If Democrats haven’t caught on yet, let me spell it out. Republicans have no interest in cultivating a functioning system of government that works for more than just a handful of greed-centered sociopaths at the top. For today’s Robber Baron in this New Gilded Age of Grifters, there’s never enough for them.
As their heroine sociopath Ayn Rand wrote in one of those awful novels Republicans in Congress consider required reading, “What are your masses but mud to be ground under foot, fuel to be burned for those who deserve it?” As for the democratic experiment in self governance itself, well, that’s just an impediment to the unbridled wealth of the “those who deserve it” which also must be burned to the ground.
Dems, Please Stop Pleading with Republicans
From the time that tax-cheating, draft-dodging, serial bankrupt con man came down an escalator and tickled those pronounced and protruding racist funny bones in the American body politic, Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker Emeritus of the House of Representatives, and old school Democrats have spent too much of corporate media air time begging Republicans to “take back” their party.
This pathetic plea comes off more like a battered spouse pining for an abuser than an attempt to rally Republicans to a cause that requires them to muster a basic modicum of the decency and respect they don’t inherently possess. Though, it does let Democrats off the hook, doesn’t it? If Republicans would only “take back” their party - Democrats wouldn’t have to do a thing. They wouldn’t have to tap into their long lost spines, or put their necks on the line at risk of their cushy jobs in Congress.
As we sit here today in the midst of a fascist Republican coup against everything that makes America great, I’m struck with a sinking feeling that it’s so much easier for Dems to pine for Republicans to play nice than it is for them to beat them (metaphorically speaking) into a semblance of reasonableness.
McConnell's Obstructionist Playbook
We all remember Mitch McConnell, in October 2010, declaring his No. 1 priority as minority leader was to ensure President Obama would be a one-term president - this was in the midst of the near second Republican Great Depression in century. When the American people desperately needed government to throw them a lifeline, Republicans vowed to harm them for political gain. As Minority Leader, McConnell distributed a letter to his fellow Republicans, outlining the obstructionist tactics they promptly employed.
McConnell, along with House GOP whip Eric Cantor led secret meetings in which they laid out their cynical “no-honeymoon” strategy of all-out resistance to a popular President during an economic crisis. “If he was for it,” former Ohio Senator George Voinovich stated, “we had to be against it.”
The landscape Traitor Trump inherited from Biden is much different. Biden gave the convicted felon Republican standard bearer an economy that is the envy of the western world with the lowest unemployment rate in generations. The first thing Traitor Trump does is unconstitutionally inflict an unelected South African billionaire into our system to tear it down from within and entrench permanent oligarchy. If Democrats think these greed-centered sociopaths care in the least about decorum, decency, legality or the General Welfare, they seriously haven’t been paying attention.
Learning from History
Just consider the legendary Carthaginian General Hannibal, who unleashed chaos on the Roman army for more than a decade. It was ultimately Scipio Africanus who turned the tide, using Hannibal’s own tactics against him—tactics that had once brought Rome to its knees for over a decade.
This historical lesson is a potent reminder for Democrats: to take down a formidable opponent, you have to recognize what makes them effective and be ready to adopt and adapt those strategies. It’s time to channel our inner Scipio and fight fire with fire. If we want to protect democracy, we can’t just play defense and hope the Republicans come to their senses. This IS them coming to their senses. They’ve never wanted a democracy - especially a multiracial one. They would much rather have a “daddy” to save them from the scary, complex world of “others” who don’t know their “natural place.”
The Illusion of Common Ground
If we want to protect democracy, we can’t just play defense and hope the Republicans come to their senses. This IS them coming to their senses. They’ve never wanted a democracy - especially a multiracial one. They would much rather have a “daddy” to save them from the scary, complex world of “others” who don’t know their “natural place.” It’s beyond infuriating watching Democrats vote for any of Traitor Trump’s unfit cabinet of freaks and curiosities, much less signal their willingness to find “common ground” to supposedly “get things done” for the American people. Get what “things” done?
There should be no “common ground” until the unelected South African billionaire sociopath Elon Musk and his army of incels are removed from our system - wherever they infected it. That must be our red line. Not begging “pretty please, may we please have some democracy, M’Lord Musk?”
Urgent Call to Action: Democrats Must Find Their Spine
It’s time for Democrats to find their spine and use it to slow down every damn thing these criminals are up to. Nothing less than the survival of the Grand Experiment in liberal democracy depends on it.
In this clip from Tarabuster, Tara Devlin emphasizes the urgent need for Democrats to take a page out of the Republican playbook and do all they can to throw sand in the gears of the Republican coup against America. Dems may be in the minority, but they only completely powerless if they choose to be.
Here’s some Republican Obstructionist Tactics Dems must employ:
Filibuster Everything: Democrats can use the filibuster to block legislation that threatens civil rights, environmental protections, and social justice. By requiring a supermajority for any significant Republican initiative, they can buy time to rally public support and organize grassroots movements.
Blue Slip Obstruction: Democrats should refuse to return blue slips for judicial nominees who do not align with democratic values. This tactic, previously wielded by Republicans, can prevent the confirmation of extreme judges and preserve judicial integrity.
Constant Quorum Calls: By calling for quorum votes, Democrats can effectively delay proceedings and create chaos within the Republican agenda. This can hinder their ability to push through legislation quickly and give Democrats time to mobilize.
Object to Unanimous Consent: A single senator can object to unanimous consent requests, forcing Republicans to go through the lengthy process of formal voting. This delay tactic can stymie the passage of harmful bills and highlight the contentious nature of the current political climate.
Procedural Delays: Utilizing various parliamentary procedures to delay votes and discussions can frustrate Republican lawmakers, forcing them to expend time and resources on non-essential matters.
Messaging and Public Engagement: It’s crucial that Democrats communicate clearly with the public about the dangers of the Republican agenda. Stop pretending Republicans have an interest in a function democracy. We don’t need them to “take back” their party. Today’s Republican Party is a corpse and needs to be buried in the ash heap of history. When Republicans go the way of the Whigs, the Democratic Party would most likely break into more conservative and liberal factions with one defining aspect in common - embracing the Constitution and the democratic system the founders created and entrusted to us.
Dems must holding press conferences, town halls, and utilizing social media to unapologetically explain the stakes and stand our ground for the American experiment. Reclaim patriotism without apology. We are the ones truly carrying the mantle. Republicans only cling to the symbols of patriotism because the substance is far too “woke” for them.
Call your Senators and Reps to tell them the only job Democrats have right now to take a clue from our adversaries and use obstruction as a strategy to stand firm and resist the fascist coup.
Support the real liberal media! Become a Tarabuster Patron
Watch Tarabuster on Youtube!
Share this post