The Senate Solution

[grantcart]

I went to bed last night with a confidence that the red mirage would fade but my stomach in knots because it was clear that our hopes in the Senate were not going to be achieved.

Mitch McConnell is going to do everything he can to prevent anything worthwhile getting passed. It would mean at least two years of no solution for legislation that is widely desired by the American public: DACA, TPS, Climate Change and on and on.

I believe that this is the most likely scenario:

Mitt Romney (who voted for impeachment) will pioneer a group of 8, 10 or 12 with equal number of Republican and Democratic Senators (Tim Kaine is the most likely leader on our side). This group will undertake to negotiate compromises with Speaker Pelosi. This "Gang of 10" will function like other gangs to break up intransigent back log by the Republican Leader.

The most likely members are Republican and Democratic Senators from purple states or states dominated by the other party. The disgusting Collins is an example on their side. Mark Kelly (who faces a re election in two years is an example on our side).

The members of this group will have immense power and their stature will be enhanced and their re election made easier.

It will allow Republican Senators who dislike McConnell to go around him.

It will also be good for President Biden because he will be able to bring home concrete legislation that Americans want.

I do not believe that the filibuster will be an issue because the compromises will be universally popular, they will start on issues that are widely supported and only sabotaged by McConnell. They will be resisted at great peril.

The overall impact would be to lower the partisan temperature and a wide majority of the people would welcome a more practical approach. I believe that this is a big win for the Democrats because if we can get to a rational discussion of the issues with less anger a large majority of the people will agree with Democratic proposals.

We won't get everything we want but we will be able to craft solutions, like accepting the ACA that will improve the quality of life for Americans and improve the quality of discourse.

Senator Romney clearly is looking for two things: a defining moment in history and exorcising Trumpism from the Republican Party. There is already a strong media constituency to promote this with the Lincoln Project folks.

Don't know if this is what is going to happen, it just seems the most sensible. President Biden is also finely tuned, with his experience and relationships to make this work.

[cilla4progress]

1. So what do we end up with

49-51? What about the Georgia runoff in January?

People are voting based on fear. Most powerful emotion. Leads to hate.

I am proud to align with the party of diversity.

[grantcart]

14. We fight but Warnock only got 32% of the vote.

We still are not ahead with the Michigan race, although we are only 10K behind.

I just can't get my hopes up again. Alaska, Mississippi, Kansas, Maine, Iowa and Montana were all supposed to be close. Of course we should fight for every seat until its over but even if we don't achieve it this cycle I believe that there is a reasonable path ahead.

[Demsrule86]

19. There were three Democrats and the GOP didn't get that much either.

[grantcart]

21. President Obama gave a very high profile endorsement of Warnock

and those Dems still didn't vote for him for whatever reason.

The Republicans have already kissed and made up. We fight but I am very skeptical that he can go from 32 to 51%, especially after a dozen disappointments in other races.

Let me put it this way: do you think Warnock will be a more impressive campaigner than Ossof? This is an electorate that voted,to re elect someone who was openly trading on Covid information while telling people it was no big thing against a very talented campaigner. Possible but I am not getting my hopes again.

538 had us at 52 Senators with a 72% chance.

[Rstrstx]

29. Those were Hillary's odds in 2016

We’ve underperformed in Senate races east of the Rockies every year since 2014, someone at headquarters needs to figure out why. That 2018 loss in Florida is really coming back to bite us.

[634-5789]

2. Mitch Mcconnell... Time to pinch his head off,

President biden needs to have a woodshed moment with that fucking traitor.

[BComplex]

15. I just hope independent commissions can find mitch guilty of treason, bribery,

and dirty dealing with his dirty-dealing wife. They both should have been in jail long ago.

We're going to need a REALLY strong justice department if we're ever going to get rid of the grifting that has been going on.

[crickets]

24. +1

[BComplex]

3. Gawd I hope you're right about this.

I just can't see it from where I sit.

[Baitball Blogger]

4. Biden is going to have to do everything by executive order.

[Laelth]

6. That's the problem.

We need a $2 trillion stimulus bill. Joe can’t do that with an executive order.

