I am watching the Democratic resistance to Trump's SCOTUS pick with a mixture of responses. There has, of course, been much reaction from Democrats in both Congress and the public to Trump's actions in the last two weeks. Broadly speaking, these are of three types- senatorial, public protest and media and individual statements.
There have been extensive comments from celebrities and media commentators about Trump as extreme, racist, religiously bigoted, etc, etc. Much of this reaction has been to his selective ban on immigration from 7 countries. The worst of these expressions is from Sarah Silverman, who tweeted a request for a military coup against the fascists.
There of course have been multiple protests at airports and others at colleges. The scheduled speech by Milo at Berkeley led to protests that became violent, with fires and property destruction. This was reported not just by Fox or Breitbart, but CNN as well.
In the Senate, Democrats expressed their objection to two cabinet candidates by boycotting the committee meetings, preventing business, since by rule at least one minority member must be present for a committee to meet. There has been much talk of a filibuster against SCOTUS nominee Neil Gorsuch. In reply Trump has urged the Senate to end the 60 vote super-majority for SCOTUS picks.
All this makes for great theater but bad strategy and bad politics, for multiple reasons.
I fully support peaceful protest. I personally believe protest that interferes with social function, such as blocking streets and airports, should be illegal, but it is not, and these protestors are exercising their rights to speech and assembly. Regrettably, some of these protests, like the one against Milo or those at Trump's inauguration, have turned violent, with property destruction and arrests. This leaves a very bad impression. There is painful irony in watching a group, who claims Trump is destroying the country, actually destroying property, as many internet memes have noted. These memes are every bit as much a window into public feelings as these protests, and it makes Democrats look bad.
The same is true for protests against Milo and other conservative figures. It is hard to claim support for speech when there is so much effort to silence speech which does not agree with liberal dogma. Liberals look narrow-minded, exclusionary and willing to engage in violence to silence their opponents.
There is more than irony in Silverman's call for military help in overthrowing a democratically elected president, all the while calling him fascist. Silverman is either grossly ignorant or deliberately misrepresenting facts. Her asked-for action is the very heart of fascistic policy, and another example of liberal unwillingness or inability to tolerate another point of view other than their own. Such items leave a very strong and negative impression, perhaps not among some liberals, but among Republicans, and much more importantly, among independents.
Finally, the Senate is engaged in public suicide in the name of 'values'. I predicted to a co-worker after the first committee boycott that the Republicans would alter committee rules. They flagged this intention that afternoon, and then did it the very next day. This was surely not a surprise to the Democrats. They are either blinded by their anger or believe their actions serve a larger strategic plan which I can not see. Talk of a filibuster against Gorsuch is pointless. There is terrible residual anger over the non-consideration of Merrick Garland, and that is justified. The Republicans did not do right, and got away with it. Returning the injury, however, is bad practice and bad politics.
It is perfectly obvious the Republicans will alter the filibuster rules. The Democrats are going to lose this fight. It is better to lose it without losing a supermajority. Gorsuch is a brilliant and unimpeachable choice, who was supported by the entire Senate for his federal nomination. Numerous Democratic Senators who supported him at the federal level are now calling for resistance. This is hypocritical and obviously politically motivated. The Democrats have 23 seats up for re-election, and 2 independents who caucus with Democrats. The Republicans has 8. Here is the map of those seats. There are 6 Democratic seats up in states carried easily by Trump. This does not count the states that were close, like Michigan. The Democrats could lose 4-5 seats. That is a foolish stake to put up in the name of fruitless resistance. It is better to swallow the insult of Garland and build your strength.
Taken together, the Democrats and liberals are endangering their own cause in violent, histrionic and generally futile reactions. It is not wise to leave a trail of violence and obduracy and claim it is the path to electoral victory. This has nothing to do with values, or core principles, but simply about winning. Tactical victories are not worth anything if they lay the groundwork for strategic defeat.
Democrats should consider Pyrrhus of Epirus, whose repeated, tactically brilliant victories over Rome were so costly that he had to withdraw his army. He is reputed to have said, after the battle of Asculum "If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we will be utterly ruined". Democrats need to stop emotionally reacting and start to think coolly about how they will win again.
