this post was submitted on 06 Mar 2025

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905

The Democratic Opposition Should Look More Like Rep. Al Green (jacobin.com)

submitted 1 month ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

139 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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[–] [email protected] 49 points 1 month ago (3 children)

If I were in that room, I would have proudly walked out along with Rep. Al Green. I feel like history is going to remember the people sitting on the sidelines in silence or waving their tiny signs around when only one man had the courage to stand up and shout down the president in defiance, and history will not be kind to them.

What Green did is basically the bare minimum I expect out of an opposition party. I mean, come on people, Serbia just pulled this shit and you're telling me 10 Democrats crossed party lines to censure a guy who called the lying fascist authoritarian a liar to his face? Show me that you have enough backbone to fight these assholes. I'm tired of waiting for Dem leadership to get their shit together and start seriously disrupting government just as ferociously as Republicans would if the roles were reversed.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago

The dems are far too splintered. And their idea of fighting back is holding up little signs. Its like when those celebrities sang that shitty fucking song during covid. Completely clueless

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 month ago (7 children)

The only things the Democrats can do is performative. If ineffective performative actions are what you're demanding, then you really don't understand how bad things are.

Basically just critiquing the music the band is playing after the ship ran into an iceberg.

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[–] [email protected] 29 points 1 month ago

And then 10 of his “allies” voted with the fascists to censure him. I really hope they all get absolutely stomped in the next primary (assuming elections even occur and matter anymore).

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 month ago (1 children)

There has never been Democrat opposition. They are a joke and complicit in everything Republicans do

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[–] [email protected] 23 points 1 month ago (1 children)

But THAT might Alienate REPUBLICAN VOTERS who will NEVER EVER EVER vote Democrat! And we DONT want to Alienate THEM!

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago (3 children)

It's such a weird thing for them to do. What do they get out of it? It's not like their constituents are going to say, "I'm not sure about my representative but 2 years ago they censured Al Green so I'll reelect them."

[–] [email protected] -4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Only 10 out of like 214 so, honestly, you could write it off as statistical probability. Maybe they were mad that because of the interruption they had to sit there and tolerate Trump's sounds and smells that much longer.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Most of them are in Republican-ish districts so yes, their constituents actually may say something like that.

Remember, Lemmy is a ridiculous echo chamber. Bernie Sanders supporters are a small minority of the Democratic party. The overwhelming majority are centrists.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

According to this post, six of the ten are in D+5 districts or better.

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 month ago

I imagine it's a lot more for their donors than their constituents.

[–] [email protected] 43 points 1 month ago (5 children)

I was dissappinted to see most of the Dems sitting in silence, with tiny protestation signs as if they were at an auction.

C'mon, make some noise, get in trouble, but do something!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

Their biggest problem is they are not willing to meet them at their level. You gotta go low like them . Its the only thing they understand. Go fight them in the mud!

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Things our Representatives can do to fight back, delay and obstruct Trump's fascist agenda:

For Senate Democrats:

https://indivisible.org/resource/explainer-how-senate-democrats-can-delay-defy-trumps-agenda-procedural-hardball

Weaponizing Quorum Calls: No Majority, No Business

Most of the time, Senators are not on the Senate floor. But technically, the Senate is not allowed to conduct official business unless a majority of senators (51 if all seats are filled) are present. That’s called a quorum, and it’s the foundation of Senate procedure. If a quorum isn’t present, the Senate grinds to a halt. The friendly thing to do is to NOT ask if there is a quorum - that’s how MOST business moves forward in the Senate. But Senate Democrats can use their power in the minority to call for a quorum and cause massive disruptions by constantly demanding quorum calls and even walking out to deny Republicans the ability to govern.

Blocking Unanimous Consent: Every Action Must Take the Maximum Time

Unanimous consent is the grease that keeps the Senate moving. Normally, the Senate runs on handshake deals—routine matters like scheduling votes, moving bills forward, or skipping over procedural steps all happen only if no senator objects. That’s called unanimous consent (UC)—and if even one Democrat objects, it forces the Senate to go through long, time-consuming processes to get anything done.

For House Democrats

https://indivisible.org/resource/explainer-how-house-democrats-can-delay-and-defy-trump-musk-coup

1. Procedural Hardball to Slow Down the Coup

Force roll call votes on everything—Republicans must go on record for every bad decision.
Use motions to recommit to force Republicans to take difficult votes.
File privileged resolutions to demand immediate consideration of issues Republicans want to avoid.
Leverage parliamentary inquiries and points of order to disrupt floor proceedings and expose GOP dysfunction.

2. Show Up and Fight in Committees

Put Republicans on the record about their harmful policies.
Force votes when GOP members are absent to either force something through or force every Republican member to be in their seats the entire time.
Make motions to subpoena officials and demand transparency.
Expose MAGA extremism in real-time.

3. Investigate and Expose MAGA Sabotage

Demand hearings on Trump’s and Vought’s plans to override federal spending. If Republicans refuse to hold real oversight hearings, Democrats must take matters into their own hands. That means holding shadow hearings—bringing in experts, impacted communities, and whistleblowers to expose how MAGA elites are trying to loot the government and rig the system for billionaires. These hearings should be public, media-driven, and designed to put pressure on Republicans to defend their corruption in the light of day.
Publicize findings to show voters exactly how MAGA elites are trying to loot the government, and while Republicans are covering for the Trump-Musk coup, Democrats are fighting to stop it.

