DL Open Thread: Friday, Oct. 30, 2020
Bernie Wants Labor. Elizabeth Wants Treasury. I’m all for it. Except–not only would D’s have to navigate ensuring D replacements for the two, but where would the progressive leadership come from in the Senate? However, they could both promote progressive policies more effectively in the Cabinet than in the Administration. The banks, in particular, fear Warren. I say go for it.
Trump To Spend Election Night In White House. Cancels plans to have a big gala at his Washington hotel. Cue Bobby Vinton:
Nursing Homes Continue To Kill Residents, Escape Sanctions. Lax enforcement is not just for Delaware, it’s everywhere. It’s a disgrace.
Trump Rallies Not Safe For Attendees’ Health. First it was thousands of Omaha attendees left out in the cold. Yesterday, Tampa MAGAts were fainting in the heat.
Texas Vote Totals Astronomical. I’ve got this feeling that Texas will turn blue. There’s no way that pollsters can accurately gauge that degree of voter involvement. Texans have almost equaled the entire total for 2016 in early voting alone. Not just the early voting total, the entire 2016 voting total.
Abolish Sheriffs. They have less oversight than police, and many are closely aligned with the far right. We all remember the ‘constitutional sheriffs’ movement, don’t we? It hasn’t gone anywhere.
Trump’s Conflict-Of-Interest With Turkey. Where Obama and Biden said no, Trump said yes.
Rethug Court Sets Stage To Toss Out Minnesota Votes. For no justifiable reason.
NY AG Prepares List Of Trump Actions For Biden To Reverse. If AOC doesn’t make the run, I’d love to see Letitia James challenge Schumer.
A Few Sparks In Carney-Murray Debate. Murray has a point: When it comes to the Corrections Department debacle, the buck should stop with the governor. In fairness, Carney brought in Claire DeMatteis.
What do you want to talk about?
I’m sure Carney will be re-elected in a landslide but maybe, just maybe, Murray is starting a turn to have people actually hold the governor accountable.
Carney barely deigned to campaign in 2016. So I agree. At least he’s had to, you know, say stuff this time.
In a Biden presidency and Dem Senate, once the euphoria and relief of evicting Trump wears off and we get down to debating policy, obstruction of progressive policies will come not from Republicans but from Democrats.
A Biden presidency will need Warren and Sanders in the Senate. Putting them in the Cabinet would be an insidious way to rob them of power. Especially if they are soon replaced in the Cabinet in the inevitable mid-term shakeup. Warren and Sanders have a virtual lock on their Senate seats. But in the Cabinet they would have a constituency of one.
I disagree, kinda. Both the Labor and Treasury secretaries have large portfolios, and they don’t have the kind of personalities that could be muzzled.
I place faith in that they’re both openly seeking these positions, not merely having their names leaked by Biden’s people.
Gotta admit, I’m not 100% sure of my opinion on this one.
Warren and Sanders are the tall poles in the Senate progressive tent. Taking them out makes the Senate less progressive, and more able to obstruct progressive legislation.
I’m with puck on this one. We need law changes, not just executive-branch policy changes. Department secretaries are like CEOs of their departments. I don’t see that as the strongest part of either Sanders’ or Warren’s game.
I was sorta there, until I saw what both the Labor and Treasury secretaries could do. If you haven’t read the articles yet, I suggest you do so.
Might change your mind, might not.
Robert Reich was Labor Secretary in the Clinton administration. He has spoken, and written, often about the lack of power he had and that most key decisions were made at the White House.
Additionally, I am concerned that not only does Massachusetts have a Republican governor, but so does Vermont. A new Democratic Senate majority is not going to be please by possibly losing two seats.
In the article on Warren, I found out that the Massachusetts legislature has a super-majority that could prevent Baker from installing an R.
Not sure about Vermont. Maybe the governor could split the Senate seat between Ben AND Jerry. Maybe a two-weeks on/two-weeks off kinda thing.
I’d rather they stay in the senate, as noted their the backbone of the progressives, although Warren treasury is enticing.
I feel like Ayanna Pressley is the heir apparent to Warren’s senate seat. gotta start promoting the Squad to the senate.
Not sure about any leading progressives in VT but I think unless Sanders is Senate Maj leader (unlikely) Labor is the best possible spot for him. he and warren leading labor and fiscal policy would be incredible.
California is RIPE for a leftward shift after DiFi retires to be encased in amber for another 63 million years. Katie Porter and Adam Schiff must be the next senators from California.
feeling strangely optimistic. hopefully i can stamp that out.
I think that’s a bad plan for DiFi. What if whatever species replaces us someday extracts her DNA to populate some DINO park?
Great response. Not kidding, I actually laughed out loud.
I am uncomfortable with the chicken-counting. The fat lady has yet to sing. I am sometimes cautiously optimistic, but not consistently so.
Trump and trumpism ain’t going nowhere after the election win or lose.