Thanks for getting a jump on this, Dan. We must be the party of "doing the right thing" always -- even if Trump will pull out his Sharpie to own it. Am circulating these arguments now to my progressive posse who will be in the camp of "don't give him an inch." But our motto must be, as you say, Politics Be Damned and Do The Right Thing!
Thanks for this, Dan. When something is uncertain with regard to Trump, there is sometimes a tendency to automatically assume it will benefit him. Remember when impeachment was going to alienate every swing voter and bolster his re-election? Remember just last Friday when certain people thought Trump getting Covid from his own recklessness might help him? We should always consider how Trump could benefit from something we do, but we shouldn't be paralyzed into inaction by it.
"The best argument for making a deal is that it will provide needed help to people that desperately need it."
Could not agree more. Playing politics with people's lives is a bad look (and a bad thing to do), and I personally would find it a hell of a pill to swallow if Dems decided to let people continue to suffer in hopes of some political advantage. I believe that's the Republican playbook in its entirety these days; let's not borrow from it.
Tremendous article/position paper, Dan, describing both intuitive and counterintuitive arguments in favor of making the right deal for people who desperately need it. Thank you
NYT reporting is that R opposition in the Senate is coming from those who fear being primaried in 2022, while those up for election this year would like to see a deal. So if there's a near-term political risk for D's, then it might be in close Senate races.
I agree that we should do the right thing. Let Biden use it to show that D's can work across the aisle.
I very much understand the impulse to not mess with our current trajectory. My analysis that the risk is relatively minimal even in the 2020 Senate races, but that risk is outweighed by the substantive upside
"Let Biden use it to show that D's can work across the aisle."
This is a great point as well. I'm as tired as anyone of hearing about bipartisanship and ending divisiveness and so on when almost all of the blame for the current situation lies with the other party, but a TON of anecdotal evidence would lead me to believe that voters are really aching for the glory days of people working across the aisle. (Whether those days were always as glorious as they're made out to be is, I suppose, up for some debate.) I'd love to see the Dems in a position to say "When it was time to help the American people, we didn't stick on principal and grudges; we worked with the other party to get something done."
This makes so much sense. I love your distillation of the difference between Dems and Republicans: we'll take a political risk in order to help people. Thank you!!!
This is a very interesting article. I'll admit, I originally reflexively shouted NO in my head.
But your counterargument with how it might look with Trump and the Democratic house wanting a bill, but the Republican Senate not - could schmaybe help in the Senate.
The Senate R's pitching the biggest fit about this are the ones worried about a primary challenge from the Right in 2022. Also, they are bad at politics and their default position is hurting poor people
Thanks for getting a jump on this, Dan. We must be the party of "doing the right thing" always -- even if Trump will pull out his Sharpie to own it. Am circulating these arguments now to my progressive posse who will be in the camp of "don't give him an inch." But our motto must be, as you say, Politics Be Damned and Do The Right Thing!
Thank you!
"We must be the party of 'doing the right thing' always"
This times a million! I completely agree.
Thanks for this, Dan. When something is uncertain with regard to Trump, there is sometimes a tendency to automatically assume it will benefit him. Remember when impeachment was going to alienate every swing voter and bolster his re-election? Remember just last Friday when certain people thought Trump getting Covid from his own recklessness might help him? We should always consider how Trump could benefit from something we do, but we shouldn't be paralyzed into inaction by it.
"The best argument for making a deal is that it will provide needed help to people that desperately need it."
Could not agree more. Playing politics with people's lives is a bad look (and a bad thing to do), and I personally would find it a hell of a pill to swallow if Dems decided to let people continue to suffer in hopes of some political advantage. I believe that's the Republican playbook in its entirety these days; let's not borrow from it.
Great stuff as always!
Please tell me you’ve got someone on the inside of the Biden campaign that subscribes.
Tremendous article/position paper, Dan, describing both intuitive and counterintuitive arguments in favor of making the right deal for people who desperately need it. Thank you
This is great. We really need to be above politics on this issue and get something done.
NYT reporting is that R opposition in the Senate is coming from those who fear being primaried in 2022, while those up for election this year would like to see a deal. So if there's a near-term political risk for D's, then it might be in close Senate races.
I agree that we should do the right thing. Let Biden use it to show that D's can work across the aisle.
I very much understand the impulse to not mess with our current trajectory. My analysis that the risk is relatively minimal even in the 2020 Senate races, but that risk is outweighed by the substantive upside
"Let Biden use it to show that D's can work across the aisle."
This is a great point as well. I'm as tired as anyone of hearing about bipartisanship and ending divisiveness and so on when almost all of the blame for the current situation lies with the other party, but a TON of anecdotal evidence would lead me to believe that voters are really aching for the glory days of people working across the aisle. (Whether those days were always as glorious as they're made out to be is, I suppose, up for some debate.) I'd love to see the Dems in a position to say "When it was time to help the American people, we didn't stick on principal and grudges; we worked with the other party to get something done."
Ugh, principle*
This makes so much sense. I love your distillation of the difference between Dems and Republicans: we'll take a political risk in order to help people. Thank you!!!
This is a very interesting article. I'll admit, I originally reflexively shouted NO in my head.
But your counterargument with how it might look with Trump and the Democratic house wanting a bill, but the Republican Senate not - could schmaybe help in the Senate.
The Senate R's pitching the biggest fit about this are the ones worried about a primary challenge from the Right in 2022. Also, they are bad at politics and their default position is hurting poor people