Republicans Don't Believe in Democracy. Do Democrats understand what they're facing?

[melman]

What can Democrats do about this situation? They need to win elections, but all too often that won’t be sufficient, because they confront a Republican Party that at a basic level doesn’t accept their right to govern, never mind what the voters say. So winning isn’t enough; they also have to be prepared for that confrontation.

And surely the first step is recognizing the problem exists. Which brings me to the Democratic presidential primary race.

The leading candidates for the Democratic nomination differ considerably in both their personalities and their policy proposals, but these pale beside their differences from Donald Trump and his party. All of them are decent human beings; all would, if given the chance, move America in a notably more progressive direction.

The real chasm between the candidates is, instead, in the extent to which they get it — that is, the extent to which they understand what they’re facing in the modern G.O.P.

The big problem with Joe Biden, still the front-runner, is that he obviously doesn’t get it. He’s made it clear on many occasions that he considers Trump an aberration and believes that he could have productive, amicable relations with Republicans once Trump is gone.

Which raises the question: Even if Biden can win, is he too oblivious to govern effectively?

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/16/opinion/republicans-democracy.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage

[msongs]

1. obama thought repubs were reasonable too, so joe agrees. nt

[bluewater]

2. Merrick F-ing Garland says Hello.

[LanternWaste]

19. After this, therefor because of this

Logical fallacies in place of substance says hello as well.

[TheRealNorth]

3. I think Obama got it after the budget negotiations in 2011

But by 2011 the Republicans had the House and there wasn't much he could do. That's probably why Harry Reid got rid of the filibuster on judicial nominees in 2013, because they knew Moscow Mitch wouldn't allow the filibuster to stop them and it made sense for Obama and the Democratic senate to fill some seats while they still could.

[ehrnst]

4. Actually, Obama was going to give up on the ACA because of obstruction.

So I think it happened earlier.

Pelosi convinced him that she could get it through, he trusted her, and she delivered.

[BlueMississippi]

5. What is the key word here? nt

[melman]

6. Vegas

[BlueMississippi]

8. I don't see "Vegas" in your post

[melman]

10. My post?

Those are Paul Krugman's words. Not mine.

[BlueMississippi]

11. As posted by you.

What is the key word (or key phrase) in your post?

Please make sure you cite something that is actually in the OP.

[melman]

12. That's a rather limited way of looking at the idea of a key word

Don't you think?

[BlueMississippi]

13. No. For all intents and purposes

keywords reign supreme.

[George II]

15. At the risk of being accused of butting into this tete-a-tete...

...what is the key word of Krugman's column? Anything?

BTW, here's a photograph of King George II of GREECE:



Hope you can find one small enough for your sig line.

[melman]

16. No idea what you're on about

Sorry.

[George II]

17. Color me shocked.

[George II]

7. Perhaps "division"?

[BlueMississippi]

9. That is probably it nt

[bluewater]

14. Can't tell the players without a scorecard.

Sometimes it seems like people are not even trying.

[Gothmog]

18. Joe Biden gets it and would be a great POTUS

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[LanternWaste]

20. Unlike Krugman, I see zero evidence pointing towards any Democrat ignorant of the opposition.

Also, I reject the vapid, almost insipid, sentiment behind his unsupported opinion-pretending-to-be-a-question "is he too oblivious to govern effectively?"

[melman]

21. There's only one candidate who talks about how many wonderful Republicans there are

and how they know better and will all have an epiphany... etc. Only one.