That would do what needs to be done.

Even by our leaders.

snip//

On MSNBC on Wednesday, former democrat presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders defended White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on the currently dominant political topic of civility in politics.

“Look, as I’ve said before, yeah, I think people have the right to go into a restaurant and have dinner,” said Sanders (Bernie) about Saunders (Sarah) being kicked out of a restaurant with her family over political differences.

Host Kristen Welker was asking the Vermont senator about the lack of civility in general at first, and he said he’s “not a great fan of shouting down people or being rude to people,” but that people have a right to be angry.

https://www.mediaite.com/tv/bernie-sanders-defends-sarah-sanders-people-have-a-right-to-go-to-a-restaurant-for-dinner/

Only it wasn't over "political differences" as BS asserts.

We are in the minority.

Duh.

...we squandered the opportunity and didn't take advantage of that majority. Now look at where we are...

I mean other than saving the economy, the auto industry and health care, fair pay, Wall Street reform/CFPB, repealed don't ask, don't tell, made student loans more affordable, credit card reform, sentencing reform, boosted clean energy, increased hate crime protections, increased school lunch nutrition standards.

So far all Republicans have gotten through is a bad tax cut.

Sorry but your defeatist talking point isn't supported. In fact it's just blatantly and objectively wrong.

We must be looking at different nation states.

doen't matter, right? Muslim bans, terrorizing immigrants, activist right-wing judges, a Republican controlled Congress that has forgotten that they're EQUAL to the asshole president of the U.S. etc. etc. etc.

A big tax cut for the wealthy, that's all.

...I assert that given our majority at the time, we didn't get ENOUGH accomplished because we played too nice.

That's not "defeatist", that's "reality" but YMMV - and obviously it does. Oh well...

I would argue that this unsustainable, capitalist nightmare of an economy is failing everyone except the rich and the super rich. More affordable student loans are like finding a soothing cream to apply to your melanoma... There was no Wall Street reform.

Quit pretending soundbites are facts.

I guarantee if we owned the senate majority and an opening occurred with 11 months remaining in the term of a twice-elected Republican, we would run out the clock just like they did.

That's what this polarized environment has created and allowed.

Rachel should leave the similes/analogies to Steve Schmidt

Cut the right-wing bs.

That assumes democrats had a part in creating it.


It is all, 100% on fascists..

And we SHOULD from now on.

... a nomination.

That's some nuclear option shit

We didn't start the war it was KGOP filibustering Obama's judicial pics every step of the way that started the end to the filibuster in that area.

I do agree that fuck following the rules now, change them and make them up as we go along.

Republicans don't like it then they can stop loving baby snatchers

There is no proof that we would have done that... its easy to say now.

hell I am not confident they would do that today they are so weak ass with trying to do it right and honorable and getting their asses handed too them. So pissed off that we are getting our butts kicked.

My suspicion is that while we would have had an opinion about who specifically should be put on the bench (with an understanding that a sitting Republican president would have preferred to replace scalia with another conservative-leaning justice), we would at least given that nominee their hearing...Their day in court, as it were, before voting Crazy down.
We would have understood that to do otherwise would have been fundamentally unfair, un-moral, and against protocol, tradition, and constitutionally-designated responsibilities.
In short, we might not have agreed with who they put up. But we wouldn't have rat-fucked them out of a nomination. We damn sure wouldn't have done it because we knew the dem nom for president was reasonably assured of victory BY WAY OF A FOREIGN AND HOSTILE GOVERNMENTS INTERVENTION.

the media picks who gets airtime, and they give airtime to people who play by the rules.

The Democratic Party is. Trump
Is dismantling our system of
government. Our leadership
are being soooo sweet and civil
and while we are singing combaiah
their will be little lift to govern.

Republican party is the opposition.

That the Republican party is in power
a we are the opposition and not the media.
We should be pounding the table not the media!!!!

talk smack and break as many rules as they can find.

I'm SICK AND TIRED of being nice, and playing nice, and following rules. This isn't tea time with Aunt Tilly. This is WWF. And the sooner we all recognize AND embrace that, the sooner we'll start winning where it counts, again. Give me ruthless ANY day of the week. Any thing less simply guarantees we'll be run over. Again.

Unfurl the sails! No luffing!

Rachel is figuring we can say goodbye to abortion rights.

there will be an armed civil war in this country.

40% (last I heard) of women seeking abortion already have 2-3 kids, mostly married.

