General Discussion

BlueWI

(1,736 posts)

78. Democrats can set the legislative agenda - in the House.

Mon Dec 10, 2018, 10:39 PM

Dec 2018

It's not about purity - it's about results. We just heard all last week about how GHWB ended the Cold War, 25 years ago. Democrats have had many opportunities since then to set legislative agendas - as the chief executive submitting the budget, as a supermajority, as a holder of one or two houses on the Hill. What have the results been? It's a simple direct question. Is a drawdown of the size of these budgets and greater oversight a priority - or not?

It's certainly possible to think long term about this. There are young people protesting all over the capital because old people have saddled the country with trillions in national debt, a warming planet, crumbling infrastructure, and shrinking social support (by and large), although the ACA is a bit accomplishment. Meanwhile,the military budget dwarfs all other domestic discretionary spending.

The pressure to change needs to come from everyone who wants to see a change - from you, from me, from every Democratic legislator as well as Republicans that are willing to be persuaded, once there is public pressure and determined opposition to these bloated budgets. It isn't easy - it's more expedient sometimes to just vote for the Patriot Acts, the giant new agencies, the weapons systems designed with no enemy in sight.

Does that mean that Democrats should push for a government shutdown over this? Maybe, if it's the right moment, but public support for a change of policy has to be built over time. Meanwhile, defense agency will still keep writing big checks on borrowed money, as we type away on computers. That's the reality. Our district in Wisconsin is definitely a point where pressure can be applied - this is a pretty safe district with a run-of-the-mill moderate Democrat that is certainly no reformer when it comes to the 24/7/365 fleecing of taxpayers through defense contracting.

So it goes. Will it ever change? Who will lead the change?

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

103 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

'You don't just get to say that you're progressive': The left moves to defend its brand [View all] DonViejo Dec 2018 OP

I like it. Clear guidelines are important to avoid KPN Dec 2018 #1

Oh, for fuck's sake. Squinch Dec 2018 #2

Except incoming Ways and Means Committee chair Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.) denverbill Dec 2018 #4

You have two choices: choice 1: You can demand that all Democrats toe the Squinch Dec 2018 #7

Ps: Joe Lieberman wasn't a Democrat Squinch Dec 2018 #8

Yes he was. Caliman73 Dec 2018 #27

He defected in 2008. He caucused with the Democrats but so does Sanders. Squinch Dec 2018 #50

P. S. Yes he was. whathehell Dec 2018 #31

Yes he was. He was Gore's running mate. denverbill Dec 2018 #49

Caucusing with the Democrats does not make one a Democrat. He defected in 2008. Squinch Dec 2018 #51

When did Neal defect? denverbill Dec 2018 #52

See post 7. Squinch Dec 2018 #54

I kind of ignored post #7. denverbill Dec 2018 #59

Kay. Squinch Dec 2018 #60

+1000 Power 2 the People Dec 2018 #61

He wasn't?? disillusioned73 Dec 2018 #84

He defected before the Obamacare discussions. He left the party in 2008. Squinch Dec 2018 #85

In other words... disillusioned73 Dec 2018 #86

What is everyone's issue with this? He wasn't a Democrat Squinch Dec 2018 #87

These nasty smears about people haven't worked. Maybe people R B Garr Dec 2018 #10

The Democratic Party supports a smaller defense budget? BlueWI Dec 2018 #13

Yet Vermont doesn't have any of that. R B Garr Dec 2018 #25

VT is, however, the home of the $1,500,000,000,000 military boondoggle lapucelle Dec 2018 #58

Luckily for the representatives of that state, they're not regularly accused of being beholden betsuni Dec 2018 #75

Exactly, thanks, lapucelle! Thanks for pointing out the hypocrisy of R B Garr Dec 2018 #83

I asked us to name a champion on our side on these issues. BlueWI Dec 2018 #71

This is just more excuses for the double standards. Note R B Garr Dec 2018 #82

Yawn. BlueWI Dec 2018 #88

Your focus has shifted here. But it's still unrealistic R B Garr Dec 2018 #95

Bill Clinton definitely deserves credit for these actions. BlueWI Dec 2018 #97

Like most of these screeds, they are biased, self-serving and abstract. R B Garr Dec 2018 #98

? BlueWI Dec 2018 #99

Same to you. I was thinking the same about you. R B Garr Dec 2018 #100

Let's be clear about how this works: JHan Dec 2018 #38

+1 betsuni Dec 2018 #63

Show me where there is consistent, public, and determined opposition to increased defense spending BlueWI Dec 2018 #70

One from a state with no connection to the military that brings in jobs and revenue, I guess. betsuni Dec 2018 #72

You didn't answer my question, which was who is willing to advocate for change? BlueWI Dec 2018 #79

Democrats had a 60 seat filibuster-proof supermajority in the Senate for 72 days the last time betsuni Dec 2018 #80

So if activists are the solution BlueWI Dec 2018 #92

LOL betsuni Dec 2018 #96

Not sure if there's a point here. BlueWI Dec 2018 #69

the point is that Democrats cannot set the agenda right now, so through appropriations bills.. JHan Dec 2018 #73

