US Politics June 2021 - "Where we're going, we don't NEED bipartisanship"

My programming will never allow me to truthfully refer to myself as a composted

Ok, what is asset recycling and why is it bad?

It means “infrastructure privatization.” I think the bad is self-explanatory.

Deal's in trouble already pic.twitter.com/ewRLfeclqS

— Sam Stein (@samstein) June 25, 2021

oh noes, what if they have to do it all through reconciliation?

well, if that happens the Dems can pass this bill using reconciliation while Biden, Manshit, etc can shake their heads sadly and say, well, bipartisanship, we tried, etc.

Privatizing federal property is fucking awful.

manchin already walking back from backing reconcilliation

It means “infrastructure privatization.” I think the bad is self-explanatory.

The Trump admin wanted to privatize the George Washington Parkway, IIRC, or turn it over to VDOT lol.

It's a very '90s euphemism. Xtreme Asset Recycling

Obama proposed privatizing the TVA at some point.

They may not have the votes to do anything in reconciliation. Not even clear they have the votes for that in the house, much less the senate.

“I'm not voting for reconciliation,” @RepSchrader said, confirming that applies to both the budget resolution & actual reconciliation bill. “I think the reconciliation process is completely unwarranted. I'm not going to vote for $5 trillion of spending." https://t.co/dRHjCKFbn1

— Lindsey McPherson (@lindsemcpherson) June 25, 2021

If asset recycling is like “we privatise parking enforcement on federal property in return for 6tn new spending” I’m probably fine with it in the interests of making a deal.

i knew someone was getting played when that deal was announced yesterday but if i'm honest i just assumed it would be the democrats haha, didn't think they had it in them. (although who knows what happens next.)

There’s lots of complaining coming from offices of the 11 Senate Republicans who endorsed the original infrastructure framework.

Aide to one of those senators: “Demanding that we didn't pass the bipartisan deal unless reconciliation was passed first was never part of the deal.”

— Ryan Lizza (@RyanLizza) June 25, 2021

If they back out of the bipartisan deal now there are zero consequences for them and nothing continues to get passed benefitting them in the midterms.

If the Democrats thought they were playing anyone and now Lindsey Graham would be bound by his agreement to the deal... hooo boy.

Saying "no takebacks" is not a legally binding contract, unfortunately.

oh i don't think it was smart if this is what the biden wanted/expected to happen. i'm just surprised they even tried it since it's superficial hardball.

but i dunno about zero consequences. can see some of the ConGreSSIonaL NoRmS voters in house/senate being moved toward reconciliation if this collapes.

The police almost never prevent crimes. They just arrest people after the fact. And it's not always the right people. And all too often they kill or physically harm whoever they're trying to arrest. And then they lie about it.

^ that was meant for this thread: Ongoing U.S Police Brutality and Corruption Discussion Thread

What happened is that Republicans were confident that Dems wouldn't pass a 2nd bill, then when Pelosi and Biden started making assurances, they said "no fair you're not allowed to be competent" https://t.co/9JEjQcPYAB

— David Dayen (@ddayen) June 25, 2021

And if this dissolves and we only get a reconciliation bill, maybe the privatization crap gets tossed out and it's better substantively too

— David Dayen (@ddayen) June 25, 2021

seems like hopium

lol Biden already caved

Such political genius.

if you are puzzled about who is a political genius vs being a total loser and a dolt, just ask milo. he will set you straight. if milo isn't available, just ask Trump, who is also known for his instant discernment in sorting out geniuses and losers.

Has Biden done things in the past that make you think he exhibits political genius?

Nope

together at last

Did Biden call off both the infrastructure and reconciliation bills?

whatever it was he did, we know he caved in (see above)

lol sic

BREAKING: Former U.S. Sen. Mike Gravel of Alaska, who read the Pentagon Papers into the Congressional Record in 1971 and decades later ran for the Democratic presidential nomination as a critic of the Iraq war, has died at age 91. https://t.co/5wqxNsR83u

— The Associated Press (@AP) June 27, 2021

lol he ran for president?

do u not remember gravelteens

🎼do you remember the teens of gravel🎼

RIP

RIP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rZdAB4V_j8

one of the best dadaist campaign ads of our time imo

Meantime

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/06/william-barrs-trump-administration-attorney-general/619298/

Rehabilitating Wm. Barr's reputation makes you an accessory after the fact.

But when the big moment came after the election, he defied the president who expected him to do his bidding.

Feel like there were quite a few big moments before the election when he did not do this.

Did Biden call off both the infrastructure and reconciliation bills?

No, the auction off the TVA bill is still on the table, no longer tied to the reconciliation bill (that Manchin is backing away from already).

Biden statement: White House does NOT plan to veto bipartisan bill if it comes without reconciliation package. Major shift pic.twitter.com/bbLl3K7STD

— Jeff Stein (@JStein_WaPo) June 26, 2021

Right, he wasn't going to veto the bill, it just isn't going to pass the House without a reconciliation bill.

He said he would veto it without the reconciliation bill ("If this is the only one that comes to me, I'm not signing it.") - backbone which lasted less than 24 hours and a couple of mean statements from Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham.

Why would you think Pelosi's statement of intent is any more ironclad? The House Dems may not even have the votes for the reconciliation bill.

If you think the bipartisan infrastructure compromise is good on its merits, okay cool but taking a big stand on the actual definitely good reconciliation bill being a requirement and then caving before dinner is embarrassing.

Joe Biden still around?

I don't think either bill is a lock, but I think they are more likely than not. It was dumb of Biden to make it seem like he was threatening Republicans with a veto because they really don't have much control over whether a reconciliation bill happens or not. The ultimatums needed to be clearly aimed at moderate Democrats.

A good interview with the Gravel Teens.

That is good.

So disengaged right now, not sure if this is anything or not. I seem to recall, a thousand years, this guy had a habit of dodging every breathless new this-is-the-end story. (Until he didn't, then he went away.)

https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/30/politics/trump-organization-charges/index.html

"a thousand years ago"

i think people are having a hard time caring because the charges are related to not paying taxes on employee benefits/gifts like "rent-free apartments, car leases or private school tuition." it's just...who the fuck cares. after everything that has happened. trump fucking KILLED people with his ignorance! and after so many years of investigation, it's some tax shit. no one cares. people on the right will just look at it like "wow, trump gave his own people really good gifts and now they're trying to make him look bad." there will be a lawsuit for another thousand years, then a settlement where we are all amazed to learn that the trump organization admits to one thing or another, but not the other, and they will pay $400M to whatever, the biggest whatever in whatever years. then they'll appeal that. meanwhile the obvious criminal keeps burning the village down