Ezra Klein: Buttigieg had most important answer at Democratic debate

[femmedem]

Buttigieg:[This is] the conversation that we have been having for the last 20 years. Of course we need to get money out of politics, but when I propose the actual structural democratic reforms that might make a difference — end the Electoral College, amend the Constitution if necessary to clear up Citizens United, have DC actually be a state, and depoliticize the Supreme Court with structural reform — people look at me funny, as if this country was incapable of structural reform.

This is a country that once changed its Constitution so you couldn’t drink and changed it back because we changed our minds, and you’re telling me we can’t reform our democracy in our time. We have to or we will be having the same argument 20 years from now.

Klein writes: Policy isn’t Democrats’ problem. They’ve got plenty of plans. Some of them are even popular. What they don’t have is a political system in which they can pass and implement those plans.

Buttigieg, to his credit, has a clear theory on this. When I interviewed him in April, he argued that “any decisions that are based on an assumption of good faith by Republicans in the Senate will be defeated.” The hope that you can pass laws through bipartisan compromise is dead. And that means governance is consistently, reliably failing to solve people’s problems, which is in turn radicalizing them against government itself.

More: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/7/30/20748078/pete-buttigieg-democratic-debate-cnn

[watoos]

1. Excellent analysis, spot on.

Democrats don't have radical ideas, their ideas are quite sane. The system to get Democratic proposals enacted into law is what is radical.

[calimary]

20. No kidding.

[sharedvalues]

2. Exactly. SCOTUS. The Senate. The filibuster. These are what we need to focus on.

I am very very glad Pete talked about those last night.

Liz Warren is still my candidate, but Pete ran a strong second yesterday. He was also the main candidate talking about Republican obstruction.

[Princetonian]

3. Like Medicare For All, Pete's ideas depend on Democrats controlling both House & Senate

Yet no one is complaining Pete's ideas are unrealistic as they do with Bernie probably because Pete is smoothly articulate.

[watoos]

4. That debate last night was designed to bring down

Bernie and Warren. If Pete moves up in the pack the M$M will focus on him next.

[JI7]

5. maybe becsuse Sanders can't explain his own deas and instead

attacks others while repeating the same talking points.

[flying_wahini]

6. I disagree, I understood exactly what her plan was if they stopped interrupting long enough to hear

In fact she is one that actually does have a plan.

[JI7]

7. i said Sanders, not Warren

[alfredo]

17. We will have a super majority to get anything useful to get by Mitch

[Celerity]

31. as do Biden's and every single other one of our candidates' plans and policies. Nothing of import

is going to happen if Moscow Mitch is still in control of the Senate.

Hell, even if we take it back by 51-49 it is going to crazy hard to get shit done on big ticket items like the public option. All it takes is two Dem Senators to flip and we are fucked. We had a filibuster-proof majority in 2009 (until Brown won in MA in 2010) and the ACA BARELY squeaked by, even after Obama caved to the cons and centre-righters and binned the public option.

[zentrum]

8. Like Pete a lot, but

....don't trust the country to be ready for a husband. Damn!

[femmedem]

9. But what if America is ready, but too many voters are afraid of other voters?

Sure, there are some people who won't vote for a gay man. But I think those voters are the same people who are going to vote for Trump regardless.

I'm more worried that people who would otherwise support him won't vote for him because they're concerned about other people's bigotry. Then it becomes self-fulfilling prophecy about America not being ready for a gay president.

[Butterflylady]

10. I hope that I will not get in trouble for saying this

Mayor Pete, will not get Pennsylvania's electoral votes. I lived all my life, almost 73 years, in this state and i can tell you, that it will not happen. Yes , I live in the Alabama part of the state, which definitely belongs to the gop, however, there are a lot of democrats here to and they will not give him their votes. Please don't take my head off for this, but I've been all over this state and I know it pretty dam well.

[efhmc]

12. This is the realistic thinking that make this Feminist have to concede

that I will be dead before my country grows up enough to vote a woman into office.

[mnhtnbb]

21. The misogyny and bigotry in this country is really deep seated.

Look at what happened in 2016. Russian interference, Republican voter suppression tactics aside, it should have been a no-brainer choice to vote for the most qualified person for the office: Hillary Clinton. It should have been a landslide for her.

But this country is full of people who think women are inferior to men and are afraid of people who love someone of the same sex, It's the same group. The right wing phony Christians.

Personally, I'd love to see a Warren/Buttigieg ticket and watch them be sworn into office. Like to see Warren serve one or two terms and then see Buttigieg serve two terms. I think that might possibly--as long as Dems can retake the Senate and maintain the House--be the path toward saving this country from a descent into fascism and implementing the necessary changes to our democratic structure (get rid of Electoral College and change the Senate so that it is proportional to state populations) for it to survive another 250 years. It wouldn't hurt to implement additional qualifications for President, too, beyond age and natural citizenship.

[deurbano]

30. "This country is full of people who think women are inferior to men..." I'd add to that basket of

deplorables the men who are secretly terrified that women are NOT inferior to men (if ever given the chance to prove it)... and who deep down know many women are in fact superior to them. This also applies to race. (See Barack Obama) They're fighting to the death to keep the power structure as it is.

