If Democrats want to win elections, they should stand up and fight for what the American people want

[Uncle Joe]

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Bobstandard]

1. This! N/t

[Tommymac]

2. Thanks Uncle Joe. Always look forward to your Bernie Bits. nt

[W_HAMILTON]

3. The vast, vast majority of Democrats already do.

[orwell]

4. That's exactly what they have been doing...

...you can't pass things that you don't have the votes for.

By and large the Biden Administration has been trying to pass all of that. When you have a 50/50 senate and a filibuster rule that two Dem senators refuse to address it is impossible.

Bernie knows that.

[Uncle Joe]

5. Yes, Bernie knows it,

however he's calling on the Senate to vote regardless of whether a particular policy is passed or not.

Two primary reasons being these popular policies which have been debated at least since last summer stand an infinitely better chance of passing if the Senate actually votes on them along with the critical point that the American People in order to make wise decisions in November and beyond need to know exactly where their Senators stand on the issues.

Bernie knows that.

[SoonerPride]

9. They literally cannot vote because of the stupid filibuster.

So then what?

[Uncle Joe]

12. Yes they can by having votes on the filibuster to precede every policy vote,

if they have to, whether it's allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drugs or anything else, that in itself is a vote.

The American People have a much better much gauge as to how much importance our Senators place on democracy because of the earlier filibuster vote in support of democracy which failed because Manchin and Sinema voted against it.

We want Republican Senators on record as well in regards to their stance on these critical, popular policies.

[SoonerPride]

19. They do that already. The have a cloture vote and it fails.

[Uncle Joe]

23. How often has the current Senate held a cloture vote?

[iemanja]

28. They are listed in the congressional record

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/vote_menu_117_1.htm
https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/vote_menu_117_2.htm

It's not exactly difficult to find.

[Uncle Joe]

34. Thanks for the links

but I don't see any cloture votes on the BBB or any of those popular policies in the OP?

[iemanja]

36. BBB didn't go up for a vote

as you well know. Therefore there was no cloture.

They are working on breaking up BBB into smaller chunks. But you would seemingly prefer the larger bill fail. The GOP agrees.

[Uncle Joe]

48. Then put it up for vote, work both tracks if they need to

personally I prefer the larger bill to pass but time is of the essence, Manchin and Sinema know it.

[iemanja]

33. Bernie is in a safe blue state

He doesn't have to worry about delivering congress to the GOP.

[Uncle Joe]

39. That's illogical

Bernie would lose his life's political work, his legacy and our nation would become full blown corporate authoritarian; and that's polar opposite from Bernie's ideals.

I believe Bernie is light years more concerned about Republicans coming back to power than at least two Democratic Senators.

Manchin is looking for "bi-partisanship" with a party that just tried to overthrow our government.

[iemanja]

41. Well, I shouldn't have put your assertion onto Bernie

Since his tweet does not mention your point that Democrats should vote on failed legislation everyday. That is what will help the GOP.

[Lunabell]

6. Amen!

[chowder66]

7. American people should stand up and fight for what they want by electing more Democrats.

And giving Democrats a bigger majority to continue to implement the changes Americans want. They should also keep Democrats in office for more than two terms in order to be able to move those policies forward.

It can't be done in just one or two terms and then handed back to people who destroy, destruct and dismantle. It sets us back and gets more difficult as the Republican party blows up all norms.

[Uncle Joe]

8. I agree but I also believe apathy rolls down hill

and if the Senate never hold votes on the critical issues of the day affecting the American People because those issues or policies may be politically uncomfortable for Senate colleagues or challenge financial powers, then the people feed on that perceived lack of concern and many give up on the system, that's why Independents are the largest group.

We need to be tapping that resource.

If the Democratic Party seriously wants the American People to one vote in greater numbers and for Democratic candidates, the Senate has to be held to the same standard and vote whether we win or not.

I respect Senate Leader Schumer all the more because held the vote on the filibuster for voting rights, even though they didn't win.

[chowder66]

10. I do agree with everything you said. I am frustrated

with the people in this country to levy the weight of our democracy on the backs of us who do vote.

The Democrats do make great efforts to implement much of what they can but are constrained by some of the things you have mentioned and yet many do not take the time to see what progress has been made and in such a short amount of time against a clusterfuck of incompetency that was left to us which is always that case after Republican administrations.

[SoonerPride]

11. HOW CAN THEY VOTE

Please explain to me how they can VOTE when the goddamned filibuster precludes them from voting.

