Writing my Democratic Senator

[citizen blues]

I wrote my Senator last week, and he wrote me back explaining his position. I've written him back responding to his comments:

Senator:

I’m an optimist by nature and believe that we need to give bipartisan governing a fair shot. Throughout my tenure of public service, we have brought people together to get things done. I believe we can continue to do so in the Senate. We should not let partisan gamesmanship grind the country to a halt. Coloradans sent me to Washington to work on critical issues like improving infrastructure, ensuring access to affordable healthcare, creating good jobs, and addressing climate change. Nothing should prevent us from doing so. If we need to modify the rules by which the Senate operates, we should begin to evaluate what form that might take.

My response:

Thank you for answering my earlier email. I would like to respond to what you said.

I’m also known for being an optimist; however, there is an importance difference between being an optimist and being out of touch. We already have one party that’s abandoned reality. We certainly don’t need the other one doing so. While I appreciate how you brought people together to get things done here in Colorado, Washington is not the same as Colorado. In Washington, bipartisanship has not existed in the Senate in a decade. Mitch McConnell has made sure of that.

I am a lifelong Democrat, but what I see is my party lacking a spine and the fire to speak out. The other party is ready to shred the constitution and burn down the government. On January 6th, 2021, they tried to do just that and are now gaslighting the country about it!

How do you propose to have a bipartisan government when one party no longer believes in democracy? The Republican party is gone. Instead, we’re witnessing the rise of the Q-anon party. To say that it is urgent and imperative to pass the new voting rights act is an understatement. We must re-establish and codify our democratic norms including getting money out of our elections and government.

Senator Manchin’s comments about there being 10 good Republicans in the Senate were laughably ludicrous. He sounded like Lot negotiating with God about finding one good person in Sodom and Gomorrah. We all know how well that turned out.

Ultimately, Senator, we need you and your Democratic colleagues to have all hands on deck and get the job done without wasting time waiting around for the GQP. Our democracy hasn't been this threatened since the Civil War. Strengthening it should be our 1st, 2nd, and 3rd priorities because without it, it's game over.

[brooklynite]

1. And the critical point is: you can't blame Manchin for everything...

Kelly, Hickenlooper, Coon, Hassan and others are mainstream Democrats and don't support elimination of the filibuster.

[citizen blues]

2. I agree

I was using Manchin as an example about how stupid he sounds. It was Hickenlooper I was corresponding with.

[George II]

3. Exactly. People are acting like it's only Manchin and Sinema, but there are other Senators...

...who aren't ready to eliminate the filibuster.

When one looks at the actual votes since the session began, both Manchin and Sinema have voted 100% with Biden, 15 have not. And that 15 includes Sanders, Warren, Gilibrand, and Markey among others.

[drray23]

4. Manchin and Sinema may not be the only ones

however they are key to breaking the dam. Right now, they are providing cover to others who don't want to kill the filibuster. If they flip this will also allow those same reluctant senators cover to do so as well.