If the Democrats need to wait for Republican consent before they can do anything, then democracy in the US is already done for.
If there’s genuinely no path to onboard a duly elected senator without going through the majority leader, there’s no point in ever swearing in a member of the opposition party again
If the Democrats need to wait for Republican consent before they can do anything, then democracy in the US is already done for.
That’s sort of the trick. Nationally, Dems can blame the LGBTQ caucus and those damned anti-genocide protesters for denying them a House majority and causing a Republican wave year. They can just throw up there hands and say “Nothing we can do! Vote harder next time.”
But statewide? Gavin Newsome’s Democrats have fully control of the state as do J.B. Pritsker’s. These are big blue cities with large Dem constituencies and progressive municipal governments. They have authority to act, retributively. They have their own state national guards, sheriffs offices, and police. They can lead an active resistance if they choose to do so.
Sorry, I wasn’t clear, but I’m specifically talking about onboarding an elected US senator.
Even ignoring the unique incompetence of the Democrats, a congressional system where a minority party can only onboard a newly elected congressperson on the timetable of the majority leader is deeply fucked, and ripe for abuse.
I don’t mean to discount anything you’ve said, but this is a very specific crack in our congressional system.
I’m specifically talking about onboarding an elected US senator
Well, Adelita Grijalva was elected to Arizona’s 7th district house seat.
Even ignoring the unique incompetence of the Democrats, a congressional system where a minority party can only onboard a newly elected congressperson on the timetable of the majority leader is deeply fucked, and ripe for abuse.
As far as I’m aware, they played a pedantic procedural game to drag her swearing in out until the end of the Congressional period.
And while I agree its ripe for abuse, that’s how Congress seems to like it. We’ve had a Strong Speaker system since at least Hastert and it’s made a lot of people very rich.
this is a very specific crack in our congressional system.
It’s a general flaw in governments operating with slim majorities. The reward in the system is to maintain that majority at all costs, because you’re powerless without it.
If the Democrats need to wait for Republican consent before they can do anything, then democracy in the US is already done for.
If there’s genuinely no path to onboard a duly elected senator without going through the majority leader, there’s no point in ever swearing in a member of the opposition party again
That’s sort of the trick. Nationally, Dems can blame the LGBTQ caucus and those damned anti-genocide protesters for denying them a House majority and causing a Republican wave year. They can just throw up there hands and say “Nothing we can do! Vote harder next time.”
But statewide? Gavin Newsome’s Democrats have fully control of the state as do J.B. Pritsker’s. These are big blue cities with large Dem constituencies and progressive municipal governments. They have authority to act, retributively. They have their own state national guards, sheriffs offices, and police. They can lead an active resistance if they choose to do so.
Sorry, I wasn’t clear, but I’m specifically talking about onboarding an elected US senator.
Even ignoring the unique incompetence of the Democrats, a congressional system where a minority party can only onboard a newly elected congressperson on the timetable of the majority leader is deeply fucked, and ripe for abuse.
I don’t mean to discount anything you’ve said, but this is a very specific crack in our congressional system.
Well, Adelita Grijalva was elected to Arizona’s 7th district house seat.
As far as I’m aware, they played a pedantic procedural game to drag her swearing in out until the end of the Congressional period.
And while I agree its ripe for abuse, that’s how Congress seems to like it. We’ve had a Strong Speaker system since at least Hastert and it’s made a lot of people very rich.
It’s a general flaw in governments operating with slim majorities. The reward in the system is to maintain that majority at all costs, because you’re powerless without it.
Ah, I was wrong about her being a senator; she’s a representative, but still at the congressional level, so the rest of my position stands.