For every “journalist” and “observer” who thinks Democrats should have bailed McCarthy out:
WHAT
DID
HE
OFFER
THEM
?
What? What was the offer on the table? When were the talks? The answers are “none” and “nothing,” and I really wish just one person who (checks notes) makes six or seven figures covering national politics would ask that, or acknowledge it in any way.
Also, thank you for using the phrase “Trump’s access to money,” because that’s what it is: access, which comes at a price. He’s clearly flat broke, and he knows we’re all about to find out.
Fascism is in many ways a self-defeating ideology, and seeing a nationwide rise in class consciousness and unionization (the biggest push in my lifetime) is also heartening. As the extremist ruling class descends ever further into chaos, workers are beginning to unite. We’re certainly at an inflection point, and everything hinges on 2024, but I agree that there are as many reasons to be hopeful as there are to be terrified. But terror is what MAGA wants. If Dems keep on pushing a pro-worker, anti-authoritarian message, and refuse to bail out the flailing fascists, I think we could be on a really positive trajectory. But I think “bring it” is exactly the right vibe.
My main fear is Ukraine funding. Is there a way forward to support Ukraine at this rate?
Dems can make that a condition of their support for a new speaker AND pressure Republicans to make the same demand. There's also discharge petitions, which they could start working on now. No foolproof solution, but there are things that can be done.
Brian, you outline a terrifying future scenario for at least the year ahead. One that I have to agree with, based on all of my reading and the awful experience of having grown up across the River from Fred and ‘the Donald,’ and a rough consensus of all the experts I follow.
We’re in it neck deep now. It has been said on multiple forums, but now is the time to put on our crash helmets, strap on our go-bags, and do everything in our power to encourage our democratic representatives and senators--and get out the vote.
In the meantime, let’s hope that Hakeem Jeffries and the democratic House caucus continue to have the excellent unity and judgement they are displaying right now; with titanium gonads and ovaries against the onslaught of insanity and fake deals to capitulate and keep the government open, that will only get worse as desperation rises.
You nailed it. DOJ should've charged tangeranus and his cabal of lickspittles right out of the gate. By dillydallying around for two years DOJ made it exponentially harder. But still doable if Milquetoast Merrick would pull his thumb outta his ass. This should not have fallen to local prosecutors.
I think they'd certainly like to inflict economic damage. Fortunately their main tool (the debt limit) is off the table—the one good thing about Biden caving in that hostage fight.
Ah, you do give him credit for this. I honestly thought it was a decent bargain considering it took a weapon out of the Freedom Caucus hands. I'm glad you don't fully dismiss this point.
Josh, if I may complement to Brian’s answer: Crashing the economy has been (and is) one of the main strategic goals of the the republicans because it will weaken Democratic election chances across the board. They want to crash the economy and blame Dems for it....
My primary concern was that I suspect the media is actually beginning to report the economy as being resilient/strong. Q3 numbers come out in two weeks and if it comes in above 3% which is starting to seem likely my concern is that the media will not be able to spin it as a bad thing any longer. At that time I think the House Rs will feel it is now or never.
The media is committed to portraying the economy as a disaster no matter what because people are paying more at the grocery store and complaining about that to the media. The high cost of rent and groceries is indeed a problem that my side is too quick to dismiss, but the media is telling people it's a crisis on par with the 1970s and it's now an echo chamber. Media: "are you satisfied with Biden's economy and all the extra money you pay to eat and drive?" Citizen: "NO! I pay too much to eat drive and live and it's Biden's fault." Media: "People say that they pay a lot more to live than they did under Trump!"
But that said, this is a problem that Democrats need to solve with messaging - tough messaging, not "hey guys did you hear we did bipartisan infrastructure bill and are also bipartisaning our bipartisan hearts out?" I just don't think that's going to work.
How strong do we think the forces are to break up a "permanent shutdown" from taking effect after the CR runs out on Nov 17? I can't tell whether that's what I should be expecting at this point or if some other dynamic will break that up.
Protracted shutdown seems pretty likely, but it's really hard to imagine the dam doesn't break at some point to force it back open. It only takes a handful of endangered Republicans.
