I think the Democratic Party and the United States are both at a crossroads and the party and

[Atticus]

the nation will either triumph or perish together.

There is no way that the GOP can retake power in the near future by their own efforts. They have hitched their wagon to an amoral psychopath and those who do not jump off soon will go over the precipice wearing MAGA caps and chanting "Stop the Steal", whatever the hell that means. They cannot defeat us UNLESS WE LET THEM---and we will let them if we are unwilling to play "smash-mouth politics" just as they ALWAYS have and will again IF WE LET THEM!

Just for starters, we should deliver the $15 an hour minimum wage that we campaigned on, expand the SCOTUS to neutralize the Trumpian ideologues, pass a national voter's rights and election law and, oh yeah, pass some serious and drastic environmental measures. If we need cash for those, start by repealing Trump's corrupt 1.9 trillion dollar (coincidence?) tax cut AND start taxing capital gains as income as well as accumulated wealth.

I don't really care what "the Republicans will say".

I don't care how long we've suffered with the "tradition" of the filibuster; get rid of it in its present form.

I don't care if we need to do "shameless partisan actions" like overruling or firing parliamentarians or changing inconvenient rules.

We currently possess just enough authority to restore sanity to government, civility to the public discourse and respect for our democracy.

We can either cut the head off the snake or know that it will strike us again.

I say it's time to chop.

[Dave in VA]

1. When Democrats vote

we generally win. When we stay home then we rarely do.

[Bradshaw3]

2. K&R

Full out assault on democracy must be met by a full out counter attack.

[malaise]

3. Dems wil either obliterate this trickle down bullshit

or be obliterated
That is all

[triron]

34. I fear you're correct.

[Irish_Dem]

4. It is either the end of the GOP, or the end of the United States.

We must act accordingly.

[Atticus]

5. Well and succinctly said. nt

[stopdiggin]

6. given our precarious perch

I don't think it wise to embark on policy that will alarm or alienate large portions of the electorate. And, no, I don't think that necessarily means "what the Repubs are going to say." 'Cause, yes -- they're gonna say (completely outlandish) sh*t anyway.

What I'm getting at: If coming back with $13 minimum wage (and built in increases?) serves to calm some stormy waters and buttress support (and I think that's a possibility) -- I'd rather have the $15, but that's a move that I can live with for the time being. And I think the party and Biden still get credit for 'being in the right corner.'

Tax reform. Yes, certainly. But, cautiously -- and probably smarter if done incrementally. Capital gains closer to earned income, etc.

Might be hopelessly naive -- but that's my real time sense of where we're at -- as opposed to "strike while the iron is hot."

[Atticus]

8. My understanding is that what we're proposing NOW is a $9.50 minimum wage with

"built in increases" to get to $15 over about 4 years.

WE are being reasonable. They are being Trumpies.

"---------and the mule they rode in on!"

[ProfessorGAC]

31. You Have It Right

It would then go up around $1.50 an hour 3 times, then a buck, IIRC.

[stopdiggin]

35. 5.50 increase, over 4 years

Still a pretty steep curve Whether that is a truly realistic effort to sweeten the medicine -- is I guess open to interpretation. But, in any case, I was aiming for more conceptual rather that specifics.

I'll accept that we probably just aren't going to agree on (what I perceive as) a 'seize the day' narrative for the current climate.

[Amishman]

7. Yes, because political suicide has worked so well for us before

Expanding the courts is unpopular and bad ling term strategy

$15 minimum wage is probably too big a jump for rural areas that are already struggling.

Small steps. Popular steps. Remember that down ballot Republicans did better across the board than Trump. We barely kept the House. This is not the time to rock the boat and abandon the favor of the center. We'll do more staying in power for 10 years steadily than continuing the pendulum swing

[Atticus]

10. "Political suicide" is "playing nice" and not delivering what 81 million people voted for. Forget

"staying in power for 10 years". We'll lose Congress if we're seen as caving to the likes of McConnell and McCarthy.

On another day, we could discuss the differences between "popular" and "right".

[James48]

15. It's not all at once!

The fight for$15 raises the wage over time.

Hell, I’d be happy with a $3 raise now, followed by a $1 raise each January 1, as long as the unemployment rate is less than 6%. So that, and who would oppose it??

[Autumn]

16. Without doing some big things Dems won't be in power for 5 years much less 10. nt

[movingviolation]

22. Exactly.

We can't let Lucy move the football on us anymore, it's time to kick Lucy.

[lagomorph777]

17. Oh, please. Of course it will piss off those who stole the Court.

Tough shit.

It will please the majority, who voted to save the country.

[wnylib]

25. Once we have produced some

improvements, we will collect supporters along the way and then will have the political clout to go even bigger.

But most of the "go big" agenda of Biden is popular with the majority of Americans. So when the GQP opposes us, we can amplify the message that they are to blame for resisting the improvements. Undercut their support by exposing their refusal to act on behalf of the people. Make the word "obstructionist" stick so that it is synonymous with the GQP.

[NewHendoLib]

9. agreed. this is a FDR "we welcome their hatred" moment - for the entire Democratic party.

