Isn't this what politics are all about? Compromise? You give some to get most of it. Right?
“So I hope our colleagues can recover and get their good-faith efforts back on track.” Haha that's rich coming from McConnell.
The previous POTUS set the bar so low, that anything Mr. Biden does seems far from radical. Mr. Biden, is a seasoned and experienced politician, and surrounded himself with advisors of equal or superior stature Welcome to the Big Leagues of politics. The Republicans are playing with the big girls and big boys now.
2
Change either happens all at once or it moves incrementally. It's hard to remain patient when it comes to most things about us humans. We just got finished with a Trump who destroyed many tenets of democracy over the course of only 4 years. So I believe that after only 150 days of his Presidency, Biden is doing rather well. Of course the verdict is still out.
1
The Democratic Party Establishment, holding hands with the Republican Party Establishment, bi-partisanship in action, killed The American Dream with Wall Street deregulation, trade deals, and nearly unlimited immigration.
And Biden was right there, killing The American Dream, and like other Establishment Democrats and Republicans, totally oblivious to the stress, anger and drop in living standards of ordinary Americans.
Bi-partisanship was very good for the elite and the professional class, after all, they had bought most politicians with their mega donations, and their demands were met.
The result is America's dumpsterfire society with grotesquely obscene inequality and injustice, extraordinary violence, the highest rate of incarceration in the world, a poorly educated citizenry who quite often can't afford healthcare.
Bipartisanship has enabled the US to be the world's bully, armed to the teeth with weaponry or killing sanctions,
killing so many people, wrecking countries, creating incalculable misery and hate,
and, the U.S. post-9/11 wars have forcibly displaced at least 37million people in and from Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, the Philippines, Libya, and Syria.
resulting in, most likely, a unlivable future.
Thanks to bi-partisanship, America has a dumpsterfire society, and the world, most likely has an unlivable future.
Sanders, you and other Congressional Progressives,
hold out for that which will make a better American society, and a livable future.
2
Hmm. There’s still lots of judgment, soothsaying, naysaying and pouting going on here. Walk a mile in Biden’s shoes over the hot coals of Republican obfuscation and mischief. Dems need to stick together like glue for the next few election cycles instead of nitpicking.
10
These analysis pieces are my favorite thing to read on this site. I guess it’s commentary which is dangerous but I feel like it is a very nice summary of events.
Biden's presidency is now on the line.. after he's thrown a big wrench into the gears.
Having a news conference with all those senators & saying "we have a deal"... only to turn around and say, "I won't sign it unless.." Is a very risky move by Biden.
His about face could easily sink the bi-partisan deal..and if that happens, he's not likely to get a big Democrat reconciliation bill either.
Biden & Dems could come out with a big fat Zero.. in which case 2022 elections won't be good for them.. and will put the brakes on the rest of Biden's presidency..
-- And of course the country will also lose over a $trillion dollars of infrastructure spending if this bi-partisan bill sinks.
-- And it will be because Biden said.."I won't sign it unless..."
6
If bipartisanhip is so important why do we have elections with choices?
2
The Walter Cronkite Republican notes President Biden is still playing football with Lucy, but he is the one who gets the points for failed attempts.
Since Biden announced he wouldn't sign the compromise bill without the reconciliation welfare infrastructure bill being passed with it, there is no compromise and there will be no infrastructure bill. It was just a political show! I think it makes Biden look foolish.
8
Mitch McConnell is one of, if not the strongest GOP caucus leader in history. I'm hoping Mr. Biden knows what he's doing, but I also know that Mitch would relish the opportunity to crack his whip and sink ANY Democratic-led bipartisan deal.
I guess it'll come down to how much any GOP senator wants to risk Mr. McConnell's wrath in daring to vote for the infrastructure deal. I'm just not sure there are 10 brave independent R senators who'll do just that. Fingers crossed, though.
1
I'm a liberal Democrat of the New Deal/Kennedy Brothers/Great Society persuasion. My question is, why do the "progressives" (who haven't won a big political fight since forever) feel it necessary to piggy-back on every other Democratic faction? I agree on all of the progressive issues like child care and human infrastructure, but we do not have the votes for that right now. Besides that, piggy-backers get no respect, because they don't deserve any.
Imo, going for reconciliation immediately will lose us the whole ball game. Are progressive Democrats so self-absorbed and arrogant that they think it's cool to appropriate other factions' strengths, knowing full well we can't win on their issues this summer?
I understand that progressives are used to losing, but they don't understand that when they act in this manner, the whole country loses. But all of them will sail on in their safe legislative districts and their academic sinecures, while the rest of us are out there getting our heads kicked in. Progressives say, no modern trains, airports or broadband for you Billy! Not until you fight and die on the hill of the too-cute-by-half progressive "strategy," and we go back to the Democratic default position of epic losing.
4
What this looks like is a classic double cross by the president. Forge a bipartisan compromise deal, announce 'we have a deal', and then a few hours later regeg on that deal by tying it to a bunch of social junk that has less than bipartisan support as it stands, along with massive tax hikes.
If this is what Biden calls 'bipartisanship', he won't get repubs to play ball with him on anything since he doesn't deserve to be trusted.
