A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPM’s Morning Memo.
Wrapped up in Republicans’ debt ceiling hostage-taking is also their long-running con to break Social Security. Despite Speaker Kevin McCarthy repeatedly assuring public audiences that Social Security and Medicare are “off the table” in debt ceiling negotiations, Republicans continue to float various ways to undermine the social safety net.
I think the key player in the 2024 presidential race is going to be Kamala Harris. In her most recent article, Michelle Goldberg, a commentator I normally agree with, has accepted the now seemingly common MSM wisdom that Ms. Harris should never be POTUS. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/06/opinion/biden-shouldnt-run-2024.html
She even goes so far as to muse that VP Harris shouldn’t be Mr. Biden’s running mate in 2024. This sentiment was widely echoed in the comments thread. This is a crazy line of argument, in my opinion.
If the Dems want to win in 2024, President Biden’s running mate will be VP Harris: full stop. The reasoning is simple. The most important and reliable segment of the Dem coalition is Black women. They are the people who take Dems over the line in close elections. Given that V.P. Harris is not only the first female VP, but also a Black woman, I can’t imagine the Biden administration taking the risk of essentially forcing her out to be replaced by a more charismatic White pol.
The SOTU annual theatrical will be packaged and delivered today, tomorrow. There will be clown shows on the hour, every hour until what feels like the end of time.
“Why, my sweet little tot,” the fake Santy Claus lied,
“There’s a light on this tree that won’t light on one side.”
“So I’m taking it home to my workshop, my dear.”
“I’ll fix it up there. Then I’ll bring it back here.”
And his fib fooled the child. Then he patted her head,
And he got her a drink and he sent her to bed.
The sad thing is, if they ever manage to end SS they won’t use the money to pay down the debt or fund anything, they’ll inject it straight into the veins of the uber rich.
The Risen story was interesting because it is hard to find an analog in Europe’s fascist experience. In Italy, for example, people tend to bend with political winds, and members of the military rarely got involved in fights between political factions. Here, we have political actors serving in the military moved deeper into the government after a violent insurrection against the state. I really don’t know what to make of it.
She has not impressed on a national level. However, dumping her can create more problems. Switching horses mid-stream is a drastic measure that typically doesn’t work well. That’s without the extra concerns of what he role means for so many people.
It looks like Senators Rick Scott and Mike Lee are not going to take their punishment quietly, especially Rick Scott. Scott is still going after Mitch McConnell.
