I know it’s probably a bit premature, but, if The Economist’s G. Elliott Morris is correct (see below), both Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff have won their Senate run-off races in Georgia today, meaning that control of the chamber will soon change hands, and that Mitch McConnell’s reign of terror will finally be coming to long-awaited end. [With both Democrats winning in Georgia, the Senate would be split evenly between the two parties, with each holding 50 seats. According to the Constitution, this means that the Vice President would be called upon to cast the deciding votes in instances of deadlock. And, as Kamala Harris will be our new Vice President come January 20, that means the Democrats will have control over the chamber, making McConnell the Senate Minority Leader.]
While both Warnock and Ossoff ran great races, and we Democrats benefited mightily from the fact that the Republicans running were so incredibly terrible, I stand with those who give a majority of the credit to Stacey Abrams, who, after having the 2018 gubernatorial race in Georgia in large part due to Republican voter suppression efforts, made it her mission to see that other Democrats running in the state had a fighting chance going forward. Through her organization Fair Fight, she fought voter suppression policies in Georgia, registered roughly 1 million new voters, and laid the groundwork making it possible for the state to flip from red to blue. There is no way, without her, that Biden, Warnock or Ossoff would have won in the state, and we owe her an enormous debt of gratitude. Assuming things play out like we expect them to, and Mitch McConnell is driven from power, Abrams will have the distinction of being the person most responsible, and we cannot forget that. When we see comprehensive health care reform, a new voting rights act, positive movement on global warming, or new legislation to address gun violence, it will be because of what she had done in Georgia. I know the temptation today will be to focus on how terrible Mitch McConnell is, and how happy we are to be rid of his smirking obstructionism, but it’s worth pointing out, I think, that there is an equal and opposite force in the universe, and that force is Stacey Abrams. Here’s hoping she’s given the national platform she deserves.
And, yes, I know there were other forces at play in Georgia. As Georgia election official Gabriel Sterling said today, much of this falls “squarely on the shoulders of President Trump and his actions since November 3.” Not only are his incessant lies about the 2020 election turning off mainstream Republican voters, who know that he lost fair and square, but his baseless allegations about elections being rigged against him and his cronies has kept many of his more delusional supporters from turning out. But I don’t feel like giving Donald Trump credit for anything right now, even destroying the rotten shell of the political party he’d taken over in 2016. I’d much rather see hard-working, decent people like Abrams get the credit.
One last thing. The big winner today is Kamala Harris, who is likely going to be the most powerful and consequential Vice President in our lifetimes (unless you count Cheney, I guess) due to the fact that she’ll be deciding almost every vote in the Senate.
Oh, and Biden has no excuses now. He must be bold, and take decisive action these next two years to not only right the ship, but set a clear, just, and sustainable path for the future. Not one minute should be spent coddling the would-be-authoritarians who lined up to defend and enable Donald Trump. Furthermore, no one should be spared as we move forward, investigating the truth of what happened during the Trump administration. There’s far too much at stake to just put it all behind us and move on. If we don’t deal with it now, and do so decisively, you can be sure that we’ll pay the price for generations to come. Our democratic institutions need to be defended, and criminals must be prosecuted. And we now have the levers of power at our disposal to see that happen.
56 Comments
Its worth pointing out that shit like this takes a long fucking time. Here’s Abrams back in 2011, when she was in the Georgia House, talking about the potential to flip the state, and the work that would be involved. Never give up.
Stacey Abrams Is heaven-sent.
Now comes Moscow Mitch’s long goodbye.
“ Oh, and Biden has no excuses now. He must be bold and take decisive action these next two years to not only right the ship, but set a path for the future.”
I dont like being disagreeable with my host, but I think JH and Lynne will find lots of excuses. Joe Manchin, Mark Warner and Nancy Pelosi come to mind.
It isn’t an excuse when we explain reality to you, wobblie. If you want the change you seek, you have to get the votes. I am working on that and I find that for me at least, it feels better than impotently whining that things haven’t gone my way 100% the way guys like you do.
Just in case anyone here doubts what an amazing human Abram is, it is worth noting that she did all of this grassroots election stuff WHILE WRITING A NOVEL!
https://www.literatibookstore.com/book/9780385546577
“I dont like being disagreeable with my host” — Wobblie
ROFL
I’m thrilled that we may have won control of the Senate. I expect great things. I don’t expect things to move quickly though and I expect the outcomes to reflect the breadth of the Dem electorate, of which Lynne and I are positioned decidedly on the left.
Revolutions do not happen via electoral politics, Wobblie. For those of us serious about creating change, the real wonky policy work and on the streets activism work begins now. I’m going to continue to work on housing affordability, the new abolition and climate action. The Biden platform on both was ambitious and I expect to hold him to it. I’m also interested in working to elect more left leaning women and POC to congress in Michigan and D.C.
What are you planning to work on, Wobblie? Your cynicism?
I commented elsewhere that if DNC is serious about winning elections, Stacy Abrams should be in charge. I hope that she aims higher than that. That said, her leadership skills and strategic political instincts would be wasted in the corrosive atmosphere of the federal bureaucracy. I hope she’s considering finishing the job in Georgia.
