Unity means doing what Americans need to get done

Moscow Mitch has been stalling the start of the new Senate by filibustering to protect the filibuster. His preventing the Democrats from taking over Senate leadership has been going on for almost a week. Today, as reported by Joan McCarter of Daily Kos, he decided that recent statements by Joe Manchin and Krysten Sinema met his demand that the filibuster will be preserved (though what they said is what they’ve been saying), and he will allow the organizing resolution to pass. Mitch has been taunting the Dems to kill the filibuster on something arcane, which would allow him to declare it was a partisan choice. If Mitch and the rest of his caucus keep using it to block necessary legislation, such as virus relief (and they will), the Dems now have the edge, able to label the GOP as obstructionist. Laura Clawson of Kos reported there are still threats against members of Congress. The greatest threats will be during the upcoming impeachment trial and include plans to attack members as they travel to and from the Capitol complex. It is to the point that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a supporter of the insurrection, has told his caucus to not name other members when making public statements, especially if those statements are attacks. A couple of Kos cartoons. The first is by Nick Anderson and is about the Arizona Republican Party who censured three members for not being sufficiently radical in their support of the nasty guy. One of the Doug Ducey, the state governor, for trying to actually do something about the high COVID caseload in his state (after such a long time of not). Another is Cindy McCain, the widow of John McCain. The third is former senator Jeff Flake. The second is by Jen Sorensen and is titled Freedom vs. Freedom. She contrasts such things the freedom to carry guns into state capitols against the freedom from intimidation. David Neiwert of Kos reported that while leaders around the globe were shocked and horrified by the attack on the Capitol, leaders of the global radical right were watching with glee and taking notes. The German right was delighted because they had attacked the Parliament building in Berlin last August and failed. That our Capitol was breached gave them hope. The global far right is growing in many countries around the world. No surprise it’s a white supremacist movement. Adherents believe they face a “white genocide” – what Neiwert calls a “hysterically fallacious belief” that black and brown people will infiltrate and overthrow white culture. Kerry Eleveld of Kos reported that because Republicans have been trying to redefine “unity” to mean they should not be held accountable for their crimes, President Biden gave his definition. It does not mean bipartisan, though if bills are passed with bipartisan votes that’s great. Unity means getting done what a majority of Americans of either or no party think needs to get done to make their lives and the lives of Americans better. Whether or not Biden gets GOP votes he intends to deliver what he promised. Lulu Garcia-Navarro of NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday talked with reporter Miles Parks about voting rights. When Democrats took power in the House they passed HR 1 with has a series of voting related measures. It, of course, gathered dust in Moscow Mitch’s office for two years. HR 1 is ready for another run in the House and a corresponding bill is being readied in the Senate. Wendy Weiser of the Brennan Center for Justice said that elections should not be about the rules of voting, they should be about the candidates. That Senate bill could pass if the filibuster is eliminated (though it hasn’t been yet). However, Parks warns of consequences. One is that a change in which party is in power could lead to changes in voting laws. Another is if Democrats make changes without GOP support they could be seen as rigging future elections. There are people who think this last one was stolen. If Dems make the rules they’ll think the next one is also stolen. I’ve got a few thoughts on this piece. First, how legit are these opinions? I ask because there are a lot of people (some in media, though I don’t know about NPR) who make a big noise and toss out reasons saying that the Dems shouldn’t try to do too much or it will piss off Republicans (they’re pissed off anyway) and voters will turn against them. I’ve also heard lots of voices that say what will piss off voters are Democrats who don’t accomplish anything because they’re too afraid of the GOP. If Democrats are wimps Americans could end up in 2022 and 2024 not any better than they are now. Second, if Democrats change the law make access to voting more universal it would indeed benefit Democrats, for the simple reason the GOP platform (when they have one) is sufficiently unpopular they can’t win without rigging the vote through gerrymandering and various types of suppression. We, of course, think that’s a good thing because if your platform doesn’t appeal to a majority of citizens you shouldn’t get elected. That’s what democracy means. Under Democrat (democracy) rules the GOP may never get back in power. In the same way, if the GOP does get in power they’ll change the rules (heavy on keeping those people from voting) and Democrats may never get back in power. However, in this case we would be ruled by people who are in favor of the recent insurrection. Ruled, not governed, because they’re not interested in governing. Jared Yates Sexton has comments similar to my first point:

A lot of the members of the "LIBERAL MEDIA" are only really good at saying the things that sound inclusive to shield themselves but are alarmingly conservative in that they've benefited from incredible privilege and wealth and aren't interested in anything actually changing. I know this is SHOCKING considering how correct and innovative and thought-provoking a lot of pundits and writers are, but media is not exactly a meritocracy and is actually lousy with privilege. So much of what is now considered "liberal" is actually just a kinder, gentler face put on corporatism and brutal hierarchical thinking that hides behind numbers, figures, and the "hand of the market." A lot of media reports only within the scope of what maintains status quo.