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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Democrats have the GOP Playbook: They know how to fight back
but just won't do it
There's no more doubt about the threat the Democrats face. They see it clearly but will they do anything?
By CHAUNCEY DEVEGA
PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 6:00AM (EDT)
Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Joe Manchin and Nancy Pelosi (Photo illustration by Salon/Getty Images)
Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Joe Manchin and Nancy Pelosi (Photo illustration by Salon/Getty Images)
The Republican Party and the larger neofascist movement it represents are boldly, shamelessly and relentlessly attacking American democracy. The campaign is nationwide and multi-spectrum: Almost every aspect of American society is being targeted. This includes basic understandings of reality and the truth, science and expertise, democratic institutions, education, public health, the environment, the economy, the free press and the First Amendment, civil and human rights, pluralism and secularism, and the social contract and the Common Good more generally.
These attacks also involve political violence in its many forms, including the insurrection of Jan. 6 and the slow-rolling coup attempt associated with it, a long history of stochastic terrorism, inspiring and unleashing right-wing street thugs and various other acts of violent intimidation and threats.
http://salon.com
toasty
(36 posts)This is an issue that is becoming front and center for many progressives. The big "WHY", that are our Democratic Party leaders have a long history of being out maneuvered, not to mention the glaring perception that they're spineless.
I would suspect this is a big factor in why the political divide always appears razor thin.
I want to see Merrick Garland out in front of cameras. None of this "DOJ doesn't discuss..." nonsense. I want to know what their plan is to keep democracy safe in America. If Garland is camera shy - GET RID OF HIM, and FAST.
DownriverDem
(6,226 posts)Perhaps if progressives got that we would be more united. They insist on infighting which means repubs win. I am a proud Dem. I don't need their label. We need for the Dems to win elections. That is all that matters.
whathehell
(29,026 posts)They could as easily say " if moderates got that we would be more united".
toasty
(36 posts)The Progressive agenda is something the centrists have been dragging their feet on, not to mention the ongoing demonization of Progressives that have polluted this site for years.
George II
(67,782 posts)....just a month ago?
wryter2000
(46,023 posts)onecaliberal
(32,775 posts)wryter2000
(46,023 posts)Because we have two "moderates" who are falling down on their jobs. If we didn't have them, McConnell would be back in charge.
onecaliberal
(32,775 posts)Those two people know exactly what theyre doing. Look who their funders are. The blinders are off.
wryter2000
(46,023 posts)The fact remains that we only have control of the Senate because we have those two.
onecaliberal
(32,775 posts)Having control doesnt really matter. I guess it does in the sense that we can stop them from doing anything horrendous. But just wait until the next election.
wryter2000
(46,023 posts)It's exactly the same thing as having Mitch McConnell in charge. He sure would have passed the first American Rescue Plan through reconciliation.
jaxexpat
(6,795 posts)Why else would NPR interview Kennedy for comment on house legislation? Oh and btw he got his talking point lies in.
DownriverDem
(6,226 posts)NPR needs government money to exist.
samplegirl
(11,461 posts)DownriverDem
(6,226 posts)I'm willing to help the Dem Party out. We all should help. Tomorrow is the quarter giving deadline. I will be giving to many candidates. Even if you don't have a lot money, give a little. If we don't help them, we lose for sure.
DinahMoeHum
(21,771 posts)In your own hometown? Become a district leader/precinct captain/committeeperson, etc?
Work to get out the vote and get Democrats into local offices, which then spills into state and national offices?
It all starts at the local level.
AllaN01Bear
(17,944 posts).
LW1977
(1,231 posts)Time to go low instead of high.
Autumn
(44,972 posts)gives nothing. The American people deserve much more than politicians "playing". Being better than Republicans does nothing to slow or stop their disastrously evil policies and actions. What a poor excuse.
onecaliberal
(32,775 posts)Anyone who thinks they will step down and all of these things theyre putting in place for nothing. I dont know how you will console yourself. Democracy is over unless the Dems act. Period. The writing is and has been on the wall.
Autumn
(44,972 posts)get in power again it's over. They should be scared shitless instead of trying to carve out a place for Republicans in the government and appease them.
wryter2000
(46,023 posts)Manchin, maybe, but I'm not sure I'd go that far.
Autumn
(44,972 posts)wryter2000
(46,023 posts)We need the old Republican party back. Pre-Reagan.
Plus, where does that carve out a part of the government?
Autumn
(44,972 posts)wryter2000
(46,023 posts)In places like California, we have put it completely out of power.
Autumn
(44,972 posts)wryter2000
(46,023 posts)And I am done unless you can provide any proof that Democrats are carving out a place in government.
Autumn
(44,972 posts)huge favor. An honor.
Autumn
(44,972 posts)Darn.
onecaliberal
(32,775 posts)Party on par with Nazis.
