Thanks for these Sat chats you two. Good for my soul! Re why don't Dems play hardball very well: it's occurred to me that this "softness" is an inevitable unfortunate side effect of Dems' positive qualities including our NON authoritarian instincts and our ability to think broadly, put ourselves in others' shoes, entertain intelligent self doubt. These good qualities make us harder to herd (herding cats!) and more cautious about exxageration, hyperbole, sloppy pronouncements of "fact", which are pretty handy for playing hardball.
You're on to something. Republicans lean authoritarian -- which means they're inherently more disciplined. Dems lean anti-authoritarian, which means they're all over the map. But this still doesn't quite explain why Republicans have consistently outmaneuvered Dems over the last four decades.
Yes I agree, less- authoritarian leanings doesn't explain away other forces limiting Dems power like basic out-of-control capitalism infecting every aspect of American life. Sigh.
It's not us. They aren't civil. They break the rules. Starting with Reagan Republican think tanks have targeted our institutions. IE the Federalist Society is based on a "unitary executive" theory not expressed in the Constitution. They impose "original intent" (and trickle down) baloney.
And "Dems", such as Manchin & Sinema, who use their status, within the Party, as do most Republicans, ie: for personal gain & profit. Or "Capitalistically", eh?!
I think one reason Dems have been behind the 8-ball is because republicans created a plan to essentially overthrow our govt. thirty years ago. It was a step by step stealth plan to slowly compromise every branch of govt. If you weren’t aware of the plan, you had no idea that minor changes & movements in the political arena that seemed inconsequential at the time were part of an enormous plot.
For example, the movement to accredit charter schools began in the 1970s. As charter schools proliferated, voters said federal money for our public school system should go “with” students who opted for charter schools. This happened in different states at different times. Eventually public schools lost more & more money to the point that teachers had to buy supplies out of their own pockets & hope they would be reimbursed.
Republicans gained ground in the charter schools v public schools conundrum over decades by paying attention to who was on school boards & running their own candidates for lower level positions in local govts. They were able to indoctrinate students going to charter schools over several decades as well, and we are paying the price for that indoctrination now.
My parents were both educators in the public school system long ago and they knew something wasn’t right, but they never would have dreamed that charter schools were part of a plot to destroy our democracy.
Republicans were patient about it. They knew their “ideas” would take time to implement. At first people didn’t want charter schools but republicans didn’t give up. They kept trying. They had people write articles & op-eds blasting public schools for years and gained ground slowly but surely.
But that’s just one example. Personally, I think the gop only backed candidates for the last 3 decades whom they knew would vote how McConnell & repub Speakers told them to vote, no questions asked. They also added regular money incentives to buy their loyalty.
A different tactic they used was to create & stoke divisions between groups, e.g. gun owners v people who didn’t like guns, or pro-life v choice, etc. The gop catered to white nationalists and evangelicals as a cynical path to power.
Republicans encouraged grievance issues as well. They encouraged their voters to believe they weren’t being treated well and democrats were responsible for it. And as we all know, republicans have been perverting the plain meaning of words & creating slogans for quite awhile. That’s part of deliberate plan to program/brainwash their supporters to instantly react a certain way when they hear those words & slogans, much like Pavlog’s dogs who were programmed to start drooling when a bell was rung. Furthermore they’ve successfully demonized political leaders on the left. “Lock her up” for Hillary Clinton, and Nancy Pelosi has been blamed for things she literally has no control over.
The Citizens United decision was also part of their plan. Allowing unlimited corporate money into the political arena made it almost impossible for democrats to compete for voters for several years.
There’s much more to the republican plan than what I’ve discussed, but it’s important to make people aware of of their very long-term plans so they won’t be as easily manipulated by things that are designed to manipulate them. I’m not saying democrats aren’t responsible for any of it. I think dem messaging is practically non-existent. Most importantly, Dems need to come up with a long term, very disciplined strategy to counter gop manipulations and I don’t see that happening.
Because voters are inherently conservative and Dems are afraid to stick their necks out. And one reason voters are inherently conservative is from being bombarded by decades of right-wing propaganda: if you do this you’re a (shudder) communist or socialist; if you do that you’re disloyal/a baby killer/ball buster/n-lover, etc. it’s the bully in the schoolyard and he’s been winning with all his name calling. And I believe that’s why Clinton moved right and most of the other Dems since then have also done so. It’s nothing but brainwashing.
"Inherently conservative." The sweet spot for Democrats are benefits. Even Nazis and Trump cultists don't want to lose benefits.
Do they want to sunset Social Security and Medicare? Check out Rick Scott.
I figure about 30% of Trump voters have already bailed.... 30% are hard core cultists now supporting Putin. Most of the remaking 40% get benefits or their relatives do. E.G. dead beat fathers who owe support need that $300 tac credit per child.
Logically yes. But there’s some confusion in their minds. I’ll never forget the older man I saw on jury duty, doubtless on Medicare and receiving Social Security, who marched up to the clerk and assailed her for being a do-nothing government employee.
Well, I keep praying that Ginni Thomas is revealed to be the leaker. She has abetted and enabled her husband in their right wing agenda. They never even declared her salary as a lobbyist early in his term, and she brags about "access" to her clients. This is such a breech of ethics that I can't see why Chief Justice Roberts has not called it out. Nevermind, that the Supremes aren't covered by the code of ethics in lower courts. Justice Thomas needs to go, and even though it won't change the balance. (The preceding is a Left Wing fantasy, of course, but I think Justice Brown Jackson is going to put some of these Republican appointees to shame. I give Biden credit for appointing her when other Black women with lesser conviction were put forward. Democrats just need to keep being bold.)
