Mr. Pierce On Senate Rules....

[The Magistrate]

24. This Is My View On That, Sir

It is a surprisingly simple situation.

I will defend 'centerists' against almost any charge when we are out of power, because the first need is to gain a majority, since without one nothing can be done, and the enemy can do so much.

When we have a majority, I will not defend, and will even attack, 'centerists' who prevent us from using our majority to enact policies that are both popular and necessary.

And I will continue to point out that 'centerists' have no mystical understanding of, nor are they particularly attuned to, the desires of voters in swing districts or states. The 'centerist' rides with the wave. With rare exceptions, they come to office if Democrats are more popular than usual, and are tumbled out of it when Democrats become less popular. And what generally makes Democrats less popular is failing to enact policies that are good for the country and popular with Democratic Party voters. Declining to support such measures gains them nothing. The 'centerists' are always the chief electoral target of the enemy. They will be assailed in the same terms as the most radical young woman of color from New York city conceivable, no matter how they vote....