Some Hopeful News

[babylonsister]

https://prospect.org/blogs/tap/some-hopeful-news/

Some Hopeful News
by Robert Kuttner
September 20, 2021


Feeling down about Joe Manchin, the Kabul debacle, the lingering pandemic, and Biden’s sinking approval ratings? Here’s a little good news:

The Republican abortion laws in Texas, Mississippi, and elsewhere are likely to drive independent voters, especially suburban women, into the arms of Democrats. Likewise the games Republican governors are playing with people’s lives around masks.

With every passing day, as a larger fraction of Americans are vaccinated and disgusted with those who aren’t (and their Republican enablers), the more the sane people’s majority grows.

And even though the reconciliation process will be Perils of Pauline right down to the wire, there is no way we won’t get a bill. It may be hundreds of billions less than we want and need, but benefits will soon begin helping ordinary Americans. And we can come back for more in the next budget reconciliation.

Also, FiveThirtyEight has been keeping track of the likely partisan gains and losses from redistricting, which once looked as if it would cost several Democratic House seats. According to their latest tally, we are almost at break-even, with four likely Republican pickups and two likely Democratic pickups.

more...

https://prospect.org/blogs/tap/some-hopeful-news/

[Mme. Defarge]

1. Merci!

Please keep those hopeful news cards ‘n letters comin’!

[calimary]

11. And send out some postcards to voters in swing districts!

Your local Indivisible group can help you with that one.

An endorsement by this non-paid, non-pro, non-spokesperson.

[Johnny2X2X]

2. Thank you

There's a lot of good things happening. I've been paying attention to this redistricting too and it's going to be just about a wash.

We're winning right now, people don't get it, but we are.

[lagomorph777]

3. Biden's Build Back Better Bills aren't the biggest battle.

The real battle is voting rights. This is the scary one. Either we force Manchin and Sinema to do the right thing, or America is dead.

[mopinko]

4. i suspect kinzinger will get squeezed out.

we're losing a seat in illinois, and have a huge dem advantage in springfield.

[gratuitous]

5. The recurring question for me

What are the Republicans doing to expand their base? Their political activities since the ascension of St. Donald, Last of His Name, all seem geared to pander to the most rabid segment of their voters, people who don't need to be persuaded to hate their neighbors, their communities, and anyone else who doesn't dedicate themselves full time to making those miserable sods happy.

The Texas "snitches get riches" law doesn't seem designed to draw any more support to the Republican banner. Making it tougher for "those people" to vote is going to offend the sensibilities of many fair-minded people, even if they aren't registered Democrats. Yes, protecting people's access to the ballot is important, but Republicans seem determined to alienate as many voters as possible.

[getagrip_already]

7. serious question - is there anyone left who cares in the gop?

They have effectively purged the state and national gop leadership to the point where people who would normally care about growing the party, or even stopping a hemorrhage of voters, are gone or pushed aside.

Now it's all about voter restrictions, redistricting, pushing radical candidates, and contesting election results.

It's no longer a party. It is a cult. And in their eyes, they are the majority.

[Hortensis]

6. Thanks, Babylonsister. Here're another positive thing,

at least to me. Woodward's and Costas' Peril, btw, turns out to be about 40% about Biden and what he does, and Biden and tRump juxtaposed against each other. O'Donnell says the book is constantly cutting from the madness of the tRump WH to the "sanity and stability" Biden brings to the campaign and then the WH. There are missteps, etc, but!

Anyway, Woodward on O'Donnell with Costa last night said,

"You can't report on Biden, and understand that the core of him is -- and this isn't a political judgement, it's a reporting fact -- that the core of him is, "Let's protect the country. Let's do the best that we can."

The core of the man is, and always has been, this commitment. Woodward isn't exactly a gusher, and when he says it's a reportable fact he means it's a fact. It's just nice to have it laid out so clearly.

[calimary]

16. Maybe the contrast will help some people start to appreciate Biden more.

Hey, at least this guy tells you the truth, even when it’s not easy to accept. The last individual lied like the rest of us breathe.

[Hortensis]

17. :) Truth exists. Falsehood doesn't, but that's its strength.

Still, wonder what effect an extra year of pandemic suffering directly due to the RW commitment to lies might have.

[yonder]

8. I'll echo #1. Thank you.

[Hekate]

9. KnR

[secondwind]

10. THANK you for this! Haven't been paying attention from here in the Caribbean!

[calimary]

14. I actually have been paying attention - no choice cuz of my Indivisible work.

And it’s to the point that news-junkie me has run from carefully monitoring the news today. Husband had something different tuned in.

[WarGamer]

12. 22 and 24 will all come down to the Economy... always does.

If it's on an even keel, Dems win... if it's slumping, we have problems.

[NNadir]

13. It does seem that much of the Trump base is either...

...committing suicide and/or incurring severe disabilities medical in nature. The latter will make it difficult to vote in places with restrictive voting laws.

They are not making it easier for themselves.

[budkin]

15. Agree... the GOP just severely dented their chances in 2022

Of taking the House and/or Senate