It Is What It Is
On Tuesday, Republican Glenn Youngkin, a career private equity executive running his first campaign, defeated Democrat Terry McAuliffe in not even a close race for Governor in Virginia.
Youngkin ran on the typical New Republican agenda – rant culture wars, push fear and loathing.
McAullife ran on the typical Old Democratic agenda – I promise, now please, please like me.
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Youngkin Defeats McAullife
We Shouldn’t be Surprised. The Popular Mood Has Turned Sour for Democrats.
Then there’s the other problem: President Biden looks weak. The pull out from Afghanistan plays some role in this. But the real driver is the months long spectacle of the President and his party unable to pass the basic legislation that makes up his agenda. Negotiating, begging, false starts, canceled votes. A President of the United States stymied by two obscure Senators the vast majority of Americans have never even heard of. Obviously this has deeply demoralized Democrats around the country. Josh Marshall at Talking Points Memo
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America Is Saved! America Is Saved! Yay!!
(Posted here, WayBack – 2019.01.04)
So, Democrats now are in control of the House of Representatives, by a fairly safe margin – 235* to 199*. Lead news stories from broadcast and cable outlets and newspaper headlines across the nation either joyfully or angrily alert us all to the historic fact that this, the 116th Congress, is the most diverse House ever. And that’s a good thing, unless, of course, you’re a sexist, a racist, a bigot, and a really frightened Republican. Or a talking head on Fox. But I digress… .
Anyway, Nancy Pelosi is once again Speaker of the House and has already introduced major reform legislation. New committee heads promise to hold hearings, others promise to investigate the Administration. Some committee heads promise tighter controls of the purse strings and still others promise they will demand Trump’s tax returns. But one newly seated Member from Michigan has a whole other plan: “… we’re gonna go in there and we’re gonna impeach the motherfucker.”
The Democrats’ sweeping legislation addresses making voting easier not harder, restoring voting rights to millions, publicly financed elections, and if not stopping at least slowing down corruption. Good luck on that last one.
A lot of promises. Nice promises. Really good promises. Unfortunately, as history tells us, Democrats will surely find a way to screw this up. Even if by some miracle Democrats manage to alter their DNA, as long as Republicans with Mitch McConnell as leader control the Senate, none of the Democrats’ legislation have a chance of becoming law. And let us not forget the Dems’ ever present danger to success, also known as Republicans’ best friend from the other side of the aisle, New York’s senior Senator, Chuck Schumer. If any one can find a way to turn a Dem victory into a defeat while at the same time hand the Repubs the game ball, it is Chuck. And no doubt he’s looking for that way.
All in all, I really like the plan put forward by the Member from Michigan. She speaks to me.