Ted
There have been extensive comments from celebrities and media commentators about Trump as extreme, racist, religiously bigoted, etc, etc. Much of this reaction has been to his selective ban on immigration from 7 countries. The worst of these expressions is from Sarah Silverman, who tweeted a request for a military coup against the fascists.
There of course have been multiple protests at airports and others at colleges. The scheduled speech by Milo at Berkeley led to protests that became violent, with fires and property destruction. This was reported not just by Fox or Breitbart, but CNN as well.
In the Senate, Democrats expressed their objection to two cabinet candidates by boycotting the committee meetings, preventing business, since by rule at least one minority member must be present for a committee to meet. There has been much talk of a filibuster against SCOTUS nominee Neil Gorsuch. In reply Trump has urged the Senate to end the 60 vote super-majority for SCOTUS picks.
All this makes for great theater but bad strategy and bad politics, for multiple reasons.
I fully support peaceful protest. I personally believe protest that interferes with social function, such as blocking streets and airports, should be illegal, but it is not, and these protestors are exercising their rights to speech and assembly. Regrettably, some of these protests, like the one against Milo or those at Trump's inauguration, have turned violent, with property destruction and arrests. This leaves a very bad impression. There is painful irony in watching a group, who claims Trump is destroying the country, actually destroying property, as many internet memes have noted. These memes are every bit as much a window into public feelings as these protests, and it makes Democrats look bad.
The same is true for protests against Milo and other conservative figures. It is hard to claim support for speech when there is so much effort to silence speech which does not agree with liberal dogma. Liberals look narrow-minded, exclusionary and willing to engage in violence to silence their opponents.
There is more than irony in Silverman's call for military help in overthrowing a democratically elected president, all the while calling him fascist. Silverman is either grossly ignorant or deliberately misrepresenting facts. Her asked-for action is the very heart of fascistic policy, and another example of liberal unwillingness or inability to tolerate another point of view other than their own. Such items leave a very strong and negative impression, perhaps not among some liberals, but among Republicans, and much more importantly, among independents.
Finally, the Senate is engaged in public suicide in the name of 'values'. I predicted to a co-worker after the first committee boycott that the Republicans would alter committee rules. They flagged this intention that afternoon, and then did it the very next day. This was surely not a surprise to the Democrats. They are either blinded by their anger or believe their actions serve a larger strategic plan which I can not see. Talk of a filibuster against Gorsuch is pointless. There is terrible residual anger over the non-consideration of Merrick Garland, and that is justified. The Republicans did not do right, and got away with it. Returning the injury, however, is bad practice and bad politics.
It is perfectly obvious the Republicans will alter the filibuster rules. The Democrats are going to lose this fight. It is better to lose it without losing a supermajority. Gorsuch is a brilliant and unimpeachable choice, who was supported by the entire Senate for his federal nomination. Numerous Democratic Senators who supported him at the federal level are now calling for resistance. This is hypocritical and obviously politically motivated. The Democrats have 23 seats up for re-election, and 2 independents who caucus with Democrats. The Republicans has 8. Here is the map of those seats. There are 6 Democratic seats up in states carried easily by Trump. This does not count the states that were close, like Michigan. The Democrats could lose 4-5 seats. That is a foolish stake to put up in the name of fruitless resistance. It is better to swallow the insult of Garland and build your strength.
Taken together, the Democrats and liberals are endangering their own cause in violent, histrionic and generally futile reactions. It is not wise to leave a trail of violence and obduracy and claim it is the path to electoral victory. This has nothing to do with values, or core principles, but simply about winning. Tactical victories are not worth anything if they lay the groundwork for strategic defeat.
Democrats should consider Pyrrhus of Epirus, whose repeated, tactically brilliant victories over Rome were so costly that he had to withdraw his army. He is reputed to have said, after the battle of Asculum "If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we will be utterly ruined". Democrats need to stop emotionally reacting and start to think coolly about how they will win again.
Ted
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