-Laelth

[Baitball Blogger]

10. He has the attention of the American people.

He can use it to let everyone know what Mitch McConnell is doing to obstruct progress.

And, by the way, Trump managed to make things work by stealing from budgets he had access to.

[EarlG]

12. I think that's the point of grantcart's piece though -- he won't

With a tighter Senate, and without the pressure of Trump and his army of nutjobs being brought to bear, "moderate" Senators will be able to craft compromises that make it much more difficult for McConnell to control the process. So while we may not get all the legislation we want, we should still be able to get big-ticket items that are popular with large majorities of the American people (like, say, protecting the ACA, infrastructure, green jobs, etc.).

[Laelth]

5. Can Murkowski be talked into switching parties?

If we’re stuck with Collins, maybe her. Last time we faced a similar dilemma, we talked Arlen Specter into switching parties. I would rather just control the Senate outright.

-Laelth

[grantcart]

16. No, look at the results from Alaska yesterday.

But who ever is in the "Gang" will have immense power. That serves her interests even more.

[cos dem]

7. I really do hope you are right. However...

McTurtle is such a waste of oxygen, I wouldn't put it past him to head this sort of thing off at the pass. After all, he thinks his #1 job is making sure Democratic presidents serve one term.

Doesn't he control what comes up for a vote? Are there ways around him?

[cry baby]

8. That sounds reasonable.

Of course, I’m skeptical about which Republicans will join the group when trumpism is so strong and probably saved their seats. They might still be afraid of trump tweets.

Your scenario is hopeful to me and I hope it can happen in these polarized times.

[grantcart]

18. There will be many Senators who would want to join

They saw what happened in Colorado and Arizona.

Any Senator from a state like Georgia, for example, that gets elected with a small margin will want to be a member.

There also Senators who don't like what happened in the last 4 years and would be happy to be put in a high profile position to move legislation that most people want.

Issues like DACA and TPS have had high bipartisan support in the past.

Even though I detest Collins I can see her being delighted to be apart of it and also Murkowski. They would also have a direct line with President Biden, they would be in a power position.

[cry baby]

23. Time will tell, but I have decided that they're too afraid of a tweet.

And McConnell is a powerful figure in this senate. But I will hope for the best.

I just think enough of them have courage.

[Turin_C3PO]

9. Hope you're right!

I don’t have much faith in Republicans but hopefully your scenario plays out.

[JT45242]

11. Will NEVER happen

McConnell has all the cards.

He will never allow anything to come to a vote.

All the vulnerable senators owe him forever because of the amount that his super PAC spent to protect them (see Ernst, Collins, Graham, etc.)

He will block everything.

Then in two years (and four years) they will run on Biden being a do nothing president .... the idiotic american public will buy it (AGAIN) and elect rethugs to house, senate, and white house as America becomes a fascist state.

Any thought of Romney or any other (R) growing a spine is wishful thinking... the racists won. Fascism won. Only in America could being anti-fascist be considered bad.

[bronxiteforever]

13. The 2022 Senate race has GoP defending

22 seats to 12 Democratic seats. They should be on the defense in 2022 but the 2020 decisive wins in the Senate and some pick ups in the House embolden them to not comprise.

[cilla4progress]

17. What happened to the blue tsunami?

Following the blue wave of 18?

[Tommymac]

20. Putin had something to do with it. Why would he help fix 2016 then not bother with 2020?

This has happened every cycle since 2000 except 2008.

Vlad keeps holding the football and we keep trying to kick it.

[AlexSFCA]

22. I believe mconnel can simply block everything

every cabinet nominee, every judge, etc.

[marie999]

25. Biden can fill cabinet posts with acting cabinet members for 220 days plus 90 day extension

from the day he takes office. If the Senate does not vote, the acting cabinet member can stay until they vote. If they vote him/her down the acting member can serve another 210 days and if the next is turned down another 210 days. By that time 1/3 of Senators will be up for reelection and probably will be afraid not to vote for cabinet members.

[AlexSFCA]

26. sweet

he can reshape DOJ, FBI, NSA, etc.

[SunSeeker]

27. K & R

[backscatter712]

28. Why do I see Susan Collins expressing mild concerrn, then doing the Lucy & the football thing?