I agree with all of your suggestions, but I would add that Biden - and all the congressional democrats - need to engage the public much, much, much more, perhaps also with fireside chats, talking about the popular measures he is trying to pass and how they are being blocked, talking about the threat to democracy from state legislation destroying voting rights, talking about the past sacrifice of American activists to protect the vote - for example Biden could talk about your childhood friend who was murdered by the klan for trying to register voters in Mississippi. Biden needs to throw a bright light onto what is going on for the American people; the corporate press won't be able to ignore it because the speeches would be coming from the president. Then he needs to at least reach out to every Republican senator on the voting rights legislation and report back to the American people, especially the people from the senator's state, on how that effort went, whether the senator agreed to meet, and if they met, exactly what the senator's excuses were for refusing to support the voting rights bill. Who knows, maybe a few Republicans will actually see the light. Manchin and Sinema will not do this work for him - they have not reached out to anybody on the Republican side and neither of them cares, Romney admitted as much. Clearly the current approach has failed so it's past time to abandon it: Biden has to come out of hiding and really engage the people if he cares about democracy. But not just Biden, Harris and every member of Congress who supports the voting rights act needs to hit the air waves non-stop about the threat to democracy, and above all reach out to their Republican colleagues and try hard to persuade them. Today most congressional democrats simply vote, throw up their hands, and go home. We are at a crossroads in American history and politicians need to act like they actually care about it.
Right now, what the Democratic party needs most is a first class salesperson -- someone who will go on all the talk shows, news shows, and Sunday morning shows and explain to the American people what is in these bills that have been stalled in the senate, how they would benefit the average American, and what American citizens can do to help get them passed (ie, call your senator, write your senator, write letters to the editor of your local paper). It doesn't matter if you live in a blue, red or purple state, put pressure on your senator to get this legislation passed. Then this salesperson needs to brag about what has been accomplished since Biden took office, the general state of the American economy, and the bright future that we could have if we all pulled together. Explain the need for bipartisanship -- which means Republicans working with Democrats to find ways of compromising, as opposed to using the filibuster. Make it clear that Democrats are open to debate but that Republicans are using the filibuster to stymie even that. Democrats have never been good at taking control of the narrative -- it is past time they learned to do it.
Prof. Reich, Momentarily, I’m going to propose you add expanding the High Court to your list, using data that stuck with me from one of your earlier newsletters. However, I start with a quick survey of a handful of recent High Court decisions, partly to affirm Justice Correspondent Elie Mystal’s portrayal of Chief Justice John Roberts as an “enemy of voting rights and racial equality.” In 2013, Roberts authored Shelby County v Holder, which eviscerated Section 5 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. In 2020, Roberts authored Rucho v Common Cause, wherein it was decided that particular gerrymandering disputes presented a political question beyond the realm of the Court. In 2021, Roberts provided the crucial vote in Brnovich v Democratic National Committee, which arguably eviscerated Section 2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
Presently, we’re in an election year facing the likely absence of any meaningful federal voter protection safeguards that, otherwise, would have superseded the guaranteed onslaught of GOP voter suppression and election subversion measures, creating, in my view, obstacles around which no amount of organizing can compete. Setting aside that the fool posting this comment, nonetheless, will persist, I am deeply troubled by a seeming dismantling of federal safeguards and don’t imagine that this methodical evisceration by Republicans and the Court (ie The Federalist Society) ends here.
Shifting to my recollections of your newsletter from a while ago, I believe you had established a promising precedent for expanding the Court. My understanding is that in 1789 five Justices and one Chief Justice were seated, each of whom presided over one of the six Federal Circuit Courts. Today, because there are thirteen Federal Circuit Courts, over which only nine Justices presided, I imagine the High Court accepts fewer cases.
Though my knowledge here is extremely limited, I suspect invoking precedent both to expand the High Court and possibly add judges to the Lower Court is far more persuasive than basing one’s argument on the need to balance the Court.
I would welcome hearing from anyone on this thread about this painfully neglected issue by Democrats.
