DL Open Thread Monday May 31st 2021 – Wanted: A Shadow Senator
I’m taking the day off so instead of combing the headlines I’ll just leave you with this open thread random thought.
Coons is terrible. I think we all agree on that. But it is nearly six years until he is up for re-election, so what to do about it?
I’ve been thinking about mechanism they have in parliamentary democracies called the Shadow Cabinet. The shadow cabinet consists of a senior group of opposition spokespeople who, form an alternative cabinet, and whose members shadow or mirror the positions of each individual member of the Cabinet.
A shadow cabinet has no power, of course but it serves to scrutinize the policies and actions of the government, as well as to offer alternative policies.
I wonder if we could nominate a person or group to be our shadow Senator? If ever there was a low-life office holder in need of close scrutiny and ongoing counter argumentation – it is Coons. If this idea finds a second, I guess we will move to hearing nominations.
In the meantime, have a nice day off. I’ll be trying to avoid the scolds who, having never served themselves, pretend that they are the true arbiters and assayers of patriotism.
I think the idea is great. The key would be finding just the right person to do this.
But, I’m ready to help in the search. First name that comes to mind is Keri Evelyn Harris. But that’s just for starters.
Tom Tomorrow on the return of the sensible liberal.
Instant Classic.
I can’t help but go back to Walt Kelly’s “Pogo,” and “we have met the enemy, and he is us,” and relate that to Joe Manchin.
True Dems, with a nod to honesty, ought to boot him out of the party, and let him be the Republican he really is. And maybe they could convince Sinema — and Coons, and Carper — to follow.
Right now we’ve got a majority (well, really a tie) in labels only. If that quartet were registered as Rethuglicans we might have a better chance at seeing the bipartisanship that they preach.
(Admittedly, none of this would help get Biden’s agenda passed, but it would promote truth in political labeling.)
Ah yes, “truth in political labeling.” With the Rs holding 54 seats to our 46, we’d get Texas-style voter reform and huzzahs shouted from the rooftops when the SCOTUS reverses Roe v. Wade, to name two that come to mind.
How about this idea? Suck it up and work with Senators you abhor to get things passed in the very short window we have and take net 2 seats from the Rs in 2022.
Circular firing squads are so passe.
What are you fucking talking about? Are you really this dumb? “Suck it up and work with Senators you abhor to get things passed”. Who for example? Collins? Give me a fucking break.
The filibuster doesn’t encourage bipartisanship – it kills it.
I think they mean Sinema and Manchin and Coons.
That Dude is living Tom Tomorrow’s cartoon in real time.
No “who “to deal with. Work with the 50 Ds in the Senate to stand together and Harris will break the tie. The problem comes down to keeping the Dems together, which is tough, but that’s what I was talking about. Any Rep that peals off is a bonus, but I’m not holding my breath.
Yesterday Kyrsten Sinema stood with John Cornyn while she defended the filibuster. Is that the “standing together” you meant?
….get “things” passed… LMAO.
Zero irony. Fantastic.