And the court wouldn't void individual states allowing it. Even Scalia said that when he was alive. That it should be up to the states whether or not its legal. And most would vote to keep it legal, with time limits I imagine.
But even reversing Roe v wade isnt a done deal with a new judge. Remember Roberts allowed Obamacare when EVERYONE thought THAT was in the grave.
Reversing a previous courts ruling doesnt happen very often

The women in my family and every other woman I know would be carrying arms in the street. You must live in a sheltered world dude.

No, not a sheltered world.
Massive protests, yes, definitely. Armed revolt in the streets? Wouldn't last long.
As I said before, I'm not sure they'll toss it anyway. They've always looked for a way to avoid it.
guess we'l see

if one of us said it DU would freak out and alert. Rachel says it and it is TRUE. It has always been true.

but in the reverse order !!!

Just for you jodymarie:

Elizabeth & Bernie 2020!!!

Lord of the Flies....and liberals are Piggy.

and remember they will lie and grift and scheme right up until the winner is evident.

Then they will make excuses, place blame elsewhere and run for cover.

And a rare case where the film was just as good.

I can still remember the Kyrie Eleison , "Kill The Pig,"

pounding its chest because it doesn't give a fuck about "rules".

Maybe we should all take a deep breath, coordinate our strategies, cultivate our resources and fight like fuck. What choice do we have?

Everyone knows they are partisan unethical hypocritical weasels, but they do not seem to mind. They thrive on underhandedness and thus can be effective for their side.

But what exactly does she propose doing? The same question applies to people here. Be specific given the current make up of Congress, specifically the Senate, that elected Democrats can do. No stomping their feet and threatening to hold their breath won't change anything.

That is the term for a device that limits speed.

Most school buses have a governor on them.

I agree with her 110%

And they all should be treated as such. Everyone of them all the time!

fuck the high road!!!!

The dems do not control congress.

What "fighting" does she expect exactly?

Dems are apparently supposed to walk a fine line between being rebellious fighters and being the grownups in the room, mindful of precedents being set...

Again I repeat: Dems DO NOT CONTROL CONGRESS.

DEMS not controlling Congress, means they cannot set the agenda.

Rachel needs to explain to her audience that McConnell was only able to do the shit he did because he was SENATE MAJORITY LEADER.

So if the Democratic Base wants a change, it needs to dawn on people that Presidential elections aren't the most important, midterms matter, local elections matter. SCOTUS matters - hopefully, this is fucking inspiring enough for people.

Because from 2009-2016, they voted in every election, from President, to Senate and House, to State House and State Senate, Governorships, City Councils and dog catchers. They came out in droves for seven years and voted in every. election. available.

When we've been taking threats of murder & rape, spitting in the face of the black caucus (remember that?)...for a decade!

It's about time the Dems got tough. But somehow, I think the same ol' politicians will do the same ol' thing...don't make waves. Speaking of waves....

for the death of 3 GOP Senators. Now, within the next week.. Hell, more than three of them look like they're already dead. Their hearts certanly are and their brains are hanging by a thread.

I'm an atheist, but if this could happen, it just might turn me around.

I couldn't understand why he didn't at the time. While that would have been temporary, it would have forced the GOP to remove him. Not that Trump wouldn't have done that. But why play respectfully with a group that has shown zero respect for our side whatsoever? I didn't get it then, I don't get it now. This is just one example of what I think Rachel is talking about. We've got to stop keeping ourselves in check out of respect and decorum. It hasn't worked out very well for us.

opening and closing the business of the Senate. Republicans don't care what they have to do or what anyone thinks of them, they just want to get their way.

Obama had one day in which he could have done that but didn't. I may be wrong though -- that's just how I remembered it.

All I know is Democrats have to pretend they're as nasty as Republicans and find a procedural way to shut it down. Unlikely that will happen, of course. Joe Manchin has probably already decided to vote for the Orange Fuhrer's pick.

So a Garland appointment would have been reversed.
The recess between Congresses is only minutes.

Probably the same reason he didn't raise a stink about Russian infiltration of the coming election. He assumed Hillary would win and take care of everything herself then. One of the only times that Obama has put party ahead of country. It was a terrible mistake in hindsight.

a judicial position on the USSC that was temporary. Doing so would have allowed Trump, at that time, to appoint two judges, Gorsuch and the new one on the DC court vacated by Garland.

And what is this 40 word thing?

Sorry---I'm out of the loop.I guess.

think thing on this board. Say anything in opposition to the OP and you are showing your guilt. Any dissension and you get tons of splainin.

Ridiculous.

I get it. I too pretend perspectives I dislike are simply trivial matters blown out of proportion.

The cult thing is a good variation, though. Palin used it against Obama to measurable effects, and it seems a good pick-up for you.