The bipartisan infrastructure deal (which is infrastructure) is not perfect, but it does help the country. He seems willing to risk everything to placate his radical fringe. That could, and should, backfire.
6
Why would the Repubs vote for this since Biden said he will not sign it? Why even have a senate vote? Biden says he wants bipartisanship, yet when he gets it he turns his back to it?
6
There's no way this deal with the republicans will pass once he married it to a companion plan. It's called trying to have your cake and eat it too.
Besides, both Sinema and Manchin have said no to reconciliation for infrastructure. I don't see why they would change their mind just because part of the deal is bipartisan.
3
The Democratic Party Establishment, holding hands with the Republican Party Establishment, bi-partisanship in action, killed The American Dream with Wall Street deregulation, trade deals, and nearly unlimited immigration.
And Biden was right there, killing The American Dream, and like other Establishment Democrats and Republicans, totally oblivious to the stress, anger and drop in living standards of ordinary Americans.
Bi-partisanship was very good for the elite and the professional class, after all, they had bought most politicians with their mega donations, and their demands were met.
The result is America's dumpsterfire society with grotesquely obscene inequality and injustice, extraordinary violence, the highest rate of incarceration in the world, a poorly educated citizenry who quite often can't afford healthcare.
Bipartisanship has enabled the US to be the world's bully, armed to the teeth with weaponry or killing sanctions,
killing so many people, wrecking countries, creating incalculable misery and hate,
and, the U.S. post-9/11 wars have forcibly displaced at least 37million people in and from Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, the Philippines, Libya, and Syria.
resulting in, most likely, a unlivable future.
Thanks to bi-partisanship, America has a dumpsterfire society, and the world, most likely has an unlivable future.
Sanders, you and other Congressional Progressives,
hold out for that which will make a better American society, and a livable future.
1
Let’s just call it what it is, Biden blew up the deal literally within hours of announcing it. It’s not a deal any more when it is now conditioned upon the ultimate wish list of the extreme left. Someone that wanted to get something done would take what was agreed upon and get that done. At the same time or later work on the wish list. Maybe it should say something if can’t get it passed when in control of the entire government.
7
On the one hand, I am pleased that a bipartisan infrastructure agreement was negotiated and hammered out . As President Biden said yesterday, consensus is important, and it was good to see Representatives and Senators sit down and work together without threats, finger pointing and demonization of the other. That’s to be congratulated.
On the other, President Biden campaigned on the slogan “Build Back Better.” It wan’t “Build Back Fifty Percent Better” or “Build Back With Half-Measures.” So I’m disappointed that certain critical spending items and their funding were not included.
This is an important first step, though. Hopefully, the items sacrificed in the name of consensus and unity will be enacted, sooner rather than later.
1
"Bipartisanship" applies as much to centrist vs progressive Democrats as to Democrats vs Republicans. Without bipartisanship we risk getting nothing done at all.
5
I’m not hopeful.
It will be difficult to get 10 Republican senators to vote for the bill, especially after McConnell submarines it.
Then it will be near impossible to get a majority in the House after far left democrats submarine it.
6
Which begs the question, When will we ever learn?
Also, What does the "compromise" refer to, and why is it still in force?
1
@Ski bum
Wild speculation.
There are exactly two reasons for mealy-mouth bipartisanship.
One is because your really want to compromise and the negotiation with the enemy gives you cover, "But we tried!"
The other is because you're a politician seeking moderate votes, trying to appear "adult and responsible," even though halfway solutions are always non-functional and moderate solutions are engineered to fail.
Why did Trump seem to win everything despite huge opposition whereas Biden now looks impotent and ready to concede 2022?
It's because the Republican strategy is never ever bipartisan. They don't care about "cover," they never say, "We tried!" and they ignore moderates. Instead they're serious about winning, they're results oriented. "Whatever works" is their motto.
As for the Democratic pearl-clutchers who whine - But the perfect is the enemy of the good! - know that the good is the enemy of the perfect.
Voters hate risk-averse, poll-influenced, safety-mom politicians but love the anti-politician who fights the good fight, fails, but keeps at it (like Bernie).
If a politician won't take a risk, they don't deserve to win.
Democrats better learn that before 2022 because that date is game over.
10
Progressives today think that history will reward their policies with success and convincing everyone else to go along is unnecessary because the results will be so sweet that all will just be grateful. Consensus? What’s that but half measures and compromises which prevent real solutions. Progressives are insular and do not bother to consider that those who do not agree are reasonable and fair people. They are as stuck in their attitudes and misunderstanding of others as are Trump’s Republicans. The left and the right both reject the basis of democratic governance preferring to think that if they have authority to govern their rule must be absolute.
27
@Casual Observer
Absolutely. Contrary to the progressive propaganda, most of the Americans are not free loaders. They want to earn the American dream by hard work. Yes, it is not perfect and there are rooms for improvements. The same clueless minority group believe that money grows out of a tree. Instead of focusing on 3-4 tangible results attractive to the general population, they want to change the world overnight with no clue on how to pay for them. The result will be a disaster in the 2022 election. The “progressives”are aware of that and preparing for blame game spin propaganda. Democrats could win big in 2020. Alas, actions of those clueless cost the party with bare minimum majority in Congress. The party never learned lesson from the disadter.
