My guess is that BBB will not pass as is. Mansion blocks the House-passed legislation based on CPI inflation. Still, a reduced plan will be adopted - missing a list of beneficial features. Example - shorter or absent family leave… The Manchin's logic will be that adopting such a program will reduce the workforce presence - businesses large and small already hurting for workers. Pre-K and Childcare remains. The idea there is to release potential employees to fill vacant job needs - say, truck drivers and service workers in child care, hotels, farms, retail, and restaurants. Needless to say, the Republicans - House and Senate both - oppose this "investment into the future" Biden Plan as they follow the leadership of McConnell and McCarthy in their effort to prevent ANY VICTORY AND ANY BENEFIT adopted by Biden and the Democrats!
Sound familiar? Do you recall the McConnell Plan to destroy the Obama presidency through a general OPPOSITION TO EVERYTHING. You will recall that McConnell blocked the Obama Supreme Court Nominee, Merrick Garland for a year. His excuse was that appointments to the Court should not take place in any presidential election year. Once Trump took office in January of 2017, McConnell "forgot" his pledge. In addition to Gorsuch (2017) and Kavanaugh (10/2018), and Amy Barrett in October, 2020 - just one month before the presidential election! And, just now Roe v. Wade (1973) is being argued before the US Supreme Court - with three Justices appointed by Trump... and each privately or publicly pledged to repeal the woman's right to choose...
In any case, we finally adopted the Biden Infrastructure bill - narrowly. And, recently the House passed - narrowly - the Build Back Better bill and sent it to the Senate. Take another look at the cartoon above. The Republicans - every single one - supported the Trump proposed tax relief for the rich and profit-rich corporations (including himself). That bill cost $3.9 TRILLION over 10 years. The Biden Plan - Infrastructure and the BBB bill - does not cost anywhere near that figure. Taken together, the 10-year outlay of both comes to $2.2 TRILLION - with Trump adding to the deficit by more than twice the Biden amount. The Trump plan to benefit the wealthy was a pure revenue disconnect. The Biden investment plan - at a lesser cost - is paid for by tweaking tax policy and enforcement with a 15% minimum corporate tax on profits for those who pay nothing at all. Some 55 of the largest companies in the US - including many energy/oil companies, Nike, Fed Ex and more - paid ZERO FEDERAL TAX LAST YEAR. The BBB Plan will set a "floor" on profits of some 15%. And, for the most part, that levy plus active enforcement for those who "hide" their assets and profits "off shore" will pay their fair share as well.
All of this makes sense... and has resulted in some really good news too. The stock market has never been stronger. Unemployment is falling with over 500,000 new jobs last month, Covid is on the ropes with more vaccines and treatments; we are finally out of Afghanistan after 20 years and Trillions of dollars wasted. Just passed the biggest infrastructure investment since FDR and 32 Republicans joined about 260 Democrats in voting for it despite threats from Trumpers. The hint of bipartisanship Biden keeps fighting for. Wages will rise, training increased, and bonuses applied to get us over this hump. Meanwhile, the CPI increases may slow with a slowdown in demand and a breakthrough in supply via improvements in tweaking the “chain.” Still, the "supply chain" slow down was reduced by half in the last week.... Well done!
Yet, according to recent polling almost 2/3 of voters think America is on the wrong track and they are disappointed with Biden. HUH???
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ARE THE DEMS IMITATING THE ALI PLAN??? |
In 1945, Dwight Eisenhower, Commander of the Western Front and the Allied Normandy invasion, was shocked by the German Counter-offensive - THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE! The German High Command knew that defense-defense-and defense would not work as they slowly fell back toward the German border. The Counter Attack - the Battle of the Bulge - took place in late June and early July. Defense alone does not work toward victory - attack is the answer.
Over the past year we have witnessed the Moscow Mitch and Moscow McCarthy aggressively attack day after day - circulating rumors, making statements, accusations, and allegations. Meanwhile, Their "Block the Biden Agenda" plan (BBA) to prevent the adoption of the Build Back Better Biden Plan (BBB) has so far prevented its adoption. They cry out "failure!" "inflation!" "economic ruin!" They sing, "the eve of destruction!" Schumer, Pelosi lay out the program in defense.... and have not attacked the Republicans for turning their backs on the American People! With very few exceptions, the Rs have opposed looking into January 6th, refused to support and vote for the Infrastructure Plan that was finally adopted, and are in opposition - down to the last vote - of the BBB Plan. Instead, support the BBA Plan.... The Red Wing-nuts block the entire Biden agenda! Attack, attack, attack.... TORA, TORA, TORA!!! Keep the Dems on the defense! I believe that, as Eisenhower executed his counter-attack plan....and won in 1945 - Schumer, Pelosi, and Biden must stop the "Rope-A-Dope defense, reinforce, and counter attack the enemy!
Call up and pass any modified version of BBB and sign it into law - A SUCCESS. After that, each eliminated or left out element gets introduced as a separate bill set of proposals. One by one, each is called up for a Senate vote. This creates a record of Republican opposition and shields Manchin and others from a vote to publicly oppose any element that polls well. At that point, the Bulge Counter-attack begins… heading into the fall 2022.
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| TURN AROUND AND ATTACK! |
In one 6-month period the Dems need to "roll the ball" - whatever shape - and get some bills passed and to Biden’s desk. The point is - pass a re-elect platform and STOP “Rope-a-Dope” behavior. Ali’s “Rope-a-Dope was defense, defense, defense…. No attack early in the match… save energy until the opponent gets battle-weary. Then step on the gas - AND ATTACK WITH FURY! If Pelosi and Schumer don’t pass phase 2 - Build Back Better - at least some version- and launch a full-bore attack on the Republican “Block and Blame” behavior… we lose and Biden suffers a complete blockage on his program, his judges and other appointments, his policies, and his legislation… and is then blamed as a do-nothing President who accomplished absolutely nothing.
The next segment would be a number of bills for those issues not adopted now… and, the January 6th Select Committee Hearings too! These segmented bills - piece by piece - should force the Republicans to block and/or vote against those individual objectives - raise the min. wage, expanded Medicare coverage, reduce the cost of medication, provide Pre-school funding, Kid Care funding, and much more. Use that and more to launch the 2022 MASSIVE COUNTER-ATTACK on the Red “enemy of the American working families.” The ATTACK PLAN would expose their insane plan to govern for the rich - corporations and high wealth folks - erode the middle class, and ignore the desperate needs of those of modest income. McConnell and the rest of the Red Wing-nuts are building yet another “Gilded Age” at the expense and through the cheap sweat of the working poor.
And, what about the Select Committee Hearings regarding the events of January 6th? Anyway... was January 6th the time to "Hang Mike Pence"?
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| MC CONNELL AND MC CARTHY LINE UP WITH MEIN KAMPF |
Anyway…. Spin the wheel and change the play! Complete the defense… and launch a never-ending attack… until the enemy is defeated and surrenders… the 2022 “Battle of the Biden Bulge.” My 2 cents…. for now....
Sound like a pretty good plan to me... Just ask Ike Eisenhower..... It's time for the Counter attack! And, place the Republican Wing-nuts on the defense for eroding the American Democracy, undermining the Constitution, an attempted coup, refusing to reach out and help those in need of food, housing, education, and jobs, and turning their backs on women's rights and the challenges of poverty and health.
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| AND... THE BEAT GOES ON... |
