The lesson for Democrats to learn from the Barret nomination is this.

[Yavin4]

We're in much a different political world. The Republican party knows that it cannot continue as it is given the massive demographic changes on the horizon. They have abandoned appealing to groups who do not historically support them. So, they're trying to hang on to power by rigging our entire government to minimize the political power of the emerging demographic class.

Instead of reaching across the aisle, Democrats need to maximize their political and economic power to ensure that our power is not minimized. This entails strategies like early voting to overcome vote suppression. Ending the filibuster. Possible expansion of the SCOTUS. Statehood for DC and PR.

Republicans are not your colleagues. They're your adversaries. Deal with them like it.

[NoMoreRepugs]

1. That swine Gingrich threw down the gauntlet decades ago

and our party is just now from figuring out how to respond - from now on let’s bring Apache helicopters to the knife fights.

[BigmanPigman]

8. Ditto!

I am 100% against reaching across the aisle. That is why we are where we're at right now. That has been my attitude for over 30 years. Taking the high road never works with them and never will. Obama tried it and they bit his hand every time. The GOP party must be completely destroyed and permanently!

[saidsimplesimon]

50. BP, I still fume over the treatment

of President Obama by the Republicans, especially Russian shill, traitor Mitch.

[Roy Rolling]

60. Reach Across the Aisle

I reach across the aisle to shake hands with competitors—so that I have hold of one of their hands if I need to swing with the other.

Anybody who reaches across the aisle and then goes in close for a kiss, is weak and vulnerable to flattery, and will end up with broken arm from patting themself on the back.

[StevieM]

17. It wasn't just Gingrich back then.

In his own way Bob Dole was even worse.

And part of the assault on democracy came from Republican judges, like David Sentelle, who appointed Ken Starr.

[NoMoreRepugs]

21. It was a large herd of RePutinican swine.

[DownriverDem]

47. OH they knew

Many of us watched in horror as folks voted repub election after election. repubs had tons of money to buy up radio stations and then there was Fox News. I blame the voters too. Even now we have folks saying they won't vote for Biden because he's not a progressive. What fools!

[Beartracks]

65. Right? Only one of the two candidates that can win is running in the same direction as progressives.

This whole "wah, not progressive enough" schtick is, ironically, not helping us make progress.

===========

[certainot]

57. ginglich piggybacked limbaugh and they allll have since then

the way to fix this shit we're in is to finally stop ignoring talk radio - it could not stand any serious organized activism

at $1000/hr x 15 hrs/day x 1200 radio stations rw radio is worth $90mil/week or $5BIL/yr FREE to them

and hundreds of those stations rely on us ignoring that they depend on at least 87 universities and dozens of pro sports team broadcasts to attract advertising to pay for it all

[AllaN01Bear]

61. it was also delay , rr and the shrubs too also.

[CanonRay]

2. Rec x100

[Blue Owl]

3. K&R

[Wounded Bear]

4. Kill the fillibuster...without that nothing else gets done...nt

[TryLogic]

22. Yes, as recommended by Elizabeth Warren.

[BComplex]

34. Along with really good PLANS for all the things that need fixing.

Elizabeth Warren has been right about everything. Democrats need to listen to her.

[LymphocyteLover]

5. Yes, agree, though it will be very ugly no matter how much truth and decency is

on our side

[ancianita]

19. As everyone can see an ugly tantrum thrown by the immature, so they can see the adults

leave them to their flailing fits and get on with building back this country.

Our attitude in word and deed should be to Republicans: either help or get the hell out of the way.

Our humbled return to the world, rebuilding trust with our political allies, upholding science, focusing on smooth operations and funding, building better, competently solving problems through experts and professionals -- all of that will muffle, if not shut up, their ugly stunts and backroom plots. Because there's going to be another election in two years and they'd better take good advice: grow up, clean up your act.

Never trust them, believe them or give them positions of power again, no matter what they say or do to ingratiate us.

[LymphocyteLover]

28. Yes, god I hope so

[mysteryowl]

6. Yep, and repukes never compromise or reach accross the isle

Democrats are the only ones trying to make things work.

Enough!!! They don't play fair, ever.

[LymphocyteLover]

29. Only Democrats believe in government, institutions and the rule of law

it is what it is

[spike jones]

7. I just saw an ad for the Dem candidate in the South Carolina senate race say

he could reach across the aisle to the Republicans. The only reaching across the aisle I want to see is to smack them up beside the head.

[ashredux]

9. Bring down the Hammer! Add justices ...take back the court

[Mike Niendorff]

23. 100%

This discussion ended with Bush v Gore.

We're 20 years into the penalty phase now.

How it's taken this long to respond is an enduring mystery.


MDN

[Upthevibe]

10. Yavin4....

I could not agree with you more. No more reaching across the aisle or being agreeable unless and until there's a whole different mindset or even different party.

[DinahMoeHum]

11. We need to grind the GOoPers' dicks in the dirt. . .

. . .kick and stomp them in the balls until there's nothing but HAMBURGER where the balls used to be.

It's not about justice. It's not even about vengeance.

It's about PUNISHMENT.

