I will attempt to explain my reasoning for my dislike of the main contenders.
After a very successful election the Dems have won both Houses of Congress and now is the time to start looking for the new leaders of those Houses.
We have the minority leaders of Jeffries and Schumer as the presumptive new majority leaders….but would that be a wise decision?
My personal thought is no it would not be in the best interests of the people of this country.
These new leaders have a challenge to do what is best for the people….not the corporations….
Now that the Democratic Party has some power, we’re all waiting to see how they use it. Can the leaders meet the moment?
Hakeem Jeffries is the presumptive speaker of the House. There is a lot of opposition to Jeffries in the party base. There is a petition at Change.org with over a million signatures to “Oppose Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker of the House.”
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That brings us the presumptive majority leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumer. I would prefer to see him replaced right away. Chief Deputy Whip Brian Schatz is waiting in the wings. If Schumer stays as leader for the entire 120th Congress, the base will be constantly upset by his mealy-mouth presentation, tendency to cave to corporate interests, and unwavering support of the Israeli military’s attacks on its neighbors.
Keeping the coalition together is more important than letting Schumer keep his job. Standing up to the Trump administration, the oligarchs, and corporate special interests is what is required at the moment.
But let’s look at those men that could be the future of the Democratic Party….at least for the next 2 years.
Let’s begin with the People’s House and the person that could become the first black speaker in all of history…..Jeffries….
Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is on the cusp of making history as the nation’s first Black speaker of the House, a generational shift in U.S. politics after Democrats trounced Republicans to win majority control of the chamber in the midterm elections.
Jeffries faces a vote of his colleagues when the new Congress convenes Jan. 3. If nominated and elected, as expected, it would be the first time a Black lawmaker has grasped the powerful House speaker’s gavel, a job second in line to the president and the only leadership position in Congress mandated by the U.S. Constitution.
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They are bracing to confront not only Trump, but also a fresh group of Democrats elected to office, including a handful backed by the Democratic Socialists of America pushing the party leftward, though the largest caucus in the House is expected to remain the more moderate New Democrat Coalition.
Jeffries has promised a robust 100-day agenda to lower the costs of living and launch oversight and investigations to hold the Trump administration accountable. Impeachment is an option.
Promising to show voters that Democrats can govern, Jeffries and the leadership team hope to hold their new majority together and avoid the chaotic disruptions and dysfunction that often left Johnson unable to control the GOP’s razor-thin majority in the House.
https://apnews.com/article/hakeem-jeffries-election-house-democrats-017ab70f264d4abe90da0325c1f03350
That was a glowing article on the presumptive Speaker-to-be…..
There is reasons why Jeffries is not the best person for the job….
Now that Democrats have swept the House, a key question is: Who should lead it?
Hakeem Jeffries is in line to become the first Black Speaker of the House, which would be a historic milestone. But members of Congress must examine Jeffries’ record, his priorities, and the kind of leadership he would bring to this moment.
Here are ten reasons why Jeffries should not be Speaker.
1. He has abandoned Medicare for All
There is too much of a corporate Dem in his life for him to be the best choice for Speaker….that is just my thought.
This brings us to Schumer….there has bee a wealth of reason why he should not be the Leader of the Senate….corporate money, Israel support, Pentagon support, high dollar donors, etc.
Democratic voters have indicated they want newer and younger leadership in the party. Over the last two years, progressive Democrats have scored major victories in local and state elections.
It’s led some lawmakers to push for similar changes in decade-old leadership. Schumer, 75, has served as the Democrats’ leader in the Senate since 2017.
But Schumer did not appear worried about his bid for Senate majority leader, telling reporters on Wednesday: “I’ll be re-elected as majority leader.”
Schumer likely has enough votes within his party to become the next majority leader. He’s also running uncontested as of Friday afternoon – no other Senate Democrat has officially thrown their hat into the ring.
There are few few reasons why I do not think he would be the best leader….
Generational Change: Critics—including the 600,000-member International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Senator Elissa Slotkin, and various incoming lawmakers—argue that the party needs a new generation of leadership, fresh energy, and new ideas rather than recycling the same establishment figures.
- Perceived Disconnect with Voters: Progressive and labor critics state that Schumer represents an older, top-down style of politics that fails to listen to working-class voters or address core issues like economic affordability and corporate influence effectively.
- Past Strategy and Primary Choices: Detractors point to past primary endorsements and campaign strategies—such as backing specific primary opponents or miscalculating suburban voter shifts—as evidence of flawed decision-making.
- Handling of Legislative Fights and Confirmations: Some party members have criticized Schumer for past compromises, such as backing a Republican bill to reopen federal agencies during a government shutdown without securing key Democratic priorities like healthcare subsidies, or not doing enough to block certain cabinet confirmations.
- Foreign Policy and Cultural Divisions: Schumer has faced criticism from progressive wings of the party over his strong stance on aid and support for Israel, as well as internal debates on foreign policy and domestic agendas.
- Low Approval Ratings: Public polling, including data cited from Siena University and RealClearPolitics, has historically shown low favorability ratings for Schumer among both general voters and members of his own party.
He has proven to me that he cares more about his high dollar donors than the people that put him in his position of power.
The people voted for change and if these two are elected to the leadership it will be a betrayal of that vote….
Defeating Donald Trump at the ballot box will mean little if Democrats preserve the corporate rule that helped bring him to power. The ballots have been counted. The danger now is that Democrats will mistake a repudiation of Donald Trump for permission to keep serving the billionaires who own American politics. On The Chris Hedges Report, Ralph Nader warns that an electoral landslide can become another exercise in betrayal if voters allow the party’s corporate leadership to turn public anger into empty promises, toothless investigations and business as usual.
We deserve better than these two corporate stooges.
You thoughts will be appreciated.
I Read, I Write, You Know
“lego ergo scribo”