It appears that McConnell will offer a short-term debt ceiling extension today — an extension that kicks the debt ceiling can to December.
Here are the poison-laced words from fork-tongued McConnell. Or is he just trying to cover his behind?
Inquiring minds will want to know the reason behind the change of “heart.” Were Manchin and Sinema softening on their stance on ending the filibuster?
Did the pressure from Biden and Democrats make a difference?
Did this letter from former SecDefs strike some fear in the “hearts” of Senate Republicans?
Did this move from Schumer make them nervous?
Or did the donor class get rattled?
Or is this yet another cynical move by tricky McConnell to make Democrats use up the reconciliation opportunity on the debt ceiling issue instead of their economic agenda? Otherwise, he will hold the country hostage again around Christmas?
Republicans will continue to play games and do everything possible to wreck Biden’s agenda. Expect the right-wing noise machine to start bleating their talking-points on the subject. It does not have to make any sense, since their base expects none. They want to create chaos. They think they can win the Senate and the House in 2022 with chaos assisted by voter suppression.
One also has to wonder how much of this is being coordinated by trump. All republicans seems to be carrying water for trump these days and they all seem to speak with one voice on all subject matters these days — be it the Big Lie, support for the Jan 6 insurrectionists, vaccinations, vaccine and mask mandates, immigrants, school boards, …
Does this mean the debate over ending the filibuster also gets kicked down the road?
What should Democrats do next with this offer? What about the infrastructure bill? And filibuster “reform”? Voting rights? What should our messaging and strategy be?