"Why do Democrats want to win Congress if they don’t want to use power? What is the entire point of Democrats raising money and ginning up activist energy to win control of the U.S. House, if when a crisis hits they just pass whatever Mitch McConnell sends them? Is there anything they’ll actually negotiate for? And why won’t they flip the script and force McConnell to vote yes or no on their own agenda?
These are the questions bouncing around my mind as Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi accede to another GOP-written stimulus bill -- and I think ultimately the answer has to do with deep-seated, self-destructive fear that was internalized by party leaders a generation ago during another national crisis."
"The questions now are: is there anything Democrats are willing to do? Is there anything they won’t just accept? If there is a next bill, and it includes a provision to literally wire transfer $1 trillion into the personal bank account of Steve Mnuchin, would there be any Democratic votes against it at all?
I wish I knew the answer -- but I don’t.
Until there are new leaders -- or until there is real pressure from the left -- the Democratic Party seems intent on being a rubber stamp."
Traumatized a generation ago, party leaders' default setting during a crisis is fear-driven acquiescence.
sirota.substack.com
The House really can investigate and pass legislation, the Senate has about 400 bills the House has passed that Mitch is sitting on, what could they do that would change anything?
The Republican controlled Senate and President Trump have all the ability to pass legislation, not the Democrats. There is a reason Trump gets every senate appointment he wants regardless of their qualifications and conflicts of interest.
That has always been the case and is the game the Republicans have been playing for the last 50 years. The Democrats have to win 60+ seats in the Senate, House majority, and the Presidency to get anything passed that doesn't just benefit the Wealthy White Heterosexual Male demographic.
Your pretending otherwise is just more right wing nonsense aimed at dividing our party for things that we all agree on but are very real problems.
www.commondreams.org
www.politico.com
