# The Biden Administration - the first 1,500 days \[NOT an Afghanistan discussion\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 8, 2020, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057 "2020-11-08T15:09:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 43
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2021, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/843 "2021-06-22T15:48:59Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > …defending the filibuster as a tool for “compelling moderation”… 🙄 Yeah, that’s been working out real well. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/844 "2021-06-23T11:04:08Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Yeah, that’s been working out real well. Well, it’s forced the Democrat’s to moderate their agenda, which is apparently the only type of moderation that counts. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/845 "2021-06-23T12:44:27Z")
It makes sense, in its own way. The filibuster is fairly anti-democratic, and it is being used to allow our country to become anti-democratic. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/846 "2021-06-23T13:46:54Z")
So where do Democrats go from here? We can bitch and moan about Manchin and Sinema all we want, but the fact is that they’re publicly, implacably opposed to eliminating the filibuster and show no signs of coming down off that position. Manchin, at least, probably benefits politically in WV from national Democrats bitching about him. I don’t really understand Sinema’s position given the shifting politics of AZ and that she won’t face voters for six years, but she’s sticking to her position. So what’s the next step? I suppose let states pass even more egregious voting rights violations and try to bring more legislation to the floor only to be filibustered, in the hopes that eventually Manchin and Sinema back down in the face to repeated Republican intransigence. There are some things that the Biden Administration can do in terms of stepped up enforcement of existing federal voting rights protections. And I guess hope that Democratic voters are motivated enough in 2022 to jump through all of the new hoops to vote in larger Democratic majorities. I can’t say I’m hopeful. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/847 "2021-06-23T14:22:04Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > I can’t say I’m hopeful. I’m not either. Democrats need to deliver, and make sure that everyone is better off in 2022 than they were in 2020 (you’d think that’s a low bar). Manchin and Sinema are doing their best to prevent the Democrats from following through on their promises, which will of course lead to 2022 being favorable to the Republicans, ensuring that _no_ progress can be made. Things need to happen in Washington to finish getting us out of this pandemic, to respond to the oncoming financial crisis, and to ensure the civil and electoral rights of the people. Everything that goes wrong will be laid at the feet of Biden, even though it is Republicans who cause it. ---
**Author:** ![Ziberian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/919ad9/32.png) [@Ziberian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ziberian)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/848 "2021-06-23T15:27:13Z")
Some slight hope… > **[Joe Manchin opens the door to backing Democrat-only infrastructure bill that...](https://www.businessinsider.com/manchin-infrastructure-bill-congress-trump-tax-cuts-2021-6?utm_source=reddit.com)** > > Manchin's backing is pivotal and would allow a new spending bill to pass without any GOP votes. He wants to raise corporate taxes as well. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/849 "2021-06-23T15:53:44Z")
> [@Ziberian](#): > > Some slight hope… Yeah, I have some hope that Manchin wants to be able to say a) that he tried his best to get Republican support and b) that he got some changes into bills; but that he’ll eventually come through for something (maybe also in the voting rights process) that’s at least close to what most of the rest of the Democrats are trying to get. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/850 "2021-06-23T17:10:32Z")
Manchin is saying that he (may) be willing to use the budget reconciliation process to pass infrastructure funding. That only ever requires 50 votes so he wouldn’t be backing off his support for the filibuster. Passing voting rights legislation is a whole different matter. ---
**Author:** ![Ziberian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/919ad9/32.png) [@Ziberian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ziberian)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/851 "2021-06-23T18:49:57Z")
True, but I would argue that infrastructure funding is more important to Democrats in 2022 than the voting rights bill. Democrats need BIG, bold, visible, concrete changes & jobs to stand a chance of keeping control of the Senate & House in 2022, and infrastructure funding will provide that. No one new is going to vote Democrat because they stopped voter suppression, but jobs/money make an impression. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2021, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/852 "2021-06-23T18:55:25Z")
> [@Ziberian](#): > > No one new is going to vote Democrat because they stopped voter suppression But people may be unable to vote for Democrats, or unable to have their votes counted, because of voter suppression. – if they can get the infrastructure funding through first, and do it soon enough to allow time for a voting rights bill to be pushed through and take effect before '22, though, it might make sense to do it that way around. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/853 "2021-06-24T12:53:59Z")
