The Biden Presidency



Former Chief of Staff to Biden and Gore, also worked on Ebola response in 2015. Seems a fairly straightforward pick.
 


Former Chief of Staff to Biden and Gore, also worked on Ebola response in 2015. Seems a fairly straightforward pick.

Straightforward has become so unusual these days its basically noteworthy. Im not sure if it's supposed to make us feel like Biden is not concerned about Trump at all? The way he s just pushing ahead like this were any other election where the other guy conceded instead of threatening civil war, and forming his administration to hit the ground running as opposed to the other guy,.. doing well. . Nothing- almost feels almost like it's a new thing.
 
This is the least that Sanders deserves. Got fully behind Biden after the primaries and did his part during the election campaign.

I doubt this will happen though, as the lobbyists and corporate cronies will be against Sanders being in the cabinet.

 
Cabinet picks will be a massive statement of intent from Biden's team. I'm not entirely optimistic that it won't be a shit show, but he's got no choice than to throw the Progressives a bone, IMO. If he persists with naming moderates and even Republicans to his cabinet, he'll face just as much opposition from the left as he will from Republicans and get nothing done.

I believe Vermont's (Republican) Governor is on record as saying he'd replace Bernie with a Democrat in the Senate, so I'd love to see him at Labor. It's no less than he deserves.

Warren has eyes on Treasury, and as much as I'd love to see her sic the IRS on Trump, I don't think it's worth losing a Senate seat. Of course, if the Senate runoffs in GA don't go well, getting some of these picks confirmed will be an issue.
 
Yep, he’s demonstrated he is perfectly fine with unconfirmed cabinet heads. Yet another norm he allowed Trump to demolish.
Is there an actual difference between confirmed and unconfirmed secretaries/ministers? (Or however you like calling it in the US. ;) ) I mean, if they are not confirmed by the Senate, is their authority or term in any way restricted?

I expect Biden to be a by-the-book guy who won't play these games, but I'm curious now.
 
This is the least that Sanders deserves. Got fully behind Biden after the primaries and did his part during the election campaign.

I doubt this will happen though, as the lobbyists and corporate cronies will be against Sanders being in the cabinet.


McConnell would probably block him anyway if Dems don’t win both Georgia senate seats. Biden should probably go towards the road of permanent acting secretaries.

Aw shit, just read that Vermont has a Republican governor. Forget about this happening (same for Warren).
 
Acting Secretary all the way, see how McTurtle like it.

I'd love to see it, but I have no faith that the Democrats (as an institution) are willing to play hardball. It'll be all by the books and they'll still persist with this fairytale of working across the aisle.
 
McConnell would probably block him anyway if Dems don’t win both Georgia senate seats. Biden should probably go towards the road of permanent acting secretaries.

Aw shit, just read that Vermont has a Republican governor. Forget about this happening (same for Warren).
He's a moderate Republican isn't he? I seem to recall he was one of the few to back Trump's impeachment inquiry. Vermont is also reliably a blue state, so he might feel a little less compelled to enrage his electorate.
 
He's a moderate Republican isn't he? I seem to recall he was one of the few to back Trump's impeachment inquiry. Vermont is also reliably a blue state, so he might feel a little less compelled to enrage his electorate.
I am at that stage that wouldn't be surprised at anything coming from GOP. I know that he has said that he would choose a Dem to replace Sanders, but you never know.
 
Ash Sarkar is joined by Naomi Klein to discuss what Biden in the White House means for the world, whether Trumpism has a future, and what next for the left.
 
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i thought the analysis of this plan on chapo 2 days ago was very good (hits their target demographic of college-educated, these people might have later switched parties due to taxes, plus the stuff about homeownership as the engine of the US economy and the crreator of a middle class, being restricted by college debt), so it looked like a very strategic idea.
10k on the other hand, i dont think it can have those effects.
 
What about the new students? They got uni for free? Wont be fair if they have to pay.
Might be wrong but I think it's just a one off thing that wouldn't apply to future generations.

i thought the analysis of this plan on chapo 2 days ago was very good (hits their target demographic of college-educated, these people might have later switched parties due to taxes, plus the stuff about homeownership as the engine of the US economy and the crreator of a middle class, being restricted by college debt), so it looked like a very strategic idea.
10k on the other hand, i dont think it can have those effects.
Agree.

I keep waiting for this "left" turn by the dems just because it's so easy. A large part of this millennial "socialism" is essentially a indebted educated middle class.

All they have to do ease up on existence debt and make it easier to become home owners(Both of which are vital for the reproduction of capital). The result is a new base that while already culturally aligned with the Dems would now have a material reason to both reward the party in four years time but also to carry on voting Democratic in the future.

The only counter argument is well.......who else are these people going to vote for ? It's a two horse race at the presidential level(Which the only thing people care about right now). The Republican party for a number of reasons can't be the alternative for this voter base and any new political party would struggle with both funding and in honestly would not have the same culturally pull as the dems have. It's a shite argument but well it did just win Biden the white house.
 
I keep waiting for this "left" turn by the dems just because it's so easy. A large part of this millennial "socialism" is essentially a indebted educated middle class.

Yup, a substantial student debt reduction can effectively take away a lot of momentum from the left even if there's zero movement on climate or healthcare. Surely, if not Biden, his advisers will see this?
 
McConnell would probably block him anyway if Dems don’t win both Georgia senate seats. Biden should probably go towards the road of permanent acting secretaries.

