It’s not *surprising* but it’s interesting to watch how the Georgia wins transformed the parties’ negotiating power and style. Just like seven weeks ago an emerging CW was that Biden would have to sacrifice Neera Tanden but maybe Susan Collins would let him confirm Blinkin
Rs spent two months assuming they’d have Senate, dictating limits for Biden. Then they lost the Senate but the expectations for what “working across the aisle” means haven’t fully reset. So you get takes like “Biden plan is DOA if moderate Rs balk.” But... it isn’t!
The missing piece here is that people are *also* used to a Dem House caucus where Pelosi needs to mollify Blue Dogs, and the House Dem majority is narrower than 2009. But it’s far more liberal, after bad cycles and maps for Dems removed all their conservatives.
In 2009 the most conservative House Dem (Gene Taylor) had voted to impeach Bill Clinton. In 2021 it’s Henry Cuellar, who clashes with the left but is fully on board w stimulus.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
