Can Biden’s Agenda Survive Dems’ Civil War?

When Biden ran for president in 2020, he spoke of the need for bipartisan cooperation, for people of differing views to reach compromises, for the two sides to find common ground that would satisfy a broad majority of the population; and for bringing a spirit of togetherness to Washington.

When he spoke of such things, Biden was no doubt proceeding from the assumption that Democrats would march lockstep behind him, and that the only challenge would be winning over a few Republicans to support his ambitious plans. He probably never imagined Democrats would control the White House and both houses of Congress, and yet still have trouble securing agreement — between the two factions of his own party, moderates and progressives.

Biden has been in an impossible dilemma for the past month, trying to satisfy people whose views aren’t just different from his, but diametrically opposed. At this writing, a compromise has yet to be found that will enable passage of both the $1.5 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, as well as Biden’s signature domestice initiative, a massive $3.5 trillion social policy and climate package.

The more moderate wing of the Democratic Party, backed by at least 19 Republicans, wants passage of the infrastructure bill, plus a much smaller version of the social policy package, in the range of $1.5 to $2 trillion; while the progressive wing, with no Republican support, and without key Democratic moderates such as Joe Manchin and Krysten Sinema, is pushing for the full $3.5 trillion social policy bill to be funded by a corporate tax hike. Even if a way out of the morass is ultimately found, great damage has been done already, and it’s certain to affect Democrats’ chances in the 2022 midterm elections.