It's a shame we don't have 50 senators who want to hold votes, but that is the reality.

[Demsrule86]

13. I am confused so Sen. Sanders is saying if Democrats want votes, they should stand up

and vote for what we want...but we don't have the votes and no way to break the filibuster. Does Sen. Sanders think fewer Democrats will better somehow...very confusing?

The bottom line is what Sen. Sanders should be saying is vote in the midterm for Democrats as if your life depended on it because it likely does...and then we can pass some policy that will truly help folks...more Democrats are needed not fewer Democrats.

[SoonerPride]

17. I agree with this

The Senate is hamstrung by minority obstructionism from voting at all on the things we could pass.

If we had simple majority rule then a huge amount of the Democratic agenda would have been passed.

Bu we don't and without Manchin and Sinema changing the filibuster there is no way forward.

NONE.

[Uncle Joe]

16. A VOTE ON THE FILIBUSTER IS A VOTE

From post #13 on another thread answering this same question.

Yes they can by having votes on the filibuster to precede every policy vote,
if they have to, whether it's allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drugs or anything else, that in itself is a vote.

The American People have a much better much gauge as to how much importance our Senators place on democracy because of the earlier filibuster vote in support of democracy which failed because Manchin and Sinema voted against it.

We want Republican Senators on record as well in regards to their stance on these critical, popular policies.

if they have to, whether it's allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drugs or anything else, that in itself is a vote.

The American People have a much better much gauge as to how much importance our Senators place on democracy because of the earlier filibuster vote in support of democracy which failed because Manchin and Sinema voted against it.

We want Republican Senators on record as well in regards to their stance on these critical, popular policies.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=16296838

[LENNY0229]

15. IT IS TWO FUCKING PEOPLE! TWO! DEMS ARE OVERWHELMINGLY FIGHTING LIKE HELL FOR THE PEOPLE!!

[Uncle Joe]

20. FOR THE PEOPLE!!

[Uncle Joe]

22. You believe voting in favor of the filibuster over democracy is for the people!

[iemanja]

27. That's it. What we need are more slogans!

Failed votes and slogans. As long as it makes you feel good, and really that matters more than anything else.

[Hortensis]

24. :) "They" should? Well, at least we have your outstanding example of commitment

always before us to remind us of what commitment is.

My own commitments are to my principles and goals, to standing up for what people want and need. NEVER to a leader or faction.

What we should and can be doing is such a priority to me that all politicians are merely my best available means to achieve those goals, or impediments to them. Including President Biden. Respect and some genuine but cool-eyed admiration. No adoration. And I don't do lying politicians, very simple cut of people who start out betraying trust.

I strongly recommend it. I am never distracted from my principles by demagoguery or elevate a politician's goals above my own, and attempts to deceive and use me against my principles identify those who should never be trusted with power.

[Uncle Joe]

25. Great! Then you should enjoy this article from Robert Reich on the issue of leadership.

Why Biden shouldn't move there

I just heard Joe Manchin say Biden should move to the “center.” Political consultant Mark Penn wrote in the New York Times that “Biden should follow the lead of Bill Clinton, and move to the center.”

Duh. Who wants to be on the fringe? Political careers are imperiled by labels like “left-winger” (or “right-winger”). The public feels safer with a president who proclaims total commitment to the middle. FDR always sought to position himself as a centrist. So did Nixon (remember the “silent majority?”). Barry Goldwater’s “extremism in defense of liberty” helped cost him the White House.

But this is just positioning. Visionary leaders of America have always understood that the “center” is a fictitious place lying somewhere south of thoughtless adherence to the status quo.

Virtually any attempt to lead — to summon forth the energies and commitments of public — will not “centrist” be at the time. That’s the essence of leadership. Teddy Roosevelt didn’t discover the evils of industrial concentration at the political center. FDR didn’t knit a safety net for the poor and dispossessed, or take the nation into the Second World War, from the center. Kennedy and Johnson didn’t locate the cause of civil rights at the center. Nixon didn’t find support for recognizing China in the center. Nor even did Reagan find his mandate for a smaller government at the center.

(snip)

https://robertreich.substack.com/p/political-center-bs

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016312242

[BeckyDem]

37. Yep. +1.

[iemanja]

26. Do tell me what that is supposed to mean in practice?

Do you think a tweet from Bernie is magic? Will it make Sinema and Manchin roll over? Or do you think the Democratic Party doesn't care about the people? Or is this just a fanboi thing? Or do you only care about tweets and not getting actual legislation passed?

