Here's the Good News and a Warning about that News!

[MineralMan]

On January 20, Democrats will have the White House and majorities, albeit slim ones, in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Mitch McConnel will be reduced to being the Minority Leader in the Senate, and Nancy Pelosi will continue her role as Speaker of the House.

Anyone who doesn't recognize how important those things are simply doesn't understand how things work. No longer will Moscow Mitch be deciding what comes to the floor of the Senate for a vote. We will have a stable, Democratic President and Vice-President.

Undoing everything terrible Trump did will take some time. In some cases, it will take years. In others, action will be far swifter than that.

We need to recognize this change and let our new Democratic government do its job. We should not and cannot insist that our pet projects be instantly enacted. They won't be. However, the Trump Era will end, suddenly and decisively. There is no question about that. That will open the door for change in many, many areas.

Everyone who is a Democrat or some style of progressive needs to give Joe Biden a serious honeymoon. Fomenting fighting among people who are Democrats or some other sort of progressive will not be productive. Instead, we need to watch and see what happens in the first 100 days of the Biden administration. To do anything else will hinder progress, not promote it.

Give Biden a chance. Listen to what he proposes. He understands Congress and what is and is not possible immediately. Give him some slack and wait to see where things go. There is no way to suddenly change everything. That will not happen and cannot happen. Change takes time. Give Joe Biden and our Democratic Congress the time they need to get things rolling.

[dchill]

1. All 50 Dem Senators need full security protection.

[MineralMan]

3. Yeah, OK. No doubt. But, that is not something we can do, so

it's not something we need to discuss, really. They know that. They will do what they need to do. We can't help.

[leftieNanner]

2. Excellent post MM

And I would add, remember that Moscow Mitch still has the filibuster in his pocket.

[MineralMan]

5. Yes, and that is a real limitation on what can be accomplished

right away. Biden understands how the Senate works, though. He truly does.

[stopdiggin]

50. agree. MM right on virtually every point.

We have in out hands a fragile chance for a continuing democratic government. People that are interested in preserving it need to get on board. If you simply cannot work in tandem with other people and other forces -- perhaps the wisest thing, for the time being, would be to shut up.

[empedocles]

4. Well said. JB needs time to tcb on immediate needs, and have a chance to

get some momentum going, while honeymooning.

[MineralMan]

6. Thanks. There is so much that needs to be done.

I'm not smart enough to suggest how to prioritize that stuff. The Biden team, however, does have that expertise.

[Mr.Bill]

33. I have read articles that say Biden is getting his ducks in a row

as far as getting judges appointed. Thanks to Moscow Mitch we only need 51 votes to appoint a judge. Another plus is every Cabinet head that Biden has named will be approved.

[malaise]

7. Great post

Rec

[MineralMan]

11. Thanks, Malaise!

I'm using DU as a distraction to my current grief. Between handling all the details connected to the loss of my mother and father, I need that distraction. So, here I am, plugging along.

[ARPad95]

8. +1000

[Hugin]

9. It's good to see you today, MM.

I'm so sorry about my attempt at a heartening post anticipating your being able to check into the positive events we were anticipating with the announcement of the victories in GA and the certification of President-elect Biden and Vice President Harris.

I didn't know a coup was in the works.

Please, accept my full apology.

[Still Sensible]

10. This is a very important post

keeping us tethered to reality!

[MineralMan]

12. Thanks. I thought it needed saying.

[ChazInAz]

31. It does.

Glad to see your post, I know it's tough times for you.

[James48]

13. HIGH on the list MUST BE Statehood for DC and Puerto Rico!

Both have aske, and both have been held off for years.

It is imperative tp get both those done, because both bring help with a majority in this crucial time.

[groundloop]

38. Might be difficult with a razor thin majority in the Senate.....

Democratic Senators in conservative states will likely be hesitant to upset the apple cart. For instance, Joe Manchin has already indicated that he's not willing to vote to kill the filibuster or to add Supreme Court justices. It might be a tough sell to get him to buy into adding states.

[ancianita]

14. Thank you.

And I hope your current situation is progressing satisfactorily, too.

[MineralMan]

17. I'm using DU to distract myself from my grieving.

Between things I have to do regarding my parents' deaths, I'm here, following what is happening. It's actually helping to keep me from being overwhelmingly sad all the time.

