Dems Governing Marches On, However Messy

As expected, the postponement of the vote is being treated as a "crushing blow" and a "huge setback" to Biden's agenda. Utterly ludicrous. Such things happen all the time with complex legislation. This kind of coverage, which masquerades as savvy, is the opposite of savvy. 1/

— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) October 1, 2021

We have had extended play by play focused on the struggles of the Democrats to pass an infrastructure bill (bipartisan) along with a much larger reconciliation bill that focuses on such procedural goings on that always makes the Dems being on the cusp of failure. It's very tiresome.

The Dems have to basically govern alone since the Republicans repeatedly barely let them confirming assistant members of the Cabinet these days.  The reconciliation process lets major budget matters to be passed by a simple majority.  But, then, we have to deal with Manchin and Sinema.  Manchin is fine with (as AOC notes) defense spending that is more than the combined annual price tag of the reconciliation bill.  Which is repeatedly cited not by its annual cost but the price tag of a TEN YEAR package.

Such details are hidden in the headlines that focus on "Dems in Disarray" process.  It's bullshit.  The package is the median Democratic package, the Biden plan, supported by large majorities.  But, actually getting Manchin and Sinema to go along is this whole damn process.  Anyway, perhaps, focus on what is in these bills.  At the very least, make clear we aren't talking about 2.5 trillion a year.  It's  for ten years. 

I saw a complaint that we are spending so much focus on the pay fors and not what the money is being spent for.  Yes.  Focus on that.  I am hearing various Democrats doing that.  Focus on how the money is being pay for. How the money is for investment that in the long run is profitable, and not just in ways monetary.  Focus on how Republicans and yes certain Democrats (including a few in the House on certain issues) are going against both good policy and the will of the people at large.  

The drama yesterday (as September left us) was that the progressive caucus wants the bigger reconciliation package to pass first before they will vote on the smaller bipartisan measure.  This very well appeared to be the plan agreed by each side and Biden himself.  The progressives -- who already are compromising to support a more moderate median package -- stood their ground.  NO!  We had a deal and we aren't going to let a few "moderates" force us to go along breaking it.  Plus, the whole thing is popular!  Come the f on.  So, yeah.  Thank you.  

The wider principle of filibuster reform is appropriate. Right now, the Republicans (who again used the debt ceiling for political gain, wanting the Dems to be the only grown-ups to cover stuff they already spent) on the national level repeatedly show themselves as not worthy of a shred of respect. When individual Republicans actually do something worthy of it, it is notable since it is not what their party does.  Why should they be allowed to block something by minority rule? Block even DEBATE?!

And, we can forsee limited reform, such as how reconciliation provided an opt-out. I'm tired of Dems saying how bad the Republicans are or how important voting rights are.  Fine.  Break the filibuster somehow and let the thing pass.  But, that's something at least -- the core of the matter is being dicussed, not just hand-wringing on how Dems are in disarray.

The Democrats have already done things and it is still 2021, still a fraction of a year since they got into power.  They will do more things. They must. And, I am glad the progressive caucus, with people right both on the merits and crafty on the process, is there from AOC (my rep) on.