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“Just say NO!” Works Big Time – Republicans Proved It [1]
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Date: 2025-01-06
“Just say NO!” Works Big Time – Republicans Proved It
In the Fall of 2008, as the banking crisis nearly took down the entire financial system and created a new Depression, George W. Bush and Hank Paulson begged Democrats to help them bail out the banks…and they did. But once Barack Obama took office, Republicans attempted to block and delay everything he and Democrats tried to do, even to try and lessen the effects of the crisis Republicans themselves created.
They acted in bad faith virtually all the time. Probably the most prominent example of this was their pretending to negotiate aspects of the Affordable Care Act when they never intended to ever vote for it. Their repetitive lies about it (remember “Death Panels”) and the fact that the ACA did not go into effect until 2014, allowed these canards to take hold enough in the public consciousness that it greatly helped the Republicans succeed in the 2010 midterm elections. The irony is that once the public became aware of the numerous benefits of the ACA (including the rule that you couldn’t be denied insurance for pre-existing conditions), it became very popular.
However, Republicans benefited greatly politically from their opposition and lies about the ACA. They calculated that if they worked with Democrats on passing it, they wouldn’t be able to lie about it and run against it. They were right.
In a sane society, the ACA should have been a policy embraced by Republicans since it is a private sector solution to the healthcare problems in this country, and was virtually identical to RomneyCare. But they don’t care about the well being of their constituents. They only care about holding power, ruling, and serving their wealthy benefactors.
Simply put, completely opposing the agenda of the party in power works politically whether it is justified or not. In 2010, we were still recovering from the economic crash and it was clear by their actions that Republicans wanted the recovery to go slowly. They did everything they could to impede it so they could get back in power. They didn’t care about people suffering because they knew the Democrats would get the blame.
Currently, Democrats are giving lip service to the idea of working with Republicans this go around. Perhaps there are some times that it might be prudent both socially and politically to cooperate with Republicans, but since they are in the minority in both houses, Democrats do not have the responsibility to make sure the government functions properly. They have no moral obligation to help the Republicans at all. To the contrary, the moral thing to do is to oppose the reactionary policies Republicans put forward COMPLETELY and TOTALLY.
Any tax cut Republicans jam through should be opposed by every Democratic member of the House and the Senate while screaming TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH, TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH…and at the same time screaming…WHILE SCREWING OVER THE POOR AND MIDDLE CLASS.
And if Trump wants the debt ceiling raised, the Democrats should completely oppose lifting it if there ARE ANY OF THEIR ONEROUS PROPOSALS included. Republicans have the majority. Do not help them at all. Let their dysfunction be evident. Take no ownership whatsoever in any of their plans. And if that causes the nation to default, so be it. That is on the Republicans. They have the so called ‘Trifecta’. And if that includes any cuts to Social Security and Medicare…see how well that plays with older voters.
And when Republicans try and pass an immigration bill through reconciliation, the Democrats should oppose it completely while pointing out that it is not comprehensive and that it won’t do the job. And when the first undocumented immigrant commits a heinous crime, or the first legal citizen is wrongfully detained, progressives should use those as examples of the incompetence of Trump’s immigration policy.
And when Trump’s tariffs start causing inflation to rise, repeat and repeat and repeat…TRUMP’S INFLATION IS WORSE THAN BIDEN’S. TRUMP LIED, INFLATION WENT UP, NOT DOWN.
Other lines to repeat:
TRUMP AND HIS BILLIONAIRE BUDDIES ARE STEALING FROM YOU!
THE ONLY HEALTH TRUMP AND REPUBLICANS CARE ABOUT IS THE HEALTH OF THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.
AMERICANS PAID THEIR WHOLE LIVES FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE AND TRUMP AND HIS BILLIONAIRE BUDDIES WANT TO STEAL FROM IT TO LINE THEIR OWN POCKETS.
If the choice is complete opposition or partial support to ameliorate some of the uglier aspects of the right-wing agenda, the best option (except in rare circumstances) is complete opposition. The public must not be of the mind that the Democrats have any real power here at all. The Republicans are in complete control; therefore, they are completely responsible for whatever transpires.
If, as I expect, the economy declines, inflation persists or gets worse, government corruption is rampant, Trump’s immigration policy is a failure, etc.; the Democrats will likely do well in 2026 as long as voters believe that they Republicans are completely in charge. The Democrats have no reason to cooperate with Republicans when they are in power, especially since Republicans consistently act in bad faith whenever Democrats are in control.
P.S. – I invite you to include in the Comments some one-liners you would like to see the Democrats use.
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