Your list of suggestions are excellent and all would help move the ball forward. I'm glad you mentioned executive orders. A writer here mentioned it last week and a day or two later the new governor of Virginia issued 11 of them right after being sworn in for his governorship. Had them already on his desk after his swearing in. He didn't waste a nanosecond. One of his orders repealed vaccine mandates for all state workers and mask mandates in schools, public work places. He then declared, "Virginia is open for business again!" Glenn Youngkin is an equities, mergers and acquisitions business man, a history of some of the riches companies in America. Executive orders and elections have consequences. I have this suggestion, STOP VOTING FOR RICH REPUBLICAN BUSINESSMEN.
Mostly agree. Kevin McCarthy and Mitch McConnell keep calling the voting rights bill "a Democrat power grab." I would like Biden and Senate Democrats to repeatedly demand that they explain precisely what provisions in the bill make it a Democratic power grab, and explain how all those state voter suppression bills aren't Republican power grabs, until they get answers. U.S. House and Senate Republicans' votes against election fairness and integrity, and against freedom to vote, should definitely be used against them as campaign issues in this year's elections.
Also point out that the filibuster in its current form stifles speech and debate, exacerbates division, and prevents Congress from working to serve the American people.
With regard to # 4 and 10, Democrats have done much to improve the lives of most Americans, while Republicans have done almost nothing. Yet, instead of touting their successes, effectively criticizing Republicans for failing to do their job, and making the argument that they can do more if more Democrats are elected, Democrats always seem to be on the defensive. Why is this?
I think your suggestions are excellent and will lead to expanded majorities in the midterms. For his first year in office, I think the Biden Administration has accomplished a lot and that in the next year we will get voter protections and BBB Legislation (much easier when Sinema is replaced by a real Democrat).
It seems to me that President Biden should be listening to you instead of others around him. You make a good case against Democrats shooting themselves in the foot.
BBB should be used as a jobs-creation program that will become a gateway for creating a national public service program. By that I mean that every citizen will perform at least 2 years of public service either in federal or state programs that will focus on supporting/remediating the educational, environmental, agricultural, and/or public infrastructures of the country.
High School graduates should have the privilege of finding out how the country actually works in a hands-on sense before going on to college, assuming that is what they want. College grads should serve at least 3 years if they didn't serve before entering college. I was an Army Officer for 2 years following graduation: those years were eye-opening me and invaluable. I realized how very fortunate I was in many dimensions of life.
My mother's father was an indentured worker for 7 years and during that time, he learned English - spoken and written - saved money, and became an American citizen. What we MUST recognize is the fundamental role that Hispanic, Meso-, and South American workers perform in agriculture. These people must be included in the American economy.
The Federal government should legislate and oversee programs that provide education [parents and children], proper housing, medical, and nourishment for these essential workers. The horror stories of agricultural worker exploitation are too numerous to cite. Let's make them citizens instead of pariahs and simultaneously reinforce food security for the US.
GCC will create weather that is more unstable and less predictable in future, which has and will impact everyone. As a country, we must learn to work together, and a national service program would contribute to that end.
Frankly, I’m very suspicious of comments bashing Biden when we are in the crisis of our lifetime by the fascist turned Republican party! Biden rolled out massive vaccine program after the orange goof ball wasted time saying the pandemic was a hoax, confirmed at least 40 judges which is phenomenally and desperately needed to counteract the lock on lunatic judges, Reversed Trump executive orders, which were extensive, Rejoined the Paris agreement, after Trump damaged our reputation further by leaving it!, Revoked permits for Keystone XL pipeline, xpanded Medicaid, got us out of a 20 year war!, 1.9 trillion dollars went to the Rescue Plan, gave extra unemployment benefits, food stamps during major unemployment during this crisis, Allocated $1.2TRILLION infrastructure package for roads, bridges, ports etc, has THE MOST DIVERSE admin in US history, added more jobs to economy in one year than Orange lunatic fid in 4!!!
Trump: DID NOT bring back jobs from China as promised
Did NOT lower health care costs as promised
Gave $2 TRILLION in tax cuts to uber wealthy only!
Allowed coal miners to go back to polluting waterways.
For those whining that Biden isn’t doing enough, we all want more action. But if Biden bashing is something you feel a need to do right now, you are a fool or a troll.
Thank you, Prof. Reich, for the lift. Your resilience is inspiring.