Great post, Mark.
The real work begins now. And we all can continue to fight for the values we hold dear. As Heather Cox Richardson said yesterday, it’s important to take up air. Be that by tweeting, protesting writing letters, being vocal, calling our representatives, the real work begins now and we must take up air.
Let’s go!!
I love the way Medicare For All ( something that was main stream Democrat in the 70’s) is now revolutionary change according to JH.
We could have had Stacy as VP ( I remember how Joe led her on) instead we get Kamala who got no more votes than Tulsi, as heir apparent.
I told you JH Im emigrating to Ohio to help kick Portman out in 2022. Setting up house next week in fact.
Akela Lacy: Loeffler ran ads darkening Warnock’s skin and Perdue ran ads enlarging Ossoff’s nose and I’m not done thinking about that
The flag fetish is an interesting thing.
Ted Cruz just articulated what is obvious to anyone with a brain and a conscience.
#duh
I guess carrying a flag magically transforms ignorance to patriotism. If you’re carrying a flag you can’t possibly be a threat to everything that flag represents.
So, FF, I assume you and Ted are going to dedicate yourselves to fixing the fraud well after January 20th. I’m mean you both seem so sincere.
The Trumpanzees should be tear-gassed so Pence can walk up the mall and hold a Bible for a photo-op. I’d support that.
Let’s surrender the country to deranged morons.
When January 20th has passed, I’m guessing FF and Ted Cruz are going to be too busy to make their legal cases regarding the massive fraud they’ve been investigating.
they are shooting guns in the capital. Explain that one away FF. Fuck you and every other moron that has supported Trump.
Forcing a confederate flag into the Senate vestibule makes you a domestic terrorists. FF and Ted Cruz may approve, but I’m starting to think they’re actually the lizard people their side keeps talking about.
Trump and his supporters are now fully responsible for whatever comes of this – and they should bear the consequences accordingly.
I was disappointed to hear the person shot was a woman. I was hoping it was HW.
Smartly the anti protestors stayed away and this is some serious on brand agent orange terrorist mob shit. The irony is that freedoms will be further curtailed in response to their actions. Fuckin dumbasses.
I can see why FF is so impressed with his fellow Trumpanzees. They’re brilliant strategists.
…they’re incredibly perceptive too. The way they sussed out all that fraud was real bloodhound shit.
Gee, I wonder where FF went. He’s usually so talkative. Well, there’s a silver lining to everything isn’t there.
Nobody,
Why would I try to explain away the disorder manifesting itself now? The chaos now was 100% expected. I have assumed this (and more) would happen for over a month. More is on its way. To be clear, I don’t **want** disorder. I want people like you, who seem reasonable, to try to take steps to understand **why** 39% of the population think the elections were rigged. You think calling people names who are a part of that 39% is helping to ensure the greatest amount of peace and order?
Instead of trying to figure it out we have the ColuMbo crowd parroting parrots like Chris Elliot aka Chuck Todd. I find it weird that educated people could be so moronic. I have no idea how you explain that fact away.
Maybe you should go powwow with your pals HW and EOS, FF. They seemed really smart like you.
FF: “I want people like you, who seem reasonable, to try to take steps to understand **why** 39% of the population think the elections were rigged.”
Yeah, it’s a real mystery.
You are probably right. It’s Chuck Todd’s fault.
MENSA, Jean? Seriously?
Teacher Patti, are you still around? You have experience with explaining the obvious to infantile personalities. You wanna take this one?
Say you’re a man though.
Over the last few years I have set out several trial balloons to see how iRobert would respond. I was always a little a surprised when he tied them around his wrist.
You’re so clever, FF. Do you know what happened to HW and EOS?
I Robert: MENSA is full of bloviating right wing Trump supporters like FF. The test is bullshit. Being in MENSA only means one is overly invested in the idea of his/her own intellectual superiority. And willing to pay a lot of money and spend a lot of time to illegitimately ‘prove’ it. Sounds like FF to me.
“they are shooting guns in the capital.”—Nobody
When you wrote that statement who were you referring to as “they”?
“I love the way Medicare For All ( something that was main stream Democrat in the 70’s) is now revolutionary change according to JH.”– Wobblie
Never said that. I did say the US is not going to pass that right now. Which is true. It has always met resistance. It has also been in the US political debate since the late 1800’s… Nixon was late to the party. I support the Medicare Option for All, because I believe it would be the most effective and durable path to Medicare for All which would win out via attrition. I support Medicare for All Wobblie and have for as long as I can remember. I support the Medicare Option because I believe it’s the best path to get there quickly. I care more about achieving progressive goals than positioning myself as ‘right.’ In a functional democracy the best path to change is always compromise.
Don;’t you get bored of misconstruing my points when we are most often in violent agreement?
Suggesting FF could get a passing score on an I.Q. test, even a bullshit one, seems a bit generous. You’re really in a festive mood this holiday season, Jean.