Thank you, Heather, for saying aloud what I have been feeling for some time now: the Dems are losing, constantly. And thank you, Professor Reich, for saying something else that I have been thinking: "might is right" is inexorably replacing civilized, lawful behavior. As others have noted, these two are likely connected. I've also been wondering why those Dems in positions of power (the people we elected to be our leaders),--who can affect real change--aren't. There seems to be no plan, no pushback, just feeble bleating into the wind. Bills that pass one chamber of Congress don't count. Nor do hearings that only a teensy fraction of Americans (i.e. us) will ever know or care about. The brief spike of hope that I felt when Biden/Harris were elected and the American Rescue Plan passed is long gone. :(
Hi Jim, I think political will has something to do with the lack of effectiveness. When they saw mass protests about abortion rights late last week, we immediately saw Senators call to begin codifying Roe - despite lacking the votes; it's the right thing to do.
Essentially, they need us all to stand together, protest together, around some specific issues that will then get us out of this hole eventually. When we do this, they will act. Without it, every action they take is punished. The losing fighter tends to take fewer risks.
Why haven't the lawyers filed motions for disqualification of Thomas, Alito and Roberts and asked for a separate emergency hearing?
28 U.S. Code § 455 - Disqualification of justice, judge, or magistrate judge
(a)Any justice, judge, or magistrate judge of the United States shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned.
Alito, Thomas have made extrajudicial statements about Roe for years. Thomas also has conflict problems. Roberts knew or should have known about the extrajudicial statements. Alito is the last person he should have named to write a majority opinion.
Reich - you missed it. Why do Democrats always seem to lose? The answer is that the Democrats are not a united party; it is quite splintered. We have moderates from fairly red states who need to compromise in order to get reelected. As long as Congressional lines are gerrymandered, we will not have a united party. Without a united party, we cannot defeat the right wing who may be in a minority but dominate enough states to pull off wins. Remember how did the Dakotas become two states to begin with? Because the South needed those Senate votes. You need to recognize the conservative nature of our Constitution.
Lynne, you're undoubtedly correct that Dems aren't a united party, but that only raises the deeper question of why. And the answer can't simply be that the Dems are splintered and span many different groups. Republicans now span establishment corporate conservatives all the way to Trump crazies, but they've been remarkably united and disciplined nonetheless.
Most, 90% by estimate, are the lumpen proletariat described by Marx.
Check out Eastern Kentucky, which has the highest rate of governmental benefits, but voted 80% for Trump, who undermined the SSA and Medicare trust funds.
I was emphasizing how our governmental structures, the institutions, support the election of Trump style Republicans. Because of the Republicans primaries, Republicans must bow to Trump like candidates or they cannot win the primaries. So the established Republicans like McConnell and company hold their noses and tolerate the Trump domination of the party.
In terms of leadership, Democrats lost their way when they deserted FDR's political agenda - when we bailed out the big banks in 2009, we took an 180 degree turn from our party's winning history. The Democrats, such as both Clintons and Obama, turned away from labor - in this Thomas Frank is quite right. We went with the big money and embraced financialization and globalization. Follow the money and we can see how the Democratic leadership lost its way. We deserted labor and Biden knows it but finds it very difficult to win it back.
Two reasons come to mind: 1) Republicans of all stripes are just more comfortable with authoritarianism, and 2) Dems have better things to do with their time than politics. They’re more creative, intellectual, and interesting.
I’m going to diverge by slight degree. In field organizing and other mobilization work over the last five years I see enough unity that can drive forward cooperative work. What I don’t see often enough is deep relational voter engagement, well-supported and sustained over time, that doesn’t simply equate democracy with elections. The Republicans have no policy or polity, but they are setting down roots in communities long overlooked by the Dems and even by some issue advocacy groups.
It is not mono-culture that hurts us as much as it is failure to fully respect and use politics for power. That is the name of the game.
Largely agree and thanks for your work in organizing/mobilization.
However, R's are exercising a toxic game that hurts Americans which is counter to their sworn oath. The unethical, immoral, illegal attainment of power at our expense is why we try to have guardrails against such inherent human greed. So many of their tactics and efforts have been deemed unconstitutional, it's a huge waste of resources. Being held in Contempt seems to be a merit badge, as do bogus lawsuits tying up processes.
Toxicity — of course! It has very recently become a badge of honor. I see in that a much more rapid drift to fascist authoritarianism than do others. It’s not been long, after all, in Orban’s Hungary to refashion the country into an “illiberal democracy.” Here, it is driving a wider wedge (yes they have their own disunity) within the Republican power circles. But a long view of this also shows that while Founders realized this potential, they did not (at least as I understand) have it mixed in with a Christian-fascist ethos. That is the part of modern America that didn’t exist in my mid-20th century childhood.
Not disagreeing with you, but just saying this has driven me back to rereading earlier philosophers and centering in human foibles and truths through time. We have come through periods as this and worse as a species… so what are the elements that drive hope and continued engagement when the toxic forces you describe are designed to force withdrawal or submission? We can only carry the baton for our leg for so long before we pass it on, BeFree… so, by all means, let’s call out the villains and then let’s keep working on our vision.
Ah, I c u def brighter than me in these things ;-)
Yes. Key that we know to identify the target issues through the noise and not get stuck on single issues.
For me it's excising those who attempted to overthrow our govt.
If it takes Roe or civil rights issues to bring us together protesting and demanding J6 organizers at the top are brought to justice, we wipe out much of their capability in the process.
Other factors as well: because we're diverse it's more challenging to get D's to stand up together. We obviously arent a monoculture.
Then add in the intimidation factors; tfg et al used known extremist (PB, OK, 1AP) as their J6 security/organizing detail for God's sake. They drove caravans of violent racist protestors into Portland to suppress BLM organizers. They use disinformation tactics against their own citizens on social media and news. R congressmen project the use of firearms on their social media and in advertising. And they refuse normal Democratic discourse, debate and essential communication while taking dark money legalized by Citizens United. And yes, gerrymandering.
Authors point well taken, find out the real difference and lean to the high road; if I'm following along correctly. I take minor issue with negation of the obviousness of R's failing to play by the rules. And what's the point of having Representatives if they don't voice their concerns or those of their constituents (?). In itself, R lockstep undermines our rightful communication necessary for Democracy to function.
