Build Back Better Died. So, What's Next?

Just because one big legislative package got torpedoed doesn't mean everyone collapses and whines on about it in 2022. It just means Democrats, and everyone else, will need to adjust and counter fast

Publisher’s Riff

So, Build Back Better apparently died on Sunday in a ball of FOX cable flames. Senator Joe Manchin, West Virginia coal country Democrat who's grifty hands are in all sorts of special interest pockets - from pharmaceuticals to, possibly even, Republican purses - made an announcement on FOX that he's not going to vote for Build Back Better pretty much in any form. It was well-constructed and timed as one of the most dramatic, perhaps Emmy-winning political middle-fingers of all time - and it seemed very personal. It was as if President Biden did something to or crossed Manchin so badly at one point in their political careers that Manchin held that grudge until the last moment. Or, it was, as CNN reports ...

The statement also stood in contrast to the one issued by Biden just Thursday, when House progressives had urged him not to indicate publicly that there wasn't an immediate path forward for Build Back Better. After several hours of back and forth, Biden conceded the bill was stalled for the moment, named Manchin three times and hinted at the rocky path ahead.

Manchin, who had been in contact with Biden's top aides in the days prior, was furious with the statement, a person close to the White House said. Manchin appeared to allude to just that when reporters on Capitol Hill asked if he agreed with the statement.

"That was his statement," was all Manchin would say in response.

Or, perhaps, Manchin is really just that much of an asshole. We really don't know.

And we really do not care, we should not care at this juncture. Ultimately, why Manchin is being Manchin or what drives him makes no difference. In the grander scheme of things, it does not matter. Yet, corporate media and legions of stunned souls on social media will attempt to force us to talk all week about one lone Senator who represents a generally impoverished state with a population size smaller than the city of Philadelphia. What really matters at this time is how fast and effectively can those who supported the Build Back Better agenda and who dread the acceleration of an open white nationalist coup of government can counter what just happened. It's a fairly simple choice: either the White House, along with Democrats and Progressives, can commiserate Manchin's death blow to Build Back Better (which is what he and Republicans will expect them to do) or they can make a decision this week to recalibrate.

Recalibration should be the answer, although this will be hard for many to commit to. Moaning ceaselessly about Manchin did this, Manchin did that and "oh, Sinema, too!" is a very easy task to commit to. Planning an epic, full mobilization counter requires much more energy, focus, time and resources. Yet, the dividends would be enormous if pulled off. Hence, it's absolutely crucial for Democrats to focus on what's the strategy for maintaining and, potentially, expanding their hold on both the House and Senate in 2022 so they can ultimately increase their chances of passing legislative packages like Build Back Better.

However, before we get to all that, it's absolutely crucial for everyone to understand what the immediate goals are: bringing the pandemic to a close and making sure Confederate white nationalists posing (currently posing as "Republicans") do not take over all levels of government. Winning the 2022 election will be the last shot as ensuring this doesn't happen; yet, too many Democrats, from Biden to progressives, aren't truly feeling the urgency of the moment and are really under the impression that, as bad as it is, if they lose 2022, they will have another chance at retaking lost ground in 2024 and beyond. The problem is they don't: clearly, Confederates are rapidly dismantling democratic traditions, norms, processes, laws and functions. They are completely upending and overhauling the entire electoral system to cement a completely apartheid state in response to dwindling White population numbers.

Initially, Senate Democrats should act fast. The Senate reconvenes for a short period on Monday before the holiday break. Perhaps, as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has suggested, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) should compel a vote on Build Back Better anyway to show who’s against it while highlighting what those detractors just took away from the American public. That would be bold and unexpected. What could also be useful is the Majority Leader simply forcing a vote on the voting rights bill this week and demanding that no one goes on break until it passes.

Politically, Democrats need to then ask and act immediately on the following:

• How many of the 20 Republican Senate seats up for re-election due to cycle timing, toss-up status or retirements can we realistically win? Bonus: if we win a few more seats, we make Manchin and Sen. Krysten Simema and their whims virtually (D-AZ) irrelevant.

• How do we defend 3 Democratic Senate seats viewed as toss-ups?

• How do we either defend or take the 18 House seats currently competitive due to open, retirements, toss-up or lean status?

• And how do we compete stronger on the state level for Governor seats, state legislatures and Secretaries of State?

How do we link all of these into one big blue counter electoral movement as opposed to months of crying over spilled milk?

Biden will need to, himself, wake-up to the urgency and display that he is actually in charge versus the mediocrity he's been showing to date thus far. The White House will need to explore the next immediate options to turn the tide of this quickly:

• What Executive Order actions are at his disposal? Student debt cancelation, help for HBCUs, bolstering child care and support for community solar grids are several that come to mind.

• So, now that Build Back Better as a package is dead, what provisions and elements within it - that are popular according to polls - can be passed separately in a relentless series of big policy moves throughout 2022?

• Can we get voting rights passed immediately?

• How does the president manage the pandemic more effectively? That will require bolder action on a three-prong punch of vaccine, mask and testing regimes.

Just because Build Back Better died on Sunday doesn't mean, at all, that Democrats and our collective chance at beating back the Confederates dies on Monday.