[GB_RN]

43. As a Testicular Cancer Survivor

I take issue with your particular choice! 😉

But I certainly understand the sentiment. lol

[Poiuyt]

12. AMEN!!!

It's high time Democrats learn to use every available tool to fight fascism and help common Americans.

[Fiendish Thingy]

13. Don't fight to win power unless you intend to wield it rapidly and ruthlessly. Nt

[volstork]

14. This is absolutely

100% true.

[Woodycall]

15. No Prisoners

My Dad told me that in WWII, when the commanding officer briefed the men on a critical mission that could not be allowed to fail, the last words he spoke were: "And no prisoners! Got me?" And everyone knew exactly what he meant... That's how we need to roll now.

[calimary]

16. YES, and YES!!!!

And YEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!

[iluvtennis]

18. +++ agree.nt

[Olafjoy]

20. Get in there and do as much as possible as quickly as possible

Eff them all.

[maxrandb]

24. Won't work, unless we're willing to reanimate a truly Free Press

Look, the fucking Retrumplicans shut the entire government down TWICE, to try to prevent healthcare access being expanded.

Democrats won't do that, even to protect the very fundamental rights and equality that have been won over 240 years of blood and sweat

Even now, as the Retrumplicans have stolen 3 Supreme Court justices...AND hundreds of federal judges, Speaker Pelosi is currently trying to work with Mnuchin on a "compromise" Stimulus Package.

Here's why the above is happening.

The Corporate Owned media has normalized Retrumplicans behavior as "just the way things are".

They crucify the Dems if they would behave as Retrumplicans routinely do.

These mega media corporations need to be broken into a billion pieces.

Hate Radio needs to be buried in the same urine-soaked grave as Limbaugh (c'mon lung cancer...do your job!!)...and I say that after watching lung cancer destroy my dad.

I've never felt so heartless and uncaring in my life

But, years and years of conservative idiocy being shoved down my throat....

Years and years of the tyranny of minority rule...

Years and years of the media normalizing evil and cruelty, have just about killed my supply of "give a fuck".

I don't want a "return to decency"

I want punishment for what the Retrumplicans have done to my country.

I want vengeance for the empathy and compassion that used to be a part of my humanity....until the Retrumplicans killed it.

[BComplex]

39. I totally recommend this post.

YES!!!

[TuxedoKat]

49. Agreed

I have been watching all this happening since Reagan was elected. So tired of Dems always twisting themselves inside out to mollify Republicans and the press and getting kicked in the teeth and everywhere else.

[LiberalLovinLug]

54. Very good post!

I just wish I had confidence that Biden and the establishment Democrats he represents will do that.

Already his language is about "working with Republicans". That he's going to be a President for "all Americans".

Sounds good. Its the low hanging fruit. Might as well play that card as Trump is abandoning it.

But I am still hoping and praying that Biden, if he wins, will do everything that Republicans are fearing he will. Even if it makes Fox News angry, and the other MSM news cater to Republican critics ravings.

Appoint at least 2 more SCOTUS justices. And let the new AG dig deep and hard into Trump's family business dealings. Investigate Graham, and McConnell, every stinking Trump sycophant.

Work to curtail voter suppression. And start on changing the whole voting system, abolish the EC. As another article on DU on Ohio points out, the USA is a "democracy that prioritizes the imaginary preferences of land over the very real preferences of people, and in so doing, undermines the principle of “one person, one vote”.

We know all Republicans, even never-Trumpers, will be up in arms over that. Because even they know that without that unfair advantage, Republicans would have a tough hoe. There could be some half way measure to start that uses a formula to use land area in part, but still focuses on people populations more.

They may have to also change laws regarding States being ultimately in charge of federal elections. In setting standards. Amount of polling stations for certain amounts of population etc...

Non of these will go over well with the right. They NEED these unfair advantages to win. And no doubt even the MSM will be crying how RADICAL it is . There is of course a risk that Democrats will lose in 2024 because of media criticism and troll farms targeting FB and social media. But if not now......when???? We have to trust that our leaders will be able to explain how its just to create a more fair result, and win over the people with logic and reason. And that if Republicans want to win, they have to earn votes, rather than rely on stealing them or cheating.

[JI7]

25. The lesson is EVERY ELECTION MATTERS and there is a difference between Joe Manchin and Republicans

also. The lesson is to fucking vote in every election.

[Cosmocat]

31. Seems pretty simple, huh?

1) Recognize that republicans are literally insane, and don't buy the bullshit the media does to normalize them, which includes slagging democrats.

2) Realize that while they are far from perfect, democrats are at worst benign and 1,000,000 times better than Rs, and friggen V O T E.

[modrepub]

26. Limit The Tax Transfers

Mitch bragged about how many billions he got for KY because of his position. The correct term is stealing. Keep taxes local. States shouldn’t be getting more than they pay in unless the others agree. If your state or county has a crappy worker participation rate then you shouldn’t be riding the gravy train.