I agree somewhat, in that the headlines bear it out: A victorious new majority will develop rents and sides almost immediately. The Dem's since '72 have pushed enfranchisement of the deprived while running around with their hands in the air. (I'm one, as it seems to be the least offensive 'party' choice.)
This is not a flip reply...I watch MSNBC every night (desperately miss Brian Williams) and remain totally depressed until someone is kind enough to share even a silly bit of humor that makes me forget, if just for a moment, that the country I grew up in is gone forever.
Massive protests, demand those Justices who lied in their confirmation hearings about Roe to resign, investigate Ginni Thomas and pressure DoJ to bring charges against J6 perpetrators (tfg et al).
I have been saying the same thing for years! Repugnicans subscribe to Hitlers theory of Total War! Democrats do not have the money to wage total war let alone the inclination to be unfair! We would prefer to wage a gentlemanly war based on reason and fairness! By nature, we are considered weak because of our compassion and sense of fair play! To criminals we are considered to be weak! We never play hardball! The institutional advantage or bias is in the favor of right wing theorists! Big money exerts big propaganda influence and economic blackmail! We do have to mobilize in the same fashion and adopt total war! It’s the only way democracy can survive! I’m telling everyone to mark my words and heed my warning! We are going to have to adopt this nature bending philosophy! The war in Ukraine is a perfect example of the liberal Democratic west dragging its feet while for survival Ukraine has to adopt total war! Being optimistic does not serve us well!
I really don't understand the Democrats nowadays. (This has been true for a while so it's not exactly nowadays!) I have read that the American voters are moving steadily and surely in a progressive direction: they want an end to squabbling and pussy-footing around and a concerted move to passing legislation that will help people and work on making this a better country for people to live and work in. They want to see things accomplished with their taxes; they want to see the credibility and integrity of the country restored; they want the US to be an example (or a positive example) to the world and lead globally, nationally, and in their communities. Instead, we are stuck dealing constantly with Donald J Trump and the disastrous policies (and people) he has inflicted on the nation. We have people such as Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy grabbing the reins of power; decrying the policies and decisions of the former Trump and yet, in the end, vowing to vote for him once again as President. (One would have thought that this would have created an uproar (seeing where Trump has left us) but, no, the Democrats meekly and obsequiously bow to the entire Trump continuation in power; they yield him a seat at the table and mildly retreat to the sidelines. If the Democrats want to exercise their power and majorities in the Congress and the Executive Branch, they will have to step on a few toes, they will have to assert themselves (and their mandate). The GOP has repeatedly shown itself to be subsumed into the Trump World and is content to remain (and prosper) in that world. But, in a way, the Democrats are worse as there is apparently nothing they will stand up for; no one they will go out on a limb for; no ideal or principle from which they will not budge. I feared this would happen and that is the reason I went for Sanders as, whatever one calls him, Bernie had ideals, principles, core beliefs. Our present leader is only too willing to get along by going along with whatever the GOP (Trump) decides on. My question is: What is it that the President of the United States and the Democratic Party will stand for unequivocally? Is there anything at all that means anything? Or do they plan on caving in on any principle, precedent, or rule of law in order to obey the will of the minority that is the Government of the former president, Donald J Trump? (I fear that this is so! And if it is, we are doomed. Let's look to President Zelenskyy as a model of a real chief executive prepared to make the hardest of choices and not flinch.)
In a democracy, communication and debate is required, R's instead have taken to highly unethical tactics to counter normal discourse and proceedings. Further they exercise stochastic terrorism daily and on occasion, actual terrorism of their own citizens in an attempt to sway voters, scare them out of political action like peaceful protests while attempting to elicit a civil war.
During the Trump administration, Trump made repeated use of something called The Executive Order. What this did was enable Trump to circumvent the deliberative legislative process (that is do a quickie end-run against the scenario of committee meetings, policy reviews, votes in one house of Congress and then the other for signing on or defeating legislation, and finally sending approved bills to the President for his signature.) The standard way of operating was a laborious process and, in the cases where quick action was needed and as a means of by-passing opposition or debate, Trump repeatedly whipped out his pen and signed off on Executive Orders, generally to save the Gilded Agers from taxes and/or penalties.) When Biden came into office, he promptly rescinded all sorts of Trump Executive Orders in preparation for his own batch. Well, the Executive Orders immediately started flowing on in, stacking up and stacking up. But (alas and par for the Biden course) there have not been many Biden EOs signed and sent out to the relevant offices. This has now reached a crisis stage for those who are hard-hit by the inflation situation. That is: seniors were given a COLA for this new year based on a 5.9% inflation rate. That means that seniors could almost expect a significant improvement in their income based on SSA. However, the inflation rate continued to climb to 8.5% which means that, even with the increase in SSA, seniors on a fixed income were even worse off. At the same time, petitions were circulating to the effect that seniors on SSA alone needed another stimulus check. That may very well be true but if these proposals (along with the senior stimulus included in the now-defunct BBB bill) tanked and Biden issue(d) no Executive Order, he has only exacerbated the financial quandary of seniors on fixed income. Of course, we could blame it on seniors for not managing their retirement incomes/pensions/portfolios well but (this may come as a shock) most seniors (myself included) do not have any income except for SSA. If Biden will not act in a timely fashion, we may as well decide he's another form of GOPer...maybe he'll start throwing towels at us too!
Please go litter somewhere else. Inflation is caused by billionaires hoarding profits that should have been cycled back into the system as taxes to improve our circumstances or otherwise burned to reduce inflation.
You complain about the very people trying to help right the ship, the ones patching the holes in the hull, while equating D leadership to those R's who broke it in the first place. The ship is sinking and your posts attempt to portray R's as a viable alternative - the same folks who attempted to overthrow our government with a violent insurrection and legislative coup. The same people who said wearing masks was a violation of our constitutional rights, who now support making all abortions, even still birth abortions, illegal?? Those people are your alternative????
The suggestion that Biden is anything like tfg is beyond absurd. You seem to have quite a few facts for someone making insane assumptions that R's would ever be a better choice.