President Biden has built a great team. Turn the Cabinet loose. Get them speaking out from where they stand to stir the passion of the American people.
Biden's agenda isn't too ambitious; it's not ambitious enough. He needs to feed on the needs of the people and the planet, feed on the passion of his Cabinet and those in Congress whose fingers are on the pulse of the nation to build and communicate Rooseveltian vision, offering idea after idea after idea. Clearly sounded, the people around him, with him, will collectively leave voters with the thought "if only we could get true control of Congress, look what we can do."
We can still do much. This nadir we're in may yet be a solid launching pad.
For President Biden, maybe a change in mindset may be needed, particularly in getting his message out. For my purposes here, I am going to assume that the President has always been and is still fully committed to the progressive agenda that he laid out at the beginning of his administration (but sometimes what appears to be his passivity in responding to the ongoing obstruction to this agenda makes me wonder how strong that commitment really is). What I'm talking about, and it's been mentioned or alluded to in some of today's comments, is responding directly to those public statements and concerns given by the opposition. I'm particularly thinking about Senators Manchin and Sinema here, but it would also apply to others like Senator McConnell and Rep McCarthy. When, for example, Sinema says she won't support in any way changing the filibuster, because in her words “I will not support separate actions that worsen the underlying disease of division infecting our country”, he should not let that stand, but needs to respond directly as to why it isn't true or just plain misleading. Basically, he needs to call her out! Don't let these things slide! Of course, I understand that Presidents don't do these sorts of things traditionally, or it's not proper etiquette, or it's beneath the President to respond or comment, but we're way past that in this country now. Joe seems too often mired in tradition and institutionalism. Now seems like the time a direct approach is needed. Call them all out and take the debate public. I think we're at that point now. These representatives certainly do not hesitate in calling the President out, or if at least not directly, his agenda and policies. Maybe call out those Fox News personalities too, maybe even invite them to the White House to share a sippy cup!
I completely endorse this approach. I only have one caveat. Look at the front page of the Bezos owned Washington Post. Look at the photo of MLKs descendants marching in Washington for voting rights. There should have been a million people there. Every reform requires a mass movement in order to happen. That is what we are lacking and need now to support Robert’s leadership proposal.
On the same front page is another article. That article focuses on how the Biden agenda was too ambitious. You should just accept the billionaires taking over, your grandchildren should accept global warming and it is really too ambitious to change the status quo. It’s right there in black and white. I call it how to accept the slide into fascism.
But don’t be fooled by that approach. The centrists will be replaced in the Fall by right wing Republicans in the elections. The progressives will pick off a few more Republocrats and the Party will be where is was after 1968 and 1972—waiting for a new generation of politicians. Unfortunately time is running out on the American century. Global warming doesn’t care who is in office.
Did you see Elizabeth Warren on Colbert last night? Now that’s the kind of rationale and fire and fury the democrats need to show America…that there ARE ways to accomplish the goals
for majority of Americans, now squelched by the minority of fake Republican! There are ways to get things done; but I fear most Democrats - in government and in general - are failing to rise to the seriousness of the occasion: the life or death of our democracy. With the obstruction and demise of voting rights, what is America but a sham for wealthy whites fearful of who the citizens of our marvelous country really are! SHAME on Republicans for showing no integrity and still enmeshed in the Civil War, SHAME on Democrats for fighting a forest fire with a garden hose, SHAME on so many of us who aren’t infuriated enough to get
actively involved…as we sit glued to our cell phones as the world burns…
And I agree: Biden looks weak because he does not implement Presidential Orders as you stated. Time to step up and be aggressive, not watch us go down…
I agree. He could also still hold rallies with unions in Virginia and Arizona to publicly shame Manchin and Sinema, and twist their arms a lot harder. He should have done that a long time ago.
Holding a vote is not an empty gesture - I want it ON THE RECORD which Senators think it's okay to NOT support voter rights and voter protections.
