We are the opposition, we are the resistance. The 2009 through present-era Republicans have written the new rules, and they are: OPPOSE EVERYTHING—even if they might otherwise agree.
So it’s up to Democrats to do NOTHING to legitimize the loser of the popular vote. Absolutely nothing. They oppose, they block, they filibuster, they delay.
Remember all those stupid holds blocking approval of President Barack Obama’s judicial nominees? We do the same. Block everything, block everyone. That includes Trump’s first Supreme Court nominee. Block that guy. Block him for four fucking years if we must. Force Republicans to either 1) keep that seat empty, or 2) eliminate the filibuster—which they don’t want to do. Mitch McConnell doesn’t actually want to accomplish anything. It’s easier to do nothing and keep blaming Democrats for everything than to have to explain to Trump why Senate Republicans won’t rubberstamp his entire agenda.
So now we know that the Senate doesn’t have a duty to confirm any Supreme Court justice, ever. Heck, when Republicans thought Clinton would win, they promised to obstruct her Supreme Court picks her entire presidency. So fuck them all. Unless they renominate Merrick Garland, Democrats should make sure no one is confirmed as long as they have the power to obstruct. It’s clear anyway that there are no electoral repercussions for obstruction. Quite the opposite—you show your partisans that you’re fighting for them, and they are more likely to engage.
And no, Democrats shouldn’t “work with Trump” on shared interests, whatever those might be. Obama deported more undocumented immigrants than any president, but did Republicans ever give him credit? Ask your typical conservative moron, and he’ll swear up and down that Obama failed to enforce this nation’s immigration laws. So no, don’t give Trump credit even if he deserves credit. It shouldn’t be hard anyway—everything Trump does, he does for himself.
Democrats should take every chance to remind everyone that a loser is in the White House, that American democracy falls short of its ideals—in the White House, the Senate, the House, and down to state legislatures. And why should a bunch of losers dictate our nation’s policies? They don’t. Block them.
This rigged system has enabled the GOP, but we don’t pretend to legitimize them, ever. Democrats represent the American majority, and they should behave that way. Always.