Enough, Manchin and Sinema are who they are, let's move on

[RVonse]

I'll tell you what we should be doing, quit complaining, start working on expanding the dem tent to increase our majority in 2022! The problem with the left is that we are too short sighted.

We already have no true left wing in this country, at least not as most countries would define a left wing. Just how much more conservative are we supposed to skew?

How about funding the police and leaving statues of Shakespeare alone? Surely even the liberals realize this is extremely really radical left behavior on their part..

 

[RVonse]

So we need pragmatism here. With a hair thin margin in the Senate, and a very tight margin in the House, we can't be squabbling over the above, and we should take the power we have and get what can done. Sinema and Manchin aren't going to liberalize up, so stop expecting them to. And let's not Jeffords them out of the party which would make us appreciate what we had.

I'm curious what exactly "we" should be doing, aside from attempting to pass meaningful legislation, keeping the government functional through the present times of crisis, and filling appointments as they appear. As angry as I indeed I am at the turncoats, and the general spinelessness of the DNC in dealing with them, I don't see legislators or the executive branch as focusing on them to the exclusion of doing what they are supposed to be doing. The government hasn't been as effective as it currently is in many years, I have no real complaints about the White House as a functional team at present.

I'll tell you what we should be doing, quit complaining, start working on expanding the dem tent to increase our majority in 2022! The problem with the left is that we are too short sighted. The republicans are long sighted. And that's why they have control of the supreme court, and will most likely retake the house and the senate in 2022. They go long, we go short. We don't get what we want within a short period of time, we get demoralized, then stop voting. I 100% agree with Jimmy. It is what it is. The real problem that we have is that our margin is so small. Let's increase the tent...

On that count, the democrats could start by realizing how profoundly they have hurt their party with "defund the police" and "shoplifters go free if it is below $250".

I agree that defund the police is one of dumbest political slogans in recent memory. It was a gift to republicans. I've never heard of "shoplifters go free if it is below $250". Do you have a link?

Spike In Shoplifting Blamed On California Prop 47's Reduced Penalties

Public Policy Institute of California researcher Magnus Lofstrom noted a troubling increase in property crime in California's largest cities in the first half-year after Proposition 47 took effect.

sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com

I think Massachusetts is $250 though. In any case, the reason they go free in many cases is because the police won't bother to arrest them since they aren't really prosecuted. There is a lot of small business Democrats who are re-thinking whether they still like their party.

 

[Swammerdami]

As angry as I indeed I am at the turncoats, and the general spinelessness of the DNC in dealing with them, I don't see legislators or the executive branch as focusing on them to the exclusion of doing what they are supposed to be doing. The government hasn't been as effective as it currently is in many years, I have no real complaints about the White House as a functional team at present.

They aren't turncoats. They appear hard to work with, but they are allowed to be conservative if they come from a deep red and reddish purple state!

It's misleading to say that JM and KS are "conservative" because they come from red-purplish states. Those who voted for these two generally SUPPORT Biden's agenda, and in particular want to see Voters Rights passed.

On that count, the democrats could start by realizing how profoundly they have hurt their party with "defund the police" and "shoplifters go free if it is below $250".

While it's true that Democrats' missteps have been exaggerated by liars like Carlson and Hannity, the Democrats do kick a lot of "own goals." They should listen to Bill Maher.

The D's MIGHT save the Senate, but the House is almost certainly turning Red after 2022. This year is the last chance for the Ds to achieve any legislation. I wish they kept their priorities better focused.

 

[Patooka]

They should listen to Bill Maher.

No one needs to listen to Bill Maher. The man is a walking cliché of of the Hollywood liberal elite stereotype.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

I think Massachusetts is $250 though. In any case, the reason they go free in many cases is because the police won't bother to arrest them since they aren't really prosecuted. There is a lot of small business Democrats who are re-thinking whether they still like their party.

The real problem is that the bail system was being used as an informal means of punishment (note: without any determination of guilt.) We simply don't have the resources in place to actually prosecute the criminals.

 

[lpetrich]

I think that petty theft ought to be treated as a summary offense, like a traffic violation. Likewise for fare beating. A small penalty, yes, but low administration, and with plenty of legal bricks in reserve to dump on offenders who don't get the message.