I agree with all of your suggestions, but I would add that Biden - and all the congressional democrats - need to engage the public much, much, much more, perhaps also with fireside chats, talking about the popular measures he is trying to pass and how they are being blocked, talking about the threat to democracy from state legislation destroying voting rights, talking about the past sacrifice of American activists to protect the vote - for example Biden could talk about your childhood friend who was murdered by the klan for trying to register voters in Mississippi. Biden needs to throw a bright light onto what is going on for the American people; the corporate press won't be able to ignore it because the speeches would be coming from the president. Then he needs to at least reach out to every Republican senator on the voting rights legislation and report back to the American people, especially the people from the senator's state, on how that effort went, whether the senator agreed to meet, and if they met, exactly what the senator's excuses were for refusing to support the voting rights bill. Who knows, maybe a few Republicans will actually see the light. Manchin and Sinema will not do this work for him - they have not reached out to anybody on the Republican side and neither of them cares, Romney admitted as much. Clearly the current approach has failed so it's past time to abandon it: Biden has to come out of hiding and really engage the people if he cares about democracy. But not just Biden, Harris and every member of Congress who supports the voting rights act needs to hit the air waves non-stop about the threat to democracy, and above all reach out to their Republican colleagues and try hard to persuade them. Today most congressional democrats simply vote, throw up their hands, and go home. We are at a crossroads in American history and politicians need to act like they actually care about it.
Right now, what the Democratic party needs most is a first class salesperson -- someone who will go on all the talk shows, news shows, and Sunday morning shows and explain to the American people what is in these bills that have been stalled in the senate, how they would benefit the average American, and what American citizens can do to help get them passed (ie, call your senator, write your senator, write letters to the editor of your local paper). It doesn't matter if you live in a blue, red or purple state, put pressure on your senator to get this legislation passed. Then this salesperson needs to brag about what has been accomplished since Biden took office, the general state of the American economy, and the bright future that we could have if we all pulled together. Explain the need for bipartisanship -- which means Republicans working with Democrats to find ways of compromising, as opposed to using the filibuster. Make it clear that Democrats are open to debate but that Republicans are using the filibuster to stymie even that. Democrats have never been good at taking control of the narrative -- it is past time they learned to do it.
Prof. Reich, Momentarily, I’m going to propose you add expanding the High Court to your list, using data that stuck with me from one of your earlier newsletters. However, I start with a quick survey of a handful of recent High Court decisions, partly to affirm Justice Correspondent Elie Mystal’s portrayal of Chief Justice John Roberts as an “enemy of voting rights and racial equality.” In 2013, Roberts authored Shelby County v Holder, which eviscerated Section 5 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. In 2020, Roberts authored Rucho v Common Cause, wherein it was decided that particular gerrymandering disputes presented a political question beyond the realm of the Court. In 2021, Roberts provided the crucial vote in Brnovich v Democratic National Committee, which arguably eviscerated Section 2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
Presently, we’re in an election year facing the likely absence of any meaningful federal voter protection safeguards that, otherwise, would have superseded the guaranteed onslaught of GOP voter suppression and election subversion measures, creating, in my view, obstacles around which no amount of organizing can compete. Setting aside that the fool posting this comment, nonetheless, will persist, I am deeply troubled by a seeming dismantling of federal safeguards and don’t imagine that this methodical evisceration by Republicans and the Court (ie The Federalist Society) ends here.
Shifting to my recollections of your newsletter from a while ago, I believe you had established a promising precedent for expanding the Court. My understanding is that in 1789 five Justices and one Chief Justice were seated, each of whom presided over one of the six Federal Circuit Courts. Today, because there are thirteen Federal Circuit Courts, over which only nine Justices presided, I imagine the High Court accepts fewer cases.
Though my knowledge here is extremely limited, I suspect invoking precedent both to expand the High Court and possibly add judges to the Lower Court is far more persuasive than basing one’s argument on the need to balance the Court.
I would welcome hearing from anyone on this thread about this painfully neglected issue by Democrats.
The arc of justice is long --- here is a weather prediction ---
When you strive for justice,
when you stand with the poor,
when you speak out for the care of the earth,
and forces descend against you,
remember: they are fueled by ignorance,
by fear and self-serving. These are small engines.
The spirit that empowers the work of justice
is as given as your breathing,
and as deep as all of our breathing together.
It is the breath of the whole earth.
It is of the very fabric of the universe,
and is gentle, strong and infinite.
