The 23 Democratic candidates for Presidents are more diverse than any other group of contenders for the office. Despite their diversity, they are similar in one respect. Most of the candidates are silent about the tactics they intend to use to overcome Republican barriers to derail their agendas.
A few candidates, including Steve Bullock, Jay Inslee, and John Hickenlooper, give examples of accomplishments in Trump country with conservative legislatures. Their successes are supposed to imply that they would be capable of other achievements in facing a Republican Senate controlled Mitch McConnell.
Joe Biden, unable to tout any successes in overcoming majority Republican opposition as President Barack Obama’s Vice-President, has instead celebrated having Republican friends. He has predicted the resurrection of the Republican Party if Democrats defeat Trump. Biden has not explained how this reborn Republican Party will be different from the party that so successfully stifled the efforts of the Obama/Biden administration.
Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are the only two Democratic contenders who have any plans for overcoming Republican opposition to their agendas. Sanders intends to start a “revolution” or “movement” that will convince Republicans to yield. Sanders’ plan may have more to it than he has announced.
Warren’s plan ends the Senate filibuster. Then, if Democrats have a simple majority, Republicans will not be able to stop their legislation. Of course, this assumes that Democrats have the majority in the Senate and the Presidency. (If a Republican President vetoes Democratic bill, it will take a two-thirds majority to override the veto.)
Hopefully, the nominee will have a plan for overcoming Republican opposition. If not, we will re-live the Obama/Biden years while we wait for the next Trump.
A few candidates, including Steve Bullock, Jay Inslee, and John Hickenlooper, give examples of accomplishments in Trump country with conservative legislatures. Their successes are supposed to imply that they would be capable of other achievements in facing a Republican Senate controlled Mitch McConnell.
Joe Biden, unable to tout any successes in overcoming majority Republican opposition as President Barack Obama’s Vice-President, has instead celebrated having Republican friends. He has predicted the resurrection of the Republican Party if Democrats defeat Trump. Biden has not explained how this reborn Republican Party will be different from the party that so successfully stifled the efforts of the Obama/Biden administration.
Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are the only two Democratic contenders who have any plans for overcoming Republican opposition to their agendas. Sanders intends to start a “revolution” or “movement” that will convince Republicans to yield. Sanders’ plan may have more to it than he has announced.
Warren’s plan ends the Senate filibuster. Then, if Democrats have a simple majority, Republicans will not be able to stop their legislation. Of course, this assumes that Democrats have the majority in the Senate and the Presidency. (If a Republican President vetoes Democratic bill, it will take a two-thirds majority to override the veto.)
Hopefully, the nominee will have a plan for overcoming Republican opposition. If not, we will re-live the Obama/Biden years while we wait for the next Trump.
The New York Times. Burns, Flegenheimer, Lee, Lerner, and Martin. Who's Running for President in 2020?
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/us/politics/2020-presidential-candidates.html
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/us/politics/2020-presidential-candidates.html