The Rebus have created a vicious cycle where states like CA & NY pay lots of taxes only for the it to be transferred to low tax contributing states. Then they hold CA & NY up as examples of as Democratic tax and spend. To avoid this his we need to enact more federal matching programs. You want government funds you have to buy into it first. Austerity for the folks who won’t contribute their fair share.

[raccoon]

30. Great post. Nt

[BComplex]

32. "Republicans are not your colleagues. They're your adversaries. Deal with them like it." Please

tell that to Chuck Schumer and our Senators.

They're still acting like the republicans they have lunch with and play golf with are their "friends". They are not. They are playing the hell out of the democrats.

Democrats are, by nature, good and trusting people who see the good in others. Republicans see them as "marks" to be played.

The teams are not equal.

[BComplex]

40. He's from a period when there was actually mutuality between senators.

I don't think he's noticed they aren't really his friends.

[Hotler]

33. First there has to be a will of our elected Democrats

to stop playing nice. I don't think Nancy and Chuck have it in them. If we come out ahead is this election, my opinion is we need new leadership that has a lot more bark and a painful bite. We have a lot to claw back and it won't happen playing nice.

[bucolic_frolic]

36. Transition to new leadership depends on when our legislation gets stalled

I'd say by 2022 we'll have new leadership. A younger generation. Schiff, Whitehouse, Klobuchar and more than a dozen other potential candidates in each chamber. To set things in motion we need to use the wisdom and experience of current leadership. Pelosi has outpunched her weight class these 2 years, and her sense of timing is impeccable. That's wisdom and experience.

[DeminPennswoods]

45. Pelosi is more than capable of playing hardball with Rs

She's demonstrated that the past two years.

It's hard to say about Schumer because the Senate is smaller and different from the House. But if Dems get a solid majority and end the non-talking legislative filibuster, they need to pass the bills the House will send them. If Rs like some of the bills, then fine, but it should be clear there won't be compromises. Dems will have a clear mandate to get things done for the 99%.

[bucolic_frolic]

35. Yeah, but they have a lock on authoritarian stupid and that's most of America

The uneducated and paranoid prefer a world with no shades of gray. Religious certainty is part of that. It's not going away.

[lagomorph777]

38. Reach across the aisle; get your hand bitten off.

We have to quit playing that game. Brass knuckles time. Period.

[usaf-vet]

41. F the collegial attitude that the Democrats keep trying. While the republican across the aisle is..

... thinking to themselves these stupid fools still don't get it. We want to slit your throats while you want to give away the ship with a handshake and a pat on the back.

If it were me, grant you Trump has made me more radical than normal, I would never again show them the respect of referring to them as republicans certainly not Republicans. I would always refer to them as the "repugs". But that's all they deserve at this point in our history.

When I hear life long Rs say things like "this is no longer my dad's or my grandparent's party". I totally agree!

They are the Repugs now.

[Nitram]

42. Exactly. We've been patient long enough.

[Lonestarblue]

44. We need the Democratic equivalent to the Republicans' REDMAP.

One way they got their power was to spend money winning local and state elections, all the way from local mayors and school boards up to state legislatures and governors. If we want to build a progressive country that protects individual rights and liberties—as well as one that addresses climate change and competes in a global marketplace—we need to gain the power necessary to set policies that benefit the people and the country instead of the oligarchs like David Koch.

For that, we need a plan and a concerted investment in races where the Democratic candidate may not have a chance but can use the opportunity to lobby for different policies.

And we need a concerted media outreach effort to counter the right-wing lies and propaganda put out by Fox, Limbaugh and his ilk, and internet sites like QAnon.

In the short term, Biden as president and a Democratic Senate and House can accomplish a lot. Assuming the ACA may become history, pass a bill lowering the age for Medicare to 55 or even 50–or even for everyone. If that’s a step too far and too fast for some people, pass a law requiring every business with 100 or more employees to sponsor health insurance for its employees, including part-time employees. That’s how Walmart evades benefits for thousands of its employees by limiting them to 30 hours a week. For smaller businesses, allow a tax benefit if they provide health insurance.

There are hundreds of other things that need to be fixed, but the long-term plan to capture local and state offices needs to happen also.

[calimary]

46. Damn right!

[CaptainTruth]

48. Yep. Republicans have made themselves my enemy.

It wasn't my choice, they did it by behaving the way they have. It's 100% on them & they own it.

[wryter2000]

51. I say one gesture of wanting to work together - completely meaningless, of course

then hardball all the way.

[Illumination]

52. They most certainly do not reflect the views of the majority of the American people!

[martouf]

53. The lesson is FUCK being nice

McConnell has shown there is no decorum. No respect.

So, FUCK him and every Republican.

[Duppers]

55. AMEN!

[Duppers]

56. +1000

[melman]

58. Yes

There are no epiphanies coming. Republicans are what they are.

[The Wizard]

59. Every Democrat that

reaches across the aisle pulls back a bloody stump.

[CousinIT]

62. Democratic voters need to start prioritizing winning SENATE seats. n/t

[greblach]

63. K&R

Spot On!

[Silent3]

64. Democrats also have to learn the importance of the courts in general

The polling on this shows many Democrats, if not most, simply do not grasp the gravity of the situation. Even now.