_____________
Weather Report
Windy:
expect gusts of divine energy,
with periods of deep calm.
Watch for large structures
to come apart.
Hopes high through the day. With eventual hope ----
Your list of suggestions are excellent and all would help move the ball forward. I'm glad you mentioned executive orders. A writer here mentioned it last week and a day or two later the new governor of Virginia issued 11 of them right after being sworn in for his governorship. Had them already on his desk after his swearing in. He didn't waste a nanosecond. One of his orders repealed vaccine mandates for all state workers and mask mandates in schools, public work places. He then declared, "Virginia is open for business again!" Glenn Youngkin is an equities, mergers and acquisitions business man, a history of some of the riches companies in America. Executive orders and elections have consequences. I have this suggestion, STOP VOTING FOR RICH REPUBLICAN BUSINESSMEN.
Mostly agree. Kevin McCarthy and Mitch McConnell keep calling the voting rights bill "a Democrat power grab." I would like Biden and Senate Democrats to repeatedly demand that they explain precisely what provisions in the bill make it a Democratic power grab, and explain how all those state voter suppression bills aren't Republican power grabs, until they get answers. U.S. House and Senate Republicans' votes against election fairness and integrity, and against freedom to vote, should definitely be used against them as campaign issues in this year's elections.
Also point out that the filibuster in its current form stifles speech and debate, exacerbates division, and prevents Congress from working to serve the American people.
With regard to # 4 and 10, Democrats have done much to improve the lives of most Americans, while Republicans have done almost nothing. Yet, instead of touting their successes, effectively criticizing Republicans for failing to do their job, and making the argument that they can do more if more Democrats are elected, Democrats always seem to be on the defensive. Why is this?
I think your suggestions are excellent and will lead to expanded majorities in the midterms. For his first year in office, I think the Biden Administration has accomplished a lot and that in the next year we will get voter protections and BBB Legislation (much easier when Sinema is replaced by a real Democrat).
It seems to me that President Biden should be listening to you instead of others around him. You make a good case against Democrats shooting themselves in the foot.
BBB should be used as a jobs-creation program that will become a gateway for creating a national public service program. By that I mean that every citizen will perform at least 2 years of public service either in federal or state programs that will focus on supporting/remediating the educational, environmental, agricultural, and/or public infrastructures of the country.
High School graduates should have the privilege of finding out how the country actually works in a hands-on sense before going on to college, assuming that is what they want. College grads should serve at least 3 years if they didn't serve before entering college. I was an Army Officer for 2 years following graduation: those years were eye-opening me and invaluable. I realized how very fortunate I was in many dimensions of life.
My mother's father was an indentured worker for 7 years and during that time, he learned English - spoken and written - saved money, and became an American citizen. What we MUST recognize is the fundamental role that Hispanic, Meso-, and South American workers perform in agriculture. These people must be included in the American economy.
The Federal government should legislate and oversee programs that provide education [parents and children], proper housing, medical, and nourishment for these essential workers. The horror stories of agricultural worker exploitation are too numerous to cite. Let's make them citizens instead of pariahs and simultaneously reinforce food security for the US.
GCC will create weather that is more unstable and less predictable in future, which has and will impact everyone. As a country, we must learn to work together, and a national service program would contribute to that end.
Frankly, I’m very suspicious of comments bashing Biden when we are in the crisis of our lifetime by the fascist turned Republican party! Biden rolled out massive vaccine program after the orange goof ball wasted time saying the pandemic was a hoax, confirmed at least 40 judges which is phenomenally and desperately needed to counteract the lock on lunatic judges, Reversed Trump executive orders, which were extensive, Rejoined the Paris agreement, after Trump damaged our reputation further by leaving it!, Revoked permits for Keystone XL pipeline, xpanded Medicaid, got us out of a 20 year war!, 1.9 trillion dollars went to the Rescue Plan, gave extra unemployment benefits, food stamps during major unemployment during this crisis, Allocated $1.2TRILLION infrastructure package for roads, bridges, ports etc, has THE MOST DIVERSE admin in US history, added more jobs to economy in one year than Orange lunatic fid in 4!!!