6
@Casual Observer
Speaking of insularity: I should remind you that what are called so-called "progressives" or "left" positions are mainstream, centrist ideas in the EU. These policies seem to work for them, and give them a higher standard of living than that of Americans, as is shown in their higher life expectancy rates. Yes, they pay higher taxes, in other words they are not "freeloaders", a word which shows so much contempt for fellow Americans...
3
Republicans believe the good of the few outweigh the good of the many. They voted against education in America for decades to created a dumbed down voter block they could easily manipulate.
Democrats believe the good of the many outweigh the good of the few. They support education and family, the very foundation of civilization.
Republicans are mired in social darwinism, greed, ego and will not change, ever.
Humanity suffers at the hands of Republicans, it always has and always will. It's that basic.
What Republicans overlook is that wealth is dependent on all of us, every single consumer in existence and profits should be equitably distributed such that healthy families and bright children make the USA the best culture on the planet.
We currently rank 25th in education thanks to the GOP voting down every education and family support bill for over 100 years.
The current GOP is rotten to the core and it shows itself daily to those who care to see.
9
Please stop calling any Republican senators "centrists." I know it's an easy convention to slip in to when referring to the least extreme of the Republicans, but it's simply inaccurate under any historical understanding of what it means to be a centrist and it creates a very misleading framework for the discussion of what's going on in the Senate. There's no Republican in today's senate who is remotely centrist, they're all varying degrees of the extreme right (as just one case in point, there were *zero* GOP votes for the recent voting rights bill).
8
@Grover B S. Collins is the extreme right, yet reelected in a liberal state. Mitt Romney? Maybe its your calibration of centrist that needs review.
5
The bipartisan infrastructure deal looks pretty good, an excellent example of negotiation of broadly popular legislation in the best interest if the American people. However, if President Biden continues to insist that it be paired with the obscene levels of deficit spending planned in a solely partisan "reconciliation" bill, it will have to be voted down. Fortunately, at least two moderate Democrats in the House have already said they will vote against such a reconciliation bill, and there are very likely enough similar minded Democrats to ensure its defeat.
18
@Bill
You mean that deficits are "obscene" if the programs entailed for the good of all, are proposed by democrats and may need funding by the rich and famous?
But that Trump's wall, and other stupid subsidies to corporation, and his abusive tax "reforms" which created the largest deficit in history and increased it by 36% to 27 TRILLIONS were OK ?
15
@Max Lewy
No... it just means that the $6 trillion dollars that Dems are talking about is ridiculous.
3
If progressives want even more of their “things” to come to fruition, they need to get 60 Democratic senate seats, and keep the House and Presidency. It’s that simple. Unless Manchin decides to change his stance on the filibuster.
You do that by falling in line on smaller more centrist and popular legislation. Stay loud about your demands, sure, but don’t subvert a good thing because it isn’t exactly what you want. Maybe pipe down about defunding police too?
Use small wins to prove to people the Democrats/Federal govt CAN enact good policy and solve problems. Ride that through midterms, gain seats. Build momentum.
Then, when in control of all chambers, and immune to the filibuster, more things can get done. Then, if they’re right, people will see their lives improve, have faith in governance, and continue to vote Democrat.
11
@Andrew
If Democrats blow this bi-partisan bill they will lose seats in 2022... that won't help "their things come to fruition".
3
Joe Biden is a moderate and pragmatic president. Just the person we need in the White House now. Under the current senate, compromise is the key to achieving most of the Democratic agenda. Many progressives are not happy with Biden's ways but in order to win in 2022 and 2024, this is the right approach. Without having power nothing is accomplished. Emotions may make you feel about your principles but that doesn't buy a subway token, as they used to say.
4
I am so sick of compromising with Republicans in their suicide pact. There is zero honor in failing to address global warming. You hear that Sinema? Every inch of our state broke heat records last week. One Tucson station reported 121 degrees which could fry your brains beating the all-time record of 113 and you stand smug about your success in compromise with killers and eliminating green energy from this infrastructure bill?
Does everyone understand that global warming does not mean it’s going to get a little warmer? It means it’s going to get a lot warmer every single year. Phoenix will soon be uninhabitable.
Republicans are stuck in a bankrupt ideology that depends on the free market to solve all problems. It’s like relying on the free market to produce bombers after Japan attacked. It’s idiotic.
Unbelievable that Democrats take pride in standing with the party that not only refuses to invest in Americans (only their bridges) but also stands with the party that refuses to slow down our slide into hell.
