to plead for their future. If they don't care about the rest of us, maybe they'll care about their own? And maybe somebody can finance Kyrsten Sinema's campaign so she doesn't feel she has to pander to corporations, and then promise to give her lots of credit for some contrarian token that gets thrown into the bill so she can feel special. Jesus.
Thanks for this, Dan. I was a campaign volunteer during the 2017 gubernatorial primary in Virginia and put ALL my time and work into Tom Perrillo's campaign. Unfortunately, I moved to MD a few days before the primary (but was at least able to early vote before the move). It was all for naught though, as Gov. Northam prevailed. In my one conversation with Tom at a campaign stop, he brought this up, and used the line "there are more important things than getting re-elected." It changed my perspective on politics, for sure, and I've been thinking about this A LOT in the wake of the current culture among congressional Democrats.
For such an excellent piece on the subject, interesting that the name John Kerry wasn't mentioned. Why? And the Glasgow summit?
Thank you for highlighting what effective and courageous legislators should do. This focus on re-election alone is such a problem for our democracy. I am absolutely disgusted by these Dems that don't want to include the Medicare drug price negotiating. It is insane and I have to believe this will come back to bite them.
Rep Sean Casten is a huge pro-environment guy in very swingy IL-06. He has said he would rather lose than compromise his position on climate. There ARE some (well, at least one) reps with cojones.
The "last chance rhetoric does not help, but any proposal that does not include a tax on net emissions will not do enough to actually start making a difference. If people are going to take a possibly unpopular decision, at least lets make it one that is effective.