In a lawsuit filed Tuesday, the D.N.C. sought to compel the government to say whether it plans to deploy armed federal officers in this year’s elections.
In a lawsuit filed Tuesday, the D.N.C. sought to compel the government to say whether it plans to deploy armed federal officers in this year’s elections.
Ok, I’ll admit I’m surprised to see the Dems have have relocated their cojones. That’s good, but let’s take it to the next level and find a way to prevent the government from a literal and complete nosedive into martial law?
They don’t have any real power. So its going to be on us to pull that off
Don’t worry, just like with the war powers acts, if the Dems find out that there is a concrete plan to steal the elections you can rest assured that 4 Dems from safe districts will join up with the republicans to vote down any attempt to stop it.
https://time.com/7382846/democrats-who-voted-against-war-powers-resolution-iran-conflict-trump/
212-219 because 4 Dems crossed over, if they had held to the “party line” that’s a 216-215 vote.
The best thing for the Democratic Party is for everyone to blame those 4 politicians. It happens every time though, different politicians, always just enough.
There’s only two ways to interpret whats going on. The first is the one the party wants you to believe, they are just too weak to keep their members from voting against the party. They like this because they can reframe that weakness as a strength, you see they are such a big coalition and put such a priority on independent decision making that it’s a good thing that just enough Dems defect every time to keep the party from achieving any goals. What can they do? Aw shucks, guess whatever horrible thing we just failed to stop is going to happen.
The second way, which I think is closer to the truth, is that they are bought. For each issue there’s some deep pocketed interest going “alright pick a few people from safe seats, just enough to pass / vote down this thing.”
Otherwise it’s just terrifically bad luck right? Every consequential vote has a different set of just the right number of defectors to not do anything.
All the while the emails and texts go out pleading dor just a little bit more money. Sure we couldn’t get the bill you wanted passed, but if you give us some more money for our fight fund, boy you won’t believe how much we will not fight next time.
As a lifelong democrat that donated thousands of dollars to them over the years, I’ll still vote for them because our voting system means there’s no good alternative, but I’m no longer believing they are anything but controlled opposition. They make noises, they go on tv and say “oh this is bad,” but when it comes to actually doing anything about it they are always just a little short. They need just a few more seats, just a couple more donations. Ok we’ve got a 58 seat majority in the senate, but you know, it’s really time to compromise and make sure the republicans get what they want.
Saw this posted elsewhere: https://www.salon.com/2010/02/23/democrats_34/
The tactic is called the Rotating Villain or Designated Villain, and the Democratic leadership has been using it for a VERY long time.
I’ve been trying to call these fuckers out anytime it happens. Not just the rotating villains, but the leadership too, when they conveniently can’t whip those votes.
The people these Democrats represent need to be made fully aware, everytime there’s a primary.
Edit: And from one of my previous comments with regards to one of the ICE funding votes even after the public executions in January:
"A lot of people are forgetting how a minority whip works in Congress. The term “whip” comes from a fox-hunting expression—“whipper-in”—referring to the member of the hunting team responsible for keeping the dogs from straying from the team during a chase.
That vote went down in one of two ways, either of which is the leader and the whip’s direct responsibility.
1: those Democrats voted on their own, in the exact number needed to pass. In which the whip is responsible for whipping up their votes to No and failed here, and Democrats need to promote a new person and primary the congressperson responsible, along with the ones who voted in favor.
2: that Whip caved under pressure and grabbed the exact number of votes needed to pass, from Congresspersons in “safe” districts or who were already planning on retiring. In which case, Democrats need to promote a new person and primary the congressperson responsible as well as primary the ones who voted in favor.
The Senate Democratic leader is Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) The Senate Democratic Whip is Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)
The Eight Senate Democrats/Independents who voted in favor were: Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) Sen. Angus King (I-ME) Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)
The House did not have enough votes to defeat it, and all voted against but here are those leaders too. The House Democratic leader is Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) The House Democratic Minority Whip is Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA) "
Now just need to amend that second point from " Congresspersons in safe districts" to the " Rotating Villains".
Actually, I agree with you, which saddens me. I voted for Bernie anyway. I had to type his name into the voting machine. I knew Bernie had no chance, but I felt like I should stick with my principles. When Biden was chosen over Bernie, I felt a shift in the Force. I was glad Biden won, but also recognized that somehow the political terrain had changed, possibly beyond recognition.
All of the major political players are just that, players in a neverending game of … whatever this is.
I remember the day so clearly when Bernie had won a few of the early primaries, Biden was coming in 4th and seemed like he would wash out.
A colleague told me something big had happened, it was the day all the other centrist candidates pulled out right before Super Tuesday and threw their support behind Biden. It worked he ended up winning a bunch of primaries in a bunch of states that would later go on to vote for trump in the general election, but that was enough for the media to crown him the winner.
I was in California at the time, working phone banks for Bernie, and there was tons of excitement for him. That day was a gut punch, I remember thinking “we haven’t stopped our slip into fascism just pressed pause”
Ive never wanted to be wrong more in my life. Now I look around and think about the 4 years where we could have zealously prosecuted MAGA for the crimes they committed right out in the open (every time I bring this up people go, “oh you want them to punish their enemies and ignore the law.” No I want them to enforce the laws which would have the side effect of actual consequences for MAGA)x
Instead, and unthinkably after a terrible pandemic response and literal attempt to overthrow democracy, the bland 4 years did nothing to prevent another trump term.
This isn’t to say he didn’t do anything good, but look where we are. The actions failed to meet the moment and now we are asking ourselves “will an armed paramilitary force prevent people from voting?”
Love Biden or hate him, this is where we are.