In the interest of encouraging self-examination as to why Democrats lost key races in last Tuesday’s off-off-year elections, and to give equal time to the Manchin Moderate wing of the Democratic Party already so well-represented on cable news and the newspaper editorial pages across America, I’m turning my Substack today over to renowned and revered Democratic operative and consultant, Herb Shankman — who has some very important insights on what we’re doing wrong and what we must do to win next year’s midterms.
We don't need to defend the police or defund the police, BUT, we need to re-educate the police, repeal laws wrongfully protecting police, and re-think how the police get and spend their money.
A whole pile of BS in that post. The best way to lose our
party is to move to the center. Centrism is just another way of saying. we give into everything Republian obsturctionists want. I don't know anyone who lies awake worrying about the deficit. I lie awake worrying about a Republicann party moving dangerously closer to fascism. And I long to live in a ountry that is accepting of progressive policies and progressives This country aint it.
Sherri - you are right. This is satire. And the good news is, we already live in that progressive country. According all polls, the VAST majority of Americans already support paid family leave, women’s rights, free community college, expanded Medicare and Medicaid, believe the climate catastrophe is real, we need a $15 minimum wage, etc. Don’t give up!
And yet, we are going to go around saying that (1) Critical Race Theory is not taught in schools, despite all the Critical Race Theoery materials on the Virginia Dept of Education web site, and (2) if you elect a Black woman to the second highest office in Virginia, you are a racist!!!
This is a fast path to the Trump Restoration, this time with Don Jr as Veep.
If we could get money out of politics, and term limits in, that would sure help! Maybe then, politicians would feel more inclined to do what's best for the vast majority of the country, rather than for themselves.
Sorry I missed the sarcasm the first time around, I was tired and hadn't had my coffee yet. Lol, when the sarcasm seems plausible, or likely, we live in dark times.
Any comments on the Squad voting against Infrastructure?
I think every last one of them should be primaried out of office and replaced by people who actually care about the working class instead of woke performism ("birthing persons" anyone?)
I think they were trying to force the "centrists" to pass the human infrastructure bill, as well. They have said that, if Pelosi hadn't had enough Republican votes to pass the physical infrastructure bill, they would have voted for it. I'm sure that Pelosi gave them the OK to vote against (to make a point). Remember, Pelosi doesn't bring bills to a vote unless she knows she has the votes (from either side).
But they failed to move the centrists. And it's been obvious all along that Manchin wasn't going to budge, why would he? He's from a deep red state! He's already as far left as he can possibly get.
I used to think the Squad was useful for moving the Overton window leftward, but as they adopt woke race/gender performism instead of a class-based economic message (which AOC used to be good at), they become a liability to the Democrats winning enough elections in enough districts to retain power.
And God help us all if this allows the Restoration to proceed in 2024.
to be fair the infrastructure IS A BAD bill. Its less about "Infrastructure" and more about funneling money to corporations. Progressives ONLY went long with it to make sure that the "3.5 Trillion" Recon bill got passed. Down from the 19 trillion, 10 trillion, 6 trillion, Bernie wish list Bill.
Sogo progressives for saying no. I mean don't get me wrong, We desperately need infrastructure, I just don't want it owned by Amazon.
The sarcasm i s getting a little too deep with this article. Dont forget Repubs want to control their own bodies (no vaccine) but yet dont want pregnant women to control theirs.
Satire is what satire does. Think the squad knew the Bill would pass without their votes, so decided to keep their image intact by opposing it. They are not dumb for sure… the Herb column? Bring it back when we need to start taking ourselves seriously and require a gut check moment.
I do not know how you feel about this, Mr. Shankman, but apparently you were a guy in your last earthly incarnation too. Born somewhere within Babar's Old Kingdom in approximately 950, your profession appears to have been a usurer and moneylender, so the cards suggest.
Reputedly, back then, you had a somewhat Bohemian personality - mysterious, capable of understanding ancient texts. It was written that you possessed magical abilities and could even be a servant of dark forces. Your unsolved problem - to learn to love and to trust our Universe.
