The Democrats Have a Mandate. Why Won't They Use It?

[DonCoquixote]

https://eand.co/the-democrats-have-a-mandate-why-wont-they-use-it-9236aeaca655


This article will make a lot of people angry, but it is the truth.

Hear is a meaty cut from the article:

The point is that in a democracy, you will never have unity. It just doesn’t happen. There will always be someone somewhere who dissents. Even in times like these, of pandemic and coup. Maybe they’re just grandstanding and trying to get attention. Maybe they’re just morons. Who cares? Trying to pursue them and pander to them is a recipe for disaster.

Why? Because when you try to pander to the last holdouts of extremism, malice, stupidity, and ignorance, in the name of “unity,” you end up squandering the power you have. You don’t use your power, because you’re too busy hoping that Steve the Fascist and Jim the Theocrat back you. But they don’t, for the simple reason that they’re fanatical extremists who don’t believe in democracy.

[lunatica]

1. 4 days in and rocks are already being thrown

Sigh...

[regnaD kciN]

2. I particularly love the assumption...

...that “making people angry” is proof that you’re speaking the “truth.” As I recall, Trump made a lot fo people here angry, so....?

[lunatica]

5. It gets too ludicrous when you try to

get down in the weeds with people who have no connection to normal intelligence. The author of this piece is one of those, and this article is a blatant attempt to sound intelligent.

[liskddksil]

3. The window is extremely narrow for us to get things done. If we don't act quickly we will be

destroyed in 2022 and 2024.

[lunatica]

6. Should we give the new administration a day or two more

to fix everything, or just give up now?

[liskddksil]

10. I think the job for us now is to push our Senators and Reps to pass the Biden Harris

economic plan as soon as possible, and that if Republicans do not shown inclination in the next 2 weeks toward a good deal, than we immediately proceed with the budgetary reconciliation process. When voters cash their $1400 survival check, they are not going to care whether it was a bipartisan bill that got them a check, just that they got a check. If Republicans don't want to vote for it then its on them. That's why I'm calling in a separate post for DU to collectively make 1,000+ calls between now and the end of the month to our member of Congress and Senators and urge them to get this done.

[lunatica]

11. So only one more week to fix everything.

Understood. Good luck with that.

[liskddksil]

13. Not what I said at all nt

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Because Democrats are weak and always fuck things up, didn't you know that?

Jesus H. Christ, it's been less than five days. How about we give the new administration another day or two?

[TwilightZone]

7. 50/50 and a close House is not a mandate.

It would be helpful if the people who write these missives took the time to at least obtain a tiny glimpse of what life is like in the real world.

I also love the intentional misunderstanding of what Biden means by unity.

[lunatica]

12. It's faulty thinking

Unanimity and unity are not the same. Period.

[uponit7771]

22. I disagree, the mandate is predicated off of votes not numbers in congress seeing voter suppression

... and jerrymandering more define the people in congress than voters.

[Amishman]

32. This, any other way of viewing it is wishful thinking

We have control by a razor thin margin, and are entirely dependent on our few blue dogs and moderates.

While not advancing major change is frustrating, attempting it and failing is far worse.

I have confidence in the political savvy of Joe and other leaders. They will know how far they can push before losing the votes to pass it - and looking at the political landscape, the answer isn't very far.

[Big Blue Marble]

8. It is difficult to argue that

50/50 split in the Senate and a 10 seat or so control in the House in a significant mandate. Additionally,
a switch of 45K votes in certain swing states would have yielded a Trump second term. We are
somewhat on a razor's edge with the country split evenly given our electoral system.

I am all for the Democrats exercising their power. But this is a pretty shaky mandate at
best. Let's allow the leadership in our party time to establish their hold on power over
the next few weeks and months, before demanding results.