3
@Sherry You are correct that dealing with climate change is the overriding issue facing America and humankind. Biden has said he will not sign the bipartisan bill unless the broader bill is also approved by the Senate and House through sequestration (a sequestration bill cannot be filibustered - probably you already know this). If all Democratic senators plus VP Harris vote in favor and sufficient Democratic house members vote approval, Biden will sign both bills. Climate change costs will be part of the second bill. This two-step dance is largely to allow Manchin and other moderate democratic senators to demonstrate to their voters that they did not give up on bipartisanship. At the same time it allows Republicans to say they don't oppose all infrastructure spending, while reserving their ability to complain about the rest of it. If at least ten republicans don't support the bipartisan bill, then Biden and Schumer (sp?) can say to Manchin, "we tried it your way, but the Republicans rejected bipartisanship." Manchin has already said that with this two-step process, he will support the second bill. If the Republicans don't come through on the first bill, he will still support the second one (and the stuff that didn't get approved in the first bill will be consolidated into the second one). l
PLEASE , Democrats, stop meeting Republican ruthlessness with attempts at "bipartisanship". Treat the intransigent Republicans with intransigence. It's a new world. Use your power while you have it.
5
The economy collapsed due to social distancing to control the spread of a virus that could have reduced the world to anarchy if left to spread naturally. To save that economy, the country borrowed from future wealth to support it and that was successful.
Future growth will not be great if we depend upon market forces because market forces have shifted productive capacity from our country to the global economy since the 1970’s. The entire assertion that unbalancing the way our country had mixed private and public in our economy which had depended upon higher tax rates was going to restore economic expansion in the USA was untrue. It did not increase economic expansion in the USA but it enabled ten percent to prosper from the global expansion. That outcome was market forces. If we do not think and plan, it will continue to make a few extremely rich while impoverishing the whole country.
Taxes must pay for the budgets so that deficits are limited to amounts which will be paid off by actual not promised growth rates. Our nation prospered with very high debt and deficits after WWII because it grew so fast that it could cover it. Now it’s just not growing that fast and all the tax cutting has just forced the country to survive on borrowed money that is not being repaid fast enough to avoid ever increasing debt. The promise of tax money becoming money funding economic expansion was wishful thinking, not the truth.
5
@Casual Observer I must say, when you started with, "the economy collapsed", I expected another QPublican rant about how Biden's going to send us into a depression because we had to wear masks, etc. Upon further reading, I find myself in agreement with your post.
An analogy just popped into mind. Instead of dollars, let's think of cans of yellow paint for highways stored in warehouses. Taxes are used to force the warehouse owners to relinquish these cans of paint so that the roads can be painted. of course, the warehouse owners don't like this. They want to hoard the paint, to trickle it out so as to be able to jack up the price so they can buy the most Ferraris and the biggest mansions, or trade the buckets of paint around in speculation on the paint, er, stock market.
Meanwhile, the paint's wearing off the roads, people end up in the wrong lane of traffic, running over pedestrians because the crosswalk's worn off, etc.
The QPublican party is OK with this, for some strange reason. Maybe the warehouse owners are their golfing buddies. Maybe they have their own warehouses. Meanwhile, driving in the USA has become dangerous and difficult, moreso than in competing countries, because there's no friggin paint for the friggin roads.
1
When Joe follows the bipartisan infrastructure presser with another presser regarding Bernie’s $6 trillion plan and says he won’t sign the bipartisan infrastructure bill unless Bernie’s plan passes immediately killed any chances for the bipartisan infrastructure bill to become reality. This is nuts.
21
@Pop
Another case of the progs snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Why put a sure thing at risk when you know doubling down on the bet offers an excellent chance the whole thing will crash and burn? Joe...tell me it ain't so
4
Good governments thrive when they possess two features, legitimacy and effectiveness. Despite the delusional rantings of the former occupant of the White House and his diminishing minions, the country (and world) at large recognizes the legitimacy of Biden's presidency, so that leaves effectiveness. Mr. Biden is a politician. All the negative connotations aside, we need good politicians as much now as we ever have. Both Roosevelts and Abraham Lincoln were politicians, after all, and few would deny the good works they accomplished. So, it remains to be seen if Mr. Biden can deliver, but the Coronavirus relief bill, coupled with the infrastructure bill(s?), are evidence of a decent start, even in the face of daunting opposition. One other important point is that Mr. Biden clearly loves being a politician, and it's not a stretch to say that the above mentioned politicians felt the same way about their profession. Proceed and God speed, Mr. President.
3
How can anyone be "solidly progressive" and "committed to bipartisanship?" That's not possible. It's like a Zen koan.
It's incredible how this standard of "bi-partisanship" needs to be met when the Democrats are in power, yet when the Republicans are, you never, EVER hear them talk about bi-partisanship. They slam the door shut on their political opponents and they rule with an iron fist.
And meanwhile, nothing gets done. This country is doomed to do this ridiculous dance forever. Meanwhile the working and middle class suffers as our wages decline, prices go up, health insurance becomes less available and more expensive and whatever is left of what used to be called "The American Dream" evaporates.
2
Nothing gets done? This is literally an article about a big thing potentially getting done. That is on TOP of a
1.9 trillion dollar stimulus just a few months ago.
2
@Sean How did the voting rights bill go?
Biden would like to accommodate Progressives but they are basically stubbornly self righteous and know that what they want every reasonable and considerate person must want. Biden cannot serve everybody by catering to their self righteousness. Everyone is in this together and Biden knows that infrastructure not only serves all, it must meet the perceived needs of all.
