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Democrats Better Beware of Fool's Gold [1]

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Date: 2022-11-16

Democrats have been feeling pretty good about themselves lately – and with good reason.

They’re rejoicing over things like gaining control of the Senate and possibly adding another seat, overcoming history and the experts (for what they’re worth) to stop a red wave in the House in its tracks -- although it still looks like Republicans will control that chamber -- and defeating a number of election-denying clowns in various state races, most critically in swing states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Arizona.

Democrats did better than expected – although not good enough as the specter of two years of GOP control of the House and the chaos it will bring looms over us. Their message that democracy was on the ballot and that the Republicans were nothing but a bunch of extremists masquerading as conservatives worked to a large degree.

It turns out abortion was a bigger deal than the polls indicated (who in their right mind would think otherwise), and that a good portion of America may have realized the threat to our democracy posed by the Republican Party, while growing tired of the whining, insane conspiracy theories, cruelty, and lying coming from the Right.

That’s all good, but there’s something Democrats had better remember: You got lucky.

Yes, for all the good things that happened to Democrats this week, Republicans shot themselves in the foot with a collection of not-ready-for-prime time candidates whose extremism and nuttiness were a bridge too far for a lot of people who might normally vote for the GOP.

I’m talking about folks like Doug Mastriano and Dr. Oz in Pennsylvania, Tim Michels in Wisconsin, Tutor Dixon in Michigan, Adam Laxalt in Utah, Herschel Walker (we hope) in Georgia, and the whole damn clown car ticket in Arizona.

We’ll never know for sure, but it’s reasonable to think that better, saner, less extreme, not as sleezy, less inclined to destroy democracy candidates would have fared better.

Who knew that vowing to shut down the government and cause a global financial catastrophe just so they can cut Social Security and Medicare, or passing legislation that would force a 12-year-old girl to give birth to her rapist’s baby, or throwing out the vote unless their party won, or laughing out loud at an 82-year-old grandfather being beaten with a hammer in his own home in the middle of the night weren’t winning messages?

This isn’t to criticize Democrats. It’s just a reminder that for all the good legislative work done with little margin for error in Congress, and the herculean effort by President Joe Biden and his administration in overcoming the double-barreled crises of the Covid pandemic and its accompanying economic damage, there are still a lot of people in this country who insist on voting against their best interests and the best interests of the country.

In other words, the Democrats are far from home free, and they better act like it. How should Democrats approach the next two years. Here are some ideas:

*Start today focusing on the weakest GOP links in the House. Make it clear that their constituents will be kept well-informed if they gravitate to the far-Right lunatic end of their caucus. You want to get in bed with Marjorie Taylor Greene (literally or figuratively, it doesn’t matter)? Then your swing district is going to know about it.

*Fight against the expected efforts by some Republican-controlled states to put in measures that will make it harder for Democrats to win there. Things like voter suppression, purging voting rolls, closing polling places, and even legislation that will make it possible for the state legislature to overturn the will of the voters.

*In the House, continue to push for good legislation, even if you can’t even get it to a vote because of the Republicans. Force them to say no to things that are popular with the American people.

*If House Republicans want to make fools of themselves with investigations, impeachments, and whatever else they can think of, let them. Just be there to balance fiction with the truth, insanity with sanity, and foaming-at-the-month boorishness (I’m looking at you Jim Jordan) with calm but firm professionalism. In other words, be the adults in the room.

*In the Senate, understand that getting rid of the filibuster is still a real long shot, so don’t obsess on it. Look to come to agreement on reconciliation bills that are sound, clearly help the poor and middle class, and, hopefully, are funded by tax increases for the rich and corporations. Sure, they’ll probably die in the House, but you’ll have made your point and forced Republicans in both chambers to vote against helping average Americans while protecting their rich and corporate donors.

*Progressives, shut up. Stop calling for things that have no chance of passing. Stop demanding we ring up the national debt as if money really does grow on trees. Stop demonizing your more centrist fellow Democrats. Stop giving the Right bulletin-board material. This is not a far-Left country. It’s more a center to center-Right country. Your day may come, but it’s not today.

*President Biden, keep being the leader you’ve been from day one. Keep us focused on your agenda and keep us forewarned about the danger to democracy that didn’t go away on Tuesday. Your place in history is assured, so if you want to step away after one term no one has any right to argue with you.

Speaking of the presidency, Donald Trump announced another run for that office last night. He’s the Republican Party’s problem for now. It’ll be interesting to see how it plays out.

But even if Trump fades from relevance, Trumpism is a whole other story. There are some serious GOP scumbags who would love to move into the White House if Trump falters.

That’s why the Democrats’ work is never done, and as soon as they think it is we’re all screwed.

***

Thank you for reading my post. You can see more of my writings on my blog: Musings of a Nobody.

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