[ancianita]

33. +1000

[dlk]

11. Chop, chop...

[Brogrizzly]

12. Good post. N/t

[Joinfortmill]

13. 👍

[James48]

14. Make D.C. and Puerto Rico states.

That has to be priority right this very instant. If you do that, you’ll likely get four new Senators on our side. DO IT NOW!

[lagomorph777]

18. +1

[Escurumbele]

19. And...get rid of the Electoral College

That one is very important. To me the "Electoral College" is a giveaway for those who want to cheat, it only leaves a few states to do the cheating on, we need to get rid of that archaic way of electing a president.

[George II]

20. Some good point there, and a couple of comments:

No one ran in November on passing the $15 / hour minimum wage through reconciliation. That's an end around that should not be used. A stand alone bill should be introduced and voted upon. Even if Harris overrules the parliamentarian, the $15 minimum wage, if passed through reconciliation, will be struck down in court.

Expanding the Supreme Court, as much as I'd like it, would be disastrous. Let's say we go up to 13, then some day when republicans get in power (they will, hopefully later than sooner) they'll want to go up to 15 or 17, or drop down to 9 again when Democratic justices retire.

Any changes to procedure will wind up being temporary, they'll go back to the way they were or worse when republicans take power again.

Finally, we all have to relax and realize how things work and how many things there are to fix. We need to concentrate on what's being worked on right now in the House and Senate. These are the most pressing and important things. Others can be worked on in the next several months.

I'm sorry to say, but in some areas (especially Twitter, which is a free for all) many people are demanding everything immediately. It's beginning to look like 2009 all over again.

The long-term and important things to begin working on now and in parallel with the most immediate needs, are addressing climate change and voting rights.

But we (Democrats) have to stop eating our own and voting against ourselves for bad reasons. I was pretty disgusted the other day when I saw that several Democrats voted against a highly bipartisan bill to name a post office after a war hero who spent 8 years as a POW in the Hanoi Hilton. The vote was 406-15. I was even more disgusted when I saw that the 15 were all Democrats and when I heard their reasons. Stuff like that has to stop or everything you said will go down the drain.

[Atticus]

28. Thank you for the thoughtful response. Let me assure you that I am not one who demands "everything

immediately". I would be happy to get "most" of our list---what I mentioned and more---eventually. But, by "eventually", I mean before the 2022 mid-terms.

Respectfully, I believe I do know "how things work" and, in the past, that has been "not well" for those who just elected Joe and Kamala. Whether we actually do something to piss off the Republicans or take "small steps" and hope they don't get upset, Republicans will cut our throats as soon as they get in power again. IMHO, that is a given; that is why I don't care if they squint and wag their fingers at us while growling "We'll get you for this!"

45 Senate Republicans and 144 Republican House members voted in favor of setting aside Biden's win AFTER the Trump mob invaded and desecrated the Capitol while a Joint Session of Congress---including THEM---was present! We should CARE what these embarrassing traitors think?

If we don't pass a uniform federal election statute, they will try to steal the next two elections with the same tactics they have used for years.

If we don't "balance" the Court, no laws we pass will be safe from being trashed by the "Trump Court".

"If something is important to us, we will find a way. If it is not, we will find an excuse."

[movingviolation]

21. They will always say we over-reach.

so let's give them something to cry about. We just need to make sure that people are aware of the benefits they have received, we need to toot our own horn for crispy kreme sake!

[Politicub]

23. But but but... the parliamentarian though.

I’m in agreement with all of the policies you laid out.

[Vinca]

24. Democratic leaders need to get it through their heads that "bi-partisanship" means

"do it our way" to Republicans. We've heard the same tune for decades. Just give it up and go for broke. AND VOTE! If the GOP doesn't come around to overcome Manchin and Sinema's no votes on the minimum wage (WTF is wrong with them??), GOP no votes should be used in every campaign commercial next time they're up for re-election.

[judesedit]

26. I couldn't agree more.

[Lonestarblue]

27. Everything you said and statehood for DC and Puerto Rico ASAP.

[speak easy]

29. How? How with a 50:50 Senate does one get rid the filibuster?

Manchin - no
Sinema - no

It does not matter how many DU'ers say yes.

[BobTheSubgenius]

30. I can't argue with your OP, Atticus.

Nor would I want to. The need for stiffening the backbone of the party has been growing for some time. I wasn't sure President Biden would be on board for such heavy lifting, but he has been an amazing surprise, so far.

I was a fan during the primaries (although I was initially behind more progressive candidates), at least as others started dropping out. I've always liked him, and thought he was a very good and pleasant person, with lots of experience, especially in moderate politics.

I felt a return to the previous status quo was far from the worst thing that could happen. Needless to say, seeing him in action since his confirmation has been a revelation.

[FlyingPiggy]

32. sadly, I cannot agree more. I just want this fascist shit to go away.

And I am ready to dig in and fight it tooth and nail.

[live love laugh]

36. Do it NOW! They must work fervently and urgently!

Time is of the essence.