Today, I penned the following letter to my Democratic Senators, which was written after reading and obtaining inspiration from this article:
http://www.alternet.org/right-wing/democrats-should-block-gorsuch
Dear Ms. Murray/Cantwell,
I am writing to share my opinion and expectation that Mr. Gorsuch’s nomination must be resisted at every turn, including use of the filibuster. The Republicans have violated every political norm possible and, in fact, have stolen this nomination. Mitch McConnell wrote the new playbook for Republicans, resisting in the most extreme ways on every conceivable issue.
In normal times, it might make sense to compromise in reasonable ways at appropriate times in expectation of reciprocal compromise. McConnell, Ryan and Trump have made clear those rules no longer apply. There is zero reason to compromise with them. It will only demoralize your base (people like me) while making you look weak and ineffective to the mushy middle, to the extent they notice at all.
It’s clear that if Democrats were in the majority with a Democratic president, we would not be able to seat a liberal justice with the filibuster in place. Therefore, it makes sense to force the Republicans to kill it rather than waiting for another time when perhaps it will fall upon us.
If there were any rational reason to keep our powder dry and fight this battle another day, I’d be all for it. But at this point it is abundantly clear that the world in which that sort of strategy made sense is history. Failure to recognize that reality would serve merely as proof that so-called moderate Democrats are pathetic, ineffectual and hopeless.
If now, in this age of Trump and total obstruction from the right, is not the time for strong, principled stands, then when is? It is beyond imperative that you get this because Democrats standing up for democracy are our last line of defense against a man who would be all too happy to assume the role of dictator and a so-called “conservative” party that’s become so radical and nakedly driven by lust for power at all costs that they’ve shown themselves ever more willing to drop their mask and reveal their true sociopathic agenda.
In short, it is essential that you and all Democrats in the Senate stand in firm opposition to Mr. Gorsuch, including invocation of the filibuster.
Yours truly,
Roy Martin
I like this letter. Thanks for sharing it.
Definitely worthy of recommendation. Our way forward, wherever we stand in relation to the Democratic Party is to survive. To do that means throwing as many monkey wrenches into the works as possible. We may not be able to stop every travesty that Trump and the GOP foist upon us, but we can make it damn difficult and slow the progression (or should we say regression) of their agenda down as much as possible – slower than molasses in January ideally.
http://australianinvestmenteducation.com.au/how-to-invest-in-shares/
Now this is an appropriate post for troll and mega-troll ratings. Okay, y’all. You know what to do.
fingers were intching … 🙂
That is a worthy letter to two relatively progressive Democratic Senators from someone who they might consider in their base of voters. It speaks volumes that after eleven years of unacceptable Supreme Court nominees that one has to tell Democratic elected officials this at all.
Resistance in states with one or more Repubican US Senators is where the battle should be being fought no matter how unproductive a rational forecast shows it to be. The more effort (like as posted written letter that allows for the delay in passing security) that goes into contacting a member of Congress, the greater the impact. The closer you are to their real base (such as a member of a group that endorses them regularly) the greater the impact. And out-of-state communication (such as from California to Manchin) are worthless in this situation.
We are together in principle. Neil Gorsuch, spawn of Ann the polluter, is unacceptable because his political philosophy is counter to the Constitution. It really is that simple. Or should be, if over half of the Congress wasn’t about destroying Constitutional government.
The other thing we should be united about is opposition to a general Constitutional Convention at this moment in history. There are 28 states signed on to it; some effort might be made to repeal those resolutions in states that have momentary sanity. That is where the real coup d’etat will come from.
This is not the letter to send to Republican Senators, however. Some thinking of what needs to go into that letter will make it easier for folks in red states who are concerned about Trumpism becoming established in our institutions for the long term.
It is very clear that the target is the Bill of Rights and the post-Civil War amendments.
Unfortunately, many Democrats also want a Constitutional Convention so they can secure direct election of the President. Others want the Senate abolished, but this will never happen so long as Republicans dominate the small states.
As has been said so many times “be careful what you wish for – you may get it”.