Should a columnist accept an offer of an off-the-record lunch with the president?

Never.

 

The stategy is calling motivating your base. As long as the filibuster exists the Democrats are far short of passing much meaningful legislation.

 

But you know - that is the problem with both the Democrats and the Republicans. The Dems use outrage to motivate their base to vote, the GOP uses fear. The politicians get elected (not enough to do anything about the fear or the outrage. though) so we're left with an angry and fearful country and a Congress that can't do anything about it. So we buy guns, are angry, fearful and frustrated.

 

It is easy to be frustrated and indignant about the fecklessness of our national legislature. But you know, they weren't put in office by Martians. We tolerate, Democratic and Republican voters alike, indefensible behavior such as the Senate reacting to the Uvalde massacre by recessing until next month. Maybe if the pols were greeted back home by ridicule and verbal abuse when they try and glad hand this weekend, it'd help.

 

Half of them want to get something done. The rest are cowards and hypocrites.