[ancianita]

26. I guessed as much.

Good. You're entitled to grieving and sadness. We're in your corner all the time, think of you, and glad to be a distraction. As we settle into the first 100 days, the good news helps all of us.

[judesedit]

15. So true. I am just so happy for hope for the future regarding our allies,

99% of Americans, the planet, animals and all living things, education, health insurance, and so much more. It can only be better starting on day one, but we have to take it one day at a time and accept the increments of improvements as they come along. Biden and Harris have my support 150%. I know they will be fighting for us.

[MineralMan]

19. Thanks for standing behind our new administration!

[llashram]

30. this

[KS Toronado]

16. Excellent thoughts for all of us to remember, Thank You MM

All of our pet projects will come to fruition in the next 4 years. Patience friends,

[housecat]

18. absolutely

[Bernardo de La Paz]

20. Thank you Stacey Abrams! Twice! Three times - President & two Senators! . . . nt

[MineralMan]

21. Yes, indeed. She deserves enormous credit.

BRAVA!

[panader0]

22. Biden is certainly in need of a bit of a honeymoon. But I think he and his advisors

are ready to pounce with multiple changes immediately. And a bunch of Executive Orders
to begin to undo some of donnie's damage.

[MineralMan]

23. No doubt. We'll get to watch!

[NHvet]

24. Well Said.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day, but it burned in one.”

[CaptainTruth]

25. I hope Congress works their butts off for 2 years.

There's a lot to do, & we've seen how midterm elections can go. We shouldn't count on having 4 years of Congressional control.

[llashram]

27. this

give him a real chance.

[peggysue2]

28. Hear, Hear!

We have a lot of cleanup to do. But as you write, MM, Joe Biden knows how government works inside and out. He'll set priorities, get things in motion and restart the machinery of governance.

We all have our personal priorities, things we think should be done immediately. God knows, there's a tremendous amount of stuff to do. But this is a moment when we need a measure of trust that Biden and Harris will do everything they can to turn this mess around and address the needs of the American people. Can't be accomplished all at once and it likely won't be done on our own personal timelines.

The Biden team will need breathing space at the start. The first 100 days will be critical. Let's give them the support they'll need to be successful. Plenty of time for the hollering to commence after that.

[FakeNoose]

29. Yes! A lot will happen in the First 100 Days

Joe Biden has the mandate to fix what's wrong with the US Government. There will be a lot of opportunities, and we cannot allow them to be squandered. Bad actors must be brought to justice - yes. But it's more important to enact positive legislation to HELP Americans who are hurting right now.

Too little has been done for way too long. Too much of our resources have been squandered on the wrong people, the wrong things. Only Democrats have the political will to fix those mistakes and set our ship on the right course. There will be time to weed out the bad guys, but Biden needs to think about more than this year.

I believe he can do that if he has our full support.

[Harker]

32. You got it.

He wasn't my choice during the primaries... not even in my top three... but when he came out on top, I changed my DU preference icon to him rather than remaining 'undecided.'

I wouldn't expect any Democratic President to instantly scrub this country's dirty face clean, but I trust him to proceed with dignity, purpose, and with our mutual well-being in his heart.

That's enough to ask for right now.

[Firestorm49]

34. We'll have two solid years to undo the Trump stains.

The next Senatorial election could change that momentum. Let’s hope not.

[Vivienne235729]

35. Well said as always, MineralMan!

[lastlib]

36. A couple technical questions:

1) Will the new Georgia Senators be installed by then? I haven't heard if there will be recounts on the races or any other delay in getting them into their position, so was curious about that?

2) Didn't the terms of Sen. PrettyHair (Loeffler) and Pure-Doo-doo expire Jan. 3rd? Why are they still in office?
(I'm rather impatient to see them go out the door.....)

[MineralMan]

52. Loeffler was filling out a term for another Senator, so no.

She's out now.

The new Senators will be seated as soon as the election is certified in Georgia. I don't know if either race will be contested or recounted.

[Mr. Steve]

37. Reasonable pace and sure

It definitely will take time to repair the damage, but it must be done completely.

[Dukkha]

39. #1 priority is ending the pandemic

And giving it the attention it was sorely lacking up to now.

Other issues will be addressed of course. We are capable of multitasking. All in good time.