At no time and in no way did I ever suggest that the GOP was the solution to anything. If the past few years have shown us anything it is that the Republican Party has changed beyond recognition and is no longer a viable counterweight or control of any kind. If you believe that I support the policies or intention of the GOIP, you have not read my statements as I intended. However, my aversion to the GOP should not be translated into support for the Democrats and their approach. As the fates would have it, I am none too happy with the Dems either, mainly because they do not pursue the Progressive agenda that I (and a good many other Dems) support and were counting on to alleviate some of the long-term egregious distress among many people. I believed Joe Biden when he proclaimed FDR his model for his own presidency; I expected him to force the Dem agenda in harmony with the trend that was developing (and continues to develop) among the general public. I feared at the time of the election that Joe Biden would try to work with the GOP to the extent of abandoning the FDR progressive agenda he vowed to pursue. It gives me no particular joy at all to learn that I was right to be apprehensive. I have never ever supported any GOP adventures but, as near as I can determine, the GOP has no policies and no plans. You have misread my malaise but I would assure you that it is a malaise shared by many progressive who are disappointed in Biden's failure to follow with what he vowed to pursue.
D's are outfoxed because the R base is willing to be violent. They use this to intimidate and terrorize folks into silence, inaction and not voting. We should have had many massive protests since the 2016 election.
Stand up together for more than a single issue! We're the diverse party, I get it, but massive protests will work. We could have swayed Impeachment#2 had we protested in the millions, and J6 never would have happened.
I remember the repulsion I felt when I heard rump inciting his followers to violence while on the 2016 campaign trail. I think that is one of the reasons the conservative electorate emotionally bonded to him so thoroughly: he gave them permission to use their guns and fists against anyone they didn't agree with. Gone were the days of using words and intelligence ("liberal" skills) to bridge the gap! Rump had command of neither and look at how far he'd come!
He also showed them that if enough people threw off their natural shame, and if you kept company selectively within that group - then there is no consequence for the aforementioned political violence.
I agree, BeFree, that non-conservative Americans must stand together! I don't see the conservative folks coming back to reality (to help us keep our democracy) without the fight of their individual lives to undo trauma they so tragically agreed to do to themselves.
As you were discussing stare decisis, you seemed to imply that it is a legal principle that should not be violated. While I certainly agree and hope that this should be the case for Rove v Wade, I detect a historical flaw in the logic of that: There are decisions, viz., Dred Scott, that we would all agree should be overturned and the sooner the better. And identical fundamentalist arguments are advanced regarding Roe v Wade. There's a kind of Gordian Knot here, which Democrats always seem fond of attempting to untie. Republicans just grab the sword and hack at it. And democrats must learn that you never trust a Republican nominee who pays lip service to stare decisis, especially where civil rights are concerned. We are at a point in history not unlike the 1850s, where one party is busy playing by the rules and the other is busy hacking them apart. We desperately need someone of the stature and inventive genius of Lincoln.
1) If the Constitution doesn’t require citizens to house the nation’s soldiers in their homes, how can a citizen be required to house a zygote/embryo/fetus in their body?
2) If Dem/Independent voters don’t vote at the same rate as Republicans, we *will not* have the democracy we treasure. I expect *voters* to be tough on Republican anti-democracy obstructionists. Our turnout in a state with online no-party registration, ballot in your mailbox weeks before Election Day, absentee ballots, Voters’ Guide to explain your choices and provide links to candidate websites, and postage-paid ballot return, was <85%.
What is all the more maddening: if today we stopped electing representatives who voted up/down on laws, and instead the citizens themselves voted up/down on laws - then we would be a notably PROGRESSIVE nation.
This Sunday night football- style politics is killing us, literally.
Nearly threw in a football/team only analogy myself. ;)
I don't believe our democracy was designed for us/them team-only legislating. It was meant for representing and affecting best choices with "opposing" team members discussing aspects with members on the other side, often in the form of compromise.
Instead individual members who do claim supposedly moderate positions (manchin, sinema) own and sell the success or failure of efforts. Instead of a collective intelligence and subsequent outcomes in the interest of the people, these senators have accepted millions of dollars of influence to not make the best decisions. And we expect them to be unbiased in their decision processes(?!)
These things completely bypass the necessary guardrails of inherent human greed.
I agree that our democracy wasn't designed to be a winner-take-all team sport.
I see that it was designed to share power among only rich white men, with the expectation that everyone else would stay oppressed and silenced politically. Of course, the human ethos evolved and so did our Constitution, lest we no longer attract productive people from across the globe, nor keep those who were native born.
These corrupt politicians only seem to think short term, but perhaps they stole enough of our money to write their own ticket going forward.
D's need to be far more aggressive affecting change. Citizens United has put us in quite a bind. I think our best move is to lean in hard on J6 indictments and to have huge protests. After positive midterms, undo filibuster, add Justices to the court, undo Citizens United, and/or get National Popular Vote in majority of States.
Protesting with proper focal points will be highly encouraging to D leadership and even the DoJ inaction on J6 IMO.
I enjoy these coffee klatches and Professor Reich's unique ability to deliver even the most dire reflections in a calm and reassuring manner. I was wondering during today's conversation why the subject of expanding the Court didn't arise...it seems like something the GOP would do if the tables were turned.
UC linguist George Lakoff has explained DP weaknesses v. GOP determinations as 'understanding uncle' v. 'strict father', with the electorate instinctively veering toward the latter ..
Thanks for these Sat chats you two. Good for my soul! Re why don't Dems play hardball very well: it's occurred to me that this "softness" is an inevitable unfortunate side effect of Dems' positive qualities including our NON authoritarian instincts and our ability to think broadly, put ourselves in others' shoes, entertain intelligent self doubt. These good qualities make us harder to herd (herding cats!) and more cautious about exxageration, hyperbole, sloppy pronouncements of "fact", which are pretty handy for playing hardball.
You're on to something. Republicans lean authoritarian -- which means they're inherently more disciplined. Dems lean anti-authoritarian, which means they're all over the map. But this still doesn't quite explain why Republicans have consistently outmaneuvered Dems over the last four decades.
