Why Biden shouldn't extend an olive branch to Republicans

[DonCoquixote]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/nov/26/why-biden-shouldnt-extend-an-olive-branch-to-republicans

Look, we know that a certain mantra is being practiced in the rehearsal hall's of the party.It has various courses, various variations, but the call will be to get things back to "normal", to "reach across the aisle".It is the same mantra that got played in 1992, it is the same mantra that got played in 2008, and any other time when the Democrats beat the GOP. Then, as now, the party one because a lot of minorities got out to vote: Blacks, browns, and white women who had to endure the attacks of everything from police brutality media crucifixion.

Yet, there is already here a command being issued from on high "thou shalt not risk the anger of the white voter!" Never mind that many of that coveted block can and will backstab if the GOP strums the right heartstrings. Even though most people remember that they had more money when Democrats were in office, the majority here is the notes the GOP plays and are hypnotized by siren songs, voting for the very people who frankly oppress them.

Now let me be clear, I am not saying that we put on Che berets and act out some of the fantasies that have no basis in reality. Yes Mitch is going to try everything he can to obstruct anything he can, until the day his turtle shell is finally carried out of capital.Is that the left of the party has to at least have a chance on stage, and that yes we do have to make Mitch fight for every inch of ground, too much of our previous negotiations have been conceding 60 to 70% of what the opponent wants before we even get to the table, which means that they know they can go ahead and get at least 70 to 80% of what they want. Then the powers that be have a few measly slices and then say "well that's really all we could get, but remember to send in your party donations!"

No, this time around we have to be willing to fight! Yes, yes we have no illusions about that that we are running uphill, and that many people on the so-called "center" are going to be doing their best sniper our backs as we run uphill. Even in this very newsgroup, here the hatred that some people have for aoc and her fellow "squad", even though they did mobilize the youth, and the women in order to get that crucial bit of ground this election.

The real unity that can help us is that even when the right side of the Democrats disagree with the left side of the Democrats, we realize that we do have each other's back, and that we will need to play both good cop and bad cop with the GOP. Good cop and bad cop only works when the subject realizes that there is a realistic chance that Bad COp can show up; the GOP wants to kill Obama care, well then we can push the Medicare for all, and when people seem to like Medicare for all, then the GOP can finally offer some things to us that are not slices that are called "half a loaf." Yes we need to work together, but the place from which we do work together has to be a place that is not interested in placating the GOP. We are not going to walk out and extend an olive branch knowing that the GOP has a machine gun nest in the right where we would step, we have to make them a lean left of their comfort zone. We won the election, we cannot step right word into their comfort zone, because it is their element. They are very successfully played the game where they have turned the Blacks, browns, and yes white women and said "we know that we can make the Democrats abandoned, so why not come over to the winning side?"

Yes we work together, but we do it in a way that demands that even the GOP give us something real, or they pay for it in the press. The most successful lawyers will tell you that most lawsuits are not done and actually went, but to make the client broke. We need to start making the GOP get exhuasted, get them to the point where they keep fighting the same old fight, they are either going to get knocked down or at least be vulnerable to those that want to rip them up. We need to take advantage of the fact that most of this country does not trust the GOP, bipartisan initiatives are giving air to them while they are choking, so let's not give them any more oxygen.

[BigmanPigman]

1. We need to take advantage of the fact that most of this country does not trust the GOP,

bipartisan initiatives are giving air to them while they are choking, so let's not give them any more oxygen."

We must not forgive and forget...ever.

[bamagal62]

2. I didn't even read the long post.

Because I know we can’t do the olive branch bullshit. There should not even be a mention of an olive branch. Fuck that shit. You can’t trust them at all. It will always be Lucy with the football if we try.

[regnaD kciN]

3. I recommended this because of the excerpts...

...but withdrew my recommendation after reading the entire article, as it is just more of the “Biden’s a centrist who is going to sell us out, just like Obama and every other Democrat always does” rhetoric. Look, I’m pretty far left, and I’m sure Biden will be too “centrist” for me at times as well, but, when you start assuming bad faith and expecting to get stabbed in the back, you’re never going to get anywhere.

[betsuni]

4. This "centrist" stuff.

According to the American Conservative Union, Senator Biden only voted with conservatives 12.67% of the time. Obama 10%, Hillary Clinton 8.3%, Bernie Sanders 6.78%, Kamala Harris 4.55%, Kirsten Gillibrand 4.41%, Amy Klobuchar 4.70%, Elizabeth Warren 4.16%.

Don't know why the hell that's centrist.

[DonCoquixote]

5. no

more like we have to encourage biden and put pressure because there are forces bigger than Biden that will want to have him sell us out.