4. Take the Fight to the Public

Host Town Halls: Update voters on how Democrats are fighting back.
Adopt GOP Districts: Hold town halls in Republican-held areas to expose GOP sabotage and talk directly to their constituents.
Engage Online: Mobilize voters with digital content that names names and pulls no punches.

[+] [email protected] -6 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (4 children)

Imagine if they all walked out and the GOP majority just started passing votes with nobody to vote against it. Right now, if every Dem is present and voting, the GOP can only miss 1 vote.

I think listening to your opponents speeches can sometimes be helpful in resisting their actions. After all, he's been telling us what his plans are since before the election and most people didn't believe him.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

They aren't running votes at the SotU and they can watch his speech in their office perfectly fine, they don't need to participate in the performance to know what he's up to.

[–] [email protected] -4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Alright but as I mentioned in my first sentence: they need to be there during a vote.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago (5 children)

Sure, but that's not relevant at all to this post topic which is about a specific current event and not in any way suggesting storming out of votes.

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Also the one Dem brave enough to start the impeachment process against Trump

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago (3 children)

No they should hold town halls and protest that’s all they can do. Start with a grassroots campaign and go from there.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Those who CAN do, do. Those who CAN'T do, meet.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 1 month ago

Democrats stopped doing town halls years ago because they were getting the kind of backlash Republicans are getting now. I can't remember the number but I saw an article a few years ago saying Pelosi hasn't had a town hall in decades.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

This is the equivalent of impotently finger waggling at your bullies for being meanies, meanwhile they still never respect you and do what they want anyways, including continuing to bully you. Fucking useless limp-dick attitude.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 month ago (3 children)

The sad truth is that short of acting outside the law (which is...not a terrible idea at this point), Democratic lawmakers do not have the numbers to do anything at all that would have any sort of effect. That's YOUR fault, dear voters. Shoulda fucking voted in more Dems if you wanted them to do something.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (19 children)

Majority of Americans support Progressive policies

Democrats' Working-Class Failures, Analysis Finds, Are 'Why Trump Beat Harris'

2024 Post-Election Report: A retrospective and longitudinal data analysis on why Trump beat Harris

How Trump and Harris Voters See America’s Role in the World

Majority of Americans support progressive policies such as higher minimum wage, free college

Democrats should run on the popular progressive ideas, but not the unpopular ones

Here Are 7 ‘Left Wing’ Ideas (Almost) All Americans Can Get Behind

Finding common ground: 109 national policy proposals with bipartisan support

Progressive Policies Are Popular Policies

Tim Walz's Progressive Policies Popular With Republicans in Swing States

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[–] [email protected] 65 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Showing the voters just how much they really care about their health, well-being, and survival, ten Democrats went so far as to vote with the Republicans to censure Green: Rep. Ami Bera of California, Rep. Ed Case of Hawaii, Rep. Jim Costa of California, Rep. Laura Gillen of New York, Rep. James Himes of Connecticut, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, and Suozzi.

Any Democrat condemning Green’s protest or voting to censure him should know no peace. Their constituents should be ceaselessly demanding to know what they are doing to protect health care for the poor, working class, disabled, and elderly — and why their elected officials thought it was a good use of their time to condemn their colleague who was standing up for exactly such policies.

I couldn't agree more.

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[–] [email protected] 184 points 1 month ago (4 children)

Fuck all democrats who voted to censure him.

[–] [email protected] 39 points 1 month ago (3 children)

Rep. Ami Bera of California

Rep. Ed Case of Hawaii

Rep. Jim Costa of California

Rep. Laura Gillen of New York

Rep. James Himes of Connecticut

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania

Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio

Rep. Jared Moskowitz of Florida

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington

Primary ALL OF THEM!

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Primary ALL OF THEM!

I’m not holding my breath for Fresno CA voting for someone more progressive than Costa. I’m kind of surprised that the Dems are actually holding on to that seat.

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[–] [email protected] 56 points 1 month ago

Here are the droids you're looking for:

[–] [email protected] 119 points 1 month ago (1 children)

They voted to censure Rep Tlaib for asking that the US stop helping to bomb her family members.

Democrats are fascists with a BLM sticker and a rainbow flag, and they're busy scraping off the rainbow flag.

[–] [email protected] 42 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

Democrats are fascists with a BLM sticker and a rainbow flag, and they’re busy scraping off the rainbow flag.

A lot of them are like that, but not enough aren't.

Which is why we need to get dirty money out of Dem primaries, regardless of what Nancy Pelosi says.

To paraphrase Kendrick:

Few solid Dems left, but it's not enough

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 month ago (9 children)

Nice Kendrick reference
We need to do away with the party, but unfortunately building a new broad front would take years.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

2 - absolutely but with the time we have we have to pressure them to change and build a groundswell in the faint hope that there's enough of us and enough of a vote left in 2026 to make some changes at the primary level

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (10 children)

The party is a dictatorship where the chair has final say on almost everything and zero accountability to anyone.

Luckily we got a decent chair now.

We 100% need to change how that's set up, but the party just took his biggest step left in 30 years.

Ken Martin doesn't push progressive policy per say, but he gives voters want they want, and they want progressive policy from charismatic candidates. Just not standing in the way of voters would have beat trump last election.

We don't need a whole lot more from the party.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

They always take those left steps when they are not in a position of power to do anything with it. Then quickly shift back to the right when they are.