Every Single Democrat in Washington Should Read This
February 17, 2010 at 1:53 PM 1 comment
Yesterday Vice President Joe Biden appeared on the CBS Early Show and said, “Washington, right now, is broken…I don’t ever recall a time in my career where to get anything done, you needed a supermajority, 60 out of 100 senators…. I’ve never seen it this dysfunctional.”
Yeah, but as Steve Brenen at the Washington Monthly notes,
Biden, in other words, needs to name names — Republicans broke the American legislative process. They did so deliberately, during a time of crises, because they’re desperate to undercut the Democratic majority, regardless of the consequences. The GOP’s tactics have no precedent in American history, and violate every democratic norm that keeps our system moving.
It’s not enough to share Americans’ disgust; Dems need to help the public understand this mess. They can do so by avoiding jargon and legislative terminology, and calling Republicans’ obstructionist tactics what they are: a dangerous political scandal.
Don’t talk about “filibusters” or “supermajorities”; talk about the Republican “scandal” that has brought the system to a halt. Talk about Republicans “shutting down” the American policymaking process, and ignoring the will of the voters.
I remember tearing my hair out during the summer and fall of 2004 when I was blogging over at the News Hounds and watching John Kerry slink around while the Swift Boaters and Fox News pounded him. Is it a genetic thing that Democrats don’t get that words and framing matter? Apparently not, and that’s one of their biggest problems.
Entry filed under: Democrats, Including Blue Dogs & "Liberals". Tags: .
1.
Mike | February 17, 2010 at 3:59 PM
Democrats complaining that 60 votes aren’t enough is funny. It’s also funny to hear them call Republican’s obstructionists. You’d think when they were in the minority they just timidly went along with everything the Republican’s proposed.
There’s nothing unique about the party out of power opposing the legistlation of the party in power. That’s the way it is supposed to work.
I don’t remember much complaining in the press about opposition effectiveness when the Senate Democrats were blocking judicial nominees a few years ago. They called it unified opposition.
Gridlock is the best case scenario. The less legislation passed in DC the better for everyone in the real world. I think at least 90% of the problems they try to fix end up getting worse.
While I’m at it, I’d like to see the number of congress reduced. The less theives at the table the less theivery in general. I say cut the number of senators and reps in half!