Judson Berger: Democrats' Magnificent Meltdown in Virginia

The Dems' actions since they took both houses of the GA and the Governorship have basically made it clear that, if we want an even minimally free and rational state, we have to do everything within reason to win next time--and, y'know...all the next times. Actually: win big enough to undo the damage they've done...and then never lose this big again... Unfortunately, it's NoVa's Commonwealth now...the rest of us just live in it...

   Dems have made it clear that they will implement the most radical leftist policies they can get away with--and their actions strongly suggest that they will do what they can to make it impossible for the Pubs to win back power. This kind of rabid radicalism is an absolute blueprint for disaster in my opinion. Once a party becomes dedicated to that kind of partisanship or radicalism--let alone both--I worry that it's just a matter of time before it gains an intolerable permanent advantage. Whereupon violence becomes a rational option for the other side. The left is currently far more prone to imposing such totalitarianism, as we have seen over the last decade--and, in VA, over the last six months...

   The national Dems are openly discussing--with apparent seriousness--some extremely radical options for the next time they gain power: packing the Court, ending the filibuster, making DC and Puerto Rico states, and prosecuting members of the Trump administration. They're also discussing "re-educating" or prosecuting Trump supporters...but I can't believe that even they would try that. Some of these aren't realistic without huge majorities. Which they're unlikely to get...

   Though this touches on another problem: with the new interpretation of the Voting Rights Act, Pubs currently winning the redistricting wars, and the possibility of changing Congressional apportionment rules...we may actually be looking at a significant, long-term red advantage. The blues have--according to the view I'm currently inclined to accept--enjoyed many illicit electoral advantages for decades. Losing that would be strategically disastrous for them. It would, IMO, be a win for the nation, as it would force them back toward the center... Of course they don't see it that way...

   Pubs are discussing e.g. de-retrocession--making DC square again...though it seems just to be loose talk. Believe me, it's tempting. And Constitutional. But I think that would be the last straw. It would drive the blues even farther over the edge--if there are degrees of being over the edge...

   OTOH, another view on the right is basically: we can't hold back for fear we'll drive them over the edge. They're already over the edge. We have to utilize every advantage we have while we have it. Specifically, this line of thinking says that, if we can gain significant advantage by nuking the filibuster--e.g. to pass the SAVE America Act--we should do it. Because the filibuster is already toast. The Dems will nuke it as soon as they can. So we might as well do it while we can make big changes in our favor. (However, formally amending rule XXII requires a 2/3 majority. But new precedent can be established in particular kinds of cases via the nuclear option with just 60 votes...)

It's appalling that we can't pass the SAVE America Act...but it doesn't seem worth nuking the filibuster over...

   Anyway

   I continue to think that our only hope as a nation is for the Dems to return to their senses. But I no longer believe that to be inevitable. I'm not even sure I think it's likely...