America Pays it Debts

 The Middle Won

America pays its debts.

 

We recently witnessed another nail in the coffin of the alt-right MAGA wing of the GOP. 

 

Pressured by the so-called Freedom Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) took the American economy hostage by refusing to pass a bill lifting the debt ceiling without major concessions from President Biden on future spending. After months of threats and negotiations, McCarthy was forced to accept a deal that lifted the debt ceiling in exchange for only minor brakes on future spending. The resulting bill was passed by both houses of Congress with bi-partisan support and signed into law by President Biden over the past weekend. 

 

The Freedom Caucus and many on the far right were outraged that McCarthy caved on their demands and agreed to a pittance of what they initially demanded. Some on the far left were similarly disgusted that Biden gave in on his demand for a bill lifting the debt ceiling without any conditions at all. Those Representatives and Senators in the middle recognized that default on the Nation’s debts was not an option and came together to pass the agreed legislation in record time. 

 

The MAGA wing of the GOP hung its hat on the debt ceiling post hoping to show its power to control the national dialog on spending and taxes. In the end, they did not have the votes to make their pipe dream a reality. Their failure to produce anything close to what they wanted shows their power and influence in Congress is quickly waning.

 

In the aftermath of the debt ceiling being lifted, some thought the Freedom Caucus would use the changes in House rules allowing just one member to force a new vote on the Speakership. It was not even mentioned in their most recent meeting this week. McCarthy won increased powers by tacking towards the middle and trying to govern by compromise which usually works in the end. 

 

The Progressive Caucuses in both the House and Senate also lost some of their influence going forward as those in the more moderate middle came together, crossed the partisan divide, and got the Nation’s bills paid. 

 

President Biden showed his legislative negotiating chops, learned during his decades in Congress, by steering the process from the sidelines and only coming into the room to close the deal. No president in recent memory has a better sense of how Congress works when the need is dire than Biden. He gave away just enough to put the mess behind him and realign the power in both houses of Congress. 

 

Much can be said about Biden’s string of positive accomplishments during his first term in the Oval Office. His infrastructure bills, significant job growth, and other economic achievements will be felt for decades to come as the American economy roars back. His crowning victory to date must be saving the country from defaulting on its debts and maintaining America’s position as the rock of the world economy. 

 

As we come into the upcoming presidential election cycle, none of the Republican hopefuls will be able to meaningfully attack Biden’s record on building a robust economy at home and abroad. As those candidates on the far right continue their culture wars, demonizing those they do not understand, Biden’s determined support for those in the margins along with his economic successes will easily carry the day and give him a second term in the White House. 

 

The MAGA wing of the GOP will take a further beating as the former president’s legal woes intensify and they continue to lose their culture wars in federal courts that understand the First Amendment protects drag performers and the Fourteenth Amendment protects equality for those in the minority. Their insistence upon criminalizing women’s reproductive healthcare will send them further into the dustbin of American history.

 

Hopefully, this next election cycle will continue to take us into a more just and inclusive period in our history with continued economic prosperity for all and not just the few.