Democrats can set the legislative agenda - in the House. BlueWI Dec 2018 #78

No, politically pushing for a shutdown JHan Dec 2018 #81

Makes sense to think about how strategiclly to make a change like this. BlueWI Dec 2018 #94

Bernie is a prominent backer of the F35. Blue_true Dec 2018 #55

Similarly, you don't just get to say that you're a Democrat...nt SidDithers Dec 2018 #3

+1000! mcar Dec 2018 #5

Beat me to it! /nt LongtimeAZDem Dec 2018 #6

Yeah! Look at the hypocritical double standards at R B Garr Dec 2018 #9

Oh Snap! Tarheel_Dem Dec 2018 #12

+1 betsuni Dec 2018 #17

Or you better have some legislative victories to back up your big talk nini Dec 2018 #21

BOOM! HEAD SHOT! NT Adrahil Dec 2018 #24

I am calling this as a thread winner! nt sheshe2 Dec 2018 #56

We're the good guys - thanks for the reminder FakeNoose Dec 2018 #62

Unless you actually join the party. Trumpocalypse Dec 2018 #91

THANK you, Sid NastyRiffraff Dec 2018 #101

(sigh!) The Nothing-But-The-Best-For-The-Oppressed syndrome DinahMoeHum Dec 2018 #11

I love Raul Grijalva JonLP24 Dec 2018 #14

In other words: "You don't just get to lay claim to a term that has no clear definition." Garrett78 Dec 2018 #15

This is a site I use this is just for 2017 though JonLP24 Dec 2018 #16

That's my point. Garrett78 Dec 2018 #18

She is in the top 10 that is good enough for me JonLP24 Dec 2018 #19

You seem to be missing the point, but whatever. Garrett78 Dec 2018 #20

Well the Progressive Caucas has been around since 1991 JonLP24 Dec 2018 #22

Those positions, for the most part, are supported by most Democrats. Garrett78 Dec 2018 #26

This isn't the CBC JonLP24 Dec 2018 #29

I refer again to each of the points I made, including the reality of representing... Garrett78 Dec 2018 #33

It is nothing like this JonLP24 Dec 2018 #40

And I disagree with what Clinton did there. So... Garrett78 Dec 2018 #45

BS is not affiliated with the DSA. lapucelle Dec 2018 #65

I'll take Kamala Harris' style of Progressiveness Cha Dec 2018 #43

Thank You, Garrett. Cha Dec 2018 #39

Maybe they can establish a purity test, and offer a seal of approval! Adrahil Dec 2018 #23

Divisive Bullshit.. Dems all over the Country Cha Dec 2018 #28

Yeah, see posts #15 and #26. Garrett78 Dec 2018 #30

shes from my state..not my district..and she DOESNT get to tell ME what MY politics are.. samnsara Dec 2018 #32

Most Democrats agree with her positions. See posts #26 and #33. And this thread: Garrett78 Dec 2018 #35

Fortunately a shit ton of Democratic voters reject the title of progressive GulfCoast66 Dec 2018 #34

But universal health care (in some form) and free or at least more affordable higher education... Garrett78 Dec 2018 #42

all democrats I know favor healthcare as a right. GulfCoast66 Dec 2018 #47

We are, for the most part, in agreement. Garrett78 Dec 2018 #48

You last sentence encapsulates the whole enchilada. GulfCoast66 Dec 2018 #64

Can you name a "shit ton"? whathehell Dec 2018 #77

"Like 'progressive,' 'establishment' is a pretty meaningless term, particularly when lobbed betsuni Dec 2018 #36

Indeed. But perception and reality are often not in sync. Garrett78 Dec 2018 #46

She's my Rep. ismnotwasm Dec 2018 #37

Mahalo, ismnotwasm! Cha Dec 2018 #41

Even within the progressive caucus, you would find disagreement. Garrett78 Dec 2018 #44

That can't be! That would mean they are not all perfectly pure! Gracious! My world is rocked! Squinch Dec 2018 #53

Candidates tend to cater to 'the base' in primary season - that is how we got trump as prez. empedocles Dec 2018 #57

I disagree. Bernie Sanders himself shows that trying to define pnwmom Dec 2018 #66

The cited article calls Joe Biden a centrist. lapucelle Dec 2018 #67

Good link: this is whats is known as "walking the walk" /nt LongtimeAZDem Dec 2018 #68

Yeah, them and their Cha Dec 2018 #74

Pureline Progressives vs progressive politics delisen Dec 2018 #76

I was never a Reep .. ananda Dec 2018 #89

Yes, litmus tests are just what we need. Trumpocalypse Dec 2018 #90

My personal checklist for an incumbent candidate...it's short and simple and attaches no labels pecosbob Dec 2018 #93

Authoritarian Progressivism. We've seen it before. "You can't, you don't delisen Dec 2018 #102

I will support Beto no matter what label is attached to him Gothmog Dec 2018 #103