What we should be asking this morning

[no_hypocrisy]

and it isn't about what to do about the Tax Reform bill specifically. It should be how do we return both chambers of the federal legislature to democratic principles. This is no small feat.

The House was designed to be the chamber when the whims of the popular vote could be debated and voted on. But the Senate was supposed to reflect a reasoned and principled series of hearings and debate before a vote. And the Senate vote should reflect democratic (small "d" ) principles, the will of the senator's constituency, and not the command of the minority and/or the senator's party.

We are hostage to an oligarchy, Friends. Stop ignoring the fact. Last night proved it. What else do you think you/we can stop if a small group of donors or special interest or the republican party decides to impose it? A loyalty oath in order to be privately employed? Permanent gerrymandering, allowing republican domination indefinitely, coupled with the elimination of the filibuster? (Allowing anything to pass with a mere minimum majority of 50 votes)? American fascism called "democracy"? "Tort reform" if your doctor botches your surgery?

We have to decide whether to accept this abomination as the new normal or re-claim our democracy. The outstanding question is how do you do it without a supermajority in the Senate (60 democrats) as you can't legislate bipartisanship or ban the dedication to Ayn Rand.

[OnDoutside]

1. An even bigger problem if this becomes law, is that the Koch's etc

will spend an even bigger amount than they already spent, making sure this law is not repealed.

[dalton99a]

2. Excellent point

[lapfog_1]

3. First there has to be a correction

We need to elect Democrats everywhere... states have to flip to Ds... then WE gerrymander the fuck out of every district... and elect majorities in the Senate, House, and President.

Then we MUST ram through our fair tax / next deal legislation, impeach every federal judge that tRump appointed (and remove them with simple majority votes)... and take our country back from these traitors.

Then, and only then, should we entertain the thought of "regular order".

[KPN]

7. You assume a correction is even possible.

In normal times and circumstances, a reasonable, realistic assumption. I wonder whether that is the case anymore. It could be too late. What then? It is not a pretty thought.

Yes, we have no choice at this point than to believe we can do it -- we can take back the House, we can take back the Senate, we can take back the States. I hope we can. But what if it doesn't happen in 2018? The OP may be dead right about "what else do you think you/we can stop?" and "permanent gerrymandering", etc.

At that point, how do we regain representation? I'm not sure the two party system is up to it.

[ewagner]

4. Two Republican pronouncements we didn't take seriously.....

The first was from Karl Rove who said that the goal of the Bush Administration was to create "a permanent Republican Majority".They immediately set about to restrict voting rights and gerrymander the hell out of every congressional district in the United States. They went state-by-state and took control over local legislatures. The still have a program called "Courthouse to White house" which threatens to take over County and Municipal governments.

The Second was from Grover Norquist who said that the Republicans don't require any more of a President than " ...enough manual dexterity to sign his name to the legislation we give him." I need only two words to prove this: Donald Trump.

[47of74]

5. If democrats ever regain the majority

There cannot be any of this playing nice horseshit. We have to go hard and fuck the M$M and Republicans everywhere. None of this reaching across the aisle fuckery and any elected Democrat who tries should be ejected from the party. We need to make the right to vote absolute and make electoral fraud, voter suppression, and slavery punishable by mandatory life imprisonment for anyone who engages in either.

[edhopper]

6. Yes, this!

Obama made the big mistake of bygones be bygones and reaching out while they spit on him.
Suckers have to go to jail.