10
@Casual Observer
Worrying about climate change or low wages or healthcare is stubbornly self righteous? Thanks for the enlightenment
1
@Casual Observer
The concern over climate change and the measures to address it center as much about priorities as seriousness of the concerns. People like the executives of Exxon actually agree that global warming is causing climate change but they are confident that the need for their products will not diminish and they disparage the political debate as irrelevant. On the other hand, the Green New Deal addresses one set of facts but totally dismisses a far more important set. Science tells us that if the proportion of green house gases are not reduced by a certain date, the effects from global warming will be catastrophic. What the Green New Deal ignores is what must be down to affect that result is beyond our means in the time that we have because they don't know and never were educated in how our modern world operates from day to day.
2
@be fair
Worrying is everybody's right, insisting that only one's preferred solutions are reasonable is self righteous.
2
You can’t ever please everybody that’s what bipartisanship gets you. Give me a break folks, how many presidents have long tried to get an infrastructure bill and failed? Not even Obama got that going. Considering everything and the fact that it seemed impossible at the beginning I say this is a win for bipartisanship. The stuff that didn’t get in this bill, well there will be a time for that just be patient, hopefully that’ll be approved in a bipartisan way too!.
Keep the hopes up. At least things are getting done as opposed to how it was with number 45.
3
If this is a Biden political calculation, then that may explain the US government's gradual inability to get anything done during his 40 plus years in it, because pulling a switcheroo on your negotiating partners will yield that exact result. The President just gave the Republicans a reason to label him a dishonest political dealmaker, and imperiled his own narrow congressional majority by forcing the Democrats in swing districts to try to explain why the President sunk his own infrastructure deal. The White House political operation seems to be working in a fantasy world where up is down, and east is west. The dose of reality they're about to get will hopefully be so shocking the President will fire them all. That's transformational on a small scale at least!
16
@David Godinez Well said! Now, imagine the problems if Biden pulled the switcheroo on the five Democrats who were involved in the negotiations as well.
2
Bipartisanship in the current political era is a fools errand. It will end in a too little too late outcome that will alienate voters and hand the Republicans massive midterm victories
Turns out that polls show most Americans favor the specific provisions of significant infrastructure development. And when polled, most Americans want the wealthy and large corporations to pay for it.
Count me among them.
3
Raising taxes is essential. The way Republicans have opposed a rationally funded government to pursue pie in the sky economic nonsense about money making everybody productive and greed being the path to true social cohesion while insisting that government in a democracy is an oppressive ruling class has not served this country well. Taxes must provide the revenues that make our public institutions work. We cannot have a working democracy when the commons depends upon borrowing just to operate day to day or removes the control over the commons to private ownership. Republicans since Reagan have sought policies which turn us all into people who pay rent to the wealthy for the privilege of living in our country. That must end and it will require paying more taxes.
5
I think most of America would like to see both sides get together, decide what infrastructure is and pass a bill. Supporting a bipartisan bill contingent on a partisan bill passing doesn't really seem like the actions of someone really interested in compromise and unity.
7
Republicans led by McConnell et al., are "testing the limits" of having it their way, at the expense of the American people.
Corrupt, dishonest, and hypocritical, they only value life before birth, and destroying the planet for short-term profit.
Sad.
2
Aren't we counting the chickens already!
President Biden is a seasoned politician - everyone's friend. He knows what it takes to get things done in OUR U.S. Senate and Congress, as do Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer.
More importantly, progressive democrats like Senator Elizabeth Warren are holding his feet to the fire to get laws passed that the vast majority of Ameicans want: Voter protection with the "For The People" law. Infrastrucrue and making the wealthiest pay for it with their stolen/inherited wealth. Immigration reform and permanent protection for the "dreamers". Climate control. Gun control.
All of these things are majority-supported by Americans of all political persuasion.
WE THE PEOPLE must use the two-week senate "vacation" to hold republican and all senators feet to the fire to pass these laws NOW.
Attempts are being made daily in republican controlled states to destroy OUR democracy.
WE THE PEOPLE who are Socially Conscious are the only ones who will/can/must stop it.
NOW is the time.
Excellent analysis, especially the final conclusion. If McConnell ends up blocking the bipartisan deal, given that only five GOP Senators negotiated it, Manchin et al should have had enough of obstruction and give full support for reconciliation.
3
Of course he wants it both ways. Joe Biden’s strength is his empathy and compassion. It’s not standing up to political rivals. He proved it when he met Putin and proved it here.
Personally, I rather see a bipartisan effort towards an infrastructure bill. But why capitulate without a strong position on climate change or taxing billionaires I’ll l? Republicans want regular taxpayers to foot the bill.
Now we’re faced with a 12 story residential building collapse on top of structural deficiencies in roads and bridges. Decades of inaction and political fighting led to this.
I say tweek this bipartisan effort to help all Americans instead of leaving out the powerless. Do this so for a change.
2
Stick out the chin and talk like Trump, then the opposition will fall to their knees and kowtow. The path to political power is fear that fortifies intimidation.
