(UnitedVoice.com) – There was a time not long ago when politicians refused to entertain the prospect of failure. These days, President Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) still don’t. It’s as if they believe the world owes them whatever they want — that attitude is failing them.
Since January 20, the Democratic leadership has put the party in a no-win situation. They are locked in now, and there isn’t a way out unless they admit defeat. Yet, the party leadership is too proud to admit that lower-class members of Congress, keen to protect their re-election efforts and follow the wishes of their constituents over party leaders, outmaneuvered them.
Over the next few weeks, pay close attention to the language of the Left. Progressives believe they must pass bills to transform social programs, education, welfare, healthcare, climate change and the economy from capitalism to a hybrid capitalist-socialist model to win re-election. The best they can hope for now is that something passes instead of nothing. Some Leftists say there will be lots of “nothing” if they don’t get their way.
Democrats and Activists Groups Set to Fight Their Own
In any great military campaign, the best-case scenario is when the enemy turns on itself. It’s much easier to defeat an army in disarray. Republicans couldn’t have written the script any better than it is right now. The Progressives and Moderates are openly hostile towards one another. It’s making the prospects of getting one, let alone both, of the infrastructure bills passed darker by the day. In the House, Pelosi can only afford to lose three Democrats. She already put a bandage on the Dems infrastructure dreams. It’s unlikely she could patch things quickly a second time.
While Leftists and Centrists attack each other, Liberal groups are jumping into the fray. They plan to target the ten Moderate Democrats who stood up to Pelosi and forced her into a few conditions if she wants their votes on the reconciliation package. The first and primary condition was the Speaker’s reassurance the bipartisan infrastructure bill would get a vote on September 27 regardless of where things stand with the radical go-it-alone package. Of course, the threat then turns to the far-Left who threatens they won’t vote for a bill unless the extreme reconciliation package accompanies it.
Leftist members are so intent on passing the bill, they acknowledge creating fake partisan polls, knocking on doors, publishing op-eds, and buying expensive advertising campaigns. They must believe their only hope is public pressure on the Moderates. In addition, Liberal groups are also courting potential primary challengers to the Moderates in the upcoming 2022 midterm elections.
That’s not stopping some House Democratic Moderates. Reps. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX) are holding Pelosi’s feet to the fire. The two Centrists said the speaker must do three things to earn their votes:
- Pre-conference the reconciliation bill with the Senate to avoid major changes in either chamber that could cause more infighting and kill the bill.
- Congress must pay for the bill except for climate Green New Deal provisions.
- Allow members 72 hours to review the bill before it heads for a final vote on the House floor.
Then There’s the Senate
On September 2, moderate Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) struck a dagger in the Left’s side. The senator said he would not support the $3.5 billion proposal. Stories are circulating saying the West Virginian won’t accept anything more than $1.5 trillion and prefers a trillion-dollar package. However, President Biden doesn’t appear to be taking Manchin’s threats seriously.
On Tuesday, Biden said, “Joe (Manchin) at the end of the day has always been there.”
Is the president taking Manchin for granted, or is there something we don’t know? It’s difficult to say. Both Manchin and fellow Democratic Moderate Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) appear to be holding firm — for now.
Here’s what we do know. There’s a lot of pressure on Moderates to get onboard. The Left isn’t conceding anything, and the public isn’t in favor of a partisan ‘ram it down the throat’ package. Of course, that isn’t the image the Left wants to portray anyways. When one’s desperate, the truth isn’t as important as the narrative.
Stay tuned. There are many moving parts as Democrats rush to pass a partisan bill in less than 20 days.
Don Purdum, Independent Political Analyst
Copyright 2021, UnitedVoice.com
