The Politics Thread

[DRW50]

 

 

Another shining moment for our self-appointed moral conscience, who can roll in his wads of cash as Democrats lose the House and Senate. If they do hold on, it sure as hell isn't because of him, or his partner in purity from Arizona. 

[DRW50]

 

I included the second tweet because I pretty much agree with it. And this on top of cutting unemployment benefits. All so we can get a round of backpatting over fiscal conservatism. This is really a lousy idea that is going to drown out much of the popular support this bill could have had.

[Vee]

That's Manchin for you. But while I don't agree with cutting the income level and that will affect some, I don't think that many of the general public will notice any of this skullduggery much. What trends on Twitter for a few hours is not what drowns out public discourse. And they're not cutting UI.

[marceline]

It's amazing to watch people on the left talk about who won't be showing up to the polls in 2022 or 2024 as if everyone lives on Twitter and nothing could possibly happen in the interim that would affect how and why people vote.

[DRW50]

 

Unfortunately due to the wave of voter suppression laws being passed (and, again thanks to Manchin and Sinema, probably not going to be addressed by Congress), even these votes on the margins may be deciding.

 

I hope people will not punish the Democrats who did try, but I feel like all of these posturing games are leaving a lot of Democrats hanging out to dry, especially those like Raphael Warnock who campaigned on 2K.

[Vee]

 

Dave Weigel lives in a world where he must choose between common sense and politely appeasing the deranged rantings of Brianha Joy Gray to prove he is left enough and often opts for Door #2, and thinks all Democratic voters do the same. But this is also coming from the same brain trust of folks who believed that if Pelosi and Schumer had just held a vote at 3 AM EST the day of the Capitol siege, Congressional GOP would've voted to impeach Trump.

 

It's not a small concession on lowering the limit, and I don't like it. But I do understand it, and I also don't trust in or take seriously either a) Twitter warriors of the left who view everything through a catastrophizing lens for Dems, either because of endless PTSD or because they simply want the party destroyed for not kowtowing to them, or b) Beltway pundits who live to handicap Dems at all costs and so always spin everything on behalf of the moderate or conservative voices in the caucus if not in the GOP itself. There is a more nuanced take than any of that, and I don't think any of this particular round of minutiae will have much bearing on '22 which will be tough no matter what.

Edited March 3, 2021 by Vee

[Vee]

 

[JaneAusten]

The limit is going from $80,000 to $75,000. I thought it was 75 to begin with, so what is the POINT of dropping it. All it does is give the GOP a talking point. And it's not worth it.  

 

The idea of dropping the $400 unemployment supplement to $300 is also stupid. Again so little money sounds pointless.

 

If they got a commitment from Manchin on the filibuster in return for this so that they can pass HR1 then I'd get it.

 

 

EDIT: So sorry I got this mixed up. It zeros out at 80k. This is a even dumber move.

Edited March 3, 2021 by JaneAusten

[JaneAusten]

This I am happy to see.  Klobuchar is a workhorse in the senate and this means something that she's come out for abolishing the filibuster.

 

 

[DRW50]

 

I have a feeling that he told them he wouldn't vote for it at all unless they did this. 

[Vee]

I have my doubts, but I can't blame them for not wanting to risk it on the first major bill of this administration. They do need to get him up against a wall soon.

[Vee]

 

It's not dropping, last I checked. Manchin gave up on that.

[JaneAusten]

Oh thank goodness for that.

[Vee]

He's absolutely right, and this is something that has been pointed out and autopsied for years since Obamacare and those midterms, when gunshy Dems ran away from it. Though of course you'll have people tearing down the bill for not being perfect. Which is why more will be necessary.

 

 

 

 

Edited March 3, 2021 by Vee

[JaneAusten]

I'm with you on this in fact they need to have a messaging campaign on this and NOT let the fascists drive the narrative. FDR used to have signage and messaging all over the CCC and WPA projects that were being worked on all over the country.  They should brand the American Recover Act and advertise. Sounds tacky but it is needed.