Testing, testing --- [tap, tap, tap] --- is this thing on?
I don't know what the Democrats' plan for the midterms is. I'm a bit concerned about this, since they're less than 5 months away. And I'm not going to sugar-coat it: Democrats are fighting against two powerful headwinds.
First, Joe Biden is deeply unpopular. I don't understand why, but that's a conversation for another day. Traditionally, the party holding the White House does poorly in midterm elections, and it doesn't help that the president has a net -13% approval rating.
Second, inflation is running at approximately 8.0%, which is the highest it's been in 40 years. Ironically, the last time inflation was this high was early in the Reagan administration, but he was extremely popular, and inflation decreased steadily until the 1988 election. This isn't just a problem in the U.S., of course, but Republicans know a winning issue when they see one, and they are shouting about it from the rooftops.
So --- what should the Democrats do?
I'm a simple guy, so I'm offering a simple solution. I'm sending the following letter via email and snail mail to my members of Congress, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, DNC Chair Jaime Harrison, and anyone else I can think of.
If you agree with this solution, I encourage you to do the same. And please, feel free to share, to increase the chance these words get before the eyes of someone who matters.
No one ever listens to me.
I know you're very busy, so I'll be brief. I'm a Democrat who has watched the filibuster defeat the heart of President Biden's agenda, and I'm very concerned about the midterms. I'm writing to suggest what I think is a winning campaign strategy.
In short: Let America know about all of the important legislation Republicans have filibustered. Most Americans don't know what the filibuster is, and assume that Democrats are to blame for little getting done. After all, Democrats control both houses of Congress and the White House, right?
We win by hammering home the fact that Republican obstructionism is to blame. Promise the voters that if Democrats hold the House and gain at least 3 Senate seats (thank you Manchin and Sinema), then Democrats will override the filibuster to pass a raft of popular legislation.
There are at least three highly popular bills Republicans have filibustered:
Additionally, Republicans have filibustered Build Back Better, which doesn't enjoy overwhelming popularity, but it has many popular elements. It also contains provisions to help ease the effect of high gas prices, and leading economists agree it will fight inflation, the Democrats' greatest liability going into the midterms.
Democrats have also passed legislation to decriminalize marijuana, and while Republicans have not filibustered that bill, it also has broad popular support. It will happen someday --- why not use it to gain a midterm advantage?
Thirty years ago, Republicans swept control of the House from Democrats in a red wave powered by their so-called Contract With America. Now is the time for a Democratic counterpart. Not only does this plan give Democrats the chance to ride popular legislation to electoral victory, but if it works, it also provides a built-in mandate to eliminate the filibuster. Republicans can't credibly complain about Democrats fulfilling their promise to voters.
As for inflation, point to GOP votes against Build Back Better and the Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act and tell voters that Republicans aren't providing solutions, only blocking the solutions the Democrats have.
I would love to see all of these bills pass. I think if the Democratic party makes them their midterm platform, that might happen.