I understand the sarcasm in this letter, and laughed at the BBB coupon piece, but it didn’t heal the pain in my stomach and my breaking heart over the possibility we lose Democracy to Authoritarianism. I believe it’s real and the lack of accountability for the Jan 6 insurrection just amplifies this pain.
I have some real solutions that can help, and I have been tweeting to Senators about this for the last 2 months, but to no avail. I can show, using 2 clauses in the Constitution and a ruling in a Supreme Court case that the 60% Senate vote rule to end a filibuster is unconstitutional. Any Senate vote must be 50%+1 simple majority. I would be happy to discuss this with you Michael and any of the Rumblers on this sight. If I can convince you, you can give it the oxygen this fire needs. Just think of the Bills the Dems could pass if they are United, like all voting rights bills, codify Roe v Wade, and other social agenda policies. This is huge. Michael, what do you think? Interested? Anyone else?
On a serious note, though, it boggles my mind why somebody--Biden, Klobuchar, Fetterman, or even AOC, who did a lot of stuff to help kids in NY during the Zoom times--didn't come out this week with a better/real version of whatever garbage "Parent's Bill of Rights" that McCarthy did. There's no reason Democrats--who fundamentally should bill ourselves as the party of rights (the right to vote, the right not to go broke from healthcare, the right to be able to drink your water without dying, the right to have a living wage, the right to be Black and walk down the street without being killed or arrested, the right to practice your religion (and not have to practice your neighbors))--couldn't have come up with a better narrative than the Republicans. But aside from a few cases, we just don't seem to have leadership that can make a message. (I think it may be a mistake that there was so much pride in the social movements of 2020 and earlier not really having centralized leadership.)
Ah your gift of sarcasm and satire. It’s one of my favorite things about you.
Thanks doc, you took the words right out of my tonsils. How much do I owe ya?
Judging by the comments I believe that many readers do not get the satire! I was laughing at it until I saw the serious comments.......
Sometimes I have to be careful not to lay it in there so subtly. If only my ancestors had just stayed in Ireland and Canada. Sigh.
We don't need to defend the police or defund the police, BUT, we need to re-educate the police, repeal laws wrongfully protecting police, and re-think how the police get and spend their money.
A whole pile of BS in that post. The best way to lose our
party is to move to the center. Centrism is just another way of saying. we give into everything Republian obsturctionists want. I don't know anyone who lies awake worrying about the deficit. I lie awake worrying about a Republicann party moving dangerously closer to fascism. And I long to live in a ountry that is accepting of progressive policies and progressives This country aint it.
Sherri - you are right. This is satire. And the good news is, we already live in that progressive country. According all polls, the VAST majority of Americans already support paid family leave, women’s rights, free community college, expanded Medicare and Medicaid, believe the climate catastrophe is real, we need a $15 minimum wage, etc. Don’t give up!
I have to lighten up. I can’t even recognize humid anymore you’d think o was a Republican
Ha! No - you’re great! It’s just that we are all
living in a dark time. Laughter helps the soul. We’ll get through this!! We just have to stick together.
And yet, we are going to go around saying that (1) Critical Race Theory is not taught in schools, despite all the Critical Race Theoery materials on the Virginia Dept of Education web site, and (2) if you elect a Black woman to the second highest office in Virginia, you are a racist!!!
This is a fast path to the Trump Restoration, this time with Don Jr as Veep.
This is hysterically funny and a new classic! Thank you!
Thanks, Ben.
If we could get money out of politics, and term limits in, that would sure help! Maybe then, politicians would feel more inclined to do what's best for the vast majority of the country, rather than for themselves.
Sorry I missed the sarcasm the first time around, I was tired and hadn't had my coffee yet. Lol, when the sarcasm seems plausible, or likely, we live in dark times.
LOLing to keep from crying!! HILARIOUS!! I fear the folks who took it seriously don’t know you well enough yet, Michael!
Any comments on the Squad voting against Infrastructure?
I think every last one of them should be primaried out of office and replaced by people who actually care about the working class instead of woke performism ("birthing persons" anyone?)