[AmericanCanuck]

40. Great post

People like Sen. Sanders and the "squad" need to hold their horses.

The plane was nosediving and we have barely leveled it --- we need to gain some modest altitude at a lower speed before we can soar again. Forcing the pilot to open the throttle now may cause a stall.

[Tommymac]

41. You sir are a Patriot and a man of Common Sense.

This post needs to be spread far and wide - not just here on DU.

Your words are wise and just. And 100% correct.

As a progressive, I pledge not to unduly criticize President Joe but to give him wide latitude to implement those policies that will protect and preserve We The People's Constitution. Other issues, though important, must wait their turn.

Thank you again for your message of reason and hope, for putting aside your personal grief to articulate these ideas on a public forum. My heart goes out to you in your time of loss.

Peace, sir.

You Rock!

[MineralMan]

53. It's very kind of you to say that.

[AwakeAtLast]

42. And Biden has to accomplish all this in the middle of a raging pandemic!

No pressure....

[Wounded Bear]

43. Yeah, our own in-house Farukas will have to be patient...

the ponies are gonna take a while to be delivered.

[LudwigPastorius]

44. There will be an incredible amount of rebuilding necessary to the...

infrastructure of government, and an urgent De-Trumpification of the remaining loyalists once Joe and Kamala are sworn in.

Let's stop this ship from sinking, and throw the saboteurs overboard, before we start complaining that there's no mint on the pillow in our staterooms.

[marieo1]

45. A sane post

Thank you, MM for bringing some sanity back to our insane world. We all needed that..............we'll try to stay cool and let the processes begin...........at least we are soon to be rid of the biggest troublemaker of all. I hope the reps will help instead of causing more chaos, we have had enough of that to last forever!!

[Fiendish Thingy]

46. I disagree strongly- Dems must wield power swiftly and ruthlessly.

Dems need to govern as if they will lose one or both houses of congress in 2022 (I think they won’t), and ram through as much of Biden’s agenda as possible, especially legislation that provides immediate, tangible benefits to all Americans (COVID relief, green jobs bill, voting rights).

If any bills are blocked via filibuster, all eyes must turn to Manchin (and Sinema, and any others who resist killing the filibuster), with all appropriate measures taken to pressure them change their votes to eliminate GOP gridlock.

They must act swiftly, as many congressional spines will jellify by Spring 2022, as the midterms approach.

[tblue37]

47. How are you doing today, MineralMan?

[MineralMan]

54. I'm OK, thanks, considering.

I'm using time on DU to distract me from things. Between making arrangements, talking to an attorney, writing obituaries, and other stuff like that. It helps me to think about something else.

[tblue37]

56. I know what you mean. Distraction can help, for awhile at least. I'm sure I'm not the only one who

will be thinking of you and wishing you well during this time.

[MineralMan]

57. Thank you.

[PatrickforO]

48. Well, I think he's off to a great start, and today's announcement of his

DOJ team was very encouraging.

[SunSeeker]

49. He will be to save lives by getting 100 million Americans vaccinated in the first 100 days.

I can't wait for competence and decency to return to Washington.

[mwooldri]

51. This is a chance for serious change. And a warning.

Joe and Kamala can bring about serious change in America. The ACA can be strengthened. Other changes can be enacted.

However the Right will throw anything and everything to stop this change and will want to get power back. Be prepared for any and all nasty tricks. In 2022 Democrats will face political headwinds and it's conceivable the Republicans will gain a majority in the House or Senate.

I pray Joe and his team, plus Nancy and Chuck can pull things off.

[Dem2]

55. Agreed

Oh, and let's allow ourselves some time to relax, get the vaccine, and start living again.

[Hekate]

58. 'Everyone who is a Democrat or some style of progressive needs to give JoeBiden a serious honeymoon'

Common sense and a level head — traits I think you share with Joe Biden. Thanks MM.

[MineralMan]

61. It's my pleasure, Hekate.

[Lifelong Protester]

59. No infighting!

I’m with you in your time of mourning.

[flying rabbit]

60. True.

Let's not fuck this up.

[live love laugh]

62. I tire of the special interestERs when we're in crisis mode.

It’s like passengers on the sinking Titanic demanding to be given preferential treatment when everybody’s in danger.