Autumn
(44,972 posts)the Nazi party. They have proved the last 12 years beyond a shadow of a doubt what their goal is.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)The world's worst nightmare.
msongs
(67,347 posts)Mad_Machine76
(24,391 posts)or *can* do something but are simply NOT choosing to do something just makes me want to roll my eyes. If things were really that simple, you'd already have to have a pretty low opinion of Democrats to think that they are just literally refusing to do something that needs to be done to save the country if it were as easy as everybody on the internet always seems to claim that it is. I know that the party isn't perfect but to make it seem like the party is willfully complicit in the destruction of the country being wrought by the Republican Party is just offensive to hear. If people on the internet have answers that our current elected officials do, then perhaps, they should be running for office instead of sitting on the sidelines yelling at them.
wryter2000
(46,023 posts)It makes me want to tear out my hair.
Mad_Machine76
(24,391 posts)betsuni
(25,371 posts)Definition of "politiphobe":
"They see the contentious give-and-take of politics as unnecessary and distasteful. Specifically, they believe that obvious, commonsense solutions to our country's problems are out there for the plucking. The reason these obvious solutions are not enacted is that politicians are corrupt, or self-interested, or addicted to unnecessary partisan feuding."
The people most likely to fall for populists with easy solutions yelling about taking on corrupt establishment enemies.
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)toasty
(36 posts)NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)wryter2000
(46,023 posts)I am so sick of this "blame the Democrats" crap. I have yet to find anyone to tell me what "fighting back" would look like. This article says we should eliminate the filibuster and expand the Supreme Court. I'd like to know how to accomplish that with the tiny majority we have.
Mad_Machine76
(24,391 posts)Our list of options- mostly because of Manchin and Sinema- seems to be dwindling, just to get the basic stuff done.
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)It certainly won't happen if we have a core group of malcontents like Chauncey DeVega (and others often quoted here) who continually do their level best to denigrate and smear Democrats and our Democratic leadership with claims that they are "do-nothings" or "weak" or "too nice" or that Democrats are "not serious" or that we "don't care".
This follows right on the heels of the hit-parade of other popular smears like: Democrats are "Coastal Elites"; the "party of the one percent"; "ideologically bankrupt"; "feeble"; "corrupt"; "an absolute failure"; and of course the biggest lie of all "no difference between Democrats and Republicans".
What useful purpose does it serve? It's just another example of how people are oddly willing to do and say things that create an atmosphere of fear and hopelessness and negativity. Negativity generates apathy. Apathy discourages voter turnout. Low voter turnout gives Republicans a chance to steal the elections.
I'm sick of it, too! You're right... it's always "do something RFN" but never any guidance of what they think the Democrats should be doing, and in those rare instances where something is proffered, it's always unrealistic and demonstrates a genuine lack of understanding of how politics work in the real world.
wryter2000
(46,023 posts)I do remember people posting "Obama = Bush" and "Obama is worse than Bush." Talk about living in a fantasy world.
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)... it's only a matter of time. And of course, it's BS!
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)wryter2000
(46,023 posts)I put the person on ignore. But thanks.
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)Missn-Hitch
(1,383 posts)And to those of you saying, "get more involved, run for office, become a precinct manager"...and so on.
I say NO. I served my country, pursued my dreams and now I have a full time job running a business. I never wanted to be a politician or get involved in the machinations of the political process.
I support my candidates, donate money, scream from the rooftops and will fight when it comes to it. It's what I do and what I will continue to do until my last breath.
The fascist threat is real.
wryter2000
(46,023 posts)So what should we do? This person says get rid of the filibuster and expand the Supreme Court. Okay. Convince Manchin and Sinema.
Other than that its pretty vague. Message better. Get more organized. Get better financing. Protest.
We can get better organized if we kick out everyone who wont toe the line. There go Manchin and Sinema and our majority. I guess we can try to find someone to think up better messaging. I am not impressed.
wryter2000
(46,023 posts)Rather than blaming Democrats, let's try pointing out that we wouldn't be in this position if there weren't a huge complex of right wing media that fill the American people's heads full of lies. How long was Limbaugh in business? Where is our Murdoch?
The problem is Democrats don't have a huge support structure of ultra-rich people who finance the lies AND the Republican party. And the Federalist Society, etc., etc., etc. Even 50 Cent is now a Trumper (by his own admission last week on Berman's show) because he thinks he pays too much in taxes.
If these types hadn't curdled the minds of tens of millions of people (maybe over a hundred million), the Republicans wouldn't get very far at all. Instead of hearing that their money is going to feed twelve children per welfare family, they might hear about how much we spend on the Pentagon. Instead of calling Medicare for All socialism, they might be hearing about the abuses of for-profit medical insurance. And they wouldn't vote for the current crop of Republicans.
So, let's stop blaming the people who are doing their best with an incredibly difficult situation.