Yes I agree, less- authoritarian leanings doesn't explain away other forces limiting Dems power like basic out-of-control capitalism infecting every aspect of American life. Sigh.
It's not us. They aren't civil. They break the rules. Starting with Reagan Republican think tanks have targeted our institutions. IE the Federalist Society is based on a "unitary executive" theory not expressed in the Constitution. They impose "original intent" (and trickle down) baloney.
And "Dems", such as Manchin & Sinema, who use their status, within the Party, as do most Republicans, ie: for personal gain & profit. Or "Capitalistically", eh?!
I think one reason Dems have been behind the 8-ball is because republicans created a plan to essentially overthrow our govt. thirty years ago. It was a step by step stealth plan to slowly compromise every branch of govt. If you weren’t aware of the plan, you had no idea that minor changes & movements in the political arena that seemed inconsequential at the time were part of an enormous plot.
For example, the movement to accredit charter schools began in the 1970s. As charter schools proliferated, voters said federal money for our public school system should go “with” students who opted for charter schools. This happened in different states at different times. Eventually public schools lost more & more money to the point that teachers had to buy supplies out of their own pockets & hope they would be reimbursed.
Republicans gained ground in the charter schools v public schools conundrum over decades by paying attention to who was on school boards & running their own candidates for lower level positions in local govts. They were able to indoctrinate students going to charter schools over several decades as well, and we are paying the price for that indoctrination now.
My parents were both educators in the public school system long ago and they knew something wasn’t right, but they never would have dreamed that charter schools were part of a plot to destroy our democracy.
Republicans were patient about it. They knew their “ideas” would take time to implement. At first people didn’t want charter schools but republicans didn’t give up. They kept trying. They had people write articles & op-eds blasting public schools for years and gained ground slowly but surely.
But that’s just one example. Personally, I think the gop only backed candidates for the last 3 decades whom they knew would vote how McConnell & repub Speakers told them to vote, no questions asked. They also added regular money incentives to buy their loyalty.
A different tactic they used was to create & stoke divisions between groups, e.g. gun owners v people who didn’t like guns, or pro-life v choice, etc. The gop catered to white nationalists and evangelicals as a cynical path to power.
Republicans encouraged grievance issues as well. They encouraged their voters to believe they weren’t being treated well and democrats were responsible for it. And as we all know, republicans have been perverting the plain meaning of words & creating slogans for quite awhile. That’s part of deliberate plan to program/brainwash their supporters to instantly react a certain way when they hear those words & slogans, much like Pavlog’s dogs who were programmed to start drooling when a bell was rung. Furthermore they’ve successfully demonized political leaders on the left. “Lock her up” for Hillary Clinton, and Nancy Pelosi has been blamed for things she literally has no control over.
The Citizens United decision was also part of their plan. Allowing unlimited corporate money into the political arena made it almost impossible for democrats to compete for voters for several years.
There’s much more to the republican plan than what I’ve discussed, but it’s important to make people aware of of their very long-term plans so they won’t be as easily manipulated by things that are designed to manipulate them. I’m not saying democrats aren’t responsible for any of it. I think dem messaging is practically non-existent. Most importantly, Dems need to come up with a long term, very disciplined strategy to counter gop manipulations and I don’t see that happening.
Because voters are inherently conservative and Dems are afraid to stick their necks out. And one reason voters are inherently conservative is from being bombarded by decades of right-wing propaganda: if you do this you’re a (shudder) communist or socialist; if you do that you’re disloyal/a baby killer/ball buster/n-lover, etc. it’s the bully in the schoolyard and he’s been winning with all his name calling. And I believe that’s why Clinton moved right and most of the other Dems since then have also done so. It’s nothing but brainwashing.
"Inherently conservative." The sweet spot for Democrats are benefits. Even Nazis and Trump cultists don't want to lose benefits.
Do they want to sunset Social Security and Medicare? Check out Rick Scott.
I figure about 30% of Trump voters have already bailed.... 30% are hard core cultists now supporting Putin. Most of the remaking 40% get benefits or their relatives do. E.G. dead beat fathers who owe support need that $300 tac credit per child.
Logically yes. But there’s some confusion in their minds. I’ll never forget the older man I saw on jury duty, doubtless on Medicare and receiving Social Security, who marched up to the clerk and assailed her for being a do-nothing government employee.
Well, I keep praying that Ginni Thomas is revealed to be the leaker. She has abetted and enabled her husband in their right wing agenda. They never even declared her salary as a lobbyist early in his term, and she brags about "access" to her clients. This is such a breech of ethics that I can't see why Chief Justice Roberts has not called it out. Nevermind, that the Supremes aren't covered by the code of ethics in lower courts. Justice Thomas needs to go, and even though it won't change the balance. (The preceding is a Left Wing fantasy, of course, but I think Justice Brown Jackson is going to put some of these Republican appointees to shame. I give Biden credit for appointing her when other Black women with lesser conviction were put forward. Democrats just need to keep being bold.)
Thank you, Heather, for saying aloud what I have been feeling for some time now: the Dems are losing, constantly. And thank you, Professor Reich, for saying something else that I have been thinking: "might is right" is inexorably replacing civilized, lawful behavior. As others have noted, these two are likely connected. I've also been wondering why those Dems in positions of power (the people we elected to be our leaders),--who can affect real change--aren't. There seems to be no plan, no pushback, just feeble bleating into the wind. Bills that pass one chamber of Congress don't count. Nor do hearings that only a teensy fraction of Americans (i.e. us) will ever know or care about. The brief spike of hope that I felt when Biden/Harris were elected and the American Rescue Plan passed is long gone. :(
Hi Jim, I think political will has something to do with the lack of effectiveness. When they saw mass protests about abortion rights late last week, we immediately saw Senators call to begin codifying Roe - despite lacking the votes; it's the right thing to do.
Essentially, they need us all to stand together, protest together, around some specific issues that will then get us out of this hole eventually. When we do this, they will act. Without it, every action they take is punished. The losing fighter tends to take fewer risks.
