Democracy Diary: It's too late: no legislative paths forward

Probably hunger strikes and sit-ins are the best hope - so let's say that

Voting rights groups in Georgia have told President Biden not to come to the state to speak on the topic unless he has a plan to pass federal voting rights legislation.

According to articles in the Atlanta Journal Constitution and the Independent (again, thank God for these British papers) “The groups – which include Black Voters Matter Fund, the Asian American Advocacy Fund, the New Georgia Project Action Fund and the GALEO Impact Action Fund – ‘reject any visit by President Biden that does not include an announcement of a finalized voting rights plan that will pass both chambers, not be stopped by the filibuster, and be signed into law.’”

The articles continues, “On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer pledged to change the Senate’s filibuster rules on or before 17 January.”

But, as we all know, they don’t have the votes, because Krysten Sinema opposes reform.

There are no remaining legislative paths forward. I suppose it’s possible Sinema will change her mind — but we saw how that worked out with Manchin’s treachery on Build Back Better. So why aren’t Democrats saying loudly and clearly that we have no remaining legislative options to prevent the entrenchment of authoritarian rule in the US? That it’s already too late?

It’s one more thing that’s totally baffling to me about the way Dems are approaching this and the media is covering it.

Wiser and more knowledgeable friends, tell me what I’m missing.

And if not — probably time to resurrect and join with the Arizona student hunger strikers. Maybe the plan is to go that route when the attempt to end the filibuster fails on 1/17.