The fact of life of politics and government is that power follows what works not what ought to work. Our country’s governance is not good because there is insufficient mutual trust that hinders cooperation. Biden is aware that official authority that is afforded by the consent of all, not some separate overarching authority like God or natural forces. Just having the office does not make everybody agree to do as the office holder says, they need to continually provide their consent. When they don’t, the authority does too. Tough acts like Trump’s may seem powerful to many but they are fundamentally weak because they cause people to withdraw their consent.
1
The key fact reported on here is that business lobbyists are opposed to the Biden plan and the infrastructure bill. Business lobbyists are also opposed to H.R. 1 and S. 1 because both of those voting rights bills would prevent the voter suppression actions of Republican representatives that those same business lobbyists are funneling campaign money to in exchange for obedience. At the end of the day, the problem is that the interests of business leaders and the interest of progressives and even moderates are at odds with each other. That's what "bi-partisan" actually means: taking care of greedy business interests while also trying to make America work, fix our problems and make our democracy function with a little more equity.
1
The "deal" is no deal at all. Biden says he will not sign the so called compromise deal unless it is accompanied by the second bill, which restores everything he gave up on thefirst bill.
So, by entering the "compromise" first bill, Republicans will not have blocked any of the progressive proposals that they object to.
Of course Biden may only be bluffing, and he may sign the compromise bill alone if it is the only bill he gets. In which case, the progressive wing of his party will feel double crossed.
Biden has negotiated himself into a corner that, in my opinion, is untenable.
12
Is "Sleepy Joe" Biden really a re-incarnation of Niccolo Machiavelli? May the Force be with him!
7
I'm very frustrated with both parties in congress. Many Americans would like to see their roads fixed and improved public transit options. Substantial progress infrastructure will never occur in a 50/50 senate without compromise. I'm also worried about eliminating the filibuster because we all know how that worked out for the supreme court. Eliminating the filibuster will enable Republicans to pass extremely partisan bills next time they control congress and the presidency.
9
Hopefully Biden will not be victim to a bait and switch situation with the republicans. I will remain optimistic about a deal getting done, however, I’ll only believe it when it’s signed and sealed. I would urge Schumer and Pelosi to rally their democratic colleagues to pass a bill on their own should the republican fail to deliver the promised votes ( which would not surprise me ). I recently drove from Connecticut to Texas and back and the state of roads and bridges is pretty pathetic, no matter the state you’re in. Most of these roads and bridges date from the Eisenhower era and were impressive then. 60 years later, not so much. So the investments are needed.
2
“Neither side got everything they wanted in this deal, and that’s what it means to compromise."
Nonsense. That's doing a half-butt job.
If we have many bridges that need urgent repair, how many should we leave until next time, for the sake of spending less?
Why doesn't "compromise" mean both sides get everything they want? Nothing will be cheaper to fox in four years.
@Occupy Government
From what I understand, the republicans have no issue with repairing bridges. It's the worker pay, education and scores of other unrelated initiatives that they object to.
I happen to think all of those initiatives are a good idea. But given the state of our roads and bridges, etc, I don't think holding a potentially bipartisan infrastructure bill hostage for them is a good move.
2
And in addition the Democratic Party has the enormous possibility of winning the mid-term elections next year. We only need to remain united. Hooray!
The bill is about potholes oles and bridges. It is all well and let all well and good. But routine infrastructure measure will not change anyone’s opinion about anything.
@michjas You might want to actually read the summary. There's a lot in there that's not roads and bridges.
1
Has Biden and his over-the-top penchant for compromise been the fly in the ointment all along? Did he hold Obama back when more grit was needed? Or is it that the Senate holds too many people who have been there too long and turned what should be a decision making body into a long playing soap opera buffa where each character sings a predetermined part, nothing is resolved and we are all supposed to laugh at the antics - but we don’t.
Even the ability of the government to fix our crumbling infrastructure, which should be a no-brainer and develop the best forms of transportation is strangled by character politicians who can’t get past their inability to fairly tax their favs.
Please: Term limits imposed on Senators - if the President has them, so can other elected offices; get rid of the Electoral College; explain in historical terms the meaning of the second amendment; don’t allow any office holder to hide their criminality behind their elected office - no more Trumps.
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This bill is basically the same infrastructure package the republicans wanted to pass under Trump. There is no compromise by the republicans in it at all. Another example of a republican compromise. They get 80% of what they want and democrats get to call it a "bipartisan compromise".
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The President had good intentions. But in his desire to get more of what he actually wants in the area of clean energy and climate protections, and social programs, he is going to get nothing at all. He has already lost enough Republican votes to have Part 1 fail. This could very well cost the Democrats to lose the House and Senate in 2022.
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That “tightrope” Obama tried to walk was difficult because Mitch McConnell was on the opposite platform jiggling, cutting or setting the rope on fire. Democratic Presidents would not have to “have it both ways” if the GOP would meet them halfway.
1
Nobody getting their way but feeling like it's a decent package is typically how you can decide if it's a good negotiation.
I'm a Republican reader (rare in these comments and for this paper) but was pleased to see compromise and this package passed. It looks great on Biden, and if he can keep delivering deals, it'll set up Dems in 2024.
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Sorry but picking up 5 Republicans doesn’t get you to 60. Biden’s compromising without even gaining a filibuster proof majority, he’s negotiating against himself.