[zentrum]

33. Would love

....a Warren/Buttigieg ticket.

[Ligyron]

42. I'd love even more a Warren/Buttigieg Administration!

[paleotn]

11. Part of America is ready...been ready...

Unfortunately the other part is stuck in the 15th century.

[Cosmocat]

15. Possibly

We will see.

In the interim let's cut the dead wood from the field of candidates, get it into the final 8 or so and start to get real and see how his shakes out.

Side note - EW is my close second.

[zentrum]

19. Yes, agree. Cut the dead wood.

They're hurting the front runners. What are they doing?---Auditioning for the cabinet to come?

[Saviolo]

39. No, they're plugging books.

[Rebl2]

40. I agree

with you. There’s just not enough time to hear from each of them in the debates. I think it’s time to narrow it down.

[FreeState]

37. Repeating this over an over reinforces a homophobic veiw point that does not have any merit.

Almost all polls on the matter agree its not an issue (over 70% would vote for a gay person for president). Repeating this over an over reinforces a homophobic veiw point that does not have any merit.

[zentrum]

41. Not sure it's reinforcing anything.

I simply don't trust enough of the American people. I hate the idea that much of the country is so retrograde.

[democrank]

13. Once again, Pete Buttigieg hit the nail on the head.

Same old, same old is no longer the answer. We need bold ideas and a big charge of political and moral courage.

[Lulu KC]

14. I also loved the part about not being driven by what republicans say about us

I need to look it up--something like they'll say we're crazy Socialists no matter what we do, so let's just do what's right.

[Ligyron]

43. Buttigieg is so right about that.

The big, bad socialism boogyman.

I wish I had a nickel for every time I've heard some knuclehead who knows absolutely nothing about economics lecture all around him about how socialism has never has, and never will work when they can't even define the term or describe the system when asked.

But they sure know who is and isn't a Socialist. A little Fox tells them I think.

[paleotn]

16. I get it Pete. I really do....

but this isn't the same country that repealed prohibition. In fact, we now have, for all practical, political purposes, two countries with totally different visions of themselves, their history and their future. How we reconcile those two is a monumental question, and those far smarter than me have yet to devise any effective plan around it.

[maddiemom]

18. Plus...Pete has plenty of elections ahead of him in which to gain ground.

[paleotn]

23. Good point....

With is profile he could maybe take one of those Indiana Senate seats away from the rethugs. Long shot, maybe, but we can dream.

[pangaia]

22. Boy, THAT is really good.

And he lays the blame exactly where it belongs.. on republicans.

Of course, they blame us.. or 'both sides.'

So as usual we pretty much use facts and logic. They tell lies, distort and intone jesus...


I do not know the answer....

[PatrickforO]

24. Buttigieg did quite well in last night's debate.

He is right about Republicans. They are going to call us radical socialists no matter what, so me might as well think through some good, solid policies and fight for those.

[DesertRat]

25. k&r

[Martin Eden]

26. I agree with Mayor Pete on what NEEDS to be done, but ...

The hurdle for approving Constitutional amendments is VERY high, especially ending the Electoral College when that involves small states giving up their advantage. However, there is another way to accomplish the same thing if enough states adopt the plan to award all their EC votes to the winner of the popular vote (doesn't take effect until states comprising a majority of EC votes sign onto the plan).

[aeromanKC]

27. Which is why Warren cannot be the candidate

We cannot afford tp lose her Senate seat. Dems will take back the Senate in 2020 or 2022, but every sear is vital. We cannot afford to lose her seat in 2020.

WTF MA, an (R) Gov. What were you thinking!!??

[CrispyQ]

28. He's sharp!

I like the way he thinks & talks.

[pecosbob]

29. 'What they don't have is a political system in which they can pass and implement those plans.'

Welcome to the 21st century pal. Any legislation Dems attempt to pass will automatically become socialism even if the idea is a Republican retread such as the ACA. We would need a supermajority to pass a motion declaring day to be day and night to be night.

We have to take the whole enchilada (House, Senate and the White House) or all that will be accomplished is to put temporary brakes on the Repub roller coaster to Hell.

[Duppers]

32. K & R

Don't think he'll make the ticket, but deserves a cabinet seat at least.

He's brilliant.

[Scotch-Irish]

34. I'm liking Buttigieg more and more. He's very, very sharp.

And he gets it.

Still in Warren's camp, and love Bernie. Don't care for Kamala's past record on a few things. Don't think Biden can beat Trump. But if Buttigieg keeps up the good work, I wouldn't count him out!

We have an OUTSTANDING group of candidates.

[donkeypoofed]

35. He's sooooo good. Pete will shine when less candidates are on stage!

[Pepsidog]

36. Great point. Klein hits the mark

[volstork]

38. "any decisions that are based on assumption of good faith by Republicans in the Senate will be dead"

Exactly this.

[Garrett78]

44. Buttigieg and Klein are right. And more Democrats should be demanding structural reform.

Simply put, our system is a joke. The US Senate, the Electoral College, Citizens United and for-profit health care are among the many things that would be abolished in a sane world. Anyone who has thought critically about those aspects of our system can't help but recognize the absurdity.