The Republican strategy has always been to paralyze, discredit and demonize government by any means they can. It’s working if you haven’t noticed. They have been able to consistently block reform and progressive legislation in the Congress for years and now they have control over the judiciary in the form of a Supreme Court that will do their bidding. One which has begun the task of overthrowing Constitutional law and precedent and is determined to smash civil rights and advance the nation towards a corporate theocracy.
If I had to rate the seriousness of the threat, I’d estimate it currently as off the charts. As far as I can assess, the response of the Democratic leadership has been dismal to date. If they have a strategy, I am unaware of it. Whatever they are thinking, they seem to not understand what the effects will be on voter turnout in the Fall if their constituency loses faith and belief in the party’s ability to act credibly and forcefully to confront this crisis.
Your Vote Still Matters, but will Enough of us Vote in the Fall?
I expect record numbers of people to be demonstrating in the coming months. Given the amount of jerrymandering and biased anti-voter legislation Republican states have passed, combined with the built-in biases of the Senate, something very demonstrative which has an impact must be done to assure potential Democratic voters that their votes still matters.
The fact that despite winning by 7 million votes, little was accomplished by the Biden administration in the eyes of many potential voters. Biden’s plummeting drop in the polls can be traced mainly to Democratic voter disappointment and lowering morale. There are understandable reasons, as much as I'm uncomfortable saying this, why many of us don't vote. Many potential voters will not vote based solely on the evil, racist and fascistic nature of the Republicans. Many will, but we will need both to foil the Republicans at the polls. Voters had high hopes for what Biden could accomplish. Those hopes were dashed, and what makes it worse, our majority was betrayed by DINO Democrats. He needs to think and act outside the box. And repair his damaged reputation, whether fairly stated or not, as a weak president.
Both Morals and Morale Matters
Surely it must occur to Biden and the party leadership that they need to take major fight back steps attributable to him and the party, to lift voter morale and give them an affirmative reason to vote. Lead rather than follow. I cannot express how important it is for there to be a positive reason to elect a Democratic Congress for the many voters who may not be inclined to vote based soley on the fascist threat posed by the Republicans.
An issue, such as Roe v. Wade, and its reinstatement by a Democratic Congress, is a compelling reason to vote Democrat if it’s handled effectively. Supreme Court reform is another and for Biden not to get on board with this could be a disaster and the nail in the coffin for Fall chances.
Acting Outside the Box
Previously I urged the leadership to act outside the box. The box meaning the predictable tactics used both past and present by the Democrats. While they may have worked in the past, they often do not work today. At one time under the two-party system, the corporate world tried to appear more neutral and media coverage was more non-partisan. While the Republican Party gradually moved further and further to the right and then eventually fascist, the corporate media still treated them as if they were the Republicans of old. The corporate world and media of the 21st Century naturally leans to the right and no longer appears to treat both parties relatively equally. They have remained relatively silent and “neutral” as the Republicans have chipped away at civil and voter rights, gay and women’s rights while simultaneously recruiting white supremacists and finally, staging a Coup on a legally elected and soon to be in power Democratic Congress.
Not surprisingly, corporate run media coverage of the reform-minded Biden administration has been decidedly critical and negative but mostly silent while the Republicans pursue their fascist visions. Being corporate friendly themselves, the Democratic leadership was ill-equipped to develop a more class-based economic approach to politics and to the dominant major media and it’s negativity.
I also fear that the unholy six would likely shoot down any codification of Federal law that supports abortion rights. So, Court reform is also a required essential. Politicians in both parties should also be queried before the election as to where they stand on this issue. Biden has to demand this from his party. And understand that the reversal of Roe v. Wade is probably the only thing that has the potential to change the expected outcomes in the mid-terms.
Relating to having any chance at reversing the repeal of Roe v. Wade is a favorable vote for repeal of the filibuster, long a stain on the Senate. A stain not just for the Republicans, for which no one expects them to do anything against the rule since it benefits their politics and long-term goals so well, but for any Democrat that votes with them as well.
In addition, a strategy to deter the Supreme Court six must be developed prior to the elections. Some have urged hearings on the perjury committed by the last two appointees before Congress at their hearings and compelling them to testify about it under oath. Although proving it is another matter. Deception and deliberately misleading it definitely was, but perhaps not chargeable as legally defined perjury. The original problem was the failure of anyone on the committee to pin them down or compel them to give clearer yes or no answers.
Indictments are Essential
One other thing that might really help in the Fall elections would be indictments against some of the prominent Coup planners. I don’t think indictments against anyone else but Trump would be a political problem. I would hold off on indicting Trump himself, as much as he merits indictment, until after the mid-terms as I see that as a big potential boost for Republican voters. And also because the chances of getting someone to make a plea deal in exchange for testimony is increased. Failure to indict the key plotters is political malpractice and tantamount to political suicide as well.