I think they were trying to force the "centrists" to pass the human infrastructure bill, as well. They have said that, if Pelosi hadn't had enough Republican votes to pass the physical infrastructure bill, they would have voted for it. I'm sure that Pelosi gave them the OK to vote against (to make a point). Remember, Pelosi doesn't bring bills to a vote unless she knows she has the votes (from either side).
But they failed to move the centrists. And it's been obvious all along that Manchin wasn't going to budge, why would he? He's from a deep red state! He's already as far left as he can possibly get.
I used to think the Squad was useful for moving the Overton window leftward, but as they adopt woke race/gender performism instead of a class-based economic message (which AOC used to be good at), they become a liability to the Democrats winning enough elections in enough districts to retain power.
And God help us all if this allows the Restoration to proceed in 2024.
to be fair the infrastructure IS A BAD bill. Its less about "Infrastructure" and more about funneling money to corporations. Progressives ONLY went long with it to make sure that the "3.5 Trillion" Recon bill got passed. Down from the 19 trillion, 10 trillion, 6 trillion, Bernie wish list Bill.
Sogo progressives for saying no. I mean don't get me wrong, We desperately need infrastructure, I just don't want it owned by Amazon.
The sarcasm i s getting a little too deep with this article. Dont forget Repubs want to control their own bodies (no vaccine) but yet dont want pregnant women to control theirs.
Satire is what satire does. Think the squad knew the Bill would pass without their votes, so decided to keep their image intact by opposing it. They are not dumb for sure… the Herb column? Bring it back when we need to start taking ourselves seriously and require a gut check moment.
I do not know how you feel about this, Mr. Shankman, but apparently you were a guy in your last earthly incarnation too. Born somewhere within Babar's Old Kingdom in approximately 950, your profession appears to have been a usurer and moneylender, so the cards suggest.
Reputedly, back then, you had a somewhat Bohemian personality - mysterious, capable of understanding ancient texts. It was written that you possessed magical abilities and could even be a servant of dark forces. Your unsolved problem - to learn to love and to trust our Universe.
Better luck this time 'round!
I understand the sarcasm in this letter, and laughed at the BBB coupon piece, but it didn’t heal the pain in my stomach and my breaking heart over the possibility we lose Democracy to Authoritarianism. I believe it’s real and the lack of accountability for the Jan 6 insurrection just amplifies this pain.
I have some real solutions that can help, and I have been tweeting to Senators about this for the last 2 months, but to no avail. I can show, using 2 clauses in the Constitution and a ruling in a Supreme Court case that the 60% Senate vote rule to end a filibuster is unconstitutional. Any Senate vote must be 50%+1 simple majority. I would be happy to discuss this with you Michael and any of the Rumblers on this sight. If I can convince you, you can give it the oxygen this fire needs. Just think of the Bills the Dems could pass if they are United, like all voting rights bills, codify Roe v Wade, and other social agenda policies. This is huge. Michael, what do you think? Interested? Anyone else?
Thank You Michael, for punting the Pundit Herb Shankman with satire!
I gagged on his idea of going back into Afghanistan to get the suburban housewife vote.
On a serious note, though, it boggles my mind why somebody--Biden, Klobuchar, Fetterman, or even AOC, who did a lot of stuff to help kids in NY during the Zoom times--didn't come out this week with a better/real version of whatever garbage "Parent's Bill of Rights" that McCarthy did. There's no reason Democrats--who fundamentally should bill ourselves as the party of rights (the right to vote, the right not to go broke from healthcare, the right to be able to drink your water without dying, the right to have a living wage, the right to be Black and walk down the street without being killed or arrested, the right to practice your religion (and not have to practice your neighbors))--couldn't have come up with a better narrative than the Republicans. But aside from a few cases, we just don't seem to have leadership that can make a message. (I think it may be a mistake that there was so much pride in the social movements of 2020 and earlier not really having centralized leadership.)
2 hours since I first read this, Mike, and I'm still laughing out loud.
Thanks for the BBB coupons especially!
We share the same funny bone, I think.
to hear more,
set your dial to goo radio, podcasts and any tv station not controlled by our socialist public.
or laugh with all of us !
almost had mé wondering what t h#@& is mike talking about ,
then caught on.
it's good SADtire.