Democrats should not be cutting, watering down or resisting Biden's agenda

[bluewater]

President Biden has proposed a 3.5T "Build Back Better" agenda after consultation with all wings of the Democratic party.

Since President Biden, and VP Harris of course, is the Democrat with a national mandate, why is ANY Democrat in congress publicly disagreeing with his agenda at this point in time?

The media is already harping on the "Democrats in Disarray" meme, why is any elected Democratic feeding into it?

As a progressive, I am truly baffled. Progressives and moderates have ALREADY both compromised on which programs to push for.

Why are some Democrats still insisting on more cuts that would weaken the remaining vital programs?

Why are other Democrats willing to concede that?

I am truly baffled.

[Scrivener7]

1. I totally agree and I'm horrified to see that my rep is one of those who is doing that.

[FBaggins]

2. This doesn't make sense to me

Biden was elected running on a particular platform so all other Democrats, regardless of what platform THEY ran on, should just get in line?

Biden also ran on his ability to compromise and “bridge the aisle”. Shouldn’t we expect some of that when the aisle that needs bridging is entirely on our side of the larger partisan aisle?

[pandr32]

3. We need to do what we can

If we cannot get his agenda passed as hoped we must do what will pass. If we can move forward, even if it is more slowly than hoped, we can still keep at it. Perhaps there will be a replaced senator or two coming up, or maybe a stronger senate. We have to make some progress and herald the heck out of how it helps real people in order to build support as we inch ahead. Hopefully, after 2024 we will have four more years.

[bluewater]

4. I am sure the President and Democratic Leaders in Congress will salvage what they can.

It's just a damn shame they would have to at this point.

All Democrats should be supporting the President's "Build Back Better" agenda, emphasis on the word "should".

Thank you for your thoughtful reply.

[pandr32]

7. You are welcome and I agree

All Democrats need to get off their arses and get to work.

[PoliticAverse]

5. "Follow the money". n/t

[Hortensis]

6. This is the way it's normally done. Almost all our people are progressive

liberals, but one group typically demands more and bigger (with some willing to fail rather than settle for less, what some call "purists." ). And the other caucus wants sustainable achievement that will be passed and will last and not be reversed by the other party or courts, often a more incremental approach to the same or similar end.

O'Donnell or one of his guests remarked that Democrats in congress are unusually pissy (my word) these days; in another year they might rally behind the president better. But this era is what it is.

It should help those shocked by compromise to remember that among liberals (Democrats), especially women, a very common mix is a combination of more strongly liberal on social issues and more moderately liberal, or even moderately conservative, on economic issues. A pragmatic approach is still liberal and is neither corruption nor conservatism.

(This is also true among some conservatives -- some are economically conservative as expected but socially leaning more liberal, instead of conservative. And the trumpists' main, populist mix is actually more economically progressive but socially conservative.)

[Patton French]

8. Captain Obvious

But that doesn’t make it any less frustrating.

[UCmeNdc]

9. Agree 100%