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I’m a center-left voter, which makes me a part of the majority in this country. Not only does my vote count less than those of Fox News Republicans who live in states that are entirely dependent on states like mine for survival, I have to accept that my priorities are kneecapped on the fake altar of “bipartisanship.”
Do Mitch McConnell’s priorities suffer the same fate? Nope.
To call that double standard “infuriating” is understating the matter.
EARTH TO DEMOCRATS: NO ONE CARES ABOUT BIPARTISANSHIP.
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Mr President, kick the field goal, put some points on the board.
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Rather than evaluating a policy in terms of which groups it makes happy/unhappy, it would be more useful to evaluate whether it solves a problem.
After all, building half a bridge for the sake of bipartisanship doesn't solve the problem.
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Since when did Biden say he was a "progressive?"
If he had talked the way he is reportedly talking now, we would not have voted for him.
We voted for a centrist, for a moderate. That is what he said he was.
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@Travelers The majority of Americans may have voted for a "centrist" or "moderate" But in the view of today's Republican electorate these terms are just synonyms for a "socialist".
I find it a bit funny that some folks are commenting that Republicans should be upset about a deal they agreed to because Democrats will also pursue a different deal that they agree to amongst themselves? What kind of jujitsu, twisted logic is that? If Republicans want to scuttle the current deal because Democrats are pursuing their own deal then they need to get out of the way and let Democrats govern.
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This plan is doomed to fail. If both plans have to be passed at once then there was no compromise. It was all just a show. Additionally, Joe Manchin and other moderates are sure to water down the other spending bill as well. Progressives are trying to back door their agenda and it’s out in the open. No one is falling for this stunt.
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@John Tucker Yeah, I'm sure you GQPs would prefer he try nothing.
5
To work, Thom Tillis (the 9th most conservative senator according to Gov Track), Joe Manchin (54th), and literally every Democratic senator right of Bernie Sanders are going to have to vote in agreement. If Biden's administration pulls this off -- and it looks like they may well do it -- it'll be the most impressive example of federal statecraft of the 21st century.
Add in the American Rescue Plan and maybe even something bipartisan on police reform (though that "framework" sounds more tenuous than infrastructure), and, wow.
Taken in context, that's the profile of one of the best terms in the history of the presidency.
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As a Democrat I am sorely disappointed. Joe comes out, has a big press conference and announces "We have a deal". Then later comes out and says "If this is the only thing that comes to me, I’m not signing it".
If I was on the other end of that "deal" I would call foul. This is very important legislation on its own and should be signed as is. Make the Deal Mr. President.
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Can this possibly work if Republicans ever grasp what's happening. We Democrats are essentially saying, "OK, we'll settle for half a loaf on infrastructure so long as we get the other half of the loaf on President Biden's big ticket proposals." Our only hope is for AOC and the gang to distract the Republicans' attention by introducing a bill to mandate the teaching of Critical Race Theory beginning in pre-K.
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This is just high melodrama played out for the disenfranchised masses. Biden agrees with Manchin and that woman in orange stripes, whose name I can't seem to spell right. He does not want to end filibuster or rather his donors don't. "Keep people divided" the donors cry "better for keeping wages low and us paying no taxes." "Nothing will fundamentally change." Filibuster not in constitution, only came into existence for our friendly racist rich people in the south I hear. Most of our currently elected have sworn to uphold the demands of corporations and rich people at, alas, the expense of the rest of us. All the policies wildly popular with regular people are avoided at all cost. Bipartisan is just a term for "Our donors need to make even more profits, so what little theatrics shall we act out today that will convince the people we tried and just could not give them much of anything. What is the leastest of the least we have to do to shut them up and how can our dear donors siphon up some of what we are forced to dole out to the annoying little people. You think I am kidding?
4
"The president has long pitched himself as both solidly progressive and committed to bipartisanship.”
Joe Biden had always been a fiscal and social moderate who was committed to bipartisanship. He ran for president and was elected on this reputation.
Unknown to the vast majority of people who would vote for him, Biden was quietly informing progressive groups that he now supported their specific agendas. The mainstream media either did not know of this or chose not to cover it. Their reporters did not call Biden to ask him if his traditional outlook had changed and what he would do as president. They continued to portray Biden as the same old bipartisan moderate he had always been.
To now claim that the president has long pitched himself as solidly progressive is a revision of history.
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You can't always get what you want. You got to give a little to get a little. Gee when was the last time you heard a politician in Washington sing that song?
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Jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs. If Democrats create an economy for all, all the people will vote for democrats. Screw republican obstruction, the Trumpees and voting disenfranchisement. Biden's penchant for bipartisanships just doesn't make sense when America is in such dire need and the right holds so much local power. Reconciliation is the only way to truly invigorate the economy from the bottom up.
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@Sean O'Brien Biden's penchant for bipartisanship doesn't make sense when you recall his campaign rhetoric, but it makes perfect sense when you look at his decades-long center-right legislative history.
Progressive rhetoric, center-right legislation - it's the Democratic Party's M.O.
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"Having it both ways" is a somewhat left-handed way of describing what used to be normal politics: compromising to get something done. As if Biden was getting away with something he shouldn't.
