Hillary or Bernie - What about Congress?

[TomCADem]

For all the bloviating between Hillary and Bernie, I wonder does it really make a difference between the two if we still have a Republican Congress? Now, we definitely need a Democratic President to keep the Republicans from going crazy with all three branches of the government. Can you imagine a President Trump with the Tea Party House? Scary.

However, even for Bernie or Hillary's greatest supporters, all of their proposals will just end up going nowhere without a Democratic Congress. Heck, even with a Democratic congress, it would be tough, since a Democrat from West Virginia, Kentucky or Louisiana will likely be going be pro-gun, anti-choice and pro-oil.

Put another way, neither Bernie nor Hillary will be able to push half of their proposals unless without Congressional support. Otherwise, all Bernie and Hillary will really be able to do is do what President Obama is doing now, which is simply threatening to veto those laws that over reach in trying to peal back financial reform, health care reform, etc. To the extent, we are seeking new any new reforms? Forget about it regardless of who is the Democratic President.

[Thinkingabout]

1. Hillary assisted in fund raising for the down ticket Democrats hoping to get more

Democrats elected. Yes, Hillary gets it, she knows getting Democrats elected at every level, ergo the fund raising. It is also possible to work with republicans, Hillary has co-sponsored bills with Republicans, a president has to work with the hand they are dealt. Bill Clinton had many years of a Republican congress and if you listen to some of those in congress at the time they knew he was still able to move around and negotiate deals. It would help in the future if we can get many Democrats elected on every level.

[TomCADem]

2. Can't See How Hillary or Bernie Can Do Any More Than Obama...

...with the current Congress, which is why getting more Democrats elected to Congress should be a huge priority. Otherwise, all either candidate can do if elected is to threaten to veto the latest craziness coming out of the House. Repealing the ACA, Dodd-Frank, the Endangered Species Act, etc. Of course, if Republicans gain a veto proof majority in Congress, then both Hillary and Bernie just end up as Republican legislative road kill.

Put another way, with a veto proof majority, you could have a President Sanders presiding over a repeal of the ACA, Dodd-Frank, major environmental laws, and tax cuts to the rich.

[Thinkingabout]

4. I understand this, I also know the importance in getting Democrats elected on every level.

Democratic ideas will happen with Democrats in office. It is also important to nominate the next few SC judges, we need the SC to become more liberal and get rid of rulings like CU.

[daleanime]

12. But not President Clinton?

Who's far more likely to bring more republican congressman into office with her.

[PatrickforO]

3. Interesting question. Here's my take...

I recently became a grandfather and when my wife and I visited the hospital to see the baby, they had Fox 'news' on in the waiting area. The hatred expressed for Obama during the maybe 20 minutes I watched this vile program made me sick. I mean, they went out of their way to imply that Obama 'has a different ideology' than the rest of us, is incompetent, etc.

One more thing - I have to qualify this by saying that I'm a Bernie supporter, so take that in with the rest of the salt.

Let's paint a little background:

Now, on this Fox 'news' program, the sentiments against HRC were just as virulently negative. There has been, I'll remind you, a movement to start impeachment proceedings against Clinton the minute she takes office based on her email scandal and also the appearance of impropriety in okaying large weapons sales to countries that have donated money to the Clinton foundation. I'll also remind you that Bill was impeached over the sexual impropriety he committed with Monica Lewinski - he faced the same hatred and 'win at all costs and devil take the welfare of the country' mentality the Republicans acquired beginning with the snake Atwater, the slime Rove and Darth Cheney himself.

Contrast this with Obama. Obama hasn't been attacked with any scandals. Why? They loathe him. They called him 'liar' during his S of the U speech the first year. Some asshole with a capital (R) was quoted as saying he was ten feet away, in the same room and couldn't stand it, but they haven't gotten anything on Obama. Nothing. Because Obama is a good, moral man who is trying his best and genuinely wants to govern the nation. They've made him as ineffective as possible, but he's still made enough major accomplishments that he'll go down in history as a good if not great president.

At this point we can contemplate Sanders. Basically, the worst the right can come up with is he is an 'insane 60s hippie' and a 'socialist' and a 'communist.' That's it. Why? Because Bernie too is a good and moral guy who genuinely cares about governing the nation.

OK, now the background's been painted, at least from my admittedly biased viewpoint, what conclusions do I come to?

First, Clinton will be under perhaps baseless attack for some serious ethical violations or at least appearances of conflict of interest. Judging by some of what has been reported in a variety of sources, there may have even been illegality. After the rhetoric by GOP people in DC, if they even catch a whiff of illegality, they will waste millions in taxpayer dollars on rooting them out, just like they already have done with Benghazi, and in the end they will destroy her presidency with impeachment, though the Dems will put up such a fight that they won't be able to try her. Or maybe they will.

