Well, he was not playing three-dimensional chess.
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A Commentary on the Passing Scene by Robert Paul Wolff rwolff@afroam.umass.edu
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- Robert Paul Wolff
- As I observed in one of my books, in politics I am an anarchist, in religion I am an atheist, and in economics I am a Marxist. I am also, rather more importantly, a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a violist.
14 comments:
Right. He was caving in good Democratic fashion:
https://www.salon.com/2023/05/28/the-worst-of-conservative-budget-ideology-progressives-condemn-biden-debt-ceiling-deal_partner/
So, according to Salon, he did cave on the Republican demands for work requirements. I did not see this reported in the NYT article, unless I missed or misinterpreted it.
So, then, how can the deal obtain the necessary combined Democrat and Republican votes to pass? Wil the progressive Democrats give in?
The progressive Dems are more likely to give in than the Republican right-wing crazies.... It's just the nature of American politics.
Sigh.
Biden had little leverage. He is a man of making deals and moderation. The media environment and his own lack of charisma or persuasion hindered him from pr wars and appeal to the public.
The Democrats ought to have pushed this through in January.
This is what Freud referred to as the reality principle, I think
Reality always is a bummer.
In a just world Republicans would be out there causing harm in other sectors of the world- maybe the Foreign Legion
We'll see what chaos ensues in the House
Whatever goes foul now is the Republicans' fault
David Z. Did you mean the progressive wing (such as it is) of the Democrats is more likely to cave? Or were you categorizing the entire Democratic Party as progressive? If you intended the former, surely there are a whole lot more non-progressive Democrats who are likely to cave before the progressives do?
To Anonymous:
certainly did not mean that the entire Democratic Party is progressive. That is a crazy view.
I simply meant that it is more likely that the progressive wing of the Democratic congressional delegation (such as Reps Occasio-Cortez and Omar) are more likely to vote for the package that Biden and McCarthy seem to have worked out than
is the MAGA wing of the Republican delegation (such a Taylor-Greene and Boebert).
Of course, the non-progressive House Dems are more likely to vote for this package than the progressive House Dems. (That goes without saying.) That was not the contrast I was drawing.
A slightly different take on the deal: It was a giveaway to the Republicans, "but it could have been worse."
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/05/debt-ceiling-deal-explained.html
From the article DZ referenced:
"Democrats had the opportunity to preempt the GOP’s hostage-taking by raising (or effectively abolishing) the debt ceiling when they had full control of government."
I believe that would have been in 1937 (or possibly 1965 but that Congress couldn't even repeal 14b). Joe Manchin wouldn't agree to an extension under reconciliation in 2022 and thanks to Rucho and the New York State Democratic Party we got a Rethuglican House in 2023.
The big thing is the two year extension. Thanks to the Fed over-reacting to the post-covid inflation we are are shaky ground for the next couple of years. The last thing Biden needs in an election year is a budget blow up.
The only leverage Biden had was a threat to mint the coin and issue consols under using the 14th Amendment (I assume it would have been easy to find some idiot judge who would have enjoined bills, notes, and bonds).
As long as McCarthy was determined to remain Speaker, I don't see other options.
We should also keep in mind that the Senate operates under unanimous consent and the filibuster.
Interesting lecture:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWRXLrJhqA0&t=18s
It seems folks like Ted Cruz and Rand Paul are upset.
https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1662883736386404352
Another take:
"Oh, and one other thing—this deal supersedes the appropriations process for this year and next, removing yet another hostage from the Republican Party’s toolbox. For a House caucus with dreams of austere and severe government cutbacks, this is a devastating fizzle."
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/5/28/2171894/-Furious-Freedom-Caucus-vows-to-scuttle-debt-deal
We should not be looking to politics for emotional sustenance. Other than the plutocrats, too many people on both the left and the right approach politics in the spirit of the aphorism attributed to Genghiz Khan, that The greatest happiness is to vanquish your enemies, to chase them before you, to rob them of their wealth, to see those dear to them bathed in tears, to clasp to your bosom their wives and daughters.* OTOH, if gnashing our teeth in this way manages to move the Overton Window a millimeter or two in the right direction, gnash away.
*So far as I can tell, this has not been true of Bernie, Nancy and most of the African American members of Congress. Also, generally not true of the Squad.
Genghis obviously needed anger management therapy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XUu3_pLPUE
aaall,
You're a hoot. They both need anger management therapy.
s.w., this may be of interest:
https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/chiles-far-left-boric-paves-way-for-far-right-kast-by-andres-velasco-2023-05?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&barrier=accesspaylog
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