If you were given the choice of having the Dem controlled House get its agenda pushed through or

[Snake Plissken]

have gridlock by ensuring all the criminals in the Republican party are held accountable for their crimes and brought to justice.

I know these are not the only two options, and may not even be options at all, but let's hypothetically suppose, Nancy Pelosi can either drop the hammer on these criminals and see them all get indicted, or use this to force them to push her agenda through the Senate and into law, by not going after any of them, which would you prefer?

[dalton99a]

1. Why either-or?

[Snake Plissken]

2. I thought my post was pretty clear

"I know these are not the only two options, and may not even be options at all, but let's hypothetically suppose."

[avebury]

3. Democrats are capable of multi-tasking. nt

[Snake Plissken]

4. What does that have to do with my post?

[avebury]

12. Democrats have the ability to do everything to push and

agenda that helps the masses and work to hold the Rethugs accountable for their misdeeds. As long as they are fighting like bulldogs to pass legislation that helps the masses, upholds Constitutional/Judicial/Democratic Principles they can bury the Rethugs as being anti Constitution, anti-law, anti-constituents, anti-voting for those who aren't on their side. 2020 should be all about non-stop talk about an agenda that works for the masses and see them, the Rethugs, they don't want to help you. They need to bury the Rethugs in concrete and shove them off of a proverbial cliff to let them sink. The Rethugs need to perceived as totally toxic. At the same time, Democrats need to be the law and order party and work to uphold the law and if that means investigating the Rethugs, so be it.

A large part of the reason that this country is in such a mess is the fact that the Rethugs have not been held accountable for all of their misdeeds. Why should they be expected to change when they get away with it time after time after time. Democrats need to teach them the hard life lesson that actions do have consequences.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Since it is likely that most Dem legislation will be DOA in the Senate

and even if it did get through it would be vetoed by Orangehole McLittledick, I'll settle for investigations and gridlock (and by gridlock I mean guardrails). Since all spending bills have to originate in the House, the Dems can at least prevent the defunding of social and environmental programs.

[Snake Plissken]

7. But what if McConnell is willing to cut a deal to allow it to go through the Senate

in order to keep Republicans out of prison by not going after them, would you be okay with?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. If the Dems cut a deal that would get them the legislation they want

in exchange for not investigating GOP crimes, they would be violating their constitutional obligation to act as an investigative body and a check on wrongdoing by other parts of the government. So, no.

[2naSalit]

14. Not going to happen, period...nt

[brush]

6. Dems can walk and chew gum at the same time.

[Snake Plissken]

8. Who said they can't?

[LakeArenal]

15. Apparently some don't understand your hypothetical question?

Or are being obstinate for no reason.

I’ll pick go to jail. Once they go to jail we can pass the agenda.

Have a nice day.

[Caliman73]

10. In the fantasy world you suggest...

I would choose that the progressive policy platform be pushed through. I would like to see a reform of the ACA with a public option, the minimum wage increased to a living wage, a sane and compassionate immigration policy, tuition free public higher education for those qualified and who want it, a less aggressive foreign policy, and other things that Democrats have proposed including getting money out of politics.

[marylandblue]

11. I choose get the agenda through

It will do more to help ordinary Americans and to win votes in 2020 than investigations.

[Thew]

13. At the risk of also also misreading the OP

...and joining everyone else stating that they can do both. Would the Democratic agenda necessarily have to be distinct from accountability and justice? I would like to think that good government and anti-corruption would be very high on our agenda. So significant overlap between the two choices.


That said, if I had to choose, accountability and justice rank much higher for me. Any agenda we got thru would be at risk from the next round of corruption and cheating. Better to make the game fair first, before trying to score points.

[Snake Plissken]

16. What if it comes down to a deal being cut with Republicans to stop all investigations

in order to have a progressive agenda pushed through

to me it's a tough call, my emotions want to see all the Republican criminals locked up, but logically I'm thinking it would be more helpful to everyone to have a progressive agenda pushed through

[Thew]

17. It seems when we've made that choice in the past

It seems when we've made that choice in the past, or to 'move on for the good of the country', it has come back to bite us. I could possibly agree to a deal if we didn't have almost 50 years of history; of bad actors coming back sometimes stronger. It's not just that I want bad actors punished, I feel like we've been letting them off for so long it has fundamentally tilted the process; one side doesn't play by the same rules.

The reverse is conservatives giving in on a short term agenda loss in order to remain unpunished. I don't think it's sustainable to keep letting them use the good of the country as a hostage.

I can't help feeling that the process is becoming increasingly rigged against us and that has become my highest priority.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

18. If the moon were made of cheese, would you eat it?

Well, would you?

[Azathoth]

19. Nothing is getting through the Senate, end of story

Republicans can't make it any clearer that they have no interest in either governing or compromising with Democrats. Their entire political strategy revolves around gridlock and attacking Democrats when they try to govern.

[GeorgeGist]

20. Hold accountable is the only rational option.

McConnell will make sure nothing the Dems pass in the House will see light in the Senate.