If the senate doesn't pass a voting rights act, all other issues are moot

[Cyrano]

Putting a halt to the Republican all out war on voting in so many states must be the number one priority of Joe Biden and the Democratic Party.

Republicans are in overdrive in passing laws to stop (the wrong) people from voting. And at the rate they're going, they will soon be in a good position to win (steal?) the House and perhaps even the Senate.

If they gain control of either, the Democratic agenda is dead. All the wonderful things that Joe Biden is trying to bring into being will be road kill.

Yeah, I know that Senators Manchin and Sinema intend to block any Democratic attempt to pass a meaningful voting rights bill. Well, it's time the White House and the entire Democratic Party united to put maximum pressure on both of them. If tens of millions of dollars must be spent to get a meaningful outcome, so be it.

Further, every politician has "buried bodies" (things they don't want their voters to know about). Joe Biden needs to stop being "Mr. Nice Guy," have a private conversation with Manchin and Sinema, and twist their arms till they break if necessary. The entire power of the presidency must be brought to bear on these two senators to force them into line.

I repeat: No Democratic accomplishments will stand if Republicans steal the levers of power.

[Miguelito Loveless]

1. I agree

Which is why we are screwed. Manchin and Sinema have made their sympathies clear, and it is not with us.

[FBaggins]

2. Then all other issues are moot

Shall we all just go to bed and wait for the end at this point?


Fortunately - no... all other issues are not moot. The swing between a good blue year and a bad red year is dramatically larger than what is gained/lost with redistricting or how late a polling place is open or what forms of ID are acceptable.

[Cyrano]

5. I admire your optimism

Nonetheless, playing by the rules against a criminal/fascist organization that calls itself the Republican Party isn't exactly a level playing field.

[FoxNewsSucks]

8. "Shall we all just go to bed and wait for the end at this point? "

No one is suggesting that, except republicons and republicon sympathizers. They would love for Democrats to do exactly that.

But no matter what other things Democrats accomplish now, if people can't vote and have the result stand, republicons will regain control and screw up everything.

[FBaggins]

11. I can't help with that

If you're resigned to that happening if we can't pass national voting legislation... then that's what's going to happen.

Deciding to really really really care about the issue isn't going to get it passed. We don't have the votes (nor even the assurance that the courts would leave the legislation alone if the votes magically appeared).

[Dave says]

3. I agree with this

[Hortensis]

4. We can't know that. We might well prevail in the next elections

despite all their attempts to subvert them. And those elections might then give us the power to force electoral reforms.

I do agree that everything people on the left say is important to them depends on not losing our liberal democracy, and with it the sovereignty of the people. If it goes, we almost certainly won't be coming here to vent the new fears and troubles that replace our aspirations.

[FoxNewsSucks]

6. Couldn't agree more.

[Binkie The Clown]

7. No political accomplishments of any kind will survive the coming climate catastrophe.

Nor will computers, cell phones, Beethoven, Rembrandt, or running water and frozen food.

Now let's talk about which issues are really moot.

[Cyrano]

9. Yeah, I get it. Perhaps I'm hoping for a kinda' post apocalypse democracy

[Binkie The Clown]

12. More like post-apocalypse hunter-gatherers. nt

[Cyrano]

14. Now, now, Binkie. This too shall pass. As shall we all.

[Sewa]

10. I've been told not to worry about this

AG Garland will take care of this two or three years from now. So it’s all good. 💀🤙

[Cyrano]

13. Whew!

[JustAnotherGen]

17. Not sure about Garland - but Kristen Clarke

has already started suing Georgia over their voting crappola.

That's a critical state in the midterms.

[lagomorph777]

15. That is 100% the top priority. No other issue can be solved without it.

And yes, we have to apply maximum pressure to Manchin and Sinema to solve it. Campaign in their states, offer pork, bribes, or even dig up Kompromat. I don't care; we must solve these two.

[JustAnotherGen]

18. I like the Kompromat idea

But I fear the people of WV and Arizona are going to reward them.

Obviously their constituents want this - or they would be raising hell.

I don't know what to do with the people of those states.

[lagomorph777]

19. I don't think their constituents understand what these clowns are up to.

Unless by "constituents" you mean right-wing megadonors.

Best way to fight back is to tell their actual constituents what their Senators are stealing from them.

[JustAnotherGen]

22. I think they know

But they don't care.

Sinema is creating a self-inflicted wound. I do not believe that the young and in particular young latino and indigenous Americans that put her into office - are going to lift a finger to help her in 2026. She's a one termer.

I also think Manchin's people know - but would rather everyone suffer like them. I have zero faith in the people of West Virginia to get out of their own way. We can scream a million times - We've never seen a piece of coal in our life!!!!!

They don't care - they want to be coal miners and can't see themselves as anything else. Not ALL of them - but a large enough number of white working poor West Virginians don't care if they have nothing - as long as the 'other' isn't getting something (a decent paying future green focused job) either.

[JustAnotherGen]

16. My response is

We shouldn't engage a 50 state strategy in the midterms.

Absolutely no Democratis getting elected in Alabama or Missisippi. I highly doubt Texas Gubernatorial or Florida's races can be won by a Democrat.

We've got to hold onto Warnock's seat and Kelly's, flip the PA and OH currently GOP held seats - and hold every single other seat we can.

I will be very precise and laser focused in my donations after the NJ Elections this year. The Democratic Party will need to follow suit. We can't waste time on dream races - we've got to be strategic.

[Amishman]

20. I disagree, a 50 state strategy is exactly what we need

We've had a major fundraising advantage the past few cycles, and challenging them along a wider front forces the Pubs to spread their meager funds even thinner.

It also helps us with moderates overall by projecting a more balanced image.

[JustAnotherGen]

21. We aren't picking up

Rand Paul's, Marco Rubio's, Tim Scott's, Mike Lee's, or Jim Lankford seats in the Senate. I would put a very low probability on Kennedy's in Louisiana.

It's not happening. There are not enough moderates in those states. Florida has been a waste of time for years, as has Texas.

Toomey, Burr, Portman, Johnson (WI) we've got a shot. Georgia - the fact that Kristen Clarke is suing them? We've got a shot at keeping Warnock in office.