[Uncle Joe]

29. Our Senate held a highly publicized vote on reforming the filibuster in order to pass voting rights

which did not succeed because Manchin and Sinema believed the filibuster was more important than the peoples' rights to vote.

Whether one supports their position or not, the American People are better educated for it.

Have a cloture vote ever day if they need to, advertise the crap out of it and/or break up the BBB passing each policy individually on separate bills, I believe if push come to shove, some Republicans would see the political writing on the wall.

[iemanja]

31. I don't think you know what cloture is

There needs to be a piece of legislation for there to be cloture. And I already posted the votes for this year's congress for you.

What is your goal? To cement in the American public's mind that Democrats fail every day? So what if helps the GOP win?

[FakeNoose]

30. Funny how he's always telling us Dems what we should and should not do

... and yet he refuses to join our Party. Why is that?

[iemanja]

32. The "they" says it all.

[Uncle Joe]

35. Do you believe no good advice can be given or taken if the word "they" is used?

[iemanja]

38. The "they," Democrats, are already standing up for those issues

The tweet doesn't constitute advice. Advice would be suggesting and working on legislation that can get passed and negotiating with Manchin and Sinema to make sure it does.

I happen to support the Democrats and don't consider my party to be Other.

[Uncle Joe]

42. Then why are you getting upset if Bernie amplifies/supports the Democratic Party's highest ideals?

[iemanja]

44. I don't like the implication

that Democrats aren't standing up for the people.

[betsuni]

40. For the past year Democrats have been standing up and fighting for the American people

and Republicans trying to stop them. Who is Bernie directing this comment to and why?

Obligatory: "Why do we listen to people who lost elections as if they are experts in winning elections?"

[Uncle Joe]

43. Anybody that can read, anybody that can view a video,

the more the better.

[betsuni]

46. But why would he want anyone to think Democrats aren't standing up and fighting for the American

people?

[Hellbound Hellhound]

49. Probably because that's the current narrative in popular culture.

People see headlines saying "Best economic recovery evar" while waiting in line to buy food with food stamps. "Headlines vs. Breadlines" sort of shit. They see Democrats in power while they starve. People are finally starting to say "Enough", speak up for themselves, and unionize; They don't give Biden credit, because they've done that shit themselves, independent of Dems or Reps. They go on strike for their right to the ability to live and see one or two politicians back them; That's not any politician helping them, that's workers helping themselves and fuck the politicians.

Just answering your question, from a boots-on-the-ground Union member who helped forge their own union (Not a prominent part, but a small cog in a huge machine.)

[betsuni]

50. But the headlines don't say "Best economic recovery ever." Negative media coverage for

Democrats nearly always. Democrats have never ignored the poor, that's why Republican voters think Democrats take their taxes and give free stuff and "entitlements" to everyone else except them.

Slight House majority and 50-50 senate, one year in, and Democrats are supposed to have fixed everything wrong with the country. Nobody promised that and even if they did, grown-ups know not everything works out the way you plan it. Do people do this in their lives? Get married, after one year not everything's perfect -- that's it, divorce, never getting married again. Start a new career, after one year not everything's going well -- that's it, I give up. After a year of exercise and healthy diet -- oh, I don't look like a supermodel -- back to junk food and the sofa for me!

Why are people so eager to blame Democrats, always "the government" the radical post-policy Republican Party runs against, even when Republicans are in the majority. Why would anyone let someone else tell them what to think? They don't do that when something's important to them. When they want to buy something, they'll compare prices and do research to get the best product and price. Yet they let themselves believe Republicans and Democrats are the same and "fuck the politicians." A small child, a pet even, can instantly tell the difference between the parties.

Agree people have to do things themselves, everyone has to be more active and participate in society for it to change. It's their country and it's a very large country with a large population. The cynical idea that all politicians are corrupt is damaging and politicians and public figures who promote it should be ashamed of themselves. That's why so many people don't vote. I don't know what their agenda is in promoting the idea that Democrats don't fight for the people or care about anything but money is. Maybe just saying what their supporters want to hear for fundraising purposes and so on.

[Emile]

45. Great post k&r

[hamsterjill]

47. Democrats need to speak up!

Democrats need to heat up the rhetoric. Let Biden call Fox News trash a sonofabitch. Good for him for telling the truth.

Let them call out Manchin and Sinema by name. Tell voters what’s going on.

I want to see some bravado. I want to see some strength!

And I am NOT alone in feeling that way.