That’s how you get Trump again, or maybe DeSantis.
A piece in Salon (here) begins, “After their disastrous failure on abortion rights, Democrats want us to give more money and vote harder. Forget it.”
Before I started reading, I assumed the article was a pity party over the loss of Roe v. Wade — and a search for who to blame. And indeed it does begin on that topic. But it very quickly gets specific.
The authors argue “it is hard to imagine [Clarence] Thomas becoming a justice in 1991 without Biden,” and proceed to make their case on that point. Then add he’s “just one of the many Democrats who have demonstrated that abortion rights are not a central issue for the party.” And failed to protect abortion rights when it was within their power to do so. And make their case on those points. (For the details, read the article.)
From that grievance, they move to another: The Democratic leadership colluding to defeat Bernie Sanders in the 2016 primaries (which they undeniably did). And then to this grievance:
“[T]hey currently control both the legislative and executive branches of government. They could remove the filibuster and codify abortion rights tomorrow, but evidently would rather protect an extra-constitutional Senate rule (often used to support white supremacy) than women’s right to choose. This is especially mystifying given that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has clearly stated that if the GOP reclaims the majority in the 2022 midterms, it may remove the filibuster in order to pass a national abortion ban. If the filibuster is likely to disappear anyway (and for overtly partisan reasons), what possible argument is there for not protecting abortion rights while the Democrats still can?”
The logic is impeccable. Does anyone not believe the filibuster in McConnell’s hands is readily disposable at his earliest convenience? But there’s a problem. Actually, two problems: Manchin and Sinema. The Democrats do not have the votes to remove the filibuster in order to protect abortion rights, voting rights, or anything else. To be able to do that they need to flip at least two Senate seats; and to do that, they need money and above all votes.
The article goes on to argue the Democrats “could also wield their power to expand the Supreme Court,” and should. Well no, because they have to end the filibuster to do that. And Manchin and Sinema — and Biden — are also against that.
Well, I guess because Manchin, Sinema, and Biden are Democrats, and the House Democrats and the other 48 Democratic senators could do these things if these three cooperated, it’s not completely unfair to contend “the Democrats could, but won’t.” But the reality is they can’t.
It isn’t the first time. Back in the 1960s, a stubborn Democratic president led us into Vietnam, and was run out of office because he couldn’t, or wouldn’t, lead us out; which resulted in the election of the most autocratic and corrupt Republican president until Trump, and got us four more years of war. The majority of young draft-age Americans who unwillingly lost their lives in Vietnam died on Nixon’s watch.
Which brings me to my point. The Democrats leave things to be desired, not least the loose ends they leave untied, this is true. But what’s the alternative? Trump? DeSantis? More reactionary justices on the Supreme Court? The nationwide abortion ban Republicans are talking about? The heartless Republicans who won’t even make an exception for a 10-year-old girl? I would say to the authors of this article, is that who you want to replace the Democrats with? because that’s who will replace them.
Look at it this way, sometimes you have to choose between bad and worse. Biden was elected because he isn’t Trump, and got the nomination because he could beat Trump. I’m thinking Sanders probably wouldn’t have.
Manchin is a Democrat from a state Trump won by 39 points. He does what he has to in order to get elected in one of the reddest, most Democrat-hating states. You’ve got to be realistic about him. At least he’s not voting with the Republicans on everything. Sometimes, you have to take what you can get.
The Republicans have made it clear, in numerous ways, they don’t even want a democracy in this country. They want your vote thrown out if you don’t vote for them. And they’ll make it as difficult for you to vote at all as they possibly can. Is that who you want taking over from the Democrats?
Defunding the Democrats, and staying home on election day, isn’t the answer to your grievances.
Related article: Younger voters agree with the Democrats, but don’t trust them; read here how to fix that (spoiler alert: grow a bleeping spine).