Although given the absolute intransigence and obstructionism of today's GQP, maybe he did.
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@Pat You can't call the Repubs intransigent and obstructionist when the post is about a bill agreed upon by Biden and 10 Dems.
1
It seems Team Biden is aware they need to chip away at Mitch McConnell to get into a position to accomplish anything. Good. Whatever it takes. Mitch McConnell has held the progress of the whole country back for literally decades. About time the grim reaper was clipped.
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@HL Ain't gonna happen.
"The president has long pitched himself as both solidly progressive..."
Didn't he run and win the Democratic nomination running as a moderate against a field full of progressives? Never, ever thought of Biden as "solidly progressive."
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People seem to have quickly forgotten that it took a team-up of all the moderate candidates in the Democratic primaries in order to even have a shot at beating Bernie Sanders. Biden essentially forced all other moderates out of the race so that he had a chance
1
What a farce. There is no deal. Biden and the Republicans merely agreed on which items are truly infrastructure. Then touted that agreement as a bipartisan victory for both sides. But Biden said he won’t sign this bill unless it’s accompanied with another bill with all of the non-infrastructure items the Democrats want but the Republicans won’t vote for. So we’re back to the question of reconciliation and filibuster. Just where we started.
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So let’s get this straight, Republicans both pose an existential threat to democracy but should be negotiated with in good faith?
Democrats seem to be totally content to negotiate themselves out of the majority in 2022. This bill does not meet the moment nor address the multiple existential crises we’re facing.
For a millennial who has witnessed the past 20 years of politics, it’s hard to shake the feeling that Democratic leadership is nothing more than controlled opposition.
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@CWS There is no option other than to try to negotiate with them in good faith. They hold seats in Congress. What is the alternative to attempting to negotiate in good faith? Ignoring the Constitution and enacting "laws" without a Congressional vote? No, thanks. Dems are opposed to fascist dictators.
What we need is a party that represents and gives a voice to traditional conservatives, not Trump's lunatic fringe base. I seldom agree with conservative views. But I learn from EVIDENCE they present in RATIONAL debate, and often the best solutions come from a compromise.
Until traditional conservatives are represented in Congress again, we have no choice but to deal with a lunatic fringe "party" whose entire platform is a single sentence: Donald Trump is god.
It is most likely impossible to negotiate with them.
But there is no alternative other than to try, and if we don't attempt to do so IN GOOD FAITH, we are stooping to their level -- lies, distortions, manipulations, and threats.“Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster... for when you gaze long into the abyss. The abyss gazes also into you. (sic.)” -- Friedrich Nietzsche
6
Hey, not to throw shade on what may prove an outstanding accomplishment, but in case we haven’t noticed our democracy is hanging by a thread. It’s fraying more each day. Time to get focused with all hands on deck. For starters, how about a few Biden led rallies across America, particularly in states most at risk?
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"“Neither side got everything they wanted in this deal, and that’s what it means to compromise,” Mr. Biden told reporters in the East Room. “And it reflects something important: It reflects consensus. The heart of democracy requires consensus.”"
The Repubs got nearly everything they wanted: no increased taxes on high incomes, paltry infrastructure money, no significant climate money, no preschool money or free community college, no extension of the child tax credits.
The Times can spin this all they want, but it's already looking like the Obama years, redux.
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@Ed Watters And open doors to "public-private" partnerships as the funding mechanism, another gift to finance at the expense of the average taxpayer.
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Biden should work with the Republicans whenever they are willing to do the work that vast majorities of Americans want done. And where the Republicans resist, Biden should still continue to do the work that vast majorities of Americans want done. Looks like that's what he's doing, and I applaud him.
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What Biden wants, what McConnell wants,... Whatever happened to what We-the-People want? All nations need leadership but we have become too focused on one-person or one party. While the dark money speaks into the ears of elected officials. We-the-People aren't heard until some of us take to the streets, and that is only a minority of Americans.
My assumption is that every state and congressional district have enough Americans who want and need most of the elements of the Biden-Harris agenda. Rather than negotiating with McConnel, sell the plan to the people of every state and district, get them to understand how it will work for achieving what they want.
It is time for the elected officials to start listening to their constituents. Take a lesson from Johnson who paid close attention to the people who lived and worked in his district, state, and nation. After all, it is We-the-People who are in-charge, not the people who manipulate the media. Address the needs of We-the-People and no amount of manipulation can counter that.
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We the people want what Biden wants, but he has to appease both the far left and Joe Manchin to accomplish anything. Not easy.
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@George N. Wells
So far, “what Biden wants” seems pretty darn close to what the vast majority of what citizens have been clamoring for and the country literally needs — for decades.
Check his ratings. Check the ratings of his programs, proposals, ideas.
Mitch? Not so much. He has literally stunted the progress, even basic care and maintenance of the country and its citizens — likewise for decades.
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@George N. Wells I think it is very difficult to say that ANYTHING is what "we the people" want these days. We are NOT the country we believed we were before 2016. Millions of 'merkuns voted TWICE for a man whose platforms and actions essentially boiled down to "POC-- bad. Assault weapons -- good."
1