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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#343976: Dec 18th 2020 at 7:40:35 AM

The US has a lot more problems to solve than the annual funding bills, though. Evil Turtle folding on shutdowns is just a minor skirmish.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
nova92 Since: Apr, 2020
#343977: Dec 18th 2020 at 7:45:22 AM

Reuters: U.S. Republicans seek firm end to Fed's coronavirus loans, complicating aid talks

A new potential roadblock to a $900 billion coronavirus economic relief bill emerged in the U.S. Congress on Thursday as some Senate Republicans insisted on language ensuring that expiring Federal Reserve lending programs cannot be revived.

One Democratic aide criticized the move by Senator Pat Toomey, a Pennsylvania Republican, saying it would limit President-elect Joe Biden's ability to respond to the heavy economic toll of the pandemic, which in addition to killing more than 300,000 Americans has thrown millions out of work.

"It would tie the hands of the Biden administration to use those tools if needed," a senior House Democratic aide said.


But Toomey wants to ensure that the Fed and Treasury are stripped of the authority to restore pandemic lending facilities that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will allow to expire on Dec. 31, including the Main Street program for mid-size businesses and facilities for municipal bond issuers and corporate credit and asset backed securities.

Mnuchin is clawing back some $455 billion from the Fed facilities, which would be used to help pay for the new aid package for individuals and small businesses.

But the move limits the options for Biden's Treasury secretary nominee Janet Yellen to backstop financial markets in the event of more turmoil, and his transition team called it "deeply irresponsible."

EDIT: Democratic Senator Brian Schatz (HI) responded to this new demand on Twitter:

We almost have a bipartisan COVID package, but at the last minute Republicans are making a demand that WAS NEVER MENTIONED AS KEY TO THE NEGOTIATIONS. They want to block the FED from helping the economy under Biden. It's the reason we don’t have a deal.

Edited by nova92 on Dec 18th 2020 at 7:47:05 AM

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#343978: Dec 18th 2020 at 7:46:44 AM

I can't even think of anything the GOP has done lately that hasn't been pure evil.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
SKJAM Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Baby don't hurt me!
#343979: Dec 18th 2020 at 7:53:29 AM

Food Stamps are under Agriculture because the program originally started as giving food directly to the poor as a subsidy to the dairy and grain industries. ("Government cheese") It's shifted towards vouchers because there are lactose and gluten intolerant poor people who couldn't use the government food.

Mio Since: Jan, 2001
#343980: Dec 18th 2020 at 8:03:22 AM

@Shadow Wing LG: I think you are underestimating how much their base cares about that funding, especially over any significant period of time. Not mention that much of that funding doesn't directly effect them.

Mitch Mc Connel just going to double down on obstruction, and it's not a bad strategy since the Democrats have a much greater desire to get things done and are much more willing to concede then they are. Not to mention it will help to drive a wedge between the Right and Left Wings of the Democratic coalition.

That's before getting to people like Joe Manchin who is ready and raring to play the "Joe Liberman" role for the Democrats even if Ossoff and Warnock win in Georgia.

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#343981: Dec 18th 2020 at 8:44:54 AM

Yes, it's important to remember that we haven't won. Joe Biden is a first step but both his flaws as a candidate and our inability to reliably control the Senate (even if we win Georgia) will be very limiting in what Joe can accomplish.

Biden was a compromise people accepted for the sake of getting Trump out of office. Now Trump's out of office. Bare minimum achieved. Next steps are to keep pushing for better liberals than Biden in 2022 and 2024, as well as keeping control of the House and retaking the Senate.

Edited by TobiasDrake on Dec 18th 2020 at 8:45:23 AM

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
singularityshot Since: Dec, 2012
#343982: Dec 18th 2020 at 8:47:26 AM

To be fair, Toomey's intervention is just the final confirmation we needed that Senate Republicans have accepted the result of the election.

We know he and his colleagues have accepted the result: they are caring about the deficit again.

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#343983: Dec 18th 2020 at 8:50:21 AM

They never not accepted it. The point isn't who won the election, but to find something to fight against. Their base is angry and wants to see fighting.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
ScubaWolf from South Carolina Since: Feb, 2020
#343984: Dec 18th 2020 at 9:04:44 AM

Biden is a fool for thinking bipartisanship will ever exist while the current brand of Republicans exist. It will not exist, it's impossible to negotiate with terrorists in a way that will not hurt you in the end.

"In a move surprising absolutely no one"
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#343985: Dec 18th 2020 at 9:06:43 AM

That said, I can understand the reasoning of "I have to at least try". If he tries and is rebuffed, it's not on him as much of he has to play hardball.

Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#343986: Dec 18th 2020 at 9:08:41 AM

[up][up][up]Yeah.

The whining of the "rigged" election never had as a political goal to overturn the election results which are so painfully, gratuitously, obviously in Biden's favor, that it becomes evident the strategy is another.

Sowing the seeds for the next election.

From that sentiment, both the hardcore Trumpists and the "moderate" Republicans benefit. From the pathetic theatre, theyboth till appear to be the hard line that keeps the commie dems to take over

Edited by Aszur on Dec 18th 2020 at 11:08:54 AM

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#343987: Dec 18th 2020 at 9:45:31 AM

I think Biden is wise to attempt bipartisanship for a few reasons, even if it fails.

Why it's a good idea can essentially be summed up by saying that it allows him to show who's the one actually causing problems.

The GOP wants to be provoked and use that as justification for their actions as a sort of "Self-Defense Retcon" if you will. The GOP wants to create an "Us-Versus-Them" mentality to justify their actions as protecting the 'us' from the 'them'. By being as bipartisan as he can be allowed, he can deteriorate that narrative and show what's really going on.

