A Follow Up

A follow up to my post about being done with the Dems.

https://www.dailyposter.com/bailout-3-0-lobbyist-optimized-no-strings-attached/

Also another example of Bernie Sanders being in the right side of most issues.

Done with the Dems

I think--finally--I am done with the Dems.

Outraged that Saudi Arabia murdered a journalist and cut him into pieces, with no repercussions from Trump? Vote for Biden, because he won't do anything either.

Not too crazy about our foreign policy vis-s-vis Israel? Vote for Biden, and nothing will change? Sell more weapons to them so Boeing can make a lot of money. Status quo.

Worried about voting rights and the very future of our country? Or an infrastructure bill? Why don't we elect a Democratic Congress and watch as they bargain with the Repubs who will filibuster it anyway, because Senate traditions are more sacred than democracy.

Don't like cops killing unarmed black people? Apparently the Dems agree with you, so long as you don't say anything to offend all those suburban white women who are their new core constituency. Shut up about Black Lives Matter.

Oh, I'll still vote for them I suppose, just like I have my entire adunlt life, but I am finished with paying attention to them or wasting my money on them. Just text me when it's time to vote and I'll be there, but in the meantime I'm going to go read some good novels or something. That's a lot more rewarding.

Some Complaints and More

 

• Chuck Schumer voted against the Iran Nuclear Deal.

• In foreign policy, Biden continues to disappoint.

• From what I see today, Biden is backing away from campaign promises on student debt relief and prescription drug price relief.

• I am afraid that the "how-are-you-gonna-pay-for-it" camp is winning out.

• Looks like we can expect a lot of status quo on a lot of issues.

• Politico, NY times, and other outlets are already presenting Biden's handling of the Israeli bombing campaign as a "success". Not good,

• I say this many times and will continue to do so: every time I turn around, Bernie Sanders or AOC or Ilhan Omar or Rashida Tlaib (and there are others) are saying something I agree with. And they say it early on, not caring how it will play out politically. They are on the right side of every issue I care about. I will eagerly and unapologetically support them.

• There are a lot of reasons not to like Netanyahu, not the least of which that he intentionally insulted the President of the United States (and, by extension, the American people) in the Congress of the United States. I regard anything coming out of him or his government with as much trust as I did the Trump Administration (he is an admirer of Trump). Nothing the Israeli government says about the latest mess carries any weight for me.

Friends and Enemies

There is something gravely wrong with the picture that the US paints for the world. Specifically, when our "enemies" do bad things, we condemn it, but when our "friends" do bad things, we over look or even defend them.

Saudi Arabia assassinates journalists with no US actions. (The Biden administration is no better than Trump's in this case.) Israel uses its occupying army to attack a mosque during Ramadan and the State Department condemns only Hamas. (Here again, no change in policy from the Trump administration.)

I don't care what kind of realpolitik diplomatic euphemisms people want to come up.  Here is what I believe: we should expect better behavior from our allies than from our foes. If not, then what's the point?

So far, I am extremely disappointed with Biden's foreign policy.

Democratic Numbers

It is an objective fact that the Dems have enough members in both Houses of Congress to do pretty much anything they want, at least until 2022. If they don't do something, it will not be for the lack Democrats. It will be for one of the following two reasons (maybe others can find more than two):

• Unwillingness to modify or eliminate the filibuster, and/or

• Conservative/centrist members opposed to certain initiatives on ideological grounds, such as a minimum wage increase, immigration reform, infrastructure spending, etc

In either case, then, if a good Democratic agenda is not enacted, it will not be because the Repubs wouldn't work with them (we already know that). It'll be a conscious choice made by certain members--especially in the Senate. If you like the filibuster, I guess that's your right. Just own it and take the responsibility that you've chosen it over other possibilities.