I’ve been writing about how Dems need to pick the best few things to repeat over and over, messages that those who voted for Trump hear, that the GOP has no response to rhetorically or otherwise. Basic messages, short and easy to understand, of gut reaction inducing clarity.
This is better than Benghazi was for the GOP, it is the gift that will keep giving because it comes from McConnell’s own pen in writing. Each appointment that is jammed through becomes a liability that keeps it alive until the midterms, even beyond. Each jammed through confirmation becomes a ticking time bomb of scandals waiting to be blown open my pulitzer seeking journalists looking to blow the big one out of the park.
To put this to best effect needs a couple of GOP principles applied, and actions that keep the GOP from simply backing down while continuing with half assed attempts to provide financial statements and information the ethics committee is asking for. The effort needed to put McConnell’s feet in concrete boots is actually quite simple. To take a page out of the GOP playbook, symbolic legislation.
First stage is a letter to McConnell and each and every senator. It covers some ground, and spells out how this is going to be played step by step.
- It encloses a copy of the letter McConnell sent out that defined procedures that have stood the senate well.
- The cover letter states that this letter was so well written that it will serve as the outline template for a bipartisan bill that makes these rules the guidelines that confirmations will be done by.
- It will ask for anyone who wants to be on the right side and part of this legislation, It is assured that there will be plenty of bipartisan support.
- It will point out that Democrats intend to file an objection about any confirmation that is done without adhering to these procedures. This will create a ticking liability for any future scandal as well as painting targets on each of these appointments.
- Every day and each week the media will be fueled to cover the legislation and the fact that McConnell refuses to open it for debate or a vote. That media coverage can be effectively put to the right that voted for Trump with simple visibility of crooked politicians. The Right hates all government, just Democrats more than republicans. They are subject to turning on the GOP at the drop of a dime.
- Clarity and emphasis can be put on the role of the ethics committee, and give them teeth by specifying that no forward progress will proceed until each stage is completed as pertains to concerns and requests for more information have been. Anything reported and proved by the ethics committee to be problematic is a deal breaker that forces a new person to be named.
McConnell would be forced to cave and modify the way they jam confirmations through, but the legislation needs to be written and presented to the senate for recognition, and pushed for debate and a vote whether McConnell caves or not. The GOP has proved over and over that they will promise to adhere to procedures that they burn democrats on when time to deliver comes. No more taking the GOP at their word, it means nothing.
Please offer any input that helps refine this message and gets it out to as many people as possible.
The media and Dems need to repeat this endlessly, make the GOP sick of hearing about McConnell’s letter. Every time they are asked to justify what they are trying to do their replies will get lamer and lamer. This can be as good as having them drag around a dead chicken that gets fouler and stinkier as time goes on.