Robert Reich: Abortion and guns may awaken a slumbering giant for Democrats

[babylonsister]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jun/01/abortion-guns-midterms-election-democrats-voter-turnout

Opinion
Republicans
Abortion and guns may awaken a slumbering giant for Democrats
Robert Reich
Wed 1 Jun 2022 06.23 EDT
Last modified on Wed 1 Jun 2022 10.00 EDT

snip//

While steadfastly refusing to maintain access to abortion services and refusing all recent attempts to control guns, Republican lawmakers at the federal and state levels also remain opposed to government funding for childcare, parental leave, sex education and contraception, and for reproductive, maternal, neo-natal and pediatric health services.

It takes a great deal to awaken the slumbering giant of American voters. Most do not belong to either major political party. Many are turned off by politics. In the typical midterm election, only about half of those who are eligible to vote do so.

Yet every so often the slumbering giant awakens – and with a swoop of its huge arm at the ballot box remedies the growing disconnect between what voters want and what politicians do (or fail to do).

snip//

If the slumbering giant does awaken, a mobilization such as America has rarely seen could propel Democrats to larger majorities in the House and Senate this November – giving them enough votes in the Senate to eliminate the filibuster and consigning Republicans to a near permanent minority.

[XanaDUer2]

1. Let's hope! Nt

[Scrivener7]

2. If they don't, we have only ourselves to blame.

[betsuni]

3. Reich thought Americans were secretly progressive populists ready for revolution.

No slumbering giant, in my opinion.

[musclecar6]

4. Yeah

I think Reich wishes ( along with us) that there is a huge group of voters that if pushed too far will finally come alive and say WTF is going on here and race to the ballot box. It’s a nice idea, but far too many voters when it comes to politics, are just fucking stupid and consistently vote against their own best interests or desires. Just like all the fools who go into a car dealership to buy a car and don’t realize that the “nice” car sales person is in fact using the TFFG model ( except in rare cases) of Con man, liar and a cheat and is only interested in THEIR best interests, not yours. Ergo the endless mantra of the republican party.

The overwhelming number of voters in our country would be best served consistent with their best interests, in voting Democrat, not Republican. Do they do that ? No of course not. They have been effectively conned, lied to and cheated by a party that doesn’t GAF about anyone or thing, that is not in THEIR best interests. That’s why the Republican party has stood solidly behind our favorite wildly incompetent fool and aspire to be a carbon copy, conning lying and cheating every chump they can.

[Amishman]

5. Agreed, the electorate overall is shirt sighted and focused on their comforts

Which means economic issues dominate and will drown out any bump we get from guns and abortion.

Most voters aren't thoughtful and deliberate in their choice.

[gratuitous]

12. I read it a little differently

Reich seems to be saying that more people than just the usual suspects are getting a close-up view of just how the political system is to them. It's not as far away or remote as they've been told; it really does reach into the most personal nooks and crannies affecting one's life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. The Republican program is doing that in ways that belies their small-government rhetoric.

[Girard442]

6. If D's manage to just hold the Senate and the House, I will kiss the ground.

[the_sly_pig]

7. Good.

Let's show the world what we're really like.

It's not banning guns, it's banning certain types of guns.

Making sure women control their own bodies.

Teaching the actual history of the United States.

Realizing that sometimes you do have to fight to preserve democracy.

I am soooooo tired of the hand-wringing and pacification. NONE of this is unreasonable.

It's bull in a china shop time.

[BigmanPigman]

8. Don't tell the media this...

Apparently, they love to bash Biden constantly. I get so pissed off I change the fucking channel.

[Metro135]

9. This will happen ONLY if . . .

The slumbering giant will only awaken if Democrats start developing political ads that points these things out.

Republicans are clearly not in step with the beliefs of the majority of Americans on many if not most issues - gun control, abortion, the environment. The gas price gouging vote in Congress, and the fact that virtually every Republican voted against it, should be driven home in every TV commercial in every state. And that's just the beginning. Let's use their words against them.

DON'T let the Republicans define this and every other issue of importance to Americans.

[KS Toronado]

11. Couldn't have said it better myself.

Plus we have them attempting to overthrow our Government, which should come
front and center when the Jan 6th Committee starts televised hearings next week.