As Democrats we do have the power. What we lack is leadership.

[flashman13]

[Bettie]

1. I find it interesting

that when Republicans are in the minority, they are able stop almost everything, but when Dems are in the minority, they can't seem to even slow anything down.

[Paladin]

2. I've noticed the same thing, over the years.

And I don't find it "interesting"---it's damn well infuriating.

[Bettie]

3. It is

but, people have been super sensitive about any criticism, no matter how mild, of Democratic leaders, so I hedged a little on my language.

Maybe they just aren't as good at leveraging the rules in their favor?

Of course, since Citizens United, money is the most important thing in politics and what large donors want drives far too many on both sides.

[Paladin]

5. Your hedging was a wise move.

I've learned that it doesn't take much in the way of critiquing Democratic officials and policies to get posts removed, here at DU. All of which is alright, as far as I'm concerned; it's made me refine and improve my comments.

[Marie Marie]

6. All of the above - ditto.

[flashman13]

10. We went through serious censorship here if you even remotely criticized Democrats before the election.

I and several others (you know who you are ) took a lot of heat from other posters on the DU site at that time. We also had numerous posts pulled for failure to get on the Joe Biden bandwagon. Kamala Harris could have been and should have been the President.

The inability of the party and the its leadership to heed the criticism is what got us into this mess.

[flashman13]

8. Roger that!

[SocialDemocrat61]

7. Yet Biden got a lot done

[maxsolomon]

4. If you're not providing a synopsis of Schmidt's argument

then this should be in the Video forum.

[flashman13]

11. Why? So no one will see it? My purpose here is not to provide crib notes, but to present meaningful information.

Schmidt, Wilson, and a few others have the experience and credentials that entitle them to the largest audience possible.

[poli-junkie]

9. Schumer & Jeffries need

to threaten funding for 🧊

[flashman13]

13. That's a particularly good starting point.

[Quiet Em]

12. We have a really decent chance of picking up a few Senate seats

After we accomplish that in the 2026 midterms I would be ok with discussions on a different Democratic Leader in the Senate. Changing leadership right now won't accomplish anything. The Republicans control the Presidency, the Senate and the House. That's the problem.

Hakeem Jeffries has been a very effective and strong Leader in the House. He has the respect and support of House Democrats. There is no appetite or desire to replace him.

[SamuelTheThird]

14. Assuming elections even matter anymore...