In Illinois, we would benefit from right of center or centrist Independents who could at least compete with the Democratic Party.
I think it would best if such figures were running for statewide offices within the state rather than US Senate as then these independents would have a chance to showcase their leadership and other skills in getting stuff done with efficiency and effectiveness.
Interestingly Noah, I also have an embarrassing fantasy about the U.S. Senate, and though I'm far more left than you and also far less allergic to small-d democratic partisanship (the idea of an elected body that isn't partisan seems to me a complete rejection of the reality of what happens when people are granted the freedom to express themselves and organize accordingly), I wonder if there isn't some overlap between your idea of a group of independent senators creating an opportunity for a complete re-writing of the rules by which the Senate does business. Basically, I'd like to see the 17th amendment overturned. Given the current make-up of state legislatures that would seem contrary to my political preferences, and I'm sure the results mostly would be, but talk about upsetting the apple-cart! When you say that you "very much want to find out" what would happen if your fantasy came to pass, I'm in the same boat.
In Illinois, we would benefit from right of center or centrist Independents who could at least compete with the Democratic Party.
I think it would best if such figures were running for statewide offices within the state rather than US Senate as then these independents would have a chance to showcase their leadership and other skills in getting stuff done with efficiency and effectiveness.
Interestingly Noah, I also have an embarrassing fantasy about the U.S. Senate, and though I'm far more left than you and also far less allergic to small-d democratic partisanship (the idea of an elected body that isn't partisan seems to me a complete rejection of the reality of what happens when people are granted the freedom to express themselves and organize accordingly), I wonder if there isn't some overlap between your idea of a group of independent senators creating an opportunity for a complete re-writing of the rules by which the Senate does business. Basically, I'd like to see the 17th amendment overturned. Given the current make-up of state legislatures that would seem contrary to my political preferences, and I'm sure the results mostly would be, but talk about upsetting the apple-cart! When you say that you "very much want to find out" what would happen if your fantasy came to pass, I'm in the same boat.
Allegedly, Talarico is doing well in Texas, but I think the transgender stuff will bring him down.