As to Bernie, he's just a crazy 60s liberal. But they have nothing on him. Therefore they will obstruct anything he wants to do the same as they have with Obama. With one difference...

Us.

Bernie tells us he's beginning a political revolution, and by that he means that he needs us to exert massive pressure on these lizards to do the right thing instead of what the corporations who've given them money want. It will take all of us. That's why I'm supporting Bernie. He wants the right stuff and I'm ready to tilt at one last windmill.

So there it is. My opinion in all its glory.

[Ron Green]

5. ^^ This is it. ^^

You 'splained it just right, and didn't forget to mention that it WILL REQUIRE MASSIVE ACTION from all kinds of Americans. Which, if we don't do anyhow, we're screwed.

[daleanime]

13. +1

[DUbeornot2be]

7. Great post!

All I can think to add is that the argument that Bernie isn't helping down ticket democrats is bogus. Hrc's people only see and think in terms of money...

Bernie has answered with truth! Truth and integrity will inspire far more folks than million dollar ads pretending a candidate will do this or that...

The proof is that he's in a heated race even after the media has virtually blackballed Bernie.

They are getting scared!

[Ino]

8. Excellent analysis!

[baldguy]

10. So, a Sanders Congress will just appear overnight, like magic?

And we just can't trust Hillary not to have any phony scandals ... because, well, the GOP's phony scandals say so?

The Sanders campaign seems to run unicorn shit & wishes for sparkles.

[daleanime]

14. No, why ever thing else we want....

you will have to fight for it, but I would rather fight for that then just fight to keep Clinton in office and getting nothing else done.

[PatrickforO]

16. Well, if you aren't willing to keep abreast of issues and make the effort to

hold your US Senators and Representative accountable for how they are voting, and instead just want to elect someone you HOPE will at least represent SOME of your interests and then just stand back as usual and let them loose, then you'll continue to have government gridlock.

[Motown_Johnny]

19. A Sanders administration would be more productive than a Clinton one

because of the endless scandals her administration would suffer.


Why is that hard to comprehend?

[Punkingal]

17. Excellent post!

[uponit7771]

6. People want and FDR president but not willing to work for an FDR congress so the president can

... enact and agenda they want.

Those seem to be the same people who petulantly react when their top tenants get compromised on

[djean111]

9. How do you know people won't work for an FDR Congress?

Living here in Florida, I can assure you that Debbie Wasserman-Schultz is not willing to work for an FDR Congress. Not at all. She would rather support her GOP buddies and a DINO who turned Dem in 2012 ONLY so he could run against another Republican.

I would start with the leadership of the DNC when complaining about not getting an FDR Congress.

[uponit7771]

11. They haven't up till now, there has been no political movement leader in the US to even

... think of having a congress that works for the America people.

Folk are more comfortable sniping from the side lines.

Locally people can run for positions and put the "status quo" out of office and elect more progressive candidates

[djean111]

15. I live in Florida. Debbie does not support liberals or Progressives, and she, of course, has a HUGE

say in which candidates the DNC will help. She has openly supported GOP buddies, she has openly refused to support Dems against her GOP buddies because she has "working relationships". Until she, and other DINOs, are gone from the DNC, the DNC will only let liberal or progressive Dems get so far, and then block them and try to corral their supporters and donations. I think that was the only reason they let Bernie run as a Democrat - so they could get the voters who would not even bother turning out for Hillary, and their money. The current agenda bears me out, I think - vilify Bernie as "not a Democrat". Well, if DWS is a Democrat, then I am not one, not like her, and all we are supposed to care about is the "D" on the jersey. That kind of politics, I hope, will be dying out.

Huge fight just getting Grayson to be able to primary DINO Murphy for Rubio's seat. The Progressive caucus was threatened with "disbandment" if they continued to push a progressive candidate. Murphy votes with the GOP a lot, and voted to create the Benghazi committee and was GOP until 2012. He is the poster boy for what the DNC wants and will support.

The DNC seems to be going the way of the Third Way, and the membership of that New Democrat Coalition is a handy list of DINOs. They are advised by the Third Way.

[Motown_Johnny]

18. Executive powers do exist.

It would be far far better to have an actual liberal as President who would use those powers to promote policies that we can support.



The fact that we won't have a (D) majority in The House makes having a liberal President just that much more important.

[Amimnoch]

20. Good luck Tom. I tried getting a congress discussion going.

OP'd here http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251858917

and have tried to get the discussion on the 115th congress numerous times. Apparently the only important election of 2016 is the Presidential.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

21. I'll vote for the Democrats running for congress.

And, Bernie, if he's nominated.