The Build Back Better Game

 This "democratic infighting" we have been witnessing, It's a game. Progressives have to lose, publicly. That is how we keep control of the house and senate next year. It's President Biden, a moderate instead of President Sanders, a progressive. That's because if the ticket was Sanders vs Trump, Trump would have won. Progressives might have loud voices. But they are a small percentage of the party and turn away a lot of swing voters. 

Moderate democrats are the voice of reason against an unhinged republican party. So, moderate republicans and independents are willing to hear what moderate democrats have to say. Swing districts matter. But we lost a lot of those when republican challengers cast very moderate democrats as "socialists". If we are going to win next year, we need to take that tool out of the republican toolbox. 

We do that with moderates quite publicly winning major concessions from progressives. These moderates can't be labeled as "progressive" or "socialist" if they quite publicly objected to the extreme parts. They can still argue to progressive voters the positive things they did support. But they can argue to moderate and swing voters the more extreme things they did not support. 

About a week and a half ago I called my congresswoman. She swung a long-time red district blue in 2018 and easily won again last year. A member of the blue dogs. But not one of Rep. Gottheimer's group. I asked her to tell Rep Jayapal to "drop the ego act and do the right thing". 18 hours later Rep. Jayapal was talking about being willing to compromise and even negotiate a price. For the first time. If only they knew what Sens Manchin and Sinema want. Um, now we are closing in on a deal with progressives making major concessions. 

In reality Rep Jayapal was playing the game. She knows they are never getting anything close to a progressive agenda with this tight a margin. So, she's putting on this show to benefit moderate democrats in congress. Will a larger majority get more progressive goals? No, because to get that majority progressives will have to lose primaries in most of the country. But they can get more deals closer to their goals with a larger majority in both the house and senate. So, they play the game, conceding to moderates publicly now in hopes of more wins next year. 

Progressives have to ask themselves "is a bigger majority but, with more moderates better then losing the majority to an unhinged republican party?" The answer is YES!!! Because a lot of those "for a shorter period to make the bill smaller" things will actually have a chance to get renewed under even a mostly moderate democratic majority. 

For democrats and the country to win in 2022, progressives have to lose primaries, nominations battles, and legislative negotiations. If they are smart, they will play the game and let moderates win now so moderates can win then. That's when we all win. Including progressives.