Recommendations for the Democrats

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President Obama called on Democrats to "toughen up" and said the next few years are "...going to require a little bit less navel-gazing and a little less whining and being in fetal positions."  President Obama also said "...now is exactly the time that you get in there and do something."*

Putting it more bluntly, Mark Cuban criticized the Democrats as having no message other than "Trump sucks!"**  

Mark Cuban then puts his finger on the right answer saying "...it's about the people of the United States of America - and what's good for them."

If Democrats really want to do what's good for the people of the United States of America, as Mark Cuban suggests, then they need to first recognize that Donald Trump is the President and Republicans control both the House and the Senate, and second they need to come up with ideas they can offer to help shape and contribute to the policies being adopted.  For example:

  • Deportation - If Democrats don't want ICE raiding communities, then they should offer a compromise.  They can agree to hold people on detainers for ICE in return for ICE reducing or eliminating raids in communities.
  • Immigration - Work with Republicans in Congress on a way for illegal immigrants to self-deport and have a fast track to be vetted and return on H2a or H2b visas, allowing the "good" immigrants a path to stay in the US legally.
  • Tariffs - Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and others have said they like the idea of tariffs, just not the way President Trump is doing it.  Labor unions, typically big supporters of the Democrats like the use of tariffs to bring jobs back to the US.  So why don't Democrats put forward a tariff plan of their own and work with Republicans on a compromise bill empowering the Administration to levy tariffs.  Passage of such a bill would moot the court challenges to President Trump's current levying of tariffs. 
  • Budget Cuts - Republicans are planning on cutting the Budget, but they are having trouble getting enough votes at times.  Despite Democrats, like Senator Schumer, admitting there is waste in Government, the Democrats are just voting no.  Why not offer suggestions on areas to cut to create bargaining chips - be able to trade off cuts you suggest in return for not cutting in other areas and offering votes to help pass the final bill if Republicans agree to collaborate.
  • Ukraine - President Trump has come to the conclusion that Vladimir Putin won't commit to a peace deal.  Democrats supported aid packages to the Ukraine during the Biden Administration.  Why not negotiate with their Republican counterparts on putting together a new aid package now. 
  • Transgender individuals competing in women's sports - Instead of ignoring the vast majority of Americans, including the many women who have made clear they are offended by this, why don't Democrats try to find a compromise solution.  How about proposing that sports adopt a separate category for transgender individuals.  It will not add much expense, if any, to hold an extra heat for transgender individuals competing at track, field or swimming events.
Here in Montana, Democrats are in the minority in the Legislature but they collaborate with Republicans all the time.  They have been very successful in influencing the terms of important legislation repeatedly in the last 10 years. 

The question for Democrats in Washington is whether they believe what Mark Cuban said, it's about the people of the United States of America - and what's good for them."  Or do they care more about power - the power that comes with regaining the Majority in the House or Senate, which may not occur if they do what's good for the people and collaborating with Republicans.

The answer will be found in how the Democrats approach the next 12 to 18 months.  Do they offer ideas and work with Republicans, or do they continue to oppose everything (the "Trump sucks" approach) while trying to find a key issue they hope to use to vault themselves to victory in next year's election.
 

* CNN article by Arlette Saenz, Obama's Blunt Message for Democrats

** Fox News article by Lindsay Kornick, Cuban rips Democrats' message

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