Clearly many here don't understand that the democratic pick of the house really means

[beachbum bob]

- means all appropriations must begin in the house and this a leverage factor of some merit but is limited
- means investigations and subpoena power into all things trump and republican and government related
- means little if ANY democratic legislation will ever move any further than a symbolic vote in the house

without McConnel signing on to any democratic house legislation, nothing will move in the senate as there only very limited ways for the minority to bring any bill to a vote in the senate

If any democratic bill does pass the senate and the house, then a good chance trump will veto it outright out of spite

So a strategy and tactic must be developed to make full use of what power the democrats do have and make the GOP (and trump) defend for 2 years leading to 2020.

I don't want to see a GOP version of the House Dems wasting time on 100 symbolic votes that have ZERO support of house GOP and the Senate.

[hlthe2b]

1. Apparently not all new House members understand that, either...

Maybe something orientation would want to stress.... Sigh...

[spooky3]

4. But there may be a few opportunities to get

Cooperation on some issues, leading to cosponsorships with Republicans. Surely a few who have kept quiet about Trump saw the trend that the midterms revealed. They have to be aware that they could lose the senate and the WH, especially if the economy tanks.

[hlthe2b]

6. I don't doubt the House can pass legislation and some of it will be bipartisan

I also suspect there may be opportunities in the Senate to sign on or at least gain votes among R's in highly vulnerable 2020 districts. That said, Trump sees anything that gives the D's a victory as a personal attack on himself and will petulantly veto nearly all of it.

Still some legislative efforts should move forward, regardless of chance of full passage. THe electorate needs to see this effort on key issues. That said, it should be strategic and limit the "symbolic" yet "hopeless efforts.

[Hortensis]

15. There'll be a fair number of opportunities. The Repubs

lost by being dysfunctional and irresponsible. They'll need achievements to show their voters. Trump's a wingnut and at least some cooperation could probably be bought with a piece of wall and maybe a few flyovers. If he's still around. Pence is a different matter, of course.

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. Voting 60 times to "Repeal Obamacare" was symbolic

Voting once each on a range of important policy matters to demonstrate to the electorate what Democratic control of government would result in is not symbolic, it clarifies the choices Americans will need to weigh in deciding which Party should lead our government after the 2020 elections.

[enough]

5. Good point. NT

[Glamrock]

8. Bingo!

Spot on Tom!

[irresistable]

10. I agree...Passing the positive things that both Democrats and the American people want....

...and having those bills stall in the Senate, will then allow Democrats to make the case for taking the Senate. Plus, a few Republicans might crack under the Pressure.

[BaileyBill]

12. Took the words right out of my mouth.

[mucifer]

3. I am hoping live televised investigative hearings will be helpful with winning the senate

and the Presidency.

[Bfd]

9. Yes, This is it

[jberryhill]

7. We'll have the usual dumbshits at DU...

...going on about “why don’t the Democrats accomplish something” while the Senate refuses to pass anything.

[MiniMe]

11. It at least shows voters what the democrats would do if they had the Senate

I just wish that the House could block some of the judges

[beachbum bob]

13. there are "symbolic" votes and there are complete waste of time votes

symbolic votes:

protecting pre-existing condition mandate
protecting social security, medicare and medicaid
protecting environmental regulations
income taxcut rollback on upper 1% and business

You have one and done, not 60 votes

or strategically tie to a appropriation bills which forces GOP to vote no in the senate and.or trump veto it....perhaps shutting down the government.

We we need are fruitful hearings and investigations into all things trump and gop

[lunatica]

14. You are assuming that all Republicans will continue to support Trump

They have some reliable facts to think about.

Trump is a a lame duck in a big way now. If they were counting on another tax break for the rich they can kiss that thought away. At this point their intention to destroy Social Security, Medicare, or any other social benefits is dead in the water. Obamacare is here to stay now.

And they must now worry about being re-elected. The Trump wagon is broken and in a ditch. If they have any hopes for a political future they must distance themselves from Trump.

You may be right but if the Republicans want to salvage their party they have to start right now. Their party is broken. The only way to rebuild it is to move back to towards the Center. To do otherwise is to do the insane action of repeating the actions that don’t work.

If nothing else Republicans are practical about their self preservation. At this point they have to fix the party or dwindle into irrelevance. Trump’s base will not transfer their adoration of Trump to anyone else and the Republicans know they can’t count on that base for themselves.

[beachbum bob]

16. I don't assume the GOP will continue to avoid confrontation with trump BUT we must NOT

let them escape their complicity with trump.

The trump anchor must be around the entire GOP combined necks for 2 more years

[lunatica]

17. What if the House can pass bills and actually have a few Senators helping

That’s what my argument is about. The Republicans must do some bipartisan cooperation if they want to salvage their party. To continue doing nothing is the very definition of insanity. Some of them will cooperate for self preservation.

If they want to salvage their party they can’t wait until Trump leaves. They have to do it now.

[Thomas Hurt]

18. and Trump will continue to use legislation or policy he says he supports...

as leverage to try to get the Dems to back off of investigations.

[fishwax]

19. the votes aren't symbolic just because the bills won't pass the senate

Passing bills through the house that represent the interests and desires of the American people does a lot of good even if those bills are voted down in the senate. It keeps important issues like expanding health care, protecting the environment, and reforming student loan debt at the front of the discussion. It calls attention to important issues and to democratic solutions to those issues, which we can use to build our 2020 campaigns. Having the ability to pass legislation gives us considerably more power in setting the agenda, and we'd be foolish not to use that power even if republican obstruction prevents us from actually accomplishing some of that agenda.

It also forces republicans to take a stand on issues that will likely hurt them in 2020 election campaigns. If democrats work consistently to protect and expand access to health care, the issue that was most important (iirc) to the largest share of the 2018 electorate, then they force republicans to either get on board (in which case, yay, health care) or to continue to block it, which will then (assuming the public still cares about health care in 2020, which seems likely) hurt them across the board in those elections.

[Wintryjade]

20. Kinda like Republicans did with Obama while some Democrats didn't understand why Obama

could not push our agendas thru.