Great piece. We've reached the Trump endgame - either he wins back the presidency or MAGA/Republican party begins to self-destruct. Republicans know this, which is why they will stick by him. The Dems have done their best to protect the country from the worst of MAGA, but now is the time to step back and say "America, this is the Republican party. This is how they want to use power. This is who they are. Do you want this?"
Well said. And Please Democrats stop saying "where are all the good republicans?" That is a waste of breath. The Republican Party is committed to the destruction of everything: Abortion right. Healthcare. Gay and trans rights. Disability rights. Parental rights. Free speech. Unions. I don't care if Sen Graham was nice to Biden 20 years ago, all of the people in the Congress are all in on Trump. I don't count Romney because he's leaving.
Actually, I think we may well be on cusp of a major, historic disaster.
Trump is an insecure, infantile toxic narcissist. He was humiliated by his loss in 2020 -- he was kicked out of the highest office in the land which, in turn, certified him as a vastly superior being. Voted out is something that he’s never accepted and never will.
And after that, he’s facing the possibility of being held accountable for numerous criminal acts. Being held accountable for anything ever is something that wasn’t done to him no matter what.
It follows then that the solution may well be to do all he can to let’s say a leader indefinitely in office with no election to kick him out again. That’s the only way to ease the pain from those humiliations.
As for being safe when returned to office, Republicans’ efforts on the state level making it extremely difficult to elect anything other than a Republican certainly makes it yet more possible.
The worse thing is that this was happening in plain sight and precious little was done to oppose it. Correction: Not just too little done but the Democrats’ turn to neoliberalism made opposing the GOP’s anti-democratic efforts very, very. Obviously. One tell of that is how Mahoney as good as gave the GOP their House majority. That’s what passes for an opposition party.
Great piece. I'm heartened by the oped Jeffries wrote in The Washington Post. https://wapo.st/45qulMJ (should be a gift link) Clearly making a bid for the moderate Rs not to go to crazy town. Dems are united.
For every “journalist” and “observer” who thinks Democrats should have bailed McCarthy out:
WHAT
DID
HE
OFFER
THEM
?
What? What was the offer on the table? When were the talks? The answers are “none” and “nothing,” and I really wish just one person who (checks notes) makes six or seven figures covering national politics would ask that, or acknowledge it in any way.
Also, thank you for using the phrase “Trump’s access to money,” because that’s what it is: access, which comes at a price. He’s clearly flat broke, and he knows we’re all about to find out.
Fascism is in many ways a self-defeating ideology, and seeing a nationwide rise in class consciousness and unionization (the biggest push in my lifetime) is also heartening. As the extremist ruling class descends ever further into chaos, workers are beginning to unite. We’re certainly at an inflection point, and everything hinges on 2024, but I agree that there are as many reasons to be hopeful as there are to be terrified. But terror is what MAGA wants. If Dems keep on pushing a pro-worker, anti-authoritarian message, and refuse to bail out the flailing fascists, I think we could be on a really positive trajectory. But I think “bring it” is exactly the right vibe.
My main fear is Ukraine funding. Is there a way forward to support Ukraine at this rate?
Dems can make that a condition of their support for a new speaker AND pressure Republicans to make the same demand. There's also discharge petitions, which they could start working on now. No foolproof solution, but there are things that can be done.
Plus, oddly enough, they have McConnell as an ally in that fight.
Brian, you outline a terrifying future scenario for at least the year ahead. One that I have to agree with, based on all of my reading and the awful experience of having grown up across the River from Fred and ‘the Donald,’ and a rough consensus of all the experts I follow.
We’re in it neck deep now. It has been said on multiple forums, but now is the time to put on our crash helmets, strap on our go-bags, and do everything in our power to encourage our democratic representatives and senators--and get out the vote.
In the meantime, let’s hope that Hakeem Jeffries and the democratic House caucus continue to have the excellent unity and judgement they are displaying right now; with titanium gonads and ovaries against the onslaught of insanity and fake deals to capitulate and keep the government open, that will only get worse as desperation rises.
Gym Jordan? The donald? God help us....
You nailed it. DOJ should've charged tangeranus and his cabal of lickspittles right out of the gate. By dillydallying around for two years DOJ made it exponentially harder. But still doable if Milquetoast Merrick would pull his thumb outta his ass. This should not have fallen to local prosecutors.
