Get Ready For The Filibuster Wars To Resume This Week In The Senate | ThinkProgress

Get Ready For The Filibuster Wars To Resume This Week In The Senate | ThinkProgress:

Ian Millhiser - "Ultimately, however, the question of whether any of the President’s three nominees — Pillard, Millett or federal trial Judge Robert Wilkins — get confirmed is likely to rest upon whether Democrats are willing to rally behind the nuclear option in the same way they did last July. When Democrats showed that they had the votes to nuke the filibuster in July, Republicans caved, and Democrats had to offer nothing more than a fig leaf to fill seven top jobs. It is likely that Senate Republicans will cave again if Democrats show the same united front — and if they don’t, Democrats will eliminate the filibuster on judicial nominees, which is an even better outcome!"

This is the new paradigm.  In order for elections to finally matter again, Democrats need to act like Republicans.  Lock step, arm in arm, using the majority they were given by the electorate, legislation can move, nominees can be approved and the government can function.

Is it hypocritical to use the filibuster rule change as a bludgeon to blackmail Senate Republicans?  Probably.... but changing a rule in a clubhouse like the Senate pales in comparison to blowing up the government of the most powerful nation on earth.

More work to do...

UPDATED: The National Memo � Voter ID Laws Have But One Intent: To Limit The Franchise

The National Memo � Voter ID Laws Have But One Intent: To Limit The Franchise:

Cynthia Tucker: "In that dissent, the late Judge Terence Evans wrote: “Let’s not beat around the bush: The Indiana voter photo ID law is a not-too-thinly-veiled attempt to discourage election-day turnout by certain folks believed to skew Democratic.” That about sums it up."

At last a plea for honesty.  Let's simply call this what it is.  Voter suppression is an insidious, anti-democracy tool necessary for an ideologically pure minority to gain power.

Ideological purity... now there's a loser if there ever was one.  When purity is required, the assumption is that the ideology is right and true and if purity is achieved, the world will be saved or redeemed and all problems are solved.  Forcing this purity on reluctant citizens causes lots of problems and in reality pretty much ensures that the purists will always remain in a pretty small minority.

Purity means that learning from mistakes is not part of the ideological ecosystem. Losing on an issue of policy is not really a loss, but a victory along the path to purity.  In fact, as we've seen from Raphael Cruz, an absolute commitment to ideological purity means that the pure 'base' can make heroes out of losers.

So let's just stay real here.  Honestly.  Carnival barkers, TV evangelists, and Political Posers are a similar lot.  They are in it for self aggrandizement and of course, the money. Honesty is the silver bullet.  Call out the dishonesty every time it happens.  Folks will finally wake up.

Thanks Cynthia Tucker for the honesty.

More work to do.

UPDATE: Five more instances of honesty from Republican elected officials.

The National Memo � Block A Grand Bargain With Bold Progressive Solutions To Social Security And Medicare

The National Memo � Block A Grand Bargain With Bold Progressive Solutions To Social Security And Medicare:

Mr. Kirch - "It is up to progressives, inside and outside of Congress, to seize the moment. It’s a simple message: Instead of making painful cuts to Social Security and Medicare, we can boost benefits for seniors and make sure that the programs are there for the long term by having millionaires EVERYONE pay into Social Security like everyone else and stopping drug companies from ripping off Americans. and allow Medicare to lower drug prices for everyone by using its massive purchasing power."[ My emphasis.]

Progressives need to be careful about how they present these issues.  They need to remember that there are about as many partisan Progressives as there are partisan Conservatives.  Progressives and their potential allies do not do outrage very well.  The initial comments above, edited by me, show that when progressives try, it truly sounds insincere and false.

Progressives can and should be the SMART party.  Let's create strong, positive solutions to the real problems we face in our society.  THAT should be our message.  Let the progressive message contrast sharply with the idealistic and projected solutions to problems that conservatives think might happen. Progressives should be all about what's happening on the ground in real, simple and effective policy.  Let the right wing dwell in the land of defensive fear and false pretense.

More work to do...

The National Memo � The Best Affordable Care Act News You’ll Hear This Week

The National Memo � The Best Affordable Care Act News You’ll Hear This Week:

This, friends and neighbors, is the blueprint for winning Medicaid coverage for all citizens in every state. Governor Kasich of Ohio has hit the nail on the head.  The contrasting messages are now very clear and the choice can be presented to the voters.

Mr. Sattler - "The governor continually invoked Ronald Reagan and “Christian compassion” as he argued for providing health insurance for the working poor. This further enraged right-wingers, who favor using the Gipper’s image to push lower taxes and Christian fundamentalism to push conservative stands on social issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage."

This one statement actually addresses the conservative mythology head on. While respecting and acknowledging the right wing/evangelical position, an equal but opposite left wing/Christian position has been presented. Brilliant!

"It’s also a great deal for the states, with the federal government paying 100 percent of the coverage at the outset with that percentage tapering down to 90 percent by the end of the decade.  The federal government currently pays about 57 percent of the cost of Medicaid. States that reject the program will have to provide the tax revenue to pay for it anyway, without the coverage that should keep the working poor out of emergency rooms and drive down insurance rates for all residents." 

This would address the pragmatic real life effects on the nation's economy and the budget dilemmas of lots of states faced with this very choice.

Huzza Mr. Kasich.

More work to do....