I guess you can get on my ass about this too:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=10804326

Its a "special" word for white people. Say it slowly.....
Because white folks cant be insulted & are probably responsible for all bad things on earth from the beginning of time!

Visit Twitter and search for the term. While you're there, read some of the responses from Trumpsters and white Nationalists. Do the attacks sound familiar?

There have been many threads on here about it, because people of color are justifiably furious that so little seems to get done on social justice issues.

Part of it is to try and educate white people about their inherent privilege, because even well-meaning ones tend to say things that patronize and infuriate.

I don't really understand it all, but I do sympathize because we're pretty far from King's dream. Sometimes seems to me like certain cops figure it's open season on unarmed black kids, and that has to stop.

Anyway, Americans need to confront our real history. Genocide. Slavery. Big stick 'diplomacy.' Regime change. We've got to come to terms with all that before we can really be that light on the hill the exceptionalists believe we are.

Are you saying she is questioning Party leadership?

The Democratic Party rarely goes to the mattresses. They can hold their head up and say they fought fair, but when your opponent is using every dirty trick in the book, you're going to lose more often than not.

Don't forget that.

While we’re all waiting on the Mueller investigation findings, on TRMS last night Rachel’s guests Anthony Romero, ACLU and Maura Healey, AG for MA, discussed the many federal court decisions against Trump and his administration that are currently in the pipeline. One decision I did not hear them mention was the decision specifically involving Trump’s compliance (or not) with the emoluments clause, a decision which is expected in mid-July from Judge Sullivan, USDC for DC. Will Trump and future presidents be allowed to profit off their presidency? The future of our democracy depends on how the judge rules.

If found to be in violation of the emoluments clause what will be the status of his authority as pResident until his compliance with the emolument’s clause --- including his authority to nominate federal and USSC judges?

If he’s found not to be in violation of the emoluments clause, is it time for Democrats to start thinking like Republicans? In accordance with the Constitution Democrats say that the USSC shall be comprised of one Chief Justice and eight associate justices. Republicans, on the other hand, say that they can increase the number of USSC associate justices without violating the Constitution since an increase in the number of justices does not violate the Constitution’s nine judge requirement as there’ll still be (at least) nine justices on the court.

GOTV we need to take the Senate and the House to veto everything Trump wants!

The number has changed several times over the years.

you are going to get alot of posters in this thread. Democrats have acted very weak.

Republicans are kicking democrats ass and they dont care if they are playing fair or not.

They dont mind getting a FBI director to come out 10 days before.. they did it
They dont mind getting help from the russians... they did it.

Democrats will go kiss and hold hands and get jobbed. We are too nice and play too fair.

Its a shame but its happening and nothing democrats can do about it but complain.

When we take back the house / senate it should be an all out war against the GOP conservative values.

We dont need to come in an help Conservative americans as well. Fuk them. Thats our problem. We get into power and we try to help them and our people. They get into power and they say fuk our people and help themselves.

I am so pissed off at how WEAK democrats are.

Are we still talking about what bathroom a Transgender uses? Good Grief.

to craft the right message and media strategy. If their stated objectives really are to stop Trump and check his power, they know where and how to hit the GOP and neither minces words or is a shrinking violet. They won't play nice if sent out as surrogates.

Sorry, but you have to make yourself think like the bully and then one step ahead.

We are notorious for bringing a knife to a gun fight. Gerrymandering, appointment of SC Justices, and the loss of over 1000 seats across the nation in state houses. We have simply been losing this battle for quite some time. Thank goodness for Kagan and Sotomayor and the Notorious RBG - may her health sustain!

Your post get flagged. Not calling their weakness out and is why they’re in this predicament

in the safest deepest bluest districts because they have no career accomplishments and are entitled, stupid, and worthless.

While moderates have power for being the deciding vote on every divisive court case and law, idealists and the ones who would fight the good fight or die trying.

We need red state moderates to lift up our numbers and we need blue state liberals to advance progress with bold ideas and radical action.

Or we can argue amongst ourselves some more and keep losing.

I'm having a tough time being reined-in by some people's delicate sensibilities. The delicate sensibilities of the few always seem to be more important than the outrage of the many.

I wish people would toughen up a bit and stop being the "snowflakes" we're always accused of being. Life is not fair. Get over it, and get on with it.

I'd dismiss and trivialize racial concerns too if they didn't fit in with my life-style or perspectives.

Not that you're guilty of the very thing you condemn though... that would be half-witted at best.

So... stop playing nice with Republican and stop discussing racial matters on DU. Hopefully, your life will then be complete.