How can we get through this?
Question with your question.
Why haven't the lawyers filed motions for disqualification of Thomas, Alito and Roberts and asked for a separate emergency hearing?
28 U.S. Code § 455 - Disqualification of justice, judge, or magistrate judge
(a)Any justice, judge, or magistrate judge of the United States shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned.
Alito, Thomas have made extrajudicial statements about Roe for years. Thomas also has conflict problems. Roberts knew or should have known about the extrajudicial statements. Alito is the last person he should have named to write a majority opinion.
Reich - you missed it. Why do Democrats always seem to lose? The answer is that the Democrats are not a united party; it is quite splintered. We have moderates from fairly red states who need to compromise in order to get reelected. As long as Congressional lines are gerrymandered, we will not have a united party. Without a united party, we cannot defeat the right wing who may be in a minority but dominate enough states to pull off wins. Remember how did the Dakotas become two states to begin with? Because the South needed those Senate votes. You need to recognize the conservative nature of our Constitution.
Lynne, you're undoubtedly correct that Dems aren't a united party, but that only raises the deeper question of why. And the answer can't simply be that the Dems are splintered and span many different groups. Republicans now span establishment corporate conservatives all the way to Trump crazies, but they've been remarkably united and disciplined nonetheless.
Most, 90% by estimate, are the lumpen proletariat described by Marx.
Check out Eastern Kentucky, which has the highest rate of governmental benefits, but voted 80% for Trump, who undermined the SSA and Medicare trust funds.
I was emphasizing how our governmental structures, the institutions, support the election of Trump style Republicans. Because of the Republicans primaries, Republicans must bow to Trump like candidates or they cannot win the primaries. So the established Republicans like McConnell and company hold their noses and tolerate the Trump domination of the party.
In terms of leadership, Democrats lost their way when they deserted FDR's political agenda - when we bailed out the big banks in 2009, we took an 180 degree turn from our party's winning history. The Democrats, such as both Clintons and Obama, turned away from labor - in this Thomas Frank is quite right. We went with the big money and embraced financialization and globalization. Follow the money and we can see how the Democratic leadership lost its way. We deserted labor and Biden knows it but finds it very difficult to win it back.
Re Kansas. Need Democrats to relocate. Kansas Democrats can relocate some new tenants. With free housing they will come.
https://kansascitymag.com/news/six-rural-kansas-towns-offer-free-land-to-transplants-heres-the-deal/
Two reasons come to mind: 1) Republicans of all stripes are just more comfortable with authoritarianism, and 2) Dems have better things to do with their time than politics. They’re more creative, intellectual, and interesting.
I’m going to diverge by slight degree. In field organizing and other mobilization work over the last five years I see enough unity that can drive forward cooperative work. What I don’t see often enough is deep relational voter engagement, well-supported and sustained over time, that doesn’t simply equate democracy with elections. The Republicans have no policy or polity, but they are setting down roots in communities long overlooked by the Dems and even by some issue advocacy groups.
It is not mono-culture that hurts us as much as it is failure to fully respect and use politics for power. That is the name of the game.
Largely agree and thanks for your work in organizing/mobilization.
However, R's are exercising a toxic game that hurts Americans which is counter to their sworn oath. The unethical, immoral, illegal attainment of power at our expense is why we try to have guardrails against such inherent human greed. So many of their tactics and efforts have been deemed unconstitutional, it's a huge waste of resources. Being held in Contempt seems to be a merit badge, as do bogus lawsuits tying up processes.
Toxicity — of course! It has very recently become a badge of honor. I see in that a much more rapid drift to fascist authoritarianism than do others. It’s not been long, after all, in Orban’s Hungary to refashion the country into an “illiberal democracy.” Here, it is driving a wider wedge (yes they have their own disunity) within the Republican power circles. But a long view of this also shows that while Founders realized this potential, they did not (at least as I understand) have it mixed in with a Christian-fascist ethos. That is the part of modern America that didn’t exist in my mid-20th century childhood.
Not disagreeing with you, but just saying this has driven me back to rereading earlier philosophers and centering in human foibles and truths through time. We have come through periods as this and worse as a species… so what are the elements that drive hope and continued engagement when the toxic forces you describe are designed to force withdrawal or submission? We can only carry the baton for our leg for so long before we pass it on, BeFree… so, by all means, let’s call out the villains and then let’s keep working on our vision.
Ah, I c u def brighter than me in these things ;-)
Yes. Key that we know to identify the target issues through the noise and not get stuck on single issues.
For me it's excising those who attempted to overthrow our govt.
If it takes Roe or civil rights issues to bring us together protesting and demanding J6 organizers at the top are brought to justice, we wipe out much of their capability in the process.
Other factors as well: because we're diverse it's more challenging to get D's to stand up together. We obviously arent a monoculture.
Then add in the intimidation factors; tfg et al used known extremist (PB, OK, 1AP) as their J6 security/organizing detail for God's sake. They drove caravans of violent racist protestors into Portland to suppress BLM organizers. They use disinformation tactics against their own citizens on social media and news. R congressmen project the use of firearms on their social media and in advertising. And they refuse normal Democratic discourse, debate and essential communication while taking dark money legalized by Citizens United. And yes, gerrymandering.
You’re right. We’re fighting the Nazis again and acting like Chamberlain. Who would have thought we’d be back there?
No kidding right!?
Authors point well taken, find out the real difference and lean to the high road; if I'm following along correctly. I take minor issue with negation of the obviousness of R's failing to play by the rules. And what's the point of having Representatives if they don't voice their concerns or those of their constituents (?). In itself, R lockstep undermines our rightful communication necessary for Democracy to function.
https://youtu.be/Zr1sgXQyLsQ
I agree somewhat, in that the headlines bear it out: A victorious new majority will develop rents and sides almost immediately. The Dem's since '72 have pushed enfranchisement of the deprived while running around with their hands in the air. (I'm one, as it seems to be the least offensive 'party' choice.)