Update on the infrastructure bill: > **[Why the infrastructure deal is so important for Joe Biden | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/24/politics/joe-biden-infrastructure-deal-congress-republicans/index.html)** > > President Joe Biden will validate a foundational pillar of his presidency on Thursday -- a quest to court Republicans across Congress' poisoned divides -- if he signs off on a hard won bipartisan infrastructure deal. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/854 "2021-06-24T19:10:23Z")
Some more details of the deal leaking out: - $973 billion in spending over five years, with $579 billion of that being new spending that was not already dedicated to infrastructure projects. - Its largely limited to “traditional” infrastructure – transportation, water/sewer, electrical grid, broadband etc. - It’ll be funded through stepped up enforcement at the IRS and repurposing unused stimulus funds. It looks like new or increased taxes were ruled out, and it unclear whether it’ll fund itself or rely on deficit spending. Apparently progressives are not happy with what’s in it, as many of their priorities such as eldercare, health care, affordable housing, etc. were left out. There’s still the possibility that this deal could be passed as stand-alone legislation, and the Senate could use budget reconciliation to pass additional infrastructure investments as well as adjust tax rates. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/855 "2021-06-24T20:37:29Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > Apparently progressives are not happy with what’s in it, as many of their priorities such as eldercare, health care, affordable housing, etc. were left out.- They need to shut the fuck up. Can’t do everything, or haven’t they figured that out yet?? ---
**Author:** ![DeadTreasSecretaries](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deadtreassecretaries/32/4817_2.png) [@DeadTreasSecretaries](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadTreasSecretaries)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2021, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/856 "2021-06-24T22:21:50Z")
Based on what leadership is saying right now, there is going to be a bipartisan bill and a separate reconciliation bill that is intended to cover climate change, raising taxes and elder care. Pelosi says she’s not going to let the bipartisan bill through the house until there is also a reconciliation bill passed through the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/857 "2021-06-25T09:47:44Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > They need to shut the fuck up. Can’t do everything, or haven’t they figured that out yet?? Or at least they can’t do everything _at once_. Let’s get the work on the severely failing existing infrastructure underway now, and then look into work on the new stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/858 "2021-06-25T12:56:51Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Let’s get the work on the severely failing existing infrastructure underway now, and then look into work on the new stuff. Yep - which should provide a boost to the economy, which may allow the Democrats to expand their Senate majority and somewhat sideline Manchin and Sinema. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/859 "2021-06-25T13:14:17Z")
While I’m fully on board with a big infrastructure bill as a down payment on addressing decades of neglect, the last thing the economy needs right now is more stimulus. Inflation and worker shortages are already causing issues. Luckily, this bill isn’t likely to provide a lot of short-term stimulus – the spending is spread out over years and much of it is repurposed funds that would have been spent anyway. The political advantage of this bill is just showing that Biden can get big stuff done. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2021, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/860 "2021-06-25T14:17:02Z")
Me likey. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2021, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/861 "2021-06-26T04:18:38Z")
Oh great - a snag in the infrastructure deal now. > **[Infrastructure deal now in doubt with GOP senators saying they feel 'blindsided'](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/infrastructure-deal-now-in-doubt-with-gop-senators-saying-they-feel-blindsided)** > > Two people familiar with the conversations say Republican senators felt "blindsided" Friday by the president's insistence that the bipartisan infrastructure deal move in tandem with his bigger package of investments. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2021, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057/862 "2021-06-26T04:26:30Z")
It’s utter kabuki. They’re shocked, shocked! that Biden and dems said they’d proceed with the reconciliation bill in parallel with the bipartisan one. Which is what everyone has said upfront was going to happen before the bipartisan deal was announced. Those dirty tricksters! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057.md?page=42) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-biden-administration-the-first-1-500-days-not-an-afghanistan-discussion/925057.md?page=44)