A couple of weeks ago I wrote a column in which I opined that the Democrats should go ahead and nuke the filibuster, for the simple reason that even if the GOP took control of the House, they were incapable of passing legislation that could pass the
Senate. This was because the GOP is broken into three separate groups, the Trump traditional GOP, the Trump GOP, and the Tea Party Caucus, which would never agree with either of the other two if they didn’t get their way.
Go ahead, hate on me in the comments. This has been festering in me for a couple of weeks now, and I’ve finally had enough. In watching the expected food fight over President Biden’s aggressive social agenda, I have come to a sad conclusion.
The Democrats now have their own Tea Party faction in congress. It is called the House Progressive Caucus, and it’s led by Washington congresswoman Jabberwocky Jayapal. And she is strutting around like her and her caucus are all that and a bag of chips. They are strutting around making non negotiable demands as if they had total power.
But there’s a problem with that. As we speak, there are 222 Democratic members of congress. And of those 222 members, a grand total of 96 are members of the House Progressive Caucus. Not only are they not the majority of the party, they aren’t even half of the House Democratic caucus. And Jayapal is ranting away, daring Speaker Pelosi to Try her, if she thinks they’re bluffing.
This is what crippled the GOP House under Boehner from even attempting to govern, and now it’s going to do the same thing to the Democrats if they’re not careful. To be sure, there are portions of the massive $3.5 trillion social infrastructure bill that are popular among all demographics, but there are others that are still too far left for the majority of the party to embrace. Sweet Jesus! ALL CAPS Bernie lost two consecutive primary campaigns because he wouldn’t moderate his message.
News Flash for congresswoman Jayapal and the rest of her group. The practice of politics is the art of the possible. Right now there is a bill sitting in the House, already passed by the Senate that would spend almost a trillion dollars updating hard infrastructure in this country. It will make President Biden look good, and position the Democrats more strongly for 2022. Pass the goddamn bill! And then go back and negotiate with the Democrats in the Senate for what’s possible! After all, you’re going to get another reconciliation bite at the apple on October 1st.
Interparty politics is one thing, and every party goes through it on a regular basis. But this rigid, unbending, My way or the highway stance is toxic to a political party. Just ask the goddamn GOP. We’re better than this.
Follow me on Twitter at @RealMurfster35
No surprises here……every time the Dems regain the majorities in Congress and the White House the infighting begins over the power and who will get the lion’s share to promote their own particular special interests and agendas.
While the Pubes get their talking points and marching orders, go “seig heil” and goose step to the nearest microphone spouting their, “only WE can fix this” special line of bullshit.
Meanwhile, the Dems go at each other like rabid dogs, cutting off their noses despite their faces, and nothing gets accomplished.
The Pubes say “SEE!!!….like we said, only WE can fit this” and waltz back to the majority.
It’s not rocket science, and not hard to follow……and happens EVERY. FN. TIME!!!
*sigh*
Hate to break it to you: the problem ain’t the progressives. It’s the DINOs like Manchin. The progressives are in line with Biden’s plan. I know I’ve mentioned this before to you in comments. You’re treading close to Maher territory with comments like that.
The Dems are a coalition party, and have been since I was a kid. Remember that line, attributed to Will Rogers: “I’m not a member of an organized party – I’m a Democrat.”