I listened, I always listen —- but somehow missed the part about how we get through this!
Telling jokes.
…and be outstanding in the field!
This is not a flip reply...I watch MSNBC every night (desperately miss Brian Williams) and remain totally depressed until someone is kind enough to share even a silly bit of humor that makes me forget, if just for a moment, that the country I grew up in is gone forever.
Massive protests, demand those Justices who lied in their confirmation hearings about Roe to resign, investigate Ginni Thomas and pressure DoJ to bring charges against J6 perpetrators (tfg et al).
Outvote them! https://www.fieldteam6.org/
I have been saying the same thing for years! Repugnicans subscribe to Hitlers theory of Total War! Democrats do not have the money to wage total war let alone the inclination to be unfair! We would prefer to wage a gentlemanly war based on reason and fairness! By nature, we are considered weak because of our compassion and sense of fair play! To criminals we are considered to be weak! We never play hardball! The institutional advantage or bias is in the favor of right wing theorists! Big money exerts big propaganda influence and economic blackmail! We do have to mobilize in the same fashion and adopt total war! It’s the only way democracy can survive! I’m telling everyone to mark my words and heed my warning! We are going to have to adopt this nature bending philosophy! The war in Ukraine is a perfect example of the liberal Democratic west dragging its feet while for survival Ukraine has to adopt total war! Being optimistic does not serve us well!
I really don't understand the Democrats nowadays. (This has been true for a while so it's not exactly nowadays!) I have read that the American voters are moving steadily and surely in a progressive direction: they want an end to squabbling and pussy-footing around and a concerted move to passing legislation that will help people and work on making this a better country for people to live and work in. They want to see things accomplished with their taxes; they want to see the credibility and integrity of the country restored; they want the US to be an example (or a positive example) to the world and lead globally, nationally, and in their communities. Instead, we are stuck dealing constantly with Donald J Trump and the disastrous policies (and people) he has inflicted on the nation. We have people such as Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy grabbing the reins of power; decrying the policies and decisions of the former Trump and yet, in the end, vowing to vote for him once again as President. (One would have thought that this would have created an uproar (seeing where Trump has left us) but, no, the Democrats meekly and obsequiously bow to the entire Trump continuation in power; they yield him a seat at the table and mildly retreat to the sidelines. If the Democrats want to exercise their power and majorities in the Congress and the Executive Branch, they will have to step on a few toes, they will have to assert themselves (and their mandate). The GOP has repeatedly shown itself to be subsumed into the Trump World and is content to remain (and prosper) in that world. But, in a way, the Democrats are worse as there is apparently nothing they will stand up for; no one they will go out on a limb for; no ideal or principle from which they will not budge. I feared this would happen and that is the reason I went for Sanders as, whatever one calls him, Bernie had ideals, principles, core beliefs. Our present leader is only too willing to get along by going along with whatever the GOP (Trump) decides on. My question is: What is it that the President of the United States and the Democratic Party will stand for unequivocally? Is there anything at all that means anything? Or do they plan on caving in on any principle, precedent, or rule of law in order to obey the will of the minority that is the Government of the former president, Donald J Trump? (I fear that this is so! And if it is, we are doomed. Let's look to President Zelenskyy as a model of a real chief executive prepared to make the hardest of choices and not flinch.)
In a democracy, communication and debate is required, R's instead have taken to highly unethical tactics to counter normal discourse and proceedings. Further they exercise stochastic terrorism daily and on occasion, actual terrorism of their own citizens in an attempt to sway voters, scare them out of political action like peaceful protests while attempting to elicit a civil war.
They're toxic.
During the Trump administration, Trump made repeated use of something called The Executive Order. What this did was enable Trump to circumvent the deliberative legislative process (that is do a quickie end-run against the scenario of committee meetings, policy reviews, votes in one house of Congress and then the other for signing on or defeating legislation, and finally sending approved bills to the President for his signature.) The standard way of operating was a laborious process and, in the cases where quick action was needed and as a means of by-passing opposition or debate, Trump repeatedly whipped out his pen and signed off on Executive Orders, generally to save the Gilded Agers from taxes and/or penalties.) When Biden came into office, he promptly rescinded all sorts of Trump Executive Orders in preparation for his own batch. Well, the Executive Orders immediately started flowing on in, stacking up and stacking up. But (alas and par for the Biden course) there have not been many Biden EOs signed and sent out to the relevant offices. This has now reached a crisis stage for those who are hard-hit by the inflation situation. That is: seniors were given a COLA for this new year based on a 5.9% inflation rate. That means that seniors could almost expect a significant improvement in their income based on SSA. However, the inflation rate continued to climb to 8.5% which means that, even with the increase in SSA, seniors on a fixed income were even worse off. At the same time, petitions were circulating to the effect that seniors on SSA alone needed another stimulus check. That may very well be true but if these proposals (along with the senior stimulus included in the now-defunct BBB bill) tanked and Biden issue(d) no Executive Order, he has only exacerbated the financial quandary of seniors on fixed income. Of course, we could blame it on seniors for not managing their retirement incomes/pensions/portfolios well but (this may come as a shock) most seniors (myself included) do not have any income except for SSA. If Biden will not act in a timely fashion, we may as well decide he's another form of GOPer...maybe he'll start throwing towels at us too!
Please go litter somewhere else. Inflation is caused by billionaires hoarding profits that should have been cycled back into the system as taxes to improve our circumstances or otherwise burned to reduce inflation.
You complain about the very people trying to help right the ship, the ones patching the holes in the hull, while equating D leadership to those R's who broke it in the first place. The ship is sinking and your posts attempt to portray R's as a viable alternative - the same folks who attempted to overthrow our government with a violent insurrection and legislative coup. The same people who said wearing masks was a violation of our constitutional rights, who now support making all abortions, even still birth abortions, illegal?? Those people are your alternative????
The suggestion that Biden is anything like tfg is beyond absurd. You seem to have quite a few facts for someone making insane assumptions that R's would ever be a better choice.
