My take away is something like this - both Dems and Republicans have to appease rich, corporate sponsors whom are primarily white and male. So, when the rich don't care or don't see the urgency - for example, the Senate not filing an empty SCOTUS seat - the Republicans play fast and loose with the rules, while Dems are flat-footed. Consequently, the only time Republicans get caught flat-footed is when corporations don't care, but people en mass do care. Like abortion. But even then, Dems don't press their advantage to protect their constituents.
My question is how to keep the momentum going against this corporate oligarchy. In some ways, I feel that we have made tremendous progress and we have to have a common understanding of what the hell is actually happening here in order to fix things. I get that we have to know that we have cancer in order to fight it but seems like our doctors aren't using all of the tools that are available to us.
This is a critical discussion in order to figure out how to improve our democracy. Good stuff.
Gabe makes some great points, but if you took out the word “like“ from his discourse, you Could finish with him in one week and introduce someone else next week.
The "moderate" Democrats are complicit. I voted for Democrats every election and things have gotten worse. They did not reinstitute the Fairness Doctrine, which Reagan repealed. Which is why we have Fox News et al. The never codified Roe. They never fought against Citizen United, corporations are people. They didn't investigate SCOTUS in 2000 after they overturned a free and fair election. The Democrats have done nothing but give us crumbs. I looked into the Alito nomination process and 20 Democrats voted against filibustering his nomination. That would have stopped him from sitting on the bench.
I fear that it is simply pissing into the wind, but I've written to Durbin encouraging him to take action on the SC issues. Back in 2016, I made everyone around me crazy telling them what a disaster it would be to let the GOP pack the court, and lo, it came to pass.
Having the power to nominate a SC judge for life is the single most important action a president can take, simply because the effects are so long lasting. And now 8 years later we can see what a mess it has created. Not to mention how the lower court judge shopping can be used to promote attacks on precedent.
Really liked this podcast! Informative on a deeper political level. Thanks to you both! I must be inured to the “like”, I didn’t notice it!
Thanks!
My take away is something like this - both Dems and Republicans have to appease rich, corporate sponsors whom are primarily white and male. So, when the rich don't care or don't see the urgency - for example, the Senate not filing an empty SCOTUS seat - the Republicans play fast and loose with the rules, while Dems are flat-footed. Consequently, the only time Republicans get caught flat-footed is when corporations don't care, but people en mass do care. Like abortion. But even then, Dems don't press their advantage to protect their constituents.
My question is how to keep the momentum going against this corporate oligarchy. In some ways, I feel that we have made tremendous progress and we have to have a common understanding of what the hell is actually happening here in order to fix things. I get that we have to know that we have cancer in order to fight it but seems like our doctors aren't using all of the tools that are available to us.
This is a critical discussion in order to figure out how to improve our democracy. Good stuff.
Great article!
Gabe makes some great points, but if you took out the word “like“ from his discourse, you Could finish with him in one week and introduce someone else next week.
I still like the great points.
It happens to everyone! You were great
The "moderate" Democrats are complicit. I voted for Democrats every election and things have gotten worse. They did not reinstitute the Fairness Doctrine, which Reagan repealed. Which is why we have Fox News et al. The never codified Roe. They never fought against Citizen United, corporations are people. They didn't investigate SCOTUS in 2000 after they overturned a free and fair election. The Democrats have done nothing but give us crumbs. I looked into the Alito nomination process and 20 Democrats voted against filibustering his nomination. That would have stopped him from sitting on the bench.
I fear that it is simply pissing into the wind, but I've written to Durbin encouraging him to take action on the SC issues. Back in 2016, I made everyone around me crazy telling them what a disaster it would be to let the GOP pack the court, and lo, it came to pass.
Having the power to nominate a SC judge for life is the single most important action a president can take, simply because the effects are so long lasting. And now 8 years later we can see what a mess it has created. Not to mention how the lower court judge shopping can be used to promote attacks on precedent.
The system has to be changed.