3 ms·

Ah, you’re right, I forgot that Biden would need his Harry Potter wand to get Manchin and Sinema to agree to ditch the filibuster.

lapcat 4y ago
Biden, the longtime Senator, doesn't want to abolish the filibuster. He's never said he wanted to abolish the filibuster. He only suggested carving out a few small exceptions to the filibuster, such as for abortion. I'll go back to your earlier comment: "Rome wasn't built in a day." The current situation is the result of actions over many decades. The Democratic party is an incumbent protection service. Before the election they sneer "Vote blue no matter who!" (because they know their candidates are crappy, otherwise they wouldn't need to say it) then immediately after the election turn around and cry "But we can't do anything because Machin and Sinema!" They always have an excuse. Remember how the Democratic leadership dragged anti-abortion Henry Cuellar across the finish line against his pro-choice primary opponent? Democrats hate primary challenges. The reason that Republicans have much more ideological conformance than Democrats is that Republicans are much less afraid to primary their incumbents. Many Republican incumbents fear a primary challenge from the right more than they fear a "moderate" Democratic opponent.
- dctoedt 4y ago
  So again: What would you have Biden and Schumer and Pelosi (soon, Jeffries) do? Berating meteorologists because you don't like the weather in your locale is not exactly a hallmark of effective advocacy.
  - lapcat 4y ago
    I'm not here in the HN comments for "advocacy" or to offer future advice to Democratic leaders who aren't even reading the HN comments. I'm simply denying the claim that Biden's past actions indicate strong support for unions. Anyway, "What would you have them do?" is the wrong question. I don't believe that Democratic leaders have the same values and goals as I do. So as a start, what I would have them do is... fundamentally change who they are. ;-) Or maybe easier than that, resign from office.

lapcat 4y ago

Biden, the longtime Senator, doesn't want to abolish the filibuster. He's never said he wanted to abolish the filibuster. He only suggested carving out a few small exceptions to the filibuster, such as for abortion. I'll go back to your earlier comment: "Rome wasn't built in a day." The current situation is the result of actions over many decades. The Democratic party is an incumbent protection service. Before the election they sneer "Vote blue no matter who!" (because they know their candidates are crappy, otherwise they wouldn't need to say it) then immediately after the election turn around and cry "But we can't do anything because Machin and Sinema!" They always have an excuse. Remember how the Democratic leadership dragged anti-abortion Henry Cuellar across the finish line against his pro-choice primary opponent? Democrats hate primary challenges. The reason that Republicans have much more ideological conformance than Democrats is that Republicans are much less afraid to primary their incumbents. Many Republican incumbents fear a primary challenge from the right more than they fear a "moderate" Democratic opponent.

dctoedt 4y ago
So again: What would you have Biden and Schumer and Pelosi (soon, Jeffries) do? Berating meteorologists because you don't like the weather in your locale is not exactly a hallmark of effective advocacy.
- lapcat 4y ago
  I'm not here in the HN comments for "advocacy" or to offer future advice to Democratic leaders who aren't even reading the HN comments. I'm simply denying the claim that Biden's past actions indicate strong support for unions. Anyway, "What would you have them do?" is the wrong question. I don't believe that Democratic leaders have the same values and goals as I do. So as a start, what I would have them do is... fundamentally change who they are. ;-) Or maybe easier than that, resign from office.