The old idea is: president gives speech ➡️ public becomes mobilized ➡️ legislators feel pressured. And that’s clearly wrong.
But in a polarized world of occasional trifectas I could see: president gives speech ➡️bill becomes legacy item ➡️same-party legislators feel pressured.
But in a polarized world of occasional trifectas I could see: president gives speech ➡️bill becomes legacy item ➡️same-party legislators feel pressured.
https://twitter.com/mattyglesias/status/1480906840351428611
Inversely, the way you would’ve known Obama had given up on the ACA is if he’d withdrawn health care as a topic for public debate. Giving multiple speeches, doing lots of stunty round tables with the GOP, etc is how you knew he was still invested, and may be why it got the votes.
It doesn’t mean it works every time. In a narrow majority it becomes more likely that an eccentric (Sinema) or someone like Manchin (a selfish person who doesn’t fear a primary and has little affinity for the party that made him) will be a pivotal vote.
But the group dynamics are real and the president is the leader of the group.
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