Aw shit, just read that Vermont has a Republican governor. Forget about this happening (same for Warren).

The governor was asked about this before the election and he said the following

"I want this to be fair," he said, noting that he has filled past vacancies in the state legislature with appointees of the same party as outgoing members. "So in this case, again, Sen. Sanders has caucused with the Democrats. I would anticipate I would look at ... a more left-leaning type of independent that would obviously caucus with the Democrats."

https://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMess...-sanders-with-democrat-affiliated-independent
 
What about the new students? They got uni for free? Wont be fair if they have to pay.

By your logic scholarships aren't fair, tuition waivers are not fair, in-state out of state tuition differences aren't fair, increases in tuition aren't fair, Teach for America is not fair, etc.

So much in corporate run education is designed to milk students dry that student debt forgiveness is 100 percent a good thing for millions of individuals and for the economy at large and even for the people without student debt because they will benefit in aggregate by not having tens of millions strapped with debt.
 
By your logic scholarships aren't fair, tuition waivers are not fair, in-state out of state tuition differences aren't fair, increases in tuition aren't fair, Teach for America is not fair, etc.

So much in corporate run education is designed to milk students dry that student debt forgiveness is 100 percent a good thing for millions of individuals and for the economy at large and even for the people without student debt because they will benefit in aggregate by not having tens of millions strapped with debt.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love for a clean slate wipe of debt

Which is why I'm asking, what's for the next students going to uni? Same debt system? Old debt system?
 
Surely before you head off to load up on the debt you’ve figured out what you’re ROI is? I get that shit happens to some folk but it seems like a lot of people have large debt.

I didn’t go to school here so that doesn’t help, though my kids are freshmen now. I’m determined that they leave college debt free. At least that’s the plan. Hopefully it works.

One of my colleagues went to USC for her undergrad and Cal Arts for grad school. Two of the most expensive schools in SoCal and she’s still carrying that debt, in her 40s.
To me, that’s crazy. I’d rather do community college then a state university rather than pile on debt.
 
Yup, a substantial student debt reduction can effectively take away a lot of momentum from the left even if there's zero movement on climate or healthcare. Surely, if not Biden, his advisers will see this?
Yeah Biden "young people have it easy" shtick during the primaries makes me think he has no idea. But I have to imagine his adviser will know(Student loans debt surpasses auto loans and credit-card debt!)but just from a quick Google I can't find anything substantive from the usual places and likes of Jeffrey Zients(Former Obama guy)are part of Biden campaign. The plan really could be to copy and paste the Obama years.

Once again it's completely possible that shit posting lefties have a better understanding of political economy than the incoming Democratic president.
 
Yeah Biden "young people have it easy" shtick during the primaries makes me think he has no idea. But I have to imagine his adviser will know(Student loans debt surpasses auto loans and credit-card debt!)but just from a quick Google I can't find anything substantive from the usual places and likes of Jeffrey Zients(Former Obama guy)are part of Biden campaign. The plan really could be to copy and paste the Obama years.

Once again it's completely possible that shit posting lefties have a better understanding of political economy than the incoming Democratic president.
A country as mighty as America should offer some type of free education. I know underprivileged families don't have to pay for college but the middle class takes a hard hit.
 
Surely before you head off to load up on the debt you’ve figured out what you’re ROI is? I get that shit happens to some folk but it seems like a lot of people have large debt.
A lot of people are very short-term about their finances. That's why credit cards work so well for banks: people easily rack up their debts. ('Wow, free money!') I mean, I totally agree with your approach and it's mine as well, but if you look at debt stats, clearly it's not how much people live their financial lives.
 
So, despite Trump's childish non-concession, the transition plans are in full swing. It will be interesting to see who's part of his cabinet and what direction he takes the country, especially with GOP gaining in the House and (for now) controlling the Senate. He has to strike deals with Republicans along the way, but he's got a fierce progressive faction to deal with within the Dem Party.

I know Bernie Sanders offered himself as Labor Secretary, but with Mitch McConnell in Senate there's fat chance of that happening. Same goes for some of the boldest progressive policies such as the Green New Deal, Defund the Police, Abolish ICE etc. I see no chance of Liz Warren running the Treasury, as Massachussets is run by a GOP governor who would nominate a Republican if Liz leaves Senate to take a cabinet post.

Kamala's role in all of this will be very interesting.
 
My home state of Georgia got called officially today - first time it's gone blue since I was 6 years old and a stunning turnaround from recent years where it was nailed on red. All the credit in the world to Stacey Abrams, who despite being cheated out of the governor's race, turned around and got to work immediately registering new voters with 2020 in mind. I think she should win the governorship easily when she runs again next cycle (as those close to her have suggested she will).
 
My home state of Georgia got called officially today - first time it's gone blue since I was 6 years old and a stunning turnaround from recent years where it was nailed on red. All the credit in the world to Stacey Abrams, who despite being cheated out of the governor's race, turned around and got to work immediately registering new voters with 2020 in mind. I think she should win the governorship easily when she runs again next cycle (as those close to her have suggested she will).

As a recently departed resident of the south I was super happy to see GA go blue. We helped out a bit on Abrams campaign (albeit from from a few hours west down I20), so seeing what happened to her was maddening. So glad she got their ass back. Now if she can close the deal on Jan 5th we can say her loss "may" have had a silver lining.

As a side note:
It looks like you and I flip flopped. I went from LA to Birmingham and it looks like you went from Atlanta to LA.
 
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