I’m disappointed. Only two networks think the coup is worth continuing coverage during prime time.
Ilhain Omar drafting articles of impeachment.
Cori Bush drafting resolution to kick the coup supporters out of Congress.
The Trumpanzees are all boohoo about their rioter getting herself killed. What a bunch of morons.
Smashing windows in the Capital building and attempting to climb through toward the congressional chamber, and with a backpack on no less. That’s pretty much an intelligence test right there – a really easy one.
FF-
You are like water seeking out small cracks in concrete structures, seeping in, and expanding and contracting with the undulating freeze / thaw cycles.
FF is busy analyzing video frame by frame to make sure that the confederate and Nazi flags brought into congress weren’t deep fake plants by antifa and BLM undercover agitators, and also to verify that 99.9% of the protest was peaceful. Amirite?
Vague Guy,
You are rarely right about anything.
The people who did property damage and who forced their way into chambers were not allowed to pass through should be prosecuted regardless of their political beliefs. Equal treatment under the law. Lawlessness should not be tolerated. It was 99% normal protest obviously.
The woman who was killed should not have been crawling through a broken window. She also should not have been shot.
You are a twerp.
Nobody,
Don’t be so slippery just be honest. You were spinning judgments out based upon your misassumption that Trump supporters were shooting at staff at the capital. You assumed THEY were Trump supporters but we now have people reporting THEY were police shooting at unarmed protestors FROM A DISTANCE.
Yes or no? It’s ok to be wrong. I will even accept your apology for saying “fuck you”.
IRobert— the IQ test is fraudulent, so the basis of your argument is false. Given the test’s bias towards white educated men who believe logic is infallible, I’m guessing FF would do quite well on it.
Being smart doesn’t make anyone right. How much evidence is there of that in the world. We humans are so smart we are going to be the only species to cause it’s own entirely predictable extinction. We are so smart 72 million people in this country can be fooled into supporting a lying, self concerned, megalomaniac who plays to our very worst human impulses. Too much faith in intelligence demonstrates more foolishness than sense.
Trump tried to have his march on Rome. Called forth his supporters. He has been giving his marching orders to the Party all week. But Trump is stupid. DeVoss and the evangelicals know very well they can do fine with Biden. They signaled that, when their man on the Michigan Election certification committee signed off on Michigan’s vote. Pence want to be President. Trump gave him his marching orders, and Pence waited until today to tell Trump, no way.
When this is over Trump will be history, and Pence will have a leg up on the 2024 nomination. Pretty slick move. I think we need to get used to these kinds of elections in the future. I mean we are the heart of the Empire and what goes on in the colonies always returns to the center.
The coup is not over yet though. If they leave Trump in office, he has two more weeks to try to stay in power. They say it was Pence who authorized the US National Guard to call up the NY Guard to come to DC–normally that would be the Presidents call.
FF-
When I posted that “they” were shooting in the Capitol, at that time I had no idea who was shooting whom… and it does not matter. Shots were being fired there at a moment in our history when a peaceful transfer of power ceremony was to take place… after a bunch of imbeciles frothed up by a selfish and destructive man’s rhetoric decided they were empowered by him to raid sacred grounds… to do what… to scratch their nuts in elected officals offices. Bravo.
And my “fuck off” was sincere, so no apology there either. You have made yourself my invisible proxie for all the other people who have distanced themselves from my real relationships with them through the abandoment of common sense and common decency.
Keep up your ice jacking of our institutions. When there is nothing left to protect us, there will be nothing left to protect you as well.
Oh, and another fuck off ( with no forthcoming apology ) for you in hopes that it shakes you loose from your nonsense. I know you can do better.
Beyond the dramatic highs and lows of today’s emotional rollercoaster, which will be familiar to anyone who has been in a relationship with a narcissist in distress, the question that will be most interesting to hear answered is how Pence assumed control during the riot and what the hell Trump was doing at the time.
It sure looks like Pence was acting on the 25th amendment, but he would need the cabinet ok to do that. And no one has suggested as much. But military don’t mess around when it comes to chain of command. I’m very curious.
When one of the main Capitalist organizations in the country, the National Association of Manufacturers, calls for the implementation of the 25th amendment,— well Pence knows who really calls the shots.
They are probably trying to figure out the plus’s and minus’s of official removal vs defacto control by Pence.
It sounds like Nobody holds the formal/ ceremonious aspects of existence in very high regard. LOL
Ice jacker.
Which institutions am I trying to crack-up?
For it to be a good metaphor it needs to apply to something. What are you talking about? It sounds like you are whining that you have people in your life that disagree with you. Has it not dawned on you that those people in your life just have a different idea about which forces are threatening our institutions? And that they like you also want to preserve something they perceive as valuable? What do you think motivated all of those protestors to stand in the cold today? Inbone breath you say “fuck off” in the next breath you talk about you value common decency and common sense. How do you think we achieve that commonality upon which our traditions and institutions are built?
You could very well be right, Jean. It’s just hard to imagine a guy who has difficulty following the details of how election results are reported could pass even a bullshit I.Q. test of any sort.