At no time and in no way did I ever suggest that the GOP was the solution to anything. If the past few years have shown us anything it is that the Republican Party has changed beyond recognition and is no longer a viable counterweight or control of any kind. If you believe that I support the policies or intention of the GOIP, you have not read my statements as I intended. However, my aversion to the GOP should not be translated into support for the Democrats and their approach. As the fates would have it, I am none too happy with the Dems either, mainly because they do not pursue the Progressive agenda that I (and a good many other Dems) support and were counting on to alleviate some of the long-term egregious distress among many people. I believed Joe Biden when he proclaimed FDR his model for his own presidency; I expected him to force the Dem agenda in harmony with the trend that was developing (and continues to develop) among the general public. I feared at the time of the election that Joe Biden would try to work with the GOP to the extent of abandoning the FDR progressive agenda he vowed to pursue. It gives me no particular joy at all to learn that I was right to be apprehensive. I have never ever supported any GOP adventures but, as near as I can determine, the GOP has no policies and no plans. You have misread my malaise but I would assure you that it is a malaise shared by many progressive who are disappointed in Biden's failure to follow with what he vowed to pursue.
D's are outfoxed because the R base is willing to be violent. They use this to intimidate and terrorize folks into silence, inaction and not voting. We should have had many massive protests since the 2016 election.
Stand up together for more than a single issue! We're the diverse party, I get it, but massive protests will work. We could have swayed Impeachment#2 had we protested in the millions, and J6 never would have happened.
I remember the repulsion I felt when I heard rump inciting his followers to violence while on the 2016 campaign trail. I think that is one of the reasons the conservative electorate emotionally bonded to him so thoroughly: he gave them permission to use their guns and fists against anyone they didn't agree with. Gone were the days of using words and intelligence ("liberal" skills) to bridge the gap! Rump had command of neither and look at how far he'd come!
He also showed them that if enough people threw off their natural shame, and if you kept company selectively within that group - then there is no consequence for the aforementioned political violence.
I agree, BeFree, that non-conservative Americans must stand together! I don't see the conservative folks coming back to reality (to help us keep our democracy) without the fight of their individual lives to undo trauma they so tragically agreed to do to themselves.
As you were discussing stare decisis, you seemed to imply that it is a legal principle that should not be violated. While I certainly agree and hope that this should be the case for Rove v Wade, I detect a historical flaw in the logic of that: There are decisions, viz., Dred Scott, that we would all agree should be overturned and the sooner the better. And identical fundamentalist arguments are advanced regarding Roe v Wade. There's a kind of Gordian Knot here, which Democrats always seem fond of attempting to untie. Republicans just grab the sword and hack at it. And democrats must learn that you never trust a Republican nominee who pays lip service to stare decisis, especially where civil rights are concerned. We are at a point in history not unlike the 1850s, where one party is busy playing by the rules and the other is busy hacking them apart. We desperately need someone of the stature and inventive genius of Lincoln.
1) If the Constitution doesn’t require citizens to house the nation’s soldiers in their homes, how can a citizen be required to house a zygote/embryo/fetus in their body?
2) If Dem/Independent voters don’t vote at the same rate as Republicans, we *will not* have the democracy we treasure. I expect *voters* to be tough on Republican anti-democracy obstructionists. Our turnout in a state with online no-party registration, ballot in your mailbox weeks before Election Day, absentee ballots, Voters’ Guide to explain your choices and provide links to candidate websites, and postage-paid ballot return, was <85%.
3)Heather, re: scarecrow joke: Badda-boom
What is all the more maddening: if today we stopped electing representatives who voted up/down on laws, and instead the citizens themselves voted up/down on laws - then we would be a notably PROGRESSIVE nation.
This Sunday night football- style politics is killing us, literally.
Nearly threw in a football/team only analogy myself. ;)
I don't believe our democracy was designed for us/them team-only legislating. It was meant for representing and affecting best choices with "opposing" team members discussing aspects with members on the other side, often in the form of compromise.
Instead individual members who do claim supposedly moderate positions (manchin, sinema) own and sell the success or failure of efforts. Instead of a collective intelligence and subsequent outcomes in the interest of the people, these senators have accepted millions of dollars of influence to not make the best decisions. And we expect them to be unbiased in their decision processes(?!)
These things completely bypass the necessary guardrails of inherent human greed.
Hi BeFree!
I agree that our democracy wasn't designed to be a winner-take-all team sport.
I see that it was designed to share power among only rich white men, with the expectation that everyone else would stay oppressed and silenced politically. Of course, the human ethos evolved and so did our Constitution, lest we no longer attract productive people from across the globe, nor keep those who were native born.
These corrupt politicians only seem to think short term, but perhaps they stole enough of our money to write their own ticket going forward.
Yes!
D's need to be far more aggressive affecting change. Citizens United has put us in quite a bind. I think our best move is to lean in hard on J6 indictments and to have huge protests. After positive midterms, undo filibuster, add Justices to the court, undo Citizens United, and/or get National Popular Vote in majority of States.
Protesting with proper focal points will be highly encouraging to D leadership and even the DoJ inaction on J6 IMO.
:)
I agree re:Citizens United! It was our undoing.
All the positive actions you described are spot on, and music to my ears (err... eyes).
See you at the protests, friend 🙂
I run w dmc
👍🏼😎🇺🇸
Remember Alito’s response when President Obama called out the Citizen’s United ruling during the SOTU?
I enjoy these coffee klatches and Professor Reich's unique ability to deliver even the most dire reflections in a calm and reassuring manner. I was wondering during today's conversation why the subject of expanding the Court didn't arise...it seems like something the GOP would do if the tables were turned.
Great conversation….it is time for term limits in the SCOTUS and for “we the people” to rise up and take back the country in November
UC linguist George Lakoff has explained DP weaknesses v. GOP determinations as 'understanding uncle' v. 'strict father', with the electorate instinctively veering toward the latter ..
The Democrats do not have enough talented young people getting involved. Term limits is the only way out of this mess, including the Supreme Court.