4998

That can’t be right. I’ve been assured the progressives are ruining everything.

4999

Don’t worry Manchin has 10 Republican Senators up his ass that he’s gonna pull out at any moment now.
Any moment now.
Just you wait and see.
Any. Moment.

5000

Sadly they aren’t missing. There are some really scummy ads running against the idea of allowing negotiation of drug prices for Medicare/Medicaid. There’s this one horrible ad running now about how Canadians can’t get life saving medicine and if we import “restrictions” on medications from Canada people with cystic fibrosis will die!

5001

Progressive caucus members I’ve seen on the news today ranged from trying to sell things super positively to Cori Bush delivering the most negative reaction which I think can be summarized to it’s a shit sandwich for the progressives to eat but if both votes happen together they will eat it.

Given the weasel worded endorsements of the senatorial saboteurs I cannot blame the progressive caucus for insisting on not putting the bill in a position for one of them to spike it once the infrastructure bill passes.

5002

In a way this is not wrong.

5003

It is always a little scary when you and I completely agree. Personally, the main changes I’d make is to replace elder care with child care. Children are our future, and old folks already are richer than young folks. Increase access to Medicare rather than offering hearing aid, (Perfectly acceptable hearing aids are available over the counter for <$100) and give more money for worker training.

But overall, this is absolutely a record any Democrat could run on it with pride.

And if, the most pro-business, pro-billionaire guy on the forum, has zero problems with any of the tax increases. I can’t imagine why any Democrat even Manchin would have issues with it.

5004

The official statement from the Progressive Caucus was super positive about the administration’s new framework, while reiterating that they know it’s dead in the water if they pass the bipartisan bill.

So the Biden Administration, the Progressive Caucus, and the rest of the Democrats are all in agreement as to the value of BBB and want to see it passed. We only have two holdouts. Remind me why we’re blaming the Progressives again?

5005

Yup. If it didn’t come across in my summary, Bush’s response was the only nearly negative one I’ve seen and it still amounted to “yes, I will vote both bills”.

It’s up to Manchin and Sinema to at least affirm they will vote for this and give weasel worded endorsements that can easily be reneged on. At this point I understand those that wouldn’t even trust a promise and want an actual vote.

5006

If Terry McAuliffe gets smashed in the Virginia gubernatorial election Tuesday as badly as it looks like it might be…that may be some impetus for recalcitrant holdouts.

Because an absolute Red Tide is coming in 2022. A whole lot of congressional Democrats are going to lose their jobs in a year. Might as well do like in 2009 and make it be worth something.

5007

Because they are preventing the passage of the infrastructure bill, which could have been signed into law weeks ago.

It would have constituted a huge political win for Democrats, and put a lot of wind in their sails.

But instead, that bill is being held hostage, because they want to try and force members of their own party to vote for stuff.

5008

I’m not sure that the passage of a bill with no human infrastructure constitutes a huge political win, other than that it’s “something”.

How do you sell that to working families?

5009

If no bill gets passed it will be the fault of the progressive because they held a bill up a bill which would benefit the country and the Democratic party, as well as members in purple districts/states. There are near zero downsides.

In contrast, BBB has two issues. First, there are legitimate reasons to oppose virtually every aspect of the BBB. Fundamentally, should we be using taxpayers funds to provide an individual with a benefit, who is not poor? This is significantly different than infrastructure, a better bridge, road, and smarter, more resilient electrical grid, benefits numerous people. Why should my taxes go to pay Susie’s child care, and or Joe’s hearing aid, or glasses?
Second, it has political cost in purple districts, people, especially independents, who object to this spending may decide to vote Republican instead. Will the number of progressive and independent who are motivated to keep their nice new child care benefits, exceed the number of independents who oppose it? That is a district by district/state by state calculation that a moderate Democrat politician is best able to make. AFAIK, virtually every member of the progressive caucus is in a safe seat.

5010

Because the infrastructure bill would have directly funded tons of good jobs for those working families?

Also, who do you think uses the infrastructure is fixing? We all do. Like fixing all the water infrastructure in low income areas? I’m pretty sure those folks don’t particularly like drinking heavy metals, but maybe I’m wrong.

Or expanding public transit? I’m pretty sure that’s not something only rich people use, right?

Or expanding internet access into poor and rural areas?

The infrastructure bill was pure win, dude. It’s not like it was a bunch of concessions the democrats made with Republicans. It’s entirely made of stuff the democrats want.

5011

The infrastructure bill won’t bring votes. That’s expected, it’s the other stuff that well, and its impact has been blunted by dinosaur Dems.

As for the red tide, I think that depends heavily on COVID. If we get mask mandates lifted early next year and things go good ,and the supply chain problems get solved, Dems will do a lot better.

Also a loss in Virginia might scare voters in other states.

5012

Why not? I’m pretty sure that Trump had infrastructure weeks because the Republicans thought it was a vote-getter. Surely, it wasn’t because Trump gave a shit about the country

Edit: Actually let me revise this, the infrastructure bill per se may not get a ton of votes.

The infrastructure projects will get a ton of votes.

“Donald Trump and the Republican spent 4 years, trying to get an infrastructure done in a half-ass fashion. Thanks Joe Biden’s strong leadership, and the support of Congressmen Joe, or Senator Amy, we will soon have lead free drinking water, or replace the bridge over the Mississippi river reducing commute times by 20 minutes each way, or electrical grid that won’t freeze up in winter, and internet in the town that is 10x faster at half the cost.”

That will get votes.,

5013

You have no idea what you are talking about dude. This is just pure nonsense.

5014

“Look, we know childcare costs two thousand dollars a month, and we know you’re one bad medical diagnosis away from total financial ruin, but dang we sure have some nice roads and bridges now, don’t we? Votes please!”

5015

I can’t tell if you guys are being intentionally obtuse to try and (inexplicably) minimize a huge achievement by the democrats, or if you literally don’t understand why infrastructure is important to normal people.

5016

It’s incredibly important and Democrats should run like hell on it. I also think it’s fair to question the impact of projects that are years away on an upcoming election.

5017

Is it a win? Sure. Is it going to stave off the slaughter in the midterms? Not at all.