OK… so, I keep hearing:
“If Democrats are so great, and have not left the people then why has there been so little progress in the last 25 years?”
I can tell you why, it’s because the Democrats have not been the majority.
Here is a breakdown of Congressional makeup, starting with the 104th Congress, starting in January 1995 through the 114th Congress ending in 2016.
104th Congress - January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1997
Senate - Republican
House - Republican
President - Clinton Democrat
105th Congress - January 3, 1997 – January 3, 1999
Senate - Republican
House - Republican
President - Clinton - Democrat
106th Congress - January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2001
Senate - Republican
House - Republican
President - Clinton - Democrat
107th Congress - January 3, 2001 – January 3, 2003
Senate - Republican - 5 Months / Democratic 1.5 years
House - Republican
President - Bush - Republican
108th Congress - January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2005
Senate - Republican
House - Republican
President - Bush - Republican
109th Congress - January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2007
Senate - Republican
House - Republican
President - Bush - Republican
110th Congress - January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2009
Senate - Democratic
House - Democratic
President - Bush - Republican
111th Congress - January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011
Senate - Democratic - Needed Super Majority
House - Democratic
President - Obama - Democrat
112th Congress - January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013
Senate - Democratic - Needed Super Majority
House - Republican
President - Obama - Democrat
113th Congress - January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2015
Senate - Democratic - Needed Super Majority
House - Republican
President - Obama - Democrat
114th Congress - January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2017
Senate - Republican
House - Republican
President - Obama - Democrat
This is NOW… and again, with a Republican House and Senate Majority.
Though, I am not going to include this Congress in my breakdown, since it is current.
115th Congress - January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2019
Senate - Republican
House - Republican
President - Ass Hat - Republican
So, this means:
Since 1995 Republicans have held a House & Senate Majority
for 14 years out of 22 years
Since 1995 Democrats held a House & Senate Majority
for 4 out of 22 years
2 of those 4 years under Obama, Republican MINORITY Blocked everything via Filibuster…
Causing Democrats to need a Super Majority to pass legislation
Democrats held a Majority in the Senate for 9.5 years out of 22 years
Democrats held a majority in the House for 4 out of 22 years
Republicans held a majority in the Senate 12.5 out of 22 years
Republicans held a majority in the House for 18 out of 22 years.
So, even though we had a Democratic President in office for 14 out of 22 years, we were not able to get much done, because the Republicans have been the dominate force in Congress.
Bill Clinton was President for 8 years, unfortunately, he had to deal with a Republican House and Senate for 6 of those 8 years.
Obama was President for 8 years, however due to the Republicans becoming more and more fanatic, and vowing to refuse to work with Democrats, as to try to make Obama a one term President, we were not able to pass much, because we needed a Super Majority, that we never really had.
The Myth of Democratic Super Majority.
People keep saying that Democrats have left the people, but, how can the Democrats get anything done, if the people REFUSE to give the Democrats a chance?
Looking at how the Democrats have not held a majority, for most of the last 22 years, how can we continue to blame Democrats for the countries overall shift Rightward?
If you look back, prior to the 1990’s, when Democrats dominated Congress… you will see, that is when our country was progressing the most.
Of course, until Bill Clinton won the primary and the election in 1992, Democrats were not dominating the presidential elections.
It would be nice if we could get to a point, where we dominate BOTH, the White House, and Congress.
I hope you will point this out to people, when you see them blaming Democrats, for what is wrong in our country.