[dutch777]

9. Everyone in this thread so far is right on. Article in yesterday's NYT by Ezra Klein also...

...excellent and notes that the Dems habitually worry about a smooth governmental process rather than actually producing a product, needed change and progress. Hard to be considered the Progressive party if you don't actually make progress, you just talk about it. My only fault to Mr. Klein's and similar articles is that he says Dems have two years. Basically that we have until the 2022 mid term election. I think this is incorrect. We maybe have 18 months, simply because many people are making up their mind who is worth their vote and who isn't long before the election. It may be making table wine instead of a fine vintage but we can't just crush grapes, build barrels, pour in the juice and wait for perfection. Ain't gonna happen. And scarily, while much was squandered in the Obama years with the Dems approach, this may be our last chance. And democracy's, as we know it and want in America, last chance as well.

[MineralMan]

14. What mandate is that? With the Senate at 50/50, there is no mandate.

We don't have even a 60 vote majority, much less a 2/3 majority.

All talk of mandates is foolish talk, indeed. We are going to need to tread somewhat lightly, and try to enlist a few Republicans on most issues. Burning bridges is not going to accomplish that.

[ismnotwasm]

15. Complete bullshit

I made an effort to read the article. It isn’t annoying in that “but I don’t agree with this”way, it’s annoying in that “lack facts and is full of hyperbole” way.

[MineralMan]

16. Further, what is that site and who is that person?

Jebus! Maybe I should start a website to post my ramblings instead of posting here? Nah....

[DonCoquixote]

30. since ye asked

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umair_Haque
https://thinkers50.com/biographies/umair-haque/

[ananda]

17. Because they're accustomed to getting steamrolled..

and don't know how to do anything else?

The Dems have just been driving me crazy this week.

I expect total bastardry from Reeps, but I at least
thought the Dems would stand up to them this time.

Guess I was wrong.

[Hekate]

18. Christ on a trailer hitch, it's been less than a week

[ShazzieB]

23. Exactly.

I've been very pleased with what Biden has gotten done so far. Meanwhile, things are just barely getting started in Congress. I don't know what people are expecting, but it sounds like those expectations need to be adjusted, by quite a bit.

[ananda]

29. Kreist on a hotair balloon...

Yeah, we have all the time in the world to wait
for Reeps to come around... think never... while
people are dying, going broke, and suffering.

[StarfishSaver]

19. This is ridiculous

[NurseJackie]

25. I read profiles.

Bookmarking this to read later, maybe.

This is ridiculous

Yes it is. And also... why now?

[betsuni]

20. "It's virtually impossible to have more power than the Democrats can have at this time."

What an idiot.

[ShazzieB]

24. I know, right?

Like, WTAF?

[kcr]

26. Yep. That sums it up nicely

[Hekate]

27. Yeah

[mcar]

28. Yet another "Dems suck" narrative

Being pushed on Democratic Underground.

[mtnsnake]

34. I don't think it's a "Dems suck" narrative at all

It's more like a plea for Democrats to push through our agenda, while we have the chance to do so, without worrying about how the repukes might feel about it. He doesn't want us to blow the opportunity because he feels these opportunities are just too few and far between.

[DonCoquixote]

31. this would nto be a 50 50 senate

if we threw Ted Cruz and Hawley out for their coup, which by the way is legal and has precedent. You can say oh we have no mandate, but if we try to tiptoe, we get smashed in 2022. I am not saying go dictator, but can we please stop acting like people are not going to try and smash us to bits like they did after bush?

[mtnsnake]

33. Another good article by Umair Haque. No wonder the right wing hates him so much.

Thanks for posting the excerpts from it, DonCoquixote. Yeah, it's a little early for him to be assuming that the Biden Administration might not be using their mandate effectively, but for those who read the article in its entirety, they will see he makes a lot of sense, historically speaking. Some people here are acting as if Haque is against Democrats or something when it's the opposite that is true.

[DonCoquixote]

35. thanks

it is nice to know some people bpthered to read it wothout going ewww

[mtnsnake]

36. No prob. After reading the entire article

I made sure to bookmark the link to his other articles, which I am looking forward to reading in the very near future. The next one I'll probably read is the one entitled "Why Biden and Harris’ Inauguration Matters — After Four of the Worst Years America’s Ever Had."