Ash writes: "It's easy to want the new Biden administration to do many things. Including but not limited to doing no harm. The executive branch has unto itself vast powers. And there are already clear indications that Biden will use those powers early and often to right the administrative destruction wrought by Trump and his army of obedient flunkies."
Stacey Abrams, former Democratic leader in the Georgia House of Representatives and founder and chair of Fair Fight Action. (photo: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Stacey Abrams Needs to Lead the Runoff Effort in Georgia
08 November 20
t’s easy to want the new Biden administration to do many things. Including but not limited to doing no harm. The executive branch has unto itself vast powers. And there are already clear indications that Biden will use those powers early and often to right the administrative destruction wrought by Trump and his army of obedient flunkies.
However, if legislative support is required to get things done, the outlook is bleak for as long as the Senate is in Republican hands. Winning both Senate runoff elections in Georgia to wrest a majority in the upper chamber is not the only path forward for the new Biden administration, but it would greatly expand the palette of possibilities and is certainly worth mounting an all-out effort to accomplish.
Stacey Abrams should lead/coordinate the Georgia runoff campaigns. No one understands Democratic voters in Georgia better, and no one has greater respect among them. It’s a difficult assignment with a low probability of success. But the stakes are high enough to warrant the A-Team.
The two Democratic candidates, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, face an uphill battle in the slimmed-down runoff field. It’s a safe bet that without new energy and a new game plan, both will lose. Such a game plan might well include less reliance on television advertising and a far more robust ground game. If Biden could beat Trump in Georgia, then Ossoff and Warnock can win too, but it’s going to take a significantly better effort.
Stacey Abrams, while not viewed as a progressive, has a significant amount of respect among progressives, and of course with black voters, she’s a legend. Absolutely she deserves a place in the new Biden administration. One from which she can continue her voter justice and empowerment campaign on a national level.
Biden flipped Georgia, but it’s still Georgia. For Democrats, black voters, mostly in Atlanta, hold the key. Democrats need the Senate, black voters and their elected leaders need more seats at the leadership table. Somebody call Stacey Abrams.
Marc Ash is the founder and former Executive Director of Truthout, and is now founder and Editor of Reader Supported News.
Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader Supported News.
|
THE NEW STREAMLINED RSN LOGIN PROCESS: Register once, then login and you are ready to comment. All you need is a Username and a Password of your choosing and you are free to comment whenever you like! Welcome to the Reader Supported News community. |