Mind you, the "as can be allowed" thing is worth considering. To paraphrase General Mattis "The enemy gets a vote in the decision of whether or not you are at war".

Leviticus 19:34
Xopher001 Since: Jul, 2012
#343988: Dec 18th 2020 at 9:45:55 AM

The Democrats are the probably the opposite of communists, policy-wise. I never understood why basic things like public infrastructure, healthcare, education, and really everything the government is supposed to manage became equated with this 70 year-old boogey-man ideology.

Edited by Xopher001 on Dec 18th 2020 at 7:47:43 PM

PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#343989: Dec 18th 2020 at 9:50:22 AM

Because Republicans continued to maintain and beat that drum long after it should've worn out.

i'm tired, my friend
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#343990: Dec 18th 2020 at 9:52:40 AM

[up][up]Especially when you look at Europe. The Warsaw Pact member states were not that great at infrastructure or standard of living, compared to their liberal-democratic/capitalist neighbors in the West.

But nope, I guess infrastructure is commie bullshit now...

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
ShinyCottonCandy Everyone's friend Malamar from Lumiose City (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Everyone's friend Malamar
#343991: Dec 18th 2020 at 9:55:05 AM

Republicans use those lines because they need voters to think bad is good and good is bad. It works because they yell loudly and repeatedly enough to lock it in voters’ heads combined with psychological manipulation to keep those voters from even considering anyone who says otherwise.

My musician page
Aszur A nice butterfly from Pagliacci's Since: Apr, 2014 Relationship Status: Don't hug me; I'm scared
A nice butterfly
#343992: Dec 18th 2020 at 9:57:15 AM

Why it's a good idea can essentially be summed up by saying that it allows him to show who's the one actually causing problems.

Has that worked before?

The U.S has 70 million pople willing to vote for a guy who will throw a temper tantrum because he's forced to decry the nazis.

The fact the Republicans have not been pointed out as being a root cause of problems isn't the issue it's that their propaganda pointing out otherwise is way stronger.

It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes
Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#343993: Dec 18th 2020 at 9:58:34 AM

Generally, the libertarian/'small government'-types have a poor understanding on what capitalism and socialism are. Infrastructure spending is not only socialist, it's literally something promoted by Adam Smith IIRC.

Leviticus 19:34
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#343994: Dec 18th 2020 at 10:40:22 AM

Senate map for us looks pretty good. Republicans are defending 20 seats to Democrats' 13 so we have an opportunity to play offense moreso than defense. That is a consideration Biden needs to have.

On the one hand, the political theater of forcing McConnell to be the one refusing to play ball instead of Pelosi, Schumer, and Biden doing it may help us in 2022. It puts a spotlight on the fact that Republicans still aren't willing to do their jobs, which isn't a good look for Republicans facing an unfavorable Senate map, and may sway independents towards Democratic candidates for the sake of unclogging our legislative pipes.

On the other hand, attempting bipartisanship at a time when we know for a fact how hostile the Republicans in the Senate are may risk increasing voter apathy among progressives. Leftists looking for excuses to ragequit the voting process may take it as confirmation of their deeply held belief that the Biden administration isn't interested in actually passing anything anyway so why should they even bother turning out for the Senate races?

EDIT: But ultimately, I don't think either of these are why Joe's actually doing it. I think Joe's just stuck in the mindset that as long as you play by the rules and follow the process and do what you're supposed to do, the Democracy Machine will churn out justice. Moderate Democrats never know what to do when Republicans refuse to play by the rules, and Biden is no exception.

Edited by TobiasDrake on Dec 18th 2020 at 10:43:01 AM

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
RainingMetal (Handed A Sword) Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#343995: Dec 18th 2020 at 12:26:44 PM

If nothing else, attempting bipartisan ship is a good PR move for the Dems, for appealing to the (somehow) undecideds and neutrals. Joe plays the good guy of course. Just pray that he doesn't get honey-trapped hard.

Edited by RainingMetal on Dec 18th 2020 at 3:26:59 PM

ASAB: All Sponsors Are Bad.
PhysicalStamina i'm tired, my friend (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Coming soon to theaters
i'm tired, my friend
#343996: Dec 18th 2020 at 12:34:41 PM

I think at this point, only time will tell whether Joe really thinks he can successfully reach across the aisle or if he's making a case for him to later go "I tried to reach out, but they wouldn't have it."

i'm tired, my friend
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#343997: Dec 18th 2020 at 12:49:10 PM

One of his top aids called the Congressional Republicans a bunch of fuckers. I doubt behind closed doors they're under any illusion that everything will be hunky dory once Biden gets into office.

sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#343998: Dec 18th 2020 at 12:55:51 PM

Biden says Lindsey Graham is a 'personal disappointment' for not recognizing him as president-elect

https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-lindsey-graham-a-disappointment-for-not-recognizing-election-result-2020-12

  • President-elect Joe Biden told Stephen Colbert that he's disappointed GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham has not recognized him as the winner of the 2020 election.
  • "Lindsey's been a personal disappointment because I was a personal friend of his," Biden said.
  • Graham, once a sharp critic of President Donald Trump, has supported the president's longshot legal efforts to overturn the election results.
  • The South Carolina Republican was previously a close friend of Biden's. In 2015, Graham said Biden is "as good a man as God ever created."

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#343999: Dec 18th 2020 at 12:57:49 PM

Speaking of which, I found out something interesting: apparently, there was a single Republican that visited Beau Biden's funeral. Who was it?

Mitch Mc Connell. He even renamed part of a bill after him.

Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#344000: Dec 18th 2020 at 12:58:45 PM

Cannot help but notice he uses friend in the past tense.


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