Trump: DID NOT bring back jobs from China as promised
Did NOT lower health care costs as promised
Gave $2 TRILLION in tax cuts to uber wealthy only!
Allowed coal miners to go back to polluting waterways.
For those whining that Biden isn’t doing enough, we all want more action. But if Biden bashing is something you feel a need to do right now, you are a fool or a troll.
Thank you, Prof. Reich, for the lift. Your resilience is inspiring.
President Biden has built a great team. Turn the Cabinet loose. Get them speaking out from where they stand to stir the passion of the American people.
Biden's agenda isn't too ambitious; it's not ambitious enough. He needs to feed on the needs of the people and the planet, feed on the passion of his Cabinet and those in Congress whose fingers are on the pulse of the nation to build and communicate Rooseveltian vision, offering idea after idea after idea. Clearly sounded, the people around him, with him, will collectively leave voters with the thought "if only we could get true control of Congress, look what we can do."
We can still do much. This nadir we're in may yet be a solid launching pad.
For President Biden, maybe a change in mindset may be needed, particularly in getting his message out. For my purposes here, I am going to assume that the President has always been and is still fully committed to the progressive agenda that he laid out at the beginning of his administration (but sometimes what appears to be his passivity in responding to the ongoing obstruction to this agenda makes me wonder how strong that commitment really is). What I'm talking about, and it's been mentioned or alluded to in some of today's comments, is responding directly to those public statements and concerns given by the opposition. I'm particularly thinking about Senators Manchin and Sinema here, but it would also apply to others like Senator McConnell and Rep McCarthy. When, for example, Sinema says she won't support in any way changing the filibuster, because in her words “I will not support separate actions that worsen the underlying disease of division infecting our country”, he should not let that stand, but needs to respond directly as to why it isn't true or just plain misleading. Basically, he needs to call her out! Don't let these things slide! Of course, I understand that Presidents don't do these sorts of things traditionally, or it's not proper etiquette, or it's beneath the President to respond or comment, but we're way past that in this country now. Joe seems too often mired in tradition and institutionalism. Now seems like the time a direct approach is needed. Call them all out and take the debate public. I think we're at that point now. These representatives certainly do not hesitate in calling the President out, or if at least not directly, his agenda and policies. Maybe call out those Fox News personalities too, maybe even invite them to the White House to share a sippy cup!
I completely endorse this approach. I only have one caveat. Look at the front page of the Bezos owned Washington Post. Look at the photo of MLKs descendants marching in Washington for voting rights. There should have been a million people there. Every reform requires a mass movement in order to happen. That is what we are lacking and need now to support Robert’s leadership proposal.
On the same front page is another article. That article focuses on how the Biden agenda was too ambitious. You should just accept the billionaires taking over, your grandchildren should accept global warming and it is really too ambitious to change the status quo. It’s right there in black and white. I call it how to accept the slide into fascism.
But don’t be fooled by that approach. The centrists will be replaced in the Fall by right wing Republicans in the elections. The progressives will pick off a few more Republocrats and the Party will be where is was after 1968 and 1972—waiting for a new generation of politicians. Unfortunately time is running out on the American century. Global warming doesn’t care who is in office.
Did you see Elizabeth Warren on Colbert last night? Now that’s the kind of rationale and fire and fury the democrats need to show America…that there ARE ways to accomplish the goals
for majority of Americans, now squelched by the minority of fake Republican! There are ways to get things done; but I fear most Democrats - in government and in general - are failing to rise to the seriousness of the occasion: the life or death of our democracy. With the obstruction and demise of voting rights, what is America but a sham for wealthy whites fearful of who the citizens of our marvelous country really are! SHAME on Republicans for showing no integrity and still enmeshed in the Civil War, SHAME on Democrats for fighting a forest fire with a garden hose, SHAME on so many of us who aren’t infuriated enough to get
actively involved…as we sit glued to our cell phones as the world burns…
And I agree: Biden looks weak because he does not implement Presidential Orders as you stated. Time to step up and be aggressive, not watch us go down…
I agree. He could also still hold rallies with unions in Virginia and Arizona to publicly shame Manchin and Sinema, and twist their arms a lot harder. He should have done that a long time ago.