Just 24 hours in... and it's crazy already!

[Barry]

The new congress has been in office for just 24 hours and it's already wild!

First up, the Repugs vote in secret to hobble the ethics committee and then have to retreat in shame, then Megyn Kelly jumps ship from Fox to NBC, and finally Dems grow a spine as Chuch Schumer threatens to leave the supreme court seat open unless Trump nominates "someone who’s really good". That was just day 1!

Sure is going to be interesting. And put me on record that it won't be all bad, especially in the long run.

The big prize I am hoping for is that after Repugs screw up healthcare and much more, a tectonic shift to the left will happen in time for the 2020 election that will be used for the next reapportionment to remedy the Repugs gerrymandering. What's more, I'm hoping the Repugs are forced to break ranks for a variety of reasons (including Trump's outrageousness that is certain to come), but also Trump might accomplish some things, including restructuring our trade agreements and get infrastructure investment restarted (if only because the Repugs are not trying to resist anything Obama wants).

Anyhow, sure is going to be one hell of a ride!

[KittyW]

Let's be optimistic and hope that it happens way before 2020...at least 2018.

The new congress has been in office for just 24 hours and it's already wild!....

I am hoping... a tectonic shift to the left will happen in time for the 2020 election

[Hotspring 44]

Is that something that is anywhere near possible (never mind likely) with the republican majority in congress as it will be in a few days?

Chuch Schumer threatens to leave the supreme court seat open

[Barry]

It's technically possible but unlikely. While the Dems changed the filibuster rules last year to prohibit a filibuster of federal judges, they still allow a supreme court nomination to be filibustered. The Repugs only have 52 votes and they need 60 to defeat a filibuster. So they need at least 8 Democrats to approve SCOTUS nomination.

The Republicans could change the rules to prevent filibusters on supreme court nominations, but the thinking is that there are enough principled Republican senators to prevent such a disastrous move.

Here's a good New York Times article about it.

I see it as the Dems finally playing the same strategic dealmaking game that the Republicans, especially Trump, are good at.

Is that something that is anywhere near possible (never mind likely) with the republican majority in congress as it will be in a few days?

[Hotspring 44]

...Here's a good New York Times article about it.

I see it as the Dems finally playing the same strategic dealmaking game that the Republicans, especially Trump, are good at.

OK, I read the article;
However, unlike republicans' Democrats haven't been as successful in 'stacking the 'deck'.

Democrat Party; 1- Will need to understand (politically speaking) and get really successful at 'the art of war' so they don't continue to get so thoroughly TRUMPED!...
...2- Democrat Party needs to reconnect far more solidly with, and have more (expressed, etc.) appreciation for the people's of it's so-called "left-sided" 'roots' which have been so poo-pooed, disrespected, neglected, ignored, and squelched, etc...

...IOW, do some deep-level soul-searching.... ...Not just offer a symbolic 'olive branch'...
...The Democrat Party would be wise to make it an equitable relationship, otherwise, I think that the Democrat party is likely to remain too weak to recover much and it would be more likely than not, to, just continue on descending into more crash-and-burn scenarios, not fewer.

[podfish]

...The Democrat Party would be wise to make it an equitable relationship, otherwise, I think that the Democrat party is likely to remain too weak to recover much and it would be more likely than not, to, just continue on descending into more crash-and-burn scenarios, not fewer.

there's a key reason that the Democrats can't copy the Republican tactics. If the government crashes-and-burns, or, to use their own metaphor, drowns in the bathtub, the Republicans have achieved one of their goals. Their goals are self-contradictory, so of course Republicans and especially Trump voters will also be hurt, but at least they've "won". The Democrats' goals can't be met with a government in disfunction. So they're perpetually in a position of weakness in this relationship. (yeah, for you trumpies out there, I'm not saying that the dems have no self-contradictory goals. But they don't impact this discussion. Gee, quit being so sensitive!!)

[Hotspring 44]

Ah, but achieving but one goal is just a point in a sport match or game. To win a 'war' political or otherwise, the idea is to flip the opponent on their head or at least position yourself to best take advantage using their momentum and shifting their center of gravity whilst using as little of your energy as possible in so doing.
...As to 'dysfunctional government',... ...I would recommend democrats not to 'freak-out' too much on that 'score'.

there's a key reason that the Democrats can't copy the Republican tactics. If the government crashes-and-burns, or, to use their own metaphor, drowns in the bathtub, the Republicans have achieved one of their goals.

[SonomaPatientsCoop]

First up, the Repugs....

Repugs. Repulicu**s. Libtards. On and on. How does this serve us?

What is a Republican? A Democrat? Is a Republican from Alabama the same as one from San Diego? Is a Mississippi Democrat the same as one from N. CA ? No? So why do we continue with this name calling that hurts more then it helps?

I have much, much more to say- will save it for a reply or a post elsewhere. But this name calling...and this belief that a D or R label means everything is a large part of the reason our nation is so F***** up.