I just really worry we’re heading towards more political violence. Just yesterday, a gunman showed up at the Capitol building here in WI asking to see Evers. Scary stuff https://newrepublic.com/post/176009/wisconsin-governor-tony-evers-armed-gunman-political-violence
It's very dangerous.
Brian, Do you think good jobs numbers make it more likely the Republicans feel the need to crash the economy?
I think they'd certainly like to inflict economic damage. Fortunately their main tool (the debt limit) is off the table—the one good thing about Biden caving in that hostage fight.
Ah, you do give him credit for this. I honestly thought it was a decent bargain considering it took a weapon out of the Freedom Caucus hands. I'm glad you don't fully dismiss this point.
Josh, if I may complement to Brian’s answer: Crashing the economy has been (and is) one of the main strategic goals of the the republicans because it will weaken Democratic election chances across the board. They want to crash the economy and blame Dems for it....
My primary concern was that I suspect the media is actually beginning to report the economy as being resilient/strong. Q3 numbers come out in two weeks and if it comes in above 3% which is starting to seem likely my concern is that the media will not be able to spin it as a bad thing any longer. At that time I think the House Rs will feel it is now or never.
The media is committed to portraying the economy as a disaster no matter what because people are paying more at the grocery store and complaining about that to the media. The high cost of rent and groceries is indeed a problem that my side is too quick to dismiss, but the media is telling people it's a crisis on par with the 1970s and it's now an echo chamber. Media: "are you satisfied with Biden's economy and all the extra money you pay to eat and drive?" Citizen: "NO! I pay too much to eat drive and live and it's Biden's fault." Media: "People say that they pay a lot more to live than they did under Trump!"
But that said, this is a problem that Democrats need to solve with messaging - tough messaging, not "hey guys did you hear we did bipartisan infrastructure bill and are also bipartisaning our bipartisan hearts out?" I just don't think that's going to work.
How strong do we think the forces are to break up a "permanent shutdown" from taking effect after the CR runs out on Nov 17? I can't tell whether that's what I should be expecting at this point or if some other dynamic will break that up.
Protracted shutdown seems pretty likely, but it's really hard to imagine the dam doesn't break at some point to force it back open. It only takes a handful of endangered Republicans.
Call it Endangered NY Republican Watch.
Absconding with State secrets to our country's enemies in exchange for sanctuary before he is imprisoned is not out of character for Trump.
Great piece. We've reached the Trump endgame - either he wins back the presidency or MAGA/Republican party begins to self-destruct. Republicans know this, which is why they will stick by him. The Dems have done their best to protect the country from the worst of MAGA, but now is the time to step back and say "America, this is the Republican party. This is how they want to use power. This is who they are. Do you want this?"
Well said. And Please Democrats stop saying "where are all the good republicans?" That is a waste of breath. The Republican Party is committed to the destruction of everything: Abortion right. Healthcare. Gay and trans rights. Disability rights. Parental rights. Free speech. Unions. I don't care if Sen Graham was nice to Biden 20 years ago, all of the people in the Congress are all in on Trump. I don't count Romney because he's leaving.
Actually, I think we may well be on cusp of a major, historic disaster.
Trump is an insecure, infantile toxic narcissist. He was humiliated by his loss in 2020 -- he was kicked out of the highest office in the land which, in turn, certified him as a vastly superior being. Voted out is something that he’s never accepted and never will.
And after that, he’s facing the possibility of being held accountable for numerous criminal acts. Being held accountable for anything ever is something that wasn’t done to him no matter what.
It follows then that the solution may well be to do all he can to let’s say a leader indefinitely in office with no election to kick him out again. That’s the only way to ease the pain from those humiliations.
As for being safe when returned to office, Republicans’ efforts on the state level making it extremely difficult to elect anything other than a Republican certainly makes it yet more possible.
The worse thing is that this was happening in plain sight and precious little was done to oppose it. Correction: Not just too little done but the Democrats’ turn to neoliberalism made opposing the GOP’s anti-democratic efforts very, very. Obviously. One tell of that is how Mahoney as good as gave the GOP their House majority. That’s what passes for an opposition party.
And here we are.
Liz Cheney for President.
Great piece. I'm heartened by the oped Jeffries wrote in The Washington Post. https://wapo.st/45qulMJ (should be a gift link) Clearly making a bid for the moderate Rs not to go to crazy town. Dems are united.