It's the beginning of a new era in Washington - and Putin is responsible (Robert Reich)
I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest something that would have seemed utter nonsense as late as a month ago: Im seeing the stirrings in Washington of a new era of
Im not sure what to call it. Unity is way too strong. Bipartisanship is premature. De-partisanship is too clunky. But something new seems to be happening, and Vladimir Putin is responsible. Dont get me wrong. Democrats and Republicans wont join hands and sing Kumbaya anytime soon. Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy will continue to ambush Democrats every chance they get. Expect bitter battles over background checks, immigration reform, civil rights protections and Ketanji Brown Jacksons confirmation to the supreme court. Trump wont stop telling his big lie. Your Fox News-obsessed Uncle Bob will remain in his hermetically sealed alternative universe.
Yet ever since the runup to Putins invasion of Ukraine, Ive noticed something in Washington that I havent seen in three decades a quiet understanding that were on the brink of a new cold war, potentially even a hot one. Which requires that we join together in order to survive. Its a subtle shift more of tone than anything else. I saw it when Volodymyr Zelenskiy addressed Congress from Ukraine. When he showed lawmakers a gut-wrenching video of the wars consequences, many eyes filled with tears. The lawmakers shared, according to Maines independent senator Angus King, a collective holding of breath. That Republicans and Democrats shared anything that they were even capable of a collective emotion is itself remarkable.
With bipartisan support, Ukraine is receiving unprecedented military and humanitarian aid to fight Putins war, including anti-aircraft systems that many experts say can defend against bombs and missiles from Russias land-based weaponry. Beyond Ukraine, you can also discern the shift in a series of recent across-the-aisle agreements. After literally 200 failed attempts, the Senate just passed an anti-lynching law. The Senate has also given sexual misconduct claims firmer legal footing with a new law ending forced arbitration in sexual assault and harassment cases. The Senate also just approved sweeping postal reform. And unanimously decided to keep daylight savings time year-round. And it has given the green light to long-awaited reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act as part of a giant spending bill.
Im hearing from Senate staffers that theyre close to bipartisan agreement to strengthen antitrust laws. Also on a measure to expand semiconductor manufacturing in America, as part of a new China competitiveness bill. And another measure to limit the cost of insulin. OK, none of this is as dramatic as protecting voting rights or controlling prescription drug costs. But compared with the last few years, its extraordinary. (You may not have heard much about these initiatives because the media only picks up on bitter conflict and name-calling.) Something new is happening in Washington, and I think I know why.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/mar/24/democrats-republicans-russia-ukraine-invasion-putin
Martin68
(22,765 posts)their downfall. they went all the way out on that branch of no return, and have no place to go but down. We all watched their devolution into authoritarianism, but could not have hoped for a better outcome.